AN - I own nothing! I'm just borrowing from J.K. Rowling!

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Chapter 14

Hermione entered through the muggle entrance as she stepped inside the Leaky Cauldron. She told Greg that she was going to spend some time in London, which meant that she actually had to fly to Heathrow from JFK using the company jet. Greg wanted to make sure that she had a comfortable and safe flight. There was no option for her to apparate, otherwise he would wonder and worry over her.

People stared at Hermione as she walked through Diagon Alley. She was dressed out of the ordinary, in loose fit jeans, her NYU hoodie and cap. She kept her head low, not wanting people to recognize her. Of course, she was well known throughout the wizarding world as a war hero. One to be placed in the history books.

Hermione rounded a corner, an area she knew would have no people. When she looked around and knew that she had enough clearing space, without anyone standing nearby, she pulled her wand out, and disappeared.

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Hermione appeared at the gates of Hogwarts. She leaned on the stone wall right away with one hand, as the other went on her stomach. There was an amount of pressure, and a small amount of pain that had hit her because of apparating.

"Hermione!" a familiar voice called out to her. The sound of footsteps rushed down the stone steps, and Hermione soon felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Sirius," Hermione managed to gasp out.

"You alright?" he asked with worry as he set a hand on her back as he stood next to her.

"I knew that apparating was a bitch when pregnant, but not like this."

"You-you're pregnant?" Sirius asked, almost speechless and in shock.

Hermione turned on her feet slowly, and managed to lean back against the wall. She rubbed circles on her stomach as she felt the pain go away, but there was still an amount of pressure present. She wasn't sure if it was normal, but it somehow didn't feel right. "Four months," she answered slipping her hood off.

Sirius placed his hand atop Hermione's, and definitely felt the roundness of her stomach. "Do you want me to take you to Poppy now?" he asked with worry.

"I think I'll be fine Sirius. Just need a minute. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I've been teaching the DADA classes since the school year started. Remus went back to become an auror, so he's back working with Tonks. The two of them are actually getting married next month."

"Really?" Hermione smiled in surprise. "He finally asked her?"

"Well, I don't know if the wedding will be delayed. She can't seem to get a design or theme finalized. Narcissa has been helping her, and it's gone insane in some cases. Tonks keeps on changing her mind like she changes hair color."

"Well, she always had a wild imagination," Hermione said as she tried to stand straight.

"Need help?" Sirius asked as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Thanks," Hermione said as she leaned into him, letting him support some of her weight.

"I think Lucius is up in Minerva's office. They just had a meeting with the Board of Governors for the school," Sirius informed Hermione.

"I hate politics," Hermione mumbled, as she remembered all her problems back in New York. Her heart on the other hand, pained again at the thought of Severus.

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"Hermione!" Minerva greeted happily with a wide smile on her face when she saw her walk in with Sirius.

"Are you ill Hermione?" Lucius frowned when he saw her sit down in the chair next to his with Sirius's help. She looked somewhat pale.

"Just pregnant," Hermione answered when she was handed a glass of water by Sirius.

"Pregnant?" Minerva gasped as she stood from her chair.

"I'm going to floo for Poppy," Sirius said.

Hermione groaned as she slouched in the chair. This isn't exactly how she planned to tell people about her pregnancy. Minerva and even Lucius had very worried looks on their faces. Obviously, she wasn't planning on telling them who the father was.

Soon, Poppy had finished running her wand on Hermione and the unborn baby. She gave the younger woman a pat on the shoulder and smiled. "Everything's fine. Though I think that apparating alone isn't good for you. It will put pressure on your stomach, and it is does happen to a number of witches. Completely normal. You're little girl is just fine."

"Thank you Poppy," Minerva said as she watch Poppy walk into the fireplace and floo back to the infirmary.

"I'm having a—a baby girl?" Hermione said sounding very dumbfounded.

"You didn't know?" Lucius asked.

"Muggle technology can't tell the sex yet, it's too soon." Hermione placed both hands on her stomach but couldn't help but start to sob. Tears of happiness and also sadness. She thanked Lucius when he handed her his crisp white handkerchief.

"You should call your significant other, and tell him the news," Minerva said.

Hermione shook her head and sniffled into the handkerchief. "Things are complicated. We were never really a couple. And that isn't all of my problems." She looked around and saw more worry on their faces. "Let's just say something else happened. I was advised to take some time off by my editor and publishers, which is why I decided to come here."

The other three looked at Hermione. They knew that Hermione was having some sort of problems in New York, as she stated in her letter when she wrote to Minerva last week. She also wrote that she needed to come to Hogwarts to escape and try to forget.

Minerva felt for Hermione. She moved closer to her, and sat down on the arm of her chair. She took Hermione's hand in hers, and gave it a squeeze. "You came to the right place dear."

Sirius stood in front of Hermione, and pulled her to him, allowing her to rest her head on his flat stomach.

Lucius on the other hand moved his chair closer to hers, and stretched a hand out to her, and placed it on her shoulder. With his sleeves folded up to his elbows, his Dark Mark was exposed.

Seeing the Mark on Lucius's arm made Hermione want Severus all the more. She remembered the moments in which she would trace his Mark, and even kiss it. Always, she ignored his questions and rants about why she was doing it. Without even thinking, she reached out for Lucius left arm, and started to trace his tattoo.

Lucius frowned at Hermione's actions. No one touched his Mark in such a manner. Even Narcissa wouldn't touch it without thought. It was a reminder of the Dark Lord, and it wasn't something to be proud to show off, and was still feared among a few others. "Hermione," he called her name, drawing her attention.

"Hmm?" Hermione looked at him.

"You're touching my Mark you know?" he questioned.

"I'm sorry." Hermione was embarrassed and flushed slightly as she pulled her hand away. "It's become a habit of mine."

"A habit, with whom?" he asked as he looked at her questioningly. As far as he knew, he was the only person that carried the Mark that wasn't dead, or in Azkaban.

"Oh… no one." Inwardly, Hermione cursed at herself. She was reminded that she had promised Severus never to tell anyone that he was alive. She had almost slipped up the truth. It was something that she didn't want to happen. Even if she knew that there was a possibility that he changed his name entirely and disappeared again, like he had done before, she wouldn't tell.

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"Aren't you going to question her some more Minerva?" Lucius asked when both he and she were alone. Sirius had taken Hermione to her own private quarters.

"Hermione's life is her own Lucius. If she's ready to open up and tell, then she will. She's not one to have things forced out of her."

"But she is pregnant, with a child and unmarried!"

"Wasn't what you saw for her either?"

"I always imagined her to find someone and be happily married. Not the situation she is in." Lucius shook his head and fisted the snake head of his cane.

"Well, life does have its surprises and doesn't go as planned. You of all people should know that," Minerva stated.

"What about the way she touched my Mark? A habit? A habit with whom? That's my question."

"Just leave her be Lucius. Clearly she has been through enough."

Lucius kept silent to himself. He could feel that there was something more; and he wanted to question her, for he didn't like not knowing. He needed to know everything, that's just who he was. However, as a friend, he respected Hermione and would keep his questions to himself.

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AN – Uh-oh… Is Hermione's little slip up going to cost her? Review!