A/N: I spent this whole day thinking that this website was down, when it was just a browser issue. UGH! I guess I shall install updates now... Enjoy the chapter. =] And thank you SO MUCH for all of your inspiring reviews! Woooooow. Nearly 200!

"Miss Granger," said Professor McGonagall seriously, "I would like to discuss something with you in my office straightaway, please."

Hermione replied, "Certainly, Professor," and followed the Headmistress down the hall to her office. The girl had all sorts of ideas running through her head about what the professor would possibly want to speak to her about, none of them good.

"Fainting Fancies," said McGonagall to the statue outside the office, as the gargoyle leapt aside at the sound of her voice.

The two women made their way up the spiraling staircase and through the door, where they both walked inside the circular room.

"Please, have a seat," said McGonagall, as she gestured to a chair in front of her desk. She sat down in her own chair behind the desk. Hermione carefully sat down. "I suspect you wonder why I've brought you here," said the Headmistress. "It is not for anything bad, I assure you," she said, obviously having caught the distress on Hermione's face.

"Oh good," Hermione said with relief, "I was thinking it might have been something concerning Draco…." She let her sentence fade off.

"Not at all," McGonagall replied, "I have called you in here to ask you to give the commencement speech at graduation."

All at once, the stress and worry flowed back into Hermione's face, "Those types of speeches are usually reserved for the very prestigious," she squeaked, holding a hand to her mouth. "Why—why would you ask me?"

"Miss Granger," began the Headmistress, "I don't think you're quite aware of your position of influence with not only your peers, but the entire wizarding world."

"Wh-what?" Hermione gasped, her eyes growing huge.

McGonagall got one of her rare kind looks on her face, and continued, "It was tragic to see you fall apart for those two months, Miss Granger. I can only assume what you were going through after the war, considering your present condition."

Hermione looked down at her now-obviously protruding belly. Never had she explained what had happened to her with any of the professors. At the time, she had wrongfully assumed they didn't care, but that didn't appear to have been the case at all. Hermione suspected one of her friends—probably Ginny—would have already mentioned something to the Headmistress. McGonagall had never once grilled Hermione over her presence in the Slytherin common room, not even about being in Draco's own bedroom. Hermione wasn't at all certain what the professor would think of her, now that Hermione was pregnant with Draco's child. But she certainly hadn't expected this.

"Out of the ashes of this war, Miss Granger, you have managed to continue and try to make something of yourself. I see that walking around with Mr. Malfoy has actually done you some good. That boy, in some ways, is rubbing off on you, and you could use a little Malfoy-type pride right now," she clipped boldly.

Hermione felt her cheeks redden. "Why…why do you feel that way, Professor?"

"Because, you, Hermione Granger, should never feel ashamed of what you had to do. Hundreds, if not thousands, of girls in our world now look up to you, and rightly so. After all, you helped defeat Lord Voldemort. You are now no less prestigious than the Minister of Magic."

At that, Hermione felt heated tingles begin to fill her chest and radiate outward to the rest of her body. Even after Hermione's talk with Draco, she still hadn't been able to hold her head high, considering all that had happened. But…now…McGonagall told her that she was being looked up to. The girl straightened up in her seat, now looking at McGonagall with shining eyes.

"That's better," said McGonagall, with a hint of smile, "and far more like the Hermione Granger I know. Do you accept?"

Before Hermione could decide against it, the words, "Yes, Professor," flew out of her mouth. "I suppose it's the least I could do, since Hogwarts supported me all these years. Now it's high time I returned the favor."

"So it's all settled then?" Draco asked Adonna. "You've made the arrangements?"

"Yes," the Healer answered. "I have indeed made certain that the Floo Network is open for you all the way down to Australia. You are doubtless aware that Hermione is cleared to go for the trip, but her time is limited. You have two weeks—18 days at most. Then I do not recommend Disapparating. I will give her the money with which to travel tomorrow during her appointment."

"Very well," said Draco.

"And Draco?" Adonna continued. "Do be careful. I'm leaving it up to you to tell Hermione that you've arranged to use the Floo Network instead of Apparating, since you are the one who asked me to do so."

"All right," Draco said. "And Madam Adonna…thank you." He shook the Healer's hand.

"You might not be thanking me after you tell Hermione," Adonna warned. "She's not exactly the type of person who likes to be controlled."

"I'm sure she'll be just fine," Draco dismissed the Healer's concern, "when she sees how much I care."