Harry woke the next morning to find a school owl perched on the windowsill; its hooting had woken him up. Putting on his glasses, Harry saw that it held a scroll in its beak, the wax seal on it bearing the Hogwarts crest. Curious, Harry took the scroll and opened it.
"Harry, please come to my study as soon as you receive this. There is a matter of great importance which we must discuss. P.S.: I enjoy Cauldron Cakes filled with custard creme. -Dumbledore"
Harry's heart began racing. Could Professor Dumbledore have found another Horcrux? It had only been a week since Dumbledore had explained the nature of Horcruxes to Harry...if he had found one, would Dumbledore take Harry with him to destroy it?
His mind racing with the prospect, Harry dressed in record time and ran down the stairs from his dormitory 3 at a time. The common room was empty-it was only 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday-except for a certain bushy-haired beauty.
"Hermione?"
Hermione turned in surprise at Harry's voice. She was wearing her school uniform, which Harry thought was a little odd; Harry himself was wearing his muggle clothes, which he found much easier to throw on in a hurry. "Harry? What are you doing up so early?"
Harry held up the scroll he had gotten from the school owl. "Dumbledore sent me a note telling me to meet him as soon as I got it. I think he may have found another Horcrux!"
Harry expected Hermione to be as excited as he was. He wasn't expecting her to suddenly become nervous. The reason became apparent when Hermione held up a scroll of her own, also bearing the broken wax seal of the Hogwarts crest.
Harry gulped.
--
"Cauldron Cakes."
When Harry spoke the password to the gargoyle, it sprang to life and jumped out of the way like it always did, revealing the constantly spiraling staircase. Harry and Hermione each stepped onto one, Hermione going first. She looked utterly terrified. Harry placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be ok, Hermione."
"But Harry--"
"It'll be ok." Harry repeated, emphasizing his words. Hermione looked very slightly comforted. When they reached the top of the spiraling staircase, Harry banged the brass knocker twice.
"Enter." Called a serene voice from inside. With one last look of determination-which met Hermione's look of fear-Harry opened the door and walked in, Hermione following him in his wake.
Vaguely Harry wondered if this office ever really changed. It looked exactly like it always did, with all of its spindly-legged tables still supporting the odd buzzing and whirring devices which Harry for the umpteenth time reminded himself to ask what they did exactly. The portraits on the walls were all sleeping in their frames; either they were genuinely asleep, or they were excellent actors, Harry couldn't tell which.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his grand desk as he always was, Fawkes the pheonix perched on his shoulder. He beckoned the two students to sit in a pair of cushioned chairs opposite him. Harry by courtesy let Hermione pick the seat she wanted and sit first, although at the moment it seemed that she was too frightened to notice. As Harry sat, he noticed that Dumbledore had an odd-looking book open in front of him. Harry seemed transfixed by it.
"Noticed the book, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling.
"Er, yeah...is it...special?"
Hermione's fear was punctured by curiosity. What was Harry talking about?
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Indeed it is, Harry, and it is the reason why you two are here."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief; Dumbledore didn't know about Harry and Hermione.
"This, you see, is Hogwart's Book of Registration. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
Harry was drawing a blank; the name was a new one on him. Hermione, on the other hand, was wide-eyed and speechless.
"This book is how new students to Hogwarts are registered. Whenever a child of magical skill is conceived and certain other requirements are met, their name is put down automatically in this book, and when that child turns eleven, they receive a letter of admittance.
Hermione sat stock-still. Harry was still drawing a blank.
"A new name was entered into the book this morning, at approximately 12:45am. The name...was Hermes Potter."
Holy crap. Harry realized what this was all about. Harry looked out of the corner of his eyes to Hermione. She was covering her gaping mouth with one hand, her fears confirmed.
"...So...Hermione is..."
"Quite pregnant. With a son, by the looks of it."
Harry just stared at her.
"Have you nothing to say, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, curious.
"I...I'm gonna be a father?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"...Wow..."
Dumbledore chuckled, then reached under the desk and pulled out a bottle of Madame Rosmerta's Oak-Matured Mead and three goblets. "Couldn't have put it better myself, Harry." He poured mead for the three of them, having some difficulty with his injured hand, then floated the goblets to each of the students. Hermione took hers silently but didn't drink. Harry gulped his down and set the goblet back down on Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore watched Hermione.
"There is nothing to be afraid of, Miss Granger. You won't be expelled."
Hermione looked up, hope in her eyes. "I won't?"
"Of course not. I know that the rules say that anyone caught having sex within these walls face expulsion, but that is a bluff. An effort by the founders to discourage mating. A surprisingly unsuccessful effort, to be honest. Besides, even if the rule was always enforced, do you think me so heartless as to throw a prospective single mother out on the street?"
Hermione turned faintly pink, then drained her goblet and set it next to Harry's.
"Of course I'm not." He was still smiling, his twinkle still in his eyes. He paused for a drink. "The fact is that you are far from the first young woman to succumb to the throws of love, and I highly doubt you will be the last. We have several ways to accomodate a young woman's pregnancy...as it stands, you will not begin to show your pregnancy until next year, so Professor Flitwik will not have to worry about charming you so that your bulge will not be visible. Madame Pomfrey will keep a close eye on you to help make sure that your pregnancy goes smoothly, Professor Slughorn will provide you with potions to help mediate the effects of the pregnancy (particularly morning sickness), and Professor Sinistra will expect you in Parenting Class next sunday night."
"Parenting Class?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Oh yes, do you think we would allow teenagers to become parents without the proper instruction? Incidentally the class also serves as Couple's Counseling, which you two may wish to take advantage of when Miss Granger's mood swings set in."
"Wow. I had no idea Hogwarts had all these things..."
"That is one of our greatest goals: keeping pregnancy secret. We do our best to discourage inter-student sex, mostly so that students will focus on their studies rather than...what's the phrase...getting laid. But these things happen, and when they do, we help as much as we can. Right now, there are four young women currently with child, besides Miss Granger: Lisa Turpin from Ravenclaw, Candice Moon from Hufflepuff, Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw, and Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin."
"Parkinson?" Hermione asked in surprise. "She's pregnant?"
"Seven months so, yes. With Mr. Malfoy's child."
Harry barked out a laugh. "No way!"
"The same could be said of you and Miss Granger." Dumbledore said dryly. That shut Harry up quickly. "Anyway, there is an important question that must be answered before we decide what we do next."
"What's that?"
"Oh, I can't ask it. You must decide whether to ask it or not."
Hermione seemed to understand what Dumbledore was talking about, for she turned to Harry and gave him the same expectant look that Dumbledore was giving him. Then it hit him.
"Oh! Hmm..." Awkwardly, Harry stood up, then immediately fell to one knee in front of Hermione, taking her hand. "I wish I had a ring to offer you, but this will have to do for now. Hermione...will you marry me?"
"Are you asking because you want to, or because you think you have to?"
Harry was surprised by the sudden question. "Because I love you, and because I want to. I want you to marry me, and...and I want to protect your honor."
"Then of course I'll marry you!" Hermione cried happily, falling into his arms and smashing her lips against Harry's, despite Dumbledore being right there.
"Of course..." Hermione whispered after she broke the kiss, "We'll have to celebrate once we get out of here." Her eyes had a very distinct glint to them.
"Definitely." Harry whispered in agreement.