CHAPTER SEVEN: THE DEPRESSION

Ron was waiting for Hermione downstairs. All the Gryffindors woke up late this morning since they were all so busy celebrating their victory last night.

'Finally,' said Ron, upon seeing Hermione. 'Good morning!' Hermione kissed his cheeks. Ron smiled and then grabbed her hand. He was about to run but Hermione stopped him. Ron frowned at her.

'I--er--can't run,' she said.

'Day of the month?' he asked. Hermione just swallowed. She wanted to tell him so bad but…

'You know what?' she said instead. 'Why don't you go ahead and walk with Neville. I forgot something.' Ron just shrugged.

'OK,' he said, kissing her forehead and then catching up with Neville. 'I'll be waiting for you!' She just watched Ron as he disappeared through the portrait hole and then walked towards the boys' staircase.

'Dean,' said Hermione, 'I'm sorry I startled you, but have you seen Harry?'

'It's alright,' he said, yawning. 'Yeah, he is still upstairs. I don't think---' but Hermione walked away from him immediately. 'Nice talking to you too!'

'Thanks Dean!' *******

'Harry! Harry!' hissed Hermione while shaking him wildly. 'Wake up! Please wake up!' Harry rubbed his eyes and then put on his glasses.

'Wassamatter?' he asked with half open eyes. 'Told him yet?'

'Hush,' she said, nervously, 'I'll try to tell him during breakfast. I want you there. Please get off the bed and get ready for school---' Harry unwillingly crawled off the bed and then went to the bathroom. He came out after ten minutes and then looked at her.

'There is no easy way to break this news, especially when you are 17. I'll be listening to you, OK. If I stand up, I want you to stop talking,' he said, looking extremely serious. 'We want to give him the best approach. You know Ron. He freaks out quite easily and we do not want that happen, do we?' Hermione shook her head.

'Wish me luck, Harry,' she whispered.

'Goodluck, best friend,' he said, 'You will be a very good mother. I just know you will.' This made Hermione both scared and happy. Her eyes began to water and he noticed it. 'Whatever happens, I will definitely be here for you. Always remember that.' He wiped her tears and then tapped her back. 'Now, I demand you to stop crying and go down there and just tell the bloke. And oh, I'll be watching you.'

They went down together and saw Ron laughing his head off with Seamus and Neville. She looked at Harry and then breathed deeply. She also looked at Draco, who gave her an encouraging smile.

'Hello,' she said, sitting beside Ron. 'Oh, blueberry muffins and French toast! Yummy! Could you hand me the ketchup, please?' By this time, Ron was quite used to Hermione's weird combinations and then just reached the ketchup for her.

'Here,' said Ron, grinning at her while putting three blueberry pancakes and seven French toasts. 'Is this enough? I know you want this.' She smiled at him. 'Melon balls? Green apples?'

'You are so sweet,' she said, hiding her nervousness. Ron just smiled. 'You know what? I went to Madam Pomfrey last night.'

'And,' said Ron, taking a bite from Hermione's green apple. 'Here. This is crunchy. Anyway, did she tell you anything?'

'Please don't freak out,' she said, 'I--I am---' but they were interrupted when Harry immediately stood up from his chair and then banged his fist on the table. Everybody looked at him.

'Malfoy!' he yelled. Draco looked at him and then immediately got the message.

'Potter!' he yelled back, standing up. They both stood up and then walked towards the huge doors. Everybody in the Great hall fell silent and just stared at the two of them. Professor Mcgonagall and Snape immediately stood up as well. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy stood up as well which caused Neville, Ron and Ginny to stand up. Harry and Draco, however, gestured for them to sit down and continued walking.

'Malfoy! Potter!' shrieked Prof. Mcgonagall. 'Where are you two going?!'

'Just to talk, Professors!' they yelled at the same time and then they were gone. *******

'What the hell do you need, Potter?' he asked, looking bored and annoyed. 'She told him yet?'

'That's why we are here, idiot,' said Harry lazily. 'She was about to tell him but her approach was---'

'Straight forward?'

'Excellent, Malfoy,' he said, 'I couldn't have said it any better.'

'What's the best way to tell him anyway?'

'I wish I knew.' Suddenly, the door opened and this made Draco grab Harry's robe and push him against the wall. But he immediately let go upon seeing Hermione.

'Oh it's just you,' said Draco.

'What was that all about?' Harry asked, brushing his robe.

'We have to pretend we are fighting.'

'Stop it,' she hissed, 'was it---'

'Too straight forward?' said Harry, 'Yes it was. Just a suggestion, Hermione. Why not ask him a question related to it first, you know kind of like an introduction and then tell him about it. You know what I mean?' He looked at Draco who nodded.

'Perhaps you could ask him about children or what it feels like growing up with six siblings,' Draco added while looking at Harry with an 'Is that right' look. 'Perhaps, you can do it later. This afternoon at the library---so I can listen, too.' He blushed. Hermione smiled a little.

'Nosy Draky,' said Harry, teasingly.

'Now go away!' hissed Hermione and they both ran in different directions. *******

AFTERNOON

'Look Hermione!' said Ron with a very huge grin. '100% in Divination.' Hermione looked up from her book and then smiled at him.

'Very good. What may I know did you invent this time,' she asked.

'I told her that something terrible would hit me this weekend because Jupiter is aligned with Saturn.' Hermione frowned.

'Very impressive Ron,' said Hermione, shaking her head. She looked at him again. 'Mind if we rest for awhile?' Harry pretended to be very busy while Draco stood near the bookshelf, pretending to be reading.

'No, not at all,' replied Ron. He closed his book so that all his attention was hers.

'Have you talked to Percy yet?' Ron pulled her close.

'I just wrote to him,' said Ron, closing his eyes and leaning on the wall. 'I kind of miss him, you know. I didn't see him all summer. He told me that he'll come and visit Ginny and I before Christmas, though.'

'That's nice,' said Hermione.

'Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.'

'I'm an only child,' she said, snuggling further to his chest. 'How does it feel like growing up with six siblings?' Ron sighed.

'Good---and bad,' he said, 'good because there was never a dull moment at The Burrow and many people loves me. Bad because I had to wear hand me downs, keep up with a lot of people, and be patient with them. It's always a chaos at home and many more…'

'Really?' said Hermione, weakly. This isn't going very well…

'Oh yes,' he said tiredly. 'That's the reason why I would definitely wait for quite awhile before I have kids of my own---' He looked at Hermione who swallowed hard.

'But you do like kids, right?' asked Harry nervously.

'Well, I do,' said Ron, looking at him with raised eyebrows. 'But not now. Come on! Who would want kids right now? Do you?' Hermione began to pull away from Ron's hug.

'Oh come on, Ron,' exclaimed Harry but immediately lowered his voice when the librarian looked at him. 'We all know that kids are adorable and I just can't wait to have them! I, in fact, want to have one now---'

'Now,' said Ron, looking very surprised. 'You better stay the hell away from my sister… nobody's getting her pregnant! I'm going to bloody kill you even if you are my best friend!' Harry winced.

'I,' interrupted Draco coolly, 'happen to think that children are adorable as well.' Ron raised his eyebrows.

'Everybody likes children,' said Harry.

'Even me,' drawled Draco. Hermione just looked at Draco and Harry, secretly begging them to stop.

'Well, that's probably because you both are an only child. If you grew up with six other siblings, let us see about that! Besides, I want to enjoy my life first. I am still young and there is so much more that I want to see and do,' he said.

'You are a prat, Weasel,' snapped Draco while Hermione just glared at him, before walking away.

'Go to hell, Malfoy,' he snapped back and then looked at Harry, 'What's wrong with him? Anyway, I am not some rich kid like you or Malfoy, who has an account at Gringotts full of galleons. What will I feed my family? I don't have a job. I can't just add another burden to my parents---' He laughed. 'For heavens sake! Why are we talking about this? I am only 17!' He looked at Hermione. 'But you agree with me, right?'

'Yes,' said Hermione weakly. 'You know I do.' She began to stand up which made Ron frown. 'I don't feel so good. I'll just got to bed and rest for awhile---'

'Do you want me to go with you?' asked Ron, taking her hand.

'No, no,' she replied, 'I'll be fine.' And then began walking away from him. Harry looked at Draco, who nodded and then followed Hermione. *******

Draco looked around the hallway and he heard fast and loud steps and sobbing. She can't be very far since he could still hear her. He began to follow the sound. He was certain that it was from Hermione.

'Hermione!' he called, running after her but she didn't stop. 'Hermione! Stop!'

'Go away!' she yelled, 'Just leave me alone!' She continued on running and running until she reached the Quidditch Pitch. She began to look around. She was so tired but she still forced herself to run. She was angry, scared and nervous. This baby will destroy her life. She needs to get rid of it.

'Hermione!' he called once again, running towards her, which caused her to snap out of her thoughts and then continued running around the pitch. She heard him call her name again but she didn't seem to mind. She kept on running and running until she felt two strong arms grab her.

'What the hell do you think you are doing?!!' yelled Draco, looking furious. He was holding her tightly on her arms. 'You are going mad! You know that you can't run! It's cold out here and you are only wearing that?!' She went hysterical at first. But she calmed down and then looked at him helplessly before starting to cry. Draco's face softened and then loosened his grip on her before hugging her. He couldn't blame her.

'You will get through this, Granger,' he said softly. 'Potter and I will be here for you.' She began to look up. 'You know that, right?' He began to let go of her and then sat on the ground. 'Don't you dare do that again, Granger. I'll get you if anything happens to that baby. SERIOUSLY!'

'I---' said Hermione.

'Now,' said Draco, throwing his coat to her. 'Take this with you and get out of my sight! It's cold out here! In! Now!' Hermione smiled at him.

'Thank you, Draco Malfoy,' she said softly.

'Yeah, yeah! Whatever,' he snapped, 'Now, get out of my sight!' Hermione chuckled. 'What the hell is funny?'

'Nothing,' she said, 'Would you like to be a godfather to my baby?' Malfoy smiled a genuine smile.

'I'd think about it,' he said, looking away and trying to hide his genuine smile.

'If you don't want to, just tell me.'

'Fine, fine! I'll be a godfather,' he said, still hiding his smile. 'Now, get out of my sight. That's the least thing that you can do to thank me for saying yes. Besides, I don't bloody care about you but I do care about the little angel inside you. I don't want her or him to get bloody sick.'

'You are right. Let's go inside.' Draco smiled at her and then stood up.

'After you, Ms. Granger,' he said, gesturing for her to go first, which made them both laugh. They went inside the castle, walking silently, when they heard slow and soft footsteps and it belonged to Harry. 'Ah, Potter, it's just you. The very last person that I wanted to see…'

'Hello to you, too, Malfoy.' He looked at Hermione. 'Ron was looking for you, Hermione. He saw Lavender and she told him that you didn't go upstairs---'

'I was just---' said Hermione.

'Hermione!' interrupted Ron, pulling her to his side and then glaring at Draco. Draco just rolled his eyes, sighed and then leaned on the wall. Draco smirked. 'What were you doing with her?!'

'What do you think, Weasel?' he asked, lazily and crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't know what to say and he was panicking deep inside. He looked at Hermione. 'Why don't you tell your little boyfriend here what we were doing.' Ron was glaring at him. He didn't like the sight of Draco and his girlfriend in some dark hallway.

'Ron, will you listen to me?' said Hermione, holding onto his robe. Ron looked at her. 'Draco and I were just talking.' Draco rolled his eyes at this excuse. It wasn't a very good one.

'Draco?' said Ron with raised eyebrows. He contained himself. 'Why are you, all of a sudden, calling him Draco? When did you start calling him that?' Draco and Harry looked at each other. Draco's eyes widened and then swallowed hard. Ron is jealous of him. Hermione was also surprised at this reaction.

'I am Head girl and he is Head Boy, Ron,' said Hermione, softly and taking his hand. 'We had to talk about---'

'I believe you,' said Ron, firmly. 'Let's go.' He placed an arm around her before glaring at Draco, who was smirking. They walked off. Harry was about to follow them when he felt someone gently grab his arm.

'Potter,' said Draco, looking very uncomfortable. 'She's depressed and confused. Please, please look after her and make sure that she won't do anything stupid to herself and the baby.'

'What?' gasped Harry. 'Did she just---'

'Keep an eye on her. You belong in the same house.'

'Of course, Malfoy,' replied Harry, smiling a little. 'I really appreciate you telling me this.'

'Just to clear things up,' said Draco, going back to his old self. 'I am not doing this because I care. It's just that---'

'Yes, Malfoy,' said Harry. 'Whatever you say---'

'By the way, have I told you that I am going to be a godfather to her baby?' asked Draco arrogantly.

'What?! She asked you already?' said Harry, frowning. 'What about me?'

'I don't think so,' replied Draco, smirking. *******

A/N: Thanks so much for reading this! For all of you, who reviewed, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I really appreciate it!

HAKKAI: Well, it did not go pretty well… He's going to be really confused and will get mixed up ideas later on. COSMOZ[You did not leave a name]: Ron won't have a single clue about it… well not in a couple of years… As what I have said, he'll mostly get the wrong ideas or clueless about the matter. ANGELDUST: Thank you so much for the review! REDD BUTTERFLY: Thank you so much for the review. VIOLENT RAGDOLL: Thank you so much for the review! SILVER DRAGON PRINCESS: Yeah! I would definitely like it if you continue that story! Anyway, so you are a swimmer? I love to swim. My best friend is an excellent swimmer. She competes in Freestyle events. You do compete, right? Anyway, I am a soccer player! Defender of the great GOAL! Anyway[again?!], I have been really busy with school too! I am so tired, actually. CHAREINAMI-CHAN: Hey there! I'm so glad to see you! How are you? Are you OK? 5-6 years of medication? I read your bio. By the way, it's really fine with me. You don't actually have to say sorry. You are so funny! Anyway, I just thought that you are Chinese because of your name. I am in fact Chinese-Filipino-Austrian-British who live in the States! I know, it's a lot! Many people find it rather interesting, you know! LOL! So, we are kind of alike! That's really amazing! LOL! I live in San Francisco with my mother[she's Chinese-Filipino] and brother. My relatives in my father's side, including my father, are all in England. I really hope that you get better soon… D4RKSPYDA: Thanks for letting me know! ANGELDUST: Are you the same person? EVILMICELLA: Thanks! F/A means Fred and Angelina. By the way, you are not stupid! JILL: Thank you so much for the review! ANGELDUST: Oh my gosh? I am soooo sorry for not posting right away. I have been really busy with school and sports. I am really really tired…. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVEIWS! I really appreciate it. The reviews make me want to continue this story! SMILE! You are so nice!

THANKS AGAIN! I really hope that you liked this chapter! SMILE ALWAYS PEOPLE!