A/N: Hi all! This would be part 8. I have been putting off writing it, because I am dreading what I am about to say. Dark Crystal, most likely, is ending. Depending on the response I get from this chapter, of course. So R/R, and if you guys really love it, then I will continue.



Hermione and Snape continued to kiss, oblivious to the person standing in the doorway, until he cleared his throat. Hermione pulled away from Snape, startled. When Hermione spotted him, she uttered a soft scream. Snape looked at him, guilt written all over his face. Dumbledore stood in the doorway, surveying the lovers with an amused smile.
"Severus, you need not worry. I know all about you two." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and Snape visibly relaxed, pulling Hermione close to him. She quickly settled in his embrace, and they looked at Dumbledore. "Trust me, I have no problem with it, as long as you don't go TOO far. Hermione is only in her sixth year, but I have news for her too." Hermione turned her face and buried it in Severus' robes, reddening violently. She wondered if Dumbledore knew what they did the other day...
"Well, what news have you come to bring us?" Snape smiled down at Hermione, who had pulled her face out of his robes.
"Severus, we have postponed council for several days, so other teachers can get ready. And Hermione, several of your professors and I got together, and after reviewing your grades, and getting special permission from the Ministry of Magic, you are allowed to graduate this year." Hermione squealed and Severus covered his ear.
"Ow." Hermione leaned over and kissed his ear gently, and he turned his face to meet hers. As they were about to kiss, Dumbledore cleared his throat again.
"Sorry, Professor." Hermione mumbled, going several shades of red. Severus leaned over to stroke her hair gently.
"Now, Hermione, we also got special permission for you to stay in Severus' spare bedroom so you can continue your studies." Hermione went even redder, and Severus smiled. "Studies, ONLY, you two." Dumbledore was smiling. They nodded at him, and he took his leave. Hermione grabbed Snape and kissed him, and when they broke apart, she got ready to move her stuff down into the dungeons. Too bad the spare bedroom wouldn't be used that often...

Several days later, Hermione was happily moved in, Snape was happy, but Ron was not. He took the invisibility cloak, grabbed Harry, and headed down to the dungeons. It was very dark, and Harry just wanted to sleep, but Ron wouldn't let him. It was around midnight when they found Snape's office, and whispered the password. They both knew it from days of detention in there. The picture sprung open, and they went in.
Harry wanted to look around, but Ron led him straight to the bedroom, and silently opened the door. One look told them all they wanted to know. Hermione was there, sleeping with Snape. Harry surveyed the scene, wide eyed.
Hermione was nestled next to Snape, who was smiling in his sleep. Their arms were slung around each other, and they were both sound asleep. Ron started moving toward the bed, and a board squeaked under his foot. Hermione moaned and moved closer to Snape. That caused Snape to wake up, and when he woke up, Hermione woke up.
"Hermione? What's wrong?" Snape pulled her closer, and she smelled the familiar cologne, and instantly relaxed.
"Nothing...nothing at all." She put her arms around his neck and pulled him close. They started to kiss, and Harry and Ron wrinkled their noses in disgust. They moved to leave. No way they were staying there to watch those two snog it out. Hermione heard them leave, and pulled away from Snape to follow them.
Hermione followed Harry and Ron up to Gryffindor Tower and into the boys dorm. When they took off the cloak, they saw Hermione standing by the door, her arms crossed across her chest, staring at them. Harry and Ron immediately turned red and started mumbling, but never met her eye. They stared down at the floor the whole time.
Hermione looked at them distastefully, as if they were something on the bottom of her shoe. They didn't look at her, and without a word, she spun on her heel and left the dorm room. They watched her stride through the common room and out the picture hole, then looked at each other.
"Oh, shit." Harry looked at Ron, worry written on his face.

Hermione woke up the next morning to a nauseous feeling in her stomach. She ran straight to the bathroom and threw up. Severus walked in a moment later, yawning and attempting to look worried at the same time. It would have been comical had Hermione not been vomiting the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.
Hermione stayed in bed for several days, vomiting for the most part. Severus tried to get her to eat, but the mere sight of food made her sick. He taught his classes, most of which were disrupted by the sounds of vomiting from the bedroom. After 4 days of this, Hermione was finally persuaded by Severus to go to the hospital wing.
He escorted her there during lunch, then left for the meal, leaving Hermione with Madam Pomfrey. He couldn't help but worry the whole time he was there, and left early to check on her. When he arrived at the hospital wing, he was told by Madam Pomfrey that Hermione was absolutely fine, but she was in the bathroom throwing up, and they she would explain the whole thing to both of them when Hermione was finished.
10 minutes later, Hermione came out, a weak grimace on her face. She noticed Severus, sitting on the end of the bed, and slowly walked over to him, allowing him to pull her over. He noticed she hardly acted like herself. He was worried, and he voiced this.
"Severus, Hermione, you two need not worry." Madam Pomfrey stood in front of them suddenly, a glass of water in her hand. She gave it to Hermione, who accepted it gratefully.
"Well, what's wrong with her?" Severus looked at Madam Pomfrey anxiously. Hermione looked at her blankly, like she was falling asleep.
"She's pregnant." Snape stared, mouth agape, at Madam Pomfrey.
"WHAT?" Hermione, finally coming out of her reverie, was just as disbelieving. She fixed Madam Pomfrey with an incredulous stare.
"Hermione, you're pregnant. Less than a month along, as far as I can tell." Severus pulled her even closer.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey. We'll be going now." Severus helped her up and braced her with his arm.
"Be sure to take good care of her, Severus! She's just a young girl! Her body can't handle this as well as a grown woman! Make sure she eats and drinks, and gets plenty of rest!"
"I will, I swear!" Severus shook his head, and walked Hermione to Dumbledore's office.

"Sherbet Lemon." Snape said the password to the office absentmindedly, more concerned with Hermione. She seemed to be a little out of it. He led her onto the stairs, and into the office.
"Ahhhhh, Severus and Hermione! What brings you here?" Severus looked at him and Hermione stared straight ahead. He assumed it was because of something Madam Pomfrey gave her.
"Albus, we've just been to see Madam Pomfrey, and she told us something..." Dumbledore cut him off.
"I know what she's told you...Hermione's pregnant. I thought I told you none of that, Severus!" Dumbledore regarded the stammering professor with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Professor, this occured BEFORE you came to see us." Severus looked anxious.
"It's ok, Severus. No need to be worried! I knew it happened, and I knew Hermione would get pregnant." He held up his hand to silence Severus, who was about to say something. "Just make sure she gets her rest, and keep her up to date in her school work."
"Ok, Professor...I'll be sure to do that." With that, Severus left, guiding Hermione, who was beginning to come out of her reverie, but was still deep enough not to know where she was going.


For the next couple days, Hermione and Severus talked about baby names and other baby things. They were working in the potions lab off the bedroom when the thought struck Hermione. She dropped the vial she was holding and began to cry.
"Hermione? What's wrong?" Snape set down his beaker and wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hair gently. She didn't answer for a while, but when she did, the question rocked him to his very soul.
"Severus? What if the baby is Ron's?"



A/N: Good question. What IF the baby is Ron's? Aren't cliffhangers great? Ron and Hermione did....um....*clears her throat* You all know what I mean...anyway, it was only about a month or less ago.*laughs sadistically, then stops and stares at the keyboard* Sadly to say, my own niece was born several days ago, and died shortly thereafter. If you want to send condolences in your review, please don't say you know how I feel, because you don't. So, back to the story, I have decided not to end it right at the moment, because most of my family is suffering from emotional breakdowns, and I am no exception. This is the only thing helping me through it, so the story can't end until I am emotionally stable again.

*wanders away to stare out the window* That's all from this end right now... *stops talking as her voice breaks*

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or anybody from that world. Perfect, wonderful J.K Rowling, whose baby probably won't die, because nothing like that happens to rich people, owns it. *is too depressed to write an adequate disclaimer*