Chapter 15: Pertinuis Accido

            "Well, I got it for yer," said Gregory Goyle, handing Millicent Bulstrode a thick book. "It wasn't easy to get. I had to sneak it out when he wasn't looking. What do yer want it for anyway?"

            Millicent flipped it open and smirked. It was the right book. "You're too stupid to understand anyway Goyle." She said smoothly.

            Goyle clenched his pudgy fists in anger. "Watch it, Bulstrode."

            "Oooh, is Greggers angry?" said Millicent, batting her eyelids at him. "Don't be diddums. You know I'll make this worth your while."

            Goyle grinned, "How about now?"

            "Patience, Greggers. Anticipation is half the fun." she said, walking quickly away.

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            Since she had made up her mind, Hermione was determined to tell Harry about how she felt about Draco. However, it was almost impossible to find Harry alone. He was extremely popular and was always busy with something or the other. It didn't help that wherever he went, Ron seemed to go to. Furthermore, what with her own Head's duties, extra-credit Mediwizard courses and studying for the NEWTS, Hermione herself rarely had any time to herself either. It was already the middle of February and Hermione was beginning to worry that she would never find the right moment to tell him.

            Ginny was being very understanding and patient, as she always had been, and kept Hermione's secret well. Ginny herself had enrolled for a few extra-credit courses so she was extra busy as well.

            Finally, her chance came when she noticed Harry alone. One Sunday morning, she heard him tell Ginny and Ron that he was going to take his Firebolt 3.0 and go to the Quidditch field alone. She knew that it wasn't Quidditch season yet which could mean only one thing- that Harry was going to be flying solo for some relaxation. Quickly, she stood up from her place in the Great Hall where she had been studying.

A wave of nausea gripped her and she had to sit down again. Darn she thought I must be really nervous about telling Harry if I can feel this sick about it. She thought she was going to throw up. Don't throw up. Not here. Not now she told herself, looking around at all the other students in the hall studying or playing board games.

"You okay, Hermione?" asked Ron in concern. "You look a bit green."

"Yes," gulped Hermione, returning to her normal colour. "Stood up too fast. I was concentrating pretty hard on that History of Magic article."

"Want me to accompany you to the toilet?" asked Ginny.

"No, that's fine. I'll see you back in a few minutes. I just wanted to check a book out of the library."

"Another one, Hermione? But you've already maxed out on your book borrowing limit."

"Madam Pince increased my borrowing limit by three books when I asked her too."

Ron rolled his eyes. "That's our Hermione!" Ginny agreed with him.

Now that the wave of nausea had passed, Hermione hurried out onto the Quidditch field after Harry. She sat down on the grass and looked up into the sky. There was Harry, a small speck flying in the sky. She loved watching Harry fly- he was so strong, so powerful and fast. Of course, Draco was good too- but in a completely different way, he was quick and agile and flew in a very alert fashion. Although Harry had initially managed to catch the Snitch in every single game against Slytherin, in the last two years, the score was about even between him and Draco.

She saw the little speck grow larger and saw Harry wave at her.

She waved enthusiastically back.

            Harry did a couple of swirls more in the air, god that is so bloody dangerous she thought and shuddered. She had never been confident on the broomstick. Then Harry swooped down onto the snow beside her. He was flushed and panting, the cold late-winter air had added redness to his cheeks.

            "Hi 'Mione!" he puffed.

            "Hi Harry!" she said, affectionately adjusting his cloak which had become all tangled up from the fast flying.

            "Come to watch me fly?" Harry asked, looking at her with those cool green eyes of his.

            "Well…sort of. It was stuffy up there in the hall."

            "Hey, you know Hermione, you should really take a turn on this broomstick. You've never really learned how to fly properly even after six years here!"

            "Harry…"

            "And you've never even tried out my new Firebolt!" said Harry, now on a roll "Come on 'Mione! I tell you what, I'll take you on a short ride. Nothing scary. The winter air on your cheeks will do you good. You used to fly with me when we were in lower school, but lately you haven't done it for ages."

            Hermione thought about her wave of nausea earlier on. She really thought that some fresh air would do her good. Flying would be quite safe with Harry, she looked forward to feeling the wind in her face.

            She laughed and stood up. "Sure, for old times' sake. Hope Ginny won't be jealous."

            "Ginny? No way! I think it's Ron we have to worry about!" Harry chuckled.

            "Now, sit tight, Mione. Put your arms around my waist…and up we go!"

            Harry started off the flight slowly. He did a couple of large loops around the Quidditch field. Hermione had forgotten how scary it was to be nearly a hundred metres off the ground. She clutched Harry tighter.

            "Don't be scared!" she heard Harry's voice float back to her in the wind. "I'll go real slow!"

            "OK" she called back. Soon she began to relax. Harry took them on a round of the castle. She looked at the beautiful surrounding countryside. Harry was gathering a little speed, but still keeping it slow, knowing how prone Hermione was to vertigo. She used one hand to wave at Lavender who was looking out of the lower windows of the castle.

            "Not too high!" she shouted, as he went a little higher.

            "Okay!" he called back. "This okay?"

            "Yes."

            "What?"

            YES" she yelled. It was getting difficult to talk as he flew a bit faster. She was enjoying herself. Then she remembered what she had come out here for in the first place. They made another slow round of the castle and she waved to Lavender as they went round again.

            "HARRY" she shouted into his ear.

            "WHAT?" he called back.

            "I have something to tell you. We-need-to-talk" she said in a rush against the wind.

            "What?" Harry said. "Speak more SLOWLY."

            "I said, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU" said Hermione loudly.

At that moment, Harry turned his head around to hear better.

The broom stick swayed slightly.

Hermione felt the wave of nausea return. She felt a bit lightheaded. She looked at the ground fifty feet below her

Oh my god, I'm going to throw up on Harry she thought.

Her hands automatically went from around Harry's waist to her mouth.

"'Mione! Hold on to me!" yelled Harry. What the heck was that girl doing?!

Instinctively, he quickly began lowering the broom to the ground.

"Hold on to me!"

Suddenly, the thing he knew might happen, happened. He felt Hermione slip off the broom behind him. They were only fifteen feet from the ground now. He a soft heard thud as she hit the ground below him.

"Hermione!" he yelled as he landed and ran to her.

It was still winter and the thankfully there was some snow left which cushioned her fall. She was lying sideways on the snow, deathly pale with her eyes closed.

"HERMIONE! WAKE UP!" he sad, rubbing her arms frantically. He didn't think she was dead, but she looked in a bad way. Harry felt really bad. But she let go of my waist! He reasoned with himself. I really didn't go that fast did I?

"Oh my god, oh shit shit shit." Harry cursed as he performed a mobilicorpus spell and rushed her into the hospital wing.

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            Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey was bustling about in the hospital wing when they arrived.

            "Oh my goodness, Mr Potter. What happened to Miss Granger?"

            "She-She had a fall off my broomstick." Said Harry. "I was going really low and slow and-and she-she suddenly l-let go! Is she all right?" he said.

            Madam Pomfrey busied herself putting Hermione's unconscious form to bed and applied a sweet smelling ointment under her nose. In a moment, Hermione's eyelids flickered and she gave a groan. Harry felt himself go faint with relief. Madam Pomfrey gave her something to drink then drew the curtains around her bed and turned angrily on Harry.

            "Well! Mr Potter, I must say that it was very irresponsible of you to fly so dangerously!" Madam Pomfrey said angrily.

            Harry turned red. "B-But Madam Pomfrey… I wasnn't flying dangerously at all! She let go of me for no reason! I swear!"

            "Riight, that's what I hear all the time. You don't think as nurse here for all these years I don't know what tricks you Quidditch players get up to in the air? Mr Potter, I've seen such horrendous accidents…when will you foolish young boys learn to fly safe? But oh no, it's always faster and higher with you all." She was just going to launch into one of her long lectures when she was interrupted by the arrival of Professor McGonagall accompanied by a very frightened looking Lavender Brown.

            "Is she all right, Poppy?" asked McGonagall in concern for her favourite student.

            "Thankfully yes. Just had a little shock, she'll be up soon once I check her for any internal injuries." replied Madam Pomfrey. "Professor, young Mr Potter here…he…"

            "It's all right, Poppy." said the stern looking witch giving Harry a sharp look over the rims of her spectacles. "Miss Brown here witnessed the entire accident and I have it on good authority from her that Mr Potter was flying well within the school safety limits."

            "Well!" said Madam Pomfrey, eyeing Harry apologetically, "You'll forgive me if I had my doubts about you Quidditch players! A daredevil lot you tend to be."

            Harry nodded, giving Lavender a grateful look.

            "Well, now that everything seems to be in order, I must ask you Mr Potter and Miss Brown, to accompany me back to the Gryffindor rooms and let Miss Granger rest. And Mr Potter, you will be banned from flying for a week because, within safety limits or not, you failed to look after Miss Granger's safety."

            Harry nodded, grateful at the light punishment.

            "When can I visit her?" he asked Madam Pomfrey as the nurse showed them out.

            "Ooh, I'd say later today Mr Potter. And if I were you I'd bring her some chocolate, she will need it after that shock."

            Madam Pomfrey was glad to have all the people out of the way. She was a mediwitch who firmly believed in peace and quiet for recovering patients. Besides Hermione, there were only two other patients in the Hospital Wing today, both Second Years who had winter colds.

            She hurried back to Hermione and was pleased to find the young witch sitting up and looking much better.

            "I'm so silly, Madam Pomfrey. Don't blame Harry. I felt a bit nauseous and let go of him on the broom. He was flying very safely, it was my fault." Hermione explained worriedly.

            "Yes, my dear. Don't worry. Miss Brown saw the whole thing and explained it to Professor McGonagall. Now you just lie back and let me check you for any internal injuries."

            Hermione leaned back relieved that Harry would not get into trouble. She really felt much better now.

            "Miss Granger, can you tell me the spell to use to check for internal injuries?"

            Hermione smiled and confidently repeated the spell. She remembered when she had last performed it successfully.

            "Very good. You are doing very well in your mediwitch courses" said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. "Now, lie back."

            As Hermione lay down, Madam Pomfrey performed the spell and she watched as the blue light crept softly up Hermione's body. NO! Madam Pomfrey thought. It can't be!

            "Madam Pomfrey? Is everything all right? Should the spell take this long" asked Hermione after the nurse had been silent for a few minutes.

            "Y-Yes, dearie. Just relax. I'm going to do it one more time to make sure I got it right."

            Madam Pomfrey watched as the blue light crept up Hermione's body and again turned golden as it passed her mid-section. There was no mistake. She covered Hermione up with the sheets and tucked her in. The nurse drew up a chair and sat down beside Hermione.

            "Dear child," she said gently to Hermione.

            "What is it?" asked Hermione anxiously. "Am I hurt?"

            The nurse smiled at her and petted her hair. "No my dear. You are quite well. In fact, you are very lucky that nothing happened to you in that fall because…well, did you know that you are pregnant?"