Chapter 10 - To be or not to be

~31/2 WEEKS LATER~

'Today we will be making a switching potion. Please get out the ingredients you see on the board.' He swished his wand and chalked noted began appearing on the board.

'Have you ever heard Snape say please?' Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione.

'Nope, Something must be up.' Harry answered.

'That's for sure. I saw him kissing the new professor in the entranceway.' Hermione whispered back.

Professor Birch, she actually KISSED him?' Ron's face was screwed up in a grimace of disgust.

'Yep.' Hermione nodded.

'Now class can anyone tells me what potion it is that we are brewing and its properties?' Snape stopped the small talk.

'Ms. Granger.' Snape said.

'We are brewing a Polyjuice potion. It allows the drinker to become someone else for one hour. The drinker must add a bit of the person they wish to turn into before drinking the potion.'

'Very nice Ms. Granger. Now start brewing. You have one hour to prepare this potion. Malfoy how many days does this potion take to brew?' Snape asked as he saw Draco laughing out of the side of his mouth.

'It takes a month Professor.' Draco said.

'Yes, 5 points to Slytherin and Gryffindor.' He said.

The Gryffindor's look bewildered.

'Now start brewing.' He sat at his desk and sighed.

'Did professor Snape just sigh?' Harry asked as he start to light his cauldron fire.

'Yep, HE has a classic case of being in love!' Hermione almost gagged.

The two boys laughed.

~After class~

'Ebony, what's wrong?' Hermione asked.

'You totally ignored us in class.' She finished.

'Well, Draco!' Ebony said.

'What's wrong?'

'Well last weekend we were getting together and well his cock was about

She held her fingers about an inch apart.

'Are you for real?' Ron asked.

'Yeah, I'm for real. It was really hilarious and uncomforting at the same time. That curse is only a curse another female witch can do. I'm sort of upset because he's been going around seeing other people.' Ebony said.

'It's okay. Ebony let's go my room. We need a little girl time. Okay?' Hermione asked.

'Yeah okay.' Ebony answered.

The two girls went up to Hermione's room.

'Yo Dean come here!' Ron yelled down the table.

'What do you want Weasley?'

'Just come here you dolt.' He said.

'Whatever, What do you want.'

'You know Ebony right. The new girl?' Ron asked

'Yeah, She is so… Mmm' Dean said.

'Well she dumped Ferret Boy. She is totally free.'

'Where is she man?' Dean asked.

'Upstairs With Hermione I wouldn't bother them now until dinner. Anyway I'll see you later.' Ron got up to follow Harry out the Great Hall.

~In Hermione's room~

'Ebony, I was the one who put that curse on Malfoy. Don't freak or anything. I want to explain.' Hermione said.

'Okay Explain away.' Ebony said.

'Well almost a month ago Ron and Harry were having that fights right. Well a couple nights before the wedding Ron was really upset so he went to bed early. So I hung around for a bit then went upstairs. I was in my room maybe 5 minutes when Ron walked in and well we entertained each other. Well the next morning I woke up to find your boyfriend in my bed. I screamed and Harry came in just after I cursed Malfoy. I was disgusted. I promised myself I wouldn't tell Ron, so could you please not tell him?' Hermione asked.

'Yeah I won't tell him. I can't believe he was such a moron. He obviously needed someone else but me. I'm glad I dumped him.' Ebony said.

'I hope you are. Just remember that not guys here are like that. It's only Slytherins.' Hermione said.

'Yeah I bet it is.'

'Well let's go downstairs. We wouldn't want to miss lunch would we.'

'Considering that today we have no classes and that lunch is 2 hours away I don't think we have a chance to miss lunch Herm.' Ebony laughed.

'I know. Let's go.' She laughed too.

~At lunch~

'Hey Ebony, this is Dean Tomas.'

'Hello, Ebony Haskrewed.' Ebony introduced herself.

'Hey.'

'Dean's from up north, he speaks French too.' Harry said.

'Tu parle français?'

'Oui. Ebony, tu est très belle.'

'Merci beaucoup. Tu est très beau aussi.'

'Merci.'

Harry and Ginny walked out of the Great Hall waving at Ebony and Dean.

'OI! Tomas get the hell away from my woman.' Draco spat at Dean as he entered the hall.

'Your woman inch boy? Get a life!' dean said.

Ebony laughed as they exited the hall.

Draco stared after Ebony.

'SHIT!' he swore loudly.

'What was that about Drakey?' Pansy asked as she attached herself to his arm.

'Nothing.' He said.

'Drakey don't lie to me.' She said.

'I said it was NOTHING! Now let's go.' He said.

'Fine.' Pansy pouted.

~That night at dinner~

'So what have you too been up to all day?' Hermione asked Dean.

'Nothing WE spent most of our day talking in the library. What you guys do?'

'Um nothing.'

'Read a book'

'Had a nap.'

'Studied.' Were some of the answers he got.

'Interesting.' He said.

'Yeah it is.'

Hermione looked at her food and turned green.

'Hermione you okay?' Ron asked.

'No- bathroom.' She got and was half way across the hall when Harry saw he fall

'OH MY GODS Ron. Let's get her to the hospital wing.'

Ron nodded and lifted her into his arms.

~Hospital Wing~

'Madam Pomfrey, Are you here?' Harry yelled.

'What is it Mr. Potter? Oh dear. Put her on this bed Mr. Weasley.' The nurse pointed to an empty bed.

'Now everyone out, you may see her tomorrow. OUT!' she said.

They left the wing.

'I hope she's all right.' Ebony said as she squeezed Dean's hand.

* 'DAMN DRACO!' * Ebony thought.

~THE NEXT DAY~

'Hermione, you awake?' Ron asked.

'Umm Yes I am. Now Ron come back to bed.' She said.

'Honey I can't, we're not in your room.' Ron said.

'Where am I?' she asked.

'In the hospital.' Ron whispered.

'WHY?' she yelled.

'Honey don't freak out. Your pregnant.'

'WHAT?' she screamed.

'Pregnant.'

'RON! How did this happen we were always careful! NO!' she started to sob.

'Mr. Weasley, I think it best if you leave for a while. Hermione will be in classes this afternoon if she feels better. Good day.' Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

'Yes see you sweetie.' Ron exited the wing and retreated to his dorm.

~LATER THAT NIGHT! ~

'TO be or not to be that is the question.' Hermione said. She sat in her bed and was crying.

'Hamlet had it all right! What's good in life? My life is a total mistake.' Hermione dried her eyes and picked up the glass on her bedside table.

'Should I?' she looked into the goblet. It was a poison she had found in the hospital wing when Madam Pomfrey had fallen asleep last night.

'NO, Ron needs me. My baby needs me! What would Harry and Ron do if I killed myself.' She threw the goblet towards her fireplace and watched it burn and then fell into a dreamless sleep.