A week or so later, Ron and Ginny were playing a game of Wizarding Chess in the common room; Harry was serving a detention and wouldn't be back until well after midnight.

"You're being lazy," Ginny commented as she attacked his last knight with a mere pawn.

"I'm just being nice and letting you win," he countered. "Queen, F-6."

"Either that or I'm finally better at chess than you."

Ron snorted. "Highly unlikely."

"Maybe you just want your child's name to be Virginia," Ginny said, reminding him of their bet.

"He's a boy. And maybe I'm just distracted by what I went through last night. Maybe I'm trying to decide whether to go into therapy or to just kick Harry out a window."

""What, you walking in on me and Harry is bad?" Ginny laughed. "Oh, please. You and Hermione are sleeping together-"

Ron turned bright red.

"-and Harry and I were being tame. All my buttons were done up, after all."

"That didn't deter from his hand being under your shirt." Ron sighed. "Look, Mum told me to watch out for you, and-"

"Did she now?" Ginny's face froze, and her eyes iced over.

"Er . . ." Ron seemed to recognize he was in a mess. "It's just that you're only sixteen, and . . ."

"I'll be seventeen in four months, and Harry will be eighteen in five. I think we're as adult as you and Hermione were last August."

Ron's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?" he demanded.

"What do you think I'm saying?" Ginny knew the answer perfectly well, but she wanted Ron to work for it.

"That you and Harry . . . Er . . ." He shuddered. "Have . . . Done what . . . Hermione and I have done."

Ginny loved making him uncomfortable. "That depends. What have you and Hermione done? Give me a list, and we can compare notes."

"Things you and Harry shouldn't do. Ever," Ron gritted out.

"Oh." Ginny pretended to have come to an epiphany. "You mean . . . sex?"

"Yes." Ron grimaced. "You and Harry have been together for - what? - two weeks?"

"You and Hermione weren't even dating when you two had sex," Ginny pointed out, spitting the word 'sex' out pointedly.

"Damn it, Ginny!"

Ginny laughed. "Relax, my dear brother. Harry and I haven't done that." She paused and couldn't resist adding: ". . . Yet."

"I'm warning you-"

"Ron, cool it," Ginny said. "I'm only trying to get a rise out of you."

"Checkmate."

Ginny watched as her king was pulverized. She said thoughtfully, "Hmm. I guess you were paying attention."

Hermione suddenly appeared, having come from the library. She sat down beside Ron and gave him a chaste kiss.

"We, darling, are very lucky," Ron announced as he began to put his chess pieces away. "We nearly had to name our child Virginia."

"We bet on our game to make it more interesting," Ginny explained at Hermione's confused look. "If I won, you guys would have named the baby Virginia."

Hermione looked irritated, so Ron quickly explained his motives. "I always win at chess, so I thought there was no risk . . ."

"I wouldn't have really made you name the baby Virginia," Ginny added.

"Ugh!" Hermione finally exclaimed. "Can't we have one conversation without mentioning the baby? It's getting on my nerves."

Ron and Ginny exchanged stunned looks. "Er . . . Of course," Ron stuttered.

"It's not like I'm not always thinking about the baby," Hermione ranted. "I'd like a break every once in awhile, you know. Talk about normal teenage things."

"Okay, sure," Ron said quickly. "There are thousands - millions - of other things to talk about."

"I learned how to use a paralyzing spell in Defense today," Ginny said. She winked at Hermione. "I think that one would be fun to give out. Useful on enemies and . . . er . . ." She shot a wary look at Ron. "Other people." Like Harry, she added to herself mentally.

Hermione chuckled. "I'll keep that one in mind. It could come up with some interesting times."

"Don't think I don't know what you guys are saying," Ron put in, ears red.

They ignored him. "Do you need any help in any of your classes?" Hermione asked Ginny. "My studying for NEWT's is going well, and I'd love to be of some use."

"I'm doing fine. Not excellent, but decent. Harry's doing terribly in Potions though. I had to practically rewrite his last essay. You might want to give him a bit of advice. Don't tell him I said anything though." Ginny didn't want Harry mad at her. She was having too much fun spending all of her free time with him.

"Of course I won't."

Ron tapped his hand against the table, looking bored. He picked up his chess pieces and the board. "I'm going to see if Dean or Seamus wants to play chess with me. I'll be back later."

After Ron left, Ginny went to sit next to Hermione. She smiled at her friend mysteriously. "I've got a present for you. Ordered it for you a few weeks ago."

"What is it?" Hermione's interest perked.

Ginny reached under her textbooks and pulled out a thick catalogue. She'd barely been able to wait to give it to Hermione. "Wicked Bride, the best bridal magazine in England."

Hermione's eyes lit up in a way that Ginny hadn't seen for awhile. She took the catalogue reverently. "I hadn't even thought of . . ."

"Planning a wedding, I know," Ginny said. "We can look through this and pick out wedding gowns. We'll be like every other teenage girl for once. Only, unlike them, you're actually getting married."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I feel much older than seventeen sometimes."

"Mentally, you're a sixty-year-old." Ginny pointed at the book. "Look on page 123 - there's a to-die-for gown. If I had that many galleons, I'd buy it and keep it my closet to look at every day. No need for a wedding."

Hermione obligingly turned to the page. "You know," she said slyly, "Harry could probably afford a gown like this."

"Oh, please." Ginny laughed at the thought. "I mean, I love Harry, I really do, but I'm not marrying him for at least two more years."

"Yeah, till you get knocked up the day before seventh year begins," Hermione said dryly.

"Ha ha. I'm also not going to sleep with him anytime soon, so that possibility is out. I know exactly what I want and need. I'm not going to let a few measly hormones change my mind."

"That was my problem," Hermione said wistfully. "I had my career and academics planned out . . . But never my actual life."

"I'm just a modern girl; there's no need for jealousy. Besides, you can thank yourself. I learned from you. Not that having a baby during school isn't wonderful . . . I just know that I couldn't handle it all; not the way you can. I think it's safer to just wait until Harry and I are both out of school and able to really have a relationship." Her attention wavered. "Oh, look at that gown! Isn't it scrumptious?"

"Scrumptious?" Hermione mocked.

Ginny laughed. "Doesn't that word just tickle you to death? I love it."

"Being with you is so easy. You have a zest for life that makes me jealous. But I love you anyway."

Ginny grinned. Zest for life . . . She liked the sound of that.

Hermione yawned. "I think I'm going to get some sleep." She held up the bridal magazine. "Thank you for this. It really means a lot."

"Oh, no worries. Just promise to let me help plan the wedding. I'm an expert on romance."

"Deal." Hermione smiled at Ginny before getting up to say good night to Ron.

Ginny picked up the book she had been reading before Ron had interrupted her to play a game of chess. She decided to stay up and greet Harry when he came in.

* * * * *

The next morning Hermione woke up extremely agitated. She had gotten barely any sleep the night before, and the sleep she did get had been haunted by nightmares. There was an especially disturbing and vivid one where she gave birth to the three stooges. She didn't want to know why her subconscious came up with that one.

Then, to top it all, she woke to hear Lavender bragging to Parvati about how far she'd gone with Seamus last night.

Hermione's nerves were all on end. She stood up loudly and threw the curtains around her bed opened. "Will you two shut it? It's Saturday, and I want to sleep in a bit."

Lavender looked surprised. "Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed."

Parvati grinned. "I think she's just jealous of you, Lavender. Is Ron not giving you the hanky panky, Hermione? Or are you just not accepting it?"

Hermione laughed dryly, shaking her head. "If only you knew."

That perked their ears. "Ooh, Hermione's got a secret," Lavender said, clapping her hands eagerly.

"Do tell," Parvati added.

"Tell? You want to know everything?" Hermione was brimming with the need to tell them; get them to shut up and all.

The two nodded simultaneously. Hermione knew that they thought this was going to be good. Hermione was acting strangely, she knew.

"Ron and I have had sex more times than your combined IQ's," Hermione began matter-of-factly. "We've gone farther than your little escapade with Seamus. A lot farther. Oh. And, Parvati? Up against the wall isn't really as exotic as you thought."

The two stared in shock at Hermione's blunt use of words. They had severely underestimated her.

Then Parvati shook her head. "Uh-uh. You're making it up, Granger."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"You would swear on your lip gloss-" she spat the word scathingly "-that I'm lying?"

Parvati tried to look amused at the insult and nodded.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Maybe it wasn't the best of circumstances, but she couldn't keep up the façade much longer. She'd gained thirty pounds, her breasts were now a D-cup, and she was three months away from a due date. There was no way she could hide this much longer as it was, so why not come out with it?

Hermione untied her dressing gown and let it drop to the floor. "Well then this baby must be the Immaculate Conception," she said bitingly. She relished in the looks on Lavender and Parvati's faces. "That's right. It wasn't Harry or Ginny or even Malfoy with the pregnancy. I'm going on seven months now. Ginny and Harry were just kind enough to take the limelight away from me for awhile."

"Oh my wand," Parvati managed.

"This is so cool!" Lavender squealed. She jumped up and pressed a hand to Hermione's bump. "Does it kick yet?"

"Yeah - it's just a bit sleepy now."

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Parvati asked, joining Lavender in feeling Hermione's belly.

"I have no idea. I want it to be a surprise."

"Aw . . . This is so precious," Parvati whispered, smiling. "This is why you've been so secretive this year."

"Sort of."

"Is this why you lost Head Girl?"

"Partly." Hermione winced. "I officially lost the title because I skipped class, but in reality they didn't want a pregnant girl as a role model. I understand where they're coming from though."

"That's awful," Lavender said. "You didn't have to hide it from everyone."

"I wasn't ready for the malicious gossip that I know will come from this. In fact I'm not so sure I'm ready now."

"Don't you bat an eyelash, Hermione," Lavender said sincerely. "We're the queens of gossip at this school, and we're going to make sure not one bad thing is said about you."

"Of course we won't," Parvati agreed. "After all, we've lived together for seven years, Hermione. We're all practically sisters."

Hermione's shock left her dumbfounded and speechless. "This is . . . Well, I never expected this to happen," she admitted.

* * * * *

Ginny was sitting with Harry that Saturday morning. He was showing her the old charts he'd made in Astronomy the year before, and she in exchange was helping him with his Divination homework.

"See, Hermione found this spell where you can make the stars glitter. It adds something to the paper, don't you think? I can't remember it exactly though. Ron and I loved that spell. We enchanted everything to glitter. The back of Hermione's robes - Malfoy's hair - you remember?"

Ginny nodded. "Malfoy's hair was a great one. Shouldn't have been so mean to Hermione though."

Harry smiled at her.

"What?"

"Nothing. You're just fun to look at."

"Mmm . . . Good thing you didn't say funny."

Harry leaned towards her. "Yeah, good thing."

"Oh." Ginny pulled back from the kiss. "I nearly forgot. I was talking to Ron yesterday, and I think we should have some fun with him."

"Fun, how?" Harry was moody at missing out on the kiss.

"I don't know. Maybe letting him 'accidentally' walk in on us. You know, in our deepest throes of passion."

"You know too many words related to sex, Gin."

"None of my other boyfriends complain."

"Other boyfriends, eh?" Harry considered. "Who's my competition?"

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Ginny whispered in his ear.

Harry groaned. "You're already killing me, Ginny. Very, very thoroughly."

"I like that kind of talk. Puts me in the mood."

"Really? The mood for what?" Harry asked hopefully.

"The mood for - oh want . . ."

"I thought we were calling it my special friend. Wand is nice. Firebolt is kind of rustic-"

"No, Harry." She gulped. "Look."

Harry turned around and felt his gut tighten. For the first time in months, Hermione was coming down to the common room without her robes on. She was wearing jeans and a shirt that didn't even begin to hide her bulging stomach. She was sandwiched between Lavender and Parvati - both of whom were shooting death glares at anyone who dared to gape.

"Guess that means Malfoy won't be the outcast anymore," Harry mumbled.

Ginny shook her head. "You would think of him-"

Harry glared. "Don't finish that thought."

"Sorry, doll. Just teasing." Ginny winked, and then she quickly looked back at Hermione. "Oy! Hermione! Get over here."

Hermione obliged. She smiled nervously as she sat down. "What are you thinking?"

"You never care what people think," Ginny teased.

"Yes, but you're my friends. My friends are one step above the commoners."

"We're touched." Harry patted her arm, sobering. "I think it's brave." He thought, then added, "You did make it clear that Ron wants the baby, right? I know how the population gets, and it's not fun for the guy."

"I'm sure they know. Ron and I are engaged, and everyone knows about that. Besides, Lavender and Parvati are being very supportive. They've sworn to keep gossip at bay."

Harry and Ginny looked doubtful.

"I know," Hermione said. "But they're really serious about this. I can read people pretty well, and they're dead serious."

"Forgive me for being forthright," Ginny said, trailing off. "But you're huge. I could have sworn you were a size seven only yesterday."

"Ginny," Harry hissed.

"No, it's fine. I'm not mad. In the third trimester mood swings start to fade. I've been much more temperamental lately." Hermione sighed. "It only gets worse. I'm going to put on more weight in the next three months because the baby is gaining body fat. And I keep eating all the time. Speaking of which, I'm starved."

Harry checked his wrist watch. "Lunch starts in twenty minutes." He gave her a sidelong glance. "Are you sure-"

"Really, Harry when am I not sure?"

"She has a point," Ginny said.

* * * * *

AN: My computer is finally back. Updates will be more frequent now. Thanks for all of the lovely reviews that I get with every chapter.