Note: As a little landmark piece of information for you all, this chapter is about the halfway landmark... after this one, only fourteen more chapters to go! It'll be worth it, at least I hope so... for those who would like to know (probably not many of you, hehe) I've got some really promising ideas for future fics, so those that enjoy this story, maybe you should come back sometime and see what else I've written.
For the bazillionth time, I don't own Harry Potter! No court cases please!
Kole17- thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you've been following it! Hope to hear your opinion on this chapter. And we all know how annoying it is when computers play up, so I don't blame you for not reviewing in the slightest.
Lgobgirlie15- WILL she end up alone? Keep on reading, and review please! I love reviews and yours was great.
Potts- yep seems like Ginny often causes more harm than good. A real tearjerker this story is sometimes… is it depressing? Lol
Carmen- thanks… Draco's reaction next chapter, I'd like to know your opinion on it if you could spare it ;)
"Hermione, wake up," came an urgent voice. Hermione blearily opened her eyes to see a sullen-looking Harry leaning over her. "People are looking for you, they think you've gone missing."
"What?" Hermione sat up and gazed around her. She was in the girls' toilets- she must have fallen asleep last night. "Oh no!"
"Professor McGonagall's been looking for you and when she couldn't find you, she was thinking of sending out search parties. Almost everyone's gone home for the Christmas holidays." Harry was abrupt. "You'd better hurry up." She groaned and shakily got to her feet, but before she could reply to him he had gone out of the bathroom and left her.
It was obvious he still hated her. And who could blame him? She thought miserably as she made her way out of the bathroom and up the stairs. If she were him, she would hate her.
She was just about to give the Fat Lady the password when McGonagall appeared from the end of the corridor, panting. "Miss Granger!" she barked. "Where have you been? We've been most worried."
"Sorry Professor, I fell asleep in the bathroom," she said bluntly.
"A likely story! Anyway, it doesn't matter. Follow me please." She led Hermione down the stairs and into a spare classroom, carefully shutting the door behind her.
"Have you given any thought to what I said before?" she asked once Hermione had sat down.
"Of course I have," Hermione snapped. "I mean," she said hastily. "Yes, I have Professor. But I can't see an end to my problems."
"There is only one sensible option if you wish to further your education," the teacher said truthfully. "Having said that, it is nearly Christmas and I understand you must be going through a rough time right now coping and all. I give you until January the 1st to make up your mind properly. And after that, it is out of my hands- Professor Dumbledore will be dealing with the situation if you do not wish to have the baby aborted. There are two ways for the pregnancy to be terminated. The first is the Muggle way and the most common procedure; the second, a highly complex potion that shouldn't be drunk by witches under the age of eighteen due to the powerful effects it can have on the body. I recommend the first.
"There is a rush of course, but at Christmas I think we all make allowances. You of course know I am still angry and disappointed at your behaviour; however I was out of order to get so- ah- irritable the other day and I do apologise. That does not mean I repent my actions, I just think I should have been more sympathetic. Good day Miss Granger- we will discuss this again in the New Year."
Hermione nodded and left with Professor McGonagall, only she didn't want to go back to the Common Room. She sat outside facing the frozen lake, rubbing her hands together and just thinking. Thinking and thinking and thinking until her brain could do no more.
Will there ever be an end to my problems? She wondered, feeling once more desolated and depressed. Her future had always seemed so bright but now it just seemed to stretch ahead with an unlimited amount of obstacles and no light at the end of the tunnel.
*******
"Merry Christmas mate," Ron beamed to Harry, pulling another cracker with him and placing the Christmas hat that came from it on the top of his red hair. Hermione watched them sadly. There was a time once when she would be with them, laughing and joking and having a good time getting into the festive spirit. Not now. All Hermione could think about was the firm reprimand she had received from her parents when Professor McGonagall had informed them of Hermione's "situation"…
"How could you Hermione? We are truly disgraced, and at your age too! You were always so sensible… we always trusted you and you have thrown this back in our faces! At the moment we are too angry to speak to you. You are to follow with your teacher's advice and get an abortion, or face our anger. Never before have we been so disgusted." The words that had echoed from the Howler she had received that morning swam in her head until she felt physically sick.
The Christmas dinner was before her, but she couldn't eat any of it. Professor Dumbledore sat opposite her and kept throwing her curious looks; strangely enough, they were pitying. Hermione had never been pitied before, and she didn't like it. Keeping herself to herself, she hadn't spoke to anyone all day expect to say "Merry Christmas" to Neville, one of the few people still speaking to her. The sixth years staying for the holidays that year were Harry, Neville, Crabbe and Goyle and Draco Malfoy, along with Hermione herself.
She got up from the table and walked away, not being able to face the food. Scanning around, she noticed Draco wasn't at the table either. Where was he?
A reckless feeling came over her. She was going to have to tell him sooner or later- why not now? Snakes writhed in her stomach and her palms of her hands became clammy at the thought, but she was determined. It couldn't possibly get any worse... after all, she had no friends anymore, no future, no life, and it was all because of him- nothing he said could make her feel any more depressed. But where would he be? She thought hard. Maybe in the dungeons? No, probably not in the holidays. But he wasn't with Crabbe and Goyle; they were stuffing themselves in the Hall along with everybody else.
"Maybe he's in the Slytherin common room," she said out loud to herself. She decided she would go up to the Library and read for a while; it would clear her mind and relax her. She climbed the stairs onto the right floor when she heard a thud behind her- and there stood Draco, his white-blonde hair hanging in loose curtains that seemed untidy to his usual slicked look, and his gray eyes brimming with malice. At this moment, Hermione was grateful that the Gryffindors had had to go home on the Hogwarts Express for Christmas before they could begin gossiping about Hermione being pregnant- imagine if Draco had found out from someone else! It just didn't bear thinking about.
"Going to the library?" he sneered. "What a surprise." He stopped when he saw her cower visibly. "What's wrong with you?" he said.
"I need to talk to you," she said quickly. "Don't tell me to go away, it's really important Draco." Her eyes shone with urgency. He nodded reluctantly.
"This better be good Granger," he said. "And no gushy stuff please- remember what I said before, there's nothing between us. After all, I'm a pureblood and you- well, you're just a dirty Mudblood."
He followed her into a nearby classroom and she faced him. "Have you noticed how fat I'm getting Draco?" she said.
"You've gained weight, yeah," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "So?"
"Well- remember, remember what- what happened on my p-p-party," she stammered, but he interrupted.
"None of this shit," he laughed. "You still going on about that? We were drunk and it was a bit of fun at the time. Now it's just embarrassing for me."
"No Draco, for once in your life listen!" she shouted angrily, and he stopped, listening attentively.
"Draco, you won't want to hear this but it's yours too. I'm pregnant."
The moment you've all been waiting for has happened! Whooo! Check back soon for the next installment, where you'll find out exactly how Draco takes it.
