Disclaimer: I do not own any original Harry Potter characters. Sniff sniff.
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Vicky. Thanks for always cheering me up when I was down. *****************************************************************
Hermione spent that night on Ginny's couch, listening out for Jack in her sleep. Ginny and Seamus came home at some point between two and eight am, because they were awake and making breakfast when Hermione staggered out of the living room. After having a few pancakes with them, Hermione Apparated back to Merlin's Island.
Lavender was awake, and eating her breakfast which consisted of half a grapefruit and a glass of orange juice. She looked up and sighed when Hermione Apparated neatly onto the couch.
"Herms, this really isn't working. We came on holiday together and we hardly see each other at all." She said.
"I know, I'm so sorry. There are just lots of people who need my help right now and I-"
"It's not really your fault. But I think maybe we should plan a few things to do together and then just d our own things for the rest of the time." Lavender suggested.
"Ok. Sure." Hermione said, relieved that she would be able to spend more time helping Draco without lying to Lavender about where she was going.
"So, I thought tonight we could go clubbing or something?" Lavender asked hopefully.
"I. I dunno, Lav-"
"Dean will be there." Lavender said in her most annoying I-know-you-like- him voice.
"Oh. I mean, so what?" Hermione said.
"Come on. It'll be fun. Please? And I won't tease you about it if you get drunk or anything." Lavender wheedled.
"Fine. But for all of today I'm working, ok?" Hermione compromised.
"Working? On what? We're supposed to be on holiday." Lavender sighed.
"I want to do those spreadsheets we need, and I have to file the application so that we get better lab use times this autumn, and I have to research a couple of new leads on the ingredients needed for the cure-"
"Okay. I get it. Anything I need to do?" Lavender asked, making it obvious that she wouldn't do anything even if Hermione begged.
"No. Not really." Hermione replied.
"Okay then, I'm going shopping. Sure you have to work?" Lav asked, standing up and shoving lipsticks and change off the counter into her handbag.
"Positive."
"We'll go out around eight or nine, okay?" Lavender said, Apparating. Hermione got out her laptop and began typing.
*************
Three hours later, Hermione screamed in frustration and banged her head on the table. One of the lab ingredients that she and Lavender were using in their experiments had just been re-classified as a Class A XXX Dangerous Substance. It had been a Class A XX for the past twenty years, meaning that you needed the ministry's permission to use it. Because they needed it for medical research, it had only taken a few weeks to get hold of a large supply. But now that it was Class A XXX, they needed the permission of someone who is currently or had been at some point in time a member of the Wizengamot. This meant she would have to find Dumbledore and arrange a meeting where he could sign all the proper documents. It could take months for the documents to be processed and to have the ingredient shipped in from Australia, where it was found.
Slamming her laptop shut, Hermione swore to herself and ran upstairs. After showering and dressing quickly in her semi-casual work robes, she Apparated to Hogwarts.
As she waited outside the Hogwarts gates for Hagrid to let her in, Hermione remembered one of the last times she had been in Dumbledore's office, just after Jack was born.
***********************
Dumbledore looked up from his desk. Pushing the silver instrument aside, he conjured two chairs and motioned two them.
"Good morning Miss Weasley, Miss Granger. Please, sit." They did so.
"Miss Weasley, let me first congratulate you on the birth of your son." Dumbledore smiled kindly from behind his glasses.
"Thank you, sir." Ginny said, smiling back.
"I have called you here to discuss your future at Hogwarts. Do you wish to continue your wizarding education here?"
"Yes, I really want to graduate." Ginny said earnestly.
"I had a feeling you would say that. However I imagine you would like to look after your child as well rather than sending him to your parents, wouldn't you?"
"Yes."
"I inquired as to the possibility of Jack being allowed in your lessons, under a silencing charm, but certain teachers feel that he would be a distraction to you and other students. Then I asked to the possibility of you having a half-day timetable, but then the Examiner's Board argued that you would miss important subjects and would have to make them up somehow for NEWTS."
"So.. what do you think I should do?"
"Ah, yes. I believe the most agreeable option is to have Madam Pomfrey watch Jack whilst you are in lessons. During your break times, you and Harry may visit him. If you fall behind in classes, I daresay Miss Granger here might find the time to tutor you. Does that sound good to you?"
"Yes, that would be perfect." Ginny said, beaming.
"The Professors have agreed to be lenient with you this year, but if you take advantage of this then they will be stricter than ever."
"Ok."
"And one more thing. I have spoken with Mr. Potter, and he says that the two of you are engaged. Congratulations on that also."
"Thank you again."
"And now I suggest you go down to lunch. I daresay the rest of Gryffindor House will be ecstatic to see you back. You and Mr. Potter may have the rest of the day off. But Miss Granger, you will be expected in all your normal classes. Good day to you both."
Hermione and Ginny left Dumbledore's office and went down to the Great Hall. Classes had not ended yet, so only Harry was seated at the Gryffindor table. They went and sat with him, playing with Jack. Then the bell rang and a torrent of students poured into the Hall and over to them. Every girl in Gryffindor begged to hold Jack, while the guys congratulated the pair and said they hoped Jack inherited Harry's talent for Quidditch. Dean made several thousand baby jokes, while Ron attempted to eat all the food on the whole table since no-one else was eating. Eventually lunch was over, and Hermione went off to Ancient Runes whilst Ginny and Harry made their way to the Hospital Wing to talk with Madam Pomfrey. Somehow Hermione got through Ancient Runes, then Herbology and Charms. Finally it was the end of the day and she traipsed back to the Common Room. She was admitted through the portrait-hole and found herself in the midst of a party. Fred and George had sent over several crates of sweets from Hogsmeade, and bewitched some fireworks to spell out the words "Welcome Jack!". In one corner, people were crowded round Ginny, in the other, Harry was holding Jack and explaining to Seamus why it was a bad idea to give a five-day-old baby butterbeer to drink.
Hermione fought her way through the crowd and found Ginny, who looked exhausted and really pale.
"Hey, Gin, are you okay?" she yelled over the crowd.
"Not really!" Ginny yelled back. "I need some air!"
"Let's go outside then!" Hermione said. They went back out through the portrait-hole.
"Are you hungry?" asked Hermione, who was starving.
"Yeah, kind of. I didn't eat any candy- I don't trust Fred and George."
"Let's go down to dinner then." They did. The Gryffindor table was nearly empty, as everyone was at the party. They were interrupted every minute by people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw yelling out their best wishes to Ginny. Hermione was halfway through a mound of mashed potatoes when Draco Malfoy got up from the Slytherin table.
"Crap, he's coming over here." Ginny whispered nervously.
"Don't worry Gin. If he says something awful I'll hit him." Hermione reassured her friend. Malfoy walked slowly over to them, for once not surrounded by cronies. He stopped a meter away from them, and Hermione glared at him.
"Congratulations, Weasley." He said lightly. Hermione's mouth dropped open as he turned and glided smoothly out of the hall. "What the hell? Was it just me or was Malfoy. civil?" Ginny asked, shocked. "Wow. I wonder who paid him to be nice to us." Hermione said. They finished eating in shocked silence.
"So, when do your classes start?" Hermione asked as they climbed the big staircase.
"Monday. Double Herbology first thing." Ginny replied, sighing. A tall figure in black robes came zooming towards them. It was Harry, glasses askew, clutching Jack tightly.
"Thank god! I couldn't find you, Gin, and no-one knew where you'd gone!"
"Oh, we just came to eat something untouched by the wands of my darling brothers." Ginny said.
"Oh, yeah, Fudge Fudge. Fred and George had some fun with that one. Turned Lavender into a bowler hat like the one fudge used to wear before he got sacked. Anyway, Gin, I just came to find you," Harry grinned, "Because there's something you need to see. And Hermione, Ron's looking for you. He's waiting in the common-room by the fire."
"Ok." Hermione said, taking a hint and going back up to Gryffindor Tower whilst Harry, Ginny and Jack strolled off in the other direction. Ron was waiting for her, watching Seamus attempting to turn Lavender back into a person.
"Hey Ron." Hermione said, sitting down beside him on the couch.
"Hi!" Ron said, kissing her. "I've hardly talked to you all day. What's up?"
"Not much. I've just been with Ginny."
"I still can't believe my little sister has a baby. It's so."
"Cute?" Hermione suggested.
"Nasty." Ron said, shuddering, Hermione sighed.
"But Ron, it's not Harry's fault if things don't work out between them, you know?"
"As far as I'm concerned, it takes two to tango if you know what I mean, and if the consequences-"
"Don't be unreasonable."
"Fine. Harry is a wonderful, genuinely lovely person into whose bed my sister just HAPPENED to fall-" Ron said in a false, high voice.
"Ron, I thought you weren't mad at him any more? I though after I hit you and you apologised to him that you forgave him?"
"Well I changed my mind. After seeing everyone CONGRATULATE him and Ginny all day. like it's something to be PROUD of."
"So you're saying if I had your baby you wouldn't be proud?" Hermione asked sharply.
"That's not what I meant! It's different with them, you know-"
"How?"
"Erm. Ginny's younger?" Ron said lamely.
"If she was born one year earlier, she'd be in our year, Ron."
"Still. She's too young."
"You are so impossible." Hermione shook her head.
"I so am not!"
"Let's just hope I never have your baby."
"Yeah, well, we're not stupid enough to not be careful like them." Ron said. Hermione slapped him upside the head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"Ron, I told you, I don't like talking about it in public." She said.
"Oh, yeah, it's so bad for people to know that you actually have a sex life- "
"Shut up! I am NOT talking about this right now. You are being such an arse- "
"Aw, c'mon Hermione. Calm down." Ron said consolingly. Hermione was slightly mollified.
"Well, I'm going to bed." She said, kissing Ron one last time and heading up to her dorm. Tired by the day's events, she fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.
**************************
Several hours later, Hermione returned to Merlin's Island, having just owled the documents from the Hogwarts Owlery to various people who needed to see them before she would be allowed to use the ingredient. Dumbledore had been kind and efficient, asking about her life while they worked through the necessary paperwork. Hermione had strolled down the empty halls for a moment or two before leaving, remembering the days when she would shuffle from class to class, her bag heavy with books, waiting to learn something new.
After getting ready to go out, she let Lavender do her makeup and hair and they left for the club. Lavender had chosen it as usual, it was a tall, several-storey place called Atlantis' Palace. The inside was themed with loads of tropical fish in wall-high tanks and shiny dark blue floors.
Dean was waiting by the bar. After pushing Hermione in Dean's direction, Lavender went off to dance on the floor below. Hermione smiled at Dean and took a seat next to him. The music wasn't nearly as loud as at Night Owl- they could actually talk without having to yell.
Dean bought Hermione a drink, something that was orange and tasted like pineapples. She drank it all in one and ordered another. Before she knew it, she was making out with him.
"Are you drunk?" Dean asked apprehensively as he pulled away from her.
"Not at all." Hermione laughed, pulling him back towards her.
****************************************************************
Ohmigod. I cannot believe all the reviews! There have been, like, 20 for the last chapter alone! I was thinking about being really nice and posting two new chapters but I don't have time if I want to watch the final of 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here' tonight. And I FULLY have to see if Kerry wins. I hope Peter Andre drowns. In his own-
Sorry about that. Hyperness. I'm listening to AAR, Swing swing swing. That song rocks soooo much. And eight grade sucks! Thank you to the reviewer who is also in 8th grade. In fact, thank you to all my reviewers! Please, fell free to review more than once. In fact, a review for every new chapter would be greatly appreciated.
For whoever asked, Pingu is a cartoon that all the little English kids watch. It's about a little penguin who lives in a igloo. I personally think it sucks, but all the kids I know under seven- and actually some over that age coughVickycough- watch it.
I LOVE YOU ALL! Btw, I haven't had time to spellcheck or anything so sorry for errors in advance. I really need a beta. anyway. oh, yeah - does anyone know how to do those three full-stop things? And italics and bold? And what the hell is a mary-sue? And is a one-shot something with one chapter? I know obvious stuff like slash and lemon but I am really confused about the other stuff.
Peace, y'all.
Claimer: I own Jack Harry Arthur Potter, Maxmillian Xavier Black, and the entire 'de Varci' family.
This story is being used for entertainment purposes only, no money is being made and no violation of copyright intended.
Read, enjoy, and review!!! *****************************************************************
This chapter is dedicated to Vicky. Thanks for always cheering me up when I was down. *****************************************************************
Hermione spent that night on Ginny's couch, listening out for Jack in her sleep. Ginny and Seamus came home at some point between two and eight am, because they were awake and making breakfast when Hermione staggered out of the living room. After having a few pancakes with them, Hermione Apparated back to Merlin's Island.
Lavender was awake, and eating her breakfast which consisted of half a grapefruit and a glass of orange juice. She looked up and sighed when Hermione Apparated neatly onto the couch.
"Herms, this really isn't working. We came on holiday together and we hardly see each other at all." She said.
"I know, I'm so sorry. There are just lots of people who need my help right now and I-"
"It's not really your fault. But I think maybe we should plan a few things to do together and then just d our own things for the rest of the time." Lavender suggested.
"Ok. Sure." Hermione said, relieved that she would be able to spend more time helping Draco without lying to Lavender about where she was going.
"So, I thought tonight we could go clubbing or something?" Lavender asked hopefully.
"I. I dunno, Lav-"
"Dean will be there." Lavender said in her most annoying I-know-you-like- him voice.
"Oh. I mean, so what?" Hermione said.
"Come on. It'll be fun. Please? And I won't tease you about it if you get drunk or anything." Lavender wheedled.
"Fine. But for all of today I'm working, ok?" Hermione compromised.
"Working? On what? We're supposed to be on holiday." Lavender sighed.
"I want to do those spreadsheets we need, and I have to file the application so that we get better lab use times this autumn, and I have to research a couple of new leads on the ingredients needed for the cure-"
"Okay. I get it. Anything I need to do?" Lavender asked, making it obvious that she wouldn't do anything even if Hermione begged.
"No. Not really." Hermione replied.
"Okay then, I'm going shopping. Sure you have to work?" Lav asked, standing up and shoving lipsticks and change off the counter into her handbag.
"Positive."
"We'll go out around eight or nine, okay?" Lavender said, Apparating. Hermione got out her laptop and began typing.
*************
Three hours later, Hermione screamed in frustration and banged her head on the table. One of the lab ingredients that she and Lavender were using in their experiments had just been re-classified as a Class A XXX Dangerous Substance. It had been a Class A XX for the past twenty years, meaning that you needed the ministry's permission to use it. Because they needed it for medical research, it had only taken a few weeks to get hold of a large supply. But now that it was Class A XXX, they needed the permission of someone who is currently or had been at some point in time a member of the Wizengamot. This meant she would have to find Dumbledore and arrange a meeting where he could sign all the proper documents. It could take months for the documents to be processed and to have the ingredient shipped in from Australia, where it was found.
Slamming her laptop shut, Hermione swore to herself and ran upstairs. After showering and dressing quickly in her semi-casual work robes, she Apparated to Hogwarts.
As she waited outside the Hogwarts gates for Hagrid to let her in, Hermione remembered one of the last times she had been in Dumbledore's office, just after Jack was born.
***********************
Dumbledore looked up from his desk. Pushing the silver instrument aside, he conjured two chairs and motioned two them.
"Good morning Miss Weasley, Miss Granger. Please, sit." They did so.
"Miss Weasley, let me first congratulate you on the birth of your son." Dumbledore smiled kindly from behind his glasses.
"Thank you, sir." Ginny said, smiling back.
"I have called you here to discuss your future at Hogwarts. Do you wish to continue your wizarding education here?"
"Yes, I really want to graduate." Ginny said earnestly.
"I had a feeling you would say that. However I imagine you would like to look after your child as well rather than sending him to your parents, wouldn't you?"
"Yes."
"I inquired as to the possibility of Jack being allowed in your lessons, under a silencing charm, but certain teachers feel that he would be a distraction to you and other students. Then I asked to the possibility of you having a half-day timetable, but then the Examiner's Board argued that you would miss important subjects and would have to make them up somehow for NEWTS."
"So.. what do you think I should do?"
"Ah, yes. I believe the most agreeable option is to have Madam Pomfrey watch Jack whilst you are in lessons. During your break times, you and Harry may visit him. If you fall behind in classes, I daresay Miss Granger here might find the time to tutor you. Does that sound good to you?"
"Yes, that would be perfect." Ginny said, beaming.
"The Professors have agreed to be lenient with you this year, but if you take advantage of this then they will be stricter than ever."
"Ok."
"And one more thing. I have spoken with Mr. Potter, and he says that the two of you are engaged. Congratulations on that also."
"Thank you again."
"And now I suggest you go down to lunch. I daresay the rest of Gryffindor House will be ecstatic to see you back. You and Mr. Potter may have the rest of the day off. But Miss Granger, you will be expected in all your normal classes. Good day to you both."
Hermione and Ginny left Dumbledore's office and went down to the Great Hall. Classes had not ended yet, so only Harry was seated at the Gryffindor table. They went and sat with him, playing with Jack. Then the bell rang and a torrent of students poured into the Hall and over to them. Every girl in Gryffindor begged to hold Jack, while the guys congratulated the pair and said they hoped Jack inherited Harry's talent for Quidditch. Dean made several thousand baby jokes, while Ron attempted to eat all the food on the whole table since no-one else was eating. Eventually lunch was over, and Hermione went off to Ancient Runes whilst Ginny and Harry made their way to the Hospital Wing to talk with Madam Pomfrey. Somehow Hermione got through Ancient Runes, then Herbology and Charms. Finally it was the end of the day and she traipsed back to the Common Room. She was admitted through the portrait-hole and found herself in the midst of a party. Fred and George had sent over several crates of sweets from Hogsmeade, and bewitched some fireworks to spell out the words "Welcome Jack!". In one corner, people were crowded round Ginny, in the other, Harry was holding Jack and explaining to Seamus why it was a bad idea to give a five-day-old baby butterbeer to drink.
Hermione fought her way through the crowd and found Ginny, who looked exhausted and really pale.
"Hey, Gin, are you okay?" she yelled over the crowd.
"Not really!" Ginny yelled back. "I need some air!"
"Let's go outside then!" Hermione said. They went back out through the portrait-hole.
"Are you hungry?" asked Hermione, who was starving.
"Yeah, kind of. I didn't eat any candy- I don't trust Fred and George."
"Let's go down to dinner then." They did. The Gryffindor table was nearly empty, as everyone was at the party. They were interrupted every minute by people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw yelling out their best wishes to Ginny. Hermione was halfway through a mound of mashed potatoes when Draco Malfoy got up from the Slytherin table.
"Crap, he's coming over here." Ginny whispered nervously.
"Don't worry Gin. If he says something awful I'll hit him." Hermione reassured her friend. Malfoy walked slowly over to them, for once not surrounded by cronies. He stopped a meter away from them, and Hermione glared at him.
"Congratulations, Weasley." He said lightly. Hermione's mouth dropped open as he turned and glided smoothly out of the hall. "What the hell? Was it just me or was Malfoy. civil?" Ginny asked, shocked. "Wow. I wonder who paid him to be nice to us." Hermione said. They finished eating in shocked silence.
"So, when do your classes start?" Hermione asked as they climbed the big staircase.
"Monday. Double Herbology first thing." Ginny replied, sighing. A tall figure in black robes came zooming towards them. It was Harry, glasses askew, clutching Jack tightly.
"Thank god! I couldn't find you, Gin, and no-one knew where you'd gone!"
"Oh, we just came to eat something untouched by the wands of my darling brothers." Ginny said.
"Oh, yeah, Fudge Fudge. Fred and George had some fun with that one. Turned Lavender into a bowler hat like the one fudge used to wear before he got sacked. Anyway, Gin, I just came to find you," Harry grinned, "Because there's something you need to see. And Hermione, Ron's looking for you. He's waiting in the common-room by the fire."
"Ok." Hermione said, taking a hint and going back up to Gryffindor Tower whilst Harry, Ginny and Jack strolled off in the other direction. Ron was waiting for her, watching Seamus attempting to turn Lavender back into a person.
"Hey Ron." Hermione said, sitting down beside him on the couch.
"Hi!" Ron said, kissing her. "I've hardly talked to you all day. What's up?"
"Not much. I've just been with Ginny."
"I still can't believe my little sister has a baby. It's so."
"Cute?" Hermione suggested.
"Nasty." Ron said, shuddering, Hermione sighed.
"But Ron, it's not Harry's fault if things don't work out between them, you know?"
"As far as I'm concerned, it takes two to tango if you know what I mean, and if the consequences-"
"Don't be unreasonable."
"Fine. Harry is a wonderful, genuinely lovely person into whose bed my sister just HAPPENED to fall-" Ron said in a false, high voice.
"Ron, I thought you weren't mad at him any more? I though after I hit you and you apologised to him that you forgave him?"
"Well I changed my mind. After seeing everyone CONGRATULATE him and Ginny all day. like it's something to be PROUD of."
"So you're saying if I had your baby you wouldn't be proud?" Hermione asked sharply.
"That's not what I meant! It's different with them, you know-"
"How?"
"Erm. Ginny's younger?" Ron said lamely.
"If she was born one year earlier, she'd be in our year, Ron."
"Still. She's too young."
"You are so impossible." Hermione shook her head.
"I so am not!"
"Let's just hope I never have your baby."
"Yeah, well, we're not stupid enough to not be careful like them." Ron said. Hermione slapped him upside the head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?"
"Ron, I told you, I don't like talking about it in public." She said.
"Oh, yeah, it's so bad for people to know that you actually have a sex life- "
"Shut up! I am NOT talking about this right now. You are being such an arse- "
"Aw, c'mon Hermione. Calm down." Ron said consolingly. Hermione was slightly mollified.
"Well, I'm going to bed." She said, kissing Ron one last time and heading up to her dorm. Tired by the day's events, she fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.
**************************
Several hours later, Hermione returned to Merlin's Island, having just owled the documents from the Hogwarts Owlery to various people who needed to see them before she would be allowed to use the ingredient. Dumbledore had been kind and efficient, asking about her life while they worked through the necessary paperwork. Hermione had strolled down the empty halls for a moment or two before leaving, remembering the days when she would shuffle from class to class, her bag heavy with books, waiting to learn something new.
After getting ready to go out, she let Lavender do her makeup and hair and they left for the club. Lavender had chosen it as usual, it was a tall, several-storey place called Atlantis' Palace. The inside was themed with loads of tropical fish in wall-high tanks and shiny dark blue floors.
Dean was waiting by the bar. After pushing Hermione in Dean's direction, Lavender went off to dance on the floor below. Hermione smiled at Dean and took a seat next to him. The music wasn't nearly as loud as at Night Owl- they could actually talk without having to yell.
Dean bought Hermione a drink, something that was orange and tasted like pineapples. She drank it all in one and ordered another. Before she knew it, she was making out with him.
"Are you drunk?" Dean asked apprehensively as he pulled away from her.
"Not at all." Hermione laughed, pulling him back towards her.
****************************************************************
Ohmigod. I cannot believe all the reviews! There have been, like, 20 for the last chapter alone! I was thinking about being really nice and posting two new chapters but I don't have time if I want to watch the final of 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here' tonight. And I FULLY have to see if Kerry wins. I hope Peter Andre drowns. In his own-
Sorry about that. Hyperness. I'm listening to AAR, Swing swing swing. That song rocks soooo much. And eight grade sucks! Thank you to the reviewer who is also in 8th grade. In fact, thank you to all my reviewers! Please, fell free to review more than once. In fact, a review for every new chapter would be greatly appreciated.
For whoever asked, Pingu is a cartoon that all the little English kids watch. It's about a little penguin who lives in a igloo. I personally think it sucks, but all the kids I know under seven- and actually some over that age coughVickycough- watch it.
I LOVE YOU ALL! Btw, I haven't had time to spellcheck or anything so sorry for errors in advance. I really need a beta. anyway. oh, yeah - does anyone know how to do those three full-stop things? And italics and bold? And what the hell is a mary-sue? And is a one-shot something with one chapter? I know obvious stuff like slash and lemon but I am really confused about the other stuff.
Peace, y'all.