"I.. I beg your pardon." Harry stammered. "You're what?!?"
"OH, please, Harry don't make me say it again!"
"Sorry." He said meekly. "But, I mean, you must have used some protection. Surely you could have found something."
"Of course I used protection!!" She snapped. "I found an egg blocking charm, sort of like a birth control pill, you know, the ones muggles use. Viktor tried a spermicidal potion, but he was allergic. Every time he took it he would break out into hives you know... on his.. "
"Right." Harry said still trying to hide his shock. "Hang on. Every time?? You meant you, uh, slept with him more than once?"
"I'm in love with him Harry, yes. I care about him. People who care about each other a great deal do these things."
"But, if you used protection, how did this.. come about?"
"I think I should have waited. Yes, that's it. I felt myself ovulating just after I cast the charm. I thought it was natural to happen that way. I didn't know it would only start working after that cycle."
"Cycle? What's Ovulighting?"
"Oh, why don't they teach these thing at Hogwarts?? Yes, Harry, it's a cycle. Every month from about 11 years old or so a woman's body prepares itself to have a child. That's ovulation. If she doesn't get pregnant, she bleeds. That's called a period."
"You mean bleeds from..." He motioned toward his loins. Hermione nodded and Harry turned a slight shade of green. "Ewww.."
"OH, God! Boys! Harry when you met me I was going through these things."
"Sorry. It's just all so unbelievable. I mean this is stuff adults worry about, isn't it? But what about Viktor? Surely he must have done something."
"He tried a blocking charm when the potion didn't work, but we used so many spells. One may have negated it. After all, sex and magic are very good together." She said this reminicently, looked at the ground, and kicked a pebble. "I just wish it didn't turn out like this." She put her arm around Harry and sobbed gently into his shoulder. "My parents wouldn't listen. They think I've tricked them. I tried to explain. They think I put a spell on them to convince them to go to Bulgaria, to turn a blind eye to me and Viktor, but they wouldn't listen and eventually threw me out. I've never seen my father so furious after I told him. He started throwing things at me. He even tried to hit me a couple of times. Even after things calmed down, my parents never looked the same at me again. They were constantly suspicious of me. They wouldn't even let me out of my room. After this summer, I realize what you have been going through with the Dursley's. I've now been through it too. Harry, how can you bare it? It's horrible."
"Well for me it's a bit different, isn't it? There something bigger and more powerful keeping me at home."
"Right." She said between her cries.
"So, you think you can keep your cover at Ron's 'till school starts? Surely McGonnagal or Dumbledore will be able to help."
"I hope so. I dunno." She said looking at him and wiping her eyes. "I'll only be 2 months along and things don't really start to show 'till about the end of the first trimester and I'm sure I can find something to conceal it with. Perhaps a slight tranfiguration trick on myself, but those are very hard. In any case, Harry, no matter what you do, you mustn't tell Ron or anyone. Not even Hagrid. I've got so much to figure out and Viktor to think about. I will tell Ron eventually, but I needed to tell you first. Telling two people at once.. I don't think I could have handled it. Thanks."
Harry wraped his around her and held her close to him. They stood there a few moments, two small people whose troubles seems so large the world could not contain them. "Hang in there, Hermonie," He said. "You have my word about Ron and everyone. I owe so much to you. If there is anything I can do..."
"Just keep your promises, Harry. I have to get back to the train station. Goodbye, Harry. See you at Charing Cross." With that she turned to go. Harry watched her as she slumbered away, head hanging down and her sholders quite close to her ears. She looked as if the end of term exams were only a week away and yet it was only summer. He walked back into house, keeping a close eye out for strangers or anyone who might do him harm. Collapsing on the couch exhausted, he stared out at the fixtures around the house.
After sitting a while with his thoughts, he noticed Aunt Petunia glaring at him with her arms folded on her breast. "Going somewhere?" She asked.
No," he said. "It's just too dangerous, unfortunatly."
"Figures." She said. "Only 15 and already people want to blow you up."
"Aunt Petunia?" She advanced a step toward him as if he was about to cross a line, and loose the only small smattering of sympathy she could ever hold towards him. "I know this may sound....odd," he continued. "but can you tell me anything.. uh... about.... sex?"
"Oh, Good lord!" She exclaimed and stomped out of the room embarrased and furious.
"OH, please, Harry don't make me say it again!"
"Sorry." He said meekly. "But, I mean, you must have used some protection. Surely you could have found something."
"Of course I used protection!!" She snapped. "I found an egg blocking charm, sort of like a birth control pill, you know, the ones muggles use. Viktor tried a spermicidal potion, but he was allergic. Every time he took it he would break out into hives you know... on his.. "
"Right." Harry said still trying to hide his shock. "Hang on. Every time?? You meant you, uh, slept with him more than once?"
"I'm in love with him Harry, yes. I care about him. People who care about each other a great deal do these things."
"But, if you used protection, how did this.. come about?"
"I think I should have waited. Yes, that's it. I felt myself ovulating just after I cast the charm. I thought it was natural to happen that way. I didn't know it would only start working after that cycle."
"Cycle? What's Ovulighting?"
"Oh, why don't they teach these thing at Hogwarts?? Yes, Harry, it's a cycle. Every month from about 11 years old or so a woman's body prepares itself to have a child. That's ovulation. If she doesn't get pregnant, she bleeds. That's called a period."
"You mean bleeds from..." He motioned toward his loins. Hermione nodded and Harry turned a slight shade of green. "Ewww.."
"OH, God! Boys! Harry when you met me I was going through these things."
"Sorry. It's just all so unbelievable. I mean this is stuff adults worry about, isn't it? But what about Viktor? Surely he must have done something."
"He tried a blocking charm when the potion didn't work, but we used so many spells. One may have negated it. After all, sex and magic are very good together." She said this reminicently, looked at the ground, and kicked a pebble. "I just wish it didn't turn out like this." She put her arm around Harry and sobbed gently into his shoulder. "My parents wouldn't listen. They think I've tricked them. I tried to explain. They think I put a spell on them to convince them to go to Bulgaria, to turn a blind eye to me and Viktor, but they wouldn't listen and eventually threw me out. I've never seen my father so furious after I told him. He started throwing things at me. He even tried to hit me a couple of times. Even after things calmed down, my parents never looked the same at me again. They were constantly suspicious of me. They wouldn't even let me out of my room. After this summer, I realize what you have been going through with the Dursley's. I've now been through it too. Harry, how can you bare it? It's horrible."
"Well for me it's a bit different, isn't it? There something bigger and more powerful keeping me at home."
"Right." She said between her cries.
"So, you think you can keep your cover at Ron's 'till school starts? Surely McGonnagal or Dumbledore will be able to help."
"I hope so. I dunno." She said looking at him and wiping her eyes. "I'll only be 2 months along and things don't really start to show 'till about the end of the first trimester and I'm sure I can find something to conceal it with. Perhaps a slight tranfiguration trick on myself, but those are very hard. In any case, Harry, no matter what you do, you mustn't tell Ron or anyone. Not even Hagrid. I've got so much to figure out and Viktor to think about. I will tell Ron eventually, but I needed to tell you first. Telling two people at once.. I don't think I could have handled it. Thanks."
Harry wraped his around her and held her close to him. They stood there a few moments, two small people whose troubles seems so large the world could not contain them. "Hang in there, Hermonie," He said. "You have my word about Ron and everyone. I owe so much to you. If there is anything I can do..."
"Just keep your promises, Harry. I have to get back to the train station. Goodbye, Harry. See you at Charing Cross." With that she turned to go. Harry watched her as she slumbered away, head hanging down and her sholders quite close to her ears. She looked as if the end of term exams were only a week away and yet it was only summer. He walked back into house, keeping a close eye out for strangers or anyone who might do him harm. Collapsing on the couch exhausted, he stared out at the fixtures around the house.
After sitting a while with his thoughts, he noticed Aunt Petunia glaring at him with her arms folded on her breast. "Going somewhere?" She asked.
No," he said. "It's just too dangerous, unfortunatly."
"Figures." She said. "Only 15 and already people want to blow you up."
"Aunt Petunia?" She advanced a step toward him as if he was about to cross a line, and loose the only small smattering of sympathy she could ever hold towards him. "I know this may sound....odd," he continued. "but can you tell me anything.. uh... about.... sex?"
"Oh, Good lord!" She exclaimed and stomped out of the room embarrased and furious.