"Hermione, come here." Professor McGonagal stood in front of a gaggle of first years. Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "We'll meet you at the feast later then, Hermione," Harry called as she meandered up the stairs toward her mentor.
"You will go to my office and wait there, Hermione. I believe there are some people there who are most anxious to see you," McGonagal pressed her lips and started at her over her glasses. Hermione turned green. Who could possibly be waiting there unless representatives from the ministry of magic where there? And their purpose? Perhaps to snap her wand in two and expell her from Hogwarts? She soberly obeyed.
As the door to McGonagal's office creaked open there were only two people standing next to the fireplace in her office. They were the least likely people Hermione would have expected to find waiting there. She stood there aghast, and eyed the two figured who stood there staring at her, their faces anxious-ridden and wracked with nerves. Wrinkles and circles decorated their eyes and they breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of their daughter.
"Mum! Dad!" She ran at their embrace as if neither fights or anger could stop it.
"Thank goodness you're safe. We've been sick with worry. We had no idea where you were." Hermione's mother gave a sympathetic "Oh!" and clung to her daughter as if she was rescued from Hades and brought back to the living.
Herminone was bawling, "I'm so sorry... I missed you so... but.. I had to... and I didn't mean to... I just wanted... I was so confused."
"shhhh," her mother said as Hermione wept loudly onto her breast. As this went on, McGonagal moved to her desk, sat and wrung her hands watching them. I wonder how muggles do handle this sort of thing, she thought. They must have a non-magical equivalent. It can't be any different.
"She will be able to continue on this year won't she?"
"Well it entirely depends on her, I'm afraid. This year at Hogwarts is probably one of the hardest and most strenuous. I think it would be rather difficult to be pregnant and be able the handle the strain. I not only fear for Hermione's safety, but also for the safety of the baby. Even for a wizard, a high stress situation could lead to a miscarriage."
"and that's what the nurse thinks?" asked Hermione's father.
"Well, we've had other incidences like this before and her opinion on the matter has never wavered. Pregnant student don't do as well. Most of them who decide to keep the baby take a sabattical and see through the preganacy outside of school. Then depending on their choices and when they come to term, they can continue here at Hogwarts, however, they get left back. They have to repeat they year the left."
"What happens to the baby?" Her father said.
"Those who choose to have the child usually put them up for adoption. Of course this is highly regulated by the ministry. However there are wizard children who get abandoned. Some of them are picked up by muggles, who have to be approached very carefully when it is time for their children to come to Hogwarts."
"Much like we were approached when it was Hermione's turn," her mother said.
"Yes, there have been times when we approached the families of muggle born wizards and they refused to send their children here in favor of a muggle education. However, the older you get, without training, the more uncontrolable your powers can be. There have been many first years whose age were much higher than 11. The oldest, I think, was a muggle-born who started his first year when he was 21. They thought he was, oh what's the term they use, schizophrenic, because he was seeing dementors, thestrials, centaurs and the like which were considered to be hallucinations. He actually wrote to us when he remembered our visit from when he was young and asked to come here to get answers and a second education. But back to the point. There is a decision you must make Ms. Granger. If you wish to continue this year at Hogwarts," McGonagal trailed of with a sigh, "you will have to see madam Pomfrey for a iamotio fetus/i procedure. It is painless to both for the mother and the child, however the fetus will be lost."
"You mean an abortion?" Barked Hermione's father.
"Excuse me, a what?" asked McGonagal with a confused look.
"An abortion. You extract the fetus out of the womb while the baby is gestating."
"Well, I can't say I've heard it called that before."
"It's the muggle equivalent, professor," Hermione chimed in.
"I see."
"How can you perform abortions at a school?" Hermione's father's voice began to rise. "I mean, isn't something that requires special equipment, specialists the like?"
"Not in the magical world, dad."
"You mean all they have to do is point a.. a wand and Hocus Pocus, the fetus is gone?"
"Well, its a bit more complicated than that," McGonagal said matter-of-factly.
"That's not the point, professor, an abortion in the muggle world is a medical procedure that requires special doctors and equipment used to physically remove the fetus from the womb."
McGonagal cringed, she never liked the extreme manner in which muggles got things done sometimes. "I'll give the remainder of your first trimester," she signed heavily, "but I'm afraid I can't give you more than that. After the Christmas break things will begin to get very rough academically for you."
"I don't believe it. Abortions at school. What's next? Gynecology? How could you get away with such a thing? Mrs. McGonagal, why couldn't Mr. Dumbledore attend this meeting?" Hermione's father was positively freaked.
"He is away on important business, I'm afraid."
"I wonder if I could have a moment alone with my family. We need to talk things out, if you don't mind."
"Of course," said McGonagal. As she shut the door, the penetrating silence was maddening. Looks were exchanged between dad, mother and daughter and even the wall, which Hermione's father examined with the strangest of glares.
"The pictures move," Hermione said. "The people in them can move and talk and even move from frame to frame, in the same building and even move from portrait to portrait if there is more than one."
"Ah." Said Hermione's dad said in an accepting tone. "So, will you be seeing this, nurse, this madam Pomfrey, is it? And she'll.. um... abort...."
"No."
"What?" mother chirped.
"No?!? Hermione be serious. You can't have a baby at your age."
"Dad, please, I've been writing to him, to Viktor. We've been discussing it and we've decided to keep the baby."
"I can't believe this!" mother gasped. "Are you in your right mind? Do you know what your saying?"
"Hermione you can't!" Dad chimed in, "You are far to young, there is too much at stake. I mean use your common sense, girl! You know what effort it takes to be a mother? You'll never be able to go back to school."
Yes, I will!" She insisted. "Viktor will have graduated by the time the baby is born. He and his family can take care of the baby until I graduate."
"Sweetheart, I understand how attached you must be to Viktor and to your child, but please see reason."
"Viktor's against abortion. He sees us both responsible and is willing to accept the consequences. I mean this is not easy for him either. He has to give up a guaranteed Quidditch career to be a father. I know it's hard, it's hard on both of us, but, we'll manage. We've agreed on that."
Mother and Dad stared at their daughter. It made Hermione uncomfortable, like she was an alien her parents couldn't understand.
"Well," said Dad scratching his head. "We can see it too, can't we? After all he is our grandchild as well"
"I suppose it could be arranged, I mean when we decided, I was at Ron's and not sure if I would ever be allowed back home." Tears began to streak down Hermione's face. "I didn't even know if I would ever see you again."
"Oh Sweetheart!" Hermione softly bawled into Mother's hands. The parents knelt down next to her. Mother began to stroke her hair as Dad put a hand on her shoulder. "You know we will always love you. We would never cast you out of our home like that." After a few minutes, Hermione calmed down.
"You're the best parents I could ever have," she said, sobbing softly.
"Have you thought of names, yet, sweetheart," Mother said cooingly.
"Astrid, if its a girl. Calloway, if its a boy."
"So then, you are decided." Her father said softly. Hermione nodded her head. Her eyes never left her father's face. McGonagal was sent for and the news was told.
"Very well," she said. "I must say it is a shame that you not considering your magical education as a higher priority, but at least you haven't given it up. I will have the library lend you books to review, even though any stuying done outside of school will not be counted toward your graduation from this year. I'll have Filch bring your things and arrange for a carrage to Hogesmede. I find it a great loss not to have you as my student this year Ms. Granger. I believe Dumbledore and I are in agreement on this. It is not the best time for you to start a family."
"I understand professor."
"You will go to my office and wait there, Hermione. I believe there are some people there who are most anxious to see you," McGonagal pressed her lips and started at her over her glasses. Hermione turned green. Who could possibly be waiting there unless representatives from the ministry of magic where there? And their purpose? Perhaps to snap her wand in two and expell her from Hogwarts? She soberly obeyed.
As the door to McGonagal's office creaked open there were only two people standing next to the fireplace in her office. They were the least likely people Hermione would have expected to find waiting there. She stood there aghast, and eyed the two figured who stood there staring at her, their faces anxious-ridden and wracked with nerves. Wrinkles and circles decorated their eyes and they breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of their daughter.
"Mum! Dad!" She ran at their embrace as if neither fights or anger could stop it.
"Thank goodness you're safe. We've been sick with worry. We had no idea where you were." Hermione's mother gave a sympathetic "Oh!" and clung to her daughter as if she was rescued from Hades and brought back to the living.
Herminone was bawling, "I'm so sorry... I missed you so... but.. I had to... and I didn't mean to... I just wanted... I was so confused."
"shhhh," her mother said as Hermione wept loudly onto her breast. As this went on, McGonagal moved to her desk, sat and wrung her hands watching them. I wonder how muggles do handle this sort of thing, she thought. They must have a non-magical equivalent. It can't be any different.
"She will be able to continue on this year won't she?"
"Well it entirely depends on her, I'm afraid. This year at Hogwarts is probably one of the hardest and most strenuous. I think it would be rather difficult to be pregnant and be able the handle the strain. I not only fear for Hermione's safety, but also for the safety of the baby. Even for a wizard, a high stress situation could lead to a miscarriage."
"and that's what the nurse thinks?" asked Hermione's father.
"Well, we've had other incidences like this before and her opinion on the matter has never wavered. Pregnant student don't do as well. Most of them who decide to keep the baby take a sabattical and see through the preganacy outside of school. Then depending on their choices and when they come to term, they can continue here at Hogwarts, however, they get left back. They have to repeat they year the left."
"What happens to the baby?" Her father said.
"Those who choose to have the child usually put them up for adoption. Of course this is highly regulated by the ministry. However there are wizard children who get abandoned. Some of them are picked up by muggles, who have to be approached very carefully when it is time for their children to come to Hogwarts."
"Much like we were approached when it was Hermione's turn," her mother said.
"Yes, there have been times when we approached the families of muggle born wizards and they refused to send their children here in favor of a muggle education. However, the older you get, without training, the more uncontrolable your powers can be. There have been many first years whose age were much higher than 11. The oldest, I think, was a muggle-born who started his first year when he was 21. They thought he was, oh what's the term they use, schizophrenic, because he was seeing dementors, thestrials, centaurs and the like which were considered to be hallucinations. He actually wrote to us when he remembered our visit from when he was young and asked to come here to get answers and a second education. But back to the point. There is a decision you must make Ms. Granger. If you wish to continue this year at Hogwarts," McGonagal trailed of with a sigh, "you will have to see madam Pomfrey for a iamotio fetus/i procedure. It is painless to both for the mother and the child, however the fetus will be lost."
"You mean an abortion?" Barked Hermione's father.
"Excuse me, a what?" asked McGonagal with a confused look.
"An abortion. You extract the fetus out of the womb while the baby is gestating."
"Well, I can't say I've heard it called that before."
"It's the muggle equivalent, professor," Hermione chimed in.
"I see."
"How can you perform abortions at a school?" Hermione's father's voice began to rise. "I mean, isn't something that requires special equipment, specialists the like?"
"Not in the magical world, dad."
"You mean all they have to do is point a.. a wand and Hocus Pocus, the fetus is gone?"
"Well, its a bit more complicated than that," McGonagal said matter-of-factly.
"That's not the point, professor, an abortion in the muggle world is a medical procedure that requires special doctors and equipment used to physically remove the fetus from the womb."
McGonagal cringed, she never liked the extreme manner in which muggles got things done sometimes. "I'll give the remainder of your first trimester," she signed heavily, "but I'm afraid I can't give you more than that. After the Christmas break things will begin to get very rough academically for you."
"I don't believe it. Abortions at school. What's next? Gynecology? How could you get away with such a thing? Mrs. McGonagal, why couldn't Mr. Dumbledore attend this meeting?" Hermione's father was positively freaked.
"He is away on important business, I'm afraid."
"I wonder if I could have a moment alone with my family. We need to talk things out, if you don't mind."
"Of course," said McGonagal. As she shut the door, the penetrating silence was maddening. Looks were exchanged between dad, mother and daughter and even the wall, which Hermione's father examined with the strangest of glares.
"The pictures move," Hermione said. "The people in them can move and talk and even move from frame to frame, in the same building and even move from portrait to portrait if there is more than one."
"Ah." Said Hermione's dad said in an accepting tone. "So, will you be seeing this, nurse, this madam Pomfrey, is it? And she'll.. um... abort...."
"No."
"What?" mother chirped.
"No?!? Hermione be serious. You can't have a baby at your age."
"Dad, please, I've been writing to him, to Viktor. We've been discussing it and we've decided to keep the baby."
"I can't believe this!" mother gasped. "Are you in your right mind? Do you know what your saying?"
"Hermione you can't!" Dad chimed in, "You are far to young, there is too much at stake. I mean use your common sense, girl! You know what effort it takes to be a mother? You'll never be able to go back to school."
Yes, I will!" She insisted. "Viktor will have graduated by the time the baby is born. He and his family can take care of the baby until I graduate."
"Sweetheart, I understand how attached you must be to Viktor and to your child, but please see reason."
"Viktor's against abortion. He sees us both responsible and is willing to accept the consequences. I mean this is not easy for him either. He has to give up a guaranteed Quidditch career to be a father. I know it's hard, it's hard on both of us, but, we'll manage. We've agreed on that."
Mother and Dad stared at their daughter. It made Hermione uncomfortable, like she was an alien her parents couldn't understand.
"Well," said Dad scratching his head. "We can see it too, can't we? After all he is our grandchild as well"
"I suppose it could be arranged, I mean when we decided, I was at Ron's and not sure if I would ever be allowed back home." Tears began to streak down Hermione's face. "I didn't even know if I would ever see you again."
"Oh Sweetheart!" Hermione softly bawled into Mother's hands. The parents knelt down next to her. Mother began to stroke her hair as Dad put a hand on her shoulder. "You know we will always love you. We would never cast you out of our home like that." After a few minutes, Hermione calmed down.
"You're the best parents I could ever have," she said, sobbing softly.
"Have you thought of names, yet, sweetheart," Mother said cooingly.
"Astrid, if its a girl. Calloway, if its a boy."
"So then, you are decided." Her father said softly. Hermione nodded her head. Her eyes never left her father's face. McGonagal was sent for and the news was told.
"Very well," she said. "I must say it is a shame that you not considering your magical education as a higher priority, but at least you haven't given it up. I will have the library lend you books to review, even though any stuying done outside of school will not be counted toward your graduation from this year. I'll have Filch bring your things and arrange for a carrage to Hogesmede. I find it a great loss not to have you as my student this year Ms. Granger. I believe Dumbledore and I are in agreement on this. It is not the best time for you to start a family."
"I understand professor."