Well this chapter is short and really nothing happens…but it contributes to the plot so I had to post it! My apologises!
Disclaimer: I do not (unfortunately) own Harry Potter material!
You're going places, Hermione
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Chapter Five: The schoolwork
It had taken nearly an entire month for Hermione and Ron to get their relationship back to how it had been before, where everything was fun and good and enjoyable. There were times when Hermione caught Ron looking at her longingly after they had spent a comfortable amount of time together. But she felt it best to ignore it because she knew she sometimes gave him those looks too.
"Oh bloody hell." Ron exclaimed, throwing his parchment aside. Hermione and Harry looked at each other briefly before they turned to him.
"Something wrong mate?" Harry wondered.
"No," Ron sulked, "Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. Let's say I'm intuitive. What's up?" Harry said with a grin.
"Nothing really, it's just these stupid assignments. And we have exams coming up next week. I'm going to fail." Ron grumbled.
"Well Ron, I'm sorry but you brought it on yourself," Hermione told him, unable to help herself, "I've been telling you to study for weeks now and you still left it until the last minute."
"I don't need your lecturing right now Hermione!"
"I think you do because you never seem to get the importance of it all through your skull. Look at me, I've got a cold and Sister Salem to worry about and I still started studying nearly a month ago-"
"I don't take things in like you alright?" Ron glared at her, "I can't study like you do."
"Of course you can. You just need to focus," Hermione said importantly, "I've been focused since day one and I've never had any trouble."
"That's because you're a know-it-all! Stop lecturing me."
Hermione's eyes immediately brimmed with tears and she lowered her head to continue finishing her homework. She couldn't help crying. Her failed immune system was making her emotional. And what Ron had said was awful. He was usually defending her from insults, not dishing them out himself.
"Well," Harry said quickly, "I'm having trouble with my assignments too. I'm too busy to do them and they're too hard anyway-
"You're a prat." Hermione grumbled at Ron. Ron shrugged, unaffected by her words.
"But my exams are going to be awful too. I'm really going to have to start studying harder if I'm going to pass any of them-" Said Harry, looking between his two best friends worriedly.
"Ron couldn't pass an exam if the answers were right in front of his face." Hermione said, glowering.
"And," Harry continued, speaking even faster, "I think it's also the simple thought of exams that's a problem too. I know I'm going to fail Potions and it's just getting to be really, really-"
"You're stupid too." Hermione grumbled again. Ron gave an almighty sigh.
"But who can blame a guy hey?" Harry's words were starting to run together, "Potions isn't a fun subject for anyone and plus Snape loathes my very existence. He's cruel and nasty and I really don't know how I can believe he was on our side during the war."
"Snape's better than Ron." Hermione muttered.
"Okay, that is it!" Ron shouted, standing up, "I can handle you insulting my intelligence and belittling me, but saying I'm worse than Snape is going too far!"
"In the end," Harry squeaked, "I'll just have to hope that I pass-"
"Why are you so mean to me?" Hermione cried, a tear sliding down her cheek. Ron gaped at her, entirely perplexed.
"What?" He spluttered, "You're the one that stirred me up and you think I'm being mean? I don't understand. What has gotten into you lately?"
"I don't know." Hermione sobbed.
Harry sighed, "I hate study time. This happens every night."
"What's going on here?" Ginny demanded, running over, "What did you do Ron?"
"I didn't do anything Ginny, butt out!" Ron snapped.
Ginny ignored her older brother and turned to her friend, "Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione began to sob loudly.
"I'll take that as a no," Ginny glared at her brother, "Why do you have to yell at her? You know she's all strung up over exams because of Sister Salem and everything! You know she's having a hard time! You know she's stressed!"
Ron frowned, his ears turning red, "I told you to butt out Ginny. This is between Hermione and me."
"Not anymore it's not!" Ginny said loudly, wrapping her arm around Hermione and leading her away. Ron opened his mouth to argue but gave up, falling back into the seat next to Harry.
"Things with me and Hermione are going from bad to worse." He muttered to Harry. Harry smiled pityingly and didn't say anything.
"Did you hear that?" Hermione sniffed, "Ron thinks we're going from bad to worse. And he's right. Everything is awful."
"It's ok." Ginny said softly, "It's probably just a bump in the road with you guys. It'll work out."
"I don't think it will. We just fight and fight and fight…" Hermione said, sobbing again.
"Will you go up to your room and wait there for a minute?" Ginny asked as she turned around and ran back down the staircase. Hermione nodded and continued to trudge up the stairs, trying to control her tears. When she reached her room she grabbed a tissue and set about drying her face.
"So," Ginny exclaimed as she entered the room, startling Hermione, "When did you last have your period?"
Hermione's eyes widened, "What? Oh! Um, I'm…I'm not sure. I think it was six weeks ago…"
Ginny sighed, "Here, drink this."
"What is it?"
"Just drink it."
Hermione frowned at the small vial in Ginny's hand but stepped forward and took it off her friend anyway; raising it to her lips and consuming it in one go.
"Oh that's disgusting," She spat, "What is that Ginny?"
"You'll see in a moment. How are you feeling now?"
"Calmer," Hermione muttered, "And stupid. I started a fight with Ron over nothing. I've been doing that a lot lately."
"He's noticed. He thinks you're trying to find a reason to break up with him." Ginny said calmly.
"Oh no! I'm not!" Hermione cried out, "It's stress. I know its stress. I just keep thinking about Sister Salem and everything. I'll be fine once exams are over."
"Give me your hand."
Hermione held out her hand in confusion. Ginny took it in her own and examined Hermione's fingernails closely.
"What on earth are you doing?" Hermione wondered.
"Look at your fingernails." Ginny told her. Hermione did so and frowned. Her fingernails were glowing like pink florescent lights.
"Ginny…" Hermione said worriedly.
"It's not stress that's got you all emotional Hermione," Ginny said sadly, "What I gave you to drink was a pregnancy test. And pink fingernails means it's positive. You're pregnant."
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A/N: Well okay, maybe a *little* thing happens. But it's only the old 'Ron gets Hermione pregnant' thing. Except she's going to treat it differently to how she does in other stories, I hope!
I know you guys, the trailer does look cool but it's still a few months away!
And thanks to the person who corrected my grammatical error!