The Choice in Life: Chapter Six
-=-=-=-
Summary: Hermione accidentally falls pregnant after a night out partying. Who's the father? You'll have to read to see. And what will happen when Hermione has to choose between the men she loves, and her own child?
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
-=-=-=-
Last Time:
"What did he do?"
"There's another girl."
"WHAT?!" Harry exclaimed, outraged.
Hermione just nodded.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, quieter.
Hermione didn't move. Was she okay? She had thought Draco had loved her, she had thought about Draco and her making a real family. That bitch had totally crushed her dreams. He'd crushed her.
"I don't know," Hermione said truthfully. "I really don't know anymore."
-=-=-=-=-
"Hermione, please just call me back, please," Draco's voice pleaded on Hermione's answering machine. It was the thirty-seventh message she'd gotten that weak.
Hermione scowled at the machine and deleted the message.
The phone rung again, Hermione let the machine get it.
"Hermione, pick up the phone," came Harry's voice on the machine. "It's me."
Hermione picked up the phone. "Sorry, I just got a call from Draco, I thought you were him."
"I know, I'm with him right now."
Hermione looked at the receiver, her eyes wide. "You're what?" She demanded.
"Hermione, please, just listen."
"Harry, you of all people-"
"Hermione, just listen to what I have to say," Harry cut in.
Hermione slumped in down on the couch, "Fine," She said, spooning a large scoop of double-choc-fudge icecream into her mouth. The good thing about being pregnant is that you can eat junk and if you get fat, its because of the baby.
"Look, Hermione, I've been talking to Draco and... Well everything makes sense now."
"Does it now?" Hermione said tartly, after she'd swallowed the ice cream that is.
"That girl, her name's Courtney, she's, well she was, Draco's girlfriend, but Draco didn't really like her. He liked you, alot. He loves you."
Has Draco brain-washed Harry or something.
"You didn't even want me to be with Draco," Hermione reminded him.
"But he makes you happy, I hate seeing you mope around the house."
"Now he knows I've been moping, thanks alot Harry."
"Hermione, aren't you getting this, he likes you, not her."
"I'm getting it, I just don't care."
"Why not?" Harry asked, impatiently.
"Because he hurt me, Harry. You're supposed to be on MY side."
"I am, I'm trying to help you."
"Maybe I don't need help," Hermione snapped and slammed the phone down.
"Breath deeply," Hermione muttered to herself. "Stress isn't good for Bub."
She took her breaths, in and out, twenty times, she was still angry.
She looked down at her ice cream tub, it was half-empty. She scowled at it, she didn't even know she'd eaten that much. She looked up at the movie she'd been watching, the credits were rolling up on the black background.
She sighed and got up, putting the ice cream away. She couldn't eat all Harry and Ron's food, they were already paying rent.
"Who would have thought I would end up like this?" Hermione announced, leaning against the kitchen table. "I was the smartest girl in the year, how did this happen?"
A corner of her brain kept repeating one name: Draco Malfoy.
Yes, that was right. This was all Draco Malfoy's doing. Him and his stupid good looks, and charm and...
"Shut up," Hermione told her brain and walked out of the kitchen. She had to do something now, she couldn't sit around the house thinking about how Draco had betrayed her. "I'm going for a walk," She told the air, as she was home alone.
-=-=-=-
A flash of fluro-pink caught her eye as she passed a window, it was an advertisment. Couldn't hurt to read, Hermione thought.
Right now, she was desprate for a job, she needed money and Harry was being way too generous as it was. She hated to be dependent on people, especially her friends.
The sign read:
SISTERS UNITED
EVERYDAY WOMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO A CHILD IN NEED. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER AND ADDRESS BELOW.
"I've heard of this group before," Hermione muttered. "The girls were talking about it a few weeks ago."
"Are you thinking of becoming a member?" asked a warm voice from behind her.
Hermione turned around to find a woman with short-cut wavy black hair and ivory skin. She had a pale-pink lipstick on and her eyes were framed with a dab of light brown.
Hermione smiled at her, it's like you couldn't help but smile at her.
"I'd love to, but I don't get it entirely," Hermione admitted sheepishly.
The woman continued smiling. "We aren't very informative with our posters, are we?"
Hermione didn't know if this was a question or not, luckily the woman continued.
"Our group is like a big sister - little sister program. We have girls from around the neighbourhood join on. Mostly, they're from broken homes and traumatic backgrounds. We've been hoping for new members."
"So you're a long-standing member?" Hermione asked curiously.
The woman laughed, a sweet laugh, not a cruel laugh. "I designed the program."
Hermione blinked at her. "You designed it? And you and out flier?" Hermione pointed to the fliers in her arms.
The woman's grin grew. "I believe in equal work," She told Hermione. Hermione couldn't believe how nice this woman was.
"Oh, I'm being rude," Hermione fumbled, "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Petra Larkin," the woman said, shaking Hermione's hand with a firm, but friendly hand-shake. "So, do you still want to join?"
"Definately."
"Here, fill out this form," Petra said, handing Hermione a sheet of paper and a ball-point blue pen.
"Thanks," Hermione said, taking them, she glanced around for somewhere to write, she noticed that Petra had a table set up. She leant on it and began filling in the form.
-=-=-=-
Hermione pulled up outside a large hall, a very large hall. The place was enormous. Was this the right address? Petra had said number seventy-three.
Another car pulled up next to her own, Hermione looked over. A woman got out, same pink lipstick, and brown-made-up eyes. It was Petra.
"Hermione!" Petra said happily. "How are you?"
Hermione grabbed her bag and eased herself out of her car.
"This is the centre?" Hermione asked, still blinking at the cream-bricked hall. It had a wide balcony on the second story, with glass fittings. There was a tiny bit of land around the building, enough for children to play in, Hermione noticed a swing-set poking out from behind the house. "It has to have at least twenty rooms in the whole place."
"More than that," Petra told her. "There's about thirty in all, I think."
Hermione gaped at her. "How did you find this place?"
"I designed it, with a friend of mine. And we built it."
"I am more amazed by you every minute."
Petra laughed, "Thank you, shall we?" She motioned towards the glass double- doors.
Hermione nodded and they entred.
-=-=-=-
Hermione couldn't believe how big the place was, and it was so beautiful. So far, Petra had showed her around the three play rooms, seven over-night bedrooms, three living rooms, two television rooms, the kitchen and lunch hall, big-sisters lounge, coffee room, bathrooms, library and they were heading for the office and detention room at that moment.
"This is my office," Petra told her as they passed the door to her office, and this is the office of my second-in-command," Hermione loved how Petra joked with the names of places and people. She took this office to be the office of the vice-president of the organisation, as Petra was the president.
"And it looks like she's in," Petra said, walking into the room, as the door was ajar. Hermione followed.
A woman with streaked-orange hair looked up at her with green eyes to give Harry's a run for his money.
"Petra?" The woman said, obviously startled by their sudden appearance in her office, she had been scribbling over documents.
"Hermione - Roxanna Parker, Roxy - Hermione Granger," Petra said, intorducing the two.
"Hey," Roxanna said getting up, and holding out her hand, the woman was as short as Hermione, and she wore an off-shoulder pink top and flared-jeans. She looked to be nineteen, which was young for a vice-president. But then again, Petra was only twenty-two.
Hermione shook her hand, smiling.
"Hermione's a new big sister," Petra told Roxanna.
"Oh, great," Roxanna said cheerfully. "We've been needing new members."
"Have you been through Hermione's form yet?" Petra asked.
Roxanna blinked for a second then looked at her desk, "I think it's here."
She began her search. Petra smiling. "I don't know why they kept giving her the administration forms to over-view, she can never find anything on that desk."
Hermione covered her mouth to hide a smile.
"Here it is!" Roxanna announced triumphantly, holding it up. She quickly looked it over. "Hey, I think your little sister is actually here at this moment."
"Really?" Petra asked, obviously surprised. "Who was she placed with?"
"Flick."
"Flick?" Petra exclaimed loudly, but covered her mouth with both hands. "Hermione, would you excuse us for a moment?"
"Of course," Hermione said, looking from one woman to the other, she quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind herself, wondering what was so bad about this Flick girl.
-=-=-=- In Roxy's Office -=-=-=-
"Flick?!" Petra repeated when Hermione had closed the door. "Rox, you know Flick is the most difficult sister, we can't give her to Hermione."
"Why not?" Roxy said, handing Petra the form.
"Because..."
"Look, Pet, I know what I'm doing."
"I know, but couldn't you give her Reggie or Nichole? Flick's impenatrable, you said so yourself."
"And you're the one who said we should give her a chance. She needs a big sister more than any other girl here, we haven't had a big sister who'd take her in a month."
Petra sighed, "Fine, but I want you to have a talk with Flick first."
Roxy smiled, "I knew you'd come around."
Petra scowled sightly, "You're lucky I'm your best friend."
Roxy shrugged, "That's debateable."
-=-=-=-
Petra soon left the office, leading Hermione down the corridor, away from the offices. "Flick isn't that bad," Petra told her.
"I like a challenge," Hermione said confidently.
Petra laughed sweetly, "That's what I was hoping."
Petra led her towards the coffee room.
"I'll go get Flick," Petra told her when Hermione took a seat.
I wonder why Petra has a thing with Flick being my little sister, Hermione thought as she relaxed into the cushioned seat.
When Petra returned Hermione's mouth almost fell open, she leant on her hand to keep it closed, jut in case.
The girl behind Petra looked to be fourteen, she had shoulder-length, deep- purple dreadlocks. Hermione's eyes travelled over the girls revealed midriff and naval, her belly-button had been pierced, her ears held four piercings in each, her lip was pierced, same as her eyebrow. Hermione took in her purposely ripped-tee and holed baggy-jeans. Her nails were painted the same purple as her hair and her eyes were lied with kohl, on her creamy skin.
"Hermione, this is Felicity Moore. Flick, this is Hermione Granger, your new big sister."
New? Hermione's mind took in sharply.
"Hey," Flick said dully. "Flick."
"Hi," Hermione said, "I don't really have a nick name."
Flick gave off a "ha" kind of noise, which could have been considered a laugh.
Hermione indicated the seat opposite herself as Petra left.
Flick sat.
"Want something to drink?" Flick asked.
Hermione was a little taken aback by the girl's words.
"Sure," she replied, after recovering.
Flick walked over to a bench at the back of the room and came back carrying two soda's from the mini-fridge next to it.
"So, how old are you?" Flick asked, sitting.
"Eighteen," Hermione replied. "And you?"
"I'm fourteen," Flick told her, proving Hermione right.
They sat in silence for a while before Hermione burst out, "How many big sister's have you had?" Without thinking.
It didn't seem to hurt Flick's feelings in any way. "Seven," Flick said.
"Seven?"
Flick nodded, smiling. "Petra says I'm just not connecting."
"Really?" Hermione said, thinking aloud. "I never connected well with girls either. Both of my best friends are guys."
Flick raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like you hang out with guys," Flick told her.
Hermione chuckled. "The truth is never what you expect it to be."
Flick smiled at her. "You know what?"
"What?"
"You aren't what I expected."
"I'm not?"
"Nah, Roxy usually gives me chicks like me."
"Like you?" Hermion enquired.
"You know, look at me, like me."
"Oh..." Hermione said, nodded. "I didn't know girls like that vollunteered for Sisters United."
"You have no idea," Flick told her, going into explanation of her last big sisters.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
What did you guys think of Flick? I love her, she reminds me of a friend of mine, but yeah, that's just me.
Anyway, I know y'all are probably mad that you didn't get to see Draco in this chapter, but I'll probably have alot of him in the next one. You know the dating rules, I can't just put them back together in the next chapter, that'd be boring.
I'm kind of upset I didn't make this a cliffy, like I usually try to, but I think it ended nicely.
Thank you to all my reviewers, Cookies and sweets for you guys.
::Kisses::
-Thai.
-=-=-=-
Summary: Hermione accidentally falls pregnant after a night out partying. Who's the father? You'll have to read to see. And what will happen when Hermione has to choose between the men she loves, and her own child?
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
-=-=-=-
Last Time:
"What did he do?"
"There's another girl."
"WHAT?!" Harry exclaimed, outraged.
Hermione just nodded.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, quieter.
Hermione didn't move. Was she okay? She had thought Draco had loved her, she had thought about Draco and her making a real family. That bitch had totally crushed her dreams. He'd crushed her.
"I don't know," Hermione said truthfully. "I really don't know anymore."
-=-=-=-=-
"Hermione, please just call me back, please," Draco's voice pleaded on Hermione's answering machine. It was the thirty-seventh message she'd gotten that weak.
Hermione scowled at the machine and deleted the message.
The phone rung again, Hermione let the machine get it.
"Hermione, pick up the phone," came Harry's voice on the machine. "It's me."
Hermione picked up the phone. "Sorry, I just got a call from Draco, I thought you were him."
"I know, I'm with him right now."
Hermione looked at the receiver, her eyes wide. "You're what?" She demanded.
"Hermione, please, just listen."
"Harry, you of all people-"
"Hermione, just listen to what I have to say," Harry cut in.
Hermione slumped in down on the couch, "Fine," She said, spooning a large scoop of double-choc-fudge icecream into her mouth. The good thing about being pregnant is that you can eat junk and if you get fat, its because of the baby.
"Look, Hermione, I've been talking to Draco and... Well everything makes sense now."
"Does it now?" Hermione said tartly, after she'd swallowed the ice cream that is.
"That girl, her name's Courtney, she's, well she was, Draco's girlfriend, but Draco didn't really like her. He liked you, alot. He loves you."
Has Draco brain-washed Harry or something.
"You didn't even want me to be with Draco," Hermione reminded him.
"But he makes you happy, I hate seeing you mope around the house."
"Now he knows I've been moping, thanks alot Harry."
"Hermione, aren't you getting this, he likes you, not her."
"I'm getting it, I just don't care."
"Why not?" Harry asked, impatiently.
"Because he hurt me, Harry. You're supposed to be on MY side."
"I am, I'm trying to help you."
"Maybe I don't need help," Hermione snapped and slammed the phone down.
"Breath deeply," Hermione muttered to herself. "Stress isn't good for Bub."
She took her breaths, in and out, twenty times, she was still angry.
She looked down at her ice cream tub, it was half-empty. She scowled at it, she didn't even know she'd eaten that much. She looked up at the movie she'd been watching, the credits were rolling up on the black background.
She sighed and got up, putting the ice cream away. She couldn't eat all Harry and Ron's food, they were already paying rent.
"Who would have thought I would end up like this?" Hermione announced, leaning against the kitchen table. "I was the smartest girl in the year, how did this happen?"
A corner of her brain kept repeating one name: Draco Malfoy.
Yes, that was right. This was all Draco Malfoy's doing. Him and his stupid good looks, and charm and...
"Shut up," Hermione told her brain and walked out of the kitchen. She had to do something now, she couldn't sit around the house thinking about how Draco had betrayed her. "I'm going for a walk," She told the air, as she was home alone.
-=-=-=-
A flash of fluro-pink caught her eye as she passed a window, it was an advertisment. Couldn't hurt to read, Hermione thought.
Right now, she was desprate for a job, she needed money and Harry was being way too generous as it was. She hated to be dependent on people, especially her friends.
The sign read:
SISTERS UNITED
EVERYDAY WOMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO A CHILD IN NEED. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT THE NUMBER AND ADDRESS BELOW.
"I've heard of this group before," Hermione muttered. "The girls were talking about it a few weeks ago."
"Are you thinking of becoming a member?" asked a warm voice from behind her.
Hermione turned around to find a woman with short-cut wavy black hair and ivory skin. She had a pale-pink lipstick on and her eyes were framed with a dab of light brown.
Hermione smiled at her, it's like you couldn't help but smile at her.
"I'd love to, but I don't get it entirely," Hermione admitted sheepishly.
The woman continued smiling. "We aren't very informative with our posters, are we?"
Hermione didn't know if this was a question or not, luckily the woman continued.
"Our group is like a big sister - little sister program. We have girls from around the neighbourhood join on. Mostly, they're from broken homes and traumatic backgrounds. We've been hoping for new members."
"So you're a long-standing member?" Hermione asked curiously.
The woman laughed, a sweet laugh, not a cruel laugh. "I designed the program."
Hermione blinked at her. "You designed it? And you and out flier?" Hermione pointed to the fliers in her arms.
The woman's grin grew. "I believe in equal work," She told Hermione. Hermione couldn't believe how nice this woman was.
"Oh, I'm being rude," Hermione fumbled, "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Petra Larkin," the woman said, shaking Hermione's hand with a firm, but friendly hand-shake. "So, do you still want to join?"
"Definately."
"Here, fill out this form," Petra said, handing Hermione a sheet of paper and a ball-point blue pen.
"Thanks," Hermione said, taking them, she glanced around for somewhere to write, she noticed that Petra had a table set up. She leant on it and began filling in the form.
-=-=-=-
Hermione pulled up outside a large hall, a very large hall. The place was enormous. Was this the right address? Petra had said number seventy-three.
Another car pulled up next to her own, Hermione looked over. A woman got out, same pink lipstick, and brown-made-up eyes. It was Petra.
"Hermione!" Petra said happily. "How are you?"
Hermione grabbed her bag and eased herself out of her car.
"This is the centre?" Hermione asked, still blinking at the cream-bricked hall. It had a wide balcony on the second story, with glass fittings. There was a tiny bit of land around the building, enough for children to play in, Hermione noticed a swing-set poking out from behind the house. "It has to have at least twenty rooms in the whole place."
"More than that," Petra told her. "There's about thirty in all, I think."
Hermione gaped at her. "How did you find this place?"
"I designed it, with a friend of mine. And we built it."
"I am more amazed by you every minute."
Petra laughed, "Thank you, shall we?" She motioned towards the glass double- doors.
Hermione nodded and they entred.
-=-=-=-
Hermione couldn't believe how big the place was, and it was so beautiful. So far, Petra had showed her around the three play rooms, seven over-night bedrooms, three living rooms, two television rooms, the kitchen and lunch hall, big-sisters lounge, coffee room, bathrooms, library and they were heading for the office and detention room at that moment.
"This is my office," Petra told her as they passed the door to her office, and this is the office of my second-in-command," Hermione loved how Petra joked with the names of places and people. She took this office to be the office of the vice-president of the organisation, as Petra was the president.
"And it looks like she's in," Petra said, walking into the room, as the door was ajar. Hermione followed.
A woman with streaked-orange hair looked up at her with green eyes to give Harry's a run for his money.
"Petra?" The woman said, obviously startled by their sudden appearance in her office, she had been scribbling over documents.
"Hermione - Roxanna Parker, Roxy - Hermione Granger," Petra said, intorducing the two.
"Hey," Roxanna said getting up, and holding out her hand, the woman was as short as Hermione, and she wore an off-shoulder pink top and flared-jeans. She looked to be nineteen, which was young for a vice-president. But then again, Petra was only twenty-two.
Hermione shook her hand, smiling.
"Hermione's a new big sister," Petra told Roxanna.
"Oh, great," Roxanna said cheerfully. "We've been needing new members."
"Have you been through Hermione's form yet?" Petra asked.
Roxanna blinked for a second then looked at her desk, "I think it's here."
She began her search. Petra smiling. "I don't know why they kept giving her the administration forms to over-view, she can never find anything on that desk."
Hermione covered her mouth to hide a smile.
"Here it is!" Roxanna announced triumphantly, holding it up. She quickly looked it over. "Hey, I think your little sister is actually here at this moment."
"Really?" Petra asked, obviously surprised. "Who was she placed with?"
"Flick."
"Flick?" Petra exclaimed loudly, but covered her mouth with both hands. "Hermione, would you excuse us for a moment?"
"Of course," Hermione said, looking from one woman to the other, she quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind herself, wondering what was so bad about this Flick girl.
-=-=-=- In Roxy's Office -=-=-=-
"Flick?!" Petra repeated when Hermione had closed the door. "Rox, you know Flick is the most difficult sister, we can't give her to Hermione."
"Why not?" Roxy said, handing Petra the form.
"Because..."
"Look, Pet, I know what I'm doing."
"I know, but couldn't you give her Reggie or Nichole? Flick's impenatrable, you said so yourself."
"And you're the one who said we should give her a chance. She needs a big sister more than any other girl here, we haven't had a big sister who'd take her in a month."
Petra sighed, "Fine, but I want you to have a talk with Flick first."
Roxy smiled, "I knew you'd come around."
Petra scowled sightly, "You're lucky I'm your best friend."
Roxy shrugged, "That's debateable."
-=-=-=-
Petra soon left the office, leading Hermione down the corridor, away from the offices. "Flick isn't that bad," Petra told her.
"I like a challenge," Hermione said confidently.
Petra laughed sweetly, "That's what I was hoping."
Petra led her towards the coffee room.
"I'll go get Flick," Petra told her when Hermione took a seat.
I wonder why Petra has a thing with Flick being my little sister, Hermione thought as she relaxed into the cushioned seat.
When Petra returned Hermione's mouth almost fell open, she leant on her hand to keep it closed, jut in case.
The girl behind Petra looked to be fourteen, she had shoulder-length, deep- purple dreadlocks. Hermione's eyes travelled over the girls revealed midriff and naval, her belly-button had been pierced, her ears held four piercings in each, her lip was pierced, same as her eyebrow. Hermione took in her purposely ripped-tee and holed baggy-jeans. Her nails were painted the same purple as her hair and her eyes were lied with kohl, on her creamy skin.
"Hermione, this is Felicity Moore. Flick, this is Hermione Granger, your new big sister."
New? Hermione's mind took in sharply.
"Hey," Flick said dully. "Flick."
"Hi," Hermione said, "I don't really have a nick name."
Flick gave off a "ha" kind of noise, which could have been considered a laugh.
Hermione indicated the seat opposite herself as Petra left.
Flick sat.
"Want something to drink?" Flick asked.
Hermione was a little taken aback by the girl's words.
"Sure," she replied, after recovering.
Flick walked over to a bench at the back of the room and came back carrying two soda's from the mini-fridge next to it.
"So, how old are you?" Flick asked, sitting.
"Eighteen," Hermione replied. "And you?"
"I'm fourteen," Flick told her, proving Hermione right.
They sat in silence for a while before Hermione burst out, "How many big sister's have you had?" Without thinking.
It didn't seem to hurt Flick's feelings in any way. "Seven," Flick said.
"Seven?"
Flick nodded, smiling. "Petra says I'm just not connecting."
"Really?" Hermione said, thinking aloud. "I never connected well with girls either. Both of my best friends are guys."
Flick raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like you hang out with guys," Flick told her.
Hermione chuckled. "The truth is never what you expect it to be."
Flick smiled at her. "You know what?"
"What?"
"You aren't what I expected."
"I'm not?"
"Nah, Roxy usually gives me chicks like me."
"Like you?" Hermion enquired.
"You know, look at me, like me."
"Oh..." Hermione said, nodded. "I didn't know girls like that vollunteered for Sisters United."
"You have no idea," Flick told her, going into explanation of her last big sisters.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
What did you guys think of Flick? I love her, she reminds me of a friend of mine, but yeah, that's just me.
Anyway, I know y'all are probably mad that you didn't get to see Draco in this chapter, but I'll probably have alot of him in the next one. You know the dating rules, I can't just put them back together in the next chapter, that'd be boring.
I'm kind of upset I didn't make this a cliffy, like I usually try to, but I think it ended nicely.
Thank you to all my reviewers, Cookies and sweets for you guys.
::Kisses::
-Thai.