I've updated! You're not gonna like where I ended, but I've updated! I promise to update within the next couple of days, though. Please read and review!

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Ch. 12- Screams and Squalls

About 8 ½ months along . . .

The first day of NEWTs was over. Hermione had only had to take two to them today, and had found them reasonably easy. She was in her secret little study nook, going over her Transfiguration notes for tomorrow, when she was gripped by a terrible pain. The muscles across her stomach spasmed hard and then she felt a flood of water on her legs.

Oh God. That was my water. I'm in labor, she thought. No, no. It's too early. Came the next panicked thought.

Her back had been hurting badly all day, and she had had minor muscle spasms throughout the day, but that had happened before. She hadn't expected to go into labor. Another pain seized Hermione, making her grit her teeth to subdue a moan. Once it had passed, she stood and carefully walked out of the hidden door. She barely made it past the door way before another pain grabbed her, making her fall to her knees.

The pains were coming every three or four minutes, hardly giving her time to recover before another hit her, let alone allowing her to stand to go find help.

It was Ginny who found her, sitting with her back to the wall, hands braced against the floor. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked, rushing over.

"I'm in labor," Hermione panted at her.

"No, it's too early," Ginny said, a hint of panic in her voice.

"Well, it is, trust me on this one. My water has already broken." Just then another pain took hold of her, pulling a small groan out of her. "Go get Severus, please."

Ginny looked alarmed. "I'll be right back, I promise," she said, moving away quickly but with several backwards glances. Ginny nearly ran smack into Draco as she exited the library. "Draco! Thank Merlin. Go get Madam Pomphrey, Hermione's in labor!" she told him, frantic.

"Oh Merlin," Draco breathed. "Right away. She's in the library?" At her nod, he continued, "Go back to her. I'll get her and be back in a few minutes."

"She wants Severus," Ginny yelled after him. He waved his arm to indicate that he'd understood and continued to run towards the Infirmary.

On the third floor he ran into Harry. "Harry, go get Severus," Draco paused to tell him. "Hermione is in the library and she's in labor."

Harry had seen Severus not a half an hour ago going into the teachers' lounge a floor below this one. At Draco's words he took off towards there while Draco continued on to the Infirmary.

Harry reached the lunge in just a couple of minutes. He had enough self-control not to just burst in, so he knocked and stuck his head inside. "Professor Snape," he said to get his attention.

Severus was in a discussion with Professors Vector, Sprout, and Flitwick. "What, Mr. Potter?" Severus snapped, treating him as he always did in public, which wasn't as bad as it had been before he had been revealed as a turncoat.

"Professor, I need to talk to you."

"About what, Potter?" he asked. "I'm in the middle of a conversation right now."

"Severus, do you really want me to say in front of everyone?" Harry used his first name because he usually only used it in front of Hermione.

Severus got the hint. "She's not?" he asked, turning several shades paler as he stood up.

"She is. Now come on," Harry urged. Severus was out the door in a second, leaving behind several very confused professors.

"Where is she?"

"Draco said the library. He's fetching Madam Pomphrey." Harry was trotting to keep up with Severus's long strides.

They made it to the library before the nurse. Ginny waved him over from where she was keeping watch. Severus swooped over and knelt beside her. "Oh, luv, are you okay?"

"Molly . . . warned me this might happen. I just . . . didn't expect it so soon," she said, gripping the proffered hand.

"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing." Severus gently reclaimed his hand and picked Hermione up. She held on tightly to his neck as he headed to the Infirmary. They passed Madam Pomphrey with Draco on the way, and the two did an about face and followed them. The odd group also passed several other students, who turned and stared after them, wondering what was going on.

They got Hermione situated in one of the few private rooms in the wing. Madam Pomphrey changed her into a loose nightgown and lying in the bed. The medi-witch then sent Harry to fetch Ron and Severus to Floo Mrs. Weasley, who had informed her that she was to be there during the delivery.

Soon the main part of the infirmary was being used as a waiting room. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were sitting on one bed. Remus, Tonks, and Melantha, who Harry had fetched, occupied another, and Draco and Arthur Weasley a third. Molly and Severus were in the room with Hermione.

Molly was coaching Hermione through the contractions. Severus was just holding her hand, wishing he could do more, and wondering if her would be able to use his hand when this was over.

The pains were nearly constant now, and much stronger. It reached a point that she couldn't stand it any longer, so she screamed. Since it made her fell better, the next time the pain crested, she screamed again.

"We need you to push now," Molly told her.

Hermione screamed once and then yelled, "I will kill him!" the next time.

Panting after the contraction, she drew Severus closer and whispered in his ear, "Bring Dumbledore to me, quickly."

He retrieved his hand and slipped out of the room. He beckoned Arthur over. "Go get Dumbledore," he instructed the man, and went back inside. "He's coming, luv."

Hermione made no reply, just gripped is hand again, not quite screaming this time. She was still pushing, rivulets of sweat and tears of pain and exertion running down her face, when Dumbledore came in.

She gestured him to her side. He waited through a contraction for her to speak. She pulled him so close that her lips were practically touching his ear. "I remember everything. I know who did this to me," she managed to say before more pain hit her. "It was . ."

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Hee hee, I'm soooo evil! I promise, I'll update tomorrow or the next day. If I don't, feel free to flame me, cause I'll deserve it. I just feel like being evil today, so forgive me. Please review!