Beyond

Chapter 3: Lies, Secrets, and Truths

Hermione awoke to the sound of Lavender and Pavarti rustling through their make-up bags and fussing with their hair, making huffing noises and then taking their hair out of it's bun. Hermione groaned, she looked at her watch, it was only 5:30 a.m. She stretched her arms and put one hand on her stomach, she smiled as she felt the baby kick in response. It was three weeks before school ended and she still had yet to tell Ron.

Everyday she was tempted to take the spell she put on her stomach and clothes to conceal the fact that she was five months pregnant, but could never muster up the courage to do it. The last thing she wanted was people calling her the girl who got pregnant sixth year. She had gone for six years without having a reputation and she wasn't about to start now.

But, everyday it was harder and harder not to tell Ron, after all it was his baby. She just didn't want to ruin his school experience, if she told him they would have to tell their parents and then they would have to drop out of school. Or rather, she would have to. Every second, though, that passed she became more and more further into her pregnancy, lucky for her mood swings were few, and her morning sickness only happened at 3:00 o'clock in the morning, so no one found out that she was purging in the girl's bathroom.

Soon enough she would have to tell him, though. She still didn't have on clue about what she was going to do, after she had the baby, what they were going to do for money, baby supplies, and the thing she worried about most was whether or not Ron would stay with her. The thought of him leaving her pregnant and with no means of surviving, scared her. Even though she knew that Ron loved her and probably would never leave her no matter what, the thought never ceased to cross her mind every time she thought about the baby, or when he/she kicked in class.

The hardest thing was keeping Ginny's mouth shut. For four months now, Ginny has known about Hermione's pregnancy and she always filled her in whenever something happened. Ginny came to Hermione every time she had the urge to tell her brother or Harry, and Hermione had to beg her not to tell. Still, she was worried that she one day accidentally it would find it's way in a conversation between her and Harry or worse Ron.

Yet, Hermione got up everyday, dressed, and went to breakfast with a smile to conceal her true feelings. Ron never suspected anything, although he was beginning to wonder why they had never gotten intimate after their first encounter before school began. Whenever Ron would begin to touch her in places she didn't want him to, she would lie and say she was tired or was in the mood. Ron would just frown and kiss her forehead and make her promise that next time they would. Hermione would just nod her head and go to bed.

Hermione opened up her curtains and yawned, before shooting a glare at Lavender who was in the process of putting foundation on. She couldn't understand why girls had the urge to wear so much make-up. Hermione never wore such things and she still bagged the boy. Hermione just sighed and walked to the bathroom, closing the door and staring at the mirror. She took out her toothbrush and began to brush.

If I tell Ron today will he care? Maybe he already knows, maybe Ginny told him, but they are waiting for me to tell him first. Hermione thought, I mean, Hermione it's only so many more months you can go without telling him, you can't tell him the day you go in labor. That would go over well 'Oh, Ron I forgot to tell you for nine months I've been pregnant and now I'm in labor, sorry.'

Hermione sighed as she spit into the sink, she was going to tell him, today if she could. She just had to find the perfect time, the perfect place and maybe some chocolate frogs just in case he isn't happy.

"Hermione! Hey, Hermione. Over hear, I got you your favorite, home fries!" Ron was waving to her as she walked into the Great Hall. Hermione waved back and him and ran over to take her seat beside him. He smiled at her as she took the empty seat and slipped his hand into hers.

"Mmm, that smells delicious! Thanks Ron. Your so sweet." Hermione gave him a kiss on the cheek and began eating her breakfast. Ginny stopped eating and kicked Hermione from under the table. Hermione swallowed and glared at Ginny, "What?!"

Ginny nodded her head toward Ron and widened her eyes, as if she was telepathically trying to tell her something. Although, Hermione knew what she meant. She did this every morning, yet in more subtle ways than kicking her in the shins. Ron looked between them with a bewildered look on his face.

"Nothing," Ginny spat out, her mouth up turning into a smile as she turned her head to Ron. She looked away from both of them and began to eat, "I just thought Hermione should tell you something."

"Tell me what?" Ron, still holding the bewildered looked straight at Hermione who blushed profusely, "What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything or rather, something you didn't do by yourself," Hermione said the last few words under her breathe so that Ron wouldn't hear her, and he didn't but Harry did.

"Excuse me? Hermione you aren't saying what I think your saying, are you?" Harry dropped his fork and looked at Ron who just shrugged his shoulders in response to the question that was obviously directed toward Hermione.

"Erm ... Ron do you want to find an empty classroom so we can talk?" Hermione took a deep breathe and let go of his hand. Ron just turned to her and nodded. Whatever she was going to say couldn't possibly be that bad, could it?

"Hermione! Wait, you should finish your breakfast first, you know considering the circumstances." Ginny smiled and then shoved some more eggs onto Hermione's plate who just nervously laughed and pushed them away.

"Come on, Ron."

Hermione found a dusty classroom at the end of the charms hallway. The room looked like it hadn't been used in years and the dust that was being kicked up from their feet was making it's way to her lungs. She hesitated at the door, debating whether or not the dust was good for the baby, but quickly pushed Ron into the room and closed the door. This won't take too long anyway.

Ron found two chairs and a table and briskly wiped the dust with his robes and then gestured for Hermione to sit down. She took the seat and noticing that Ron was still standing waiting for the news, she gestured for him to sit down, too.

"Ron, maybe you should sit. Or lie down, maybe you want to get in the position you are going to be in a second." Ron took the seat, without saying a word and started fiddling with his fingers, She's going to break up with me, I beat too many people up. I'm such a git! Ron's thoughts overcame him and he didn't hear Hermione begin speaking.

"Ron? Are you listening?" Hermione took his hand and felt him jolt back to reality. She took her hand away from him, worrying he was going to have a fit and go rigid.

"Wh - What?" Ron stuttered, he didn't know why she would take his hand if she was breaking up with him, or maybe she wasn't.

"I said," Hermione began stuttering herself, she had already said what she wanted to say, but having Ron pay no attention to it made it even harder to say it a second time, "I mean ... what I'm trying to say is,"

Hermione broke down and began sobbing into her hands. Ron stood up abruptly and took her in his arms. He whispered into her ear hoping that it would calm her down, "Hermione it's okay, just tell me I promise I won't get mad." Hermione knew that he was lying, if it was bad news, Ron's emotions would take over, even Ron knew it.

"Ron I'm pregnant."

She just looked him in the eye as she said the last word, hoping that maybe his reaction would catch her off guard he would ask her to marry him and then they would live happily ever after. Sixteen, but happily ever after.

"Excuses me? Did you just say you were pregnant? Hermione you aren't kidding me, are you?" Ron let her go from his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets. He could feel the anger rising up in him, if that bastard Draco Malfoy laid a hand on her he would kill him.

"Erm, yeah, I mean yes. Ron I'm pregnant and I know what your going to say, but it's not either of our faults, it just happened I can understand if you don't want to be my girlfriend anymore. But just

remember ---"

"Remember what? That that disgusting pig Draco laid his hands on you. I'll kill him." Ron started to open the door to the empty classroom, ready to beat the living crap out of him, when he felt a pair of dainty hands on his shoulder.

"No, Ron! He never did that." Hermione suppressed a laugh at how dense he was, he should of known that she never was out of his sight, except at night, but you couldn't get out of the dorm rooms after midnight, so that made no sense at all.

"So who was it, Dean? Neville?!"

"Ron, it was you!" Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer she began to laugh, Ron smiled and then took her into a hug.

"Oh Hermione! You're pregnant?! Bloody hell! That's great news." He lifted her up and then noticing that she weighed a lot more than what she used to put her down with a huff, which only made Hermione laugh even more. But, then she stopped this wasn't a laughing matter or a happy one either.

"We need to talk. I mean, really talk. I know that this should be a happy moment, but think about it, we are sixteen years old and still in school. We aren't married and you haven't a job, or any money to your name. Ron, what are we going to do?"

"Hermione we have nine months to work that all out. Can't we celebrate right now. We may be sixteen, but I know I love you and I was planning on spending the rest of my life with you, I guess it's just a little earlier than I planned."

Hermione could feel the tears stinging her eyes, she took out her wand and pointed it to her stomach like she had done many times before, but this time it was to reveal something, not to hide it. A round stomach jumped out of her skirt and her shirt rode up to her bra, "No Ron, we have four months and counting. I'm five months pregnant."

Ron's mouth dropped, how could she keep this from him. Suddenly question after question began popping into his head, do they get married now? How is he going to get a job? Will they have to drop out of school? When was the baby going to be born?

He started to feel lightheaded and he summoned the chair over to where he was and sat down. He breathed deeply and then put a hand to his forehead. "Hermione, I'm speechless. I love you, but this is too much right now. Don't worry, I'll figure it all out. I'm not leaving you and it will all work out. Trust me, okay?"

Ron stood up and kissed Hermione's forehead before opening the door to the classroom and leaving Hermione with her mouth open, ready to answer his question.

"No, it's not okay."

A/N:

So Hermione told Ron, she's five months pregnant and Harry knows too. What will happen next, you'll have to wait until next time. And thank you so much for the reviews I truly appreciate it. I usually never ask this but 10 more reviews? Thanks you guys!

-A.E. Mac