THE ACCIDENT: PART I

"Hermione? You okay?"

The girl glanced up, and Harry was shocked by the deep black shadows under her eyes.

"Yes," she said distractedly, averting her gaze. "I'm fine. Just fine."

Ron and Harry exchanged glances. "You don't look well," Harry said softly. "Seriously, what's wrong?"

Hermione seemed to slump into her breakfast. "Can you guys keep a secret?" Her whisper barely carried over the chatter in the Great Hall.

Harry was alarmed by the hollow, fearful look that stole into her expression, but he nodded.

"I laid an egg last night," she said softly, and she fished an egg out of her pocket. "I don't know how it happened- it was like some weird maternal instinct came to life within me, and I couldn't fight it." Tears filled her eyes. "I must be some kind of freak-"

"Don't say that! You're not a freak," Ron told her quickly, but he sent Harry a dubious look that spoke volumes. Harry couldn't guess whether he was more embarassed by the nature of Hermione's problem, or by the unshed tears glinting in her eyes.

Somewhat flustered himself, he dug a tissue from his pocket and pressed it into Hermione's sweaty hand. She shot him a weak smile and dabbed at her tears. She then realized it was used and sent Harry a look of disgust before tossing the wadded up tissue back at him.

"We'll get down to the bottom of this," Harry reassured her, somewhat abashed. "We can take egg to Hagrid-"

"I can't! I have two rolls to write for Professor Snape and I haven't started!" Hermione cried. "I spent all night laying my eggs."

"Sorry, mate," Ron said apologetically. "I have Quidditch practice, and you know I' barely made the cut as is!"

Harry bristled at that. He still hadn't been readmited to the team. He had a sneaking suspicion Snape was in on that little penalty.

"Fine, I'll take the egg to Hagrid. Maybe Hagrid will know a little something more than us. Also, shouldn't you see Madame Pomfrey later? It can't be normal for a human girl to be laying eggs."

"Rub it in, will you?" Ron admonished him quietly.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled.

Hermione was staring blankly at the egg in her hand. "No, I- no. I can't just yet. She'd detain me in the hospital wing and I have five more unhatched eggs in my room, Harry. I need to nest, to make sure they're warm."

Harry and Ron exchanged befuddled glances. "All right, it's your choice," Harry said slowly, "But if anything strange happens-"

"Stranger than this?" Hermione said wryly.

Harry conceded the point with a smirk. "If anything strange happens, you need to go-"

"I know, Harry." She offered him a wilted smile, and reluctantly handed the egg over to him. "You keep my little eggy safe."


To Be Continued!

Coming up- a horrible incident in Hagrid's shack!