Chapter 1: Wormtail's News

A man in a black cloak walked hurriedly down a hallway, looking left and right nervously. He wasn't looking forward to meeting his master, but he had news for his master, and it was his duty to inform him. He approached him and kneeled timidly at his feet.

"Yes, what is it Wormtail?" Voldemort said.

"I have news, sir. The mudblood Granger is expecting a child. Potter's child." Said Wormtail, not making eye contact.

"Wonderful. You will be rewarded Wormtail. You may go now." Voldemort said, with no trace of emotion at this 'wonderful news'. Wormtail nodded before rushing off. Voldemort sat in silence for a long time before he allowed himself a small smile.

Meanwhile:

"So which color, Gold or Red?" Harry asked, holding up two different paint cans. They had already been to two different stores. Harry had had a basket-full of baby clothes and toys and was making his way to the cash register when Hermione had cornered him and made him put it back.

"Harry, you are crazy. I've just told you that I was pregnant, and you are already planning on building a nursery?" Hermione said, shaking her head.

"It's never too early." Harry replied, shrugging.

Hermione smiled evilly and turned to Harry with an innocent look on her face, "Why don't we paint the nursery green?"

Harry turned to her, mouth open.

"You are not serious... Are you?" he asked

"Harry, would you be disappointed if our baby was a Slytherin? Would you love him or her less?" Hermione asked sadly.

"Of course not. I'd love our baby even if he or she was a Squib." Replied Harry, turning to hug Hermione.

"Good. Now, let's go home. I'm exhausted." She said.

Harry pouted, "We can't go home yet. We still have furniture and lots of other stuff to look at. You're no fun."

"Well when you are pregnant and tired, you can stay and look at furniture, but right now, it's my turn, and we're going home." Hermione said, ignoring Harry's still-pouting face.

"I still think you're no fun." Said Harry as Hermione grabbed his arm and began to drag him out of the store, attracting the attention of the other customers.

"Good for you." She replied.

- - - -

A Few Weeks Later:

Harry and Hermione were sitting at home, doing nothing like they had for the past few nights. Finally, Hermione turned to Harry.

"Let's go out tonight." She said.

"I can't." he said, not looking up from the newspaper he had been reading.

"Oh, and you say I'm no fun?" Hermione said, eyebrow raised.

He sighed, and set down the paper, "I'd love to go out tonight, but I can't. Ron called me via the Floo Network at work today. He wants me to come to the Burrow tonight. He said that he broke up with his latest girlfriend."

Hermione laughed, "You mean Tanya?"

"No, no, that was last month's girlfriend. He just broke up with Beth." Harry replied, laughing also.

"Oh, oops. Well, when are you leaving?" she asked

Harry glanced at his watch, "Damn, I should have been there half an hour ago. Lost track of time."

He jumped up from the couch where he had been sitting and went over to kiss Hermione.

"I'll be back before you know it. And then maybe we could go out for dinner or something. Alright?" he said.

"Sure. Now go, Ron is waiting." She replied, pointing towards the fireplace.

"Jeez, if I was less trusting, I would think you've got a boyfriend on the side, trying to get rid of me like that." Harry said, chuckling. Then he stopped.

"You haven't, have you?"

"No." She said.

"Are you sure? Do you promise?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. I think I'd know. I promise I don't have a boyfriend on the side, now go." Hermione said.

"I'm going, I'm going."

Harry went over to the fireplace and grabbed some Floo Powder before yelling, "The Burrow" and disappearing.

Hermione sat down again and picked up the paper that Harry had been reading.

"Men..." she said.