Disclaimer – I still own nothing.
Wow! I never thought so many people would actually read this! Thank you for all the reviews, I'm really glad everyone likes it so far.
Angela Danton, I'm sorry, but I can't promise to make you cry. I'm not really good at things like that… but I will try, after all, it isn't angst for nothing!
Once again, thanks for the reviews and now on with the story!
Chapter 3It was seven the next morning when Hermione went back to the apothecary at Diagon Alley. She crept through the house and managed to floo to the Leaky Cauldron without any interruptions.
The streets were empty, with the exception of the very few people who liked to open their stores early. She walked quickly, unnerved by the quietness, as she was used to being surrounded by crowds of people that usually occupied the area.
She walked into the apothecary, which was empty, except for the shop assistant. It was a different person, thankfully, who was more helpful to Hermione than the one yesterday.
She left the store with a bag full of the ingredients she purchased and a smile on her face. Finally, she was getting somewhere.
She flooed back to Grimmauld Place where its inhabitants were still asleep. She was glad that Mrs Weasley didn't get up until eight. She checked her watch. It was quarter to eight now. She had fifteen minutes to put the ingredients in the basement, where she knew no on would go, and she needed to retrieve the book from the library.
After finishing her task, she heard movement upstairs and quietly crept up to the kitchen.
Mrs Weasley was over the stove, starting to prepare breakfast, while Remus was reading the paper at the table. She sat down opposite Remus. They both acknowledged her, before returning to their tasks.
Hermione sat silently, lost in her thoughts. Apprehension took over her as she thought about what she would be doing. She had always wanted a family, but whenever she thought about that, she was always in her late twenties, with a loving, supportive husband and both had good careers.
She couldn't have all that at her age, she was only eighteen, nearing nineteen. She wanted to got to university, get a good job afterwards, hopefully meet someone and then settle down.
She was brought out of her thoughts as Mrs Weasley set down a plate of food in front of her, which she ate gratefully. She hadn't realised how hungry she was. Then she remembered the saying 'You're eating for two now' and a sudden wave of guilt settled itself in the pit of her stomach.
She forced the thought from her mind, reasoning with herself it was for the best. Ginny came into the kitchen, sitting down next to Hermione. Mrs Weasley set her breakfast down, then continued to prepare food for the others.
"Morning, Mione," Ginny greeted, stifling a yawn.
"Good morning, Gin." Hermione smiled at Ginny. Ginny was never a morning person, neither was Ron, nor his brothers. Harry and Ron both dragged themselves to the table and slumped down in their chairs. Mrs Weasley scolded them and told them to sit up properly and was replied with grunts of acknowledgement.
Harry was trying to tame his hair, someting everone knew was pointless, which earned a giggle from Ginny. He looked over at Ginny and smiled slightly. Hermione noticed that they both blushed before they looked away. Hermione smiled to herself thinking that they would make a good couple. However, with the war still on, she knew Harry would never approach Ginny, knowing that she would be more of a target to Voldemort.
Hermione finished her breakfast and stood up.
"Where are you off to Mione?" This was from Ron, who was still looking like he would rather be back in bed asleep.
"Oh, I'm going to do some reading, there's a book I found yesterday and I want to check it out." There was no way she could let them know of her real plans. They didn't have a clue about her involvement with Severus, so unless she could convince them that there is such a thing as the 'Immaculate Conception' and she doubted she could, they would never know.
"Oh, come on, Mione, why don't you hang out with us?"
"Because, Ronald, I don't find watching you guys play exploding snap, chess or talk of Quidditch enjoyable. Besides, you know me, I love a good book. I'll talk to you later."
Before anyone could object, she was out the door and making her way down to the basement.
She took the book off the table, where the ingredients sat, along with a pair of scales, a small cauldron and a knife. She read through the instructions carefully, before actually starting the task.
For the next six hours she was still brewing and the potion was coming along perfectly.
"Right, according to this, the potion should be a light silver. Then I have to stir it five times clockwise, before leaving it to simmer until it turns into a darker shade of silver."
She followed the last instructions, pleased to see it turn darker. She put the potion into a vial and hid it away in her pocket. She then cleared away her things, making sure everything looked the same as it did before she came down. Then she made her way up to the library to put the book back.
She checked her watch and was surprised to find it was time for tea. She quickly made her way to her room and hid the potion in her drawer, taking no notice to the list of ingredients on her bedside cabinet. No one would know what itwas for anyway.
She was the last to enter the kitchen and everyone else was sitting down.
"Oh, there you are dear, we were about to send Harry and Ron to find you." Mrs Weasley smiled at Hermione, who sat down next to Ron and Ginny.
"Sorry I'm late, Mrs Weasley, I was just so caught up in that book," Hermione smiled apologetically.
"Not to worry, dear, we all know you love to read and it is easy to loose track of time when you're enjoying yourself."
Hermione said nothing, but just ate her food without making conversation with anyone. She was nervous. What if the potion didn't work? She would probably have to tell Severus… wait! Why should she? He had finished with her, so let someone else tell him. He wasn't her concern anymore. After tonight, she would be free of all ties of him.
"Hermione? Are you ok?" This was from Ron, who for once swallowed his food before talking. He was looking at her with a concerned look.
"Yeah, I will be, Ron," she replied, smiling at him reassuringly.
He smiled back and continued eating. Once again, Hermione prayed that she would be ok. She wanted nothing more than to have her life back. Hopefully, she would.
Later on that night, after Hermione had showered and got ready for bed, she waited for Ginny to go for her shower. When she left the room, Hermione carefully took out the potion from its hidden location.
She spent the next five minutes looking at it. She pulled back the covers and slid into her bed, covering herself. She uncorked the vial and looked down at her flat stomach. She placed a shaking hand over it, whispering "I'm sorry," before drinking the potion, grimacing at the taste.
She lay down and waited. The book said nothing about what would happen, so she had no idea ofwhat to expect.
Suddenly she was overcome with a searing pain in her abdomenand she tried not to cry out. She couldn't alert anyone, she just had to ride it out. Tears were streaming down her face and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. The pain was so intense that she felt herself falling out of consciousness, thankful that she had escaped the pain… and the overwhelming guilt that had resurfaced. Her last thought was 'what have I done?' Before she blacked out completely.
Hey, that was longer! I'm sorry to all those who didn't want her to go through with it, but it is angst, so it will be sad. But also remember, it is romance, and I don't like sad endings. Well let me know what you think, review!