Harry Potter Does Maybe-Baby

A/N: Hello and welcome to my very 1st FanFic! Please review if you read this; I would really like to know what everyone thought of my story, and where it could be improved, and also any good points. So R & R please!

Summary: The Maybe-Baby Programme comes to Hogwarts, and with some awkward, randomly-generated pairings, who knows what the next month will hold for the 6th and 7th years?

Rating: Rated T, as I don't know what is coming in future chapters, and can't promise that it will be swear-free (after all, the tension is going to be pretty high) and um… relationship free.

Pairings: This will be a spoiler, but read if you must… DM HG, RW LL, HP GW… to name but a few of the important ones…

Disclaimer:The normal… all I own is the plot of this story… oh well, we can't have everything in life can we?

Now with all that finished, it's on with the story…

Chapter 1: Announcements and Explanations

"…Now that we are all fed and watered…" Dumbledore began, as Harry Potter and his best friend Ron Weasley exchanged amused glances at these words and then stifled a huge laugh, "…I would like to begin my little speech with the announcements and notices for this year. All first years are reminded that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, as its name suggests," Dumbledore allowed himself a quick smile, "to all students." he finished, glancing over to the Gryffindor table. "Secondly, Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to remind you that there is to be no magic in the corridors, and also that Whizbang Crackers and Revolving Lollipops are banned this year. The full list of banned items can be viewed, I believe, outside Mr Filchs's office, if anyone would like to check the… er… suitability of the object in question." Harry noticed the corners of all the teachers' mouths twitching at this.

"And finally…" Many heads in the Great Hall jerked up. "It gives me great pleasure to announce that for this year only, Hogwarts is taking part in a new scheme that the Ministry is trying out this year to test the success and suitability of the programme, which is a Muggle programme called Maybe-Baby." A few faces in the hall, no doubt children of Muggle families, wore an expression of recognition and amusement. "A few of us here will know about this, but for those who don't, let me explain. In the Muggle world, secondary school pupils in years 10-13 (5-7 at Hogwarts) have the opportunity to take part in the Maybe-Baby programme. It is completely voluntary, and is usually carried out in the Muggle subject of PSHCE. It involves an electronic baby (electricity is like the Muggle form of magic) which is programmed to act as a real infant does – it requires feeding and changing etc, and will also eat, drink and cry, among other lifelike features. In short, it is an electronic replica of a real baby, which behaves in exactly the same way. The pupil takes this 'baby' home for a set period of time and is given the task of looking after it. They have to care for it as a parent does. However, neglecting this baby's needs is not a good idea, unless you think you can live with the loud crying all hours of day and night. The baby is programmed into a central office which monitors them, so there is to be no smashing them up either!" A few people laughed at this.

"The course is designed to show teenagers the responsibility of parenthood, and the Ministry feels that this is a lesson and experience that witches and wizards should have, as well as Muggles. Our models have been specially adapted so for magical use, and so have the plans and terms. May I add now, to avoid any dashed hopes, that this is only open to 6th and 7th years. Those years will be given more details from their Head of House very shortly. Thank you." And with that, Dumbledore stepped down from the majestic, gold-fronted statue he was standing on and strode out of the hall, his midnight blue robes billowing out behind him. As soon as he left, a babble of chatter broke out among the students. Ron let out a low whistle.

"Whew, that was unexpected…"

"Certainly was," agreed Harry. "Are you two going in for it?"

"Um…" Ron began, but Hermione cut across him.

"Well, I'll certainly be applying for it. Hogwarts doesn't host many extra-curricular activities, and I think it's such an excellent thing to learn… well, we'll all probably need it in the future, won't we?" she finished, with a glance at they two boys.

"You're right, but I think I'll find out a little bit more about it before I volunteer myself for it..."

Dear Reader,

I am extremely sorry that that chapter was so short and so boring. It was all the technicalities you see, and I had to accommodate for the fact that not everyone knew what Maybe-Baby was (hopefully you do now though!). A promise (and you can quote me)… the next chapter will be:

1) Longer

2) Funnier (we get the pairings for the programme… and they are very awkward…)

3) And lots of other good stuff that I can't think of right now (hey, it's like 12 pm at night here!)

Now that you've read, can you review? Even if its only 1 word, I'd like to know how many people have read this (and if you can spare more than 1 word then that's great!)

From the Author

Alex