Hey, it's Chapter 8! Woot!
Disclaimer: I do not, unfortunately, own anything that you recognize. I own only the plot.
--
"You're pregnant!"
"What?" Hermione was flabbergasted.
"You're pregnant!" Madam Pomfrey said excitedly.
"No, I can't be...I just can't be!" Hermione felt a tear fall. Madam Pomfrey excused herself to leave Ginny and Hermione alone. Ginny held Hermione close to her and combed her fingers through her hair. "I'm only seventeen, Ginny! I'm not ready to be a mother yet!"
"I'm sure Harry's not ready to be a father yet, either," Ginny said soothingly. "It is Harry's baby, isn't it?" Hermione have her a scandalized look.
"Of course it is!" Ginny shrugged.
"Just asking." There was a few moments' pause. "You need to tell him, you know." Hermione sniffled.
"I know."
--
Hermione walked briskly along the hallway leading to Gryffindor Tower. That was where, she had a feeling, Harry would be. Once she reached the Fat Lady, however, she realized that she didn't know the password. With an annoyed sigh, she turned back down the hallway and walked straight into Ginny.
"Where are you off to?" Ginny asked her with a bemused grin on her face.
"Well, I was going to see Harry, but I don't know the password up to Gryffindor Tower." Ginny walked up to the Fat Lady.
"Eudypes Crestatus." The Fat Lady swung open to allow Ginny and Hermione entrance into the Gryffindor Common Room. Once inside, Hermione found Harry sitting in a chair, playing chess with Ron. He looked up as she entered. A look of surprise flitted across his face, quickly followed by a broad grin. He stood up and walked over to Hermione.
"I have to talk to you," Hermione said softly as he reached her. He nodded and led her up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. They entered his dormitory, locked the door, and sat on his bed.
"What is it?" Harry asked her as they sat down. Nervousness clenched her stomach.
"I-I'm-I'm pregnant," she stuttered. Silence followed her words.
"What?" Harry asked her softly. A tear slid down her cheek for the third time that day.
"I'm pregnant," she sobbed, putting her face in her hands. He put his arms around her and held her tightly as she cried.
--
Ginny sighed and slowly sat down into one of the chairs that were scattered around the common room. Of course, she had known that this sort of thing would come with Harry and Hermione's marriage, but the full reality had only just hit her. Harry wasn't in any way hers anymore. He was Hermione's now.
Well, she reasoned, no point moping about it. This would be as good a time as any to be rid of a schoolgirl crush, if it was just that. Besides, Hermione needed a friend now more than ever. She resolutely stood up and went to the girls' dormitory to wait for Hermione.
--
Hermione had gone back to her bedroom later that evening. After entering her room, she got down on her hands and knees, retrieved her wedding ring, and slipped it back on her finger. Laying back on her bed, she stared up at ceiling, and laid there for a bit, rubbing her flat stomach and thinking. Would they keep the baby? Well now that they were married, giving the baby up for adoption wasn't one of their options.
But she wasn't looking forward to this in the least. Since she had heard of the predicament with the betrothal law, something in Hermione had always thought that her marriage to Harry was only temporary, something to be in place only till the law was sorted out, and then she could go back to being a normal witch.
Now, with the baby coming, she realized that it was permanent. For the rest of her life, she would be Harry's wife. Her youth, and freedom, was over.
No, she mustn't think that; it wouldn't help at all. She'd do better to concentrate on practical matters. Would she keep on with school? No question about it, Hermione told herself. As long as she could move around, she would be taking classes. Besides, the baby wasn't due until after graduation in June. There would be awkward questions, of course, but she and Harry were married, after all, what could they expect?
"Are you alright?" Harry poked his head into the bedroom. He'd been laying on one of their couches, reading Flying With the Cannons for the twentieth time.
"Yes," Hermione answered him, dully.
"You know who we need to tell, don't you?"
"McGonnagal." Harry nodded.
"I can go alone if you wanted to stay and rest," Harry said. Hermione shook her head. He was being sweet, but she was only two weeks or so along. Although she was tired, she wanted to be there when Harry told Professor McGonnagal the news.
"No, I want to go with you." Hermione got off of the bed and walked to the doorway.
--
A few minutes later, they stood in front of Professor McGonnagal's office. They said the password and knocked on the door at the top of the revolving staircase.
"Come in." McGonnagal surveyed the two of them over the tops of her eyeglasses and set down her quill.
"May I help you?" Harry fidgeted nervously.
"Erm- Hermione and I have something to tell you, Professor."
"Go ahead, then." Harry squirmed uncomfortably again. Hermione stepped forward suddenly.
"Harry and I are expecting a baby." The words were out of her mouth before she knew it. She looked anxiously at McGonnagal, who raised her eyebrows.
"When did you find this out, Mrs. Potter?"
"Just today, Professor."
"Well, I congratulate you two, then," Professor McGonnagal said, a slight smile appearing on her lips.
"Yes, congratulations," Dumbledore said from his portrait, his eyes twinkling.
"We-er- thought you ought to know." Harry had found his voice.
"I thank you for your consideration. I am afraid, however, that there is nothing we can do for you at this moment, Mrs. Potter."
"I understand." Harry resumed fidgeting while Professor McGonnagal surveyed them again.
"Am I correct in saying that the child will be due after graduation in June?" Hermione nodded. "In that case, if, in the later months of your pregnancy, Madam Pomfrey decides that you cannot continue leaving your rooms to take classes, we can arrange tutoring so that you can graduate." Hermione nodded. "Rest assured, Mrs. Potter, you will graduate." Hermione was relieved. That had been one of her foremost worries. "Is there anything else?"
"Er-no, Professor," Harry said.
"Well then, you'll excuse me, but I am very busy today." McGonnagal got up to usher them out.
"Yes, thank you for your time, Professor," Hermione said. She and Harry turned and left the office.
--
The next day, Saturday, Hermione went to the library to do some research on pregnancy. She was the type of person that needed to know what was coming. An hour or so into her research time, Harry came into the library, kissed her on the cheek, and sat next to her. He laughed softly as he read over her shoulder.
"Doing research?" She smiled.
"Of course." She yawned.
"You should rest, you know." She looked at him, surprised. "I've been doing some research of my own."
"Fine, just let me put these books away first." Harry grabbed them first, however.
"I'll get them, you go back to our common room." She sighed and stood up. Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she left the library.
--
Once Hermione had gotten back to the common room, she sat down on the couch and laid her bag beside her. Smiling, she pulled out the book that she had managed to sneak out of the library. She opened it and began to read. That was where Harry found her a few minutes later as he climbed through the portrait.
--
"How about Albéda for a girl's name?" Hermione asked. Harry made a face.
"Ugh, definitely not." They were sitting in their common room, discussing names for their baby. "Michelina?" Hermione giggled.
"No. Taelia?" Harry thought for a moment.
"Write that down. We'll come back to it." Hermione wrote it on the piece of parchment perched on her legs.
"How about Lilly as a middle name?" Harry grinned.
"Alright."
"We need boys' names too, you know," Hermione informed him.
"I know. How about Tyler?" Hermione wrote it down. She sighed. This would take a while.