An Unexpected Surprise
"Gin, what are you doing here?"
She looked up at me. I could tell she had been crying.
"Gin?"
"Hermione, I need you help, I think."
We sat on my bed, talking quietly. Ginny had brought a large paperback book with her. It was open between us: Our Bodies, Our Selves. I read aloud, as Ginny ate grapefruit.
""Nausea?""
""A little.""
""Breast tenderness?""
She poked herself.
""Ow, major.""
""Food cravings?""
""Grapefruit!" she said with her mouth full.
""You know I could answer "yes" to most of these questions, too," I said trying to help.
""I used to hate grapefruit.""
She started to scrunch her nose.
"What' wrong?"
""No offense, Hermione, but your perfume is making me sick.""
""I'm not wearing any perfume. I use soap. Oh.""
"What?"
""Heightened sense of smell.""
"That's a sign too? Meet me in the Prefects bathroom in exactly twelve minutes."
I did as I was told.
Exactly twelve minutes later, I walked in, and here was Ginny. She had conjured different pregnancy tests with her wand.
""So, do you prefer direct pee-on-strip or dip-in-a-cup,"" I asked jokingly.
"Shh."
Several kits later, all lined around the toilet seat: pink stripes; blue, pink, green, depending on the type of kit. But there was no doubting the results. We stared at each other for a moment, still in shock.
""Maybe it's a false reading. Aren't there such a thing as false readings? Maybe we should have Madame Pompfrey do it. You know it didn't look totally pink. It looked more…pinkish.""
""Five kits, Hermione.""
I shut up, knowing she was right.
""What am I going to do?""
""It'll be okay. You caught it early.""
""It's not a disease.""
"You know you have to tell your mum, Gin.""
"I know."