As always, I do not own these characters, they are the rightful property of JK Rowlings, this is just for fun.

Chapter 10, The Order of the Cross

Reverend Ewls sat at his desk finalizing his lesson plan for the coming classes of the day. His classes would press on deeper into Islam, taking twice as much time to cover it as they did Christianity. Ewls thought this only fair since he, the class, and most of their cultural surroundings were Christian. As he wrote notes on a piece of parchment, instructing him as to what to say in lecture, he sipped calmly on a muggle-coke.

As this process continued, he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in." Ewls called out.

The door opened, and Ron Weasley entered. Ron stood in front of Ewls' desk, a look of sadness in his eyes, the beginnings of tears forming in his ducts. Ewls noticed this immediately, as his gaze was sympathetic.

"Hello, Ron," Ewls greeted. "What's up?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute Reverend?" Ron asked.

"Of Course, sit down, would you like a coke?" Ewls asked, Ron's face screwed up at this question into a look of confusion. Reverend Ewls gave a chuckle. "Right, Muggle drink, I forget that they're not too popular here in England with Wizards, but in America, carbonated drinks are quite popular even with wizards. I'm sorry I don't have any tea or Pumpkin Juice, I find that stuff vile. Anyhoo, what can I do for you?"

Ron thought for a second about what he should say to this; finally, after not being able to find a way which would make his disposition easier he simply began.

"I've been an idiot Reverend," He said. "I've just committed a serious sin."

"Join the club Ron," Ewls replied. "Well want to tell me about it?"

"You know Hermione and I are erm…"

"dating,"

"She's pregnant."

Ewls did not give a look of disappointment, he merely nodded in understanding.

"I see, so you're going to be a father now?"

"No, it's not mine, I'm a virgin."

"Who is the father?"

"She doesn't know, she doesn't remember ever having sex," Ron said, at this Reverend Ewls' gaze became widened, to Ron it was clear that something about his previous statement sparked his interest, as if some great theological truth depended on finding out the mystery of Hermione's conception. Ron simply ignored this and proceeded on with his explanation. "like someone could forget eh?"

"You say that she doesn't know who the father is?" Reverend Ewls asked as if to clarify. "And that she doesn't ever remember having sex with anyone?"

"Right, but when she told me I flew off the handle."

"What did you say to her?"

At this, Ron gave a look of shame, he looked down to his lap and avoided Reverend Ewls' stare, which had ceased with its intense curiosity and had become, not judgmental, but powerful; it was the trademark powerful gaze that he gave his classes.

"I didn't believe that she didn't do anything wrong," Ron began reluctantly. "I basically called her a slut, told Harry she was a whore. I feel terrible."

Reverend Ewls paused for a second, his face never became judgmental, but he ceased with the powerful stare and converted his face to what was almost blank. It nearly frightened Ron with its lack of visible emotion. He had never seen Reverend Ewls look in such a manner. After a few seconds Ewls nodded in understanding, he gave a sympathetic look and proceeded to speak.

"As you should," He began. "Ron did it ever occur to you that being in a serious relationship means to learn to trust one another?"

Ron, still avoiding making eye contact with Ewls, gave a look of despair, demonstrating the realization of his wrongdoing.

"I know," He began. "I've judged her, and I've displayed wrongful anger. I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one to apologize to." Reverend Ewls retorted. "Ron, there is a psychological phenomenon that is not uncommon, often times people who have had traumatic experiences selectively forget them, partially because they want to forget them. It is possible that Hermione doesn't remember having sex with anyone because she was assaulted by a man and doesn't want to remember."

Ron nodded in misery.

"It doesn't matter now," He said. "It obviously wasn't a virgin birth."

"Well, that too is possible, but unlikely," Ewls stated. "Ron, you now have a choice to make, Hermione needs you, now more than ever. Do you want her to take you back as a boyfriend."

"Of Course," Said Ron without hesitation, his face once again becoming hopeful.

"Then seek her forgiveness," Ewls demanded. "And be ready to help her not only bear this child but raise it as well."

At that, Ron's face screwed up, it was not until then that he fully realized that his reaction to Hermione's revelation was not really motivated by jealousy, but by fear. Ron loved Hermione, and that meant that if Hermione still wanted the child, he had to take responsibility as its surrogate father. Responsibility that he was not unwilling to take, rather he was unsure of his readiness to take it.

He had hoped for a few more years with Hermione before the two of them would have a child together. To Ron this child meant the destruction of his future plans with Hermione, but it also meant something more, something even positive. Ron may have been frightened but he was also somewhat excited at the prospect of raising a child. Tears began to fall from his face, tears of joy, fear, sadness, pretty much every emotion rolled into one.

"Now I think I have a glimpse of what she feels," Ron said. "Now I'm afraid."

"It won't be easy to be sure," Ewls stated. "But even if she doesn't take you back as a boyfriend, forgive and be ready to assist her as a friend. Ron, we're all here for both of you, we on the faculty will help you as best as we can."

"I just wish she could know how sorry I am now."

"Go right now, and tell her," Ewls suggested. "You still have half an hour before your first class. Then ask God for forgiveness, the Scripture tells us that we must make right our relations with each other before we can do so with God. I think you will find that God's forgiveness will be easier than Hermione's, though she might yet be willing to forgive you. If God wills you two to be together, then it will be so."

"If she doesn't forgive me, will God?"

"God forgives all who seek his forgiveness. Now go, you have work to do, I will see you at the baptism tomorrow."

"Thanks Reverend, you've been a big help, you're not going to tell anyone else are you?"

"McGonagall has to know, but I will allow Hermione some time to tell her herself. Other than that, no, I won't tell anyone else at the school."

"Thank you Reverend," Ron said with renewed confidence as he stood and exited the office.

Upon Ron's leaving, Reverend Ewls' face became serious, even grave.

"I will tell no one else at the school." He muttered to himself.

Ewls stood and walked around to the front of his desk. Upon doing so, he knelt and made the sign of the cross

"Lord Christ, grant me the ability to transcend space and time by your grace and love."

Upon saying this he was surrounded by bright white light, which was the only thing visible to him. It surrounded him as he stood beholding another individual, an older individual with a bold, harsh face, short grey hair and several scars traversing his cheek and visible arms. He wore black clerical robes, and a serious yet kindly expression.

"Father Bates," Reverend Ewls greeted.

"Hello Thomas, what can I do for you?" The man said in a calm, low-pitched, southern American Voice.

"Robert, I've discovered something," Ewls began. "It's probably nothing, but could be potentially grave, a girl at Hogwarts is pregnant, and cannot remember having sex with anyone."

Father Bates nodded, but his calm, serious expression did not change. He took a breath, revealing some reaction to it, but what exactly his reaction was, Reverend Ewls could not say.

"You refer to the prophesy that was removed by the Catholic Church from Isaiah chapter six?" Father Bates replied.

"'…in the like manner, the adversary shall give unto his people a sign, behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name the destroyer.'" Reverend Ewls Quoted. "Now I know that the Hebrew word does not necessarily mean 'virgin' but…"

"If it is true that she is a virgin, and the British Ministry of Magic were to find out…"

"They would force her to terminate the pregnancy," Ewls continued. "They don't typically believe in old-testament prophesy, but in times like these, they're not exactly taking chances."

"Thomas, these people are downright superstitious," Bates said. "They would go farther than that if they felt they had to, they would kill her to end this pregnancy."

"How should we proceed then Robert?"

"Ascertain the truth of this pregnancy," Bates instructed. "If she did indeed conceive as a Virgin, take her to the temple, where she will be protected from the ministry. This is probably nothing Thomas, but these are troubling times, and it would not surprise me if now was the time for the prophesy to be fulfilled."

"But supposing it is true and she did conceive as a virgin, this child could be the last great antichrist."

"God's purposes are a great mystery, another virgin birth for a reason other than the bringing forth of the messiah or the destroyer is possible within gospel doctrine," Bates clarified. "In any case, until the child or the mother is guilty of anything they deserve our protection, and we will give it. Unfortunately, politicians do not understand it that way, make sure that the ministry does not find out about this."

"Very well, God be with you Robert."

"And also with you Thomas."

The bright white light surrounding Reverend Ewls disappeared, and he found himself, once again standing in his office. Looking at the clock upon his wall, he noticed that it had been exactly one second since he had left. He then returned to his desk and continued with his lesson plans.

During the lunch-break that day, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter sat alone together in an empty sofa in a quiet, deserted corner of the Gryffindor common-room. Hermione was crying into Harry's shoulder, whose arm was placed around her shoulder comfortingly. Across the Common-room, the painting-guarded entrance opened, and Ron emerged. His face gave a look of sorrow and penance. Hermione noticed this but quickly looked away.

Ron approached the two of them slowly and cautiously, eventually coming upon Hermione and kneeling before her. She did not look at him, or acknowledge his presence. Ron glanced at Harry, who gave him a nod, what this nod implied, Rod did not quite know, but he thought that he'd take his chance and proceed.

"Hello Hermione," Ron said softly, taking her hand in his. She quickly jerked her hand away from him, now looking down into her lap, refusing to acknowledge Ron.

"Look, I have been a right git Hermione," Ron said. "When you needed me the most I deserted you, I don't deserve you're love or your forgiveness. However, I ask for both, I'm so sorry."

"See Hermione," Harry said. "I told you he would come to understand."

"Harry, can I be alone with Ron," Said Hermione, who still refused to look at Ron.

Harry stood and left; at this, Ron's heart beat with a nervous, excited feeling. Would Hermione forgive him? Would she leave him? Would she smack him? Ron prayed silently for the former, knowing that probability dictated it would be one of the latter two. Hermione, for the first time in days, looked him in the eye revealing the reddened skin beneath her eyes which had become irritated on the count of so many tears.

"You hurt me Ron," Hermione said softly, slowly, in a tone of disappointment and resignation. Ron's heart sank, he knew now for a certainty that their relationship was over. "I am really, really scared right now," She continued more powerfully, more convincingly. Ron was on the verge of breaking down in tears. Surely her next statement would be the death-blow, surely she would tell him that she never wanted to see him again. "But I know you are too," she said in a newfound voice of understanding, which made Ron sigh in his heart. He prayed silently, thankfully, tears of joy came to his eyes. "We love each other, and something has happened for whatever reason which requires both of us to take on new and frightening responsibilities."

"I'll say," Said Ron in a relieved, yet still nervous tone of voice.

Hermione took Ron's hands into her own and kissed his forehead.

"I know that frightens you, It frightens the hell out of me," Hermione said. "And I understand if you don't want to continue our relationship, if you just want to go on as friends, it would be easier on you. I know you may not be ready to be a father."

At this, Ron's face gave an expression of both thanksgiving and confusion.

"An observation Hermione," He began half-jokingly. "Are you feeling alright? you are being quite a bit more forgiving than I expected. You sure you're not under some sort of love potion?"

Hermione smiled through her tears, she kissed him on the cheek, he returned with a peck on her lips, "You can thank Harry for that," She said.

Ron's face suddenly became powerful and resolved, as Hermione had never seen before.

"Hermione, you need my love more than ever," Ron began. "And I won't leave you, especially not now. I'm sorry that I got mad earlier, I forgot what it meant to be a Christian for a minute. But I believe you, I believe that you didn't do anything wrong, and I'm going to go through this with you, I'll help you bear the child, and raise the child, and I'll be right here with you all the way, I promise."

For the first time in four days, the tears that Hermione cried were ones of joy, rather than sorrow. She gave an incredibly happy smile and brought her lips to Ron's for several joyous seconds. Ron stood and sat on the couch upon which Harry had previously sat, comforting Hermione. He stroked her hair, his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you," Hermione said. "I love you Ron."

"I love you too Hermione."

At the cost of a mere detention, the two did not go to their first class that morning, but rather held each other, each giving the other comforting words of encouragement for the tasks ahead.

That night, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid ascended the rising spiral staircase, guarded by the Griffin, which would take them to Professor McGonagall's office. Upon arriving, the four sat before her desk, and amidst her now familiar tears of anxiety, Hermione recounted the fact that she was pregnant, the fact that she did not know who was the father, nor did she remember engaging in sexual intercourse, and the fact that neither she nor Harry could find any charm, spell, or curse which would cause this to happen.

Professor McGonagall's response was one of sympathy. It was clear from the beginning that she believed Hermione as she nodded with everything that Hermione said. In midst of their conversation, McGonagall made five glasses of tea and offered each of her four guests one of them before taking one herself. After offering Hermione a glass, she knelt beside Hermione's chair and took her hand into her own.

"You're sure then that you don't remember engaging in sexual congress with anyone?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"Then you have no clue who the father is."

"No ma'am."

"This is not the first time that a girl has become pregnant at Hogwarts," McGonagall said. "Though it does not happen often. You're now an adult Ms. Granger so you have done nothing illegal, though this will affect your academic plans for the term."

"How so?" Asked Hermione Concerned.

"Well Ms. Granger you're going to be giving birth, recovering, and nursing during the most difficult part of your last term, right as your N.E.W.T.S will be approaching," McGonagall explained. "Hogwarts may have to grant you an extension, in order to allow you to finish the term during the summer, we are willing to do that."

"Thank you," Hermione said nodding in tears of gratitude.

"Beyond that, you are aware that your parents have to be informed?" McGonagall explained.

"I know." This was the part that Hermione feared the most, though her parents were very proud of her successes in school as a witch, they were always very demanding of her. She knew that they would probably not believe her, and would not support her decision to keep her child.

"We may want to bring them here in order to discuss this," McGonagall said, after which Hermione hung her head in resignation. "Ms. Granger, you are almost eighteen years old, so according to both the Wizard and Muggle worlds, you and you alone may choose what to do with regards to this baby. As I see it you have two options, they are very simple, you can keep the child, or give it up for adoption either way we will facilitate your decision."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "Though my parents will not like this, they'll want me to at least give it up for adoption, perhaps even terminate it. That is out of the question."

McGonagall's expression was one of intense sincerity, she and Hermione's eyes connected in a moment of mutual clarity. It seemed as though they could anticipate each other's reactions to what they each were asking. "What do you want Hermione?" asked McGonagall.

With only a moment of hesitation in order to gather her thoughts, Hermione proceeded to respond. "I've never been so afraid in my life," She began. "But not afraid of having a child, rather that my friends will turn on me, will despise me, will call me a whore, when I need them now more than ever." She began to sob as she spoke, though her sobs were not out of fear, rather out of comfort and joy. "I want this child professor, when I first found out that I was pregnant I wasn't afraid; that came a few seconds later, at first I was happy. Something was born within me, a new feeling that covered me like a warm blanket. I'm going to be a mother, however it happened, I'm going to have a baby, I love this child, with all of my heart I love it, and I want it. More than anything in the world, I want this child."

Professor McGonagall smiled and nodded. "I know how you feel," She said. "I cannot control what your parents or your friends say or think, but we, your closest friends are with you, and will never leave you."

Hermione's tears of joy intensified. "Thank you," She said.

McGonagall took Hermione into a brief embrace, when the broke apart, McGonagall went back around to her side of her desk and sat down.

"We will contact your parents, and bring them here," She said, after which Hermione nodded in resignation. "Now I have work to do, if you need me you know where to find me; and for what it's worth I will be praying for you."

"Thank you," Hermione said.

At this, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Hagrid stood. Hermione and Ron joined hands and were the first to leave McGonagall's office, followed by Hagrid and Harry. After the four left the office, McGonagall gave them a few seconds to ensure that they had indeed descended down the staircase.

"I don't like this subterfuge, Reverend," She said.

The fireplace in the office erupted in green flames, from which emerged Reverend Ewls, who came in front of McGonagall's desk.

"We will inform them as soon as the time is right," he said.

"If the situation is as dire as you present, the time is right now."

"The will of God is a great mystery," Ewls instructed. "I was not to tell her at that moment, for an inexplicable reason, but all shall be made clear. When the time is right I will inform her of the prophecy and the need for discovering the truth."

"Perhaps in this case Reverend, not knowing the truth is a blessing," McGonagall responded. "We can protect her much more easily if the Ministry has no suspicion."

"My instructions from the Order of the Cross are clear," Ewls stated. "Besides, if she is indeed a virgin, we do need to know."

"What if she is?" McGonagall asked. "And the destiny of the child is to be the antichrist?"

"My hope is that if we raise the child as a Christian we can prevent it, but if that is his destiny, we have to know."

"Then I hope that God will guide us to do what is right."

"He already is, we must have faith Professor."