Disclaimer: i own nothing but the plot.
AN: heres chappie 4, enjoy the read if ur bored like me
Chapter 4
"Hermione, can I speak with you?" Harry had to talk to her about this. And the sooner the better. He didn't want her suffering anymore because of what happened 3 months ago. In fact, he blamed himself for this. If he hadn't indulged himself in alcohol that night, then he wouldn't have lost control with Hermione. And being the stupid git that he is, they never even talked about this…ever.
To be honest, it had made Harry a tad bit on the edgy side, always worrying whether Ron would find out or not. He much wanted to discuss this with Hermione, wanting to make sure things were still okay between them. But she didn't seem any different after the incident and he wanted to keep it that way, so Harry never brought it up again. That was until now. She was frequently getting dizzy, never able to hold down food for longer than a day, and was easily tired.
'She must be going through some post guilt trauma or something,' he concluded. 'And it's all coz of me.'
"What's on your mind, Harry? And can you make it quick? I told Ron I'd join him in the kitchen soon."
"Uh, why don't we sit down?" He took her hand and offered her a seat on the Weasley's couch.
She lifted a brow at him curiously. "Harry what's the matter?"
He sighed heavily. "I know what's bothering you."
"Oh?"
He nodded with pity. "I don't know why I didn't see this before, maybe I just ignored the signs." He hung his head, angry with himself.
"Signs? What signs?"
"Hermione you're depressed. That's why you're going bulimic."
Hermione stood up, eyes widened in shock. "What! I am not depressed, nor do I have an eating disorder."
He softly placed a finger over her lips. "It's okay, Herm. It's okay. I'm not judging you. I want to help you."
"Harry," she said calmly though still confused. "What in Merlin's name would make you think I'm making myself throw up on purpose?"
"Coz you're always throwing up. Every morning. That's what Ron said."
She shook her head trying not to laugh. "Ron also thinks Pansy Parkinson is Snape's lovechild."
"Yes, I know what Ron says but that's not the point. My point is you are always getting sick, you're more emotional than you usually are, you get cravings in the most ridiculous hours of the day, and not to mention that night we…you know."
Hermione rolled her eyes and plopped back down on the couch, arms folded. "No I don't know."
"Well if you don't have bulimia, then what else could it be?"
"Look, Harry. I don't think-" she began, sitting up so she can look him square in the eye, but Harry had cut her off.
"Wait. You get cravings, you're emotional …" he said, counting on his fingers as he listed her symptoms. "Morning sickness," he said to himself quietly in the form of uncertainty. "You get morning sickness." Panic seized Hermione. 'Oh no. I think he's starting to put it together,' she thought worriedly. At this point, Harry's eyes had widened in realization as if a light had turned itself on in his head.
"Oh my god, it can't be…Mione, you're…" he paused, swallowing hard. "You're pregnant?"
Hermione stood up again and walked around the couch biting down her nails. 'Oh no, oh no, oh no…' she kept repeating in her head, the oxygen trapped in her throat and barely making it to her lungs.
"Oh Merlin, its true isn't it? You really are pregnant!"
She practically lunged at him as he said those words, a poisonous glare in her eyes, one that could even frighten the dark lord himself. "Shh! You do that again Potter and I swear you will never have children of your own," she hissed menacingly. Harry shrank down, her threat having its purposeful effects on him. When Hermione had finally released him from her kung fu grip, he shifted uncomfortably and subconsciously cupped himself in a protective manner.
"Gee Mione, if I didn't know any better I'd say you didn't want anyone to know."
She was now pacing the floor again. "There's nothing to know," she replied attempting to act normally but instead ended up sounding mad.
Harry stood up to match her, this time gaining a little more confidence. "Mione, you're not thinking properly. I'm sure it's just hormones and the sort. But trust me; Ron is going to be thrilled when he finds out you're pregnant-"
"No!" she quickly answered, turning her entire body to him, that mad look coming back to her eyes. "He can never know."
He laughed lightly. "And why not? I know Ron can be a little…overdramatic…" Hermione gave him a helpless look. "Okay, overdramatic is a tad bit of an understatement, but he'll be so ecstatic once he learns he's going to be a father."
Hermione buried her face in her hands, a muffled sound escaping her lips.
"What?"
"I said, Ron's not going to be father," she repeated as she lifted her head from her hands, her voice in almost a whisper.
Horror struck Harry. That's it. He finally figured out why she's been acting so strangely. It's because she was pregnant. Pregnant with his child. All of a sudden he felt weak, faint, and afraid at the same time. Ron was going to hate him forever! Without knowing it, Harry fell backwards back into his chair.
"Good lord Hermione. Ron's not the father. He's not the father and I know who."
She bit her lip in anticipation. "Y-you do?"
"Of course I do. I'm not that daft you know. I just can't believe this is all happening." He leaned onto the arm rest to steady his breathing. Once he had composed himself as much he could in the shortest time possible, he walked to her and cupped her cheeks in a reassuring gesture. "But don't you worry Herm. Whatever happens, I'll support you and the baby any way I can, I promise."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at her friend worriedly, unsure what he was talking about. "Harry, I'm not following."
"Oh Merlin, Ron's going to have my head for sure," he continued as if he hadn't heard her at all, pacing about the room like a trapped chicken waiting to be eaten.
She grabbed him by the shoulders forcing him to look her square in the eye. "What are you going on about?"
"Mione you don't have to hide it," he said, sympathetically taking her hands in his. "I know the truth. I know I'm the father of that baby."
She sighed and threw her head back. "You're talking rubbish Harry."
"No it's alright. I understand. I just don't know how we're going to tell Ron…" He trailed off, staring anxiously into space. Hermione had to snap her fingers to bring him back to reality. "Harry, if you don't mind me asking, was there a time we slept together that I don't know about?"
"I know what you're doing Mione. But you don't have to keep this to yourself any longer. I wasn't that drunk that night. I remember exactly everything… well almost everything."
She closed her eyes and shook her head, the memory coming back to her. "Oh, that night."
"Exactly." He nodded knowingly. "I tried to forget it too but believe me; nothing in the world could ever make me forget that night."
Without warning, Hermione began laughing; so hard, Harry was convinced she's lost it. "Herm, wha-"
She waved her hand, gasping for air. "Harry, nothing happened."
"Huh?"
Her laughing subsided long enough for her to formulate words. "Nothing happened. We didn't sleep together. You passed out on the couch after getting sick all over yourself and I wanted to soak your clothes in water so they wouldn't stain so I took them off of you, then I levitated you to your bed. That's it."
Harry was quiet for a minute, allowing her explanation to sink in more clearly. "That's it?"
"Yes."
"So we didn't…"
"No."
"Oh thank Merlin!" Harry released a breath he didn't know he was holding. It was like a huge pile of crates had been lifted off his shoulders. "Hang on. I don't understand. If Ron's not the father and I'm not the father, then who?"
Hermione fell silent, a wave of desperation hitting her like a tide. She glanced up in time to catch Ron's empathetic stare as he reentered the living room from the kitchen door.
AN: well wht'd u think? review if it makes u happy...i kno it'll make me happy :D lol
dark angel - thnx for reviewing again :) hope u had fun on ur cousin's wedding. i cant wait til my aunt's wedding...never been to a wedding b4. anywho, im still not sure if i shud make hermione or the father of the baby hav feelings for each other...if i do then i dunno wht i shall do about ron :( if u hav any ideas giv me a shout out.
Insanitysplea - yea im pretty sure thts where im going with this story. ur very perceptive :P i was actually planning on working him in the story. think i shud? -ponders-
forgetyourwatch - hmm...a redhead baby eh? not a bad thought... -evil grin-
