A/N: I figured that I wouldn't post any of my chapters until such time as I was completely done with the story. I tried that with my Love Is Never What It Seems, but the last 3 chapters became corrupt before I could get them out there, so I can't even do that. I will be trying that strategy one more time but this time I will save it in 3 places instead of just the normal 2. Wish me luck with that!
Please Enjoy!
Chapter 21
Hermione's POV
Hermione sat there, too stunned to say anything. 'I'm… Pregnant? I'm going to be a mother? Severus is the Father.' She looks over at him to see that he was just sitting in the chair, seemingly calm, leaning back and waiting for her to process all of this new information. 'He already seems to be accepting of this new thing… baby. He KNEW this WHOLE time. I should be mad at him for keeping this from me. I should have known there was a possibility. I SHOULD have already suspected it when I missed my period and began throwing up. I am much smarter than this normally. It's actually not his fault, because he was trying to help me. This possibility WOULD have made classes MUCH harder for me.' Hermione looked down at her flat stomach and placed her hand low on her abdomen, thinking about the new life growing there. 'What am I having? A boy or a girl? I wonder if that floating pink ball has anything to do with this?' She wondered and looked up.
"Do you think this could be what the floating pink orb indicated? If so, why did it split? What am I going to tell my parents? I haven't even told them about this new soul mate bond. What about my friends? Could we keep this a secret until I am showing? I don't think I want anyone to know just yet. Let it sink in a little before surprising others with it." She finally finished rambling. When she had begun to speak, Severus had looked a little surprised and had leaned towards her. After she finished her tirade, he stood up and reached out to take her hand. She placed it in his without a thought and was pulled up and off the bed. Right into his arms as he began to laugh. He lifted her up and spun with obvious excitement. This surprised her into wrapping her own arms around him and barking out a quick laugh. It didn't last very long before he placed her back on the bed and he returned to the chair.
"I take it that you are happy about my choice?" Hermione asked with a smile, while her hand made its way back to her baby.
"I am very happy. I can't answer all of your questions, but I can say that we will deal with everything as we need to. Don't worry about how people will be told because for now, it will be our secret. At least until you are showing. Now about the floating orb, we will have to talk to Dumbledore again to inform him of this new development, but he can keep a secret well when he chooses to, so don't worry about that. I don't want to create too many theories on that, but it could be because of how close we are getting or it could be… I don't know. Let me go get Poppy so that she can explain things to us that we need to know for this baby." Severus smiled at her before turning and walking to the office door to knock on it. He didn't even wait for the nurse to answer or open the door before turning back towards his pre-occupied chair. As soon as he sat down again, the door opened and Poppy hurried out, wand in hand. She stopped at the foot of Hermione's bed and looked at her in curiosity.
"Are you okay, dear?" She asked, tilting her head in question.
"Actually, I am just fine. We have come up with an arrangement for this and that means we would appreciate it if you could keep this a secret from everybody. We will be going up to Dumbledore to let him know at least, for several reasons, so you don't have to even worry about telling him." Hermione filled the nurse in on what she felt she needed to know and then fell silent.
"Alright, but I reserve the right to talk to Dumbledore if I feel like you are doing too much and stressing yourself out unnecessarily. A bit later you will need to inform the other professors as well, but that can wait until you are further along. I don't remember if I already told you how far along you are, but I will just tell you again. You are current about 3 weeks along. In the muggle world, you wouldn't have known until you were about 6 weeks along. Are there any questions from either of you that you need answered today?" the Nurse asked, looking from Hermione to Severus and then back again.
"Actually, I have one." Severus began. "Hermione has been very sick for the last week or so. Is there any way to help her with that? A potion that will get rid of it?"
Madame Pomphry looked at her former collogue in surprise. "Severus, you know there is. Why haven't you brewed it before now?" Severus looked perplexed for a moment and then relaxed.
"I guess that is one of the things that I am not allowed to remember from my adult life as I don't have a memory of such a potion. Would you make the potion or have the new potions professor make it and get it to us, please? We really need to get up to Dumbledore to discuss how this will work." Severus finished with a nod.
"Alright, I will get Professor Barns to brew it for you. I just have one or two things I need to do today and then you both need to come back tomorrow morning and we will get you set up with the dosages and everything else. Let's get the last things done so that you can leave. I am going to examine the baby with a little more focus. I want to make sure development hasn't been impeded due to the potion that you were exposed to 2 weeks ago." She pulled out her wand again after Hermione nodded her assent. Waving the wand in an intricate pattern, the nurse pulled up bubble which showed the inside of the womb. The baby wasn't much to look at right now as it was just a blob, but usually in the magical world a nurse with the proper training could get feelings from the baby as to whether it was healthy or if there was a problem. Nothing came up, so the nurse looked a little perplexed, but then dropped the bubble and decided not to mention the results as it could change at any time. Baby might just be a little shy.
"Okay, Hermione, here are some booklets about what will be going on in your body and your baby. Congratulations!" She finished with a small smile, handing over 3 small but thick booklets. Hermione sat up, took the offered information, then slid her feet off the bed to stand up.
"Thank you, Madame." Hermione said before walking over to where Severus had stopped to wait for her at the doors to the Hospital Wing. He grabbed her hand and began to pull her from the room like an overly excited child. She gently tugged at her hand until he slowed down enough for her to keep up.
"What's the hurry?" She asked as they began their trek up to the Headmaster's office.
"Nothing. I just want to get up there and get this conversation over with. I can tell you that this is going to get awkward quickly. Albus tends to try and make his students blush as he thinks it is hilarious." Severus informed her. It didn't take them very long to get to the Headmaster's office, so Hermione didn't get the chance to ask any questions about this new information before the Griffin statue began moving aside for them to enter. They climbed up the stairs and Severus knocked on the door loudly.
"Enter" came the voice they were waiting for from behind the door. They didn't waste any time entering the room and allowing the door to close behind them, both anticipating the coming conversation.
A/N: Well, there's another chapter done. I hope you enjoyed it!
Questions to leave you with:
Will Dumbledore tell them that he knew a baby was possible?
Will Albus finally tell them what he has found out about the bond?
How will Hermione tell her friends when the time comes?
Will Severus be correct about the Headmaster trying to get them to blush?
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