Hermione set down her quill, the calm she had felt in the weeks since the trial shattered by the sudden warmth between her legs. She raised a shaking hand while pressing the other between her thighs.
"Professor Snape?"
Snape glanced up from his desk and snarled. Hermione fought the urge to put her hand down. When he saw that she was not going to put her hand down anytime soon, he got up and went to her desk.
"What is it Granger?" he demanded.
"Professor, I need the hospital wing."
Snape glared at her. She bit her lip and forced what was happening to the front of her mind while looking directly into his eyes. A million expressions flashed across his face before he nodded.
"Take your things and go," he growled.
Hermione grabbed her bag and left the classroom, headed straight for the hospital wing. By the time she reached it, her tears had blinded her.
"Madame Pomfrey," she gasped weakly, clutching her cramping stomach.
Madame Pomfrey wrapped an arm around Hermione and led her to an empty bed, drawing the privacy curtains around them.
"I've told you to call me Poppy," she murmured as she helped Hermione undress. She froze when she saw the growing pool of blood beneath Hermione. "Oh dear. Sit very still. I'm just going to floo Minnie. I will be right back."
Hermione could feel searing pain in her abdomen and lower back. Biting her lip, she gently pressed her hand between her legs, hoping to slow the blood. Madame Pomfrey rushed back to the bed.
"Minnie will be down as soon as her class is over. It's going to be okay. I need you to lie back and spread your legs so I can see what's going on."
Hermione began to tremble at the thought. "I-I can't."
"It's okay. You can. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need to look."
"Can't we wait until mum is done with class?"
"I wish we could, but I have to look. I promise I won't hurt you."
Hermione shook her head frantically but laid back, clenching and unclenching her fists.
"It's alright my dear, I won't hurt you."
"That's what he used to say." Hermione felt Poppy's gentle fingers freeze.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"You didn't know."
The privacy curtain opened slightly, allowing a small tabby cat to slip inside. Minerva McGonagall sat on the bed alongside her daughter and wife. Tears slipped down her face as she took in the blood on the bed and floor. She swooped in and clutched her daughter to her chest, drawing an annoyed sigh from her wife as her patient was moved away from her.
"Oh, Mo Stoirín," Minerva whispered into Hermione's hair. "It's going to be okay. I know it hurts but you're going to be okay. We'll support you through this."
Hermione pushed her away. "What are you talking about? What is 'this'?"
Minerva looked at her wife, "You didn't tell her?"
"I was going to wait until she was stable-"
"What are you talking about?" Hermione demanded.
Poppy sighed and readjusted herself so she had access to her patient. "Hermione, you suffered a miscarriage. All the stress of the last few weeks has been too much. I should have been monitoring you closer. I'm so sorry."
Hermione blinked, "What?"
Minerva pulled her closer, "Lass, your baby didn't survive."
"N-no, you're lying."
Poppy's expression softened. "I wish I could tell you we were. I wish I could grant you peace of mind. I'm sorry."
Hermione tugged at her hair, tears pooling anew. Minerva gently removed her hands from her hair and pressed her to her chest.
"It's alright. You're alright."
Hermione sobbed into her mother's chest. "No, no, no,"
"I know there's no replacing what you've lost. I know you need time. But please, don't shut us out."
Hermione unraveled herself from her mother's embrace and sniffled. "I need a minute. Alone. Please."
Minerva looked over to Poppy and nodded. "We'll be in Poppy's office if you need us."
Hermione nodded and watched them retreating before carefully slipping out of the bedsheets and tiptoeing out of the hospital wing and into the corridor. She started for the astronomy tower and then changed direction, headed instead for the lake. She was almost there when she realized that a bluish glow had been following her since she left the Hospital Wing. Turning around, she found herself face to face with the Grey Lady.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, "Why are you following me?"
"Hogwarts knows when its own are in trouble. I simply followed the call."
"What do you mean?"
"Lady Hogwarts sent me when she found one of her children in danger."
"How does a castle know if I'm in danger?" Hermione demanded, getting agitated.
"Surely you've read Hogwarts: A History."
"Of course I have!"
"The perhaps," said a silky voice behind her, "you will remember the safety measures put in place when a student hurts themselves the first time."
Hermione swallowed thickly and turned to face Severus Snape. He looked down at her.
"Care to explain why you aren't with your mothers?"
"I needed to get some air?"
"Don't lie to me Miss Granger. Come with me." He swept away towards the castle. Hermione looked back at the Grey Lady. She nodded and made a shooing motion with her ghostly hands.