A/N: I absolutely cannot believe how long it has been since I last updated! If I get down on my knees and beg will you forgive me? Pleeeeeeeeeease? My babies have kept me really busy. I really think my head is going to explode sometimes, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Anyways here's your chapter.

Chapter 9:

"Oh My GOD!!"

This was Ginny Weasley's reaction when she read the letter from Hermione. It had arrived at breakfast that morning.

"What? What's going on?" Ron asked.

"It's Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed with a panicked look on her face.

"WHAT!? Is she okay? Is she hurt? Merlin, I'm going to kill Snape if he hurt her." Yelled Harry.

"No, no, no. She's okay, but I've got to go see her right now. You don't mind if I'm gone for a little while do you mum?"

"Oh no dear." Exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "Tell her hello and give her our love."

"Will do Mum." Ginny said as she grabbed a handful of Floo powder. Yelling the address for the Granger's she was gone in a whirl of green smoke.

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Hermione was in her rooms when Ginny showed up.

"Hermione!" Ginny greeted her.

"Ginny! Oh I'm so glad you're here! I don't know what to do. I can't be pregnant right now! This is the absolutely worst possible time for this to happen. What should I do?" Hermione whimpered to her best friend.

"Why don't you go see a regular healer? It might be nice to have a second opinion, you know, before you start worrying."

"Ginny, I can't go see a healer because if they found out I was pregnant that would ruin any chance for further training! They don't let pregnant witches train because of what they call 'health' hazards." Hermione wrung her hands in exasperation.

"What about Madam Pomfrey? She would be able to tell you and keep it confidential." Ginny suggested.

"But Severus is there." Hermione whimpered again.

"Oh come on Hermione, where's your Gryffindor bravery? You know... the stuff you're famous for." Ginny rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Hermione cringed. "Okay, I'll go see Madam Pomfrey, but only if Harry will lend me his invisibility cloak. I made a vow that Severus wouldn't find me until I let him. And I won't take any chances."

"That's better." Ginny grinned. "I'm sure Harry won't have any objections to your borrowing his cloak, but what do I tell him when he wants an explanation?"

"Tell him I need to go see her for 'healer' business and that I don't want to run into Severus while I'm there. That's near enough the truth and he shouldn't question it much further."

"Right-o. I'll go borrow it off him while you write to Mm. Pomfrey. Be back in a jiffy!"

And with that Ginny whirled out of the room.

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Severus was in the staffroom at Hogwarts talking to Poppy when Hermione's owl came through the window. His eye's lit up at the sight of it.

'Maybe she's relented and wants to see me!' he thought. 'Maybe she….' But his musings were cut short when the owl landed beside Poppy and not him.

"Oh!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed as she took the letter held out to her by the owl.

"It's from Hermione." She said looking at the address. "What would she be writing me for? I thought you hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet Severus."

"I haven't." Severus said. "Well open it Poppy what are you waiting for?"

Poppy opened the envelope and began to read the letter out loud so that Severus could hear.

"Dear Madame Pomfrey, Would it be alright if I dropped by to see you later today? I have a little problem I need you to help me sort out. You see I believe I am…….. Oh my!" Poppy gasped and then continued reading the rest quickly and quietly to herself.

"Am what?" Severus nearly screamed at her.

"Oh, sorry dear, I must dash now, got to answer this quickly." Madame Pomfrey said as she bustled out of the room.

"AHHHHHHH!" Severus yelled as he pounded the table in frustration. That's when he noticed the paper lying on the table. In her haste Poppy had forgotten her letter. He debated whether to read it or mind his own business before his curiosity won out. 'After all' he reasoned, 'isn't Hermione my business?'

In two quick strides he reached the letter and snatched it up. He got to just past where Poppy had read to before he dropped and fell to the floor in dead shock.

"P-pregnant?" he gasped. "Oh Merlin, I have to talk to her now!"

He jumped up from the floor and ran for the hospital wing as fast as his legs would carry him.

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When Madame Pomfrey reached the hospital wing she found Hermione already there waiting for her.

"Hermione, dear! I was just coming to write you back. It's so good to see you!"

"You too, Poppy." Hermione said nervously, glancing at the door.

"Relax darling, come lay down on this table for me. I'll go wash my hands and be right back." Madame Pomfrey smiled reassuringly at her.

Hermione twisted the invisibility cloak in her hands nervously as she laid waiting.

Madame Pomfrey came bustling back in with her wand and a tray of tea.

"Now dear hold still while I perform the spell." She said swishing her wand.

Hermione held her breath as she watched the end of the wand begin to glow. But instead of turning purple the wand tip went pink.

"How odd." Madame Pomfrey mused. "You're not pregnant at all. Who did the test for you last time dear?"

"I-I did." Hermione faltered.

"Ohhh that explains it. Didn't anyone tell you, you can't perform that spell on yourself?" Poppy asked sympathetically.

"No they didn't. It was the one they taught me in healer training. Why doesn't it work?"

"That's the diagnosis spell just for doctors. There's another that you can use on yourself, but they don't generally teach you that one." Poppy scowled.

"Really? I wonder why. But thank you anyways; it's big relief to know that I'm not pr-."

Hermione was cut off by the sound of a man's voice coming from the other side of the door. As Poppy turned towards the door Hermione hurriedly pulled the cloak over her.

"Poppy, has she come yet? I need to see her!" Severus gasped as he came running in the room.

"Yes dear she's right…, now where did she go? She was here a minute ago. How confusing!"

As they talked Hermione edged her way around them and tried to slip out the door unnoticed. But as she creaked the door open Severus whirled around.

"Hermione? Hermione wait!"

With that she took off down the corridor, holding the cloak tight around her as she went.

Severus looked around for a split second before he heard her footsteps disappearing down the hallway.

'Why can't I see her?' he thought. Then it hit him. 'Of course, Potters cloak! How like her.'

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'Where can I hide?' Hermione thought desperately. 'The trophy room!'

Running quickly she made it into the room and shut the door. Looking around she saw a large statue of the Hogwarts crest.

'Perfect.' She grinned.

Just as she got behind it the door opened and Severus came barreling in.

"Hermione? Come on love I know you're in here, please we need to talk. Especially now. Please Hermione?" he pleaded to the seemingly empty room.

'Does he know?' she thought. 'No there's no way he could. Alright, if I wait here long enough maybe he'll just leave.'

Just as she thought this Severus' face peered around the edge of the monument. Hermione squeaked in spite of herself and took off running. Severus reached out to grab her but wasn't quick enough.

'Damn reflexes, I knew I should have taken up Quidditch.' He thought angrily.

He chased the sound of her footsteps down the hall, and towards the grand entrance doors.

'I can't let her make it outside, she'll be able to disapperate if she does and then I'll have missed my opportunity.' He thought desperately. Then a thought came to him.

Reaching for his wand he yelled, "Stupefy!" pointing his wand at the big doors. Hearing a thud he smiled and ran over toward the sound. Before he could reach it how ever there was a shout off to his side and he fell flat on his face facing the doors. But whatever had hit him must have been a temporary freezing charm as he was able to move again about five seconds later. Looking up he noticed the doors were open.

Jumping up he ran for the doors as though his life depended on it. Just outside the doors he passed Flitwick stunned on the steps.

'Memo to me, apologize later.' He thought as he sped by.

But by the time he reached the bottom step he knew he was to late. Just beyond the gates there was a slight popping sound and he knew he had lost her again.

A/N: Ha Ha. That was fun. Let me know what you think. I made it extra long just for you're patience. I'll update sooner this time I promise! TaTa!!