Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Hi once again. It seems like I'm apologising for the long wait at the beggining of every chater and who am I to break that tradition? So, I'm sorry for the long wait. I can't wait for school to start so I can say I had too much schoolwork to write. I think that'll be the only pro side of school starting again. Just kidding. I don't think I'd use that kind of an excuse if it wasn't true.

Just like always, thanks to my wonderful beta, x-Xanti-x for her wonderful work.

This chapter is dedicated to SwishAndFlick31,who helped me some with the beggining of this chapter, which means Harry's reaction to Hermione's news. And I hope SwishAndFlick31's wonderful story, Even After Time will be updated soon (hint.hint, for you) I highly recommend it to everyone.

Now, without further ado, onto the chapter. I hope you all'll like it. Please leave me a review and tell me what you think!

Chapter 12

For, what seemed like ages to Hermione, but in reality only lasted for a few seconds; Harry stared at her with wide yes, and the smile he sported before now frozen on his face. Then, he started to blink. Once, twice…

'And look, there's the third one,' thought Hermione nervously, as she watched her husband's frozen features change to shocked ones.

"Pr…Pre…Pregnant?" she heard the stammering of a clearly uncomfortable Harry. She nodded, her previous smile completely disappearing from her face. While Harry tried to digest the new piece of information, Hermione tried not to show her worry outside.

'Now I did it. He's really angry this time. How could I be so stupid? How could I forget something as important as a contraceptive charm? I knew he wasn't ready for children yet. Not in the recent circumstances at home. But no, I had to forget that tiny bit of detail I….'

She would have continued berating herself, but at that moment she heard Harry speak again and she focused all her concentration on him, hoping beyond hope to get some good reaction from him.

"A…A baby…oh, God…and you and me…" he looked at her, then pointed to himself, then to her again, his mouth opening and closing in a good imitation of a goldfish. Hermione would have laughed at the face of her spouse in a different situation, but not in this one. "I…I thought that we've…that I've… Oh, Lord…and you're…with my…me, a dad! Oh bugger!"

He quickly got up from the bed, frightening his wife, who was trying at that time to get closer to him and maybe, just maybe, hug him, in hopes of calming him down a bit.

Harry started to pace in the small room, while collecting and putting on his earlier discarded clothes, not bothered by little things like wearing his shirt inside out, or putting on his socks turned upside down, all the while muttering thing to himself Hermione couldn't make out, even though she caught words like 'baby' , 'die' and 'protect'.

"Harry, I…" started Hermione, as she jumped out of the bed, not bothering to cover herself up. What was the use of it anyway? Those shy days were long gone.

"No." he said, stepping a step away from his wife and one towards the door. "I…I just need some time alone. Yeah, a little bit of time. And space. And…Hermione, just leave me alone for a while. I…I'm not angry. I mean not really. I…really need to go and short things out…I just…" and with that, he bolted out of the room, leaving Hermione once again alone with her misery and thoughts.

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After leaving Hermione, Harry went to the place he knew Hermione wouldn't follow him to: the Forbidden Forest, to his clearing, as he liked to call it in himself. It was his sanctuary when he felt he had enough and needed to hide from the world. Hermione, of course, knew of the place, but like a silent agreement, she'd never follow him there. If he went there, it was a sign for her that he really and truly wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

But this was not the only reason why Harry knew Hermione wouldn't follow him there this time. As soon as he left Hermione in the bedroom, he knew that maybe he committed the biggest mistake of his life. He left Hermione alone, when he knew that she needed him more than anything. He knew that she didn't get pregnant on purpose, despite their last argument.

Now thinking back, he realised that Hermione must have talked about children then, because she may have suspected even then that she was pregnant.

Harry knew that he shouldn't have left her alone, but he really needed space and time. He wanted this child more than anything, that was for sure. But he was afraid for Hermione's and the baby's safety. It took Hermione long enough to convince him to take their relationship to the open and not to hide it anymore. But now, a child, his flesh and blood, was a completely different thing. He was responsible for the creation of that little being and he was also responsible for its safety, its life.

It was something totally new. Until then, he was only responsible for himself, he only had to look after himself, even though he tried to save and look after everyone he knew. Of course he was responsible for Hermione to some extent, too, but it was far from this.

This little human wasn't even born yet, but he was already its dad, and had to look after the baby, had to make important decisions that could make its life better or completely ruin it.

Was he ready for this? He didn't know, but what he did know is, that no matter what, he'd try his best to be the father this child deserved. He'd make sure to finish Voldemort once and for all so the baby could grow up in a world where he didn't need to worry about who would try to kill him next because his father was the number one enemy of Voldemort.

And what was even more important, he'd make sure Hermione survived, so the baby would have the mother it deserved. He knew Hermione would be the best mum imaginable. She'd make sure the child had everything it needed and that it'd know everything important and she would give the baby the love it deserved.

He, himself, wasn't sure he'd be able to do all those things. He knew that since he came back from his training, he'd been, to put it lightly, a not too good friend, boyfriend and husband. He admitted that more times than he cared to count he acted like a complete jackass and he really was ashamed of himself, but he couldn't help it.

Every time he felt guilty for behaving like that, he'd tell himself he only acted like that to keep everyone away from him, so they wouldn't be killed because of him. He knew that he was only kidding himself and he was aware of how much he hurt everyone around him.

When he came back from training, he was withdrawn because of the tortures of the training and lack of human contact he had throughout that year, but as time passed and he got used to being around them once again, but he stayed as reserved as he was before. It was time he stopped this and mended the relationships he had damaged through these past few years, starting with most important of them all, the relationship with his wife, Hermione Jane Granger-Potter, the most important person in his life.

With that he got up from the rock he had been sitting in all day and went towards the Great Hall, determined to make up with his wife yet again, and this time he wasn't going to botch it all up again.

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Hermione had spent practically the whole day cursing her stupidity and cursing the whole world for choosing Harry to be its hero, the one who solved the problems of everyone, except for his, for not letting him have the life he deserved, but most of all, she cursed Harry for letting the world do this to him.

She wasn't sure she wanted to go to have dinner at the Great Hall in her recent state of mind. She was determined to go to sleep without eating.

'I'll be big enough in the end of my pregnancy, anyway.' She thought. That was, when she realised, that she wasn't responsible for only her health, but for her child's too. She couldn't do things like eating as she pleased, anymore, she couldn't miss out on meals, etc.

She needed to eat regularly from then on; she had to avoid stress as much as she could, so the baby would be all right. She knew that there was a possibility that this would be the end of her marriage and not because she didn't love Harry anymore or because he didn't love her. No. If it ended, then it'd be because Harry wouldn't want his child to suffer thorough a war and she was certain he wouldn't want his child to be hated by people because he was its father.

Harry'd rather leave her, lie to her and tell her he didn't love her anymore just to get her to leave and never come back. She knew her husband well enough for that.

That's why she was currently sitting in the Great Hall (not because she was sure her marriage had arrived to its end, but because she wanted her baby to be healthy) eating in complete silence, not paying attention to anything or anyone, that is, until she heard a music play she hadn't heard in years.

It was the song she and Harry danced their first dance as man and wife after the wedding. The only dance they had that day. They were too afraid Voldemort would hear about their plans, so they only allowed that much celebration for themselves that day. Except for the wedding night, of course.

So that's why she looked up in surprise along with everyone in the Great hall, when she heard the music starting to play. She didn't know what was happening, until after she heard a student form Ravenclaw table shout and point up to the enchanted ceiling. Hermione looked up in surprise and found a message to herself.

Hermione,

I've been a total idiot (understatement of the year) to you and to everyone these last eight years, but especially to you. If you're willing to give me a last chance, meet me at The Clearing after dinner. It's time you heard the whole tale.

Harry

PS. Hi everyone!

Hermione was beyond confused by the message. Yes, it was great Harry finally realised just how he acted and she hoped he'll really change, but what did he mean by the "It's time you heard the whole tale" thing? She couldn't be sure, but her brain wasn't working properly right then thanks to the emotional days that were behind her.

'And why invite me to The Clearing?' thought Hermione. That was his place. The only place he had. That was the only place she wouldn't follow him to. Of course she knew where it was, but it was an unspoken agreement between them. She'd never follow him there. If he went there he could be completely alone, not bothered by anyone.

'We have too many unspoken agreements' thought Hermione. Not going to The Clearing, never asking about his training etc. She was tired of them.

Not noticing, that all eyes in the Great Hall were on her, following all her moves, she got up, abandoning her meal, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to eat more after this, she left the Great Hall without a glance back.

She muttered a silent Lumos as she neared the forest, leaving the lights of the ancient castle behind.

It took her a good 30 minutes to reach The Clearing with the rock in the middle, where she knew Harry would be waiting for her. The moon shone brightly that night, so she could see every features of the clearing clearly, as she neared her husband, who was lying on the rock with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the forest. She was sure he knew she arrived, so she lay down next to him, waiting for him to start to speak.

"You came." He whispered, breaking the almost complete silence.

"Yes." She whispered back, turning, so she could face him. She was surprised to find emerald green eyes staring back at her. But what surprised her even more was what she saw in those eyes. Regret, guilt, pain, so much pain, but she could see love, too. Unconditional love.

"Harry, I'm sor…" she started, but he silenced her by placing his fingers onto her lips.

"Don't. You've got nothing to be sorry for. From the two of us I should be the one apologising for acting like an ass to you. You don't deserve it. That's why I asked you to come here.

I've been thinking today and realised just what I did. And that's why I decided to tell you. I don't want anymore secrets between us. You deserve to know this. I owe you with an explanation."

"Harry, you don't have to. You don't owe me anything."

"Yes, I do. That's why I decided to tell you the whole story of my training."

So that was it, I hope you all liked it. Please, tell me your thoughts on the chapter.

I've got three things to ask of you, wonderful readers.

First of all, as you can see I had no idea for the chapter title, so if you have any good ideas, please share them with me.

And also, I think it's healthy if the summary of a story is changed once in a while, so if you feel up to it, please send me your suggestion in the form of a review or a PM.

And last, but not least, it's time to use all your sadistic little minds and think of ways to torture our dearest Harry. I'd be happy to see any suggestions for his training, as I've got no idea whatsoever. Please, keep in mind that his training was quite tormenting and pretty bad.

Thank you for reading and reviewing (hopefully). Please keep these good habits.