Itailics mean thoughts
Bold means prophecies
 means change scene

Chapter 2: The News from the Hospital Wing

Meanwhile, Ron and Harry were pacing across the tiled floor outside the Hermione's bed area.

"Why is that git, Snape, in there? There's nothing for him to do in there."

"Ron, breathe. He is most affluent with Voldemort's dark magic. And he could probably brew any potion 'Mione needs, okay?"

"Fine," was Ron's sullen reply.

"I agree with you that he's a git, but he's also 'Mione's best chance," Harry said quickly.

Then from the other side of the screen they heard Snape sounding surprised.

"Wait. Back up. She's pregnant?"

Harry and Ron stopped dead, looked at each other, looked at the curtain, and then back at each other.

"Did you? No, you couldn't have. Could you?" they said simultaneously, glaring at each other.

"If you have done anything to my sister, Ronald Bilius Weasley, I will kill you."

"What about you Harry James Potter? What did you do to Hermione?" Ginny asked, stepping into the room.

"Nothing," he said very quickly. "Fine. I kissed her, once, two years ago at Christmas under the mistletoe."

"What did you say, Potter?" Snape hissed directly into Harry's ear.

Harry jumped. "I-uh said that I kissed Hermione two years ago. Why?"

"No reason at all," Snape replied, leaving in a swirl of robes.

"And you Ron? What have you done with Hermione?" Ginny asked sharply, turning towards him.

"We snogged a few times in our seventh year when we went out. Nothing more."

"Okay, I believe you guys. Who do you guys think is the dad?" Ginny asked calmly.

The boys mulled over it for a while and they all fell silent. Finally, Harry broke the silence and replied with, "I have no idea."

"Me neither," Ron agreed.

"I can't believe that I have no idea who the father is for my almost-sister's child," Harry broke out angrily. "Do you Gin?"

"All I know is that it would probably be the man who took her virginity," she replied, unwittingly bringing up another issue.

"Who took her virginity, Gin?" Ron asked desperately looking for answers.

"I don't know," she lied. "Ask Hermione."

Madam Pomfrey instinctively understood that Ginevra Weasley knew who the father was, and it seemed so did Severus Snape.

"Madam Pomfrey," Hermione whispered. "Could I please talk to Ginny?"

"Yes, but only for a few minutes."

"Thank you."

Madam Pomfrey walked out beyond the curtain and asked Ginny to "Please come here."

"She can only talk for a few minutes only. Alright, Ms. Weasley?"

"Yes Madam Pomfrey."

As Ginny went behind the curtain, she whispered, "Muffliato."

Harry and Ron were following Ginny when they started to hear a low buzzing sound.

"Damn it, she used 'Muffliato' on us," Harry grumbled.

Ginny chuckled at them.

"Hey, Ginny. Did you hear the good news yet?" she asked sarcastically. "What am I going to do? Harry and Ron will try to kill Severus and Severus will kill them if they do. Urgh! Why did my two best friends have to be guys?!"

"I don't know. They saved you from a troll?"

"Thanks Gin, for reminding of that. Also, can Ron get it through his thick skull that I'm over him?"

"No. He's destined to make an arse of himself, the prat."

"Whatever. How was Severus acting out there?"

"He spooked Harry a bit when he wanted to know what Harry said."

"What did Harry say?"

"That two years ago at Christmas, under the mistletoe, he kissed you."

"Yeah, on the cheek, because you were watching."

"I can't believe he still likes me. Seriously, I love him but it was doomed from the start, thanks to Trelawney and her bloody prophecy," Ginny said, full of spite, before her eyes rolled back into her head and she said, "The first babe of Hermione and Severus is the key to defeating the evil in the world, but, if taken by Him, the babe shall be forevermore, evil…. 'Mione, what happened? Damn it! Not again!"

Severus was thinking about his child with Hermione as he collected the ingredients needed to counter-act the curse.

"I will have a child," he said, aloud to himself.

Severus began to brew the potion, and left it simmering as he collected the other potions for Hermione. He stirred the potion five times clockwise and three times counter-clockwise. He then flooed into the Hospital Wing.

"Here you are Madam Pomfrey. The potions for Ms.Granger as per instruction."

"I didn't ask for any, Severus."

"Oh, my mistake. Anyway, I know these won't counter-act any of the ingredients of the potion against the curse."

Madam Pomfrey looked positively shocked by Professor Snape saying "my mistake." She's never heard him admit that he was wrong AND he gave her potions to help with the pregnancy.

Is he in his right mind? thought Madam Pomfrey.

"Madam, please quit thinking so loud. You're giving me a headache," Snape said. "Also, I believe that Ms. Granger's stubbornness that she would keep the child and raise it in a time of war," he drawled.

"Oh, yes, of course. I'll go administer these at once."

Hermione. Warning, Pomfrey's coming. So quit talking to Ginny andperform the counter-spell.

Thanks Sev. I love you.

I love you too.

"Finite Incantum."

"Why did you-oh," Ginny said, right when Madam Pomfrey walked in."Hello, Madam Pomfrey."

"Hello, Ms. Weasley. Did you two have a nice chat?"

"Yes," both of them replied simultaneously.

"Good. Good. Here Ms. Granger, take this," she said briskly.

"What are they?" Hermione asked.

"Professor Snape brewed these awhile ago-just in case a student got pregnant and considering you are, he brought them up for you."

"Really?" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yes, why, I don't know, but he definitely came here for you."

Ginny tried to stifle a giggle.

"Ginny, quit. Will the ingredients counter-act-"

"No."

"Okay, then. Bottoms up!" Hermione said, quickly downing the first of five potions.

"Why did Snape give 'Mione potions?" Harry asked Ron. "To curse her? But then, why would he curse her more?"

Just then Ginny entered the room and the boys quickly rounded on her.

"Gin, why did Snape give 'Mione potions?"

"To help with her pregnancy! Honestly, Ron. Give Hermione a break. And Harry before you even ask, no, those potions will NOT counter-act any of the ingredients in the curse-repelling potion. Well, I'm off!" she said cheerily, and waving to her brother and his best friend.

"Ron, what's gotten into her?"

"I don't know, Harry. I don't know."

Standing right outside the Hospital Wing, Ginny chuckled. If only they knew what's gotten into me.

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