03/08/2007 19:51:00

(A/N- This chapter was co- written by me and one of my BFFs, Chris. The whole 'personal life' part was his doing. Just thought I'd let you know, if the idea doesn't seem my style. Still my writing, Chris's idea.)

(A/N 2- Just noticed a continuity error. In chapter two I implied that the attack was during the school year, though Hermione and her friends have graduated. Wrote that one wrong. It's the end of summer.)

(A/N 3- I'm sorry I take forever to update!!! The ironic thing is, I get so angry when I read a story and the author take years to update…)

A million thoughts went rushing through Hermione's head, all at once.

Pregnant! Pregnant! WOO HOO!

Oh Merlin, how can I support a baby?

It's Harry's!

My sweet Harry will live on forever!

But the one that stood out most was, Why the hell are there three dots?

Madame Pomfry answered this before Hermione could even ask. "And, that's not all. They're triplets!"

Hermione finally got her breath together enough to talk. "I… I'm pregnant? Wait, TRIPLETS?"

It was now that Hermione first became aware of the other two women in the room. Molly ran over the whole three feet between them as fast as her legs would carry her. She was crying again, but tears of joy. "Oh, Hermione!" She sobbed, hugging her. "This is absolutely AMAZING!"

Professor McGonagall could not conceal a titanic grin. "Hermione, dear, that is wonderful. I'm so happy for you!"

All Hermione could do was stare at her stomach. "Pre… pregnant?"

Molly looked at her with concern. "Hermione, aren't you just simply ecstatic?"

Her eyes not wandering, Hermione quickly returned the question. "Oh no! I'm euphoric! This is the happiest day of my life! I just… My, this is going to be difficult."

Molly pouted, squeezing Hermione's hand. "Pish posh. You know that you always have a nice, comfortable, noisy room at our house."

Hermione finally adverted her eyes, smiling up at Molly. "Thanks. I'm being stupid, overanalyzing everything. Oh my god, I'm having children!" She squealed, as if the thought just came over her. "I'm going to be a mother!" She excitedly looked around the room, and her face fell just a bit when it hit Professor McGonagall. "Oh, the job at Hogwarts!"

McGonagall smiled, holding her other hand. "Hermione, please. You can start the job in two weeks when the students return, and take time off during your third trimester, in… oh we don't even know when that is, do we?"

Madame Pomfry cast another spell, and closed her eyes. "You need to take off at the beginning of February. You were impregnated on July 31."

"OOooOO!" Molly teased.

"Oh, that's sweet, Hermione." McGonagall said, laughing.

Hermione felt her face burn up, and smacked her hand to her forehead.

Molly used the same excuse every mother says when an embarrassing topic comes up. "Its okay, Hermione. We're all girls."

"Yeah, because everybody wants to talk about their… personal life with the best friend's mother and their Professor."

Minerva finally controlled her laughter. "Hermione, you're about to become my collogue. I've been calling you Hermione instead of Miss Granger, right? You can call me Minerva."

Before Hermione could reply, Molly interrupted them. "Oh, that's what you were going to say? I thought you were going to talk about her calling it her 'personal life'. For Pete's sake, Hermione. You can say the word. Sex, sex, sex! Hermione and Harry had sex!"

Hermione lifted her head, stuffing the pillow that she was resting on over her face. Molly continued on with her rant. "You get so embarrassed. Hermione, you're about to start dealing with adolescents! I mean, come on! Nobody in this room is a virgin. Poppy married, and divorced, Alastor Moody. I have seven children, for crying out loud, and Minerva… oh shoot, me and my big mouth. Min, would you rather me not talk about it?"

Hermione slowly lifted her eyes over the edge of the pillow, just enough to see Minerva bright red, sending Molly an ineffective death stare. "Thank you ever so much, Molly. Hermione, dear, what Molly is referring to would be the highly secretive love between myself and…" She whispered the last word. "Albus."

Hermione let the pillow drop. "Oh my god! You're in love with the Headmaster! That is so CUTE! But wait, what was Molly implying? Oh my GAWD!" She shrieked, returning the pillow to it's position.

All three of the older women laughed. "Oh, yes, yes. Hermione, dear, I believe the procession is over by now. I'm going to gather my family and Albus, to bring them up. I think I'll let you tell them." Molly finally managed to say, standing up and apperating down to the lawn. Poppy, still chuckling, began to organize things and had to step out of the room for a second, leaving Hermione alone with Minerva.

"Oh, Hermione dear, you can take the pillow down now. Molly's gone for a bit, so there wont be any mortifying conversation."

Hermione laughed, placing the pillow back under her head. "I'm really sorry, Pro… Minerva. I promise I wasn't laughing at you, I already said I think it's the cutest thing. Its just…"

"I promise I understand. My word, that Molly… but its just that part about her that makes everybody love her so much."

"I think the first time I realized she was like that was in my first year, when she sends Ron a maroon sweater with a huge letter R on it for Christmas."

Minerva threw her head back, laughing. "Even in the most serious time, she can really make people come to perspective."

Hermione sighed. "Yes, that she can."

The laughter fading away, Minerva began to become staid once more. "Hermione? There's something I'd like to talk to you about, if its okay with you."

"Sure, what is it?" Hermione asked, looking up.

"Well, I know that Molly is like a mother to you, but she wont be here year round. I just wanted to let you know, especially since you're going to be pregnant, I'm here if you ever need anything. To talk, help, to cry. Really."

Instead of the expected emotional crying, Hermione smiled a little. "Thank you, Minerva."

Minerva patted Hermione's hand. "You're welcome, dear."

At that moment, noise began pouring in from outside the wing. Hermione saw them all; Albus, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny come up to their bed, faces laced in sheer concern.

Hermione's smile only grew. "Molly, I hope you did tell them I'm not sick."

Molly only sheepishly smiled.

Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes. "May I speak to Ron in private first, please?"

Molly ushered everyone out, even Madame Pomfry. Ron rushed to where Minerva had just been sitting, still apprehensive. "Mione, please tell me you're alright. You can't fool me. I know you wouldn't leave Harry's procession unless it was serious."

Ron," She said, taking his quivering hand. "I am not in ill health, I promise you. I left, or rather, was taken away, because I suddenly felt faint and dizzy."

"Hermione! Oh my god! Don't feed me the rubbish that you're perfectly fine if you almost fainted!"

"Ron, relax. It's perfectly normal for pregnant women to feel that way."

"Well yes but… did you just say PREGNANT?"

She sat up, beaming in happiness. "Ron, I'm having TRIPLETS!"

"HERMIONE!" He yelled, hugging her. "OH MY GOD!"

"I know!"

Ron smiled, sitting back down, Hermione's hand still on his. "Man, Mione! This is like… wow. You're going to be a great mother!"

"Thanks, Ron. Can you go tell your mom that I gave you permission for her to tell everybody EXCEPT Ginny and Dumbledore? Send Ginny in here, and tell McGonagall I want her to tell Dumbledore."

"Okay." He complied, not taking his eyes off of her as he walked out. In a moment, Ginny rushed in, hugging Hermione.

"Oh my god! What is it? I know its not bad because Ron is smiling, but I was worried because Mum was crying."

"Gin, how would you like to be known as Aunt Ginny?"

Ginny's jaw dropped. "Oh MY GOD! HERMIONE, ARE YOU PREGNANT?"

Hermione took Ginny's hand and held it to her stomach. "Your hand is over triplets."

Ginny screamed, but it was matched by the screams of many outside of the door. They poured in like mad, ignoring the whole 'knocking' courtesy. Fred and George came over, slapping their hands on her shoulders. "Triplets?" Fred asked.

"Wow, when Potter knocks someone up, he knocks 'em up!" George exclaimed.

"Boys!" Molly scolded, pulling them away. Bill, Charlie, and Percy, who didn't know Hermione that well, just smiled and congratulated her. Albus stood level with them, and it was obvious that he had more to say, in private. "Okay!" Molly called. "Hermione has had the most exhausting day in the history of mankind! If you're related to me, out!" Everyone left, excluding Minerva and Albus. He approached her bed, smiling.

"Oh, Mi… Professor McGonagall…"

"Albus, she knows."

He raised his eyebrows, slightly amused. "Okay, then. It was Minerva who wanted it kept secret, anyhow. So, Hermione. Wow. Triplets. I must say, I do think I agree with Fred and George."

"Albus!" Minerva exclaimed, swatting his back.

"What? It's a perfectly legitimate observation. Now let me get back to Hermione." He let out an exaggerated sigh. "Anyway, Hermione, I noticed over the past few days that you were grieving in the worst way. You gave up hope, in life. Isn't it funny that on what would be expected to be the most difficult day in your mourning, you were brought news of the most excellent gift?"

"You think Harry was trying to connect to me?"

"I know he was." Albus said with a smile, handing Hermione a note.

Dear Headmaster,

As I go into battle tomorrow, I doubt I'll survive. If I don't, and if Hermione doesn't either, I would like you to tell the world the truth; we were married. But please, if either of us survive, keep our secret. Hermione will probably make it. She's a fighter. I want you to tell her that I love her, and that I'm going to send her a sign that I'm okay and that I love her. Its probably going to be some miraculous coincidence, if I have control over the sign. Something that will lighten her grieving. Once she receives the signal, please show her this so she knows its more that a coincidence, and that I planned this.

Thank you,

Harry

P.S.- Hermione, if you're reading this, believe it. I love you forever, and know you love me.

Hermione noticed that there were drops of water, and discovered that they were her own tears. She found herself unable to speak but a few words to the Headmaster. "Th… Thank you, Headmaster."

He smiled and patted her shoulder. "Congratulations, Hermione." And left the room to give her the rest that Molly had demanded.