Chapter 2 – "Quick like a band aid."
"I- I- I'm pregnant," her whisper was barely audible. Hermione was petrified with fear of Ron's reaction.
"What?!" Ron couldn't believe it. After a few moments of stunned silence, he managed to choke out, "Madam Pomfrey."
"Oh, no, no, no!" Hermione panicked. "No!" she repeated, "I don't want her to –"
"Find out?" finished Ron. "Sweetie, everyone's going to find out sometime. We'll go after breakfast. It's okay, 'Mione. It's going to be alright, 'Mione…"
Hermione was comforted by Ron's use of his pet name for her. She loved it when he –
Suddenly overcome with the urge to throw up, she managed to say, "Loo!" before bounding up the stairs to the toilet to regurgitate. Feeling slightly better, she cleaned up after herself and went back downstairs to find Ron patiently waiting for her.
They walked down to breakfast, hand in hand, and they sat down in their usual spot. Ron whispered a few words to Harry, who nearly fainted with shock. But Hermione barely noticed. She had a sudden craving for pancakes. Placing five on her plate, she gobbled them up. Why was her appetite suddenly mimicking Ron's? And then, with a dread, she remembered: she was eating for two now.
As soon as they finished, Ron forced Hermione to the Hospital Wing. She protested, but was no match to Ron's Quiddich-toned muscles. They said goodbye to a still-shocked Harry, and with each step, Hermione's fear grew.
"What is going to happen to our lives?" she wondered out loud.
Ron comforted her with a quick peck on her forehead.
"It'll be alright, 'Mione," he repeated again. This seemed to become the catchphrase of the day.
They opened the door to the Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomfrey bustled forward. Hermione shook with nervousness, but Ron's strong, confident embrace comforted her.
"Er- Hermione here –" Ron paused. Quick like a band aid, he thought, "She's pregnant," he whispered.
Madam Pomfrey's eyes grew wide, and then she said,
"Oh my, Miss Granger, congratulations! Well let's see - let me see - one moment. I'll be back. You two can sit down on that bed right there," she bustled off to her office.
"Well that wasn't so bad, was it, 'Mione?" asked Ron. "She seemed to have taken the news well."
"Con-congratulations? Hermione stumbled on her words. Shock and amazement crashed over her like a wave. "I was expecting more along the lines of getting expelled."
"Oh, of course not, love," said Ron. "They wouldn't kick us out. Plus, we're both of age." He held Hermione tighter.
Madam Pomfrey was back. "Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
Glad to be out of the dreadful Hospital Wing, Ron walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room. He was glad Pomfrey had been so receptive, but had a feeling that the students of Hogwarts wouldn't feel the same.
Ron looked outside at the gloomy April weather. It was raining again, and the lake looked like it was about to flood. April, he thought. April, May, June – it was only three months until the end of school. Nobody would be able to tell that Hermione was pregnant, if she were only three months along. Hmmm… he mused. Maybe they could keep it a secret after all…
So, Hermione was pregnant. Harry shook his head. He still couldn't believe it. While he was glad for them, he also was worried, especially for Hermione. She was always so concentrated on school, and this 'scandal,' of sorts, would be sure to create havoc.
"Hey mate," Ron greeted him in the common room. "Pomfrey told me to leave. 'Mione'll be okay."
"I'm still processing the information," explained Harry, "this is a bit of a shock. I mean, Hermione was the last person I'd expect to get pregnant at this age… I bet that's what everyone else will think."
"Yeah, well don't think we'll have to tell everyone." Ron told Harry his discovery. Harry admitted that I sounded good, but with one flaw.
"What'll you do when the baby comes in January?" he asked. "You know, everyone can subtract."
"Well, we'll have to deal with that then. Our only other option is to tell everyone now, and I don't think everyone'll take it as well as you and Pomfrey did. But we'll have to tell Mum and Dad. And the rest of the family, as well."
At that moment, Hermione stumbled in through the portrait hole, and both boys rushed to her side.
"I think I'm going to rest for the day," Hermione said. "Madam Pomfrey gave me some potions so I'm a bit drowsy."
"All right, Hermione," said Harry.