The next morning boredom set in, fast. Having read threw half of the books from Madam Pomfery last night, and already decorated her room's options of what to do, to occupy her, were running thin.

She knew that she had to be strong. She had already forgiven Snape, though she didn't know the details, she understood that it was not his fault. She had to be strong. She could do this. It was not problem, she told herself. Her parents had always called her independent. Now she would find out if they had been right or not.

Life wasn't going to be sunshine and daisies from now on. It was going to get tougher and she needed to get stronger. There were dark times ahead with no reprieves in sight. She understood that the dark lord would stop at nothing to damage the side of the light. By allowing her to be damaged or weakened she aloud him to win. By allowing him to win she was falling Harry, and the memory of her family. She knew there were casualties of war, but she hadn't really thought that her life would be personally touched. She had to accept that Ron and she were never going to be anything but friends. Though it hurts she would have to accept it once and for all and get on with life. Yea right she told herself. If acceptance was as easy as saying it, there wouldn't be self help books.

She needed to set up a meeting with professor Snape.

Deciding to make the first step and contact him first she went to her desk and grabbed a spare sheet of parchment. Sitting down she began to write, trying to convey the most respectful tone that she had.

Dear Snape….no not respectful enough

Dear Professor…sound like we're having an affair

Professor Snape,

I know that you are an extremely busy man, but I was hoping that you might spare sometime, while I am relieved from classes, to help me gather more information about the events of Halloween.

Please reply at your earliest convinces.

Respectfully,

Hermione Granger.

Hermione looked it over once, then twice, and then decided that she should send it right away so that she didn't try and over analysis her letter. It was simple and straight to the point. Anyway he had already agreed to help her. Though she was rather sure that the Headmaster had urged him to help her, either way she was rather grateful.

Quickly she called bibby.

"Yes Miss Hermione" the little elf squeaked

"Take this letter to Professor Snape" Hermione said

The little elf nodded and left.

God how she hated using a house elf, but she couldn't afford to send an owl because if for some reason the letter got intercepted then there would be hell to pay. Plus a walk up the stairs to the owlery didn't sound very appealing at the moment. She might have been bored but she wasn't bursting with enough energy to take a hike.

She hoped that Professor Snape would respond to her letter quickly. For some reason she was dying to see him. Maybe it was because he held the answers about that Halloween night that was gone but not forgotten.

She was debating weather or not that she should tell him that she decided o keep the baby. He would know eventually she thought to herself. It wasn't like she could keep it a secret forever. But she couldn't help but wonder if he would be hurt that she didn't tell him herself. She was going to tell him and that was final. He deserved to know he is the baby's father. Even if he didn't want there child she was going to keep it.

Of course she didn't know weather or not he wanted to be apart of there child's life. She hadn't had much time to talk to him about that sort of topic. That was why she needs to set up a meeting with him, at his earliest convenience. That way she wouldn't be pushing him into a corner, hopefully he wouldn't lash out at her like a caged tiger.

The rest of the day seemed to drag on. With the occasional drop in of bibby, asking her if she was hungry. Telling her Snape had yet to reply but she had given him the letter personally. She hadn't heard back from Professor Snape. Not that she thought he would drop everything and come running to her but that didn't seem to matter no matter how many times she reminded herself that Snape wasn't at her beck and call the longer the day went. She hoped he wasn't avoiding the letter.

By the time dinner time would have ended in the great hall Hermione was close to ripping her hair out and climbing up the walls. She wasn't sure what bothered her more, the fact that she wanted to hear from Snape, not just about the events of Halloween either. Or the fact that she upset that he hadn't written yet, what could he be doing. He couldn't be that busy. Oh Merlin she was acting, nay thinking like a girlfriend or a wife. That was the last straw she thought. She wasn't right.

Maybe it was a side effect of the pregnancy. She hadn't really read anything about it, but she wasn't done with all the books yet. Maybe madam Pomfery had a potion for her deranged thoughts. Potions, Snape made most of the potions, Snape hadn't written her back.

She had to focus on something else. She had to tell Harry and Ron. Maybe she should do that soon. That way she would be distracted. Yes, tonight is the night she thought to herself. She was going to have to tell Harry and Ron, and hope that they will still speak to me.

"Bibby" She called

"Miss wants Bibby?" Bibby said appearing

"Yes can you please go get Harry Potter and Ron Weasely for me?" She asked

"Yes miss, Bibby will get them for you." Bibby said and disappeared

Hermione sighed to herself. At first she had thought telling them right now would be a brilliant idea. They used to be so close. But after her withdrawal from life she wasn't sure how they would take it. Maybe she thought that that they would be so happy to her up and about again that they wouldn't be to upset at the rest of what she had to tell them.

Hermione jumped out of her musing when a knock sounded at her door. Getting up from the couch, which Hermione had planted her on earlier and, went to the door. Opening it, it revealed Harry and Ron, for once without there signification others. Both the boys had eager looks on there faces but at the same time there was a look of doubt.

"Hermione" The both said and then looked at each other and grinned, then they looked back at her.

"Harry, Ron its good to see you both." She said a little on the hesitant side, she decided against giving them hugs, not quite sure she was ready for the physical touch.

"Come on in" she said standing back and letting them pass by her.

"Wow this place is bloody amazing, a little to Slytherin but amazing" Ron said staring around the room. Harry nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, come on sit down" Hermione said motioning to the couches they sat and then looked at her expectantly.

She cleared her throat nervously.

"So what's up Hermione" Ron asked

"Not that there should be anything up" Harry added a little to quickly elbowing Ron in the stomach

"Well you see it's kinda like this" she said standing up and began pacing

"On Halloween when I disappeared, you remember that right" Hermione paused looking at them "of course you do" she said not really waiting for an answer.

"Well I was taken to a revel with the death eaters, as a toy for them" Hermione said quietly glancing at Ron and Harry. Both there faces had become grim

"What kind of toy?" Harry growled low in his throat

"Umm well.." Hermione began to stutter

"What did they do to you, Hermione?" Ron asked his anger apparent

"I don't know the details of what happened, they placed a memory charm on me" Hermione said

"Who the death eaters?" Ron asked Harry growled as Ron spoke

"No the headmaster, I was in such shock that I had a hard time understanding what was happening." Hermione said

"There must be someone who knows what happened!" Harry said with determination

"Snape" Ron said jumping slightly

"Yea what about Snape was he there?" Harry asked

"Yes he was" she answered hesitantly avoiding there eyes.

That caught both there attentions

"Hermione…" Harry said in warning

"I told you I don't know the details, at least not yet. I do know that Snape was the only man involved when it came to me" Hermione said sighing a little because the next part was going to be extremely hard.

The boys picked up on her sigh right away.

"What else happened" Ron asked

She didn't say a word and looked away from them

"I'm pregnant" She said quietly

A full 5 minutes of silence descended on them she was ready to demand that they yell at her. She couldn't take the silence wear are her hot blooded friends who act first and possibly ask questions later. Did she really not know them anymore, had they grown this far apart.

"You're what?" Ron asked

"I said I am pregnant" Hermione said this time a little louder, laced with a slight annoyance. She looked at Harry he was just sitting there watch her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Who's the father" Harry asked suddenly

He knew she thought Harry figured it out, Ron was still trying to comprehend that she was having a baby, but sat forward when Harry threw his question out.

"The father is uh Snape" she said quietly then braced herself for there reactions.

Both just sat there silently.

"Guys say something" Hermione said

"It was rape wasn't it?" Harry asked sitting on the sofa his arms crossed over his chest

"Oh come off it Harry of course it was, why would she want him" Ron said with a dramatic hand gesture

"Now wait a minute" she started coming to Snapes defense

Both boys turned to look at her

"Now I know it was rape but I also know that Professor Snape" Ron blanched "saved my life. I also know that he's the father of my baby. Where as it could have been Lucius Malfoy or any other death eater there. So you may not like the situation, well I have to live it and get on with it everyday. So don't insult Professor Snape, he saved my life wear any other death eater would have killed me when the entertainment was done." Hermione spoke with conviction.

The three of them just sat there, staring off into space, wondering how they had let there relationship derivate to this. True Harry and Ron had been busy but there was no excuse not to help. She had been there friend from day one, and as soon as they had gotten there girlfriends they let what they had with Hermione slip away.

"Hermione I think I speak for both of us when we are glad to see you up and about, I am sorry that we haven't been there for you the past few months, having to deal with this alone. I can except the fact that there's nothing I can do to change the past, but what I am having a hard time dealing with is that Snape is the father of your child" Harry said and Ron nodded in agreement.

"I understand" Hermione said nodding slightly tears coming to her eyes

"What Harry said is true but that doesn't mean that we're going to stop being friends with you. Nothing could stop that" Ron said with a smile

The rest of the night was them catching up on new happenings, till it was hours past curfew.

It was nice to have them with her again. They left with the promise that they would come by to see her again tomorrow.

Sitting back on her bed she sighed. She had hoped that this would be the way that it went. Relief was washing over her, when suddenly a crack sounded and a house elf appeared.

"Miss Master Snape is wanting me to give this to you" it said holding out the letter.

Hermione too it gratefully

"Thank you" she said with a slight nod the elf was gone. Opening the letter quickly see read,

Miss Granger,

I have received your letter and am replying to inform you that we shall meet the day after tomorrow, in your rooms, after classes.

Professor Snape

He had responded back, if she hadn't been so tired from her hours with Harry and Ron she would have jumped up in delight. She didn't want to worry about what that meeting was going to be like; rather she went to bed with thoughts of Snape in her head, and a smile on her face. Slowly she drifted off into dream land.