wow what a Chapter! I can't wait to see what you guys think! the disclaimer is in chapter 1, please enjoy!
Ron and Hermione sat in Healer Green's office. She had run over two hours' worth of tests. Hermione had drank countless potions, dealt with multiple charms being placed over her, and all the time, Healer Green had said almost nothing. Of course, they had given her quite a shock when entering the room. The healer had been told the Smiths were in the room waiting for their initial appointment. She had instead walked in to discover two-thirds of the Golden Trio. Hermione had quickly explained their need for privacy, hence the use of false names and glamours when entering St. Mungo's. The Prophet had the nasty habit of leaving someone in the St. Mungo's entrance at all hours, just to see if a story may appear. Healer Green had agreed with Hermione that this was not something worthy of the newspapers and swore herself to secrecy regarding their visit.
Finally, Healer Green looked up from her notes. "So you are pregnant. It looks like you're just about to go into your second trimester."
"Is the baby alright? Is it healthy?" Ron interrupted the healer while Hermione swatted his arm.
"The baby is fine. However, we aren't out of the woods yet. I have several concerns. You are still underweight for a woman who isn't pregnant. That isn't good, so full, healthy meals. We need to see that baby gets what it needs to keep growing strong and healthy." Ron was nodding his head vigorously at the healer. He hung on her every word. Hermione only stared at her, a death grip on Ron's hand. "Also, your body is still recovering from the torture you suffered. You're at a critical point of healing right now, and you have several more weeks where you could easily lose the baby. Normally, after the first trimester, the risk would go down. Unfortunately, your body is still trying to recover and if it has to choose between recovery and the baby, it will choose recovery. Honestly, it is a miracle you didn't miscarry immediately after the repeated use of the cruciatus curse. So, you should restrict all stress and excessive movement. I'm not putting you on bed rest right now, so don't make me have to. Also, no more apparition. After the first trimester, it is too dangerous for risk of splinching the baby. If you begin to experience dizziness, stop flooing, and after you start showing more it would be a good idea to stop using the floo in general. The risk of falling or getting hit gets higher the farther into pregnancy you get."
Hermione was considering pulling out a quill and parchment for Ron. He looked desperate to remember the Healer's every word. "What about school, will I be able to go back? Like is that too much? We've been invited back since we had to drop out for the war, and I would like to sit my N.E.W.T.S. if that is a possibility." Hermione hesitated, she remembered the stress from O.W.L.S. and was scared the Healer would tell her no. However, for the baby, she would forego sitting for her N.E.W.T.S.
"Medically speaking, you'll be fine, however Hogwarts does not traditionally allow students to stay past their second trimester. There aren't many ways to accommodate teenage pregnancy at a boarding school. In regards to the stress, you'll have given birth long before the exams approach. I'm confident you'll be fine handling the fall term, although you probably will give birth just over a month prior to exam time. I would have to suggest a homeschooling method. It is possible to sit your N.E.W.T.S. after independent study. It may be easier on you, even if the school would permit you to stay for the entirety of your pregnancy." Hermione, hung her head. She started to zone out and let Ron handle the rest of the restrictions she would be under. She had worked so hard her entire life, and here it was, changing and diverting without her consent. It was all so beyond her control now. She'd thought she had prevented this outcome, and they were still here, new to their relationship, not out of school, living with his parents, and she still had no clue where hers were.
The meeting wrapped up and the Healer set them for another appointment in two weeks. She said she wanted to keep a close eye on the baby and Hermione during the critical healing time. Ron reapplied the glamours and led Hermione out of St. Mungo's. He knew, without asking what the problem was, and he was determined to fix it. Hermione had given everything to keep him alive, and he wanted to give her everything.
They had made plans to meet Harry and Ginny back in the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. Ron hailed a taxi and had them taken to the appropriate London corner. He removed their glamours on the way there, and he even managed the use of muggle money without Hermione's help. She was still in a fairly despondent mood. She spent the taxi ride with her head on his shoulder, her fingers entwined in his. It wasn't that she was unhappy about the baby. That wasn't it she knew, but she couldn't quite handle the feeling of the complete lack of control on her own life. It was overwhelming and seemed to take up all the space in her head. Ron was being so supportive and in control, she secretly relished this side of Ron. He wasn't a leader every day, but when it was needed most, he stood right up and took control of the situation. She reflected how perfect he was for her, and she was for him. Normally she had to plan everything out. To make sure everything is being handled perfectly. When she broke down, or just couldn't do it, he was right there, stepping up to the plate and making sure it was all taken care of. He wouldn't butt heads with her, or fight for control, but was ready and willing to do handle things when she needed the break.
Ron opened the door to the taxi and helped her out. As they walked into the Leaky Cauldron, they immediately saw Harry and Ginny surrounded by fans. Harry leaned across the bar and asked for a private parlor for their lunch and he readily assented, leading them off to a small but well-furnished side room. After Tom left with their orders, and shut the door, Harry Placed silencing charms on the room. He wasted no time in calling Hermione out. "so, Hermione, what's wrong. You've been out of sorts since yesterday and this morning you use us to sneak out of the house so Mrs. Weasley won't ask a bunch of questions." Harry sat across from her, looking worried. She was still painfully thin, and looked exhausted. Ron reached over and took her hand in his again. Ginny was on her other side and reached up to rub her arm. When she still didn't respond Ron did.
"Harry, Ginny, we've got some news that isn't exactly ready to be public knowledge, and it isn't ready to be told to the family either. There's still a lot of risk to go with it all as well ," he trailed off, before glancing at her, silently requesting her consent to share the news. She gave him a small nod and squeezed his hand. "We are going to be parents. Or at least we hope we will. There is a high risk that we could still lose the baby. I don't think it's good for this get out to everyone until we know for sure that the baby is going to make it. The Healer said she wants to see how the next two to three months go, and then we should be fine. I am definitely taking the Auror job, and Hermione wants to sit her N.E.W.T.S. so we are going to need your help to make that happen."
The room was silent for several moments before Ginny engulfed Hermione in a hug with a squeal. "Oh I'm so happy for you! My first niece or nephew! Oh please let it be a girl! We could use another in the family! Oh, we should go shopping to pick up a few things. Just to get a start on it, babies require so many things and if we start early we will know exactly what you need and don't need." Ginny's exuberance at the news shook Hermione out of her stupor. She hugged Ginny back and thanked her.
"We have no idea what it is yet though. So shopping may be a bit early. I am hesitant to get anything until we are out of the woods though. It would be terrible to have to deal with all of that." It was the calmest she had sounded in days, Ron reflected. She almost sounded like herself again.
Harry smiled at Ron, he was happy that they'd gotten together. "So what is our first hurdle to tackle?"
Ron looked back, "McGonagall, we need to get her to let Hermione stay in school. She can homeschool herself, but it just wouldn't be the same for her. She wants her N.E.W.T.S. and she really wants to go back to school. So I'm going to make that happen." The food came then, and the group ate in considerably better spirits. Harry even felt the need to suggest a few baby names that made Hermione laugh and roll her eyes. Never in her life, would she use any of his suggestions. At the close of the meal, Harry handed Ginny a bag of muggle money and told her to take Hermione shopping for baby things. Hermione protested saying it was too early, but Harry insisted and Ginny was not letting her out of it. They agreed to meet back at the Leaky Cauldron before dinnertime to floo back to the Burrow.
Hermione had protested when she discovered they were going to Hogwarts to talk to McGonagall. "I can do this on my own. I can go talk to Professor McGonagall on my own and work it out. Ronald you keep acting like I'll break, and I can handle this."
She was exasperated with him and was beginning to get angry at his coddling until he responded with a kiss to her forehead and said, "Hermione, let me help with this. You've been alone with this, dealing in silence for weeks. It's my turn. Now let me help in every possible way I can, and talking to McGonagall is a way I can help. It's my baby too, and you can have some of the fun parts right now. Go shop with Ginny, have the normal pregnancy excitement. We aren't being hunted down anymore and you deserve it." He kissed her again and Harry handed them his invisibility cloak just in case it was needed. "Now, we will meet you back here just before dinner. I will see you then." Ginny locked her arm into Hermione's and pulled her into Muggle London.
Harry and Ron apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts. The castle was rebuilding itself with prodigious speed, and they had not expected to see this much progress this quickly. Professor McGonagall met them in the Entrance Hall and led them up to the Headmaster's office where she served out tea and biscuits. She listened in silence as Ron explained why they had come, what was going on, and what he had hoped to accomplish with their visit. When he was finished, she sat her tea down and spoke in her ever authoritative voice.
"Mr. Weasley, I think it is best, since this is not the first story like this that I have heard, that I implement at least a temporary plan for Hogwarts. A day school essentially. Miss Granger is not the first or the last girl to go through this and the numbers that I am seeing due to the war makes it unreasonable to expect so many girls to homeschool. It is time Hogwarts does something productive in protecting these students and make it possible for them to finish their educations at the school. Miss Granger will be allowed to return to school. It is up to her to stay up with the coursework before and after the birth. We will not be making exceptions on that front. She, and the other girls in the same situation will not live at the school, but rather attend classes daily and then go home. Due to medical conditions, it sounds that you finding housing in Hogsmeade would be best. She won't be able to travel by floo for long. I will arrange for a school carriage to collect her, and any other girls that will choose to live in Hogsmeade daily. They will be picked up in the mornings, and then dropped back in town after classes are over. You will be responsible for your own housing, and your own childcare. This will give all the girls, including Hermione, the chance to properly finish their studies."
Ron hesitated before asking, "So, we're not the only ones?"
She smiled back at him. "No not by far, Many have chosen the homeschool method, but quite a few have owled, requesting some accommodation." She passed the tin of biscuits around again, "I have a request of sorts myself." Harry and Ron waited, wondering what they could possibly do for her. "Winky is not doing well here. Since Dobby has left us, she has gotten worse. I was wondering if maybe you and Hermione may have need of her services. Perhaps a private home would give her more dedication. Currently she is not working, consumes quite a bit of butterbeer, and is being shunned by the other house elves. Perhaps a new family to dedicate herself to would help her to feel fulfilled by her work again."
Ron shook his head, "Hermione won't stand for it. Winky will not work for payment, she wants to be bound to her family. Hermione will insist she be free with rights. It won't work for Winky at all with us."
Harry spoke up at this, "Professor, perhaps Grimmauld Place would be a better place for her. I understand she wants to be bound, and for her own health it would be in her best interest to give her that. Let her come with me. I'll be living there alone, the house is in ruins still and she would have a lot of work to keep her busy, not to mention someone to care for. Kreecher is getting old. It would be very beneficial to both of us to have such a young elf join the household." McGonagall nodded at this, and arranged for her to bring Winky by later in the week, if she approved of the idea.
She then gave the boys a list of housing ideas that were in the area. There was apparently quite a few cottages up for rent in the area. The boy left after this, with promises to keep her updated on their progress on finding a place, and how they all were.