Disclaimer: As much as I wish I owned Harry Potter, I don't, and never will. Writing "fictional" stories about the series is the closest I can get.
Author's Note: This chapter is pretty dang short compared to the others, but it's something. It didn't feel right grouping it in with other chapters, so it gets its own title.
Chapter 4 – The Astronomy Closet
As Hermione climbed the stairs to the dormitory that evening, she slowed down and stopped at the window on the spiral staircase, looking over the grounds. It was night again, but clouds shrouded the moon, and there were no lights on the lawn except for a dim one from Hagrid's hut.
Hermione reviewed the day in her mind. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but she had felt tense and distracted. She still hadn't been able to make sense of what had happened; thinking all day about it hadn't produced any kind of conclusion for her, even when she replayed the moonlit scene in her mind, imagining alternate endings. It didn't help that Harry hadn't said anything to her the entire day about it. They needed to talk.
As if answering to her thoughts, a call drifted up the stairs.
"Hermione," said Harry's voice, just loud enough for her to hear. She ran down the stairs quietly.
When she met him at the bottom, he whispered, "Would you come with me please?"
Hermione nodded wordlessly.
Harry threw his invisibility cloak over both of them, and taking each others hands, they exited into the hall as quietly as ghosts.
Harry led Hermione to the astronomy supplies closet. The staircases they needed to cross didn't move while they were on them, so they got there quickly. Muttering a quick spell, Harry unlocked the door and they both slipped into the dark room.
Once inside, Harry lit his wand and took the cloak off them. The wand-light reflected spyglasses and brass telescopes, as well as many stargazing instruments used for classes.
They stood close together, but didn't say anything yet. Hermione suddenly lurched forward and wrapped her arms around Harry. Hermione felt like as long as she held on to him, she wouldn't have to face whatever happened next.
"I haven't told anybody," Harry finally whispered.
"Me either."
They drew away from each other enough to talk face-to face. Harry was looking at Hermione like something was wrong. She had no idea what to say. Could they both continue on as normal the rest of the year as long as they both kept the secret?
"So what are we to do?" Hermione said.
Harry now gave her a startlingly concerned look.
Hermione's heart sank. "What is it?" she said after a while.
"Aren't you worried at all?"
"About what!"
Harry's face was like stone. "We didn't use any protection."
Hermione's breath caught, and her hands went up to cover her mouth. Harry pulled a box from the side of the room, and she sat on it. Hermione's head was spinning, and she felt like she was seeing through fuzz, like there sometimes was on muggle televisions.
Why had this thought not crossed her mind yet? She had to find out if she was pregnant.
Please review! I'd really appreciate it, no matter how short it is! Thanks, and Chapter Five is almost done!
