It was around dawn when Hermione awoke and cursed her carelessness as she scrambled to her feet and out of Remus' grasp. She slipped her shoes back on and pulled on her robe, staring at her slumbering beau with a smile. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad. But as an imagination flittered across her mind, she shuddered. Or maybe it was. Swooping down, she kissed his forehead and skittered out the door, hurrying back to the Headgirl's suite.
As she arrived, she quickly hissed the password to the statue and the tiger sprang to life, allowing access to the hidden door. Climbing the stairs, she entered the commons to find Draco already there, watching her from the kitchen.
"Someone's been out all night. Does our bookworm have a lover?" Hermione flamed scarlet. Throwing on a façade, she gave him a look of incredulity and snorted.
"Oh, no, Draco, you know you're the only man for me." She teased, pulling his thoughts away from the current subject. Grinning, the blonde stood, handing her a cup of coffee.
"Here," He said, "Looks like you need it." Frowning, Hermione watched him depart to his rooms. Collapsing on the couch, she came to the conclusion that Draco wasn't all that bad. He'd made her coffee and he'd added her favorite syrup: fat-free hazelnut. Still cradling it, she retreated to her rooms and decided to prepare for the day.
Luckily, it was Saturday and it was unnecessary for formal attire to be worn. Throwing on black sweatpants, she decided on a mustard yellow knit top and her Gryffindor scarf. Sighing at herself in the bathroom mirror, she quickly brushed her teeth and tamed her hair. Just as she was slipping on her shoes, Draco began beating on her door.
"Oi! Hurry up, Bucky! We're going to miss breakfast." Even though she knew he couldn't see it, she threw him a glare through the door at the term "Bucky". That was below the belt. Throwing the door open she shoved by him with a scowl. Laughing in amusement, he followed after her with his hands shoved in his pockets.
"For your information, Ferret-face, it's Saturday. That means that we don't have to go to breakfast. And we have a kitchen all to ourselves. All you have to do is think of your favorite food and I bet the house elves would make it." Though he didn't respond, Draco kept an infuriating smirk on his face until they reached the main hall.
"See you, Bushy." He called, waving at her as he moved to sit with the Slytherins.
"Later, Blondie." Unable to contain a grin at their playful banter, Hermione crossed the hall to join her friends. Humming to herself, she took an open seat next to Ginny.
"Geez, Hermione, you certain seem happy this morning." Ron noted, drawing attention to her from everyone else at the table. Hermione beamed at him as she grabbed a roll from the dish in front of her.
"Do I?" She asked, lathering butter onto the bread, "I guess I just had a really good night." She replied. She was mid-bite when Ginny turned to her and said something that made her sputter.
"So who is he?"
Hermione very nearly needed the Heimlich, but after pulling herself together, she attempted damage control.
"No one, Ginny. You know I spent the night in the library by myself, reading." She affirmed, though it was a load of bullshit. The library was always her alibi, mainly because she knew that none of them would willingly step inside its compounds.
"But I did find the answer to Professor McGonagall's extra credit. Did you know that Nicholas Wassermann was the first wizard to . . ." Knowing she had successfully lost their attention, Hermione turned back to her meal, triumphant. But the food in her mouth suddenly turned to ash as she wondered when she was going to tell them when the time came. She obviously couldn't hide it much longer, and babies didn't just come out of nowhere.
Would they understand? Or would they shun her? He was a family friend, they all knew him. Would it just be too much to comprehend? She stared at the people around her. Would she lose them all? Staring down at her plate, she lost all hunger she'd previously had as her joyful mood sunk into a foul one. Setting down her roll, she felt hot eyes on her. She knew Remus was watching. Excusing herself, she decided the best way to ease her anxiety was with a jog. Returning to her rooms, she changed into track shorts and trainers as quickly as she could. Pulling her hair in a ponytail, she flew down the stairs, hoping that her mind would clear as her feet hit the grass. It always did and soon she had made a steady pace, the only sound able to be heard being that of her breathing and the constant heartbeat in her ears.