Cauldron Babies
Chapter Four: The Boys
After being dismissed by Professor Snape Hermione left the Headmasters Office as fast as she could. Realizing how long she had been talking to Professor Dumbledore and her Potions teacher she headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.
As she walked down she pondered what had happened in the meeting, what Professor Snape had said. Hermione found it sad that Professor Snape thought that the simple reason that he would technically be the father would be enough to terminate the pregnancy. Did he think so little of himself? True, Hermione didn't think she was in a position to judge anyone by their looks, and she didn't need to; she often found some of the most interesting books behind old, worn, tatty or simple ugly covers. It's what inside that counts. Besides over the past year and a half, as Hermione had grown from adolescence to adulthood she had been able to view Professor Snape as a person, not just a teacher that magically appears 5 minutes before class. 'He must really get lonely at times here in Hogwarts. All the time I spent in the dungeons last year and I never saw another person down there other than the Headmaster on the odd occasion (but Professor Snape always seemed more aggravated after these visits).' But she had meant what she had said in that office - That her children would be lucky to have him as a father.
Hermione finally reached the Great Hall, as she entered she saw Ron and Harry sitting down doing more talking than actual eating for once [about the Hogsmead trip the next day], and walked over to join them.
"Hey 'Mione, what took you so long? You are normally the first one here after Potions" Harry asked before taking a mouthful of pumpkin juice.
"Hm, I had a slight problem with my potion today and needed to go to the Headmaster's Office and speak with him and Professor Snape."
Harry looked slightly confused, "What do you mean 'slight problem with your potion today' your potions are always perfect. And if you had been hurt you would have gone to Madame Pomfrey and not the Headmaster's office."
"Yes that was the problem, my potion was perfect, it worked." Hermione said with a slight grimace clearly shown on her face.
"Problem?" Ron asked around a mouthful of food.
"Yeah, Professor Dumbledore asked Professor Snape to teach us a new potion he had received from the M.O.M.. The potion had not yet been completed but was designed to increase the wizarding population. By combining male and female hair in the potion you create Human life," Hermione rattled off to Ron and Harry.
Harry, not liking where his thoughts were taking him asked, "what did you mean when you said that your problem was a perfect potion? Hermione?"
Hermione looked down at her plate and said, "I saw a problem with the ingredients and corrected it. At the end of class we were each required to drink said potion and Professor Snape preformed a spell to test it to determine our grade ~ shortly thereafter I was sent to the Headmasters office" she said with a smile.
Ron still completely clueless about what was actually happening added, "Harry, our sweet innocent little Hermione is all grown up now and getting sent to the Headmaster Office all by herself… Aren't you so proud Harry?"
Harry just turned to Ron in utter disbelief… "Hermione, sweet and innocent? Don't you remember her in first year? And don't you get it Ron, don't you understand what she has just told us…"
Ron turned to Hermione looking even more confused before turning to Harry again for answers.
"… she just told us she is pregnant."
Ron turned to Hermione again and splattered. "Her–her-hermione is pre-preg-pregnant? But we haven't dated for… we didn't even… Hermione is pregnant? How did that happen?"
Hermione laughed thinking back to last year where they had dated for almost two weeks. But it had just too weird to continue. She found it funny that he had reacted like that. "Ron, weren't you listening? The babies were created by a potion. Nothing else happened. But Professor Snape is really angry at me – hence the reason of why I am late."
Ron being Ron was in shock and picked up only a few words of what she had just said… "Snape? Babies?"
"Yes, Professor Snape is angry at me because I changed the potion – that is why I have detention tonight – I could have blown up the class room experimenting."
"He is probably just jealous," Ron thought out loud about the potion, "but what did you mean babies… there can't be more than one?"
"Yes, there are two; I am having twins Ron, a boy and a girl."
As Hermione and Ron had been talking Harry had been thinking about what Hermione had said about the potion – that the potion required hair like polyjuice did. But that it needed both female and male hair. "Hermione, whose hair did you use?" Harry asked cautiously looking up at Hermione.
"Um… that was the other reason why Professor Snape was angry at me. I waited too long before going and get my potions as I was thinking about the ingredients. I used my own hair for the female but the only males in the classroom were Terry Boot – who was too far away to ask again, after being told to return to my desk, the Slytherins Zabini and Malfoy who both refused – which I am actually really glad about now…" pausing a moment she looked over to the boys before she continued "… and Professor Snape."
Ron and Harry both sat there waiting for her to tell them why she had not used his hair.
"Um, I used Professor Snape's hair, without asking him… I didn't think the potion would work." She added quickly.
"PROFESSOR SNAPE!"
"THAT SLIMY GIT!" Harry and Ron yelled at the same time.
"Harry! Ron! SHUT UP! Don't you DARE blame Professor Snape! It was MY fault… I changed the potion… I added his hair – without his permission I might add… and I DRUNK IT… SO DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT BLAMING HIM, he didn't even want to teach us that potion."
By this time the volume of their once private conversation had increased to the point where those around them were listening to the 'Golden trio' fight. Wanting to tell a few people about her pregnancy before it became public knowledge Hermione stood up, grabbed an apple and her ½ eaten sandwich, telling Ron and Harry to follow her they all left the Hall together for a private nook to talk in.
Once the silence and disturb-me-not charms had been put into place in there nook Ron and Harry both started asking questions…
Ron: "Why did you change the potion?"
Harry: "What did Professor Snape say?"
Ron: "What did the Headmaster say?"
Harry: "What is going to happen?"
Ron: "Can you stay in school?"
Harry: "What do you mean twins?"
"Muffilo" yelled Hermione at Ron and Harry. She had stood there in disbelief as she was in the firing line of their questions – it was strange to her as she was normally the one asking the questions.
"Okay, to answer your questions: because I knew I could; he yelled Miss Granger a lot and offered to brew me a potion to terminate the pregnancy; Professor Dumbledore seemed really pleased – I think he might have been amused by Professor Snape and I yelling at each other; yes, I have decided to have the twins; yes I can stay in school. – other than the detention I have tonight for changing the potion, I also have detention 3 times a week for a month for using Professor Snape's hair without his permission – I haven't really done anything to get me expelled, it is not like I am pregnant because we slept together" as Hermione said this last bit see could see both Harry and Ron go a little green at the thought.
"We graduate in three months anyway, so I don't think I will be showing yet – and if I am school robes hide a cauldron full of sins; and oh Harry really, twins mean two babies, like Fred and George – Merlin," looking down at her stomach, "if you two are anything your uncle Fred or George I am going to be in so much trouble…"
"Mmm twins… I wonder if that was just me or if everyone taking this potion will produce twins… I need to ask Professor Snape about that in detention tonight."
As she finished she took the silencing charm off the two boys and paused a moment. "Did either of you two have any other questions?"
"Hermione, I don't understand why didn't take the potion Professor Snape offered you," Harry asked, he was trying to understand where Hermione was coming from but was just having trouble.
"I didn't want to abort my babies, because they are just that, my babies. I have always wanted children. I didn't plan for it to happen like this but it did happen. I know my parents will be shocked and upset, but I think that with time, and after I explain it to them they will be okay, they will agree with me. They would probably be angrier if I terminated the pregnancy knowing my parents. They always wanted more children but were unable to. At least this way they will have grandchildren while they are still young."
Harry continued, "Okay, but please don't tell me you are trying to be all noble by having the bats children. I didn't take you as one to hero-worship Hermione."
"But that is not the reason for me to continue with this pregnancy. Like what I told Professor Snape, he is not enough of a reason for me to terminate."
"I can just picture it Harry," Ron said before imitating Hermione… "But Professor Snape your so noble, and great, and strong. I want your children."
"No," Harry continued, "Hermione is too smart to say that. Professor Snape would either think she was mocking him, or think she was a 'dunderhead' and therefore simply not believe her."
Seeing the look on Hermione's face was classic and not one the boys got to see a lot. She had realized she had made a major mistake. Not being able to stop themselves both Harry and Ron started laughing.
"Harry, Ron, please. I know you might not agree with me on this but I need your support. And my twins will need their Uncle Ron and Uncle Harry. You know you two are like brothers to me."
"You are right Hermione, we don't completely understand but we will be there for you." Harry said as he gave her a hug. "And with you as their mother they will need someone to take them out of the library every once and a while for sunlight."
"Yeah, and we can teach them how to fly a broom," Ron said getting excited.
"I am not to sure about the flying but I love you guys so much! Well, I need to go now; I need to talk to Professor McGonagall before Transfiguration. I have to tell my parents, but I don't think this is the kind of thing you tell them in a letter. So I need to ask what I can do."
"Okay, good luck and we will see you in class 'Mione."
Hermione made her way down to the Professors office after separating from the boys. She needed to tell her parents sooner rather than later [As her parents received the Daily Prophet, and knowing how fast gossip moved in the school, it would not be long before all of Hogwarts knew. And if history repeated itself someone would tell Rita Skeeter, and it would become public knowledge – especially with all the talk with the new law coming in] but she didn't want to tell them by owl. As she arrived at the office she knocked on the door and waited.
"Come in…" As Hermione opened the door she saw Professor McGonagall sitting at her desk writing.
"Miss Granger, is it true? Are you pregnant?"
"Yes Professor."
"Well I may. What is the world coming to? If Albus had not informed me of the circumstances behind this I would be in my right mind to hex the boy – getting a student pregnant." Noticing who she was speaking to she continued, "Professor Snape that is Miss Granger."
"Please, don't blame Professor Snape Ma'am; this was my fault in its entirety. Professor, I need to tell my parents soon, before they read it in the Daily Prophet, but I don't wish to inform them by owl. I was wondering if there would be anyway I could visit them tomorrow during Hogsmead weekend. I am not on duty this weekend and I could just apparate there and back for a short period of time."
"Yes, I don't see that being a problem Miss Granger, I will inform the Headmaster and staff about this in the staff meeting tonight. We can inform you about the details tomorrow at breakfast."
"Thank you Professor, I will send an owl home tonight informing them I will be visiting them tomorrow about the offer to be an apprentice here at Hogwarts – will I still be able to continue with it Ma'am, if I may I still need to give them the details."
"I see no problems at this time Miss Granger, now off you go to class, we will be starting in a couple of minutes." With only two minutes left till class she was glad she only had to go next door.
Three hours later Hermione was packing her bag in History of Magic. During this class Hermione had drafted a letter home to her parents.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I am really excited, Professor McGonagall gave me permission to come and see you for a little while tomorrow. I wanted to talk to you. As you know I have been offered an apprenticeship at Hogwarts and I wanted to come see you soon, before my exams.
Mum and Dad, I Love you both
Hermione.
Hermione was ready, all she had to do now was to out to the owlery and post this letter home.
A/N here is the next chapters… hope you enjoy.
I had Snape offer a potion to terminate the pregnancy thinking that at this point he would a) still be in shock and b) think of it as a side effect of the potion that one would want to fix and c) that Hermione would not want to keep it – that being career minded she would not want children at this time.
Hawkswench – thanks so much for the idea – I wasn't happy about the honorable route either but didn't know how else to go ahead… the next chapters for you…
TXJ – just wait… you will get what you want… :D
Thank you to all for the reviews.
~ Astig