A/N: On the downward slope now. Last four chapters. I want to thank you all again for sticking with me. It means a lot. I am attempting to do my own story- don't know how long it will take me- but it is a life goal I guess. I will start updating Vamp Goddess more often and then start posting my next story. I have a couple in the wings. Love ya -Krys

Chapter Forty:

The next day, the other seventh years give Hermione and especially Harry a wide berth. The night before, James, Lily and the Longbottoms visited the younger Potters. They explained that Riddle had proven that Harry has done everything that was whispered about him. This blows the young man away.

So, that was the environment that the couple walked into. Hermione has had enough by the end of their second class. Cho Chang had been hovering around the couple all day, trying to help Hermione with anything she needed. Hermione sits down in her seat in the History class and groans when Cho again hovers asking them if she can do something. It is obvious to the curly haired witch that she is trying to suck up to Harry via helping Hermione.

"If you really want to help me, then go sit in your seat and please leave me alone." Hermione growls at the Ravenclaw seeker. She knows that the girl is the meanest of her best friend Luna's tormentors. Hermione settles her hackles until Harry tries to soothe her reaction to Cho's simpering act. Her hair starts to spark. As her father is covering for Professor Binns, for whatever reason, he is able to get to Hermione. He picks her up and has Harry bring their things to his office, while he takes his daughter up to his mother and calls Madame Pomphrey to monitor Hermione's condition.

"Alright, vent. Get it all out. You'll feel better when you do." Enyo tells her, sitting down on the couch next to the young woman. "What happened to get you so worked up?"

Hermione takes a deep breath and then a sip of the water that her father had given her. "It was most likely my temper and hormones getting touched off, but Miss Chang has been hovering over us all morning. She has positioned herself on Harry's side the whole time and simpered to him while making it look like I could not do a thing for myself. I finally had enough when Harry stuck up for her before class started." Hermione holds her head and sighs. She feels bad for blowing up at Harry, but she couldn't get over the ire just yet.

Enyo knows how Harry's diplomatic tendencies can come off. He doesn't want to be in a position of blasting a classmate into the infirmary if he can help it. This can be seen as he is sticking up for the "other" guy, when he is just trying to defuse. She also knows that Hermione knows this best of all, so she is not going to jump down her granddaughter's throat.

A knock comes on the office door. Remus answers the door and finds Harry on the other side. He opens the door wide, so Harry can get to his wife. Harry rushes in and kneels beside Hermione. Enyo and Remus slip outside to let the couple talk it out.

"What is going on, Hermione?" Harry asks, sitting next to his wife, reaching out to brush her trembling hand. Her feet bouncing with the pent up tension. It is scaring Harry that she is so upset. He gently picks up her left foot and starts to massage it. Hermione groans at the releasing knot.

Hermione explains the situation to Harry. How the Chang girl has been playing at sucking up to Harry by catering to Hermione and simpering at him.

"Could it be my allure? I mean the hostess at the hotel was all over me, but I didn't feel it happening. I am sorry that I seemed to stick up for her against you. It was not my intention, Baby. I am yours. You are the one that is carrying our children and I could not be prouder that it's you. I will be on the lookout for the effects of my allure from now on. It may be a good sign if you are getting pissed, not that I would want to use your emotions to ensure that I'm not emitting something." Harry rises to his knees and places his hands on either side of her face. "I love you, Hermione Jane Potter-Mars." He whispers and take her lips in a demanding, deep kiss.

Harry breaks away and looks Hermione in the eye. "No one in this world will ever take me away from you, my mate." He growls.

They walk out of the office and notice that Remus had returned to the History class. "He said that he will drop off your assignments. Now you two have class. I am glad that you two were able to work it out." Enyo kisses the two and sends them on their way.

Hermione sits down in the Defense classroom and Harry places her feet in his lap and rubs them and her calves. They are there when Professor Riddle walks in. "Heard about last period. Mrs. Potter, don't worry I will be on the look out for any pandering. I apparently put the fear of gods in those kids last night. The class will be here soon. Take the time to calm down."

The rest of the class walks in and sits down. Cho Chang sits next on the other side of Harry, attempting to flirt with the man. Her fiance is sitting two seats away. Harry, now clued in to the act, is ignoring the simpering girl.

When she picks up on her prey's indifference, Cho starts asking Hermione how she is doing and if she needs to have help with doing some of the classwork. Professor Riddle is asking them to attempt wandless magic. Hermione smirks.

"Miss Chang, you should try the assignment first, before offering your expertise." Hermione grinds out. Cho smiles snottily and attempts the assignment. It doesn't work. Hermione sees that there is an empty seat next to Anthony Golden, Cho's fiance. It is actually Cho's real seat. Hermione waves her hand and seats Cho in the seat, gently.

Riddle claps at the show. "Good job, Mrs. Potter. That is what I hope you all can do by the end of the year. Mr. Potter, lets see you try. Harry tosses Tom his wand and tells him to put it on his desk. He looks at Tom and the man rises into the air and floats around the room. Harry sets his former nemesis down and opens his hand. His wand floats into his hand.

"Thank you for setting me down gently, Mr. Potter." Tom turns to the class and sees their wide open eyes. "Yes, that was like swatting a fly for him." Tom claps his hands. "Alright, who can tell me the first spell we teach to the first years in defense?" He looks around the room. Many hands go up. Hermione is not one of them. She refuses to foist Harry and herself into the spotlight again.

The class ends and Harry escorts his wife out of the class. Cho hurries after them. Hermione is still coming down from the blowup. This is making Harry even more protective. He now sees that his wife is correct. Miss Chang is trying to shove a wedge between them if she can. The Ravenclaw Head Girl is following them towards their room. Harry decides that he will take the route to the Ravenclaw wing. There is a secret passage from Ravenclaw to Gryffindor through the common rooms in the familial suites. Luckily, Anthony comes along and pulls Cho aside to discuss something about their wedding over the Holiday break.

Harry picks his wife up and scoots away to their Gryffindor suite. Let Anthony handle the girl, he has other matters to deal with, like feeding his wife and children. Hermione is already six months along. They have decided to wait until the seventh month to find out the sex of their kids.

Once the couple is in their suite, Harry has Hermione sit down and elevate her feet. She does as he says, even as she giggles at his tone. Harry walks into the kitchen and makes their dinner himself. He brings the plates and drinks to the coffee table. Hermione looks and sees scallops and shrimp in a creamy sauce mixed with carrots, peas, green beans and colored peppers. He sets down a glass of chocolate milk and silverware wrapped in a napkin. "Thank you, Baby. This is amazing, Harry."

They eat the meal in companionable silence and Harry picks up the dishes. He walks in the common room and lifts his wife into his arms before sitting. "'Mione, I still don't understand why, but I did see what you were talking about. All I can say is that I am not even attracted to her in the least. If it is the allure, we need to find a way to spy the ones that are reacting to it. We also need to figure out a way to get beyond it. I mean, it will affect us, the children and our education if we can't get a grip on this. We need to get a grip on this, Baby, because we can't move on without doing so."

Hermione listens and while she understands his meaning, she is not able to see a way through. By having the same classes, she thought she would be able to limit the allure, but it is still calling even when she is next to him. She is afraid that she will still react even with a plan. The underlying problem that is effecting her is a feeling of not being worthy of being Harry's mate/wife. This is why she worked so hard to get Harry and herself through sixth and into seventh, but now it seems that it was all for nothing, because the siren isn't happy with her.

Tears start slipping down her face as she thinks. It scares Harry to see. "Honey, what's wrong? What can I do?" He begs.

"Tell me that we can get through this, because I don't see how to get beyond this. I can't help it, I get jealous of the girls coming up to you. I have pushed us, stressed us out to get us to only one year left. We pared down our classes to limit the siren's calling. You marked me and we have children on the way Harry. What does it want us to do? What else? I know we are soul bound, but why is it still calling out so much?" She breaks down, releasing the pain that has been working on her.

Harry clutches her tighter to him. This is what is happening to her with his siren, while he's been confused by the ups and downs of her reactions. Harry picks her up and shifts her to the couch. He gets on his knees and places his head in her lap. "No! This is not going to break us. You and I are an unit. You are my mate, my wife, my love and the mother of my children. I don't understand the siren thing yet, but there will never be another. I'll lock myself in this room where no one else can get in if the call gets to the point where you really feel it is too much for you. We need to think about it as a real option. It may become disruptive to others' education.

Beyond that I refuse to let anyone in on our relationship. I made a commitment to you and that means that any other person would wound our marriage. I can imagine how I would feel if the tables were turned. I would be enraged at the other person trying to butt into our life. You have nothing to fear with me. I will never hurt you like that, Hermione." Harry lays his head down in her lap and holds onto the best thing in his life.

Hermione threads her fingers through his messy hair. "Harry, can you please let me up?" She whispers. He jumps, looks up at her and pleads for her to stay. "I am, silly. I just need to go the bathroom. The twins are pressing on my bladder." Harry ghosts her to the bathroom and while she is relieving herself, he starts the bathtub. She washes her hands and takes a breath. Harry walks up, seeing her face. "That doesn't look like a kick or flutter. What's going on?" He turns her around and sees the pain in her face. She breathes through the pain as he shuts the water off and patronuses his parents, Rem and Madame Pomphrey with the password. It was changed by him to a muggle comic character that night, in case of issues with the calling.

Madame Pomphrey takes one look at the young witch's face and position and orders them to the infirmary. Hermione is placed on a specialized bed and checked. She tells the couple that the stress is too much. Hermione is confined to complete bed rest in their suite. Harry immediately insists on the lock-down with her. He calls Dobby and Winky to him.

"I need help with Hermione. We are going on seclusion. So, I would like some help with the household things. I plan not to leave her alone, so you will be needed to do the groceries and such." The elves are ecstatic. They agree that they will as long as they don't have a catering job to do.

"I'll tell you what, move the headquarters into the suite and I'll help you with the cooking and books." Harry offers. The three strike a deal and Harry allows Remus to carry Hermione back to their rooms. The wolf sets his sleeping daughter down on her and Harry's bed and hugs Harry. "I'll be by tomorrow to check in. I will notify your friends also. Keep her happy, Harry. The stress is getting to her finally." He cautions his son/brother.