A/n: Thanks to my beta Hunter's Heir! **Not yet edited!

Everything comes gradually and at its appointed hour.

~Ovid

Going to class late wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. My friends asked questions, but when I told them I was with Draco they dropped the topic. They know exactly what the Siren deal entails, and they really don't want full details on the matter. Considering they see me as a sister, I don't blame them.

I wouldn't want to know about their sex lives either.

Some of the teachers are suspicious about our morning absence, but no one questions it. Having people on the staff knowing about what we're doing is helpful, if not a bit weird. If they guess that we had sex, that's even more awkward.

I have to admit, it's relaxing to not have to take a potion to mask my voice. Now that we've sealed the deal nothing more can happen, and I'm free to stop worrying about people attacking me.

Well, mostly. We still have Ginny, Nott and whoever else might be a threat to worry about. Despite everything against her, I'm still having a hard time believing that she is really involved. Ginny isn't this type of person- she isn't bad. What had to happen to sway her mindset?

Dinner rolls around and nothing eventful happens. Ginny's been giving me off looks all day, and I keep my eyes on her. I swear there's something off about her, but I just can't explain what it is. She might not be the likeliest candidate to be after me, but that doesn't change the fact that she possibly is.

Ginny happens to be one of my closest friends. It bothers me that she might be out to ruin my life.

I morph into a conversation with Harry and Ron, ignoring her well enough. Tonight Draco's going to come and visit me, and I expect a repeat of last night. I just don't exactly know what to expect.

Anything can happen. And I must say I'm really anticipating the experience. My body heats up whenever I even think about it. I blame that on the fact that it's a new relationship and sex is always stellar in the very beginning. But with Draco, I have a feeling it's going to be that fantastic all the time.

It's just a feeling though.

I plan to read the rest of that book after class tonight. It should work out fine since I have some time before Draco will come to visit me. I really need to know what's supposed to happen after sex as well as if I should have anything to fear. Once I get to the end of my mother's journal I feel like I won't be so nervous about everything. Merlin, I just want to understand the situation.

I've been saying that since the beginning.

It's not long after I've started reading the book that a knock sounds on my door. Puzzled I set the book aside, standing to go open it. I told Draco my password ages ago, and he should just come on in when he arrives. The door at the top of the stairs is unlocked.

But that puzzles me. I changed my password, so no one should be able to come up the stairs. Yet I have a visitor? Something about this isn't right. Cautiously I grab my wand, stepping up to the door. I peer out through the peephole, catching the sight of red hair.

Ginny? How did she get my password? Normally I would just open the door for her but this has me on edge, and I'm not so sure I should confront her. I might not fear my friend, but I don't know where her loyalties lie. Draco won't be here for a while…

I open the door, placing my wand in an easily accessible back pocket. I don't trust her, and I'm not going to take any chances.

"Hey," I say, letting her in. I leave the door cracked a hair. If she's still here by the time Draco arrives I wouldn't just want him barging in. Just another precaution.

"Hey," she replies, stepping in. "We haven't really talked since you came back to school. I thought maybe we should catch up."

"Definitely," I say, feigning a smile. I know I don't exactly sound genuine, but it's hard when I feel like she's going to jump on me at any moment.

"How are you and Draco?" she asks, fidgeting with her fingers. My eyebrow shoots up at that.

"Did you just call him Draco? He's been Malfoy to you since… since you found out."

"I know," she replies, glancing around. "Look, you should just really be careful okay? You know, you two shouldn't put things off."

My eyes narrow. Put things off? This girl sounds like the polar opposite of everything I've been seeing and hearing over the past week. She's acting strange, she's avoiding questions, but now she seems concerned. Merlin, she may as well be having an identity crisis.

"What are you talking about exactly? You haven't been yourself lately Ginny, what's going on? You were out of school when you shouldn't have been and no one can even vouch for why you were gone. Ginny, what's going on? You're beginning to worry me."

Her fingers shake slightly, before they flex and gravitate towards her wand. I place a hand behind my back, prepared to counter attack anything she throws my way. But instead of trying to hex me her hands fall back to her sides.

"I can't," she whispers, squeezing her eyes shut. "I can't- Hermione I have to go."

"You just got here," I say, releasing my wand. "You don't need to go anywhere."

"Yes I do," she snaps, moving towards the door. I step in front of her, blocking the way. "Hermione let me leave!"

"No. You've been perfectly fine with everything you've done so far, and now suddenly you're regretting your actions? No Ginny, life doesn't work that way. You're hiding something. But what is it?"

She shakes her head, looking up towards my ceiling briefly. "I don't know. I have to go Hermione."

The door opens behind me, and I don't even turn around to see who it is. Instead I watch her reactions. One moment she's staring at me, and the next she's rushing out of my room. This time I don't try to stop her.

"What's going on?" Draco asks as he closes the door. I groan and stumble away to sit on the couch. She would have to make things more complicated, wouldn't she? She couldn't just answer a question.

"I don't know," I sigh, head resting back against the sofa. He comes to sit beside me. "I thought Ginny was going to come upstairs and try to attack me or something stupid, but instead she stumbled over her words and left before anything at all happened. I don't even know why she was up here to begin with."

"Testing you maybe? You can't start thinking she's innocent just because she stumbled over a few things. Plenty of people with dangerous intentions can be frightened over what they are going to do. It's not unheard of."

"No, I suppose it isn't. But still, something about her didn't seem right. Her lies didn't flow tonight like they did that night in Diagon Alley. Something about her seemed off."

"Well, don't worry about it," he mutters, ensuring that my door is locked before nuzzling my neck. "She's gone now."

"But there's one other thing Draco."

He sighs, pulling back. Obviously he has something else on his mind. "And what's that?"

"She was able to get all the way up to my door even though you have to have the password down in the library to even get to the staircase. But I changed my password, and I haven't told it to anyone but you yet."

He frowns, staring at me. Good, he sees the problem there too.

Draco's fast asleep next to me tonight. We might have engaged in devilish acts earlier, but now the room is calm and still. Nothing is happening, and I'm the only one awake.

After sex I opened the book and started reading. I couldn't fall asleep despite how tired I was. So I decided it was time to finish reading, since Ginny distracted me earlier.

Now that I'm finished, I don't quite know what to do. I'm curled on my side away from Draco, the journal clutched to my chest. I could've just read the last entry and all my questions about sex would've been answered.

I wish I started like that.

Now I'm sick to my stomach. I had this fear in the back of my mind for a while now, but I didn't honestly think that it was going to be confirmed. My parents had me at a young age, but I never really thought about why. Now I know the answer, and it's a fate I can't escape.

I wish my mother told me, back at the house. Maybe if I hadn't been so rash I wouldn't have left before we could have a real conversation. Yes, I was mad, but I also was stupid. My mother could've provided a guiding hand and a plethora of answers, but instead I turned my back on her because I was angry. Now I need her more than ever.

Around two in the morning I struggle out of bed, dropping the book on my sofa. There's a wet spot on the bed near my head where my tears hit the sheets, and I feel a bit queasy as I step over to my desk. Tomorrow I'm going to have to look for one final book in the library.

I just need to know the statistics. I need to know what danger sex has caused.

Sitting at the desk, I scribble out a note. I glance back at the man on my bed, thinking about how this might affect him too.

Mum~

I'm sorry I left. I really am. I read to the end of one of your journals, and I figured out what happens at the end of this deal. I never realized things happened so… quickly in the life of a Siren. I guess that explains my early arrival doesn't it?

Mum, I sealed the deal with Draco. We went through with things. I know it's awkward and weird and stupid that we did so early when this has only happened for a few short months, but we did. And now I realize the mistake we made.

I thought we had time. I thought things were a little bit slower than this. But I was terribly wrong. I lied to Draco and myself. But now I need help mum, I need some advice.

Is it true? We had intercourse… so now I'm really going to end up pregnant?

And is my child going to end up with all of these traits, like me?

Please, owl back soon. I can't imagine telling Draco right now, or anyone else for that matter.

I love you mum.

~Hermione

A/n: Hi there! So, I promise, I didn't die. I had walking pneumonia for a bit and I had my first set of college finals so… I got a bit overwhelmed. But I'm sure you guys don't care too much about the excuses right, just the chapter?

I know it's short, but I wanted to just get back into the swing of things first. Next chapter might be longer, but I won't make any promises right now! I'm sorry for the wait though… you guys can forgive me right… maybe?

Review please :) It might help get me back on track! And don't forget, the poll will be left up until the last chapter of this story is posted.