Chapter Four: Hermione's POV
Hermione awoke early the next morning. She was still emotionally exhausted from the conversation with Ron the previous night. She and Fred had sat in the Common Room well after midnight. They had come to the decision that it was best to start informing people of their pregnancy. She was passed her first trimester and would begin to show shortly.
She got out of her bed and was hit with a sudden wave of nausea. She ran to the bathroom and emptied her stomach in the basin. She then made her way to the sinks to freshen up. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and she was pale. She felt awful. She ran her brush through her hair and then brushed her teeth. Thus far in her pregnancy she had been lucky to not have severe morning sickness. She remembered hearing from her mother that when she was pregnant with Hermione, she was sick from conception until birth. Hermione wasn't sure if her mother was being honest or trying to warn her against premarital sex.
She showered and dressed and headed downstairs. Fred was waiting for her. It was early Saturday morning, so the common room was still empty. Other students were either at breakfast if already awake or still snoozing.
"Good morning, beautiful." Fred said to her with a smile as he walked over and wrapped her in his warm arms. "How did you sleep?"
"Terrible," she responded with a sigh. "I dreamt your mother turned into a dragon and set us on fire."
Fred laughed. "A dragon? No, mum would turn into a basilisk." He grinned down at her. "Are you feeling alright? You look a little peaky, sweetheart."
"No, I'm emotionally drained, and I seem to have begun experiencing morning sickness." Hermione and Fred were walking toward the portrait hole. He pushed the door open and helped her out of it. They were making their way toward Professor McGonagall's office.
"Mum had horrible morning sickness with Ginny. Maybe it's a girl." Fred looked at her and she could see the excitement in his eyes. She had never expected him to be so enthusiastic about the situation. He was excited. He had been bursting to tell everyone, but she had been determined to wait until the first trimester was over.
"Morning sickness doesn't indicate gender," she laughed. "I would've thought you would prefer a little wizard." She looked at him with adoration.
"Not at all. I want a little girl who looks as beautiful as you, my love. Wouldn't you rather wait to speak to McGonagall after you've eaten." Fred looked at her worriedly. She loved how attentive he had become.
"No, I want to get this over with. Besides, I'm not sure I can eat now. I'm all nerves. I want to get this dealt with before Ron decides he doesn't want to be involved in this secret." She felt a pang as she remembered how Ron had called their baby a nasty little secret. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
"The git better hope he holds his tongue," Fred glowered darkly. Hermione knew he was still fuming from the hateful words Ron had spewed.
"He's just hurt. I'm sure once he calms down things will go back to normal." Hermione knew in her heart that things would never go back to how they were. She had hurt him deeply. She had known he liked her but had never realized the extent of his feelings. "I hope he doesn't take his anger out on Harry and George. They don't deserve to be in the middle of all this." She hated knowing that she had put a rift in their family.
"They can stand up for themselves. You are my only concern right now." Fred took her hand. They were outside McGonagall's office. Hermione raised her hand and knocked gently, half hoping Professor McGonagall wasn't in.
"Enter," she heard Professor McGonagall's Scottish tinged accent. Fred opened the door and held it for as she passed in front of him.
"Miss Granger, Mister Weasley," Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows at the site of them together. "How can I help the two of you this morning?" She indicated to the chairs in front of her desk, and they sat down in front of her.
"Professor McGonagall," Hermione went red faced and fell silent.
"Yes, dear," Professor McGonagall looked at her imploringly. When Hermione didn't respond she turned her attention to Fred. "Maybe you should speak since Miss Granger seems a bit upset."
"Yes, well you see…." Fred began and stopped. He cleared his throat and began again. "We need our parents to come to the school, Professor."
"What on earth for? Is someone hurt? Has something terrible happened?" Professor McGonagall rose from her desk and made her way around and stood in front of them.
"I'm pregnant," Hermione whispered almost inaudibly.
"I'm sorry, dear. I think I misheard you." Professor McGonagall turned to Hermione with shock evident on her face.
"No, you heard her correctly, Professor," Fred replied. Hermione heard a slight quiver in his voice. He seemed to be nervous, which was out of character for him.
"What? How? Who?" Professor McGonagall's questions seemed to tumble out one after another. "Are you quite certain?"
"Fred and I were together before the start of term. I'm quite sure I'm nearly four months along judging by my cycle. We didn't mean for this to happen. We used a contraceptive potion, but it didn't work. I'm so sorry, Professor McGonagall. Everyone is going to hate us, and I'll fail school. The baby will probably hate me too…" Hermione's words were suddenly cut off by a bout of hysterical sobs. She began to hyperventilate.
Fred rose quickly from his seat and rushed to her side. "Shhh, my angel. Everything will be fine. No one could hate you." He stroked her hair gently.
Professor McGonagall had slumped against her desk. "Well, Miss Granger, I'm not going to pretend to be happy about this. I do not hate you, nor will anyone who matters. These things happen from time to time. I believe the last student we had who was pregnant during their time at Hogwarts was almost 35 years ago. The advancement in contraception has, normally, stopped this from happening. First, you said you used a contraceptive potion. Do you remember which one? This is extremely important so think carefully." Professor McGonagall's voice was calm and gentle.
"I believe it was ContraFertile." Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall. "I brewed it exactly to instructions, Professor."
"I'm sure you did, dear. We need to have Madame Pomfrey examine you. Some of these potions may cause issues with the unborn child if they do not prevent the pregnancy. Have you had any negative pregnancy symptoms yet?" Professor McGonagall made her way to her fireplace desk and began writing a note.
"No, I experienced some morning sickness for the first time this morning. Other than that, I've felt fine." Hermione was beginning to worry. Was her baby going to be disfigured? Would it be stillborn? What would this potion do to her unborn child?
"When you say, 'issues with the unborn child'?" Fred asked the question as if he had plucked it from Hermione's brain. "What exactly do you mean, Professor?"
"Let's not worry until we must, Mister Weasley." Professor McGonagall dropped the note and some floo powder into her fireplace. The note disappeared in a swirl of green. "After you have been examined and cleared by Madame Pomfrey, we can contact your parents. I'll apparate to the Granger's home and take them to Hogsmeade. We'll meet the Weasley's there and the two of you can join us at the Three Broomsticks. I'll inform the teachers that you have my permission to go.
Just then Madame Pomfrey came from the fireplace. "Minerva, I came as quickly as I could." She rushed over to Hermione. "Come on, child. We need to make our way to the hospital wing." She was stern but not unkind. "Mister Weasley, you are not joining us."
Fred had made to follow them but stopped. "This is my child to Madame Pomfrey."
"I'm aware but the tests are of a sensitive nature. I'm sure Miss Granger will want some privacy." She walked toward the door. "After you, young lady."
"I'll be okay, Fred." She gave him a nervous smile. "Go to the Great Hall and get some breakfast."
She followed Madame Pomfrey from the office and headed toward the hospital wing.
