Chapter Seven

"What the bloody hell were you thinking?"

Hermione flinched as if struck. She had faced murderers, lunatics, a werewolf, and a dark wizard, but her mother's voice could always make her feel like a naughty child.

"Obviously, you weren't thinking or you wouldn't be in this situation. How could you do this to your future, Hermione? You're a child! What are you going to do with a baby?" Maureen Granger cried.

Hermione's parents sat across from her; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to her left. Her father's eyes remained fixed on a spot on the table, silent as his wife fumed.

Ashamed, Hermione thought. She inhaled deeply and tamped down her urge to break apart.

It hadn't taken Arthur long to retrieve her parents after Molly had left. Hermione had them connected to the Floo network as soon as she retrieved them from Australia, partially as a symbolic gesture to make them feel more connected to her other life.

After they had arrived and a muffled conversation with the Weasley's commenced, Hermione had heard a rapid knock and urgent whispers on the other side of Charlie's door. The bolt slid back as someone cast alohomora and she hastily locked it again.

"Hermione?" Ron urged and jiggled the doorknob. She could hear Harry and Ginny whispering behind him. "Are you ok? Why are your parents here?"

She bit her lip, a million excuses running through her head, and responded: "Could you...could I talk to you later?"

There was a pause, more whispering and then, "Ok."

Hermione had sighed. She waited a few minutes longer, then crept into the living room to face the music.

Now, sitting in front of her parents, she could barely meet her mother's eyes. They were so similar to her own, but now filled with ire and disappointment.

Maureen's normally tidy, short hair was a mess of salt and pepper waves as she glared at her daughter. She gripped her cup of tea with white fingers. Hermione was afraid the porcelain would shatter in her hand.

"It just happened. It was a confusing time and we didn't use proper protection. There isn't much I can do about it now," Hermione's voice rushed out.

"What is going on with you? I don't feel like I know you anymore, Hermione. When you're home, you're either hiding in your room or you're off with your friends. We didn't even know you had a boyfriend-"

"I don't," Hermione said through gritted teeth. She felt her face flush crimson in exasperation. Tears hung on the edge of her eyelids but she refused to shed them.

Arthur cleared his throat. "You see, Draco and Hermione had a tryst. A bit of love during the war. They met up, so to speak, when Hermione was held captive and….well, you know. Never knew if they'd see each other again, that sort of thing," he said, laughing awkwardly.

His eyes widened in realization at his mistake when both his wife and Hermione glared at him. Charles Granger's head shot up, and both of her parent's voices practically shouted at once.

"What?" Her father exclaimed.

"Held captive? When was this? What is he talking about?" Maureen demanded.

"It-it wasn't for long, Mum. And Malfoy helped me escape. I mentioned it after-"

"Malfoy?" Her father asked, looking at her then to Molly and Arthur in confusion. "Is he the son of that blond fellow we met at the book shop? Wasn't he one of those death seekers?"

"Death eaters," Arthur corrected.

"The father of this child is one of those people? The ones you were fighting against? Who tried to kill muggles; people like ourselves?" Maureen questioned, pointing between herself and husband. "Is this man the reason you were a captive? Why would you and his son-"

"A son isn't his father," Molly hastily interjected, looking nervously between Hermione and her mother. "Draco doesn't hold those same prejudiced ideas. Anymore."

"And where is this man?" Maureen demanded, ignoring Molly. Hermione and her father had once likened her to a bloodhound - when she got a scent she wouldn't let it go until she found what she was searching for. "Is he okay with his son having a child?"

"Lucius, well... he's in Azkaban. It's a prison in the middle of the North Sea. So you needn't bother worrying about…" Arthur trailed off as Molly furiously elbowed her husband.

Hermione recognized that look on her mother's face. Maureen's brown eyes were narrowed, her lips drawn tight, and her posture impeccable.

She was beyond furious.

"Prison," Maureen said flatly and shook her head. "I don't understand this, Hermione. I don't understand how you could be so reckless, so irresponsible. It's not like you at all. Why didn't you tell me before it got so out of hand?" Hermione heard the hurt in her mother's voice and it was like a knife twisting into her heart.

"I should have….I'm sorry, Mum," Hermione whispered.

There was a pause, and the silence seemed to drag on for ages.

Charles massaged his forehead, exhaling deeply through his nostrils. "The new house in Dorset only has two bedrooms and a small office upstairs. We could convert it into a nursery, hopefully by the time the baby gets here."

He looked at his wife who returned his glance with a tight lipped nod. "I suppose we'll have to have a chat with your headmistress... let her know you won't be going back to school."

"What?" Hermione exclaimed in confusion.

"Obviously you won't be returning to Hogwarts. Not in your state," her mother's clipped voice responded. Hermione barely heard through her madly racing thoughts.

"Of course I'll be returning. I'm sure Professor McGonagall could accommodate me, I mean us, after the baby is born…" She trailed off as uncertainty took hold.

Was she so sure McGonagall would approve of her continuing on as a student, child in tow? Now that she thought of it, she had never seen or heard of a pregnant student at Hogwarts. Hogwarts, A History certainly made no mention of it. How did the school deal with such matters?

Maureen tsked and set her cup down with a thunk. "This nonsense with the wizarding world. Look at what it's done to you. What you did to us. We do forgive you, but it's hard to forget that year in Australia. Not even remembering our own daughter. These talents of yours have brought you nothing but grief, and honestly, it's as if we've lost our daughter," she said, her voice catching. She looked off in the distance for a moment, clearing her throat, and continued.

"You've fought everyday against people who think you don't belong in their world and they're right. You belong home with us."

Hermione was stunned. She had known for a long time how hard it was for her parents to come to terms with her magical talents. The Grangers were practical, realistic people. After she was born, they had expected her to grow up to be a bright, normal child with a bright, normal future. That future had literally flown out the window with the owl when her Hogwarts acceptance letter had arrived.

The newfound knowledge of a different, hidden world filled with magic and mystery had shaken them to their rational cores.

"No," Hermione said in a tone that brooked no argument.

"I will never be able to convey how sorry I am about what I did to you. I truly, truly am. You both taught me to be brave and true to myself, and this is who I am. I am Hermione Jean Granger, witch in training. Running away won't change anything. I'm going to complete my final year regardless of the baby."

Maureen's face was blotchy red with suppressed emotion as she stood. "Then I suppose I have nothing else to say." She then turned on her heel and left through the front entrance.

Hermione stood as well. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly through her nose as the door clicked shut behind her mother. Charles' large hand reached for her and he pulled her into an embrace. Hermione closed her eyes and rested her head for the briefest of moments against her father's shoulder, inhaling the scent of mint that always clung to him even outside of his dental office.

"Happy birthday, Hermione," Calvin murmured into her hair. "We love you, you know. Whatever happens with you, we'll always be there. Your mum will come around. She's just, well, your mum."

Hermione sighed and pulled away. "I know. I love you, too. Would it be alright if I still came over tomorrow? We could talk more."

"Of course," he said with a small smile, then turned to leave the same way as his wife.

The Weasleys shuffled behind her as Hermione watched the closed door in silence. She heard Molly fiddling with the teapot as Arthur brushed past her.

"I should probably go after them," Arthur said and pulled on a light cloak, a small sympathetic smile on his lips. At her quizzical stare he explained. "The nearest village is quite a walk from here. I'll apparate them home, safe and sound. Perhaps chat to them a bit more."

Alone with Molly, Hermione twisted her fingers in her hand. She hadn't expected the revelation of her pregnancy to be easy, but not that difficult either.

If they only knew the truth. What would they think of me then? Feelings of guilt and grief and anger raged inside her. She pushed it all back down to deal with another day.

"Here dear, why don't you sit and have something to drink?" Molly said. She gestured to the steaming cup waiting on the table. Hermione nodded her head and didn't miss the nip of whiskey Molly quickly slipped into her own glass.

Hermione tried to keep her voice from wavering as she voiced what she feared. "Do you think she'll ever want to see me again?"

Taking her hand in her own, Molly said in a soothing tone, "I don't think your mum meant to say all that, Hermione. Finding out you're pregnant - it's all quite a shock. She'll come around like your father said."

"But why would she-"

"You're her daughter. She's upset because you kept this from her. But more than that, she's hurt because you are hurting."

At Hermione's skeptical look, she continued. "When you become a mother you'll know. It's terrible watching your child suffer and not be able to do anything about it. We - Arthur and I that is - take it for granted that we were born into a world of magic, and all of our children were, too. It must be difficult for them to love you, but not be able to be involved in your life as a witch."

For the first time in quite a long time, Hermione was dumbfounded. While she knew it was confusing for her parents to comprehend her obligations to the wizarding world and the responsibility she felt her magic imbued her with, she rarely considered how they felt about being seperated from her life. The holidays and summers she spent with her friends; the letters she forgot to write back to because she was busy; all the things other girls her age did with their parents. Little cuts that added up to hundreds.

How many nights had they sat together in their living room missing her while she spent so little time thinking of them?

She was interrupted from her remorseful thoughts by Molly. "Should I perhaps call upon Minerva?"

"No, I honestly only have the energy for one more confession tonight. She'll have to wait until the morning." Downing the rest of her tea, Hermione walked the first steps up the stairs where she knew her friends were waiting in trepidation, her heart thumping madly in her chest.

A/N:

MANY MANY MANY thanks to my lovely beta, Gabrielle! She is fantastic and so incredibly helpful 3

Also, sorry for the delay. Midterms, amiright?

If you like the fic so far, please leave a comment! If you hate this fic and continue to read it out of either masochism or some misplaced sense of obligation, please write me a two page explanation, 12pt font, double-spaced, as to why I suck. Extra credit will be given to those who provide pictures.

Next Chapter: Meet Narcissa Malfoy, disgraced socialite and future Grandmum!