Fire and the Dragon

A/N: I am not thrilled with this chapter, and it is longer than I intended. Um..i do apologize for all the typos, good job spotting them. I just scan the chapter once before I post it so as to get these out as soon as I can. Thanks for the reviews, and now welcome to the world of drastic pregnancy induced mood swings!!!







Ch. 10 Decisions



The next couple of weeks passed with not much incident. Halloween was approaching and the students were becoming hard to manage. It was the usual activity for the time of year.



Hermione was sitting at her desk, grading some second year papers on the possible consequences of cutting valerian roots vertically instead of at a 45 degree angle. She was certain someone had blown up their potion.



Severus was teaching his last class of the day. Seventh year Gryffindor/Slytherin. Oh dear, he would be a grumpy one. She may not even see him today. Too bad, she thought. They had become, maybe not the best of friends, but still good company. They shared almost every night in either intelligent discussions or merely companionable silence; just enjoying the presence of another.



She smiled to herself. A few months ago, she would have called someone crazy if they suggested a friendship between herself and Severus. “Severus.” She said aloud. Only in the past couple of days had they begun to use each other’s first names with one another.



A knock on her door brought her out of the thoughts on her new friend. She made her way to the door and opened it. “Harry!” she exclaimed. “Since when do you knock?” She reached for his hand to pull him in.



Harry was surprised when she took the first step to touch him. She had begun roaming the castle and letting people touch her and hug her, but this was the first she had initiated contact with anyone other than Snape.



“Hermione,” he had the auror look. Uh-oh. “May I come in, there is something we need to discuss.” Hermione furrowed her brow. “Why so formal, Harry, it’s just me.” She said a bit playfully.



He sighed, “They ministry sent me here on business.” She dropped his hand, “oh. Ok then.” She led him to the chairs by the fireplace. He sat with his legs together in front of him, hands folded on his lap.



Hermione sat with her legs folded beneath her on the chair. She looked at her old friend with curiosity. Whatever this was, it was not the best news, obviously. “Is Snape here?” Harry asked, eyeing the door that led to the connected bathroom.



“Professor Snape Harry,” she scolded, “and no. He is still teaching, why? Should we wait for him?” Harry answered quickly, almost cutting her off mid-sentence. “No, I just do not want any interruptions.”



Hermione sat back and waited. Harry took a deep breath and began. “I’ve just come from the office of the wizengamot. After much convincing, they have agreed that you need not be present for the trial of Ronald Weasley, considering your traumatic experience, all they need from you is the memory of the attack.” Hermione paled at the memory, “and…go on Harry, what else did you come to tell me?” she asked for the auror looked like he had more to say.



He sighed deeply, “They need you to see a professional to confirm your pregnancy, even if you do not wish to keep the child.” Hermione put her head in her hands, she had been trying so hard not to think of that. She couldn’t bare to go to a healer in the wizard world about this.



As if reading her thoughts again, Harry continued, “The elder members have concluded that, due to the infamy of yourself and the Weasley family, you are to be given leniency as to who you see. You may see either a wizard healer or a muggle doctor.”



Hermione blanched. She was hoping that the whole situation would just go away. She closed her eyes and steadied her thoughts. “Thank you Harry, I think I will see a muggle doctor. I couldn’t stand being a side show attraction with the healers.” Harry nodded his approval and stood up.



“Ok Hermione, if you need someone with you, let me know. I have to get back to work now though.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek; she flinched, but just barely. She showed him to the door, then went and fell into her chair.





When she saw Severus later that afternoon, she told him everything that Harry had told her. “Why a muggle doctor, if I may ask?” he wondered with a sneer. She knew that sneer, he was unhappy with her decision.



“Because if I go see a healer, with my history and Ronald’s history, and everyone knows who we are and who the Weasley’s are, then I will be scrutinized. I would be a sideshow freak, pitied. I may be a coward, but I’d rather go somewhere I can blend in and not be humiliated.” She explained in her most know-it-all voice.



Severus inclined his head slightly to show he agreed with her logic. “However, Hermione, I must request two things.” She waved her hand for him to continue. “First, never refer to yourself as a coward, you are far from that.” He pierced her with is soul searching eyes. She could have melted into the seat right there.



“And two?” she asked in a near whisper. He glanced away from her. “I wish to be at your side during the examination.” She looked at him with appreciative eyes. Of course she wanted him there! In lieu of making a scene, she merely put her hand on his shoulder and softly said, “ok, I will make the appointment tomorrow.”



Three days later, Hermione found herself in a tiny waiting room beside Severus. She was scared to death. The present company, other than Severus, was not helping. All around her were women with round bellies and children running around.



They were all discussing their pregnancies and how excited they were. Sensing her nervousness, Severus reached across and squeezed her hand. She looked at him, he had worn muggle clothes, naturally. Black slacks, a black polo shirt, black shoes, and his hair was tied behind his neck, all in all, he looked pretty good.



Even through his calm demeanor, Hermione could tell he was nervous as well. Neither one had any idea of what to expect. They both thought that maybe just one of those muggle pregnancy tests with blood or urine and then they would be on their way.



Having given the memory to Harry earlier that day and threatening to hex him if he tried to come with them to the doctor’s office, this was the only thing left to do before Ron’s trial could begin.



The door to the exam rooms opened and a friendly looking nurse called Hermione’s name. Severus and she followed the woman to a primitive looking lab where the Hermione was weighed and given a cup to pee in using the lavatory.



After confirming with urine that, yes she was pregnant, they thought they were done. To their surprise, the woman asked them to please go into exam room 4. The nurse followed them in with a clipboard in hand.



Twenty minutes later, and after Severus was sure there was nothing possible to ask about Hermione or her health, heredity, or current level of activity, the nurse told them that the doctor would be right with them.



“Good lord, woman.” Severus exclaimed, “You mean there is more they need to know about you.” Hermione blushed, she was starting to rethink allowing Severus to be here and learn so much intimate information.



After waiting another eternity in the small room, a soft knock preceeded an elderly man into the room. He was rolling some kind of machine behind him, Severus looked at it with the utmost disgust. “Muggles!” he muttered.







“Hello, Hermione, I’m Dr. Elder.” He said extending his hand. Hermione shook it as did Severus when the doctor extended the same hand to him. “Now, we need to examine you to see how far along you are. It may be too early to hear the heartbeat, but we shall see.”



Hermione was instructed to remove her clothes and put on a paper gown while the doctor went into the hallway for a moment. Now she was on the verge of tears. She had to change in front of Severus AND a doctor was going to be touching her there!!!



“Calm down, Hermione. I am here, but if you wish for me to leave I will.” Severus told her as he saw her dilemma. She grabbed his arm forcefully, “Do NOT leave me alone with that man!” her wide eyes shone with apprehension. “just, please turn your back so that I can change.”



With much rummaging around, Severus finally heard her say, “ok, I am dressed.” Mere moments later, the doctor knocked again and re-entered the room. He told Hermione to lay back and relax. She gripped Severus’ hand with a death grip. He did not know the girl possessed such strength.



After feeling her abdomen and poking around her girlie parts, at which point Hermione cried, he went over to the machine. “Now this won’t hurt, let’s just see if we can find the little one.”



Hermione relaxed a bit, she had read all about ultrasound machines. The doctor would just pass a handheld camera over her abdomen and that would be... “WHOA! Where the hell is THAT going?” she shouted as she saw him pull out a long probe that looked like it should be reserved for dungeon tortures.



Severus started as well when he recognized a huge condom being pulled down over the probe. “You are not thinking of sticking that up inside her, are you?” He was appalled at the torture device the doctor was waving about.



The doctor just chuckled. “Yes, unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, at this early stage, this is the best way to see and diagnose.” Hermione flinched and jerked away as the doctor pushed the camera into her poor opening, not bothering to correct the doctor’s referring to her and Severus.



Severus blanched with huge eyes at the merciless intrusion as he patted and stroked Hermione’s hand for comfort. “Ahh, hello little one.” The doctor said as he turned the screen towards Hermione and Severus.



At first, all they saw was a dark circle, in the middle was a grey lump that seemed to be flickering. “Hmph,” thought Severus. “With as much as these doctors charge, they could afford functional and less barbaric equipment.”



The doctor began pointing at the screen, identifying head and heart bulges. However, it was when the doctor put the sound on that Hermione and Severus jumped to attention. “How about that?” the doctor smiled, “already a strong heartbeat. Very rare this early in the pregnancy.”



Inside both Hermione and Severus there stirred something that they had never felt. To be honest, Hermione had not thought about the thing as anything more than a parasite feeding off of her, a reminder of that horrible night, but now… “little hearbeat.” She said with tears.



When they got back to Hogwarts, Hermione was still quiet. She had not said much since the appointment. Severus was worried that she was going to regress back to her seclusion.



“I will return.” He told her. “I need to send this to the ministry by way of owl.” Hermione nodded in acknowledgement. Before leaving, Severus took the girl’s face in his, “Hermione? Are you alright?” he asked, truly concerned.



“Yes, I’m fine, Severus. I just need time to think.” She answered before going into her rooms and shutting the door.



Before even reaching the doors to his room, Severus could hear a loud ruckus echoing through the halls. “Oh those insolent migraines.” He said as he went to search for the students making such a racket.



To his surprise, the noise was coming from Hermione’s rooms. He went to his rooms and crossed over to her door. He slowly cracked the door open. He was not expecting the scene before him.



Hermione had charmed a radio and had it blaring full blast while she bounced around her room. Severus would never have called that noise music, but he assumed that is what it was.



He waltzed over to the radio and shut it off. Hermione stopped instantly, turned to figure out what stopped the music. She turned four shades of red and covered her face when she saw that she was being watched.



“Hermione,” Severus asked, “may I inquire as to what this is?” Hermione did not know what to say, she was so embarrassed. “That is ‘Bring Me to Life’ by the band Evanescence.” She told him from behind her hands.



He raised one eyebrow at her. She sighed loudly, “It is just the music I listen to when I have a problem and need to think.” Severus uncrossed his arms and went to her. “Does this mean you have not come to a decision regarding the baby?” he asked hopefully.



She began to cry. Not the desired effect he wanted. “Don’t cry, woman. Honestly, you could fill the black lake with as much as you wail.” Hermione began to hiccough and tried to answer.



“It is just, before today this thing inside of me was just a thing. I could kill off a thing, a parasite that was reminding me of the pain. But now,” she said, her eyes glistening in the light. “it has a heartbeat, a soul. How can I kill a living, innocent soul? But how can I live with a kid who will, no doubt, look so much like the person I hate the most.”



Severus began patting her hair, “I can not tell you how you will feel about this baby should you choose to keep it, Hermione. All I can say is that there are people who are willing to help you should you just ask.”



Hermione began to sob again. “I just feel so confused. No matter what decision I make, I will regret it sooner or later.” Before Severus could respond she jumped up. “And what about when the kid is older and asks about its father? What do I say to that? ‘sorry honey, daddy is in prison for raping me and creating you?’ NO, it is just too hard.”



Severus let her cry it out for a while longer. When he heard her calming down, he whispered into her ear, “I have no doubt, Hermione, that any child of yours, regardless of the father, will be intelligent and well loved.” She looked up at him and began to chuckle.



“I fail to see the humor here, Ms. Granger.” He said with irritation. Between chuckles she replied, “I’m sorry, Severus, but I was just wondering how someone so snarky could all of a sudden be so sappy.”



Severus huffed, but then a half smile graced his lips. “Hermione, I am in need of some assistance collecting moonflowers. Would you care to do the honors?” He decided they needed a change of attitude and scenery for it had been a long and trying day.



She eagerly accepted. She loved moonflowers, but had never seen one in the wild. They grabbed some gloves and bags. Cloaks would just get in the way. Hermione followed Severus up the stairs and out of the entrance door of the castle.