If This Were A Normal Day...

A/N: I’m hoping that I didn’t go too over the top. If I did, I’m sorry. I warned you that chapter 10 wasn’t going to be all fluff and cuddles. But, I leave you with the promise that the sun will come out soon, though Hermione is not out of the woods yet, by any means. If the story really and truly upsets you, you don’t have to read it.
I own nothing but the plot......stop laughing!

Chapter 11
Can’t Hide It Forever.

It had been a few weeks since her fight with Potter and Weasley and Draco noticed a startling change in Hermione’s behavior. She was very nervous. She flinched every time he touched her.

She had seemingly moved to his room on a permanent basis. Sometimes in the middle of the night, he woke up to hear her silently sobbing to herself. She had also started clinging to him during the classes they had together, not particularly caring about the raised eyebrows from students and teachers alike. Most knew about their relationship, but never really talked about it...in front of them anyway.

“Wow,” he thought. “An argument with them gets her this upset?”

And then, there was the constant vomiting. It seemed to him like she was always in the bathroom. Every time food came near her she simply groaned and cried “Get it away, please!” before dashing to the bathroom.

During one particularly violent episode, he stepped into the bathroom.

“Are you okay?” he asked, walking over to rub her shoulder.

“I don’t know.” she replied, leaning back and closing her eyes. “My whole head is spinning.”

“Maybe some water would help?” he suggested.

She simply groaned and hung her head over the toilet again.

***************************************

Hermione felt him bundle up her hair to hold it back. When she felt like she had emptied everything in her stomach, she crumpled onto the floor in a little ball.

“I think I’m finished for now.” she whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“You know, maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey. I mean, this has been going on for a while Hermione. Its not normal for you to be this sick.” He sat down in the floor and pulled her onto his lap. She lay her head on his shoulder weakly.

Hermione knew this was, in fact, normal.

“I’ll be fine.” she whispered. “Don’t worry about it.”

“But I do worry.” he said, stroking her forehead.

They sat still in the floor for a few moments.

“Do you want to go lay down?” he finally asked.

“Yea, I think I do.” Hermione responded. She tried to hoist herself to her feet only to be scooped up and cradled in Draco’s strong arms.

He carried her toward the bedroom she had now taken up residence in with him and lay her gently on the bed before wrapping a blanket around her.

“Is there anything you need?” he whispered.

Hermione shook her head.

“You remember its Quidditch tonight, right?” he said.

Hermione burst straight up in bed.

“You mean you’re leaving me alone??!?” she cried, panicking.

“Only for a bit. It shouldn’t take longer than a few hours.” he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She bit her bottom lip.

“Well....can I come watch?” she asked.

“I really think you need to stay in bed and rest for now.” he replied.

“But....” Hermione began.

“No buts, just stay here and try to get some sleep ok?” He patted her on the leg, before kissing her head and leaving the bedroom.

Hermione rolled over onto her side. She wanted so desperately to tell Draco the truth about what happened with Ron, but she knew the minute he found out, Ron was as good as dead. Not that she really cared at this point, but Draco would get in trouble. Aside from that, the stern look that Harry had given her before he left that that day had said it all.

“You betrayed us once. Don’t do it again.”

Fresh tears formed in her eyes. She knew this wasn’t her fault and that he shouldn’t get away with what he had done, but it was almost as if she really did feel partially responsible. Maybe she should have talked about it with him privately before thrusting Draco on him like that.

She closed her eyes and tried to repress the tears. It felt like crying was all she did lately, aside from vomiting.

She heard the common room door shut in the distance, signaling that Draco had left. A pang of fear shot through her stomach.

Hermione reached out and grabbed Draco’s pillow and wrapped her arms around it. It smelled just like him. It was a small comfort, but a comfort none the less.

She heard the common room door open.

She sat straight up in bed and looked around wildly.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” she whispered to herself.

“Hermione?” Ginny’s voice called. “Are you here?”

She breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Yea, Gin, I’m in here.” she called back.

She muttered Draco’s horrible password, which should have offended her, but after almost 7 years of hearing it, it kind of lost its bite.

Ginny poked her head into Draco’s room.

“Um, hey..” she said looking around. “What are you doing in here?”

“Just taking a nap.” Hermione replied. Truth be told, she was in here because she just couldn’t bring herself to lay in her own bed again. It was like trying to sleep on broken glass.

Ginny climbed up on the edge of Draco’s bed and lay down on her stomach.

“Are you feeling ok?” Ginny asked. “You don’t look so hot.”

“I’m just a little sick at my stomach. How things going with you?” Hermione asked, adjusting the pillows behind her back.

“I’m doing ok. A bit worried about Ron though. He looks so zoned out. He never speaks anymore, unless its to Harry and even then, they whisper. I’ve begged and begged him to tell me what\'s going on, but he just feeds me this line about you and Ron having an argument or some bullshit like that.” Ginny took a deep breath.

“Soooo....” she began. “I thought I would come to you. Maybe you can help me get to the root of the problem, but you don’t look like you’re in any condition to talk either.”

Hermione was very glad that Ginny didn’t press for details. Number one, she couldn’t bring herself to lie to Ginny, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell her the truth either. Number two, Ron was Ginny’s brother. How would she react? Would she blame Hermione like Harry had? Would she be angry and refuse to speak to her anymore?

Hermione’s head began to spin again. She hopped off the bed and ran once again for the bathroom. She could hear Ginny dashing right behind her. This time, she didn’t make it to the toilet. Instead, it landed in the sink.

“Oh Merlin, Hermione are you ok?” Ginny cried, trying to help her friend.

She managed to choke out an “Mmhm..” before heaving again. This time, it was dry. Apparently she had finally rid herself of everything in her stomach. Hermione sank to the ground once again. She began to sob.

“Hermione....” Ginny began cautiously, sitting down beside her. “Sweetie, are you......pregnant?”

Hermione sobbed harder.

“Oh sweetie,” Ginny said, wrapping her arms around her. “It’ll be ok.”

Hermione bawled into Ginny’s shoulder. She had been trying to deny it to herself, but just hearing the word “pregnant” made how true it really was sink in.

“Its not going to be ok.” she sobbed.

“Of course it is!” Ginny said, straightening Hermione up to face her. “I love you! Draco loves you! Harry and Ron love you too!”

“Yea, you have no idea how much.” Hermione said sarcastically.

“What do you mean?” Ginny asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Nothing, anyway, look, please, please don’t tell anyone ok? All I need is for everyone knowing the Head Girl is a slut.”

“You’re not a slut!” Ginny said, rubbing Hermione’s shoulder.

“I mean, how did I let this happen?!” she cried. “I’m always so.....responsible! Its like I got with Draco and the whole world went mad!”

Ginny kind of laughed.

“Well, to be honest, I can’t really blame you. Any other girl in your shoes would probably have done the same thing.”

Hermione smiled at Ginny.

“Sooo...” Ginny began. “When are you going to tell Draco?”

She closed her eyes. “I don’t know...I guess I can’t keep it a secret forever, though can I?”

Ginny shook her head.

“Nope.”

The heard the common room door open again.

“Hermione?” Ron called out.

Hermione’s stomach jumped forward again.

“Please get rid of him..” Hermione muttered, tears welling in her eyes.
Ginny stood up and walked out into the common room. She could hear their conversation through the door.

“Yes Ron? What do you need?” Ginny asked him.

She could tell by the startled tone in his voice he had not expected to see Ginny.

“I....umm....I came to talk to Hermione....” he muttered.

“Well! Hermione is not in a talking mood right now so if you would please leave, that would be great.” Ginny stated.

“Look,” Ron cried. “I don’t know what she\'s told you, but I didn’t mean it ok?!? I came to apologize!”

“Didn’t mean what?!” Ginny asked cautiously. “Would someone please tell me what\'s going on?” she cried, turning to face the bathroom door.

“Oh...um...never mind.” Ron muttered, a sound of shock and embarrassment in his voice. “Just....eh....tell Hermione I’ll be back some other time.”

Ginny re-entered the bathroom shaking her head.

“What the hell was all that about?” she asked incredulously.

Hermione was hysterical once again.

“I can not believe he thinks he can just walk back in here and hand me some shitty apology and think everything is going to be ok!” Hermione screamed, hoping he had heard her before he exited the common room. In fact, he did.

“What?!” Ginny cried. “What happened?!”

Ron burst into the bathroom.

“You know what Hermione?” he screamed. “Maybe you should have taken my feelings into consideration before you went about flashing your new boyfriend in front of me! You broke my fucking heart Hermione! Do you know how that felt? Knowing that I’m not good enough for you after 7 years of worshipping the ground you walk on, but Malfoy comes along and flashes you a smile and suddenly you two are all over each other. I mean, you knew how I felt about you. What I did may have been wrong, but you’re not innocent either so come off it!”

Tears were streaming down her face. Ginny was looking back and forth between the two of them, very confused.

Hermione really and truly couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Well! I’m sorry, Ron!” she spat back at him. “I didn’t realize that breaking someone’s heart was grounds for rape in the wizarding world! I must have missed that somewhere!”

A look of pure horror spread over Ginny’s face.

“You what?” Ginny whispered.

Ron seized Hermione by shoulders and lifted her off the ground, glaring into her eyes.

“Ron!” Ginny yelled, slapping his arm. “Put her down! PUT HER DOWN!”

Ron didn’t listen, he just kept glaring at Hermione, who gave him a cold glare back.

“Don’t show him any fear, don’t show him any fear.” her mind whispered to her.

Ginny on the other hand, was hysterical.

“Ron! Put her down before you hurt her! She\'s pregnant!” Ginny screamed.

Ron looked at Ginny, shocked, before turning back to Hermione with a look of disgust in his eyes. He dropped her, letting her hit the ground hard, before turning and walking out of the bathroom.

“Asshole!” Ginny called after him, throwing the nearest bottle of shampoo. She knelt down beside Hermione.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to tell. I just didn’t want you to get hurt.” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes as well.

Hermione half-smiled.

“Its okay.” she said. “Can’t hide it forever, right?”

Ginny looked down at the ground.

“So...” she began. “What you said....is it true?”

“Yea.” Hermione whispered softly.

“Merlin” Ginny muttered. “I knew he was upset and a little crazy...but I had no idea. No idea..”

“Well, neither did I. I wouldn’t even in my wildest dreams have expected that from Ron.” she whispered back.

They both looked at each other for a moment. Ginny broke into sobs and threw her arms around Hermione.

“I’m so sorry!” she cried. “He’s such a bastard!”

She wrapped her arms around Ginny as well. It felt so good to finally let someone know and felt even better not to be blamed once again for it.

“The baby...” Ginny whispered. “Its not....Ron’s is it?”

Hermione pinched her eyes shut. The thought sickened her.

“No no, its not Ron’s. I was barfing and missing periods before Ron decided to grace me with his presence.”

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank Merlin!” she whispered. Ginny sat there, holding the crying Hermione in her arms whispering softly to her.

“Everyone deserves a friend like you..” Hermione whispered to Ginny, before breaking into sobs again.