Broken Smile

Broken Smile

Hermione made her way down to the dungeons; she felt the temperature drop as she walked to Professor Snape’s classroom. She knocked on the large oak door, waiting for an answer. Hermione pushed open the door after a moment and called, “Professor?” She could hear a hissing potion somewhere at the back of the classroom. “Professor?” she called again.

“Miss Granger, do come in but not too close,” Snape ordered, coming out of his storeroom with more ingredients for his potion. He placed the ingredients on the surface of the table. His eyes swept over Hermione; she wore jeans and her Weasley jumper. She looked down at herself and then back up at Snape.

“School doesn’t start back until toow, ow, sir; I thought it would be okay to dress in ordinarily clothes,” Hermione explained. Snape nodded his head and continue to with his potion. “Professor McGonagall asked me to keep you occupied. So, you have a choice, you can brew your own potion? Read? Or something else, as long as it’s done quietly,” Snape said, still not looking up.

“Can I help you?” Hermione asked.
“No, Miss Granger,” Snape replied as his black eyes focused on her stomach. “Not in your condition.”
“Oh, is there anything else I can do to help?” Hermione asked.
“I have some first year papers that need to be graded from last term,” Snape offered, pointing to his desk.

Hermione sat at a desk near the front of the classroom with the first years’ papers in front of her; it didn’t take her long to mark them“Sir“Sir, I’ve finished, can I go? I’ll stay clear from Professor McGonagall and tell her you kept me occupied all afternoon,” Hermione said, standing up. Snape was pouring some of his potion into a cup. “Yes, you may go but I would like to have a word with you first,” Snape said, motioning for her sit again.

Hermione looked puzzled but sat down all the same. Snape’s cape swished as he walked to the front of the classroom, where he sat opposite to Hermione with his long slender hands folded in front of him.

“Do you know what’s in this cup?” Snape asked.
“No, sir; I don’t know what potion you’ve brewed,” Hermione answered, a little worried.
“It’s a potion to help you with your pregnancy…” Snape began but Hermione cut him off. “I already made up my mind—I’m not killing my baby…” Hermione almost yelled at him, now on her feet. Snape held up his hand to silence her.

“Relax, Miss Granger, the potion is to help with your morning sickness,” Snape said, watching her closely. Hermione felt her cheeks glow red.
“I’m sorry…I thought…my hormones are all over the place,” she tried to explain as she sat back down. The dark man across from her got up and went to retrieve the now-cooled potion.

“Here, drink this,” Snape ordered, handing Hermione the cup, which she took.
“Thank you, sir,” Hermione said, making a face as she took a sip. Snape walked back over to the cauldron and began to bottle the rest of the potion. “Miss Granger, you may go,” he said. Hermione stood up and was heading to the door.

“Sir?” Hermione asked, turning back to face him.
“Yes, Miss Granger?”
“When I asked you if I could help, you said ‘not in your condition,’ but…”
“I lied; I like to work alone,” he replied. “When you need more go to Madam Pomfrey; I’ll drop the rest of it off at the hospital wing later.”
Hermione nodded and left his classroom in a hurry.

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Hermione’s first real day back at school was upon her. She sat with Ginny and Dean at breakfast and tried to pretend that there was nothing to hide; no one knew that she’s pregnant, nor would they find out for a while.

Hermione got through her first day of lessons; she hurried back to her room to pick up Harry’s invisibility cloak—well her cloak now—and she hurried out of Gryffindor common room. On her way she saw Ginny sitting on Dean’s lap by the fire, which reminded her of Charlie.

Hermione placed the cloak around herself and hurried across the grounds, she had to move quickly if she wanted to get to Hogsmeade and back before curfew. She made her way to the Three Broomsticks, taking off the cloak and folded it into her bag before entering. The pub was quite packed; Hermione made her way to bar where Madam Rosmerta was severing.

She sat on a barstool and did not like the looks she was receiving from men that sat around the bar. “What can I get you?” asked Madam Rosmerta, looking at Hermione oddly. “Actually, I was wondering if there are any job vacancies?” Hermione asked. Madam Rosmerta came out from around the bar. “Come on, we’ll talk over here,” she said, pointing in the direction of a table in the corner.

They sat down opposite from one another. “First of all, how old are you?” the pub owner asked. “Eighteen; I need some part-time work,” Hermione said.
“Aren’t you that Granger girl?”
“Yes, I’m that Granger girl,” Hermione answered irritably.
Madam Rosmerta smiled at Hermione. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that you’re still in school; I can’t take you on unless I have a sighed letter from your Headmaster,” Madam Rosmerta explained.

Being called ‘That Granger girl’ was no surprise to Hermione; everyone in town knew what happened that night in the dungeon with Lucius Malfoy.
“Do you have any experience?” asked Madam Rosmerta.
“No, but I’m a fast learner,” Hermione answered.
“How many days can you work a week?” inquired the older woman.
“At least four days a week; I need the other days to study but I can work all day on the weekend,” Hermione explained, looking at Madam Rosmerta with hopeful eyes.

“If you get the Headmaster’s permission, then you can have a job, sweetheart,” Madam Rosmerta said, standing up and reaching out her hand to Hermione. “Thank you so much,” Hermione said, shaking her hand.

Hermione made her way back up to school; when she reached the lake she took off the invisibility cloak and sat down under her favorite tree. Curfew wasn’t for a while yet, so she could just sit and gaze at the stars for hours. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought of Charlie; she seemed to do that a lot lately.

“Is this tree taken?” asked a gentle voice.
Hermione jumped. “Professor Dumbledore!” she exclaimed, standing up.
“Child, please sit down, may I sit with you?” Dumbledore asked.
“Of course you may,” Hermione said, sitting back down. She tried not giggle as the Headmaster tried to sit his old bones down on the grass.

“How did classes go today?” Dumbledore asked.
“Good,” Hermione answered.
“How did it go with Madam Rosmerta?”
Hermione looked at him in amazement. “How did you know? I mean…” Hermione broke off. Dumbledore’s blue eyes twinkled as he looked at her over his half-moon spectacles and tapped his nose.

“Well, were you successful?” Dumbledore asked.
“Yes, but only if I have permission from my wonderful Headmaster,” Hermione said, using her best smile to win Dumbledore over.
“You have my permission,” he began, taking hold of her hand, “only if you promise to watch yourself and tell Madam Rosmerta of your condition”
Hermione excitedly hugged Dumbledore. “Thank you, sir!” she cried, before pulling back suddenly, realizing whom she had just hugged.

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Hermione had been working at the Three Broomsticks for almost a month; she quite enjoyed it despite the men who forgot their manners. She helped close up and made her way back to Hogwarts on Saturday night.

Hermione was a little over three months pregnant, and her morning sickness was getting a little better. She found herself very tired, between working at the Three Broomsticks, homework, and eating.

She held her cloak close to her body, trying to keep warm. “Granger,” called Malfoy. Hermione looked over to the lake, to the direction of which his voice came from. She walked over to him.

“Hey, it’s past curfew,” Hermione pointed out.
“I know, just wanted to wait for you,” Malfoy said, patting the spot next to him under the tree. Hermione sat down carefully; she hadn’t started to show yet but she noticed her clothes have become tight.
“Thanks for waiting,” Hermione said yawning. “I’m so tired.”
“Why are you working anyway?” Malfoy asked.

“I have to,” Hermione answered, simply rubbing her arms.
“But I thought your mum and dad left you some money?” Malfoy inquired, taking off his cloak and putting it around her.
“Thank you. That money won’t last forever; I have to make sure I’m financially okay,” Hermione explained as her hand rubbed over her stomach beneath her cloak.

“At least you have the Weasleys,” Malfoy said, standing up and offering a hand to Hermione, which she took. “Yeah, I do have the Weasleys but I have to be able to stand on my own two feet,” Hermione told him as they made the way back up to the castle.

“You’re lucky, Granger; I mean you have all these people who love you. I wish I had that,” Malfoy said, watching her.
“I am lucky. I don’t know what I would have done without them, especially Charlie,” Hermione said taking hold of Draco’s hand. “You have your mum, though,” she pointed out.
“Well, I have a mother but not a mum,” Draco said bitterly though he enjoyed the warmth of Hermione’s hand.

“What happened?” Hermione asked.
“Nothing. That’s just it, she does nothing,” Draco said. “She’s still in Rome.”
“You miss her, don’t you? Why don’t you tell her?” Hermione asked.
“I’m at Hogwarts most of the year…but Christmas was a bit lonely,” Draco replied. “Ouch!” Draco wailed, rubbing his arm where Hermione hit him.
“You spent Christmas alone? Why didn’t you tell me?” Hermione demanded.
“Because I have my pride and the Weasley clan aren’t going to open their arms to me any time soon, are they?” Draco pointed out.

“You don’t know Molly Weasley,” Hermione said, linking her arm with his. Draco smiled at her; he’d never had a girl as a friend—just a friend.
“You’re my best friend, Granger,” Draco said, hating to sound sappy.
“I wish Harry and Ron could have seen what a nice person you are,” Hermione said. Draco wasn’t sure what to say to that statement.

“Nice person” he repeated. “I have a reputation to uphold, don’t go spreading that news around” Draco said, kissing her cheek. Hermione looked up at him. She thought being this close to another Malfoy would scare her but Draco’s eyes held warmth and some else Hermione couldn’t quite detect.

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Hermione made her way to the hospital wing; she was supposed to be in DADA class but Professor Andrews thought it best for her not to attend today’s lesson. Professor Andrews had been the DADA teacher for almost two years now, one of the longest ever.

Madam Pomfrey fussed over Hermione for a good forty minutes; she checked on the baby’s progress and told her that baby’s scalp hair should begin to grow at five months, which Hermione was amazed by.

Hermione could feel the baby frequently now; his movements had become stronger. “Okay dear, you get dressed and I’ll be back in a moment,” Madam Pomfrey said before closing the curtain. Hermione got dressed; she had had to spend a lot of the money she earned from working at the Three Broomsticks on new clothes because everything she owned either wouldn’t button or zip up.

Madam Pomfrey came back wearing a big smile. “Now, this is the lovely part,” she said, fixing Hermione’s cloak. “Would you like to know the baby’s sex?” Madam Pomfrey asked. Hermione watched the older woman’s face light up, so she didn’t want to say she already knew.

“Yes, I would love to know,” Hermione replied.
“A boy! You’re having a boy!” Madam Pomfrey cried happily, giving Hermione a big hug. The nurse pulled back after a moment, regaining her regular manner. Hermione held back a smile. “Wow, a boy; can’t wait to tell the Weasleys,” Hermione quipped.

She left the hospital wing with orders from Madam Pomfrey to come to her if she felt any discomfort. Hermione made her way to Potions class, making sure her robe was covering her stomach as she walked. Hermione realizing she won’t be able to hide forever, and that thought scared her the most.

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Thanks to Jamie. She has been so great with all her help on improving my writing and being my beta.

Juri- Thank you for reviewing again.

Lacey- Thanks again, I really enjoyed writing chapter 17.

Excel- Glad you enjoyed it and Charlie is working on it.

Iria- Thank you for reviewing. 5 stars, that means a lot.

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