Dealing With the Consequences

Chapter Three

Hermione quickly made her way into the kitchen to make tea, trying to busy herself until Ginny arrived. Her nerves were shot, she could barely process what was going on. It all seemed so surreal to her. Sure, she'd discovered when she was 10 that she was a witch and had since faught evil dark lords and two headed dogs, but being pregnant? That was just something she'd never expected from herself.

Hermione has always taken pride in everything she'd done. Ever since she'd been a little girl, her goal had been to prove herself. She had wanted to prove to everyone that she was capable, highly capable, of anything. She had strived to do her best, to be the best she could be. She'd always thought that, after school, she'd get her own place, a good job, meet someone and fall in love. She'd never in a million years thought she would find herself pregnant, jobless and boyfriendless two months into her summer. It was something that just didn't seem like it would happen to perfect, know-it-all Hermione.

Just as Hermione's kettle began to boil, there was a loud pop and Ginny appeared in the living room. The red head quickly spotted the brunette, hurrying over to her and throwing her arms around the older girl in an embrace.

"Oh Hermione," Ginny said, holding her tight. "I'm so sorry this has happened. Tell me everything, I'm not here to judge."

"Thanks Gin." Hermione told her, taking their teas into the living room.

"So," Ginny said once they'd sat down. "Who's the father?"

"You know," Hermione said, trying to think fast. She didn't want to lie to her friend, but she definately didn't want to tell her the truth. "I'd love to tell you, but I haven't even told him yet. It wouldn't be right if people knew before he did. Actually, you're the first person I've told."

"Okay, I understand." Ginny replied, bowing her head in disapointment. "Is it Ron?"

"Ginny! No!" Hermione exclaimed. "Merlin, Ron and I have been over for months now. We told you guys, it just wouldn't work."

"I know, I know," Ginny told her, looking a little upset. "It's just, if it was Ron's, I'd be the aunt."

"Oh please, you're already practically my sister. Of course you're going to be an aunt." At this, Ginny's face broke out into a big grin.

"Okay, so when do we get to tell the boys?"

*

Two days later, Hermione had invited Ron, Harry and Ginny over for dinner so she and Ginny could tell the boys the big news. It had been killing her not to just come out and say it, but she knew she had to do it properly. Time and place, as her father always said.

Hermione had made a large pot of spaghetti, duplicating the exact way her mom had always made it. Hermione had never been that much of a cook, but what she could make she always made well. When the food was finished and the table was set, she sat down in her seat, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her friends. She was so nervous that her leg couldn't stop shaking. She wrung her hands in her lap, trying to keep herself composed for when everyone arrived. Luckily, she didn't have long to wait.

With three loud pops, Harry, Ron and Ginny appeared in Hermione's living room, all smiles.

"It's so good to see you guys," Hermione said, hugging each of them. "Thank you so much for coming."

"There's no way I'd miss out on your spaghetti, Mione." Ron told her with a grin, eyeing the table.

"Here," Harry handed Hermione a tupperwear container full of salad. "Molly insisted that we bring something."

"Just the thing we were missing too," Hermione took the container. "You guys can all grab a seat while I get a bowl to put this salad in."

Hermione put the salad in a large bowl then took her seat at the table.

"So how's the job searching going?" Hermione asked the boys, putting some food on her plate.

"Pretty good, actually," Harry answered. "I've already had a few offers but I've decided to lay off the job search until Ginny's back in school."

"Just for the record," Ginny chimed in. "I did not tell him to do this, he just decided this last night."

"She's right, this was all me." Harry agreed, giving Ginny a smile.

"How about you, Ron?"

"I have an interview at the Ministry Tuesday." Ron told her through a mouth full of garlic bread.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." Ginny scolded her brother, giving him a look of disgust.

"What do you have an interview for?" Hermione asked Ron.

"Assistant secretary to the Minister." Ron said shyly.

"What?" Harry, Ginny and Hermion asked together.

"Basically, what Percy can't handle as the minister's secretary, I'll have to do." Ron explained.

"That sounds dreadful." Ginny commented, causing her brother's ears to turn red.

"It's just my first interview," Ron defended himself. "I'm still going to keep looking."

"It doesn't sound so bad." Hermione said, enjoying the company of her friends. She hadn't seen them much since school had ended, it was nice for them to finally all get together. She just wished it had been under different circumstances.

"What about you, Hermione?" Ron asked. "Has the brightest witch of our generation found herself a high paying job yet?"

"Unfortunately not yet, but I'm expecting a call any time now." She replied.

The rest of the dinner went well, the four friends making idle chit chat while they ate. Hermione tried her hardest not to seem nervous, but under the table she couldn't stop fidgeting. Still, she kept on smiling, biding her time until she told them the big news. She had to pick just the right time to tell them, timing was everything.

After Hermione had served the dessert, (a coffee cake she'd bought from the café down the street), she decided to tell Harry and Ron the real reason why she'd asked them over.

"So Mione, you seem to be feeling a lot better," Harry said just as they were all finishing off their cake. "How did your doctor's appointment go?" Hermione watched Ginny tense up, grabbing Harry's hand but keeping her mouth firmly shut.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you all about," Hermione tried avoiding her friends' eyes, her mouth had also suddenly gone very dry. "I went to my doctor the other day and she did some tests. It turns out I'm p-pregnant." She looked down at her tea, wringing her napkin in her lap.

"What?" Ron asked in a high pitched voice. She looked up, tears in her eyes. Ron was staring at her, his mouth open in shock. Harry just looked confused, like the situation didn't make any sense at all. Then again, it really didn't, not to them at least.

"I'm pregnant." She repeated, surprising herself by staying calm.

"How did this happen?" Harry asked, sounding angry.

"At that party about a week before school ended. I was really drunk and I was hanging out with my friend. Things just kind of happened." Hermione explained.

"Why didn't you use any protection?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Hermione admitted, bowing her head in shame. "We were really drunk, it was in the heat of the moment. It was really stupid."

"So who's the bloke that done it then?" Ron questioned her, just as she'd guessed he would.

"You see, I haven't exactly told him about this baby yet since I just found out two days ago," She said. "Until I tell him, I'd rather no one know."

"Yeah but we're your best friends," Ron reminded her. "Don't you think we deserve to know?"

"Not before the father does. I'm sorry but I'm sticking by that."

"Don't pester her," Ginny jumped in. "How would you like it if you fathered a child and people knew about it before you did?"

"Shut it Gin, this is different." Ron argued with his sister.

"It is not and you know it."

"Stop it, the both of you." Hermione demanded. "I didn't tell you all this to start up an argument. Please, just respect my decision and let's get past the father. This is something big and I need my friends' support."

"Sorry." Ginny said quietly as Ron stared at his empty plate. Everyone took a moment to take a breath and calm down. Once they'd all had time to process the situation, they could be adults.

"So have you gone over your options?" Harry asked her.

"Yes and I'm keeping it," She told him. "I may not have planned for this baby but I'm not going to murder an innocent life just because I was irresposible."

"Good for you!" Ginny exclaimed, giving her friend a smile.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Harry asked.

"No, I'm not exactly ready but I can be," Hermione admitted, her cheeks burning red. "I have seven months to prepare everything I need. I think that with your help I'll be just fine."

"Well just tell us how we can help and we'll do it." Harry said as Ron and Ginny nodded their heads.

"Thanks guys," Hermione felt the tears began to spill silently down her face. "I don't know how I'd be able to do this without you."

*

Dear Draco Malfoy,

I know this is a little bit out of the blue that I have written to you. We haven't spoken since we finished school but I needed to get ahold of you. I'm not really sure how to say this, and as much as I'd love to stall with niceties, we both know we were never much for that together. I'm not sure if you recall the night of that seventh year party. Well, it seems that it's finally caught up with us. I'm pregnant. The baby is 100% yours, there's no way it could ever be anyone else's. It's up to you what to do with this information, but no matter what you say, I'm keeping it. If you chose to be in this child's life, I won't stand in the way. Actually, I encourage it. But if not, I can very well support both myself and this child. It would just be a shame that he or she would never know their father. I know this isn't something either one of us have planned, (quite far from it I must say!), but I'm willing to take responsibility for both our actions. It's going to be difficult, but I have my family and friend's support and that's all I need. I'll be awaiting your reply, even if you don't want to be a father to this child, at least have the decency and the guts to tell me. Hope you're doing well,

Hermione Granger.

Hermione placed her quill back in its bottle and folded up the letter. She then put her letter in an envelope and summoned over Hedwig whom she'd borrowed from Harry. She'd decided to tell Malfoy about their unborn child sooner rather than later. She wasn't sure exactly where to find Malfoy, but she knew that wherever he was, Hedwig would find him. She just hoped he got her letter and replied to it soon. She didn't know how he would react, but she was ready for whatever he said. She just hoped it was something good.

*

The next day, Hermione was awoken earlier then usual by her telephone ringing loudly.

"Hello?" Hermione asked groggily, trying not to fall asleep with the phone in her hand.

"Hermione? It's Ginny." Came a loud voice on the other end.

"Okay but you don't have to shout." Hermione told her in an annoyed voice.

"Sorry," Ginny said quieter. "But get up and get dressed, we have things to do today."

Hermione was confused. "Things to do today? Ginny, what are you talking about?"

"Get up and get dressed, I'll be over in twenty minutes." Before Hermione could argue, she found herself listening to the dial tone. Reluctantly, she pulled herself out of bed and began to dress. Twenty minutes later, on the nose, Ginny arrived right in her bedroom.

"Ginny!" Hermione shouted, startled when her friend apparated right onto her bed. "What the bloody hell are you thinking??"

"Sorry Mione," Ginny appologized with an impish grin. "Now get a move on, we have to be at St Mungo's in fifteen minutes."

"Wait, what?" Hermione asked, dropping her brush.

"I made you an appointment with our family healer," Ginny explained to her friend. "This is a magical baby so you need to get a magical check up just be sure everything's okay."

"And why couldn't you tell me this sooner?"

"Because mum demanded we do it right away and the only available appointment was for 11'o clock." Ginny said.

"Your mum knows?" Hermione couldn't believe that Ginny would tell her mum about the pregnancy. She would have very much rathered telling everyone herself.

"I didn't mean to," Ginny told her. "It's just, Harry and I were talking about it this morning, usually no ones up until hours after we wake up, but mum got up early and she overheard us. I would have called you sooner but I figured I'd let you sleep."

"Fine!" Hermione gave up. "I'm ready, let's go."

*

Hermione and Ginny each took a seat in the healer's office at St Mungo's. There were many other witches and wizards waiting as well, but none of them paid Hermione much attention.

"Hermione Granger." Called a bodiless voice after a few minutes of waiting. Ginny and Hermione stood, walking in through the open door near the front of the room.

"This way." Ginny said, directing Hermione into a small white room filled with machines she'd never seen before. Almost instantly, a cheery looking man with salt and pepper hair and big round glasses came into the room, a large smile plastered on his face.

"Good morning, ladies," The healer said, eyeing the two. "You must be Hermione Granger."

"That's her," Ginny replied with a smile. "Mione, this is Healer Bolton."

"Nice to meet you." Hermione awknowledged shyly. She was never really a big fan of meeting new people. The feeling always made he feel awkward and wierd.

"What can I do for you today, Miss Granger?" Bolton asked, taking a seat across from her.

"Well, I just recently found out I'm about nine weeks pregnant so my friend here figured I should get a check up from a healer." Hermione explained.

"Excellent!" The man exclaimed. "So you went to a muggle healer?"

"Yes I did."

"Very good," He said. "Now, if you would just sit back, I need to attatch an IV to check the baby's magic levels."

"Alright." Hermione replied, sitting back and relaxing. She watched as the healer touched his wand to the inside of her elbow, then replaced her wand with an IV. Her blood instantly began to fill the tube, beginning the long journey to the mass of complicated machines across the room. Within a few minutes, one of the machine's lights started flashing and it began printing something which the healer quickly took and read.

"Well Miss Granger," The healer said, staring at the papers. "The baby's magic levels are all at optimal, you're having one healthy and powerful baby. Like mother like child, I'd say."

"Thank you," Hermione replied as Ginny gave her a thumbs up. "Is there anything else?"

"We could perform an advanced ultrasound." Healer Bolton offered.

"Advanced?" She repeated, a little confused.

"It's similar to a muggle ultrasound, except much more clear and distinct," He explained. "You can actually see the fetus as apposed to a white figure."

"Okay, let's do that then." Hermione agreed. Healer Bolton directed her to lay back and raise her shirt above her stomach. The healer then placed his wand on her stomach, rolling it across her skin. Immediately, an image of the fetus inside her appeared on a large screen infront of her. As she watched her unborn child move around in her womb, she felt tears well up in her eyes. She couldn't believe it, she was seeing her real, live baby. She was watching the human life growing inside her. It was a type of joy that she knew could never be duplicated, a happiness that could not be topped.

"It looks like your baby is developing very well, Miss Granger," The healer told her with a grin. "Would you like to know the sex of the baby?"

"You mean you could tell me?" Hermione asked, trying to make a decision fast.

"In an instant." Bolton said. Hermione looked to Ginny for advice. Ginny nodded her head, eager to hear the sex.

"Okay, tell me."

"It's a girl." He told her. Hermione and Ginny both let out squeals of delight. They'd discussed the sex of the baby and both had agreed that they preferred a girl. Hermione hadn't been expecting to find out the sex for another two months, but she was happy she found out sooner so she could prepare better.

"Oh my, Mione, I'm so excited for you!" Ginny exclaimed, hugging Hermione.

"Congratulations Miss Granger," The healer said. "Would you like a picture?"

"Of course she would!" Ginny answered for her friend. Hermione was finding it hard to speak, her emotions were just so overwhelming.

Healer Bolton waved her wand and instantly one of the machines began to print off the ultrasound image. He placed the image in an envelope and handed it to Hermione.

"Now, did you have any questions?" The man asked.

"Actually, I was just wondering if you had a booklist on magical pregnancies available?" Hermione asked him. Bolton reached into his desk and pulled out a list of about ten books.

"These should have everything you need to know," He explained. "But if you happen to have any questions, feel free to floo or write to me."

"Okay, thank you." She replied, standing.

"No, thank you," Bolton said with a grin. "Now don't forget to make another appointment for four weeks from now so we can check up on your little girl."

"I won't forget, see you then."

*

Dear Malfoy,

I know it's only been a day since my first letter, but I just got back from the healer's so I thought I'd write you again. Even if you choose not to be in this child's life, you deserve to be kept up to date. The healer says our baby's magic levels are optimal. He also did an advanced ultrasound so I could see inside my uterus. It was so amazing, seeing our child growing inside me. I know I'm new to this whole thing, but I'm really beginning to feel like a mother. I don't know, maybe I'm mad but that's just how I feel. I also found out the sex. Our baby's a girl. We're going to have a girl. It sounds wierd even writing it. Anyway, I'm not really sure what else to say in this letter. I guess I have told you everything I needed to. Inclosed is a copy of the ultrasound image, I thought you'd want to see her. I hope to hear back from you soon,

Hermione Granger.

To Be Continued...

Okay, so I definately finished this chapter a lot quicker then I expected to. I guess I'm really getting into writing this story. I hope you're all enjoying it just as much as I'm enjoying writing it, I'm getting such good feedback already. Thnxx goes out to my amazing reviewers: mibella, ucdevil, PotterEntourage, Mitsu, angelnomiko, Jess (regarding the whole Ron thing, in my story, it's already been about four months since Ron && Hermione have been together, so he doesn't think it's his. Good idea though), Gryffindor_Slytherin (don't worry, Draco will be coming back into the story I'd say in the next chapter or two). Hope you all like this new chapter, remember to read && review !!

Much Love...

XXX

Xx-.k.a.y.y.-xX