Chapter 17 - News and Lies
The four students boarded a carriage and headed for the castle.
"I can't believe it went by so fast," Harry said looking out the window.
"I know. It seems like just yesterday that we were sailing on the lake to Hogwarts for the first time," Hermione said in a depressed tone.
"Why are you two complaining?" Draco asked in annoyed tone.
"You're getting married and having a baby soon and your guys are depressed because you aren't coming back next year," Blaise said shaking her head.
"You're right. It's just that Hogwarts was my first home and it's going to be hard saying goodbye." Harry said.
"You'll soon have another home with a family that loves you to go to," Hermione said in a comforting tone.
"Hermione's right mate," Draco said.
They saw the castle appear from the fog and the carriage came to a complete stop.
"Finally, I'm starving," Hermione shouted and jumped out of the carriage.
"Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Harry," a voice shouted from the distant.
"Kristle!" Hermione shouted. Kristle ran up to Hermione and gave her a big hug.
"I missed you guys," Kristle said.
"We missed you too," Hermione responded. "Where's Jacqui?"
"Probably finding a broom closet to go to with Tom." Kristle snorted
"I have good new," Hermione squealed.
"What? Did your mum finally buy Fashion Bug?" Kristle asked excitedly.
"No, not yet but even better," Hermione squealed.
"What?"
"Harry and I are getting married and having a baby!" Hermione squealed.
Kristle stood there in shock and fainted.
"Oh my god. Draco, Harry help me take Kristle to the Hospital wing," Hermione demanded.
"What happened?" Draco asked picking up Kristle.
"I told her the good news and she fainted," Hermione said in a worried tone.
*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"I told her some good news and she fainted," Hermione explained.
Madame Pomfrey took a strong vial of potion and waved it under her nose. Kristle slowly woke up.
"Kristle, wake up. Kristle, wake up," Madame Pomfrey said.
Kristle opened her eyes a little bit more and could see blurry figures at the foot of the bed. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Kristle, are you alright?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"Yeah, I think so. Thank you Madame Pomfrey," Kristle said in a confused tone.
"You can go when you're ready," Madame Pomfrey announced. Madame Pomfrey left the room and Kristle looked at Hermione.
"Are you really alright?" Hermione asked in concern.
"Yeah, um…what happened?" Kristle asked while rubbing her head.
"You fainted when I told you that Harry and I are getting married and having a baby," Hermione explained.
"Oh - congratulations!" Kristle said and got off of the bed to give Hermione a hug.
"Look, this is the ring Harry gave me," Hermione said showed off her ring.
"It's beautiful. How long are you into your pregnancy?" Kristle asked.
"About a month," Hermione said and placed her hand on her stomach.
"How are you going to keep this a secret?" Kristle asked.
"I have it all figured out," Hermione said reassuring her friend.
"Hermione, I'm so happy for you," Kristle said.
"Thanks. Harry and I are thrilled. And speaking of Harry, we'd better go down to the Great Hall. I'm starving," Hermione said.
The girls left the hospital wing and talked about wedding plans and what they did during their Christmas Holidays. They got to the Great Hall and Hermione spotted Harry moving his head trying to find her. When he saw her, his stomach turned upside down. He loved the way she looked in her uniform. He got up and went to greet Hermione.
"Hello sweetheart," Harry said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi love," Hermione said back.
"Kristle are you okay?" Harry asked in concern.
"Yes, congratulations Harry," Kristle said and gave him a hug.
"Thanks, I am so excited," Harry said. "Let me escort you two beautiful ladies to the table," Harry said and held out his two arms.
"Thank you kind sir." Kristle giggled.
"There you are! Weren't you the one who was complaining about being hungry?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"Sorry guys, it took forever for Kristle to wake up," Hermione said and seated her self next to Harry.
"Hermione, when do you plan on having the wedding?" Blaise asked. Jacqui spilling out her pumpkin juice all over the table.
"Wedding! What wedding? Hermione, you're getting married?" Jacqui said wiping the table with napkin.
"Jacqui breathe! Harry proposed to me today and I don't know when we'll have the wedding!" Hermione said and looked at Harry.
"I was thinking around next year. That way we would already have graduated and we already have jobs and somewhere to live," Harry explained.
"Harry, how long were thinking about this?" Blaise asked, surprised at how thought out his plan was.
"Longer than you know." Harry chuckled
They got their plates and began to eat. Harry took a quick glance at the Gryffindor table. He noticed that Ron had been staring at Hermione all through dinner like she did something awful. Harry turned back to Hermione.
"Hermione, why is Ron looking at you like you did something terrible to him?" Harry asked.
"What?" Hermione said and looked over to Ron.
"He's looking at you like he wants to hurt you," Harry said. She stared back at Ron and felt incredibly guilty that she hadn't told Harry. Wait, I didn't even remember having a sex with him so why should it matter, she thought to herself. But why was she feeling so guilty?
"Who knows? Maybe he's just jealous that you're going out with me," Hermione said and shrugged her shoulders.
"Then the entire male population at Hogwarts should be jealous," Harry said softly.
"They probably are," Hermione said and gave him a peck on the lips.
"It's cool that you're getting married and all, but could you two not show your affection for one another on the table," Kristle said sarcastically.
"Oh…shut-up," Hermione said annoyed.
"Hey Harry, come here. I found somebody who actually thinks Bulgaria is going to the Quidditch World Cup," Draco said surprised.
"What!" Harry said in disbelief. "Honey, I'll be right back," Harry said and walked over to the end of the table.
"Hermione, did you not eat on the train at all today?" Jacqui asked looking at Hermione helping herself to another piece of turkey.
"I ate on the train, why?" Hermione said as she sipped her pumpkin juice.
"You're eating likes Millicent Bullstrode," Jacqui said and looked at the pudgy girl two seats away.
"I've been hungry lately," Hermione said.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were pregnant lady." Jacqui chuckled.
Blaise, Kristle, and Hermione's faces went blank. Hermione quickly looked down at her plate and bit her lip. Jacqui took full notice to the reaction to her comment.
"SWEET MERLIN!" she yelled.
The entire room went quiet and everybody turned their heads to look at Jacqui. Even Harry and Draco stopped at their conversation to turn to Jacqui. Hermione looked back up to Jacqui and gave her 'say-something-quick' look.
"Sweet Merlin Hermione, that necklace is beautiful," Jacqui said and looked at everybody. "You could go back to your business." Jacqui ordered. Everybody went back to his or her business and Jacqui turned back to Hermione.
"Hermione you're pregnant?" Jacqui asked quietly.
"Yes and I'm only on my first month of my pregnancy," Hermione said quickly.
"Is it Harry's?" Jacqui asked quickly.
"Of course it Harry's. Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Hermione said and rolled her eyes.
"Sorry….oh Hermione congratulations," Jacqui squealed.
"Thanks!" Hermione said.
For the rest of the evening, they talked about their vacations and the gifts they received for Christmas. They all went to the front of the Great Hall to have a Prefect's meeting.
"Okay, Todd and Padma, you will take the south end of the castle," Hermione ordered.
"Sure," Padma said and left with Todd.
"Susan and Ginny, you will take the east side of the castle," Draco ordered.
"Alright," Susan said and left with Ginny.
"Blaise and Draco will take the north side of the castle," Hermione ordered.
"Sure," Blaise said and took Draco hand.
"Justin and Kristle, take the west end of the castle," Hermione ordered.
"Why couldn't you have stuck me with Ginny? It would have been more fun making fun of her for three straight hours," Kristle said.
"You think I like getting paired up with you? I was hoping to get paired up with Hermione," Justin said and winked at Hermione.
Hermione just rolled her eyes but Harry on the other hand wanted to get that look out of Justin's eye: like he wanted to get into bed with her.
"Keep dreaming," Hermione said annoyed and grabbed Harry hand to clam him down. "Harry and I will patrol outside," Hermione said and left with Harry.
They opened the door and stepped outside.
"Don't listen to that jerk. He's been trying to get into bed with me since Fifth Year," Hermione said in bothered tone.
"He won't bother you anymore. I'll make sure of that," Harry said.
They walked through the Quidditch field and to the lake. They were heading back to the castle when Harry got this look on his face.
"Harry what's the matter?" Hermione asked.
"I can't get the look that Ron was giving you today at dinner out of my head," Harry said scratching her head.
"What do you mean?" Hermione said nervously.
"I've seen that look before. I just I don't know where," Harry said still scratching his hair.
Hermione suddenly let go of his hand and paused in the middle of the lawn. She quickly put her head down and bit her lip like she usually did when she was nervous. Should I tell him, she thought to herself.
"Hermione what's the matter?" Harry asked in concern. He walked up to her and lifted her chin.
"Hermione," Harry said softly.
She looked up and saw the concerned look in his eyes. She hated not telling him but she knew that she had to keep this from him for a while.
"Hermione what's the matter?" he asked again.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm feeling a little sick that's all," Hermione said and bit her lip.
He noticed that she was nervous and wasn't telling him the whole truth.
"Really…. is that all?"
"What more is there to say?" Hermione asked.
"If you're feeling a little bit sick, I'll walk you up to your room so you can get some rest. It's been a long day anyway and I'll finish the rest of the patrol," Harry suggested.
"That sounds like a great idea," Hermione said in relief.
They went back inside and walked back to the dungeon. They finally got to the Slytherin portrait hole.
"Goodnight Hermione. I hope you feel better," Harry said lovingly. He leaned in for a long goodnight kiss. He pressed her against the wall and pressed his lips on hers. His tongue slid into her month and rolled against hers. He pulled away and leaned against her forehead to catch his breath.
"Good night Harry," Hermione said still gasping for air. She gave a him a hug and went through portrait hole.