A/N: two chapters from now will have a very serious note to it, mostly about pregnancy/life events in general. But, this one is just more fluff! If you email me directly at jazzygeorgie72@yahoo.com I can tell you more (if you get upset or squeamish easily) but I don't want to spoil it for everyone else. As always, thanks for the reviews!!! I will have a Draco/Ginny ship coming up here in the next month or so…you will see it start to develop in this story…I might get carried away with them a bit but will try to tone it down as this is a H/Hr ship! I'm warning you in advance LOL.
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Harry, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, Dumbledore…oh my!
Harry sat in his DADA class, bored out of his mind. 'Where did they find this woman?' he thought to himself, as he doodled on his parchment. Professor Sunnyvale was droning on and on, but it was hard to hear her over Ron's snoring next to him. Hermione's head was propped up with her right hand, she too was bored, as she twirled the quill through her fingers. Samantha seemed to be staring into space, pausing every so often to write something down. Harry's eyes roamed about the room, taking in other students who were either asleep or sitting like zombies in their chairs. His eyes fell on the person in front of him.
Harry glanced at the back of Draco's head. It had been ten days since his father's death; he had missed two days of school but came back like nothing happened. Harry had wondered if he should have gone up to him and said SOMETHING about the loss of his father, but he just didn't feel any remorse. He knew Draco would see right through it and since he was staying off his back, and away from his friends, then he wasn't about to jeopardize that.
Ron gave a huge snore, woke himself up and found Samantha giggling silently, hand over her mouth as her body shook with laughter. Ron smiled and began laughing silently too, and with Neville in the class it didn't take long for everyone in their row to be moving around in their seats, trying not to laugh out loud.
Harry bit down on his hand trying to stifle the laughter inside of him. 'Ron snorted…oh…don't laugh, don't laugh,' Harry thought to himself which made him bite down even harder.
Hermione glanced at him and smiled as he laid his head down in his arms to hide his smile from the teacher who was now glancing their way.
Then, it happened. Samantha let her giggle out and made some type of squeaking noise. A few people, not very many since there were only fourteen students in the class, let out titters and Draco turned around in his seat, his eyes slightly narrowed. Samantha gave him a little wave and out of the blue Ron snorted…again.
That started the whole Gryffindor row laughing hysterically. Professor Sunnyvale stopped and stared at them. Hermione started crying and was wiping her eyes on her robe, Ron and Harry were doubled over howling with laughter and Neville and Samantha were hiding their faces in their hands.
"What is so funny back there?" Professor Sunnyvale's high voice reached Harry's ears. They all looked at each other trying not to laugh, which anyone on the face of the earth knows DOES NOT WORK. Hermione started giggling again, which made Harry laugh because he had never heard Hermione giggle. Draco continued to stare at them.
"S-s-s-sorry!" Ron managed clutching his sides, breathing deeply.
"Ron s-s-snorted!" Harry gasped, removing his glasses to dry his eyes.
"We're sorry Professor. It's been a rough couple of weeks." Hermione's voice was shaky from exerting herself to not laugh. Harry set his glasses up on his face and saw Draco turn back around, muttering something under his breath.
As the Gryffindor row started to settle down, class droned on for a few more torturous minutes until they were dismissed. Being in the last row they were the first ones out, dissolving into laughter again in the hall.
Ginny just happened to be walking by on her way to Divination when she saw them laughing and holding each other. Walking up to them, smiling at the sight of them doubled over with laughter, she demanded to know what was funny and they just howled again.
"Ron snorted in his sleep didn't he?" Ginny smiled, so happy to see this group laughing. Especially Harry and Hermione, who were so serious the past month; she hadn't seem much laughter come out of them at all. Samantha nodded, taking huge gulping breaths.
Draco sauntered out of class and paused, glancing over at them. Harry was leaning against the stone wall, hand on his stomach and the other holding his bag. His eyes caught Draco's and Harry knew he should say or do something to recognize that he knew about Lucius Malfoy. So, Harry gave him a small nod, just an acknowledgement that only Draco and Ginny happened to see. Draco blinked and gave a small nod back. He then turned to Ginny.
"Your brother was the highlight of the class."
Ginny seemed too stunned to speak for a moment, shocked that Draco had actually talked to her and hadn't insulted her family, yet.
"Umm…well, it's something he doesn't have to work hard at," Ginny cracked a smile and covered her mouth as Ron glared at her.
Harry watched Draco closely, trying to figure out in his mind why he was talking to them and there weren't fists flying yet.
'Holy shit' Harry thought, eyebrows raising in surprise, 'did Draco just crack a smile?' but as fast as it flitted across his face, it was gone.
"S-s-sorry Draco, it's been a long few weeks." Samantha gulped and wiped her eyes, using Ron's robes which he tried to snatch away, playfully. Crabbe and Goyle came up behind Draco clearly waiting for some type of insult to fly. Draco nodded in agreement, turned and walked away. Everyone looked at everyone else, as Ginny stared at him walking down the hall.
"Something is wrong with him," Ron muttered flinging an arm around Samantha's shoulders. More nodding from his friends. Harry pulled Hermione back as their friends began walking in different directions to their next class.
"Great to see you laughing," Harry whispered against Hermione's ear. She shivered from the touch of his mouth against her ear.
"Felt good too," she whispered back.
"Feeling ok?" Harry pulled her to him, arm wrapping around her waist. She nodded and looked up at him.
Halloween was tomorrow, it would be twenty days, not that she was counting, since she most likely had conceived Baby GP, as her friends had come to call it, for "Granger-Potter". Hermione nodded, he knew she was tired and had actually turned green when she saw eggs that morning, but other than that she seemed to be feeling well.
They stared at each other for a minute when Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. She reached up and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
It felt like forever since Harry had held and kissed Hermione like this and he immediately gave into her, letting his bag drop to the floor and wrapping both arms around her. Through the rush of blood and hormones he heard the sound of footsteps and he pulled away, glancing down at Hermione. He grabbed her hand and bag.
"Come on." Harry pulled her down the hall, both running. He ran past the Room of Requirement, thinking of what he would like to do at this moment and was amazed to see a door appear. He quickly yanked on the handle and pulled her inside. It was empty except for some rugs thrown around the room and a fireplace at the end, which was crackling merrily. They both skidded to a stop inside, almost falling over each other.
"Harry!" Hermione turned around looking at the room.
"Wow! We should have thought of this before." Harry dropped his bag and grinned down at her.
He grasped her shoulders and she leaned back into him, letting him massage her shoulders and arms, feeling very relaxed and happy at the moment. He lowered his lips to her neck, to that place behind her ear and felt her press back against him even harder as he sucked that spot lightly. Hermione took a deep breath and moved her neck a bit to help him along. His hands came up to her chest, under her robes and Hermione felt that familiar throb pounding through her body. She turned around and grabbed the back of his neck, kissing him fiercely.
It had been such a long month, they were stressed, tired and were concentrating so much on Hermione that it felt so good to just be doing and not thinking. No charms needed to be remembered, no scares of people finding them; all resulting in pent up emotions releasing itself in quite a nice manner, so they thought.
Neither one was really taking a lead, they were both working on each other's clothes, leaving a trail to the first soft rug they happened to feel under their feet, where Harry gently laid her down, letting his bright green eyes wander over her, noticing that her breasts were fuller. Taking advantage of that he leaned down to kiss them, feeling Hermione arch up, moan and gasp all at the same time. She wiggled under him, trying to get him on top of her, trying to feel all of him on her. Harry moved his mouth to the other side, covering her body with his, feeling her warm skin under him and hearing whispers of his name. He left heated, furious kisses on her neck all the way up to her mouth where she welcomed him, nibbling his lips, her hands sliding up and down his back, moving around the front and touching him THERE, eliciting a soft sigh from Harry, who pressed against her asking for more.
"'Mione…," Harry whispered against her cheek, feeling her tighten her grip down there. She was savoring the fact that she could make THE Harry Potter moan and that THE Harry Potter was loving her right at this moment.
"What?" she whispered back, make experimental movements with her hands, feeling the response in his kisses,
or lack there of, as he totally forgot that his lips were touching hers. He shook his head, afraid to speak, not
moving.
He couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed her hands and threaded his fingers through hers, holding them up above her shoulders and making a slight movement, he moved into her, feeling her hands tighten against his and her mouth opening up to accept the spicy taste that was Harry.
It didn't take long for either of them. With all the stress and emotions neither one had the strength to hold anything back and it wasn't until Harry had fallen back, pulling Hermione down with him, cradling her against his chest did he think about the baby and wondered if anything could hurt it.
As if sensing his question, Hermione told him that having sex wouldn't hurt the baby and he just nodded dumbly, too relaxed to respond verbally.
Brain function was slowly returning reminding him that he totally skipped his class, and he didn't care. He felt like he was back with Hermione and they were in a normal relationship, that they had crossed the tricky bridge that they had been swaying on the past three weeks. She sighed contentedly against his chest, telling him she wished she could just lay with him forever.
"Hermione, as much as I want to stay like this for, well, forever, I think that we should probably head to lunch." Harry gently sat up, cradling her in his arms. She smiled up at him and pushed his glasses back up his nose. The look in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. Very full, very loving, something he hadn't seen in awhile.
"What is it?" he smiled at her and she blinked back tears.
"I love you. You have been so awesome to me and I feel so very lucky to have you, Mr. Boy Who Lived, holding me right now." Hermione reached up and traced his jaw with her fingers. Harry stared at her, an unfamiliar feeling coming over him. He felt the need to throw his invisibility cloak over her and keep her hidden from everyone, anyone who would say anything bad about her, anyone who would make remarks about the pregnancy that would most likely start showing in a few months. He felt….protective, a very unfamiliar emotion.
In response to Hermione's statement, he hugged her closer and buried his head in her very messed up hair. Her cheek lay against his bare chest and his heart filled with the love he felt for her.
From that moment, he knew he wanted to spend every moment with her, how else to do that and protect her, but to marry her?
'Marry?' The very thought startled him so much, that he gasped. Hermione pulled back and looked up at him, a questioning look on her face. He covered it by saying he hadn't realized how late it was, but his stomach was telling him it was lunch.
After "helping" each other get dressed, fixing their hair (or trying to in Harry's case) and tucking in
clothes, they carefully headed out the door and towards the Great Hall where lunch was already being served.
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"Well, look who decided to come out of the broom closet." Ron chided, receiving a smack upside the head from Hermione. Truthfully, they both looked ten times happier than they had the past few weeks, so Ron filled his mouth with food which ceased any more smart comments.
"Ready for Halloween?" Samantha asked innocently to anyone listening. "I can't imagine what it's like here." She looked up at the blue sky above her, clouds floating around the enchanted ceiling.
They all looked up as Luna sat down next to Neville, bypassing her Ravenclaw table. It was one of several times during the past month she had done that. Ginny smiled at Samantha who grinned back. Neville gave a small blush as he caught the girls smiling at each other and to cover up that he did see it, he began telling Samantha what Halloween was like at Hogwarts.
A half hour later, the Great Hall was cleared, the tables cleaned and ready for students who wished to study to do so. This was one of the chances that friends from different houses could come together, study or talk quietly about school. Having friends from other houses into your Common Room wasn't something that happened, so friends would meet in the library or Great Hall. Harry and Hermione headed out to their last class of the day while other students took advantage of the study hall.
It was here, where Ginny was spread out over two places and the one in front of her, painstakingly studying her Potions notes from Professor Snape. Having Ron to "live up to" wasn't a good thing, especially in Snape's class; she felt Snape was constantly waiting for her to make a Ron-like mistake. To prove him wrong, she would try to pull "Hermione's" where she would make the perfect potion, but it wasn't easy. It was all this studying, note taking and reading that led to that perfectly concocted liquid.
And it was here where Draco saw Ginny, bent over her work. She had seen him the hall before lunch and, being the respectable person she was, she had extended condolences on his father's death with a quick, "Sorry to hear 'bout your father." Draco also had this period free and slowly walked over to her table. He stood in front of her, clearly remembering the bat bogey hex she had put on him years ago.
"Hey, Weasley." A soft, slow drawl came from opposite Ginny and she snapped her head up, meeting his grayish blue eyes.
"Malfoy." She returned the greeting, her quill still above her parchment. He looked like he was going to say something, she was ready for a smart comment that she could snap back too, or even point her wand at but she wasn't ready for what really did come out of his mouth.
"Thanks." Ginny saw him lower his gaze, very uncomfortable using that word.
"For what?" Ginny was very confused, thoughts running through her head as to why he could possibly be thanking her. He shifted his gaze back up to her, face expressionless, except for his eyes. She held his gaze for minute, eyebrows raised questioningly. The hand that wasn't holding his bag of books waved in the general direction of the hallway outside the doors.
"For…what you said in the hall. You were the only Gryffindor to say anything," he added, seeing a slight blush rise in her freckled cheeks. He took a step closer to the table and Ginny looked down at her parchment. Two thoughts racing through her mind.
'Ohhhh…because I told him I was sorry about his father. Well…I can nod and say you're welcome and he will be on his way. OR, I can wave in the direction of the empty bench in front of me because he actually looks like he wants to sit. Of course, RON WILL KILL ME.'
So Ginny did what any little sister would do, she waved her hand to the bench in front of her, moving her papers aside. He hesitated for a moment then sat down straddling the bench, quietly appraising her, one hand still holding his bag, which was on the table. She folded her hands in front of her, and watched him fiddle with his bag. He looked so nervous, probably the result of sitting at this table. One he never before sat at until today.
"What is that?" he nodded to her work spread out on the table.
"Potions," Ginny answered. "Ron didn't exactly pave a great path for me to follow on."
Draco gave a ghost of a smile.
"Yeah, he and Potter together couldn't even get it right." Draco rested his hands on the table and studied one of her formulas upside down. He took a finger and pointed to one formula for love potion, Amortentia.
"That should be three minutes, not four." Ginny looked down where he was pointing, noticing how long his fingers were. Shaking herself and removing her mind from that image, she thanked him and fixed the error.
'What the hell do I say now?' Ginny thought, 'He's not leaving! Shouldn't Pansy be dragging him somewhere?'
"Where's Pansy?" Ginny inquired, blowing on her ink to dry it, before moving on. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Draco shrug.
"Don't know, don't care," he said in a bitter voice, as Ginny looked up at him startled to hear him say that.
"That seems rather….drastic to say…about your girlfriend?" Ginny said, not sure whether to question if Pansy was his girlfriend…hell, she didn't even know why she was talking to him.
"She couldn't be bothered to come to my father's funeral and, well, other things…," his voice trailed off at the end of his sentence, his eyes met hers and for a moment Ginny saw his guard let down. She was very good at reading people and she could see that at the moment, Draco Malfoy was almost like a lost puppy. No girlfriend, his bodyguards each had girlfriends so they weren't hanging out as much anymore, his father had been killed and she was sure he was studying for NEWTs just as hard as many of the seventh years.
"Oh. I-I'm sorry to hear that," Ginny murmured, beginning to pack her parchments up and stuffing them into her book bag.
"I have to go. Potions time." Ginny stood up and Draco walked parallel to her, the long table separating them, to the doors.
"Good luck. Get to hear your brother snore again in class." Draco said dryly as he headed in the opposite direction. Ginny stared after him for a second, and then walked quickly down the hall to the Dungeons. First, her best friend got pregnant with a guy she had a huge crush on for years. Now, their enemy was chatting away with her…what was going on?
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That evening, being a Friday and Halloween Eve, everyone gathered in the Great Room, under floating pumpkins, candles and the Hogwarts ghosts floating in and out. Samantha was reading Witch Weekly, laughing every so often at the crazy stories. Hermione and Harry were playing Hang Man. Ron had coerced Ginny into playing Chess with him when an owl flew up to Harry and dropped a letter in his lap. Being that Harry Potter rarely received mail, everyone around him looked up as he opened it.
"Dumbledore wants to see me," Harry said, surprised. He hadn't talked to him in a long time and had no idea what it could be about. He gave Hermione a soft kiss on the lips before he stood up, noticing Draco walking down the space between tables to the front table which had many types of snacks.
"I'll be back soon." Harry grabbed his robes he had taken off and walked out the doors, shrugging his robe on and fastening it. He climbed up to the Headmaster's office and said the magic word, "Honeydukes" and stood on the stairs as they rotated him up to the office. Harry knocked softly on the door and entered, seeing Dumbledore relaxing in his chair, a book in his hands.
"Evening, Harry. Have a seat, please." Dumbledore stood up and walked around the desk, sitting in the chair adjacent to Harry's.
"How have you been?" Dumbledore tented his fingers together and placed them under his chin. Harry met his blue gaze and had the immediate knowledge that HE KNEW. Why that surprised Harry, he wasn't sure. But Dumbledore was going to make him say it; make him say that Hermione was pregnant.
"I have been fine, studying for NEWTs and all." Harry avoided the topic but Dumbledore wasn't fooled.
"How is Hermione?" Dumbledore used her first name, since there were now two Grangers. Harry looked down at his hands then back up at Dumbledore who was waiting patiently for his answer.
Harry sighed and shook his head, closing his eyes and willing the blush that was threatening to creep up into his cheeks to stay down, below his shirt.
"Pregnant." Harry could feel Dumbledore nodding.
"You know Harry, I am not here to judge. You aren't the first couple or the last that this has or will happen to. Being Headmaster I need to be aware of these things, so we can be prepared for anything. Madame Pomfrey didn't betray anyone's trust, it is just a policy that we have had in effect for many years."
"Okay," Harry mumbled, wishing he could disappear into the chair.
"Is she doing well?"
"So far. No problems." Harry answered, fidgeting in his chair. "You could know all this if you wanted to, why are you asking?"
"Well, if everything goes well, you are going to have to tell members of your families, explain things to friends, and I hope by actually saying it aloud now to someone other than your close group of friends, it won't be as hard the next time," Dumbledore explained, taking in the apparent embarrassment of the young man across from him.
"Ummm…thanks I think." Harry gazed unseeing at Fawkes, who was sleeping with his head tucked under his wing. "It's just stressful that's all," Harry added then realized he hadn't meant to say it aloud. He continued staring in Fawke's general direction, seeing movements in the portraits out of the corner of his eyes.
"Of course it is whether it happens here or five years from now. However, you seem to be handling it quite well."
"You have been watching me?" Harry turned and faced the Headmaster, not sure whether he was mad or amused that Dumbledore was keeping an eye on him. Harry received a nod and smile.
"You are an amazing young man, Harry. I don't need to go down your resume and tell you what you have done to deserve the recognition that you get. But, despite everything that has happened to you and everything that you have done, you still have your feet on the ground, your brain is still engaged in day to day life and your heart is in the right place. If your past was attached to any other student at Hogwarts then I believe that I am correct in saying that he would have taken full advantage of any situation, whether it would be selling his story to a newspaper to taking advantage of the obvious female fan club that would ensue. With that being said…," Dumbledore met Harry's embarrassed gaze. "I have known you for seven years so I hope that somewhere in that time you have learned that you can trust me or come to me with any problem or issue that might arise." With that being said, the headmaster stood up, obviously letting Harry know that it was time for him to go back down to his friends.
Harry thanked him and paused at the door a moment.
"I might be asking you a favor in the next month or two; one that would involve me leaving the school for an afternoon."
"We can talk about it when you are ready," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face. They both knew full well what Harry was saying, so Harry bid him good night and headed back downstairs, startled to see Draco making his way into the room where the statue stood. Harry nodded at him and wondered what Draco Malfoy was doing up here. 'Most likely something to do with his father', Harry thought to himself. He walked back down the quiet hallway mulling over thoughts in his head.
His friends were still at the Gryffindor table when he joined them. Samantha and Ron were now playing chess, Ginny was reading the magazine, and poor Hermione had her head in her arms, asleep.
"She just zonked right out," Ron said, swearing under his breath as Samantha took his Knight. Harry watched them for a few minutes, wondering if Hermione would wake up, but she continued to sleep peacefully.
"I'll take her upstairs." Harry smiled and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. Ginny looked up from her magazine and smiled at the tender gesture. Harry caught her gaze and smiled at her as Ginny reached out and took his hand. He stopped for a moment, looking down at Ginny, surprised at her gesture.
"What?" he asked and she tugged his hand so he sat down next to her, careful not to disturb Hermione.
"I just want you to know that I am so happy for you two, baby or not. You are perfect for each other." Ginny released his hand and marked her spot in the magazine with her finger. "She's my best friend and I was worried when she dated Krum for awhile; he didn't seem her type. I am so glad that you both came to your senses and saw what we all have observed over the past few years." Ginny glanced down at her magazine then looked up at Harry, meeting his steady gaze. "I know you will take care of her, and she will take care of you."
"Thanks Ginny." Harry patted her knee awkwardly. "I will do my duty and take my girlfriend up to her room and put her to bed." He stood up and carefully lifted up Hermione, one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. Not even opening her eyes she laid her head on his chest, her chestnut brown hair falling around her face.
Carefully walking towards the doors he was ready to use "Alohamora" but the door opened a moment before he voiced the spell out loud. Draco stepped halfway in, saw Harry carrying Hermione, then stepped back holding the door for Harry. Draco inclined his head towards Hermione.
"Did she lose a bet or something?" Draco asked quietly. Harry paused; take back by the direct question.
"No, she fell asleep, so I am taking her to her room," Harry answered a note of caution in his voice. Draco looked at Hermione's sleeping form once more then stepped into the Great Hall, leaving Harry very bewildered by the recent actions (talking to Gryffindor's…having manners to hold the door) of Draco Malfoy.