When Hermione woke up the next morning, she didn't know where she was. After blinking her eyes a couple of times, she realized she was in a very uncomfortable position, her head on Harry's chest and her body bent from sitting in the chair.
She lifted her head and felt her neck crack.
"Ow!"
Harry's eyes blinked open. Hermione blushed. "Hermione?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep."
Harry closed his eyes and stretched.
"…time is it?"
"Seven. Go to sleep."
"Okay…"
"Good night Harry."
"Night Mione…."
She stood up and walked quietly towards the door.
She closed the door softly to the hospital wing. She turned around and nearly ran smack-dab into Ron. "Ron!" she gasped. She placed a hand over her chest. "You scared me!" Ron looked down at Hermione. Hermione looked up. Ron was tall. Very tall. He was over 6 feet, a while she was only 5'6.
Being with Ron always made her feel safe. He was a bulky fellow, strong. Well, he had to be, he was keeper for Quidditch. In fact, compared to Harry, Ron was completely different. While Harry's hair was black and shaggy, Ron's hair was red and cut short neatly. Ron had muscles bulging from his shirt, while Harry was slim, but he was strong all the same. Sometimes Ron scared Hermione. Just because he was so big. He was an intimidator, that much was certain.
Right now he was intimidating Hermione. He was staring at Hermione hard. "What?" she asked, annoyed. "Quit staring at me." She moved to get around Ron, but he just blocked her. "Ron." Ron grabbed her arm. Hermione looked up.
"What are you doing here so early, shouldn't you be sleeping until one like always?" she asked nastily.
"I wanted to talk to you, and Ginny said you didn't come up last night. I was thinking maybe you and Terry made up, but Ginny told me."
"Told you what?"
"Ginny told me." Hermione shrugged off Ron's grip. She walked away but Ron followed her. "How could you have been so stupid?" he asked. Hermione didn't answer. "Hermione. Hermione!" Hermione turned around, her eyes livid. For some reason she was extremely angry, and she decided to let her anger out on Ron. "What?"
Ron stopped, then came forward. "Hermione." "I'm perfectly aware that that's my name, Ronald. What do you want?" Ron opened his mouth, but no words came out. "Well?"
Ron sighed. "Are you okay?" Hermione scoffed. "Why wouldn't I be okay?" Ron sighed again. "C'mon Mione. Don't be this way. You know. I know. You're pregnant."
"Shh!" Hermione scowled. " Scream it out to the whole world, why don't you!!" Hermione turned around and started walking. Ron took two strides and caught up to her.
"Hermione, stop, wait! What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me is that you won't leave me alone!" She stopped and turned to him. "Leave. Me. Alone!"
"What are you gonna do?" he asked, ignoring her. Hermione sighed. "Well, if you'd get out my I'm going to go to sleep. I'm tired." Ron growled in frustration.
"Can you stop acting like a complete…" He sighed.
"Okay. Hermione. Now I'm being serious. What's going on with you? What are you going to do?" Hermione ran her hand through her hair and started walking. Ron walked next to her. They passed a corner.
"I'm dropping out, that's what." Ron stopped, and so did Hermione. "Wh-what? You're….dropping out. You. Hermione Granger. What are you, crazy? You're the cleverest witch in the whole school. In the whole history of Hogwarts! How are you gonna drop out? What are you gonna tell McGonagall? Dumbledore? Where are you gonna live? What - ?"
"Ron, shut up! Merlin!" Hermione crossed her arms. "I'll tell Dumbledore and McGonagall the truth. I'm moving to Grimmauld Place. Tonks and Lupin are living there. Harry said it was okay."
Ron's mouth was open. "Harry said that was okay?"
"Yeah."
He shook his head. "Okay, you got that settled, I guess, but…you have no money. No muggle money, no real money,
nothing. Ginny said your parents won't help. What are you - ?"
"Oh my God! Did Ginny tell you everything? Why? What did she just tell you out of the blue or something? Did she say she had some great news to tell you? Wha - what? Why would she tell you that?"
"My sister told me because she thought I was going to beat up Terry since you didn't come home last night. Fact I might still. But forget about that. What are you going to do, for the fortieth time."
"I don't know. I'll just get a job or something."
Ron snorted. "What, waiting tables at the Leaky Cauldron?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Not that. Maybe…"
Ron stopped her. "That's what you'll be doing Mione, if you drop out." He pointed his finger at her. "No matter how smart you are, if you don't have that diploma…you're gonna be living on tips. Merlin, Hermione."
Hermione closed her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore. She had held in her emotions too long. The dam was about to break. When she opened her eyes the tears fell out.
"Oh Merlin." Ron hugged her. All his anger and sternness disappeared in an instant. Harry, Ron, all boys were the same. Sight of a crying girl, all resolve crumbles. "Don't worry baby, we'll figure something out." Hermione hugged Ron tightly and cried into his chest. "You're right Ron." Her voice was muffled. "My life is over. I can't get a good job. I can't graduate. This is all my fault." She cried harder. "Oh God oh God. Oh God! What am I going to do! What have I done? Oh God…"
Ron kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry Mione. It'll be okay. I didn't mean what I said. You'll be okay. He looked around. Good, no one was around. He let Hermione finish crying and half dragged her to a bathroom to was her face.
Around the corner from where they were Pansy Parkinson's pug face lit up in a smile. The mudblood was pregnant.
*******************************
Pansy ran down the hall towards the dungeons. She passed a bathroom and hear the mudblood and Weasl talking. She was so excited.
Pansy entered the Slytherin common room with a smile on. She jumped on the couch where Draco was. "Guess what sweetie!" Draco looked at her with a bored expression on his face. He put down the book he was reading. "What?" he asked in a monotone voice. Pansy was practically jumping up and down. "The mudblood's pregnant!"
Draco stared at her. "Granger?" Pansy nodded. "No way," he said. "No way. Are you sure? Miss goody-two-shoes has actually been fucked? And she's pregnant?" Pansy nodded excitedly. Draco smiled. He laughed. "Holy shit. Has, has Christmas come early or something? Oh my-" He laughed. Millicent came lumbering over. "What's so funny?"
"The mudblood Granger's pregnant!"
Millicent smiled. "Beautiful."
********************************
Beeep! Beeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeep!!!
Hermione opened her eyes. Beeeep!!!! Beeep!!! She groaned. It was Monday. She heard Parvati and Lavender stirring in their beds. She sat up. She pulled he curtains open and turned off the damn alarm clock.
After she had her long talk with Ron (they must've talked until ten. Poor Ron was dozing off by the time they had finished), she and Ron went to Professor McGonagall's office. Of course, Dumbledore had been there. Hermione had sat down with Ron behind her and told Dumbledore and McGonagall what happened, unable to look either in the eye. They just looked at her with disbelief on heir faces.
"Ye-yeah. So um, I don't think I can stay at school anymore. So I think that um I'm gonna have to uh… ahem drop out."
They tried to persuade her to stay in school. Like that'll ever happened. While she was pregnant?
She left her room and walked towards the showers. A couple of girls were just waking up. Two girls, fourth years, saw Hermione and started whispering behind her hands. Hermione ignored them.
After her shower, more girls were coming out of their dorm rooms. A lot of them were pointing at Hermione. What? she thought. Whatever. She entered her room. Parvati and Lavender were up, talking in low tones.
"Good morning," Hermione said.
They both jumped. "H-ey Mione." "Good morning."
Hermione started to get dressed. "Have you noticed that everyone seems to be whispering? What's the big secret? Don't tell me I'm out of the loop!" Hermione joked.
Nobody answered her. Hermione sat down on her bed and pulled her socks up to her knees. "Well?" She buttoned up her shirt. Not a peep from the two girls who couldn't hold a secret for longer than ten minutes. Hermione stood up and started to do her tie. "Parvati." she said
Parvati looked at her. "What's everyone talking about?" Parvati bit her lip. "Parvati?"
"Well….you see, Hermione. Um. Well, what they're talking about is um…well, you see, it's well, what everyone's talking about is….you."
Hermione frowned. "Nothing bad, I hope?"
Parvati looked sad. "Well, there's this…rumor going around that you're um…pregnant."
Hermione concentrated on doing her tie. She looked down at it and avoided eye contact. "Oh?"
"Yeah."
Lavender and Parvati looked at each other. Hermione wasn't saying anything. Hermione finished and put her vest on. After buttoning it, she grabbed her book bag and her books. She put her book bag on and slipped her shoes on. She turned to look at them.
"I don't know why you listen to that. You know it's not true." And she walked out of the room.
**************************
As soon as Hermione walked into the Great Hall, conversation stopped, then buzzed up again. Hermione blushed. She walked over to where Harry and Ron were. Harry had made a complete recovery. Other than a bruised ego, he was feeling better. She sat next to Harry. "Hey Harry." Harry looked at her. "You heard?"
Hermione reached for the orange juice. "Heard what?" Harry sighed. "Mione, they're all talking about you." Hermione shrugged. "Don't you care?"
Hermione sighed. "Of course I do Harry." She slowly began to eat. Harry and Ron stared at her. Harry said, "But….."
"But what?"
"Mione!"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Merlin! Mione, they're all know."
"I know."
Harry and Ron stared at her in shock. Ron spoke first. "How can you just take it so…calmly?"
Hermione shrugged. "Go figure." Ron shook his head in disbelief.
"Look." Harry and Ron looked at her. "They were all gonna know anyway. I'm dropping out, remember? I'm sure they would've put two and two together."
Ginny sat down across from Harry. "Hey Hermione." "Hey Ginny. Did you hear? Everyone knows about me. Isn't that just wonderful?" Harry, Ron, and Ginny looked at Hermione. She seemed bitter.
"I mean, it's just fabulous to know that every motherfucking person in this whole damn school thinks you're a fucking slut." Hermione threw her fork down. "I'm going. I'll see you later." She picked her books up and left.
Ginny shook her head and watched her leave. She reached for the orange juice and began to pour it.
"Did you do it?"
Ginny looked up. "What Ron?"
Ron was starting to get angry. "Did you tell everyone about Hermione?"
"No! I'd never tell anyone that!"
"But you gladly told me." It was Harry this time.
Ginny opened her mouth but no words came out. Just then Seamus leaned over and said "Hey Harry! Is it true? Hermione's pregnant?"
Harry glared at Seamus. Seamus got the point and backed away. Harry turned his attention back to Ginny. "Well?"
Ginny shook her head. "I can't believe you Harry! Why would you think of something like that! Don't you trust me?"
Harry stood up. "I'm going to look for Mione. I'll see you later."
Ron stood up and was about to follow when Professor McGonagall walked up to him and Harry and asked to see them both.
**************************
Hermione was walking to Hagrid's. She hadn't been to see him in a while, and she still had time before her first class started. On her way there she saw a couple of girls.
"Oh that's the one I was telling you about."
Hermione ignored them. She felt like crying.
"Really? She doesn't look like that."
"I know, but believe me, that's her."
Hermione looked at them and the girls started giggling. She blushed.
The girls started talking again, but Hermione stopped them.
"Excuse me."
The girls turned around, wide-eyed.
"Are you talking about me?"
One of the girls stepped forward and scowled. "What does it matter to you?"
Hermione stepped back, hurt.
The girl kept going. "I mean, the whole school knows what's up with you. Accept it. Yes, we are talking about you."
Hermione's eyes filled with tears and she walked away.
****************************
"I don't know why they're all talking about me like that Hagrid. I mean, it's not like I killed anyone or something. In fact, I did just the opposite of that!"
Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands. Hagrid poured her tea. "I don' kno' either 'Mione, bu' it's human nature to talk about other people. I kno' from experience." Hermione groaned. "You know, there are worse things I could do. I could….go with all the guys. Or…hurt people like they're doing to me." Her eyes filled with tears and she put her head on the table.
Hagrid patted her back. The whole cabin shook. "Everyone thinks I'm this…slut, when I'm not. Hagrid, why did this have to happen."
Hagrid shook his shaggy beard.
"You know I'm dropping out, right Hagrid?"
Hagrid sighed. "Yes. I wish you won'."
Hermione heard the bell rang. "Well I got to go Hagrid or I'll be late. Thanks." Before she could leave though Hagrid captured her in a huge bear hug. "Take care Mione, and remember, I'm always here for you."
Hermione sighed. "At least I have one friend to count on."
A/N: Aww poor Mione! Phew! That was a long chapter. (For me at least) I've been getting lazy, I havent been writing, so now I have to write up the next chapters, so it might take time. So hopefully there'll be an update within a week…God willing. Lol. Review please!