A/N: Okay, I think it might be time for another Author's Note. Okay. First things first: Harry's reaction is next chapter, but that won't come out for at least a week or so. I've decided to make it longer. Enjoy the chapter, review, and go Wolverines.
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"WHAT!!!!!"
"Shhhhh! Ginny SHUT UP!" Hermione whispered as loudly as she could. Ginny's mouth was open and her eyes looked as though they might pop out. "Hermione-I-WHAT!"
"Shhhhhh!!!!! Be quiet!"
"How am I supposed to be quiet when you've dropped a bombshell like this on me!" she whispered fiercely.
"Well figure it out!"
Ginny and Hermione were in Ginny's dorm room. Hermione didn't want to around Lavender or Parvati at the moment, and no one was in Ginny's room. "I just can't believe it's true. How can you be pregnant? You're only 17! And what happened to being the cleverest witch in our year? Did you just happen to skip the one class that would actually come in handy? I mean-"
"Ginny." Ginny looked up and saw tears fall down from Hermione's miserable face. "I know, ok? I know I was stupid. Just…just what am I supposed to do?" she asked tiredly. She sat down on her bed.
Ginny looked at her friend. She had always looked up to Hermione. She was as close to a sister that Ginny would ever find. Smart, pretty, somewhat popular, and incredibly nice, Ginny had always respected Hermione. But when she had found out that she and Terry were having sex, about half that respect had gone out the window. She always told Harry that Hermione would get in trouble one of these days because of that, and now here it was.
She felt so bad for her.
Ginny sat down on the bed next to Hermione. "Don't worry Mione. It'll be okay-"
"Are you crazy!" Hermione stood. "I'm!-" she lowered her voice. "I'm pregnant. In school. Not married. Please, tell me how it's going to be all right."
Ginny sighed. "I don't know, you could…look, why don't you talk to McGonagall or Madam Pomprey. I'm sure both of them would know what to do." Hermione bit her lip. "I can't, Ginny. I don't want to tell anyone." She sat back down. "Maybe I should just get rid of it."
Ginny looked at Hermione. "Do you really want to?" Hermione laid down on the bed. "Not really." She closed her eyes and put her hands over them. She stayed like that for a few minutes until she sat up. She moved her hands and Ginny wasn't surprised to see tears streaked on her cheeks.
"I'm going to go home." Ginny looked at Hermione.
"What?"
"I'm going to go home. I mean….Maybe my mum will know what to do."
Ginny looked at Hermione with sad eyes. "When?"
"No better time than the present, right?" Hermione chuckled sadly. "Anyway, it's the weekend. I'll just say I'm missing my parents." Hermione stood up. So did Ginny.
"You're going right now?"
"Yeah."
They stared at each other.
"Well, Mione, good luck."
Hermione laughed. "Thanks Ginny. Merlin knows, I'm gonna need it."
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It was good to be home.
It was easy to get access to go home. A couple of minutes sweet-talking the headmaster of how she missed Mummy and Daddy and she was all packed for the weekend ready to get flooed to the nearest wizarding complex where she lived.
She had always loved her house. It wasn't big, but it was perfect. Two-stories, painted beige with green shutters and a green door. Great, she thought, more reminders of Harry. She remembered growing up here. She loved playing outside in the yard with her dog, Charlie. Charlie had to be almost 15 years old. And when her little sister Becca joined the family, it just made things better.
Her dad loved Hermione. Always Daddy's Little Girl.
And now…
She took a breath and knocked on the door.
Se waited a few minutes and heard footsteps shuffling towards the door. The door slowly opened to reveal her mother, Jane. Thin, beautiful, with straight brown hair, wearing an apron over her slacks.
"Hi mum."
Jane's open mouth quickly turned into a huge grin. "Hermione!!!!! Oh Eddie!! Oh Hermione!!! Oh my baby! What are you doing home? Is everything okay? Oh I'm so glad you're home!! ED!!!!"
Hermione's father came stumbling in from the living room. Edward was not a small man. His thick dark bushy hair and strong build always intimidated people, but he was an ol' softy at heart. "What Jane, I-" He saw Hermione.
"MIONE!!!" He took two great strides and picked her up in bone crushing hug and spun her around. "Ow, Dad, can't breathe." Edward put her down and hugged her again. "Becca!!!" Jane called. "Becca come here!" A pause, followed by a long "What?" "Mione's home!" From upstairs footsteps came running down and Hermione's eight year-old sister hugged Hermione as tight as she could. Her straight dark brown hair hid her face.
Becca looked up from Hermione's belly. "Finally!!! You're home!" Hermione laughed and gently pushed Becca off her. "Yeah, I'm home."
"About time!" Edward hugged her again. "We were wondering if you've forgotten us!" Hermione replied softly, "How could I have forgotten you guys? You're my family."
Edward laughed, but Jane got a sinking feeling. Hermione didn't look happy. She looked nervous, anxious. This was not a happy return. Something was wrong.
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"Want some more mashed potatoes Mione? They're delicious."
"No thanks."
"Eat some, you hardly ate anything tonight."
"I don't want any."
"C'mon!"
"Dad I don't-"
"C'mon!!!!!!"
"Dad, I-"
"Eat some!"
"DAD!"
Ed looked at Hermione. Hermione looked back. "I'm just not hungry, ok? I'm sorry." Ed looked like a sad puppy and cleared his throat. "Well I was just wondering, I mean, this dinner is for you after all."
"Dad, I'm not hungry."
"Well I can see that. You gave practically all your food to Charlie-"
"Dad." Hermione sounded exasperated.
"-who by the way is getting older and older. I think he misses you. You should come home more often you know."
"Dad-"
"I mean, we'd all love you to come home. We haven't forgotten you, so why are you forgetting us?"
Hermione sighed and rubbed Charlie's completely gray muzzle.
"Hmmm?"
"What?"
"Will you come home more often?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Really?" This time it was Becca.
"Yeah, really. Sure."
All throughout dinner Jane was watching her oldest daughter. Now she was definitely concerned. Something was off.
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10:51 P.M.
Jane was cleaning the dishes. It had just started to rain lightly, and the pitter-patter of the rain was making her sleepy. Becca had gone to bed just a few minutes ago, and Hermione and Ed were watching TV or something in the living room. She was drying a plate when she heard Hermione.
"Mum?"
Jane turned around. "Yes honey?"
Hermione took a deep breath and said almost inaudibly "I need to tell you something." Jane turned off the faucet and dried her hands on the towel. "What?" Hermione started to cry. "I'm so sorry Mum, but I-"
"Well Janie, I've got to hand it to you. You make the best doggone meals I've ever had. I-" He saw Hermione and instantly sobered. "What's wrong?" Jane said, "Hermione was just about to tell us something. What is it sweetheart?"
"Nothing." She turned to leave but Ed grabbed her arm.
"What is it?"
"Nothing Dad!"
"Well then why are you crying?"
"Nothing! Leave me alone!"
"What's wrong!"
"Nothing!"
"Tell me!"
"No!"
"Hermione-"
"I'm pregnant!"
She didn't mean to blurt it out. It just…came out. For a moment her parents stood there just staring at her.
Ed still had her arm. He slapped her face. Hard. "Ed!" Hermione gasped and pulled away from her father, rubbing her cheek in disbelief. Ed slowly walked towards Hermione. "What did you say?"
"I-"
"You…I…" Ed was shaking his head in disbelief. It seemed his whole body was shaking from anger. "My daughter MY daughter…is a fucking slut."
Jane and Hermione stared at Edward.
"Get the hell out of my house."
A silence then…
"WHAT! Ed, are you crazy!" "Don't talk to me Jane," he said not taking his eyes off of Hermione. "I don't want this damn whore darkening my step and ruining my other daughter."
Tears were flowing down of Hermione's cheeks. "Dad, please, I-"
"Get out." "Dad!" Ed lost it. He roared, "GET OUT! GET OUT AND NEVER COME HERE AGAIN! HAVE YOUR BASTARD CHILD, ABORT IT, WHATEVER, BUT NEVER COME HERE AGAIN!!! GET OUT!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT!!!!!"
Hermione grabbed her bags and left, slamming the door behind her. Jane stared at her husband in total disbelief. "Edward, what the hell-"
"Don't talk to me Jane." "Edward!!!" Jane too was in tears. "How could you-?" "Don't TALK to me JANE!" Jane ran outside to try and stop Hermione, but it was too late. She had already disapparated back to Hogwarts. Inside Edward let out a roar of frustration and knocked over a vase,
Becca had watched everything from her seat on the stairs.