A/N: Hey I got this out earlier than expected. Now, for all those who read "So Cold", I am having MAJOR writer's block, but don't worry! I'll make it a happy ending. Now, to those who didn't like how Hermione's father reacted…I don't know what to tell you. As most of you can tell the running theme in this story is people don't think before they act and wind up making stupid mistakes, so Hermione's father is another example of that. Enjoy this chapter, and review!!! (Wolverines lost doggonit)
Hermione ran out of her house and disapparated right on the spot. She landed on her feet near the Three Broomsticks and walked back to Hogwarts. Now she was in trouble.
Fuck, she thought, my own father…shit. What am I going to do now? I can't go home, and Terry doesn't want to help me…well, it seems like there's only one choice…but I don't….
Hermione ran into the sign pointing to Hogwarts. She bounced off it and shook her head. She sighed and started up the slippery path to the castle she calls home. It was drizzling. She had been walking for a couple of minutes when she heard someone call her name. "Hermione!"
Hermione stopped and saw Harry jogging towards her. He skidded to a halt next to her and stood panting for breath. "Hermione," he said again.
"Hey Harry."
"Hermione." Harry looked at her with sad eyes. "Ginny…Ginny told me."
Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it. "Told you what?" Harry's eyes flashed. "Don't play stupid with me, Mione. I know that you're…pregnant." Hermione blinked, and Harry picked up her bags and carried them for her as they walked up the castle. "I guess things didn't go too good at home?" Hermione shook her head.
Harry sighed. "I can't believe you Mione." He shook his head. "I mean, God, how could you have been so stupid. I'm so disappointed in you. I thought that -" Harry looked over at her and saw that she was crying. "Oh Merlin." He dropped her bags and hugged her. Hermione laughed. "I think that's all I've been doing all day. My dad just threw me out." Harry looked at her and said, "What?"
"Yeah. Isn't that great? Now what am I supposed to do?"
Harry rubbed her back. "I don't know Mione. I don't know." Hermione pulled away and dried her eyes and said, "Yeah well, that makes two of us. No, one. I know what I'm going to do. I'm getting rid of it."
Harry stared at her. He stopped rubbing her back and said shockingly, "What?" Hermione sniffed. "There's no way I can take care of this baby. I mean, come on. I'm 17. I'm still in school, I'd have to drop out, I have no money, my parents won't help, Terry won't help…Tell me Harry, what else am I supposed to do? What I am I supposed to do?"
It was Harry's turn to open his mouth and then close it. Truth be told he didn't know what she was to do. He sighed. "Okay Hermione. If that's your decision, I'll support you, 100%. But, you know, it's not gonna be fun." He took her bags and put his arm over her shoulders as they began walking towards Hogwarts Castle.
Hermione looked at her hands, which were shaking. "It hasn't been so far."
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Back in the common room, Hermione said she was going to lie down. "Enjoy," said Harry, which brought on a true smile on her face. Harry…he's such a good guy.
After Hermione went upstairs to her room, Harry leaned in close to Ginny, and told her Hermione was getting rid of the baby. Ginny shook her head.
"What else is she going to do?" she asked. Harry couldn't answer her.
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Saturday, 9:19 A.M., St. Mungo's Hospital
Hermione sighed and put her hands in her head as she waited in the waiting room. It was one week later since she found out, and having to spend a whole week with this secret and go to classes and act normal had put a huge strain on her. Terry had ignored her completely, and it hurt to see him getting close to Lisa Turpin.
Well, at least after today I'll have one less thing to worry about.
She had scheduled an appointment at St. Mungo's baby ward for an abortion. Despite much of Hermione's protesting and saying how she wanted to go alone, Ginny was accompanying her. They didn't talk as they secretly disapparated during a weekend Hogsmede trip (with Ginny side-alonging of course), but the tension was a thick as peanut butter.
Ginny sighed and leaned against her chair and crossed her arms. She couldn't believe what had happened to Hermione. Just three months ago she had no worries. Now, pregnant, alone…poor Hermione, she thought.
Meanwhile Hermione still had her hands in her head. She sighed and leaned back in the chair. She opened her eyes and saw a young couple walk through those double doors. The woman seemed nervous, but her husband or boyfriend seemed to be pushing her on.
I don't want to do this, she thought.
But what else am I supposed to do? I have no money, no one to help me…and even if I did have this baby, I couldn't continue going to school. I'd have to drop out, then what? You don't want to go through that, do you?
No, but…I don't think I can do this.
Just do it Hermione. If you don't, the rest of your life will be…terrible. Just do it and get it over with and you'll be smarter and wiser.
Hermione sighed for what must have been the hundredth time since they got there. "I'm really scared," she said to Ginny. Ginny jumped and looked at Hermione. "Then don't do it." Hermione bit her lip. "I have to."
"Hermione Granger." The nurse opened the door and called her name. Hermione looked at Ginny and said, "Well, here it goes." Ginny watched Hermione stand up and walk shakily to those doors.
Merlin Hermione, Ginny thought.
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"How old are you, Hermione?" The nurse was friendly and sympathetic. "Seventeen." The nurse looked at her in surprise. "So young, wow. Are your parents making you get one?"
"No, I just don't want it." The nurse sighed and said, "You have to really think before making a decision like this." "I already have." "Some people don't think it all the way through, and then they regret it the rest of their lives."
The nurse bustled around getting who knows what ready for the doctor. Hermione watched with dull interest. She had always wanted to be a doctor, to help people. That's what she had told Professor McGonagall during fifth year. She had the grades and the smarts, but if she had this baby, she could kiss that dream good-bye.
Merlin, what the hell is that? The nurse pulled out some sort of forceps looking device. Suddenly Hermione felt sick. She couldn't do this. What was she thinking? She hopped down from the examining table. The nurse looked up in mild surprise.
"I can't do this." Hermione was breathing heavily. "I'm sorry, I just…don't think I can go through this. I'm sorry." She walked out of the room.
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Ginny had her hands together and rested her chin on top of them. She was waiting, waiting for Hermione to come out. What she was going to say to her, she had no idea.
Just then the doors burst open and Hermione came flying out. Ginny opened her mouth. So she had done it. Hermione walked towards her and grabbed her jacket. "Let's go," she said. "Did you do it?" Ginny asked.
"No."
"What?"
"I couldn't do it. Let's go."
"Wha-well what are you gonna do?"
"I don't know. C'mon let's get out of here."
Ginny followed Hermione in a daze out the door.