The Unborn

The Unborn

*Chapter One*

"Hermione, please come down," he said, with the tone of someone on the verge of giving up. Harry had been trying to get her to go with him to the lake all morning.

It was a warm, beautiful day, but Hermione Granger had no intention of going outside. Before, she never would have dreamt of something like this happening to her. She just couldn't go down there and face them all. Of course, none of them knew... But what if they had found out somehow? She just felt so dirty. And how would she tell Harry, or her parents for that matter? After all, she was only seventeen. No, she was determined to stay in the dorm as long as possible. Unfortunately, she knew she couldn't stay for the three months left until the end of term.

By dinnertime, she just couldn't stand it any longer. She had to get something to eat. She headed down to the common room, and after making sure it was completely deserted, crossed to the portrait hole. As she made for the Great Hall, feeling very empty (which she suspected was not just because of hunger), she wondered what on earth she was going to say to Harry if she saw him. She would have to tell him eventually, but every time she thought of actually doing it, cold dread swept over her. She knew she was being silly. Harry was not the type of person that would run away from something like this. He would help her, maybe even be happy, right?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she realized she was standing outside the Great Hall's oak doors. Just as she was about to go in, Harry came out.

"Hermione, we need to talk," he said. He handed her a sandwich.

"Thanks," said Hermione, taking the sandwich.

They walked through the hallways while Hermione had some of her sandwich. Hermione dreaded what Harry was going to say. She knew that once he had said whatever it was, she would have to tell him everything. After walking in silence for a few more minutes, she realized that whatever Harry was going to say was better than this cold silence. She stopped in front of a portrait of a cackling one-eyed witch.

"Harry, I'm sorry-

"No," Harry cut her off. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should have let it happen. You weren't ready. I wasn't ready." He looked down at his feet. "Anyway, you're obviously disgusted with me."

"Oh, Harry, no. No I'm not disgusted with you," she said, shocked. This wasn't what she had expected at all.

Harry looked up. "Then why were you avoiding me? You were up in the dorm all day!"

"Is that what you thought?" Hermione felt some small relief at this. "I wasn't avoiding you. I just needed time to think things through, that's all. I was afraid to tell you..."

"Tell me what?" He looked at her suspiciously.

"Harry, I'm pregnant." Silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of the witch's hysterical laughter.