The Seventh Year Soap Opera

RECAP OF CHAPTER TWELVE- The Grangers, the Weasleys, and Viktor Krum: The trio tells their parents about Hermione's pregnancy. Viktor Krum is back and Hermione has fallen head over heels for him, something that Harry, Ginny, and especially Ron is furious about. Harry and Ginny have a talk, Krum and Hermione kiss in the library, Ron punches Krum in the mouth and Malfoy is being an arsehole as usual.

Chapter Thirteen- Owl Post

"Harry, we need to talk," Hermione said, rushing up to her boyfriend. They were on the Quidditch Pitch, along with the rest of the school, celebrating the match against Hufflepuff that Gryffindor had won. Harry was heading into the locker room with his teammates. He was Seeker and captain, Ron was Keeper, Dean, Ginny, and a second year made Chasers, and a couple of fourth years were Beaters.

"Oh, hello Hermione, how's Viktor?" Harry replied casually.

Hermione bit her lip. "That's who I wanted to talk to you about. You see--"

Harry stopped walking and placed his hand over her mouth. "Hermione, I really don't feel like hearing an entire speech that you've rehearsed a hundred times. I know that you like Mr. Eyebrows ("Harry," said Hermione warningly.) and Ron told me about the kiss last night. I was quite angry at first, but I have come to my senses and I have decided to break up with you. We are much better as friends." He took a deep breath. "I had no idea I could say so much at once."

Hermione grinned at him. "I agree," she said. She was really happy that Harry had taken this so well. When Viktor showed up yesterday, her heart had burned with longing. She felt like he was her soul mate; when he laughed, she laughed and when he spoke, his accent drove her wild. When she was fourteen, she had only noticed Viktor as a friend and she had told him so. They had continued to write and now here he was in person! Her whole viewpoint of him had changed. He was someone different, someone new. Harry was too much of a brother to her and even though she felt something for Ron, it was nothing to what she felt for Viktor. Ron was too controlling anyway.

She stuck out her hand. "Friends?" she said to Harry.

He grinned as well and shook it. "Friends. Now, I must go change. You're welcome to come along, of course. Ron's in there, you know. I'm sure he'd love a visitor, but then again, you've already seen him naked. Hmm. Dean sure could use some company."

"Harry Potter!" Hermione said sternly. "You are turning into Ron!"

"Bet you'd love that, wouldn't you?"

Hermione's mouth opened in disbelief. "I can't believe you just said that."

Harry laughed. "I'm only joking. Viktor's right over there." Then in a more serious tone, "Hermione, don't you think he's a little old for you right now? He's 21 and you're only 17."

Hermione frowned. "I don't think age matters. Don't be so overprotective, it really doesn't suit you at all. That's Ron's job."

"Okay," said Harry doubtfully, twirling his broom in his fingers.

"Well, see you later!" Hermione said, as she ran over to her new love. Harry saw her nod her head happily at Viktor. Viktor's face broke into the largest grin Harry had ever seen and he looked over at Harry. Harry gave him a calculating look, a look that said 'You better watch your step, Mr. Famous Bulgarian Seeker.' Viktor nodded, understanding, and then looked back down at the girl that had transformed from the bossy, bushy haired witch with braces to a very attractive seventeen year old with curly hair and perfectly straight teeth. Harry watched as they kissed each other on the lips, but couldn't help wonder if it was really love.

"Great game, huh, Harry?" Ron said after they had changed out of their Quidditch robes and were trudging back to the castle. He didn't notice Hermione and Viktor; Harry knew he would be positively furious if he did.

Harry nodded, his attention elsewhere. Ahead of him and Ron, Ginny was talking excitedly with Justin Finch-Fletchey of Hufflepuff, who was also a Chaser. Her red hair was blowing in the wind, covering parts of her face. Some of it got caught in her mouth and she spit it out, and then she and Justin broke into laughter.

Harry was extremely jealous. He and Justin were friends, but he felt like kicking him in the groin. "Ron, Ginny's talking to Justin," he pointed out, interrupting Ron's talk of the game.

"What?" Ron said, running over to Ginny just as Justin walked into the castle. He grabbed her by the shoulder and whirled her around. "What were you two talking about?" he questioned as Harry walked over to his side.

"For your information, Justin is my best friend! We talk all the time and it's none of your business! You only seem to notice when you're not around Harry and Hermione, because then, you're head isn't shoved so far up your arse!" Pent up emotions that Ginny had felt for the last couple of days were released. "If you did notice anything about me, you would know that!"

Ron seemed quite taken aback and his ears turned an awful shade of red. "You still didn't say what you were talking about," he informed her.

Ginny looked ready to beat him up. "Fine, if you want to know so much, he asked me to the ball!"

"Ball? What ball?"

"The ball! The one they've been announcing for weeks now! Gosh, Ron, your head really is shoved up your arse."

"What did you say?"

"I told him I'd have to ask my big brother first," said a very sarcastic Ginny.

Ron missed the sarcasm and thought she was being sincere. "Good."

Ginny stared at him in amazement. "I told him yes, you big bloke!"

"What?"

"Ronald Weasley, I am old enough to take care of myself! I can make my own decisions you prat!"

"Watch your language," snapped Ron.

"Don't tell me what to do," Ginny said nastily. "That's probably why that little fling you had with Hermione didn't last long. I can understand why. You're so God damn controlling!"

Ron felt a knife plunge into his stomach as her words hit him. He stared down at his baby sister with hate. Anger was boiling sickly inside his stomach. "Take that back," he growled.

Harry stepped in front of Ginny protectively and stared at Ron pointedly. "She's just mad, Ron. She didn't mean it."

Ron stared down at the ground and kicked a large rock as hard as he could. Ginny jumped, a little scared. Then she replaced look of fear on her face with a cold stare that she fixed on her brother. "Grow up Ron," spat, running into the castle.

Ron watched her go and turned to Harry. When he spoke, his voice quivered with anger, sadness, and disbelief. "She's going to wind up pregnant like Hermione if she isn't careful."

Harry looked at him in horror.

************************************************************************

Hermione smiled in contentment. She and Viktor were walking around the lake, hand in hand and she was the happiest she had been ever since she told Harry and Ron she was pregnant. Viktor's company was just the thing she needed. She was tired of talking to Harry, Ron still loved her, Ginny still hated her, and everyone else just wasted her time. She could pour out her heart to Viktor and he would understand everything she was feeling. She loved him.

"How many months are you pregnant, Herm-own-ninny?" he asked softly, glancing at her stomach.

She gave him a smile. "Eight and half," she responded promptly, just as the baby kicked inside her. She squealed in delight and pulled Viktor down onto the ground with her behind some trees.

"What are you doing?" he said, as she began to lift her shirt to reveal a belly that was rounded only slightly.

"I want you to feel the baby kicking," she said, placing his large, rough hand on her tender stomach. His hand was cold at first against her warm skin, but the temperature rose as sparks shot through her body.

"Oh," he said in awe as the baby kicked. She smiled.

They sat like that on the grass for a couple of minutes until a question that had been nagging Hermione ever since he had arrived, popped into her head. "You don't have a problem with this, do you?" she said.

"I don't haff a problem vit it. I like children."

"I never knew that."

"You never asked. Ve had no reason to talk about them. You were fourteen at the time." He smiled as the baby kicked again.

"Sorry I didn't ever come visit you in Bulgaria that summer. My parents wanted me all to themselves."

"I understand," said Viktor. "Long distance relationships never work."

Hermione was slightly taken aback. "Well, that's what this is going to be isn't it?"

"No. While you are finishing your schooling this year, I will continue to be a Seeker. Then, I vill go verever you go, so we can be close together. I love you and I vant to support you."

Hermione had never known someone so sensitive to her feelings or as understanding. This was all too good to be true. "Really?"

"Really."

"B-But you love Quidditch, you can't leave it."

"I don't love Quidditch," Viktor said firmly. He took her hands in his. "I love you."

Tears of joy welled in Hermione's eyes as she kissed him and savored his taste. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his lips parted, allowing her tongue to enter his mouth. She moaned as the kiss grew deeper and suddenly he was lying on top of her sending sensuous shivers through her spine as he left trails of kisses down her neck.

She was ready for him to go lower, but the fluttering of a small, cinnamon colored owl interrupted their passionate moment. She groaned in disappointment as the owl landed beside her and dropped a letter beside her head before flying away.

She pecked Viktor on the cheek as she sat up and opened the letter. She could immediately recognize her father's handwriting. With bated breath, she looked at Viktor for encouragement and began to read:

Dear Hermione,

Your mother and I are very disappointed in the choice you have made. Since you have decided to keep the child, like that Weasley boy said, you can take care of it. We are not babysitters.

DAD

Viktor stared at the letter, enraged. "They are giving you no support?" he said furiously.

Hermione nodded, shock replacing the desire that had stirred in her blood by Viktor. How could her parents do this to her? She stood up, straightened her skirt, and walked away from Viktor so he wouldn't see her cry, the letter clutched in her hand like a grenade.

Viktor ran up to her. "Herm-own-ninny," he said softly, wrapping her in a hug as the tears rolled down her face.

She couldn't deal with him right now. "I need to talk with Dumbledore about what is to become of my baby. I can't take care of it and be in class at the same time," she cried, avoiding Viktor's eyes. She laughed bitterly. "See what you're going to have to deal with?"

Viktor cupped her face in his hands and stared deeply to her eyes, interpreting every emotion. "Herm-own-ninny, I vill be there for you, even if no one else is. Do you understand?"

Hermione nodded and they both set off to the castle, Viktor's arm around her.

"Why did they reinstall the stupid ball?" Ron grumbled to Harry, not able to concentrate on studying.

"I don't know," Harry replied sulkily. "Who are you going to ask?"

"Who knows?"

"We can always stag," suggested Harry.

"I don't want to look like an idiot, being on my own."

"Go with Padma again, then."

"Right, and you can go with Parvati."

"We'll see."

Their conversation was interrupted by Hermione and Krum, who entered the common room. Harry waved them over, as Ron glared at the pair of them. He noticed Hermione's tearstained face and hoped desperately that Krum had done something to upset her. This way, she would realize how much of a bastard he was and come crawling to him for comfort. But, then he noticed the letter.

She shoved it under their noses and watched their reactions as they read it. "No way," said Harry, shaking his head.

"I don't believe it!" added Ron, banging his fist on the table.

Hermione looked at them hopelessly. "What about your parents, Ron?"

"They haven't sent me--" He was cut off by a zooming sound, which turned out to be Pig racing toward them with a letter, in answer to Hermione's question. Ron unfolded the letter anxiously as Viktor rubbed Hermione's back comfortingly. Ron read aloud:

Dear Ron (and Hermione)

We are very disappointed that you decided to have sex and did not use protection like I am sure you knew how.

At this point, Ron groaned and Hermione blushed furiously. Harry started to chuckle, but his grin faded when Viktor raised his eyebrows menacingly.

However, we are glad that you have decided to keep the child. We are willing to take care of the baby while you both are still at school.

"Oh, thank God," Hermione said.

You will come visit the baby every weekend. (It is okay with Dumbledore.) Don't forget to study hard for your N.E.W.Ts!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Hermione jumped up, with happiness. "I won't have to drop out of school!" she cried, giving Viktor a huge kiss. Ron looked down at the floor with pain, but it was soon forgotten when she pulled him into her arms, nearly suffocating him. He grinned at her when she pulled back, tears streaming down her face.

"Hey, don't I get a hug too?" Harry joked, making them all laugh. Hermione obediently went over to him and embraced him.

Then, Seamus and Lavendar burst out of the portrait hole, their wands at the ready. Viktor, Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked on, confused. Seamus and Lavendar pocketed their wands as someone else came into the portrait hole, carrying a very pale, board. Harry recognized the someone as Justin Finch-Fletchey, and as he got a better look, he realized that he was not carrying a board.

He was carrying Ginny Weasley.