Especially For You

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE DEPRESSION

Ron was waiting for Hermione downstairs. All the Gryffindorswoke up late this morning since they were all so busy celebrating their victorylast night.

'Finally,' said Ron, upon seeing Hermione. 'Good morning!' Hermionekissed his cheeks. Ron smiled and then grabbed her hand. He was about to runbut Hermione stopped him. Ron frowned at her.

'I--er--can't run,' she said.

'Day of the month?' he asked. Hermione just swallowed. Shewanted to tell him so bad but...

'You know what?' she said instead. 'Why don't you go aheadand walk with Neville. I forgot something.' Ron just shrugged.

'OK,' he said, kissing her forehead and then catching upwith Neville. 'I'll be waiting for you!' She just watched Ron as he disappearedthrough the portrait hole and then walked towards the boys' staircase.

'Dean,' said Hermione, 'I'm sorry I startled you, but haveyou seen Harry?'

'It's alright,' he said, yawning. 'Yeah, he is stillupstairs. I don't think---' but Hermione walked away from him immediately.'Nice talking to you too!'

'Thanks Dean!'

*******

'Harry! Harry!' hissed Hermione while shaking him wildly.'Wake up! Please wake up!' Harry rubbed his eyes and then put on his glasses.

'Wassamatter?' he asked with half open eyes. 'Told him yet?'

'Hush,' she said, nervously, 'I'll try to tell him duringbreakfast. I want you there. Please get off the bed and get ready forschool---' Harry unwillingly crawled off the bed and then went to the bathroom.He came out after ten minutes and then looked at her.

'There is no easy way to break this news, especially whenyou are 17. I'll be listening to you, OK. If I stand up, I want you to stoptalking,' he said, looking extremely serious. 'We want to give him the bestapproach. You know Ron. He freaks out quite easily and we do not want thathappen, do we?' Hermione shook her head.

'Wish me luck, Harry,' she whispered.

'Goodluck, best friend,' he said, 'You will be a very goodmother. I just know you will.' This made Hermione both scared and happy. Hereyes began to water and he noticed it. 'Whatever happens, I will definitely behere for you. Always remember that.' He wiped her tears and then tapped herback. 'Now, I demand you to stop crying and go down there and just tell thebloke. And oh, I'll be watching you.'

They went down together and saw Ron laughing his head offwith Seamus and Neville. She looked at Harry and then breathed deeply. She alsolooked at Draco, who gave her an encouraging smile.

'Hello,' she said, sitting beside Ron. 'Oh, blueberrymuffins and French toast! Yummy! Could you hand me the ketchup, please?' Bythis time, Ron was quite used to Hermione's weird combinations and then justreached the ketchup for her.

'Here,' said Ron, grinning at her while putting threeblueberry pancakes and seven French toasts. 'Is this enough? I know you wantthis.' She smiled at him. 'Melon balls? Green apples?'

'You are so sweet,' she said, hiding her nervousness. Ronjust smiled. 'You know what? I went to Madam Pomfrey last night.'

'And,' said Ron, taking a bite from Hermione's green apple.'Here. This is crunchy. Anyway, did she tell you anything?'

'Please don't freak out,' she said, 'I--I am---' but theywere interrupted when Harry immediately stood up from his chair and then bangedhis fist on the table. Everybody looked at him.

'Malfoy!' he yelled. Draco looked at him and thenimmediately got the message.

'Potter!' he yelled back, standing up. They both stood upand then walked towards the huge doors. Everybody in the Great hall fell silentand just stared at the two of them. Professor Mcgonagall and Snape immediatelystood up as well. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy stood up as well which causedNeville, Ron and Ginny to stand up. Harry and Draco, however, gestured for themto sit down and continued walking.

'Malfoy! Potter!' shrieked Prof. Mcgonagall. 'Where are youtwo going?!'

'Just to talk, Professors!' they yelled at the same time andthen they were gone.

*******

'What the hell do you need, Potter?' he asked, looking boredand annoyed. 'She told him yet?'

'That's why we are here, idiot,' said Harry lazily. 'She wasabout to tell him but her approach was---'

'Straight forward?'

'Excellent, Malfoy,' he said, 'I couldn't have said it anybetter.'

'What's the best way to tell him anyway?'

'I wish I knew.' Suddenly, the door opened and this madeDraco grab Harry's robe and push him against the wall. But he immediately letgo upon seeing Hermione.

'Oh it's just you,' said Draco.

'What was that all about?' Harry asked, brushing his robe.

'We have to pretend we are fighting.'

'Stop it,' she hissed, 'was it---'

'Too straight forward?' said Harry, 'Yes it was. Just asuggestion, Hermione. Why not ask him a question related to it first, you knowkind of like an introduction and then tell him about it. You know what I mean?'He looked at Draco who nodded.

'Perhaps you could ask him about children or what it feelslike growing up with six siblings,' Draco added while looking at Harry with an'Is that right' look. 'Perhaps, you can do it later. This afternoon at thelibrary---so I can listen, too.' He blushed. Hermione smiled a little.

'Nosy Draky,' said Harry, teasingly.

'Now go away!' hissed Hermione and they both ran indifferent directions.

*******

AFTERNOON

'Look Hermione!' said Ron with a very huge grin. '100% inDivination.' Hermione looked up from her book and then smiled at him.

'Very good. What may I know did you invent this time,' sheasked.

'I told her that something terrible would hit me thisweekend because Jupiter is aligned with Saturn.' Hermione frowned.

'Very impressive Ron,' said Hermione, shaking her head. Shelooked at him again. 'Mind if we rest for awhile?' Harry pretended to be verybusy while Draco stood near the bookshelf, pretending to be reading.

'No, not at all,' replied Ron. He closed his book so thatall his attention was hers.

'Have you talked to Percy yet?' Ron pulled her close.

'I just wrote to him,' said Ron, closing his eyes andleaning on the wall. 'I kind of miss him, you know. I didn't see him allsummer. He told me that he'll come and visit Ginny and I before Christmas,though.'

'That's nice,' said Hermione.

'Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.'

'I'm an only child,' she said, snuggling further to hischest. 'How does it feel like growing up with six siblings?' Ron sighed.

'Good---and bad,' he said, 'good because there was never adull moment at The Burrow and many people loves me. Bad because I had to wearhand me downs, keep up with a lot of people, and be patient with them. It'salways a chaos at home and many more...'

'Really?' said Hermione, weakly. This isn't going very well...

'Oh yes,' he said tiredly. 'That's the reason why I woulddefinitely wait for quite awhile before I have kids of my own---' He looked atHermione who swallowed hard.

'But you do like kids, right?' asked Harry nervously.

'Well, I do,' said Ron, looking at him with raised eyebrows.'But not now. Come on! Who would want kids right now? Do you?' Hermione beganto pull away from Ron's hug.

'Oh come on, Ron,' exclaimed Harry but immediately loweredhis voice when the librarian looked at him. 'We all know that kids are adorableand I just can't wait to have them! I, in fact, want to have one now---'

'Now,' said Ron, looking very surprised. 'You better staythe hell away from my sister... nobody's getting her pregnant! I'm going tobloody kill you even if you are my best friend!' Harry winced.

'I,' interrupted Draco coolly, 'happen to think thatchildren are adorable as well.' Ron raised his eyebrows.

'Everybody likes children,' said Harry.

'Even me,' drawled Draco. Hermione just looked at Draco andHarry, secretly begging them to stop.

'Well, that's probably because you both are an only child.If you grew up with six other siblings, let us see about that! Besides, I wantto enjoy my life first. I am still young and there is so much more that I wantto see and do,' he said.

'You are a prat, Weasel,' snapped Draco while Hermione justglared at him, before walking away.

'Go to hell, Malfoy,' he snapped back and then looked atHarry, 'What's wrong with him? Anyway, I am not some rich kid like you orMalfoy, who has an account at Gringotts full of galleons. What will I feed myfamily? I don't have a job. I can't just add another burden to myparents---' He laughed. 'For heavens sake! Why are we talking about this? I amonly 17!' He looked at Hermione. 'But you agree with me, right?'

'Yes,' said Hermione weakly. 'You know I do.' She began tostand up which made Ron frown. 'I don't feel so good. I'll just got to bed andrest for awhile---'

'Do you want me to go with you?' asked Ron, taking her hand.

'No, no,' she replied, 'I'll be fine.' And then beganwalking away from him. Harry looked at Draco, who nodded and then followedHermione.

*******

Draco looked around the hallway and he heard fast and loud stepsand sobbing. She can't be very far since he could still hear her. He began tofollow the sound. He was certain that it was from Hermione.

'Hermione!' he called, running after her but she didn'tstop. 'Hermione! Stop!'

'Go away!' she yelled, 'Just leave me alone!' She continuedon running and running until she reached the Quidditch Pitch. She began to lookaround. She was so tired but she still forced herself to run. She was angry,scared and nervous. This baby will destroy her life. She needs to get rid ofit.

'Hermione!' he called once again, running towards her, whichcaused her to snap out of her thoughts and then continued running around thepitch. She heard him call her name again but she didn't seem to mind. She kepton running and running until she felt two strong arms grab her.

'What the hell do you think you are doing?!!' yelled Draco,looking furious. He was holding her tightly on her arms. 'You are going mad!You know that you can't run! It's cold out here and you are only wearingthat?!' She went hysterical at first. But she calmed down and then looked athim helplessly before starting to cry. Draco's face softened and then loosenedhis grip on her before hugging her. He couldn't blame her.

'You will get through this, Granger,' he said softly.'Potter and I will be here for you.' She began to look up. 'You know that,right?' He began to let go of her and then sat on the ground. 'Don't you daredo that again, Granger. I'll get you if anything happens to that baby.SERIOUSLY!'

'I---' said Hermione.

'Now,' said Draco, throwing his coat to her. 'Take this withyou and get out of my sight! It's cold out here! In! Now!' Hermione smiled athim.

'Thank you, Draco Malfoy,' she said softly.

'Yeah, yeah! Whatever,' he snapped, 'Now, get out of mysight!' Hermione chuckled. 'What the hell is funny?'

'Nothing,' she said, 'Would you like to be a godfather to mybaby?' Malfoy smiled a genuine smile.

'I'd think about it,' he said, looking away and trying tohide his genuine smile.

'If you don't want to, just tell me.'

'Fine, fine! I'll be a godfather,' he said, still hiding hissmile. 'Now, get out of my sight. That's the least thing that you can do tothank me for saying yes. Besides, I don't bloody care about you but I do careabout the little angel inside you. I don't want her or him to get bloody sick.'

'You are right. Let's go inside.' Draco smiled at her andthen stood up.

'After you, Ms. Granger,' he said, gesturing for her to gofirst, which made them both laugh. They went inside the castle, walking silently,when they heard slow and soft footsteps and it belonged to Harry. 'Ah, Potter,it's just you. The very last person that I wanted to see...'

'Hello to you, too, Malfoy.' He looked at Hermione. 'Ron waslooking for you, Hermione. He saw Lavender and she told him that you didn't goupstairs---'

'I was just---' said Hermione.

'Hermione!' interrupted Ron, pulling her to his side andthen glaring at Draco. Draco just rolled his eyes, sighed and then leaned onthe wall. Draco smirked. 'What were you doing with her?!'

'What do you think, Weasel?' he asked, lazily and crossinghis arms over his chest. He didn't know what to say and he was panicking deepinside. He looked at Hermione. 'Why don't you tell your little boyfriend herewhat we were doing.' Ron was glaring at him. He didn't like the sight of Dracoand his girlfriend in some dark hallway.

'Ron, will you listen to me?' said Hermione, holding ontohis robe. Ron looked at her. 'Draco and I were just talking.' Draco rolled his eyesat this excuse. It wasn't a very good one.

'Draco?' said Ron with raised eyebrows. He containedhimself. 'Why are you, all of a sudden, calling him Draco? When did you startcalling him that?' Draco and Harry looked at each other. Draco's eyes widenedand then swallowed hard. Ron is jealous of him. Hermione was also surprised atthis reaction.

'I am Head girl and he is Head Boy, Ron,' said Hermione,softly and taking his hand. 'We had to talk about---'

'I believe you,' said Ron, firmly. 'Let's go.' He placed anarm around her before glaring at Draco, who was smirking. They walked off.Harry was about to follow them when he felt someone gently grab his arm.

'Potter,' said Draco, looking very uncomfortable. 'She'sdepressed and confused. Please, please look after her and make sure that shewon't do anything stupid to herself and the baby.'

'What?' gasped Harry. 'Did she just---'

'Keep an eye on her. You belong in the same house.'

'Of course, Malfoy,' replied Harry, smiling a little. 'Ireally appreciate you telling me this.'

'Just to clear things up,' said Draco, going back to his oldself. 'I am not doing this because I care. It's just that---'

'Yes, Malfoy,' said Harry. 'Whatever you say---'

'By the way, have I told you that I am going to be agodfather to her baby?' asked Draco arrogantly.

'What?! She asked you already?' said Harry, frowning. 'Whatabout me?'

'I don't think so,' replied Draco, smirking.

*******