Diagon Alley

To Madbrilliant, my eternal thanks. And to all of those who read and review, a big hug and a kiss.

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Chapter 12 - Diagon Alley

The new term at Hogwarts was well and truly started, and before anyone knew it, it was nearing February.

Although it was still cold and snowy, the occupants of the castle were much better able to go outside and enjoy the weather, rather than freeze in it the moment they stepped out. It meant that, on weekends, the castle was very nearly empty of students, who instead chose to play in the snow most of the day. For Severus, this had come as a great relief. As much as he had become more accepting in the past couple of years, he still couldn't stand the screaming and running in the hallways.

Hermione thought that it was great that the students were able to enjoy being outside, even if the weather was less than favorable. She had not been able to spend much time outdoors at all. This, however, was due to more personal circumstances than anything else. For over a week, she had been feeling very ill and had spent a lot of time in her chambers throwing up, swaying on her feet from dizziness, or feeling like she was going to be sick. Poppy Pomfrey had given her some potion for her stomach, but when it proved useless, she set up an appointment for her at St. Mungo's.

Decidedly, she kept Severus in the dark about the whole ordeal. Every time she saw him, she put on a smile and acted as though nothing was awry. She hadn't slept in his rooms that entire week and had simply insisted that she had a lot of marking to do for students' assignments. He seemed to have accepted her excuses, but towards the end of the week, he had been asking her if she was feeling all right. She told him she was a little tired, and he told her she should be resting.

After all of that, however, Saturday finally came around, and she left the castle early that morning after stopping by to see Severus and let him know she was going out for the day to see the Potters. He smiled at her, pleased that she was planning on spending some time with her friends. He hadn't wanted any relationship to come between her friendships after all. She left him after kissing him soundly on the lips and walked to the front gates of the school before Apparating.

She arrived at St. Mungo's shortly afterwards and checked in at the reception. 'I have an appointment,' Hermione said to the receptionist.

The blonde witch behind the desk nodded and scanned a clipboard folder. 'Name, please?' she questioned.

'Hermione Granger,' she answered a little hesitantly.

The witch scanned the pages a few more times before nodding and standing. 'Follow me and I'll take you to the Healer's office,' she said, walking out from behind the desk and leading her down a hallway.

Hermione followed obediently, they stopped in front of a bright blue door, and the receptionist knocked. 'Hermione Granger is here for her appointment,' she said before turning and walking away.

The door opened and a smiling older woman opened the door and ushered her inside. 'It is a pleasure to meet you, Hermione Granger,' she said cheerfully. 'Poppy asked that I take special care with you.'

Hermione smiled. That sounded exactly like something Poppy would do. 'Thank you,' she replied politely. 'I've been feeling really under the weather lately, and I wanted to get it out of the way as soon as possible.'

'Have a seat on the bed over there,' the Healer said, pointing over to one side as she rummaged through a desk drawer. 'Good, now can you tell me what symptoms you have been experiencing?'

Hermione nodded, glad that she had sat down. She was starting to feel a little dizzy and nauseous, so it helped to sit down. 'I have been getting really dizzy and nauseous, and tired to the point that I don't even want to get out of bed,' she answered with a heavy sigh. 'I get sick all of the time like I have the stomach flu, but no potions have worked to fix it. I feel miserable and sad, and I've been crying myself to sleep for no reason whatsoever.'

The older woman's eyebrow raised a fraction, and she nodded. She knew exactly what was wrong with Hermione Granger. She just needed to do a quick charm to test her theory. She pulled her wand out and murmured a charm, flicking it in a particular pattern to produce the result she wanted. Just as she had suspected, the end of her wand glowed purple and she smiled.

'There is a very simple answer to what you have been suffering, Hermione,' the Healer said with a grin.

'May I ask what that is?' Hermione asked.

'You have been experiencing what we in the medical field commonly refer to as morning sickness,' the Healer said, a broad smile forming as Hermione's eyes widened in realisation.

'Are you sure about that?' she asked, looking down at her stomach, which was still as flat as it had ever been. She knew the answer, but she just needed to hear it again.

'The charm that we use here is never incorrect,' the older witch replied. 'You are about three weeks along and so far your twins look to be rather healthy.'

'Twins?' Hermione asked softly.

'Indeed, congratulations,' the Healer replied, going to her desk and pulling out a small pile of books, and another separate sheet of paper. 'Now, these books look rather silly, but I think that they will be very helpful for you. You are a first time parent, I assume?'

Hermione nodded and accepted the books, and saw the sheet of paper on top with a potion recipe written on it. 'What is the recipe for?' she asked.

'That is the Prenatal Potion that you should take. It helps to soothe the nausea and all of the other symptoms,' she answered. 'I was told that you are a Potions mistress, so you should be able to make it yourself without having to pay excessive amounts of money to buy it at the apothecary.'

Hermione nodded and put everything into her bag, holding her hand out to the Healer to shake her hand. 'Thank you very much for everything,' she said.

The older woman smiled and patted her hand. 'Good luck,' she said. 'I wish you and the father of your children very happy.'

Hermione walked out of the room in a slight daze. What was she going to tell Severus? There was no way she was going to abort the children. That was simply out of the question. She really needed to think, and fast, because as soon as she got back to the castle, she would need to say something to him. And there was no question about hiding it – Severus was not an idiot who would overlook her growing shape as the months would pass by.

She was nearly back at the waiting room, when she ran into someone from her lack of attention. 'I'm so sorry, I should have been looking where I was going,' she stammered out.

'Hermione?' asked a familiar voice.

Hermione looked properly and saw the shorter redhead standing in front of her. 'Ginny, what are you doing here?' she asked.

'I just had an appointment,' Ginny said with an excited grin. 'I was going to wait until this weekend to tell everyone, but seeing as you are here, I might as well tell you.'

'What is it then?' Hermione asked.

'I'm pregnant again! Isn't that wonderful? Harry always wanted more kids, and now we are going to have a boy!' she exclaimed, hugging Hermione in her excitement.

'That is wonderful, Gin. I am so happy for you,' she said, her daze still lingering. Now Ginny was pregnant too? Well – at least she wasn't on her own now.

'Which reminds me, what are you doing here? Did you stop by the house to see Harry?' Ginny asked. 'Did he tell you I was here?'

'No, not at all,' Hermione said softly. 'I was here for a Healer's appointment too.'

'Oh! Is everything all right? Are you sick?' Ginny asked, beginning to fuss over her in the same manner Molly Weasley did.'

Hermione shook her head 'no' and led Ginny out of St. Mungo's with her. Together they Apparated to Diagon Alley and found themselves out front of Florian Fortescue's. 'Let's order and sit down, and I will explain,' she suggested.

Ginny nodded in agreement, and soon the two of them were seated outside the shop at a wrought iron table with matching chairs and had sundaes in front of them. Ginny sat back and ate a spoonful of her dessert, watching Hermione pensively from beneath her lashes.

'Now, explain,' she demanded.

Hermione sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb in order to chase away the headache that was approaching. 'I was feeling really sick all week, and Poppy didn't have anything that would work, so she booked an appointment at St. Mungo's for me,' the older witch explained quietly. 'I went in, and the Healer cast a charm after I had explained my symptoms, and then she told me that I was pregnant and having twins.'

Ginny's eyes were as wide as saucers by that point, and her mouth was agape. 'You're pregnant?' she asked in disbelief.

'Yes, I am, and I am pretty sure that you know exactly who the father is, so don't ask who,' Hermione said a little snappishly and then sighed again. 'I'm sorry – I don't know which way is up these days. I've been emotional and sick and miserable.'

Ginny reached over and patted her hand, smiling at her. 'Don't be sorry. I was just the same when I was first pregnant with Lily. Once you've taken the potion, you'll be right as rain again,' she said soothingly. 'When are you going to tell Severus?'

'I will have to tell him some time in the next week I think,' Hermione admitted. 'He was beginning to get a little suspicious when I didn't want to sleep in his chambers this week, and he is bound to find out sooner or later, whether I tell him or not.'

'You're in love with him, aren't you?' Ginny asked.

'I am deliriously in love with that man,' Hermione replied with a small laugh. 'I just hope he doesn't take the twins badly. The wand glowed purple, you know. So that means a girl and a boy, right?'

Ginny nodded and grinned at her best friend. 'You are going to be a great mother, Hermione,' she said encouragingly. 'I think that the professor will be thrilled.'

'He didn't seem so thrilled about children at Christmas,' Hermione said quietly, looking at her hands in her lap.

Ginny gave her hand a squeeze. 'Don't you worry about that Hermione -- all men are like that until they have their own children. The professor will be the happiest man alive when you tell him,' she said, sounding so sure about it.

Hermione nodded and ate a spoonful of her ice cream. 'I hope you're right about that, Gin. I really do,' she answered.

Otherwise, she was going to have a very hard time remaining at Hogwarts.