Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't make a profit for my writing; it's all for fun.

Thanks so much to my wonderful new beta, SeverusLovesUs! She's awesome!

The last week of school was very busy for everyone. The seventh years celebrated freely, as many of them never thought they'd live to see the end of school. The tests were complete, and the classes that remained were a free for all. The students played games, talked, flirted, and generally caused chaos, but strangely, the professors didn't care. They didn't think they'd live to see the end of another school year either. It was the light before the dark. Nobody doubted that this summer would be hard. They were still living in fear, but they all took a moment to celebrate. The older students had a bond that could not be broken, and there were tears and laughter as they prepared to go their separate ways.

Hermione had finally decided, after a lot of thought, to go home with Professor Snape over the summer. She didn't really like the idea of being in the empty castle, even with the few professors that stayed. She would like to be in a home, even if she was alone with her thoughts for the majority of the time. She longed to be with the Weasleys but knew it would kill Harry to be so close to her growing stomach and not be able to express his feelings. He came to her in private to talk to her about the baby, but he kept his feelings hidden from everyone else, showing indifference at best. She promised him that they would meet over the summer when the baby was big enough to feel move. She felt movement every day but it was slight and couldn't be felt by anyone else.

She was currently packing her room and trying to hold back tears. It had hit her suddenly that she didn't know what her future held for the first time in her life. Her predictable path had been detoured because of one foolish night. It was a night she'd never regret, but it had changed everything. Her immediate plans were to stay through the leaving ceremony that was occurring in a few days and then accompany Snape to his home. She left out the few things she would need for the next three days and followed Snape's instructions to call for a house-elf named Pip. Apparently, Pip was a free elf and one of two who continued to serve Snape out of family loyalty. She had a feeling they might be her only companions this summer.

Pip arrived and, with a snap of his fingers, all of Hermione's belongings that she had packed were gone. They would be waiting for her in her room at her home for the summer. She still didn't know what to expect from Snape's home. She envisioned a dark, dungeon-like home and made mental plans to try and make her room as friendly as it could get. She didn't know what she would do with all that time on her hands. She had agreed to help the Order with research. Over the past year, they had managed to destroy all but two Horcruxes. There was only Nagini and the mystery Horcrux left. The mystery wasn't so much a mystery to her anymore. Hermione thought she knew where it was. She was afraid to say anything to the others, but she was fairly positive that Harry was the seventh Horcrux. It made the most sense and explained his link to Voldemort.

She thought Harry knew as well, but he was keeping as quiet as she was. As close as they were and as much as they'd shared, they couldn't bring themselves to talk about the fact that Harry might have to be destroyed in order to defeat Voldemort. Her goal for the summer was to find out a way to extract the part of Voldemort that was in Harry. She could work on that in her free time. It would help if she knew she was doing something. She hoped to be able to make regular visits to the Burrow and to Hogwarts. Even though she was under an oath of protection, the further along in her pregnancy she got, the more danger she physically would be in. She knew that babies could survive if they were born early, and she knew that after that point, she was dispensable in the eyes of Voldemort. If he wanted her dead, all they needed to do was to wait until the baby was strong enough to survive and she would be in danger. Her greatest wish was to be able to raise this baby that she had created with her best friend. Even if he was never able to be a father, she would always know, and that was the sweetest thing of all.

She had a few more duties as Head Girl, so she looked around her nearly empty room and got back to work. She would have plenty of time to dwell on her dark thoughts once she left Hogwarts for Spinner's End. Dressed only in a t-shirt and jeans, she was obviously pregnant. She had nothing to hide anymore; the story had spread around the school so many times that everyone was sick of it. In the span of two days, three other seventh year girls had revealed their pregnancies as well. Apparently, it wasn't uncommon; it was just usually covered up. Hermione's openness allowed the other girls to open up as well. Their boyfriends were a tad more embarrassed, and there had been a few Howlers when parents found out. Hermione fully anticipated that there were going to be some rushed weddings over the summer.

It was a rowdy group of students that she found in the hallways. She only had to stop a few of the younger children who were playing with contraband Weasley products. It seems that Fred and George had sent "care packages" to all of the second years to celebrate the end of school. Hermione didn't really have the heart to punish the students; she just reminded them firmly to goof off in more appropriate places than the moving stairs. She couldn't help but run a hand over her stomach and wonder what kind of trouble her little one would get into. She was the grandchild of a Marauder after all. She allowed herself to think of Severus while she walked. He hadn't been visible much lately, disappearing quickly from meal times, and he wasn't seen in the hallways. He attended classes, meals, and that was it. She wanted to talk to him again, to make sure he was still willing to have her stay, but she never ran into him.

She did run into Harry, who was rushing off to play one last pick-up Quidditch game. He stopped to pat her stomach and told her about the game. All of the seventh-years were invited to play, and Harry laughed, saying that he and Malfoy were playing on the same team for the first time in their lives. They had even agreed to switch off as Seekers so they each got a turn. Hermione hoped this was a step in the right direction for Malfoy and that he would make the right decision in the coming days. Harry seemed extremely happy as he caught up to Ginny and Ron and ran toward the pitch. He was treasuring these last few moments at Hogwarts as much as she was.

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The professors and prefects agreed that there should be a celebration dance after the ceremony on the last day of school. Hermione had spent the morning with Head Boy Michael Corner and the prefects, decorating the Great Hall. The actual ceremony would be held outside in the courtyard and would hopefully be brief as it was a warm day. Hermione put her school robes on for the last time and struggled to get her skirt closed even with the extender. Finally, she used a simple sticking charm and hoped that her outer robes would cover any potential embarrassment.

She hurried into the Gryffindor common room, where it looked like the celebrations had already started. She laughed at everyone's jovial mood as she hurried them outside to start the ceremony.

With tears in her eyes, Headmistress McGonagall stood before the group and wished her leaving students the best of luck in the future. Hermione and Michael gave short speeches, and it was over. Hermione was done with school. Even though she hadn't attended traditional classes for months, she still felt such a loss at the comfort that school held. She was truly an adult. She even had a baby on the way. She knew that school wasn't truly over, she still planned to further her education, and she knew that she would be welcomed back to Hogwarts at any time.

One of the packages that had arrived from Madame Malkin's was a mystery to Hermione. It was a gown, one of the loveliest she had ever seen. It was deep purple with a halter top and an empire waist that allowed for the rest of the dress to flow over her stomach, making it quite easy to wear. She had not picked it out and had not requested a gown. She had anticipated trying to transfigure her old Yule Ball gown into one that would fit. She knew Molly would never have been able to afford this dress and had to wonder who had a hand in it. She had tried to return it but was told it was paid for. She wanted to refuse to wear it, but once she slipped it on, propriety went out the window and she couldn't deny it was perfect for her.

Ginny came in and helped her with her hair and makeup. Both women were lovely when they were dressed and primped. Ginny had an air of sadness about her though, and Hermione knew that she wasn't looking forward to coming back to school without Harry next year.

"Gin? Are you all right? I know this is hard for you."

"I'm fine. I just hate the thought of being here next year without you, Ron, and Harry. And everyone else really. I don't want to dwell on it though. I've got all summer with Harry, and he'll visit on Hogsmeade weekends next year if he . . . " Ginny trailed off. She couldn't bear to face the other possibility, that he might not be alive next year. "Anyway, tonight's a party! Let's go!"

As the girls stepped into the common room, they caused quite a stir. Harry's mouth dropped when he saw his girlfriend in her new gown. Fred and George had bought it for their sister, and it was custom made to fit her like a glove. Hermione didn't think Harry even noticed her once he got a glimpse of Ginny. That was how it should have been anyway. She watched Ron leave the room, hand in hand with Lavender, while Neville escorted Parvati. She looked around the room and realized that she was alone. With a sigh, she started for the door. She almost jumped out of her skin when she felt an arm link with each of hers. Looking side to side, she saw Dean and Seamus grinning at her.

"We'd be honored to escort our Head Girl to the dance if she'll let us," Dean said with a little bow of his head.

"A gorgeous thing like you can't go in alone. You're a lucky woman getting to walk in with us," Seamus teased.

Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes as she looked at her friends. She loved these boys. All of her Gryffindor classmates meant so much to her. "I'd be honored. Thank you. I just don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, Hermione. Let's go," Dean said, and the threesome headed out of the portrait hole and down the grand staircase.

Hermione walked into the Great Hall and was blown away by the beauty of the room. It was hard to believe this was the same room where she'd had breakfast that morning. Her escorts accompanied her over to her friends and then went to get some food. There were several comments about her gown, and she couldn't help but appreciate them even though she was embarrassed.

"Would you like to dance, Hermione?" Neville asked, his toes tapping with the music.

"Maybe the next time there's a slow one, Neville. I'm not up for a fast one tonight," she told him. He smiled and nodded, heading off to search for his date or someone else who would be willing to dance. She settled in at a table next to Ron and Lavender and began nibbling on finger sandwiches and drinking pumpkin juice. Ron still refused to dance. Poor Lavender was practically begging, but he held fast. When he left to get some more food, Hermione leaned over to Lavender.

"I can get him to dance with me. I'll get emotional and sentimental on him, and he'll do anything I ask. Once we are out there, you can cut in and get your dance," she told Lavender.

"Really? You think he'll go for it?" Lavender smiled.

"Oh, yes, he'll go for it. I'm pregnant. He knows I'll hex him to next Tuesday if he doesn't do what I want. He's so afraid of me right now I'm like an alien." She laughed.

"If you can do it, I'll be eternally grateful."

"Next slow song. You watch," Hermione said with a grin.

The next song just happened to be a slow song and Hermione started her whining. "Please dance with me, Ron! It's our last chance, our last dance here at Hogwarts. I know you don't like to dance, but it's slow, and you can just hold me and sway. You're my best friend, Ron. I want to dance with my best friend. Please, Ron." She hated the annoying sound of her voice, but she could see him wavering. "Ronald Weasley, get up and dance with me! Now!"

Ron jumped up, keeping an eye on her wand hand and led her out on the dance floor. He held her awkwardly but smiled. "Happy now, 'Mione?"

"Yes, thank you, Ron," she said with a smile as she saw Lavender come up behind Ron.

"May I cut in?" Lavender asked.

"Of course!" Hermione stepped away from Ron and watched as Lavender latched onto the poor boy and forced him to stay on the dance floor. She was heading off the floor when she bumped right into Snape.

"Oh! Professor -- I mean Severus -- I'm so sorry. I was watching Ron and Lavender." She reached up to smooth his jacket down.

"Yes, well be more careful, Hermione. You must protect the child." He looked down at her small hand on his chest. Against his better judgment he took her hand in his and led her back onto the floor. "Would you care to dance?"

"Really? You dance?" Hermione asked. She saw the look on his face and hastily apologized. "I'm sorry. It's just that I don't know you very well, and I wasn't aware you danced." She put her arm around his waist as he did the same.

He pulled her close into his chest. "I don't dance on a regular basis like that fool Longbottom, but I have been required to go to dances on occasion, so, yes, I do dance." He swayed her to the music and held her close. Hermione couldn't help but enjoy having a confident, strong man holding her. It was nice to dance with someone who wasn't counting out loud to the steps.

"Are you ready to leave tomorrow?" he interrupted her thoughts.

"I am. I just have a few things left in my room, but they will easily fit into my small trunk."

"Will you be ready shortly after ten o'clock? I am required to help oversee the children getting on the train, and then I will come back for you. You can call Pip as soon as your trunk is ready to go."

"That's fine. I'll be ready. Are you sure you don't mind me invading your home?" she asked one more time.

"I hardly think an invited guest is invading. It's a large house, and it needs to be lived in," he huffed.

"Severus, do you know anything about the dress I'm wearing?" she asked.

"It's a lovely dress, and it suits you," he said with a hoarse voice, his hold on her stiffening.

"It came with the maternity clothes from Madame Malkin's. I don't remember asking for a gown to be made."

"I sent Madame Malkin a list of clothing you needed, and one of those was a gown. You couldn't wear old dress robes to an event like this."

"Thank you again, Severus," she whispered, laying her cheek against his chest. She felt oddly safe in his arms and was sad when the music ended and an upbeat song came on. He stepped away from her, thanked her for the dance and walked into the crowd. Hermione stood and watched. Once again, the man's kindness was confusing.

Her night was full of dancing and sharing fun times with friends. Her feet were aching, and her body was exhausted when she finally climbed into bed that night. It was her last night in this room, in the Gryffindor Tower, but she wouldn't let herself think that this was her last night in Hogwarts. She told herself that she'd be back.