Ride the lighting

Part 4

Harry stood frozen for a long minute after Hermione finally told him what had been bothering her since they went to Godric's Hollow two days before.

"Harry snap out of it" Hermione urged him as she ran around casting the protective spells.

Just as she cast the last Protego Totalum, Harry grabbed her arm and spun her around, tearing the Locket from her neck. "You're not wearing this anymore" he growled, clasping it around his own neck.

"Harry, you can't wear it all the time, you'll be impossible" Hermione argued.

"No. Now I understand why you were in pain this morning and what it's been trying to do to you since, no way are you wearing it again" He snapped.

"We can't keep hunting the Horcruxes, we'll have to disappear" Harry continued, pacing around Hermione as she stood with her arms crossed in front of her.

"Harry, for Circe's sake stop. We can't stop hunting the Horcruxes. We have to beat You Know Who. The whole world is waiting for YOU to save them" Hermione yelled when his muttering became too much for her short temper.

"Hermione, in the last three days we've barely escaped him twice! I can't keep putting you in danger. You go back to the Burrow, the Order can hide you and I'll keep hunting" Harry ordered as his pacing continued.

Hermione grabbed him as he passed her and gave him a hard slap across the face.

"Harry James Potter, how dare you? How dare you make out like I'm some kind of wilting flower now? Do I have to remind you that in both those situations I got you out? I can handle myself perfectly well no matter what condition I'm in. And how about giving the fact that I'm pregnant with YOUR child a second to sink in before you start worrying about the damned hunt!"

Harry dropped his head and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry Hermione. I've reacted badly. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes" Hermione answered simply.

"Hermione, what are we going to do? If we actually manage to make it out of this alive, you're going to have my baby, Ron and Ginny, they'll never forgive us"

"Ron left Harry. He left us at a time when we needed to stick together more than ever. He has no claim over me. Ginny on the other hand, I don't know Harry. She's one of my best friends and I don't want to hurt her but there is nothing to be done now"

"Don't try and put on a brave face 'Mione, I know you're in love with Ron. It was just one night. I can't believe this is happening" Harry sat down heavily on the ground.

Hermione sat across from him and took his hand, "one day at a time Harry. We have to save the world, then we'll worry about the rest"

"What do we do once your all big and not able to move quickly, I can't guarantee how long this is going to go on for, what happens if you have the baby before we find all the horcruxes, we can't drag a baby around the country..." Harry began rambling and Hermione put her hand over his mouth.

"Harry, I don't have the answers, this hasn't even sunk in yet. I mean, I did the spell yesterday. One day at a time" Hermione said in a calming voice, even though she knew everything he was saying was true and felt anything but calm herself.

...

That night Hermione pulled out the leftover chicken from the day before and warmed it over the fire. They ate quietly. Harry couldn't take his eyes off Hermione's flat abdomen.

His mind was so completely consumed that he didn't hear Hermione saying goodnight to him. She stood over him and shook his shoulder making him jump. "Harry, you cannot let this distract you so much, if we get distracted we'll make a mistake and everything will go to hell"