The Dark Side (Unedited)

Chapter 19

Hermione's brain seemed to collapse in shock, Ginny was a year younger than her, and still in school! How could she let this happen? How would she afford to raise a child? Where would they live? They still had 6 months of school left, would she have to drop out?

"Gin, are you sure?" Ginny's mouth trembled as she nodded.

"I went to see Mrs Pomfrey," her shoulders shook. "She did some tests..."

"Are you... going to you know, keep it?" She erupted into sobs, getting louder as they progressed. Hermione was surprised by her behaviour, she couldn't ever remember Ginny crying. She pulled her into her arms, rocking in a soothing rhythm. "Oh Ginny, I'm so sorry. Don't worry about anything yet." Ginny ripped herself out of her arms.

"Don't worry about anything?" She screeched. "Are you serious? I'm 17, still in school, pregnant and the love of my life will probably dump me as soon as he is informed of my unfortunate baggage! How dare you tell me not to worry! What would you do Hermione? Put yourself in my situation for one second and try and tell me not to worry!" She screamed. Hermione was becoming worked up herself, but she managed to keep a level head and put a Muffliato charm on the room.

"Listen Gin, listen to me please. I'm sorry for saying that. I actually have no idea what to say to you right now, the only thing that you need to hear is that you definitely don't have to worry about Harry leaving you. He told me the other week that he couldn't wait to start a family-"

"Oh that would be right!" Hermione looked at her in confusion. "Don't act innocent, Hermione! I've seen you with him! I always have! You love him and don't you dare deny it!"

"Of course I do, Ginny. Just as a friend though, I promise! He's like my brother, and I wouldn't do that to you-"

"Oh shut up, Hermione. Everything's always about you, isn't it? You and your little Golden Trio! I'm only pregnant and the conversation is still about you!" Hermione wanted to argue that Ginny was the one who directed the conversation to this, but she knew Ginny was just ridiculously scared and she was being irrational. She wondered what she would be like if it had happened to her.

"Ginny, you need to calm down. Too much stress isn't good for your baby. I'm sorry that I upset you, I'm just trying to say that I'm sure Harry will be over the moon about this. He love you so much, Ginny." She wanted to add the part about him being about to propose, but she didn't want to betray Harry. "Please, Ginny. Think about him, his only real family died when he was a baby, he's never had his own. He seriously told me that he couldn't wait to start a family with you. He will be so delighted. Would you like me to go get him so that you can tell him?"

"No." She growled. Hermione sighed and slid to the floor, leaning against the bed near Ginny's feet. They sat in silence, Hermione waiting patiently for Ginny to come around like she always did. Minutes passed, and Hermione lost track of time. Her back began to ache, and tears welled in her eyes, realising that Ginny wasn't going to apologise. She got up and approached the door. She glanced at Ginny, she was curled up and staring at the wall. She could have been asleep if not for her quick breathing and shaking hands.

Hermione reached for the handle, slowly turning it and waiting for her to object. Ginny didn't make a sound. A tear dripped down Hermione's face and she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, feeling as though something in her had deflated. She hastily wiped her wet face and sped out into the common room and through the portrait hole.

She was on a staircase, waiting for it to change to the right pathway when she realised that she needed to go back. Her best friend was in a time of need. Ginny had always been there for her when she was going through tough times with Draco, so she needed to be there for her now. How dare she walk out on her?

For the second time that day she ran to the Gryffindor common room and ran into the hallway of Ginny's room before bumping into Harry.

"Oh hi, Harry! What are you doing here? Have you already seen Ginny?" She rambled nervously.

"Um, no I was just on my way in." Harry answered suspiciously. He reached for the door and Hermione's breath got stuck in her throat. As she struggled to breathe her head was shouting at her to stop him but she couldn't think of anything that Harry would believe. Before she could do something, he had pushed the door open and she hung her head. She was a horrible best friend.

Harry would walk in on Ginny in her state and her secret would be revealed, even though Ginny clearly didn't want Harry to know. But as she followed Harry into the room, she found Ginny sitting in her bed reading, her face dry and her eyes slightly red but by no means noticeable.

"Hey, honey." She chirped.

"Hey, Gin. How have you been? Have you been reading all this time?"

"Oh I've just been er- cleaning out my trunk, you wouldn't believe the amount of rubbish that was in there."

"Yeah I know, I cleaned mine out before...." Harry drifted off and they all knew he meant before the war. The screaming silence was echoing in her mind and making her extremely awkward so she muttered something about homework that needed to be finished and made her way to the door.

"Oh no Hermione, I was just coming in to check on Gin. I can go now if you want to talk?"

"Harry that would be great actually. I'll come out soon, okay?" She smiled and she had fooled Hermione. She was beginning to think she had imagined the whole thing. Harry knew her too well though, and had picked up on something.

"Are you okay, love? You look a little.... off."

"I'm fine, don't worry. Go play chess with Ron or something." He leant down to kiss her and then left. As soon as the door shut, Ginny flung into her arms. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I love you so much and I can't believe I said all of that! You know I didn't mean it right?"

"Of course, it's fi-"

"Oh, thank god. I thought you'd hate me and I really can't take that right now. I need you, Hermione. I'm so glad you came back." She babbled and Hermione couldn't help but laugh. She seemed in a much better mood. They sat on the bed and Hermione took a deep breath. It was time to start planning, she wanted to keep Ginny on track so that she had less chance of derailing in future.

"So, when are you going to tell your mum? Maybe we should go and see her this weekend? You said that Mrs Pomfrey knows, did she tell Ms McGonagall?"

"Yeah she said she had to tell her, and yes I would like to go and see Mum as soon as possible."

"Okay, great. So you're definitely keeping it?"

"Definitely." She said with a smile. "Don't get me wrong, it's going to be hard. I didn't plan for this at all and my whole life has changed now. But, after you left I was sitting here alone, quite depressed actually when I realised that I wasn't alone. I had a life inside of me, that I created. And I thank the universe that I have Harry in my life, so why should I regret bringing something into this world that is half made up of him?"

"That's great, Ginny. I'm so happy for you." They both smiled excitedly and Hermione realised that she truly was happy for her.