SEHE; Chapter 5

Monday September 01 [16w 0d]

I don't see much of Keelan during the feast or after dinner. I come to the realization that he's avoiding me and wonder what the hell is going on. I finally corner him shortly before I'd planned to go to bed. He looks angry at the mere sight of me. "What's going on?"

"What are you talking about?" I raise an eyebrow and gesture to him.

"You've been avoiding me all day, Keelan. I finally have to force you to talk to me and you're mad. I'll ask again - what is going on?" He rolls his eyes then looks around the common room.

"If you absolutely need to know, fine. But not here. Let's go for a walk." I cross my arms, ready to stand my ground, but think better of it. Defeated, I consent to a walk. We don't get far from the common room before he suddenly stops and turns to face me. "I wanted to do this differently but since you're making me talk to you, I guess this is how it's going to happen." I feel my heart sink to my toes. "We're done." It takes a second for me to process this.

"What?" He sighs in annoyance.

"Do I need to speak slower? We are done."

"Why?" He throws up his arms and I shrink back a little.

"I'm done with this conversation. If you don't know why then you're a bloody blind idiot. Are you done asking me inane questions or can I go now?" Without waiting for an answer he stalks off. I just stare after him, kind of stunned. What?

Not feeling like I'll be able to sleep now, I amble around the castle for a while instead. While on my travels I catch a pair of third year Slytherins out after hours. I escort them to their common room, much to their displeasure. As we're walking down the corridor to their common room, Draco appears and stands in front of us. "What's this? Students out of bed?"

"I've already taken 10 points, Draco. Was just bringing them back. Go on now, you two. And stay in your common room, all right?" Once they're gone Draco gives me a lopsided smirk.

"Couldn't resist taking points on the first day, eh?" Without warning the night suddenly catches up with me and I sink to my knees, my arms around myself. "Oh, hey, I was kidding."

"No, it isn't that. It's been a hard evening. I was taking a walk to clear my head. It obviously didn't work." I scooch back and sit against the wall. Draco sits beside me.

"So what's wrong?" I lean my head on his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something first? And I want absolute honesty, no matter the answer."

"Sure." I take a deep breath.

"Is Keelan cheating on me?" I feel him stiffen a little. His silence also answers for him. I sigh. "He was the person I had to talk to. He was avoiding me and when I finally got him to talk to me, he broke up with me. I didn't even get to tell him."

"Tell him what?" I pause. It seems wrong to tell Draco before Keelan, but what choice do I have now?

"I'm pregnant, Draco." I jerk back in surprise when Draco stands up, pacing the corridor, gesturing as he yells.

"That dirty maggot! How could he be so bloody stupid?"

"He doesn't know, remember?" He dismisses me with a wave of his hand.

"Irrelevant, Bell. He's a right tosser." I rest my forehead on my knees and let a few tears escape. Draco squats down in front of me. "I'm sorry. Look, he's a riddled idiot and if you need me, I'm here to support you. Merlin knows you've helped me more than I can properly thank you for." I look up at him and give him a little smile.

"Walk me back to the tower?" He stands up and extends his hand to me. I accept it and he pulls me to my feet, then into a hug. "Have you gotten taller?" I feel him chuckle.

"Shut it, Muggle." I let another smile escape before a huge yawn lets itself out. "Okay, bed for you. Come on." Draco leads me back to the tower. Before I answer the riddle, I turn to him.

"Thank you." He gives me a puzzled look.

"For what?" I shrug.

"For everything. See you tomorrow?"

"Yep. Goodnight, Annabel. Oh and by the way, happy birthday."

+++

Saturday September 06 [16w 5d]

The first week goes by rather quickly. I spend most of my free time with Lena, who is outraged that Keelan is so stupid. She offers to hex him but I decline. I'd rather just try to forget about him and move on. It proves to be hard when we have about half of the same classes, and not considering we're in the same house. As the days go by he's spending more and more of his time with Penelope Lasks.

"He's unbelievable. I seriously don't know how he can stand himself." I look up from my study notes for Magical Theory to Lena with a surprised look on my face. Until now we'd been studying quietly in the common room. She's looking across the room and I don't have to look to know who she's glaring at.

"Stop, okay?" I look back to my notes but have forgotten what I was going to write. I sigh, close my book, and lean back in the couch. Studying seems to be a pointless endeavor.

"Annabel." I turn at my name to see a fourth year coming into the common room. "Draco Malfoy is loitering outside. Can you make him go away? He's scaring a group of first years." I sigh and get up.

"I'll see you later, Lena. Try not to get into trouble." She just grins at me. I exit the common room to see Draco looking menacingly at a group of kids down the corridor. "Draco! Leave the poor kids alone. Go on, guys." I let them in and then glare playfully at Draco. He just shrugs and smirks. "What are you doing up here? Besides bullying people smaller than you."

"Have you been to Promfrey yet?" I shake my head.

"No, not yet. My schedule is so full that I haven't had the time."

"Well you're in luck, I'm in the business of escorting you to the hospital wing." I laugh as he links arms with me and pulls me to the nearest staircase. "How are you doing? Haven't seen you much." I cock an eyebrow.

"Since when does that matter?"

"It doesn't. Just stating an observation, is all."

"Uh huh. I'm doing fine. Just going to classes, the usual." We walk in silence the rest of the way. I get the feeling Draco has some things to say to me, but I don't push him. Experience tells me that only ends badly. He opens the door to the hospital and lets me in before him. I look around the wing, thanking Merlin that it's empty. Madame Pomfrey bustles out of her office and stops when she sees us.

"What can I do for you, dears?" I glance nervously at Draco.

"I uh.. I'm pregnant." Her eyes dart quickly to Draco before landing back on me. I hide a smile.

"Have a seat on the bed, here." I hop on one of the beds and Draco sits at the foot. "Have you had any prenatal care up until now?"

"Yeah, I saw a doctor at home. Everything is fine."

"How far along are you?" I take a mental count of the weeks.

"Just about 17 weeks."

"And how are you feeling?"

"Fine, actually. Little nausea but no throwing up. Pretty tired but otherwise just fine." Madame Pomfrey nods to herself.

"I'll just do a quick examination. Mr Malfoy, if you could step outside of the curtain." A curtain suddenly springs up around the bed. "Miss Leed, please remove your robes. You can keep your regular clothes on, just pull your shirt up, then lie back on the bed." I do as I'm told and Madame Promfrey prods my stomach, muttering to herself.

"How am I doing doc?"

"Good fundal height. You're measuring about a week ahead but that's nothing to worry about. Let me just check your blood pressure." She takes my wrist and is quiet while she concentrates. "Excellent. You seem to be in great health. I'll just have you pee in this cup-" She conjures a small cup and hands it to me. "-and then bring it back to me." I pull my shirt down, adjust my robes, and get off the bed. Draco is sitting on the next bed.

After I'm done peeing in the cup I bring it to Madame Pomfrey. She mutters a few incantations I don't recognize and the pee turns three different colours. "Wonderful. No proteins, sugars are low, and pH is balanced nicely. Did you have any other questions or concerns?"

"I don't think so. When should I come back?"

"I will talk with the headmaster about trips to St Mungo's. I'm knowledgeable but a prenatal doctor would certainly be better for you. Do any of your professors know?" I reluctantly shake my head.

"It's only the first week and I feel fine, so I didn't want to tell anyone yet. I'm fine with Professor Dumbledore knowing, though." She nods.

"Would you prefer to speak with him yourself?"

"No, if you need to talk with him anyway then you can, if you wouldn't mind."

"That's perfectly fine. Come back tomorrow and I'll let you know what day we go."

"Great. Thank you, Madame Pomfrey."

"You're welcome, dear." I leave the hospital wing with Draco following me.

"I was going to the library, if you'd like to tag along." Draco shakes his head.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to pass this time. See you later?" He gives my arm a small squeeze then saunters off down the corridor. I head for the library, intent to get some studying done.