Author's Note: Hey everyone! Here's a new story, I hope you like it!Not a oneshot!Rated T just in case. (By the way, this isn't a follow up to 'After the War' or 'One Perfect Day')

Hermione Granger sat on her favorite couch in the head common room, staring at the fire. The tears she had been holding in all day were freely falling down her face now. She couldn't hold them in any longer. She knew she had to think about the problem at hand and what her options were, but for now, she just had to ignore it. She couldn't think about it… not yet anyway.

Hermione's sobs got harder. She pulled her knees close to her chest and started rocking back and forth. She was top of her class at Hogwarts. She was Head Girl, she had was sure to get top marks on all of her exams, the ministry was already pelting her with job offers in the owl post every morning, and mostly she had someone who loved her very much.

She and Ron had finally given up fighting it and told each other their feelings at Dumbledore's funeral. They had only gotten stronger while destroying the Horcruxes with Harry. Now that Voldemort was gone and they had come back to school for the short remainder of the term (mostly so Harry could be with Ginny) she and Ron were closer than ever.

Ron was doing incredibly well too. He had become so mature after everything that happened over the past few months and after almost loosing Hermione. He was doing remarkable in all of his classes and now he too was getting more and more job offers every day. Thinking about this only made Hermione cry harder.

She couldn't do this to Ron. She couldn't bring his whole world crashing down, right when he was doing so well. She would be taking everything from him. She could never do that.

The fire was getting low and starting to go out, so Hermione took a lot of deep, calming breaths. It was time to start thinking about what to do, because she couldn't ignore it. Hermione Granger, perfect student and Head Girl at Hogwarts, was pregnant.

The next day was Saturday and Hermione had stayed up all night, but she left her room at 6 am to make sure that she was awake before anyone else. She had decided what to do last night, and as much as it killed her, she knew she had to do it.

She ran as quietly as she could towards Professor McGonagall's office. Since she was head girl, she knew the password and as soon as the phoenix statue moved aside, Hermione began walking up the stairs, even though her legs and heart felt like led. When she reached the door she knocked firmly three times. Hermione tried as hard as she could to fight it, but she could feel the tears building up in her eyes.

The door swung open to reveal Professor McGonagall who had obviously not been up for long.

"Ms. Granger! What on earth…" McGonagall cut off when she saw Hermione's blotched and tired face. She looked as if she was about to start crying for what McGonagall strongly suspected would be one of many recent times. McGonagall put an arm around Hermione's shoulders and led her to a chair to sit in.

"Ms. Granger, all you alright? Why are you here at such an early hour on a Saturday?"

Hermione gratefully accepted a tissue from McGonagall and wiped her eyes. "Professor, I don't know how to say this mildly. Any way I put it, it's still going to sound bad."

McGonagall waited anxiously as Hermione drew in a long, deep breath. When she exhaled she said, "Professor, I'm going to have a baby."

McGonagall felt herself go sheet white. All blood drained from her face and Hermione felt too ashamed to look at her. After a very elongated pause, McGonagall said, "Oh my. Have you decided what to do?"

Hermione nodded weakly. When McGonagall didn't say anything, she saw that she wanted her to elaborate. "Professor, I don't want anyone to know. I am keeping the baby and I know that I'm young, but I couldn't bear the thought of giving up my own child. I'm so scared."

Hermione turned her head away and looked towards the window. She put one hand over her mouth and McGonagall noticed that her other hand lingered on her stomach.

"Ms. Granger, I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I also respect and support your decision. Now do you have any plans besides what you have just told me or do you need me to help you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No Professor, I know what I'm going to do. I'm leaving school, today or tomorrow. I think I'm going to go ahead and leave today."

If anything shocked McGonagall, this was it. "But Ms. Granger, where will you go? Back to your parents?"

Hermione shook her head again. "No, I'm not moving back in. I've told them about everything and they agreed with me when I said I want to stay in the magical world. I think that since my child will most likely be a witch or wizard, then they deserve to grow up as one. I know I wish I could have."

"Where will you stay then?" McGonagall asked.

"Tom, the bartender, agreed to give me room at a really cheap price above The Leaky Cauldron. I can use my reward money from helping kill Voldemort to pay rent and help get everything I need. That money alone is a small fortune. Then Tom also agreed to let me have a job as a waitress."

"But Ms. Granger, The Leaky Cauldron is quite a popular place in the wizarding world. If you want no one to know about this, don't you think it unwise to work and live there?"

"I thought about that too, but you barely see anyone under 40 come in there regularly. The only time a large crowd of younger people come in is right before the start of term."

McGonagall paused again. She knew that Hermione was thinking this through logically and she respected that. At least she knew that Hermione would be able to handle this. "Ms. Granger, I am assuming that Mr. Weasley is the father. What has he said about these plans?"

Hermione's eyes quickly filled with tears and they spilled down her cheeks faster than before. "Professor, Ron doesn't know either."

McGonagall dropped the two cups of tea she had been fixing. "Do you mean to tell me that you are not going to inform Mr. Weasley of this?"

Hermione's tears turned to sobs. "No, Professor. When I said I didn't want anyone to know, I meant it. I can't tell Ron this now. He has so much to offer to the world, and if I tell him this it would be jerking it all away. It just wouldn't be fair to him."

"But Ms. Granger, do you think it wise that he not know?"

"I can't tell Ron. It's for the best."

McGonagall gave Hermione a now repaired cup of tea and then sank weakly back into her chair. "What about Mr. Potter? Will he know?"

Hermione shook her head no.

"Ms. Granger, are you simply going to disappear?"

Hermione sighed. "I suppose it could be put like that."

Hermione and McGonagall sat in an easy silence until they had both finished their tea.

"Well Ms. Granger, would you like me to help you take your things to The Leaky Cauldron?"

Hermione stared at McGonagall with wide eyes. "Do you mean it? Would you really?"

McGonagall nodded. "Since you have made the decision to leave Hogwarts, you are no longer my student and I may say that over these past seven years, I have come closer to Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and yourself more than any pupils I have ever taught in my time. I must say that I love you all beyond the boundaries of teacher and student. I couldn't bear the thought of you having to do all of this on your own."

Hermione got up and ran around the desk to wrap McGonagall in an enormous hug. When they broke apart, McGonagall dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and got up from her chair.

"Ms. Granger…" She was cut off by a wave of Hermione's hand.

"Professor, as you said, I'm not your student anymore. Will you please call me Hermione from now on?"

McGonagall was a bit taken aback by this, but agreed. "Hermione it is then, but I insist on you calling me Minerva. But as I was saying, it is only 6:45 am on a Saturday morning. I'm sure no one will leave their dormitories until at least 8:45 seeing as breakfast isn't served until 9."

Hermione nodded. "I have most of my things packed, but it is a good deal of stuff."

Hermione paused. "Professor, uh, I mean Minerva, it is a lot of stuff… do you think that Professor Lupin and Hagrid might help us?"

McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "I thought no one was to know about this?"

"Well, I'm sure Hagrid, Remus, and Tonks could know and not tell anyone. I trust them with this."

McGonagall agreed. They went and woke a very confused Remus Lupin and asked him to come to Hagrid's hut with them. He agreed, but was still extremely confused.

They walked in to Hagrid's hut and Hermione and McGonagall explained the situation to the two men. They sat in a shocked silence for a few minutes before agreeing to help. Remus said that Tonks would be happy to help Hermione set up the apartment as well.

Hermione put the last of her clothes in to her trunk and thought to herself, "These aren't going to fit for much longer."

She looked around the room one last time. It was bare now, except for the trunk that was at her feet. She felt a strong wave of sadness wash over her. It was hard for her to leave the castle, but she knew she hadn't reached the hardest part yet.

Remus came into the room and asked, "Is this the last of it?"

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, this is it."

Remus gave her an understanding smile and gave her a reassuring hug. "Tonks is going to meet us at the Leaky Cauldron. She can't wait to start decorating."

Hermione let out a laugh. She knew Remus was just trying to make her feel better and she had to admit that it was working a little. Hagrid was happy too. He was glad that she was moving above the Leaky Cauldron so that he would be able to visit her on a regular basis.

Remus walked out of the room with the trunk and Hermione sat down at a small desk against the wall and took out three separate pieces of parchment and a quill.

The first letter she addressed to Ginny. It said: Dear Gin, You are the best friend I've ever had. I love you very much and I'm going to miss you horribly. I'm so happy for you and Harry. I always knew that you loved him, and somehow I knew that he loved you too. You're going to do great Gin, with everything. Just remember to study for your exams for once! With all my love, Hermione

The second letter she addressed to Harry. Dear Harry, I'm sorry that I'm not saying goodbye in person, but you have to understand that it's easier this way. Harry, I love you so much. You're the brother I never had and I could never ask for anything more of you than the friendship you've given me over these last years. The only thing I do ask is for you to watch Ron for me. Take care of Ginny and be happy that you have her. I love you always. Hermione

She dreaded writing this final letter, because it was by far going to be the hardest, but she began writing all the same. My dearest Ron, I'm sorry that I'm leaving like this and I'm even sorrier that I can't say goodbye in person. Know that I love you so much. No matter where we go or what happens to us, my love is always with you. Please be happy and don't mull over my leaving. You're going to do so many great things Ron. You can do absolutely anything. It is so hard for me to say goodbye to you, but I do love you with all my heart. Just don't ever forget me, okay? Hermione

Hermione looked over the letter and cringed at the tear spots on it. She sealed all of the letters and put a picture in all of them. In Ginny's, she put a picture of the two of them laughing with huge smiles on their faces at a party celebrating Voldemort being gone. In Harry's letter she put a picture of herself and Harry sitting on the front steps of Hagrid's hut, smiling and waving. In Ron's letter, she put Ron's favorite picture of the two of them. It was Ron and Hermione standing by the lake and Ron was picking her up and swinging her around before kissing her.

Hermione wiped her eyes and left the letters on the table in front of the portrait hole, so that Harry, Ron, and Ginny would be sure to find them when they came to wake her up in about an hour. She put the letters directly beside a framed photo of all four of them together. She was going to miss them so much, but the way she figured it, this was for the best.

Hermione took one last look around the room as if to say a final goodbye. She smiled as she looked at everything and brought back memories. She let the tears fall with out fighting them back, because some of them were actually happy tears. With one final sigh, Hermione Granger left Hogwarts.