DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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A/N: Hello! This is my third fanfic; my first short story. I know that SAVELIUS isn't finished yet, but there's another SevMione story in my mind and I have to write them down. Now! XD
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I intended this to be a one-shot but I just can't stop writing! Perhaps three chapters. Hehe.
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CHAPTER 1: A Bun in the Oven
~~SSHG~~
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Hermione frowned as she scans the different career pamphlets on the dining table. There are actually a lot of career choices for her, being the second best student in her year, with nine O's in her O.W.L.s and one E. She's qualified to be an Auror Trainee, an Unspeakable just like Ted, or even a Healer Trainee. She could also secure a job at the Minister's Office and be an undersecretary in four to five years.
But what do I want?
Hermione drifted from her musings when a pair of strong hands encircled her waist and someone nuzzled her neck from behind. "You left the bed early," he whispered.
Hermione raised her hand and touched her boyfriend's cheek. "If you're living with a four-year old in a small three-bedroom house, you have to get up early and clean her mess," she said lightly. Her boyfriend… no, fiancé, who's now wearing a shirt and pair of khaki pants, chuckled and moved to sit beside her. He eyed the different pamphlets on the table.
"So, have you decided what you want after graduation?" Hermione smiled at the silky voice. They've been together for two years now (thanks to Potter and his gang); but still, his voice can cause shiver down her spine.
"Oh yes," Hermione answered sweetly. "I'll marry my gorgeous and brilliant boyfriend, get a flat in London and live with him."
Severus Snape chuckled and placed a hand around her shoulders. "I know that already—you want to be my wife and live in London with me. But we've been practically living together for two years now, witch," he reminded her with pure amusement.
She snorted and rolled her eyes at Severus. "I thought you're the brightest and best student in our year. But I just discovered that you don't know how to count," she teased. "We've been practically living together for five years—since nineteen seventy-two."
Severus chuckled. "Oh yeah, because we live in Hogwarts."
"See? I should be the top student, not you." Severus Snape was the top student in their year, but he did not become the Head Boy due to his... what was Dumbledore's term? 'Lack of sociability'. Hermione, being the top witch was offered the Head Girl, but she declined upon learning that Potter was made Head Boy. She cannot work with one of her fiancé's tormentors, and definitely not James Bloody Potter, even if in her past life, or rather in an alternate universe, he was her friend's father. On the other hand, she was grateful because the place she decline was offered to Lily Evans. She's quite disappointed because the red-head Gryffindor was Sev's best friend, but she never forgave him for that incident by the lake. No matter, Hermione cannot hate Lily because she saved her life once.
She was pulled away from her thoughts when Severus snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Uh, yeah. I'll write a letter to Dumbledore, telling him that the top student should be Hermione Tonks," she heard Severus mutter in agreement and kissed Hermione's temple. She giggled and was about to kiss her lips when someone reminded her where they are.
"Aunt 'Mione! Uncle Sev!" A small voice called from behind.
"Good morning, little Nymph," Severus greeted the four-year old girl. Today, the little metamorphmagus is sporting a long bubble gum blue hair and brown eyes. She's still wearing her pyjamas like Hermione, though she left Severus on their bed about an hour ago.
Nymphadora Tonks scowled at her 'Uncle Sev'. "Don't call me a nymph," she complained and climbed to Hermione's lap. "Aunt 'Mione, is there a baby in your tummy?" the child asked innocently, poking her cloth-covered stomach.
Hermione raised an eyebrow and stared at Severus with wide eyes. "No, there isn't. Why did you ask?" she asked curiously. Nymphadora is a talkative and smart kid; smart enough to pick words from adults around her. She doesn't do baby talking anymore. When she turned four several months ago, she was already speaking straight. Sometimes, Hermione feels like her niece is already an adult.
"Mum's friend at The Leaky Cauld-won asked yesterday if it's true you're marrying Uncle Sev. Mum said yes and the woman asked again if you have a bun in the oven. I thought you're baking... But you don't know how to cook, so I asked Mum what it means. A bun in the oven means there's a baby inside your tummy," Nymphadora explained, poking her stomach again.
Hermione and Severus laughed out loud at Nymphadora's words. "You, little cheek!" she muttered, squeezing the girl's cheeks. "Don't mind them. I am not having a baby yet. I'm marrying Uncle Sev because I love him."
"Dora? Where are you, little girl?" came a man's voice.
Nymphadora slipped out of Hermione's lap. "Daddy's home!"
The kitchen door opened and Edward 'Ted' Tonks entered the house, scooping up his daughter into his arms. "'Morning, Ted," Hermione greeted.
Ted Tonks turned to the dining table. "'Mione, Severus... Good morning to you, lovers," he teased.
"How are you, Ted?" Severus asked.
Ted put Nymphadora down and waved his wand to prepare a cup of tea. "Had a long night. I wish I could tell you some news, like a raid, an ongoing case or the Prophet's latest scoop, but those are not the kind of job I have." Ted chuckled. "So, all I can tell you is that, I had a loooong night." He yawned.
Ted is an Unspeakable. They do not know what they do in his department or what kind of job he has. But one thing's clear: he's guarding the Ministry's secret rooms. "So, Hermione, Severus, did you manage to find a flat in London? Christmas holidays will be over in less than a week," he said conversationally.
"We looked around the town yesterday," Severus told him. "Found some nice flats, but very expensive. We have money, but it's not practical to get an expensive place while we're not yet even deciding on our careers." When Severus came of age, he received a letter from Gringotts bank, telling him about his inheritance from the Prince family, his mother's parents. When his pure-blood mother, Eileen Prince, married Tobias Snape, a Muggle, she was disowned. When Severus went to Hogwarts, all of his things were hand-me-down and his robes were second-hand. The moment he learned that he has a vault full of gold in Gringotts, he did not hesitate to propose to Hermione. He was very confident that he could marry her after graduation and provide her needs. But still, though Severus has money, they can't spend a large amount of gold for a flat alone.
Ted nodded in agreement. "You know, you could just stay here for a while... maybe a year, until you settle into your chosen careers," he suggested.
"Ted, we appreciate it, but really..." Hermione trailed off when Ted scrunched his face.
"Hermione, Severus was practically living here for two years now," he said with a chuckle. "You're not bothering us. And honestly, Andromeda, Dora and I are not yet ready for you and Severus to move out."
Hermione and Severus stared at one another and then turned to Ted again. "Er, we'll talk about it tonight," she said to her brother with assurance.
"Wonderful," he said. "Well, I'm off to bed. I'm really tired." After sending Nymphadora to her mother in the garden, Ted went to bed.
Severus checked the clock. "I should get going," he said. "Mum must've been cooking breakfast for Tobias by now," he said grimly.
Hermione looked at him sadly. "Can't your Mum move in with us once we get our own place?" she asked.
"I've asked her, but she won't leave him," Severus replied and was on his feet, but bent to kiss Hermione.
Hermione returned the kiss with passion. She smirked against his lips. She still couldn't get enough of his kisses. "Go, before I change my mind," she whispered.
Severus smirked as well. "Sorry, love. I have to go home and check on her," he apologized. "Furthermore, you know very well that my father will be looking for me anytime soon. He has no idea that I've been sleeping in another house," he reminded her.
"No," she protested, ignoring what he said about Tobias. "I'm sorry because I cannot stand even a night at your house," she said sincerely.
Severus let out a heavy sigh. "I cannot blame you; and I do not want you to go there. It brings back bad memories. I'd rather come here every day. At least you're safe with your family and this is a home."
Hermione smirked playfully. "Perhaps you'd want to rephrase that? You come here every night, Mr. Snape."
He chuckled and cupped her cheeks. "Yeah," he whispered seductively. "I've been coming to you every single night for two years and I never get tired of it. As much as I hate Black and his friends for what they did, I admit, this curse brought you to me and being with you is the most incredible thing in my life."
Hermione's heart was filled with joy by his words, so she reached for the back of his head, pulled him gently and claimed his lips. "You should be thankful that I was a meddling know-it-all; I knew the counter-curse and was willing to give it to you for the rest of my life," she whispered back.
Severus laughed with pure amusement. "That's a very nice counter-curse, then: sleeping with you every night. Oh, Hermione, you do realize that you're stuck with me for the rest of your life?"
Hermione shook her head. "You, Mr. Snape, are stuck with me for the rest of your life. Without me, you'll forever be alone, become a snarky, lonesome and unpleasant man no one would ever dare to cross and it's all because of Sirius Bloody Black, thank you very much," she said with glee.
Severus scowled upon hearing the name of his nemesis. "He should've been expelled, but old fool Dumbledore just gave him detentions for the rest of the year."
Hermione caressed his cheek. "We only have six months in school, and then we'll never see their faces ever again," she said in attempt to calm him.
It worked. Severus grinned and kissed her again. His hands which were on Hermione's shoulder blades started to move south. Hermione pushed him away a little. "Your mum," she said weakly.
Severus pulled away, but did not remove his hands from her waist. "Yes. I should go and check on Mother," he told her again. "See you in the evening."
Hermione nodded. "See you in the evening," she replied and watched Severus as he went to the backyard to Disapparate.
