Yea, this plot is mine, but the characters and anything else from the books are not mine. Sorry. Cant take credit for something that is not mine. This came to me when I was half asleep the other day. So enjoy

Hermione is 26

Severus is 46

Hermione paced her floor in her room at Hogwarts. About two years ago she had come back to teach Charms. It felt like she had never left her second home. But right now, her mind wasn't on work for once. It was on something more important. Her hand reached down to her slightly protruding stomach as she thought and paced. How could she tell him this of all things? Would he yell at her saying it was all her fault? Would he leave her? Would he accept it and tell her that he loved her? It would just crush her if he wanted nothing to do with her anymore because of this. He was a part of her soul, her being. Sitting in a nearby chair, she sighed, thinking back to their first kiss.

Flashback

"Welcome back, Miss Granger," replied a silky deep voice from behind her.

Hermione turned around from where she was putting papers on her new desk, waiting for classes to start. To her surprise, there he stood. The very man that had torment her and her friends and plagued her mind. The tall form of the dark, mysterious and loner Potions Professor. "You were the last person I'd expect to welcome me back. I'd thought this would be tortuous to you."

Unbeknownst to her, Severus had thought about her. She was what plagued his thoughts around her sixth and seventh year. The only thing that ever stopped him from making a move was the fact, at the time, she was a student. A beautiful, smart and mature witch. He had watched her closely, trying to figure her out. In all that time, he learned what an amazing person she was. Ever day his feelings for the young witch grew. She was in his thoughts, his dreams and everywhere else. Now, she was back. Time to make his move. "I came to welcome back one of greatest students." Back in her school days, the Professor called her a know-it-all, annoying witch. Now he was giving her a compliment. There was something different about the man she had grown up around she concluded after the shock of his recent compliment wore off. Not once had he insulted her nor was he nasty. Instead there was a gentle air about him. "Was that a compliment, Severus? I didn't think you'd have one for a know-it-all."

That was the first time that his name was spoken from the young woman standing in front of him. It sounded heavenly. "Don't doubt what I think about you, Hermione. You were my brightest student, but you aren't my student anymore. You are a member of the staff, an equal to say. Certain things are now acceptable."

"What kind of things, Severus?" asked Hermione, as she stepped closer to him and lowered to her voice. Something had come over her to make her bolder in front of her former Professor.

"You should know I had hoped to seek you out again. Your company should not go unwanted. I've heard great things about you. The third hand in defeating the Dark Lord," he replied, as casually as he could.

"We are equals, Severus. I tried to show you that when I was in school. But each time, you pushed me away. Insulted me and called me a know-it-all nuisance till I gave up and went back to my rooms," she reminded coldly. That was always a sore spot in her childhood. Being called a know-it-all was not something that she had enjoyed, along with the name mud blood.

Severus took a step closer to her so that they were no more than a few inches away from each other. His strong arms gripped her shoulders as his eyes bore into hers. "Hermione, I never meant to hurt you. Back then, it was not allowed. I was just trying to let you live."

"Let me live! I just wanted to be your friend. Why couldn't you let me do that?" asked Hermione, stubbornly. It had come back to her in a rush of memories from her past. All her failed attempts, all her friendly comments, everything that she had done just tore at her heart. No one understood why she tried so hard to become friends with the evil bat of the dungeons.

"You need to understand why I did what I did. If I let you near me, you would have discovered my secret…"

"I know more about you than most do. What secrets could you possibly be hiding? What was so clandestine that I couldn't be your friend!" demanded Hermione. Her hands pulled his arms off her shoulders in a fury.

Doing the one that that was show the enraged woman in front of him what he meant, Severus bent his head down and kissed her. It was a long and passionate kiss. One that left Hermione breathless and in shock. When he pulled away, he smiled at her. "That secret."

End Flashback

After their first kiss, they had begun to spend more time with each other. Quiet evenings in one of their chambers grading papers or talking the night away. They sat next to each other in the Great Hall and during any other staff meetings, went on supply outings, long walks, visits to Hogsmed and spent some much time together the other members of the staff were being to wonder. Of course kisses were exchanged between them that soon led to touches. That soon led to amazing sex that they craved only from each other. Normally they had remembered to use protection, but occasionally they forgot especially in those heat-of-the-moment moments.

It was those moments that led her to her dilemma now. Over the two years that they had spent together, Severus had eased up. He was gentle with her and understanding. Mostly that was with her and her alone. Occasionally his old behavior reared its ugly head, but not often enough.

Most of her friends and family had warmed up to the idea of Severus being around Hermione. After a few well placed threats from the Weasely men and her father, Severus assured them he would never hurt her or leave her. But would that hold up? After all, it was only recently that he had given up on the fact there was an age difference or that she deserved better. It was always the same thing. He'd complain, and she'd reassure him that she loved him and only him.

Well, it was now or never. She would have to do it even if he told her that he didn't love her or that he would leave her. It needed to be done before she lost her cool once more. This dilemma was not going to go away nor did she want it too. After all, it was already at least four months in.

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