A/N: I hope you enjoyed the prologue and were intrigued enough to keep reading. I don't have much to say other than I hope you enjoy. And since I didn't put this in front of the prologue:

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I aspire to be as good a writer as Rowling, but nothing more. I am simply playing with her creations.

Chapter One

Hermione stepped out of Flourish and Blott's carrying a heavy bag of new books while pushing a pram, humming softly. Next on her list was lunch and she headed over towards a small new cafe that was run by a girl from her class, Susan Bones. She was a very good chef, and priced her food reasonably.

But today, when she walked through the door, she saw someone she had not seen in a very long time and was not expecting to see. He was sitting alone and still browsing the menu as he stirred his coffee using wandless magic. And he was at her usual table. She thought about saying hello, it would have been the polite thing to do; instead she walked over to the hostess and asked for a table for one.

"Hermione, oh, we were expecting you a little earlier, we're swamped today, and Professor Snape is at your usual table."

"I noticed, is there any table available, I took a little too long at Flourish and Blott's. I have a meeting in an hour and a half."

"I don't know exactly when we'll have a table. That article in the Prophet about how you frequent here really boosted business."

Hermione sighed, she really didn't have time to wait, and she loved lunch time. But little did she know, her old potions professor had been listening and she was startled when he walked up.

"Ms. Granger, would you care to join me for lunch today?"

Hermione was shocked; his tone was far more pleasant than any of her six years with him as her professor. She was desperate to eat lunch before her next appointment, "Thank you for the offer, Professor, I would love to."

Severus began to return to his seat while Hermione pushed her pram into a corner and pulled out the sleeping child within. When she sat down, she noticed Severus staring at the baby asleep in her arms.

"When did this happen, Ms. Granger?"

"No one escaped the war without something. It just so happened, I got a blessing in disguise. And please, call me Hermione."

They sat in awkward silence as he browsed the menu and she searched through her purse for the small charmed bassinet she kept so she didn't have to hold her son during meals. That was why she chose the table they sat at now, it was against a wall and had enough space between tables that waiters could still walk by without trouble. She hummed softly as she laid him down, knowing it would keep him asleep for the time being.

"How old is he," Severus asked from behind his menu, as she picked hers up.

"Six months. He was born December 9th."

"And what's his name?"

"It's Harvey. It means a battle with a worthy opponent."

Severus nodded and they returned to an awkward silence. A waitress walked over and took their order. Severus decided to have a seafood risotto, while Hermione requested eggplant parmesan.

After a moment of silence, Severus spoke again, "And his father? Do you know who it is?"

Hermione wasn't ready for this conversation. She loved her life with Harvey, and wasn't ready to share him, but she knew it was going to happen anyway.

"Biologically speaking, yes. However he doesn't know and I didn't want to press charges. But George is an excellent stand in. We're getting married in September."

"Congratulations, Hermione."

Maybe he wasn't going to ask about Harvey's father. Maybe she could continue to put off sharing her little boy.

"Why doesn't he know?"

"I'm not sure he would want to. And, if I'm being perfectly honest, I don't want to share him. George has been an excellent father to him. And I guess part of me is scared."

Severus thought for a moment, before speaking, "Hermione, if I were you, I would tell him as soon as possible. A father should know. I know if it were me, I would."

He said it. Those words she didn't want him to say. And of course, in that moment, Harvey woke up, a cry beginning to escape his small mouth.

"Do you mind," she asked hoping he would understand what she was asking and Severus nodded.

She quickly picked up her son and adjusted her clothes, and the infant began feeding quite contently.

"Well when you say it like that, Severus, Harvey is yours."

Severus was in shock as their waitress returned with their food. He didn't remember hearing that they had even caught her until after the war. And she had spoken in his favor at several of his hearings. But when-then he remembered. She was the last girl he-

"I'm sorry, Hermione."

She used her fork with her free hand to cut a piece of eggplant and twirl some spaghetti and took a bite. After wiping her mouth, she looked Severus in the eye with a gentle look, "Don't be. I understand why you did what you did. And now I have him, and he's been a wonderful addition to my life." She wasn't even going to mention that he was a great shag, and she tried to hide the blush in her face at the thought. "And I do want you to be part of his life, I was just being selfish. George actually has been bugging me about contacting you. Threatened to owl you over for dinner."

Severus was in shock and found himself staring at the infant attached to Hermione. And shook memories of that night from his mind before they resurfaced. And then he realized by staring at his son, he was staring at her breasts. So he looked down at his food.

"How long have you known," he asked before taking a bite of risotto.

"Since a few days after he was born. They were giving all children conceived by-unconventional means, DNA tests. They knew I spoke in your favor and asked if I wanted to press charges. I thought about it, but I didn't feel like you deserved that."

"Hermione, what I did to you was not okay. Not acceptable."

"And it's over, and I saw a therapist, still do on occasion, but that night is not the reason. I did not come out of that night scarred. The whole time I felt oddly safe, like whoever it was didn't want to be there either. And when I found out it was you, I knew that I was right. I was just taking time to adjust to life with him, and then George proposed last month and I just have been busy."

The infant started fussing and Hermione pulled him away, adjusting her shirt as she did so and began to burp him and then placed him back in his bassinet. Before continuing to eat her meal. She glanced at her watch; she only had about 20 minutes before she had to leave.

"Severus, would you like to join us for dinner tonight? It's a small family dinner, Harry, George, Ginny, basically the whole Weasley clan, Remus and his son Teddy."

Severus had no desire to join in on that dinner, knowing that even if they didn't hate him, most in attendance would not be fond of his presence. And things would only be worse if they didn't already know that he raped her. But he knew they would all have to adjust, for Harvey. It was still so bewildering that he had a son. But the sweet baby, who was watching his mother with a small smile, was there before his eyes. He wanted to hold him, but he didn't dare ask.

"Thank you Hermione, I would enjoy that," he said after a few minutes of thought.

She finished her meal and reached into her purse for some money as she responded, "Wonderful. I'll just pop by and tell Molly real quick. Thank you for lunch Severus, but I'm afraid I must go. I have some things to do."

She started to leave her portion of the bill on the table, but Severus stopped her, "Hermione let this be my treat. And thank you for your company."

Hermione smiled at him, "Well thank you. And dinner is at 6 o'clock, so try to be there around 5:30, it makes Molly happy to have a houseful of family and friends."

Severus nodded and watched as she picked up their son, who gurgled happily, and packed away the bassinet before heading over and collecting her tram and walking out the door. He had new view of his former student, one that he never thought he could have, and that he was embarrassed to have.

He finished his meal absent-mindedly and paid, before walking out. He needed to show up with something appropriate for his son, and a nice bottle of wine or two for everyone else. It was going to be a very long and tense dinner.