Ron looked as if he swallowed a bug, "What do you mean? How could you be having his baby? He's dead!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Thank you for that observation, Ron. I told you, it's a Muggle technique. They use science and intelligence rather than magic all the time. Before he died, Snape and I went to what is known as a sperm bank. His gave them a sample once a week for four weeks. They freeze the sperm so it can be used at a later date. His samples have been frozen for over 21 years."
"And you agreed to all this? Without even discussing it with me first? You are my wife and I support you and our children, but I don't know if I can support someone else's kid!" Ron was distressed by Hermione's rash decision but he was more upset by the fact that he wasn't included.
Hermione stood with her hands on her hips, "This is why, Ron! This is why I didn't tell you. Your attitude toward Snape even after we learned the truth was 'he's okay but its better he's dead.' You didn't care that Dumbledore was right all along and that Harry wishes that Snape had never been killed. Before the Battle of Hogwarts, when Harry and I were in the forest before you came back, Snape came to me. I was out of the protected area wearing the cloak and he appeared about ten feet from me. At the time, I thought he was with Voldemort so I was ready to kill him, but I didn't know if he was alone, so I waited. Then he spoke my name. I gasped loudly, giving myself away. He didn't make a move, though. He began talking to me about him not being a bad person and that soon enough, we'd know this is never what he wanted. He said he wanted to be able to fight You-Know-Who. That was the first thing I noticed. He said 'You-Know-Who.'
Most people said that, except his followers, who called him 'the Dark Lord.' Even if he was still with Voldemort and he was just trying to discover me, he would have said 'the Dark Lord.' Voldemort would have found it disrespectful."
"So he was standing right there and you didn't jinx him?" Ron sounded irritated.
Hermione flopped down on the couch, "Ronald! You see how you are! You, even now, still hate him! You are hopeless!"
Ron shrugged, "Sorry 'Mione. I can't help it. So finish the story."
"Argh. Fine. He was saying that I would probably never believe him. He wanted to ask me something, but he would wait until another time, when I would trust him. I didn't know what to do, but no one had stunned me yet, so I took the chance and took the cloak off. For the first time in my life, I saw him smile. Not his usual sneer, but a genuine smile. He said, 'Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me. Can we talk?' Then we talked. He told me how he knew he would not make it to see next year. He said he would have liked to have children. He loved Harry's mother. That is part of the reason he hated Harry so much. He was the son of Lily and another man. He always wished he were that other man. He knew he wouldn't be able to father children naturally, but that didn't keep him from wanting them. He said, 'I may never know my children, but I want someone to have my name. I am not a bad person. I've made some mistakes, but I'm not a bad guy." Then he told me he had heard of Muggle procedures they could do. To get pregnant without having sex. I explained what I knew and what needed to be done. The only reason I knew of it all anyway is that my aunt needed the procedure. So I agreed." Hermione got quiet; afraid Ron was going to start screaming again.
Ron was red in the face, but maintained the level of his voice, "You agreed. Just like that. He didn't tell you anything that Harry learned from Snape's memories. You just said, 'Sure, I'll be the mother of your kids.' I don't understand."
"I had every right to back out. He said that he would go to the clinic and make a deposit a few times. I would go with him the first time to talk with the nurses. We would make sure his DNA was meant only for me. He told me that if, at the end of everything, I did not want to do it after what I had learned, I did not have to do it. At anytime after his death, I could change my mind. I could do it whenever I was ready. So, I did not figure you and I were having any more children and to tell you the truth, I was not even sure we were going to stay together. I figured I probably should do it before I put the baby or myself at risk for complications. The older the mother, the more complications there could be. Ron, I'm sorry. I really am, but Severus Snape was a good man. Dumbledore was right all along and I think it's time we respect that. If only out of respect for Dumbledore's memory. It was Snape's last wish. I wanted to give him something to show that I appreciate what he did for all of us. I understand that this may have put a strain on our relationship, but if you love me, you will accept it." Hermione got up, poured Ron a glass of Fire Whiskey, and handed it to him.
Ron downed the glass before speaking, "Hermione, I really wish you would have told me beforehand. I understand why you didn't, but I still don't know what to say. I don't think you should come home for a while. I'll send you a message when I'm ready to talk."
Hermione nodded, "I respect that. I will most likely be at Gin's though."
"Have you told them yet?" Ron asked as he rose from his seat.
Hermione shook her head, "You needed to be told first Ron. They are second. Rose and Hugo will be after that. I will probably wait until they come home for Christmas. I do not want to tell them in a letter. I am asking you; do not tell them, please. I think they should hear it from me."
"All right. Do me a favor, will you? After you tell Harry, will you tell him to come over?" Ron inquired.
Hermione gave Ron a hug, "Sure. Ron, I still love you."
Ron nodded and disapparated, leaving Hermione alone in her parents' den.
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Harry and Ginny were sitting at the kitchen table having tea when they heard a small pop, indicating someone had just arrived. When there was a knock on the door, they did not know who it was. Almost everyone they knew just walked in. Ginny got up and opened the door to find Hermione standing there looking uneasy. "Mione, come in. What are you doing out here? You know you could have come in."
Hermione nodded and entered, "I know. I'm sorry. My mind was elsewhere. Can I talk to you guys for a few minutes?"
"Sure Mione. You can talk to us about anything. Have a seat." Harry pulled back a chair for Hermione and noticed she had just slipped Ginny's wand inside her robes. 'This can't be good. Hermione knows Ginny is going to want to curse her. Definitely not good.' Harry thought to himself.
Ginny did not notice her wand was gone, "What's going on? You look like something is wrong."
"Neither of you are going to like what I have to say, but I'm asking you to please hear all of what I have to say before jumping to conclusions. If you wait until the end, I promise it will not be as bad as you initially think."
Harry agreed. Ginny stiffened slightly, but nodded, "Okay. Go ahead."
"I'm pregnant. It's not Ron's baby." Hermione explained quickly.
Ginny jumped to her feet, "What? You cheated on my brother! Hermione, I always thought of you as my sister! How could you do this to Ron? To all of us?" She reached for her wand, but realized it wasn't there.
Harry spoke up, "Gin. Hermione has your wand. Now she asked us to let her explain. I think it's not what you expect." Ginny sat down in her chair, glaring at Hermione.
Hermione continued to tell them everything that she had told Ron. As the story progressed, you could see Ginny's anger ebbing. After no more interruptions, Hermione asked them what they thought.
"Hermione, I think you did a good thing. I think, though, it was wrong that you didn't tell Ron. He is your husband." Harry gave his opinion.
Hermione shook her head, "I know exactly what you mean, but he would have never saw it the way we do. He still talks about how much he is glad Severus isn't teaching anymore. 'They won't have to suffer through that scum's classes.' He never got over the fact that he killed Dumbledore. No matter why. If I had told him about it, he would have forbid me to do it, and then he would have been even madder that I did it without his consent. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded and grinned a softly, "I do understand Hermione. How about you Gin?"
Ginny looked up at Hermione through tear-filled eyes, "Oh Hermione. I'm sorry that I thought those things. This is something great that you are doing and I'm proud to have you as a sister. My brother can be so bone-headed."
Hermione hugged Ginny and cried, "Thank you guys for your support. I really wish that Ron saw it the way you do, but I understand why he's mad."
Harry nodded, "Well, he should get over it."
"Can I ask you guys something?" Hermione asked.
Ginny replied, "Sure, anything."
"Can I stay here for a while? Ron told me not to come home until he has had time to think about everything and I think that's fair. I could stay at my parents' house but I don't want to be alone right now." Hermione requested and Harry and Ginny agreed at once. "Thanks guys. One more thing, Harry, Ron wants to know if you will go over there. Tell him I'm sorry and tell him to take all the time he needs, but to remember I still love him."
Harry stood and pulled his shoes on, "Sure. I might be over there for the night, but I will send word. Love you," he kissed Ginny before turning to Hermione, "I love you too, you know. You and Ron are my best friends. I am so used to being in between the two of you it will be just like old times." He kissed Hermione on the cheek and exited out the door, disappearing with a pop.
Hermione turned back to Ginny, "Here's your wand back. I knew what you would be like until I explained. I am sorry for what I'm doing to Ron. Do you think it will be okay?"
Ginny nodded, "I'm sure it will be. Give Harry some time with him and he'll come around. Now let's go into the living room. There a few things I want to talk to you about too." As they sat down on the couch, Hermione was ready for anything Ginny had to say, almost, "Hermione. We all had our fair share of dating other people before we settled down. You, however, didn't really want to go out with anyone else. You loved Ron. You waited for him to grow up a little before you started dating him. I always thought that there was someone you weren't telling us about. I thought that maybe it was Viktor. I had my doubts that you and Ron would get together, but then you did. Now I realize there was someone else you were in love with, but it wasn't Krum, was it?"
Hermione shook her head, "No."
"I knew it. I was Snape wasn't it? When you said, 'He still talks about how much he is glad Severus isn't teaching anymore.' I have never heard you call him that unless you add the last name on too. You were in love with Snape."
Hermione just nodded.
Ginny continued, "Did anything happen between the two of you in the forest?"
Again, Hermione only nodded.
"Hermione, why didn't you ever say anything to me before? How have you been able to keep it all in?" Ginny questioned.
Hermione shrugged, "I keep a diary. Ron never goes in the kitchen unless there is food on the table, so I keep it in one of my cookbooks. Whenever I need to get rid of my thoughts, I just put them in the cookbook and seal it back up. It's my own spell, so even if Ron tried to get into it, all he'd be able to find is recipes. Besides, I was afraid you'd be mad."
"Mione, I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything. Let me ask, do you still love him?" Ginny looked somewhat concerned.
Hermione nodded, "I wish he hadn't died. I wish I could have been with him, but I wouldn't trade your brother for him. If he hadn't died, things might have been different, but he did. I love Ron with all my heart and we have two beautiful children together. A child is the last gift I can give the other man I used to love."
"That's all I needed to hear. Just to know you do not regret being with Ron. Although, I want you to know, if he hadn't died, and you chose him over Ron, I would have been there for you just the same." Ginny comforted Hermione.
Hermione smiled, "I know Gin. Thanks. By the way, was there something you wanted to tell me?"
Ginny giggled, "Well, it just so happens there is. Its funny this should be happening to you now. Harry and I were talking about it when you came in."
"What's that? Are you pregnant too?" Hermione asked with a slight giggle.
Ginny laughed, "Yes, I am."
