AN: I am sorry this has taken so long. I have had a serious case of writer's block with this story. I know exactly where I want it to go, I even know already exactly how it is going to end. The only problem is being able to sit and write it. Everyone has had some pretty good guesses on who the mystery man is, but everyone who has guessed, is completely wrong I can say, nobody will even see it coming. A big surprise is in order.

Hermione Granger was confused. This did not happen often so it was a strange feeling for her. Looking across the table at her son talking animatedly to his father (not that either of them knew this) was a shock to her. She had hoped that Severus would love Alex but was worried that he would reject his son. However, they seemed to be getting along fabulously.

She didn't know what to expect when Severus invited them to lunch. She did not expect to be silenced for the entire meal as Severus explained to Alex everything there was to know about Hogwarts. Most of the things Hermione had already told him but he still listened with avid interest.

Looking at the twin dark heads bent together over their lunch warmed her heart. She really hoped that when he found out who Alex really was that he would love him. At first, she thought that Severus would despise the child and hate her even more. Yet, looking at the scene across from her, she felt hope rise in her. Her spirits were lifted and she decided that at the end of the lunch session she would figure out how to pull him aside and let him know exactly who Alex was.

"So you see, the gargoyle will only move aside when provided with the correct password and the Headmaster usually does Muggle candy products," Severus chuckled at the Headmaster's silliness.

When he chuckled, his dark eyes lit up, his inner light shining through his façade. Hermione's heart leapt in her chest and she felt a smile draw her mouth up at the corners. At that moment, Severus looked up at her and her expression froze on her face. Like a deer caught in the headlights, her eyes grew wide and her mouth parted slightly. Her breathing sharpened and her pulse quickened. Her belly grew warm and her underwear became damp. One look from his sexy, mysterious eyes had her wanting to be back in his arms.

Across the table, Severus was having a similar dilemma but was controlling how it showed much better than Hermione was. His face appeared calm but inside, his blood boiled and his mind ran a thousand possibilities of what the two could be doing at this moment instead of eating lunch with her child.

Her child.

The two words snapped his mind back to the present. She had a child. Granted, she wore no wedding ring yet the child was a problem. Severus got along well with children, contrary to popular belief (and actions). The fact of the matter, however, was that he did not want children. Not now, not ever. Children complicate life and make it impossible for someone to get things done.

He could not possibly tie himself to a woman with a child. The consequences for him, and their relationship, would be dire.

And so he dropped his gaze back to his plate. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Hermione flush and look away as well. Alex asked him another question. Ignoring this one, he waved at the waitress to bring them the check. He had to get away from Hermione if he wanted to keep his sanity.

XxXxXxXxXx

Lunch ended soon with a little help from Severus hurrying the arrival of the check. Hoping to escape Hermione for a little while so as to get his traitorous body under control, he opened his mouth to tell her that he would see her in a few days but apparently she had other plans for their day out.

"Severus? Would you take a walk with me? I think we need to catch up with each other." She sounded slightly tense and nervous, as if she didn't really want to talk to him.

His curiosity was piqued with her tone of voice. "Sure. Where did you have in mind?"

"Let's take a walk out to the Shrieking Shack. Alex can play while we talk." She wondered if he understood the importance of the place that she suggested. Probably not since she never told a soul that the Shrieking Shack is where she first developed her crush on him. It was so brave how he shielded Her, Ron, and Harry from Professor Lupin.

Nodding his acceptance, he gestured her and Alex to take the lead. Alex took his mother's hand and chatted the whole way out to the Shack. Along the way, she explained how the Shack got its name and how it was really her ex-professor Remus Lupin that was howling in the rundown house.

Severus, having already known the whole story, couldn't help but watch Hermione talk as they walked. She looked beautiful and animated while talking to her son. And speaking of her son, he looked vaguely familiar. His black hair surely didn't come from Hermione as her hair was a light brown. Not only that, but he did not have her eye shape or facial shape. Contemplating who the child's father was, he was surprised to see that they had arrived at the Shrieking Shack already.

Alex ran off to a tree to climb and play, the sunlight making his black hair look blue. He truly was a beautiful child.

Hermione and Severus walked to the fence that surrounded the Shack. Leaning over it, Hermione gazed at the house for a little while before speaking.

"Severus."

"Hmm?" He was brought out of his daydream as Hermione spoke. Her beauty distracted him greatly. The light, pastel colors look great with her tan complexion and her face, thinner now, had beautiful clear skin. Gazing intently at the house, she did not notice that he was staring at her with great interest. He very dearly wanted to hold her in his arms again.

"I have a question that I have been wanting to ask you," she suddenly looked severely frightened as she looked at him. Eyes wide with fear and reproach, she opened her mouth to continue. All that came out was a slight squeak. She looked down, took a deep breath to compose herself and appeared to mentally steel herself.

Severus wondered what sort of question would put this much fear into a normally fearless girl. Looking at her frightened expression, he suddenly didn't want her to continue. Just as he started to say something, she looked up at him and blurted out, "How do you feel about children?"

Reeling back as if he had been slapped, he looked at her in shock for a second before pulling an indifferent mask onto his face. Why would she want to know that? What do children have to do with anything? Maybe she wanted to get together and wondered if he would ever accept Alex into his life.

"Do you want the truth Hermione?" he asked. "Or do you want the answer that I know you want?

Looking deep into his dark eyes, she took a deep breath and said, "the truth, please."

He noted the steeled resolve in her eyes and began to speak. "Hermione, you have to understand. I have had a very horrible childhood. My father abused me severely and my mother turned a blind eye to the whole thing. I have never had someone who loved me."

He paused to breathe. His life story always upset him, especially when he had to tell it to other people.

"When I turned eleven, my father was happy to be rid of me but angry that I had inherited magic from my mother. He thought that since he was far superior to her, that his blood should have overcome the magic in her blood," here, his voice turned bitter at the man he hated as his father.

"After I came to Hogwarts I was happy to be away from my father, but instead, I encountered James Potter and his cronies. For seven years, my father during the summer and James Potter during the school years, made my life a living Hell."

"I am afraid that I would be like my father and I am afraid that any children I would have would fear me. I am an overbearing man and I do not know how to love. Also, I do not want to bring a child into the world that will just have to deal with a schoolyard bully. Truthfully, I also just do not want children. Not now, nor ever."

He finished his story and the look on Hermione's face was no longer fear, but a deep sadness. Her eyes were filmed over with unshed tears and her heart felt like it was being constricted. He had been so good with Alex and for a short while, she had felt as if this would actually work. As if he would love Alex, truly love him as his child. But now, all hope was gone. He didn't want children. He would never love Alex.

Severus was surprised at the look of abject sadness on her face. He understood that he had just crushed any hopes she had of them being together, but they could still have a friendship. True, he wanted more, so much more. But he could not deal with a child. He hated teaching them and he would hate parenting them as well.

"I understand Sev," she said, her voice trembling. Turning away from him, her eyes scanned the surrounding area for her child. Not seeing him, Fear once again came into her eyes.

"Alex!" She ran around to where he had been playing but he was not there. "Alex," she was screaming his name. Severus ran after her, also looking for the missing child.

After searching the whole area, they discovered that Alex was truly missing. Hermione was sobbing, the sound heart wrenching to Severus. She collapsed to the ground.

Making a quick decision, Severus bent down and scooped her into his arms. He proceeded up to the castle with the woman in his arms. Hopefully the Headmaster would be able to help with finding the child. He didn't think Hermione could stand it if her child was not found. Severus had a hard glint in his eye as he thought of ways to make the person who had taken young Alex away pay for this misdeed.

XxXxXxXxXx

The man with light colored hair looked down at the child asleep in his arms. Well, not so much asleep as unconscious. A quick stunning spell had been sent his way when his mother was not looking. This was the easiest thing that had been done so far.

He had not expected Severus to be there but the man had clearly not posed a problem. He was too enamored with Hermione. He would have to be disposed of as well.

The man disillusioned himself and the bundle in his arms and proceeded back up to the castle. The child would be stored away in the secret room until he needed him to make a bargain with Hermione. She would be more than willing to do anything it took to protect her only child.

Once she realized where the child was hidden, she would come right away. Hopefully she would not come alone, hopefully she would bring Severus with her so that he could kill two birds with one stone. Getting rid of the man and the child after his woman would just be fantastic. He couldn't wait until he had her in his arms like he had wanted to for the past nine years.

AN: Severus isn't as heartless as he appears to be. He is mostly worried about being exactly like his father was with him. This is actually a common worry among fathers who were abused as young children.

I will try to have the next chapter out as soon as possible, but school will be starting back in 9 short days and college life is pretty rough. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and thank you to everyone who is reading this story! Until next time :)