In that moment, Severus was hit by a profound sense of clarity. George Weasley was correct, something he never imagined he'd concede. Hermione had trapped him, he was caught in her web, and he was unsure where to go from that point. Instead of leaving, he looked from twin to twin feeling an unfamiliar bond with the two red heads.
"What do we do?" he asked. Although he couldn't honestly say he was fond of Hermione Granger, he was concerned and they had been getting along quite well. The idea that she could be carrying Ronald Weasley's child was not something he felt good about.
"We have to figure out whether or not she's actually pregnant," Fred said, not seeming to think anything of Severus being involved.
"Obviously," he responded, managing to not use a scathing remark. "I believe there's a spell for such situations."
"I'll see if I can find anything," George said and disappeared down the hall.
"She should go to St. Mungo's," Fred said. "Maybe tell Ron."
"She should not tell him until she finds out!" Severus said. "There's no point in stirring anything up."
"There's no way she can hide it from him if she is. Weasley hair is far to infamous."
Severus rolled his eyes. "She's hardly the type to hide anything. However, it will probably only cause more pain for everyone if she tells him and it's a false alarm."
"Found it!"
George came back waving a book. Severus tilted his head and read the title Spells for the Witches' Wizard. Fighting a groan, he waited.
"That didn't take long."
"Yeah, figured it might be in here."
He sat down and showed it to them. Severus thought it seemed too complicated to be in such a book and tried in the air a few times. When he was casting the right color the twins smiled.
"Let's go get her," Fred said and they headed towards the guest room where Hermione was lying, staring at the ceiling.
"Hermione," George said. "We found a spell."
She looked at him. "A spell?"
"To see if you're pregnant."
A hesitant look was all they received. "Have any of you cast it before?"
"Yeah, Snape was just practicing."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I meant on another witch."
"No," Severus said.
"Why would I risk the life of my potential baby?" She asked. "All three of you are very competent, but there's a reason only trained professionals are supposed to use that spell. It's like any other, until you know what you're doing, it could go very wrong and there isn't a margin of error with a baby."
"Do you want us to take you to St. Mungo's?"
"No!" Hermione shrieked. "Thank you, but it's too public. Everyone would wonder why I was there and then there would be an article and then Ron would get involved."
"What do you want us to do then? We're just trying to help, love," George said. "I'm sorry about Ron."
"That isn't what I'm really worried about," she said and looked between the three of them. "If I am pregnant, I can't be with Ron. Not after hearing about his latest antics. What am I supposed to do?"
Thinking about it, Severus should have realized that would be her main concern. He also had a bad feeling when the twins stared at each other. He had known them long enough to know they were having a silent conversation. After a few moments they turned back to Hermione.
"Say it's mine," George said and sat next to her.
"What?"
Severus realized from the way she asked, that she had been expecting something similar.
"If you're pregnant," George said. "Say the baby's mine. It will have red hair, there's no way around that."
"George," she said slowly. "You know that I love you and that is so sweet, but not only would your family disown you, I don't know how it would make the situation better. I would still be a single mother and everyone would think I was a whore."
"You could marry me. I'm hardly likely to stop you accomplishing your goals."
"George, you couldn't possibly want to be stuck with me for the rest of your life."
Severus suddenly felt very uncomfortable and waited for Hermione to realize the feelings that George Weasley had for her. After the speech he'd been given, Severus wondered how he hadn't picked up on it right away. Surprisingly, pity was the only thing he felt. Who knew how long George Weasley had been in love with his brother's girlfriend. A quick glance at Fred and Severus saw that he was ready to swoop in with damage control.
"George," Hermione said and then realization hit.
"Hermione," he said. "Look, I kn-."
She slapped her hand over his mouth and fresh wave of tears fell. "Please, George, please. I can't lose you, too. I can't. I still don't know what's going on between me and your idiot brother. I just can't lose you!"
Severus wasn't sure how she had done that. George looked hurt, but even more than that, he looked concerned. Fred just looked relieved.
George held Hermione close to him. "You won't lose me, love. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. That was really rotten timing. I just don't want to see you unhappy or trapped into anything."
"We're not even sure yet," Fred said. "Hermione still has to figure out if there's a cinnamon bun in her oven."
Hermione smiled at that.
"I'll take her to Madam Pomfrey," Severus said and looked at Hermione for confirmation.
"Yes," she said. "Let me just run to the restroom."
"Let us know how it goes," Fred said, still looking at his brother. "Bring her round next weekend for supper."
Severus nodded. "She needs to come back for an owl."
"We'll get her one as a good luck present."
"Take care of her," George said. He looked perfectly normal and Severus had to wonder how much of it was an act.
"Of course."
Five minutes later he and Hermione were walking back through Diagon Alley. She hadn't said much, but the tension was apparent. He had never pretended to be a good listener and had never been good at getting people to open up. Vaguely, he wondered how involved she wanted him to be. If he hadn't been with her at the time, he might never have found out. That thought stopped him.
"How long have you suspected?"
She looked over at him. "Just a few days. I'm late and I haven't been feeling well. I wouldn't have said anything if I hadn't heard George talking to you," she said and paused. "Just the idea that Ron's fooling around and I may be having his baby. How am I going to learn how to control my reactions? I can't show those kids at Durmstrang!"
Severus put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her. "Those kids didn't try to force you into marriage, potentially get you pregnant, nor were they unfaithful in your relationship. Everything will be as good as it can be. We'll get you to Poppy. Chances are that it's just stress from the disaster that's currently occurring in our employment. Doesn't that affect your…lateness?"
Hermione laughed at his struggle and although he would normally have been upset, he was just glad to see some of the tension leave her. "We've usually tolerated each other," she said. "But it's nice to know that I may make a friend of you yet."
The hug surprised him and for all of his trying he couldn't figure out how he'd reached that point.
Severus could not express his gratitude enough that Poppy was not one for asking questions. He had no idea how it must have looked for him to walk Hermione into the ward and ask for that particular test. Whatever hesitation he had about tagging along disappeared when he realized he had to make her go. As soon as they walked into the castle, she had changed her mind about going and he had practically dragged her behind him.
"There's two ways to go about this," Poppy said. "While there is the spell you found, it isn't always accurate. The spell latches onto gender, you see. Pregnancy is very delicate, Hermione. It's a primal magic in witches. Any spell that hits you during pregnancy is dangerous not only because the baby's sharing your body, it's sharing your magic. Anything that affects your magic will have an effect on the baby. Even something as simple as that spell could be fatal right now. Later in the pregnancy that spell is safe."
"So the option I want to take?" Hermione asked.
"A simple blood test," Poppy said. "This is one area where magic and muggle are about the same. A few hours and I'll let you know. If you are pregnant we can go from there. Do you have any questions?"
Hermione shook her head and looked at Severus. In his opinion they weren't doing much to convince Poppy that he wasn't in some way responsible. Getting blood drawn was apparently not something Hermione was good with. Most witches and wizards weren't as it wasn't a regular occurrence in magical medicine.
"Come back in two hours," Poppy said. "I'll be able to tell you then."
"I've finished your potions, as well," Severus said. "I'll bring them then."
Poppy just waved them away.
"Are you all packed?" Severus asked as they walked from the hospital wing.
"For the most part I need to see if the clothes from Madam Malkins came. Damn! I forgot to get an owl!"
He looked over at her and debated on what to do. Hoping it would cheer her up, he came to the conclusion that telling her would be the best option. "I have it on good authority that the twins will be getting you one as a good luck present."
"Severus."
"I've been instructed to bring you to dinner next weekend."
"Since when have you conspired with Fred and George?"
"I believe that you are to blame for that."
In truth he was ready to ask Poppy to give him a once over. He could barely comprehend his willingness to go back to the twins or to be involved in pregnancy tests. He had never done that with a witch he'd slept with. Lucius was never going to believe him.
"Let's go see if our packages have arrived then."
"Severus," she said. "You don't have to babysit me. Although I do appreciate it."
"I am hardly babysitting," he said. "I am simply looking after my interests. I need to make sure that you are not pregnant so that I'm not forced to take Sprout to Durmstrang."
Hermione laughed. "Would I be forbidden from going if I'm pregnant?"
"I suppose not," Severus said after a moment. "Although you would be putting yourself and your baby at further risk."
The smile that had momentarily graced her face slid off again. Although she didn't cry, he could see her brain working. He doubted that she fully understood what it meant to be a single mother in their world. It would be socially and academically unacceptable. Most single witches who had the misfortune of falling pregnant ended up in the muggle world. Flitwick would probably follow in Albus' footsteps and be rather lenient. The people of Durmstrang would most likely not. If she planned on staying in the magical world it would prove dangerous for her to leave if one spell could be fatal to her growing child.
"It wouldn't be likely, though," she said softly.
He didn't answer, instead opening her door and letting her pass him. As soon as the door closed Hermione flew to her liquor cabinet and then paused.
"I suppose it wouldn't be a good idea."
"Wait two hours and then we'll have a celebratory drink."
"I've never thought about being a mother. Not really. I've always thought of having children, but never about the process. Never about what it might be like."
"You still may not have to."
"But I am! The thought that there could be someone growing inside of me," she said, placing a hand on her stomach. "It's overwhelming."
"Are you sure you don't want to involve Mr. Weasley."
Hermione shook her head. "He's obviously not capable of raising a child if he's going to act like one. It's funny. All these years and all the worrying. This is the first time that I've not seen myself married to him. Why am I not more devastated?"
"Because you've finally realized that you deserve better than him."
"Severus Snape," she said. "Was that a compliment?"
"No," he said. "Weasley is just an idiot."
Hermione smiled. "It looks like my clothing made it."
As she dug through her bags, Severus walked around her quarters. Two unopened letters lay on her table and the teacup she had used earlier was by the sink. He thought it strange that the House Elves hadn't taken it yet.
"Severus," Hermione said. "Your stuff is here, as well. She must have just sent them together."
She had divided everything in their bags. It was more than he remembered and quickly becoming more packing which he already had too much of.
"I'll take them down later," he said, continuing his journey before finally sitting down next to her. She was fidgeting and pulling at nonexistent threads on her clothes.
"Severus!" She exclaimed, grabbing the front of his robes. "Get my mind off of it!"
His hands went to her clenched fists. Lucius' voice was in his head telling him to push her to the floor and take her. Somehow he doubted that's what she meant and he took a few deep breaths. Rolling his eyes, Severus wondered if the bloody woman knew what she was doing.
"How does chess sound?" He asked.
"Too much thinking."
"What do you do when you don't want to think?"
He was more than a little surprised when she pulled him down a bit. "That's what got me into this situation!"
"Tea?" he asked, thanking Merlin his voice didn't crack.
She nodded and let go of his robes, falling back onto her couch. A glance at his watch told Severus that they had an hour and twenty minutes left. He gave himself forty minutes before folding and slamming her against a wall. That was if he couldn't find something else to keep her occupied.
His fears were unfounded. By the time he'd finished the tea, she was fast asleep. It was his sincere hope that it was because of mental exhaustion and not something pregnancy related. Sipping his own tea, he looked at his bag and then at the clock. He hated clocks with second hands.
Both were startled awake by a knock on the door. Severus couldn't remember the last time he had taken an afternoon nap. Hermione was struggling to wake up and the knock came again. Severus made his way to the door, refusing to move quickly. The knocking continued and he growled. Before he got there, it opened and Minerva stormed in.
"What's going on, Severus Snape!"
He took two giant steps back toward Hermione and tried to remember the last time he had seen that particular expression on Minerva's face.
"Minerva?" Hermione questioned.
"I just ran into Poppy and why don't you guess what she had to tell me!"
"She isn't allowed to talk about that!"
"She thought you might need someone to talk to," Minerva said, eyeing Severus with distrust.
"I'm not sure if I'm even pregnant and you can stop looking at Severus! He's in no way responsible if I am."
"When do you find out?"
Severus glanced at the time. "Forty-five minutes ago."
"Poppy just stopped me in the hall! Why would she think you need… someone to talk to."
"Oh my God," Hermione whispered and then looked between the two shaking her head. "I can't be. Minerva, please."
"Let's get you to Poppy, love," her mentor said. "Then we'll figure out what to do. Severus, a little help."
The two guided the shocked woman to the hospital wing and sat her down on the nearest bed. As Minerva went to find Poppy, Severus grabbed Hermione's hands. He knew there was nothing he could say to make the situation better and knowing himself rather well, he figured he would make it worse.
"Hello, my dear," Poppy said as she came in. "Now, I don't want you to worry, okay? Just because you aren't pregnant doesn't mean you won't be able to conceive. Some couples try for years. Although I do have to say, in my opinion, you should get married first."
"Wait," Hermione said. "What?"
"She's not pregnant?" Severus asked.
"No," Poppy replied. "Would you like fertility potions?"
"Poppy, she didn't want to be pregnant," Minerva said, exasperation evident.
"Oh! Well then, congratulations and try to be more careful."
With that she disappeared out of the ward and the three were left alone. Hermione stared blankly ahead while Severus and Minerva exchanged worried glances. Of all the responses she could have had, blankness was not one that they had predicted.
"Hermione," Minerva asked. "How are you feeling?"
She focused on them again. "Relieved. Very relieved."
"Is that all?"
Hermione shook her head and a few tears fell. "It's just been a very long day. I want children someday."
"And you'll have them, lass," Minerva said, sitting down next to her. "With someone better than Weasley."
She laughed. "I just need to go to sleep."
"Come, we'll get you a cup of tea and then send you to bed," Minerva said.
"I'll meet you in your quarters," Hermione told her, sensing that she wasn't going to get out of it. When Minerva was gone, Hermione looked at Severus. "Thank you for today. All of it. It should have been Ron or one of my supposed long time friends. You're my hero, Severus Snape, and I'm glad that it's us going to Durmstrang."
She kissed his cheek and followed Minerva's path. It was in that moment that Severus realized he was done for. Only in the context of the war had he been called a hero and he couldn't take that seriously. Never had he been kissed in thanks. If he wasn't more careful, he knew he would turn into George Weasley. He cursed as he realized he had to write to them.
-I know it seems slow at the moment, but it's about to pick up. Thank you all so much for the reviews! They all make me so happy. I hope everyone in the U.S. had a Happy Thanksgiving and that everyone else had a great weekend. :)