A/N: This is already the last chapter. I could have gone a lot longer, but it was an exchange fic. Speaking of which... I'm part of another exchange, and I am dealing with a crossover I've never written before. If anyone knows a good beta who would be willing to read an HP/Thor crossover (Hermione/Loki pairing), I would really appreciate a PM with a name *puppy dog eyes*. (It's for mature readers only, please).

Thanks for the support and reviews. You guys rock.

Hermione was in a good mood the next day, and Severus was sure she was still taking the pills. All night he had pondered how to approach her with the information that she had been duped, but hadn't come up with anything that wouldn't make her suspicious. And should Weasley catch wind of a plan he'd convince her to take the private office and have as little contact with Severus as possible. He stayed up late, trying to pry his mind open with firewhiskey and shitty spy novels, but nothing came to him. Luckily for him, she had a visitor barge in an hour before the end of the work day, and with it, a stroke of inspiration, though one that put him ill at ease should it backfire.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted as he invited himself in with a loud bang on the door.

"What?" she came running in from the stores, looking concerned.

"Ginny... She's upstairs," he panted.

"Ginny? What's wrong?" she was already reaching for her purse; ready to hurry up to see her friend.

"She's pregnant," his face suddenly stretched into a wide smile.

"Harry!" she gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh, Harry, that's great news!"

"She's seven weeks along. They did the gender test; I'm going to have a son!"

"That's wonderful, Harry," she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"I'm sure of it this time. I'm going to vomit," Severus muttered.

"Severus," Hermione chastised, but there was a smile across her face. "It's not like you have to teach Harry's son."

"Thank Merlin, God, and any other deity I may have failed to mention."

"Wouldn't you think congratulation is in order?"

"I suppose. Congratulations, Potter. You and I will be seeing a lot less of each other when you have a miniature version of yourself you have to care for."

"There is that," Harry smiled.

"Have you thought of a name yet?" Hermione asked as Severus opened his mouth.

"I could take an educated guess. I thought it was supposed to be the pregnant woman who felt this much nausea," Severus quipped, turning back to his notes.

"James Sirius," Harry said loudly.

Severus cast a Muffliato spell.

"That's a lovely name," Hermione smiled.

"You'll be godmother?"

"Of course. I'd be honored."

"How's the wedding planning going?"

"We're supposed to go tonight and pick out the cake," she murmured.

"Don't sound so excited about it," he smirked.

Hermione looked over at Severus. "Let's go into the other room," she murmured, leading him into the office and shutting the door.

"Is everything alright?" Harry asked, sounding concerned.

"Yes. Maybe. I don't know. Does everything seem... normal about Ron and me?"

Harry's brow furrowed. "You guys are moving a little faster than I had hope... thought."

"Hoped?"

"Well," he sighed and paused, searching for the right words. "Remember what the two of you were like at Hogwarts?"

She nodded.

"You guys were hot and cold to each other, so often you'd sometimes have a different attitude towards each other before I could realize there was something going on. You've always been kind of like that. It seemed to get better recently, you haven't spent much time not talking, but I could tell when you guys were irritated at each other. When you started dating, I thought the both of you had enough time around each other to know that neither one of you falls in love overnight, but that seems to be what happened. I thought, no, I hoped that if this became more than just dating that it would take years for the two of you to make a decision about the next step. I love you both, but I don't know what's going to happen if you get married and things go south. To be honest, I don't know what would happen if you broke up either way, but you're getting married, you're getting a binding, just a couple months into this. And I don't know what I'd do if you had a tough patch because you're both my mates. I don't want to pick one over the other, but I hated those times where I was with Ron at times and with you at others and we couldn't all be in the same room together."

"Do you think we should wait?"

"I don't think it would hurt to take a step back and move a little slower. Everyone goes through a honeymoon phase at the start of their relationship. Sometimes the feelings don't last."

"Do I seem out of sorts, Harry?"

"What? No! I didn't say..."

"I mean it, Harry," she interrupted softly. "Severus thinks I've been acting a little odd the last few weeks. Have you noticed anything?"

"Honestly? Yes. You've been very impulsive lately, and very defensive of your relationship."

"And you think that's odd for me?"

He sighed, rubbing her arm. "You're loyal, Hermione. You'll defend anyone you love. But before, you knew how to take a bit of a ribbing when it came to who you were seeing. Remember those couple months you spent with Blaise Zabini?"

She nodded, stomach sinking.

"Everyone gave you a hard time for seeing a Slytherin. You'd laugh it off, say he was a good guy, and that was it. Now, if anyone even mentions a difference between you and Ron you're justifying your whole relationship aloud."

She bit her lip and looked down. "Bill thinks we're moving too fast."

"I can see where he's coming from."

"George thinks we're flat out wrong for each other."

Harry ruffled his hair nervously.

"He says I need someone who can keep up with me intellectually, and he needs someone who will be, well, like his Mum."

"I can also see where he's coming from," he said cautiously.

Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat. "Why do you think Ron is pushing marriage this quickly?"

"The romantic reply would be that he knows you're the one. But I know he's under a lot of pressure from his mother to bring a good woman home and settle down. He and Charlie are the only ones who haven't married and, as of today's news, started a family, and Charlie..."

"His boyfriend is pushing him for something permanent," she pointed out.

"That would make Ron the last. Ron doesn't like being last. He's known you for a long time. You'd be a wonderful wife, Hermione. Loyal, caring... Ron's never been one to wait to get something he wants."

"I don't want to be one of his impulse buys, like that racing broom he bought and shelved two months later when the better one came out," she whispered, tearing up.

"You know, nothing is final yet. Perhaps a little time would be best."

"I've been thinking the same thing. But whenever I get the chance to talk to him I'm overcome with a desire to be with him, and it doesn't seem like a bad thing."

"If it's what you want, I'll support you."

"Thank you, Harry," she whispered, hugging him and wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "I shouldn't keep you from Ginny any longer."

"She's keen to go tell her Mum," he nodded.

"Thank you for stopping by to tell me," she smiled as she started to lead him out.

"Anything you need, Hermione, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Harry. Congratulations again."

"Congratulations, Potter," Severus said without looking at Harry.

"Thanks, Prof... Snape," Harry shot Hermione an awkward smile and left.

"A little Potter," Severus mused aloud. "No doubt as his Godmother you will be plastering the walls with pictures of the thing."

"I think it's part of my duty," she shrugged.

"Why not have your own?" he offered softly, chancing a glance at her.

"What do you mean?" she asked in surprise.

"Potter is having a child. If memory serves me correctly two of your future in-laws are also expecting, and one just had his second baby. Even Longbottom and Lovegood are welcoming children. Wouldn't you want your child to go to school with all of your friends' children? Someone they know and are familiar with."

"I'm not even married."

"How many has that stopped?"

"You hate young children, and parents who decorate their work spaces with pictures of their children annoy you. Why would you encourage me to have one?"

"Because I know what it's like to be a loner at Hogwarts, perhaps?"

"What are you playing at, Severus?" she snapped, hands on her hips. "You have never been afraid to call me out when I am easily irritable when I'm on my cycle, and I know you schedule more meetings during that time to give yourself time away from me. So why would you encourage me to get pregnant, knowing I'll be hormonal for nine..." she trailed off, eyes widening as something occurred to her. The pills, she mouthed.

He gave an almost imperceptible nod. He had just given her the nudge he hoped would give her an excuse to stop taking the pills. Every doubt she had about them came flooding back, and the thought was overwhelming. He was trying to help her, but he knew he had to tread lightly, and she would have to play along.

"But what if I...?" she asked softly, a hand coming to rest on her lower abdomen.

"If it is what I think it is, and what Lucius thinks it is, that is not the reason you haven't yet."

"Lucius? Lucius Malfoy?"

"How many people named Lucius do you know? He is quite active in the Ministry. I have him trying to find out where our stolen method may be being used, but so far he's been unsuccessful, even if the most likely area."

Hermione's eyes widened at the confirmation of her own findings. She nodded absentmindedly. "I think I'm going to take the rest of the afternoon off. I'm not feeling well."

"If you need a potion to feel better, my Floo will be open," he was offering the antidote, and she bit her lip and nodded to let him know she understood.

"Thank you," she muttered, but she still wasn't convinced the whole thing was a product of Severus' paranoia. She tried to put her jacket on, and missed the arm-hole three times before he stood up and swept over to her. He gently took the jacket from her, and held it out behind her to help her into it. As he wrapped it around her chest his fingers began to trail over the fabric, up and over her shoulders, and she tilted her head so they brushed her cheek. "For everything," she whispered, before leaving.

She took the Floo to her flat and made a beeline for the medicine cabinet. She popped the pill she was supposed to take that day onto the counter and stared at it, unable to stop the debate raging in her head. The questions came for what felt like hours. Did Ron check her pills to make sure she took them? Is that why he asked to make sure she still took them? She didn't want to betray his trust, but what if he had already betrayed hers? The wedding was just a couple weeks away. She didn't have time to think things through. What would happen if she woke up one day and realized she didn't love her husband like she had when she went to bed? What if, Merlin forbid, a child was brought into the world as she tried to sort out her feelings.

Using the bottom of a cup, she smashed the pill and bent low to smell the particles. Freshly cut grass, parchment, and a seductive combination of fresh potions ingredients. Her Amortentia smell. It was so faint, she wondered if her brain was just playing tricks on her. But her hands were trembling as she drew her wand and pointed it at the destroyed pill.

"Evanesco," she whispered, and it vanished. She shoved the rest of the pack back into her medicine cabinet as she heard Ron let himself in through her front door. She rushed to see him, but when she saw him, the usual elation at seeing him didn't wash over her. Instead, she found her stomach dropping as a mixture of happiness and doubt washed over her.

"Afternoon, love," he stepped forward to give her a kiss and dropped his robes on her couch.

"How was work?" she asked, trying to sound as normal as possible, though even she could tell her voice sounded upset.

"It was good. More of the same. I'm only here a few minutes. I'm going to the Cannons game tonight with Seamus and Dean."

"Oh," she nodded.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I just thought we were going to pick out the cake together. Our appointment is in an hour."

"I don't need to be there for that, do I?"

"You just said you wanted to go."

"I trust you, Hermione," he smiled. "You'll find something nice. Maybe in Gryffindor colors."

"Okay," she murmured with a quick nod.

"Thanks, love," he smiled, going into her room to get a Cannons shirt he kept in her closet.

"Do you think we're moving too quickly?" she asked, standing in the doorway.

"What do you mean?" he asked, stripping off his work clothes and starting to pull on a pair of jeans and the shirt.

"I mean this wedding. Don't you think it's awfully fast?"

"It's right, isn't it? We're in love, why wait?"

"Are you sure we're going to be in love in six months or a year?"

"Are you not?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm just worried that we're still in the honeymoon phase and that things will be a lot different as the relationship matures."

"You're just getting cold feet," he said, waving her off. "Everyone gets nervous before their wedding."

"That's probably it." She bit her lip and looked down.

"That's it. I'll stop by later tonight. You can tell me about the cake you're going to pick out. Maybe Ginny or Luna will go with you."

"Maybe."

"Have fun, I love you." He kissed her forehead and went to her front door, but when he opened it there was a delivery man standing on the other side, poised to knock.

"I got a package for Er-Maya-Nee Granger. That you?" the man said, looking past Ron to Hermione.

"Yes," she nodded, stepping forward to sign for the box. Ron's brow furrowed as she collected it and took it to her couch.

"Who is sending you a package?" he asked, closing the door.

"I don't know," she said, examining the outside. "There's no name on it."

"Why didn't they just owl it to you?"

"Don't know," she shook her head.

"Open it," he encouraged, though it sounded demanding.

She pried the box open, finding something wrapped in a cloth inside. Carefully, she unwrapped the cloth, finding a single red rose and an old book on potions she had been admiring at Flourish and Blotts, but couldn't justify buying with her wedding expenses.

"Oh, my," she whispered, picking it up in awe and turning it over in her hands, hardly believing the gift.

"What is that?"

"The book I've been wanting for a while. You... you didn't get this for me?"

"You want a million different books. How am I supposed to know which one you want most?"

"I told you about it the other day in Diagon Alley, when we were visiting Madam Malkins," she frowned.

"Hermione, I was busy. I knew you were talking about books, I don't know which one."

"I just thought..."

"Who sent it?" he demanded.

"I don't know. There's no note."

"Well, who else did you tell about it?"

"No one," she replied quickly, but she had mentioned the book to Severus, asking if he had a copy, hoping he'd lend it to her and help her resist her temptation.

"Someone just randomly sent you a book and a rose?" he asked angrily.

"If I knew where it came from I'd tell you!" she snapped.

"Well, take it back to Flourish and Blotts and ask them."

"I don't think they're going to tell me..."

"Go and ask, because I don't like this," he growled, grabbing the rose and throwing it on the floor, making sure to step on it as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

She carefully placed the book down before picking up the rose. Clutching it to her chest, she sat on the floor and wept.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Ron didn't come over after the game, and Hermione was grateful for the solitude. She needed some time apart to work up the courage for what she was going to do. The next morning, she walked into work and walked over to Severus.

"Help me," she whispered

"You stopped them?" he asked softly.

"Yes."

"But the feelings are still there?"

She nodded. "I feel like I'm in a fog. I don't feel right, Severus. I want to think clearly."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a small phial of a deep purple liquid.

"You should go upstairs for monitoring before you take that," he said softly. "Going off the potion too quickly after long-term exposure can sometimes lead to violent outbursts or suicidal feelings. They'll help you through the first few hours and provide you a professional to talk to."

"Did you send me the book?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You wanted it."

"You had no reason or need to give me a present."

"Do not be so sure, Hermione."

"What..." she started but the door burst open, and Lucius strode in, prodding a cowering boy Hermione recognized as a Slytherin from four years before hers in front of him.

"Severus, Miss Granger," Lucius nodded to her, and she was surprised to see him shoot her a sympathetic look. While the Malfoys had certainly been civil to her, they had hardly shown her friendship.

"Lucius," Severus nodded. "Impeccable timing. And Sabastian Daley. I've got a feeling this will not be a pleasant meeting."

"Does she know?" Lucius asked, eyebrow raising.

"She stopped taking the pills last night."

"Then I should welcome you back to the world of the free-thinkers," he nodded. "I invited someone else to our little meeting... ah, here he is. Good morning, Minister."

"Kingsley," Hermione squeaked as he entered the room, looking irritated and confused.

"You told me there is a situation that the Ministry, and that I had to meet you here. This is quite unorthodox, Mister Malfoy," Kingsley barked with no greetings save for a nod at Hermione.

"The situation involves individuals from at least two different departments of the Ministry, one of whom is high-profile, Minister," Lucius said, with respect thick in his voice. "I thought a meeting away from prying ears was in order."

"And the basement potions office of St. Mungos is the place for this meeting?"

"It is traditional for investigators to go to the victim of a crime, is it not?"

"And who is the victim?" he asked, eyes shooting to Severus.

"Miss Granger."

"Hermione?" his vocal demeanor changed, suddenly sounding paternal and concerned.

"I think it would be best to let Mister Daley inform all of us about his dealings with Mister Ronald Weasley now," he growled, poking Sabastian's back, causing him to yelp.

"Ron came to me about four months back," he confessed, looking at his feet. "He knew I was interested in potions, and that I work with them in the Department of Mysteries. He offered to give me the method to turn a potion into a pill, and some money, if I would also use the information to turn Amortentia into a pill form for him. I take several potions a day, after I was injured in the war, and most of them taste foul. The pills are so much more tolerable..."

He was cut off by Hermione's sobs as she sunk into her chair, and Severus rushed to her.

Desperate for comfort she threw herself into his arms, tears flowing onto his robes.

"What was his purpose for getting those pills made?" Kingsley continued.

"He said the girl he wanted would recognize any attempt to give her the potion, but because the pills are odorless and tasteless. He wanted me to disguise them as birth control pills, because the girl mentioned she didn't like taking the potion for that."

"Does anyone else know about your arrangement?"

"No," Sebastian shook his head. "Just Weasley and me ."

"You do know what you did was illegal?"

"Yes, Minister."

"I will be placing you under arrest, and you will be going in front of the Wizengamot. As of right now, you are relieved of your position. My main concern right now is Miss Granger. Hermione, have you stopped taking the pills?"

"I did," she nodded, not letting go of Severus. "I brought them with me today."

"May I have them?"

Severus handed her purse to her, and she held the pills out for Kingsley, who placed them in a small box and concealed them in his robes.

"How do you want to proceed, Hermione?" he asked kindly.

"I... I don't know..." she whimpered.

"I have given Miss Granger the antidote, and she was about to go upstairs for observation after taking it. I would suggest we not proceed until she is completely out of the influence of the potion. She has been exposed to it for the last couple months. The next few days will most likely be confusing and hectic."

"I understand," Kingsley nodded. "You are aware that I must put Ronald under arrest as well."

"I don't want anyone to go to Azkaban," she said quickly.

"Miss Granger, you have no obligation to show compassion..." Lucius muttered.

"Don't misunderstand me, Mister Malfoy," she said quickly. "I am angrier than I have been in a very long time. However, I do not think anyone should go to jail over this. I hate Azkaban, and you should know better than anyone here how horrible it is to be stuck in that place. Do I think they should lose their jobs? Absolutely. They should be exposed for what they did, and they should go through the legal process to go on a formal probation, but I do not want anyone in jail for this. I just want him gone, and to not see him for a while."

"Is she always like this?" he turned to Severus.

"She is the one who ensured I was not to go to jail. I think anyone short of the Dark Lord himself is not worthy of a stay in prison."

Hermione let out a choked chuckle.

"If that is your wish, Miss Granger, I will respect it," Kingsley nodded. "I will keep in touch."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," she nodded.

Kingsley took Sebastian and left. Lucius looked uncomfortably at Hermione.

"You are a good woman, Miss Granger," he murmured.

"You are," Severus agreed.

"Good luck." Lucius bowed and swept from the room.

"Come on, Hermione. I'll take you upstairs," Severus said, standing and holding a hand out.

"Do you think I'm a fool, Severus?" she asked as she let him help her up and lead her from the room.

"I would be a fool to think it."

XXXXXXXXX

The next few weeks went by in a whirlwind. Hermione broke down after taking the antidote, and was admitted to the hospital for the night for rest. When Ron showed up, it was only Severus' quick thinking in taking her wand that prevented her from hexing him. Before he had a chance to leave, he was arrested and taken to the Ministry.

The Evening Prophet ran the story as front-page news, and when she went home the next day, she found a pile of mail from supporters waiting for her. She promptly burned the lot. She put in her vacation time, and spent a few weeks in isolation, emerging only to testify in front of the Wizengamot.

Ron and Sebastian were sentenced to probation, and if you asked the Weasleys, it served them right and they were lucky Hermione was compassionate. She took a long weekend in France alone, spent some time with Harry, quietly canceled all the wedding plans, and waited for the situation to die down.

Severus gave her space, but needed her signature on a few things, and decided to visit her at her apartment on a Friday after work a little over three weeks after the incident.

"It's good to see you again, Severus," she said, serving tea after inviting him in.

"How are you?" he asked cautiously.

"As well as can be expected, I guess," she shrugged, sitting next to him. "At least this time the Prophet isn't making me a demon."

"Are you still reading it?"

"No. I stopped about a week ago. I was sick of them covering the same thing."

"They've moved on. Marcus Flint and Gwenog Jones were caught coming out of a shady motel together. You're officially old news."

"Good," she smiled.

"Who sent you the flowers?" he asked, nodding towards a large bouquet on her table. He noticed that, in the midst of the white a purple blooms was a single red rose- the one he had sent with the book.

"George Weasley. And if you smell them you go into one of his daydream charms. He did warn me about that, so don't say the Weasleys are starting to pick up a bad habit. He just thought I might need a bit of a pick-me-up."

"Did it work?"

"You're assuming I've used them."

"I thought that, since you mentioned what they did, you had indulged."

"I was merely warning you."

"Because I am constantly smelling flowers?"

"I don't know what you do in your personal time, and I'm not sure I want to know."

"Read mostly," he shrugged. "Hardly the scandal of the year."

"It would be if the press realized it was a book that made me finally realize that what I was feeling for Ron wasn't love."

"One of those ridiculous self-help books?"

"Do I look like the type to read self-help books?"

"No. You look like the type to correct them."

"It was the book you sent me. I realized when I got it that Ron didn't really know me. And even after I didn't take that pill part of me loved him. But I realized that I didn't love him like someone is supposed to love the person they're going to marry. I loved him the way I loved him at school."

"Even after what he did to you?"

"I'm not going to forgive him for a long time, and I'll probably never take any food or drink from him again, but we have a lot of history, most of it good."

"You are forgiving to a fault."

"Perhaps I am. I believe in second chances."

They sat in silence for a long moment before she looked up into his eyes. "There was something else that night I realized."

"What?"

"That I should have taken a chance on something I wanted a long time before Ron ever came into the picture."

"What would that be?"

She responded by leaning forward to press her lips to his, and he immediately responded, reaching up to wind a hand in her hair and hold her to him as their lips moved together as though it was not their first time. When they parted, she was smiling.

"I guess that means you will be taking me to dinner."

"If you start seeing a Potions Master after what you went through people are going to think you are being slipped Amortentia again."

"I know better," she whispered before kissing him again.