A/N: There is a lot of Ron/ Lavender in this chapter. I've read many a Fanfic with bashing, but that is not what I intend to do here. I feel like the war would have changed most people for the better, even though they would still have problems, so the first bit of this chapter explores how RW/LB changed during the war and how they are helping each other heal in the after effects. I also tried to explain why they would be teaching at Hogwarts despite being so young, but it's a fanfic, so please don't hate that plot point.
In Which the Healing Begins
Ronald Weasley was not good with women, and he knew it. Hermione had told him he had an emotional range of a teaspoon, and he knew she was right. When Lavender came in with the tea, he happily traded the crying woman for a hot cup.
He watched Lavender gently guide one of his oldest friends to the couch, rubbing small circles on her back and asking her various questions in a gentle voice. He stared proudly at his girlfriend. She had come a long way. Ron knew Lavender never really got along with Hermione and that she could sometimes be petty and shallow. But after the war, the war changed everything.
Lavender had stepped up in her seventh year in a way that made Ron ashamed in the way he had acted around his friends. His year mates that had stayed behind told stories of how she protected first years against the Carrows, saving them from detention multiple times only to face torture herself and he had witnessed firsthand how ferociously she had fought during the final battle. She mellowed out and learned to think before she spoke, much in the way that he himself had.
Then after Fenrir attacked her, her penchant for shallow, look based opinions all but disappeared. She didn't take any less care of herself, and she was as beautiful as ever, but she was much less apt to judge first and ask questions later. He had completely ripped out her throat and only the quick thinking of Seamus had saved her life. Sometimes she woke up screaming from nightmares, thinking that she would finally turn, but she never did. It was a miracle, no one knew why she had never turned, but the healers speculated it was because she was dead for several seconds before Seamus brought her back to life.
Ron looked sadly at the scarf she always wore. The scars on her neck were quite extensive, they couldn't even be covered up by concealment charms for an extended amount of time. No matter how many times Ron told her how beautiful she was in spite of the scars, she almost never took off her scarf, even while sleeping.
He watched her wrap Hermione, who was no longer crying, in a blanket and push a cup of tea into her hands. Lavender smoothed back Hermione's hair and tucked a bit behind her ear. She then stood up and walked over to him.
"You need to talk to her," Lav whispered to him, "I'll head upstairs to bed."
Ron walked carefully around the couch and sat down in the armchair opposite to Hermione. He didn't know how to begin, so he stayed silent.
"So, you and Lav, huh? What happened to Hannah? I thought you had hit it off." Hermione said, trying to break the silence, her voice still broken from crying.
"Yeah, the law, you know? And Hannah and me, it wouldn't have worked out. Think about how ginger our kids would be!"
Hermione laughed at Ron's joke. He always knew what to say to cheer her up. Her face returned to its serious state.
"How's it going with her? She seems… Nice. And are you sure Hannah took it well?"
"I wasn't sure, at first, cause, before…you know? But then, she like, changed, I guess. And Hannah, well I was broken up about it, ya know? But she's with Neville now. He's good to her and I am happy, I guess."
Hermione laughed at Ron, who was blushing a deep red.
"Ever articulate." Was all she said.
"Lav's great now, that's all that matters, and it's not like we have much of a choice, so we decided that we would make a go of it."
"Where are your parents?" Hermione asked, surprised that her loud entrance didn't wake anyone else.
"Oh, er. When we won the Order of Merlin, we got a cash prize, yeah? So, I bought my parent's a new house over the hill that way," He pointed slightly east, "It was owned by the Malfoy's, so it was kind of weird at first, but it suits them well. They wanted to sell this place after the two attacks our sixth and seventh years, too many bad memories, especially after losing Fred," He paused, "but no one would make an offer where they could buy a house big enough for them and Ginny, yeah? So when bought the house and they gave this one to me."
"Oh Ron, I am so proud of you. That was so selfless of you," She smiled through her watery eyes.
"Well, Lav is moving to Hogwarts tomorrow so I am going to spend a lot of time by myself here. I might spend some time remodeling with the rest of the money. Do something nice for Lav. She deserves it."
"What? Why is she moving to Hogwarts?"
"Oh! I thought for sure McGonagall would have told you, though Lav said that she could sens—tell, tell that McGonagall was stressed, so it might have slipped her mind."
"And why is she moving to Hogwarts?" She pushed after there was a silence spanning several seconds.
"Oh, right. Lav is a Seer."
Hermione looked blankly at Ron, waiting for the joke.
"No, Yeah, she had her first premonition on the way to Hogwarts seventh year, apparently. She foresaw the Carrows torturing people on the train and she named the time and date of the final battle right after the winter holidays. No one believed her, because you know how she was before, but she just got certified and since Trelawny passed, there is no Divination teacher."
"It's so weird that two students who just got out of school, who haven't even completed their masteries, are being teachers."
"Well, for Lav, there's really no better teacher for Divination than a Seer, though she could make money elsewhere. And you heard how He Who Must Not Be Named was slaughtering Seers, Lav is one of the only ones left over the age of seventeen. And for you, it anyone would be better than that boring old ghost, and you're the only one that learned anything from that class anyways."
He paused for a moment, "you also don't need a mastery in History of Magic to Teach it at Hogwarts, only an 'O' in your NEWT."
Hermione was shocked that Ron knew something she didn't.
"You're not moving to Hogwarts with Lavender?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, Teacher's spouses aren't allowed to stay at the school. Lav will be back every other weekend when she's not on duty."
Ron paused and looked straight into Hermione's eyes.
"Why are you here, Hermione?"
Ron knew that Hermione was avoiding the issue, so he took a direct approach.
"I got matched with Severus Snape."
Ron thought that he might have misheard her, that she was making a joke, but no clarification came.
"SEVERUS SNAPE!" He shouted, standing up.
Ron was fuming, not even noticing that he was shouting things. He could only imagine what that man, that evil man was doing to their poor Hermione. He then felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and was faced by Lav, who had a stern look in her eyes.
"Temper, Ron." She said.
He immediately calmed down and turned towards Hermione.
"Sorry about that, I've been to St. Mungo's and they said the Horcruxes' residual energy is still messing with my moods. It's something that I—" He looked down at Lavender, "It's something that we're working on."
Hermione just sat there in shock, a strange look on her face.
"So, erm, I can talk to my dad and see what he can do," Ron said awkwardly.
"Oh, well, it's too late for that," Hermione said vaguely.
Ron blanched at the thought and Lavender giggled.
"And, and Harry didn't take it too well." She blurted out.
A serious look came over Ron's face.
"I thought that you broke things off with him."
"I tried, Ron."
"Merlin's Balls Hermione!" He shouted.
He felt Lavender's grip on his arm again. He mumbled an apology. Hermione started crying again.
"I-I've made s-s-such a mess of things, I don't know how-how to make it better, Ron. Harry was so upset, and I went down to Snape's upset and he was already drunk and I started drinking. One thing led to another and I fell asleep after. I had such a bad nightmare about Harry dying again and when I woke up, he kicked me out. He said I couldn't say 'his' name in Snape's bed. I don't know what I did wrong. I felt so alone, and so I came here."
"Hermione, you talk in your sleep." Lavender piped up.
Ron nodded, having had many full-blown conversations with her while she was asleep.
"I remember," Lavender continued, "During the Triwizard Tournament, you were really scared for Harry, I overheard you talking about your nightmares with Parvati. You said Harry's name all the time in your sleep. We thought you had a crush on him until you told Parvati about your nightmares."
Hermione's mouth formed an 'o' and she stood up.
"I should- I should go. I'll see you guys for the feast."
Hermione quickly stood up and prepared the fire to floo. Saying quick goodbyes and thanking Lavender for the tea, she turned to floo away. Ron and Lavender stared at the fire for several seconds, wondering about Hermione's quick departure before Ron shook his head and started leading Lav up the stairs.
He got ready for bed in the hall bathroom and when he came into their room, he saw Lavender staring at her neck in the mirror. It was one of the few times he had actually seen the scars. The ridges of cartilage formed sharp peaks along the mottled pink flesh. His heart felt heavy as she raised her hand, tears in her eyes, to touch her marred flesh. He quietly came up behind her.
When she saw him in the mirror, she let out a loud 'yip' and reached for her scarf to cover up her scars. Ron snatched her hands halfway up and pulled them down to her sides. He brought his head around and kissing a line down the scars.
"I used to be so beautiful," she said in a quiet voice.
"Lav, you are beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as Hermione. She doesn't have any scars."
"Lavender," he said harshly, turning her to face him, "Do not compare yourself to her. You're not Hermione and Hermione could never be you. And Hermione has scars, just like me and Harry."
"Really?"
"She has a cut from here," he pointed to her left shoulder, "to here," he said, pointing to the area just above here naval, "from a slicing hex thrown her way during the final battle. She has cuts all long her back and sides and legs from living in the woods, breaking into Gringotts and getting caught by snatchers. Then Lestrange cut 'mudblood' into her arm. Her scars aren't as visible as yours, but she still has them, we all have them."
"I'm sorry, Ron," she looked to the floor dejectedly, "It's just so hard because everybody knows what it looks like, how ugly it is. It makes me feel so alone, it makes me feel so ugly."
"You are the bravest, most beautiful woman I have ever met. This is a battle you will be fighting for the rest of your life, but I am here for you, and I will love you for the rest of eternity, and I will think you are beautiful even when you turn a hundred and thirty and you are old and wrinkly and grey."
He looked down at the woman and noticed she was crying.
"What did I say?" he asked, baffled at her reaction.
Lavender started laughing, "your friends always say you are not good with words, but you always say everything perfectly to me." She said.
"That's because it's important I get it right with you."
They smiled at each other for a while feeling at peace and not wanting to break the moment.
"You have the most beautiful eyes," he said and kissed both of her eyes.
"You have the cutest nose," He said, kissing the tip of her nose.
"You have the best lips," he said kissing her on the lips.
"And you have the most perfect neck in all of Brittan." He kissed her straight on her scars.
He looked into her smiling face, knowing that he had made things right with her for now. It wasn't going to get better in just one day, or even in ten years, like his temper. But as Ron lay with a sleeping Lavender in his arms, he swore to himself he would do anything in his power to help his Lavender through this. He kissed the top of her head and she snuggled into his side.
"I am going to miss you," He said to no one in particular.
He smiled as Lavender murmured in her unconscious state. He brushed some strands of her beautiful blond hair out of the way before settling in to sleep.
SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG
Four weeks flew by in a blink of an eye. Between his classes and his personal research, Severus hadn't even thought to seek out the fiery brunette. The dark man rubbed his eyes and looked at the mantle. The clock read one in the morning, which was late even for him. He stood up, tidying the large pile of seventh-year essays and walked over to his decanter to pour himself a stiff drink, he still had a lot of work to do before sleep.
There was a knock on his door. He glared at the formidable piece of wood.
"I swear if it is another first year, they will lose a hundred house points," he said under his breath.
He opened the door and there was Hermione. Severus took in a deep breath. He discretely glanced both ways in the narrow hall. He saw Potter standing about ten feet down the hall, and his presence infuriated him. He had no desire to see the boy ever again. He focused his attention on the woman in front of him. She handed him a stick with a plus sign on it.
"Poppy said it is a boy," was all she said.
Severus stared blankly at her as she walked away. Potter snaked his arm around her waist, and he watched Hermione lean into Potter's side as he led her down the hallway. Before they turned the corner, Potter shot Severus a look that made his blood boil.
Severus shut the door to his room and stumbled into his armchair. He stared at the plus sign.
"I am going to be a father," he said out loud to the empty dungeon air.
Potter's words from that night raced across his mind. He remembered how protective he was of the girl, how Potter would be there, had been there, even when he hadn't been. He clenched his fists in anger. He had to do something, but suddenly his limbs felt heavy and his eyelids started drooping.
"Tomorrow," he said to himself, "tomorrow."
SSHGSSHG
Hermione was fed up with Severus Snape and Harry Potter. Snape, even after she had told him she was pregnant with his child almost two months before, had barely sent a glance her way. Every time she would try to approach him, he would walk straight away from her faster than someone of her short stature could keep up.
And Harry Potter, even at his name she was nearly fuming with anger. He treated her like she was made of porcelain. He had taken to following her everywhere, to the library, the great hall, even to some of her classes under the invisibility cloak. She felt smothered by him, and the only time she could be alone was while she was sleeping or visiting Lavender, who Harry still had not taken a liking to.
So, like she had so often for the past couple months, she was headed up to the Divination tower. The hatch leading up to the classroom was closed so Hermione deduced class was still in session. About five minutes later, it opened, and the strong smell of incense wafted down as the students exited the room.
"That was so cool!" She overheard the students whispering in reverent voices to each other.
Lavender was strangely well respected throughout to school. Hermione knew most of the students in third year remembered how protective of them in their first year against the many dangers the school bore at the time. Students, especially Gryffindors, often came to her defense whenever someone dared to make comments about her, especially her scars.
"A real prophecy, I wonder who it was about?"
"A great danger to one so small? Could it be one of the first years?"
Hermione shook her head, she knew that Seers existed and believed in the prophecies, but did not take much stock in them. It wasn't an exact study like transfiguration or potions, and prophecies could be told hundreds of years in advanced or misinterpreted.
Hermione carefully climbed the ladder. She wasn't huge yet, but the extra weight threw off her center of balance and she caught herself tripping on air more often than she would like to admit.
"Hermione!" Exclaimed the blond woman, waving her wand to clear the room of the incense. They had found out previously that while pregnant, Hermione could not stand the smell of it for more than a few minutes before heaving into a trash can.
Lavender herself admitted that the incense did nothing to help with divining, but most Seers enjoyed the atmosphere it created.
"And how is our little August?" She said, gesturing to her stomach.
Hermione plopped into one of the comfortable chairs. It was the only thing she regretted when she quit divination her third year. The chairs were soft as pillows, unlike all the hard wooden chairs everywhere else in the castle.
"Why do you insist on calling him August? I haven't even picked out a name yet."
"Snape wants to name him August."
"How do you know?" She asked suspiciously.
"It's his grandfather's on his mother's side name. He was the only person to ever show him kindness in his childhood, though he passed when he was about six. His grandfather left him his wand, and he still keeps it on him even though it does not obey him."
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked, voice full of wonder.
"I bumped into him the other day, and when we made contact, I had a vision of his childhood. It wasn't a pretty time for him, Hermione."
Hermione looked down at her hands, suddenly very guilty at being upset with the older man. She subconsciously rubbed her slightly protruding belly. Lavender looked at her, scrutinizing her expression.
"Hard day at work? The Fourth goblin revolution didn't go over well with the students?" She teased.
"No, it was fine," Hermione answered in an exasperated tone.
"Though I wish that they would try harder in their essays. I assigned thirteen inches on the formation of the Ministry of Magic and one boy turned in one sentence: This doesn't matter. He does well on the tests, he clearly pays attention and reads the book, but he almost never turns in his homework."
"Oh, I know, though most people who take Divination don't take it seriously."
"That's not true!"
Lavender laughed, "Hermione you couldn't even finish the first year of Divination, you don't have to lie to me. Some of the things these kids make up are crazy. I was teaching them to read tea leaves, and I swear we have a small Trelawney on our hands. She was convinced she was going to die."
Hermione giggled at the prospect of a terrified third year.
"So, what's up, if it's not classes, then what's going on."
"It's Harry," she thought for a moment, "And Snape. Both of them are driving me crazy."
"What's going on with Harry?" She asked curiously.
"He won't leave me alone. He watches everything I do. He even comes to most of my classes. I hate it, I can't get a moment alone unless I come talk to you."
Lavender shot her a hurt look
"Oh, no, Lav," she said, using her nickname, "I love spending time with you. You're my first real girlfriend. I wish I didn't have to come up here whenever I didn't want to be around Harry. Sometimes I just want to read for hours at a time without a bored, fidgety Harry in the room."
Lavender smiled at her, accepting her apology.
"And Harry keeps trying to sleep with me!" Hermione blurted out.
She blushed at her outburst, and remained silent for several seconds, wishing she had never brought it up.
"Ron told me some of what had happened. About when he left…" She trailed off.
"I was lonely, and Harry, he's insistent, and one night we were dancing and one thing led to another. Then after this law happened, Harry got a letter saying that he could never have magical children. It was hard on him, and I wanted to comfort him. I have a weak spot for him, and I just wanted him to be happy. He knows I don't love him in that way. I told him so to his face."
"I understand, Hermione," was all that Lavender said.
"But now I am pregnant with Snape's kid, and he still wants to sleep with me. It's weird and it feels like I am betraying Snape even entertaining the idea."
Hermione stood up and started pacing the room, she was absolutely furious.
"What happened with Snape?" The blond asked curiously.
"Nothing has happened with Snape! That's the problem. I told him I was pregnant with HIS child almost two and a half months ago. I am four months pregnant and he hasn't talked to me. I can't do this by myself. I know that Harry will take care of us, but I don't want to deprive this child of their real father, no matter how unpleasant they are."
"Go to Snape during his office hours, or when you think he will be in his rooms. Snape is a private man, and people still don't know who knocked you up, so he probably wants to be seen with you as little as possible. Plus, then he can't run away from you."
The news of her pregnancy had flown around the school like a wild fire. The students knew that she was affected by the law and they all wanted to know who her 'magic match' was and why she hadn't married him.
"You're so smart Lav."
Lavender looked up at her with mischief in her eyes, "I wasn't third best in our year for nothing."
"Third?" Hermione asked, "I thought it was that rude prefect from Hufflepuff, the one that almost sold the DA out to the Carrows before he went 'missing'"
"MacMillan? No, he always boasted he was third because everyone knew no one could beat you or Malfoy. He got pretty good grades but little ol' me was still in third. He got two E's on his NEWTS and I got all O's except for history of magic."
Hermione hugged the other woman "You never cease to amaze me Lav. I wish we had become friends sooner."
"I'm glad we didn't. I wasn't a good person before."
"You were a good person, this version of you is just more grown up. You were just a kid. We were all just kids."
Hermione stood up to leave, "I should talk to Snape before dinner. His office hours start in fifteen minutes. I don't think people go to them anyways."
Hermione went to leave, but a troubling look on Lavender's face stopped her. Hermione looked into her blue-purple eyes, trying to penetrate her thoughts.
"I'm pregnant," Lavender whispered.
"Oh, Lav, That's excellent, and just in time too, right? You only had two months left."
"I haven't told Ron yet, I only just went to visit Poppy."
"You have to tell him." Hermione stated.
"Do you think he'll be upset?" Lavender asked, fidgeting with her ever-present scarf.
"I think he will be extatic. Ron has always wanted a big family, and you make him happy."
Lavender smiled at her, and Hermione was grateful she could reassure the other woman, given her own situation.
"Good luck with the snarky potions professor," Lavender told her playfully as Hermione started to climb down the ladder, "And we have to meet in your room from now on. You cannot climb this ladder, you might fall, and we don't want little August to get hurt." Lavender gave her a worried look that startled Hermione.
"Thanks, and say hello to Ron for me," she called up.
Hermione made her way down to the dungeons. It was such a long way from the Divination tower and by the time she got to his office, she was absolutely exhausted. Hermione knocked on the door briefly and didn't even wait for a response before walking in. To her surprise there was an older looking male Slytherin student talking to him animatedly.
They both froze and looked at her. Thinking on her feet, she said "I need to speak with you about some detentions you assigned to me."
Snape always assigned first year detentions and detentions for people who committed minor offences with her. It was clear that Snape still had a heart under all the snarkiness and sarcasm because at worst she made them do lines.
The seventh year stood up and gathered his materials.
"Darrow, I'll approve your research project if you write me twenty inches on why you should not add wormwood to your potion due Friday."
It was Thursday, but instead of argue or complain, the student left with a reverent 'yes, Professor Snape Sir.'
"He was very polite," Hermione commented.
"Most Slytherins give teachers their due respect to their face and those who don't learn they should really quickly."
Hermione nodded, having learned this first hand. The Slytherins were the least ornery of the houses during class but weren't quiet when they made disparaging remarks during her study time in the library, though no one ever said anything to her face.
"What do you need Ms. Granger?"
"You're not talking to me," Hermione said.
"Do I need to talk to you?" He asked.
Hermione stared at him blankly, not comprehending the question.
"I was under the impression that I didn't need to talk to you for the next two years until we have to copulate again."
Hermione was dumbfounded.
"How dare you?" Hermione walked straight up to his desk, leaned over and poked him straight in his chest.
"Don't you dare touch me, Ms. Granger." He whispered.
"You are going to leave me to do everything myself. I have half a mind to hex you six ways until Sunday."
"What does it matter, you have Potter," Snape spat his name.
"Harry isn't the father of this child. You are, you need to step up and take responsibility."
Snape gripped the edges of the table, his knuckles looked like they were bleached white even in the green light of the dungeons.
"I will not let another Potter take what's mine." Snape said in a deadly voice.
Hermione, thinking that he was talking about her, was indignant.
"I belong to no one, and I am not an object you can just take and give away!"
Snape moved quickly around the desk and rest his hand on her expanded stomach.
"You may not be, but this one is mine. This is my child, my boy. I will not, I cannot claim him if Potter is just going to steal him away from me."
"Why do you think that Harry is going to steal him away from you?"
Hermione felt his cool hand grab her warm one. He gently led her to a cabinet where a pensieve sat. He pulled the memory out and put it into the basin. Hermione was slightly scared of the angry professor, but she stuck her face into the pensieve anyways, curious at what had transpired.
SSHGSSHG
Hermione was in the courtyard outside of the charms classroom. There was a group of students jeering at a shabbily dressed, younger version of the domineering professor. James Potter, who looked so like her sweet Harry, was staring mockingly at the boy. This was the memory that Harry saw, Hermione realized.
"I don't need help from a Mudblood," Snape spat at the redhead that had rushed over to help him up after berating James. She recognized Lily Evans from Harry's picture album.
Hermione flinched when she heard the words come out of his mouth, as did the read headed girl across from him. Hermione quickly turned and looked into the younger potion professor's eyes. She saw the immediate regret that welled up there.
"Wait, Lily." He said, but she was already gone.
Everything faded into fog before taking shape again. Snape was standing outside of the Gryffindor common room. Harry's mom walked out but acted like she couldn't see him.
"Lily I didn't mean it. I was just embarrassed," He started, "Potter humiliated me in front of anyone. I am sorry, Lily."
Snape looked desperately at the redhead, regret so clearly evident on his face. Lily ignored him and kept walking, picking up her pace. Hermione had to jog slightly to keep up, as she was a couple inches shorter than Lily. Snape grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby alcove.
"What the HELL Severus Snape!" She screamed.
"Lily be quiet," He begged, his eyes wide, innocent.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" She asked in an accusatory tone.
"Lily I…" He paused and took a deep breath, running his long fingers through his hair, "I love you, Lily. I have since the day I met you."
Lily was clearly shocked at his admission.
"Bull shit," she said, articulating the two syllables.
"It's true," he said, clearly hurt by her words.
Lily left the alcove and continued walking towards the great hall.
"If you loved me, you wouldn't have called me that," She said sadly.
Lily took a deep breath and strengthened her resolve.
"I have put up with your disgusting friends and your penchant for the dark arts, but you really should not have called me a-a Mudblood."
Hermione stared in disbelief at how Lily was treating Snape. Never in a hundred years would she herself not give someone a second chance, especially when he had seemed so remorseful. She had given Malfoy a second chance, for goodness sakes.
They arrived at the great hall and Hermione watched as Snape watched Lily walk over to James Potter and give him a hug. She then whispered something in his ear. Then they kissed.
Snape's face contorted as he ran from the great hall.
Everything faded to fog again. When it rematerialized, an older version of Snape was kneeling in Dumbledore's office.
"I'm sorry Headmaster."
"You have all but killed her, killed them, Severus."
"I didn't mean to, you have to believe me. I was hurt and angry, but I don't want her to die. Please, she can't die, I love her."
"If I am going to save her, you will have to pledge your loyalty to me with a blood vow. You will have to act as my spy and be under my command for the duration of your life."
"Anything, as long as she lives."
Dumbledore nodded and they shook hands.
Hermione didn't know what to think as the memories faded and a new one formed. Harry was drunk in Snape quarters, saying awful things to him. Hermione's eyes widened as Harry told Snape that he was going to raise Snape's kids.
Harry's words of 'she will never love you' rang in her ears as she was pulled out of the basin.
SSHGSSHG
Hermione looked at the older man. She had never seen such raw emotion and vulnerability on the hardened man's face. She realized the amount of trust he had just placed in her, showing her what she assumed was one of his most painful memories. Hermione noted the closeness of their bodies. Staring into his bottomless eyes, she tiptoed up and kissed him square on the mouth.
She felt him deepen the kiss before she pulled away slightly. He rested his head on hers, their noses touching. Being in someone's embrace has never felt so right.
"Severus," she said, his first name was weird in her mouth, "You are going to be the father of this child."
"You love Potter though, and he loves you. Someone as young as you deserves to be young and in love."
Hermione had never heard him be so open. In this moment, he reminded her of the boy she saw in the memories, vulnerable and unaware of how to convey his emotions.
"I don't love Harry. I never have, and I never could."
Severus was obviously shocked.
"But you two, you two had sex, he took your virginity."
"It was the middle of a war, Severus. We were scared, Ron had left us. We were both sure we were going to die, either of starvation or being caught by snatchers."
When there was no response from Severus, Hermione continued.
"Harry will always hold a special place in my heart. He saved my life a bunch of times, and I will always love him like a friend. But I could never be in love with him. I told him that from day one. The war did something to him, I think. It made him cling to me, and I never could say no to him."
Severus gave her a hard look.
"But I haven't slept with him, not since that night, I swear."
He looked reassured and touched his hand to her stomach again, rubbing the length of her baby bump. He looked into her eyes, and she noticed his usually emotionless eyes were full of something she couldn't comprehend.
"We're going to have a baby," he said, smiling.
The look was so foreign on his face, but Hermione quickly smiled back.
SSHGSSHG
Hermione sat next to Severus during breakfast. He was still tense and his same old self, shooting evil looks at disobedient students and handing out detentions and mean comments left and right. However, over the last week, Hermione had spent a great deal of time with the potions professor after lights out. They usually spent time in amiable silence, grading papers and writing tests.
She had gone off on Harry after she came back from viewing Severus's memories. After she was done yelling at him, Harry had whispered an apology at the ground and left. She hadn't seen him since and she felt terribly guilty. Things hadn't been easy for him the last few months.
A graceful owl landed in front of her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She gently removed the letter and immediately recognized the Malfoy crest. She fed the owl some bacon and it elegantly took off, returning to his master. She sensed Snape stand up, push his chair in and leave to get ready for his first class of the day. Hermione opened the letter.
Granger—
Something may be afoot at Hogwarts. There have been mutterings in less than acceptable places. The light side may have won the war, but it seems the beliefs have hardly been snuffed. They are recruiting at Hogwarts, I don't know what for, but we should meet soon. Next Saturday night in front of the castle gates? 11pm.
DM
Hermione read and reread the letter several times. This was bad, she knew. She needed to tell Severus and the Headmistress right away. She stood up, rubbing her belly lightly, and exited the great hall using the teacher's door.
She started heading down to the dungeons. The woman felt a tingling on the back of her neck and looked around her, but the hall was empty. Hermione turned the corner and started to walk down the final staircase leading to the potions classroom where she was sure Severus was waiting. As she took her first step down the stairs, she felt pressure on both of her shoulder blades as she was shoved down the stairs. She would usually be able to catch herself, but her center of balance was off and with her magic gone, there was no way for her to cushion her fall.
She screamed as her foot missed the next step and she twisted, rolling down the stairs three times before hitting the landing with a hard thud. She looked back at the top of the stairs, searching for her pusher. Her eyes shifted left and right around something and she realized whoever pushed her had a strong notice-me-not charm on them. The only thing she could see of her attacker was the deep red of the Gryffindor uniforms. She tried to get up, but her legs weren't working.
As the adrenalin wore off, she felt an odd feeling in the lower back akin to cramps. She felt her stomach and looked down between her legs. Her pale pink robes were becoming stained by blood spreading towards her useless limbs.
"HELP!" She screamed, "HELP!"
She heard a rushing of footsteps as a seventh year Slytherin, probably on his way to Severus's class, ran up the stairs. Hermione recognized him from his class and the Quidditch team. He was one of the beaters, she thought, the boy that was doing a project for Severus. Darrow was his name, she remembered.
"Professor, you're bleeding!" He exclaimed, looking at her in horror.
"I need you to get Madame Pomphrey. Someone pushed me down the stairs."
Hermione grimaced in pain as her lower muscles tightened. She didn't notice the Slytherin cast an impervious charm on his clothes or the featherweight charm on her. He reached down and picked her up. She was already feeling faint as he started running, yelling at anyone who was in the way. They reached the infirmary in record time.
"Madame Pomphrey! Help!" He called.
She came running out of her office.
"Mr. Darrow you better have not—Hermione!" she exclaimed.
The last thing she saw was the worried healers face as she screamed in pain and slipped into unconsciousness.