Last time:
Hermione was glad of how much Severus was putting into being a good father and also couldn't help but notice that Draco was becoming attached as well. She asked Draco to be an Honorary uncle, which he gladly accepted, he wanted to feel like he had a family, even if it wasn't by blood. Draco agreed to come back the next morning and help Severus put the new furniture together. All parties involved were tired , Draco apparated back to his house, while Hermione and Severus went to their rooms and quickly fell asleep.
Now:
Hermione woke up early the next morning, to the sound of someone talking. She looked in the crib and noticed Orias was missing. She walked around the rooms slowly, hoping that Severus had came in and took the baby. When she reached the living room, her mouth dropped in shock. There sitting on the couch, was The Draco Malfoy, with Orias in his arms and to her surprise, Draco was feeding him.
She stood back and watched as Draco looked at his little fingers and toes.
"You've got such small fingers, you realize that don't you?" He said to Orias, he paused for a second before her started to talk again, "It's hard to believe that you, are a product of Severus Snape, Sure , you look like him, well, except the nose. But it's just something I never expected to see. Your parents are the two smartest people I know, and you will undoubtedly be just as smart."
Hermione still hung back, waiting for him to speak again. She had to admit, that apparently, all it took was a baby to turn a bad ass into mush. She silenced her thoughts as he started to speak again.
"You know Orias, Your dad always wanted a child of his own, and as much as a surprise as you were, he needed you. He needs some kind of happiness in his life and I think you and your mum will do the trick." he paused again "You know, when your mummy vanished, your daddy looked all over for her. He went weeks without sleep. He checked everywhere he could think of for months, but never found her. I don't even think she knows how much he gave up to find her." he finished as he put Orias over his shoulder to burp the boy.
Hermione was filled with questions at his final words, what had Severus given up to find her. She decided to find out, and walked over to the couch that Draco and Orias were occupying.
"Draco. What are you doing here so early?" she asked him as she was sitting sown next to him.
"I guess I just got bored and figured I'd pop over to see if anyone was awake yet to put the stuff together from yesterday." he replied while shrugging his shoulders.
"Draco, I over heard what you said to Orias, What did Severus give up while looking for me?"
He looked to her trying to find the right words, "himself, He lost the act of being the mean professor, as he showed concern for you, he didn't eat right, he hardly slept, there were even a few times where he would see a woman that looked like you from behind and go after her, he just wasn't the same."
Hermione looked down to the floor, she didn't realize that it would affect him as much as it did her. If she had known that, they could have worked on it together, if he would allow it.
Hermione looked back up to Draco, "Do you mind keeping watch over Orias for a few minutes longer?"
"No problem, we get along just fine." he said with a smirk
Hermione walked off Hogwart's grounds and apparated to muggle London. She and Severus hadn't bought any wedding rings, they weren't in love and rings just didn't seem important. The marriage was more for Orias, then them. But after hearing about what Severus had done while she was gone, she felt she owed it to him to try to make this marriage real. She walked into a small jewelry store, where a chubby old woman approached her.
"Good morning dear, What can I help you with?"
"I need a set of wedding rings," she paused for a moment "I should tell you I don't have much money to work with."
The chubby woman gave her a gentle smile, "Come with me, I may have a few things that could interest you."
Hermione followed the woman to the back of the shop. "Whats your name dear?" the woman asked with the same gentle smile.
"I'm Hermione Snape" she said in a small voice, still not used to the last name. The woman looked her over with a quirked eye brow.
"Would you be any relation to a... Severus Snape?"
Hermione's mouth fell open, "Yes, he's my husband, Do you know him?"
The woman smiled brightly, "I knew him when he was a boy, he had a horrid life growing up."
Hermione looked down, "Yes I know, He and I have a son together and he has vowed to do his best to give our son the life he himself didn't have."
The woman took Hermione by the hand, "The Snape's have plenty of money, you could buy the best you know."
Hermione shook her head, "I'm getting these as a surprise for him, our marriage isn't the typical marriage and I want to get these to show him that I really want to give it a chance. Please don't tell anyone anything of what I just told you."
She didn't know why exactly but she felt she could trust the old woman. "Your secret is safe with me." she said with a knowing smile. The old woman pulled a dusty box off one of the shelfs in the back room. "Heres the one I was thinking of as soon as you mentioned the name Snape." the old woman opened the box then pulled out a smaller black leather box and handed it to Hermione. She opened the box and gasped, "It's perfect" she said as she pulled the silver rings out to get a closer look. Both rings were silver, the ring for the woman had a medium sized black onyx in the center and the mans ring had a large black onyx with an emerald on either side, the mans ring was also wider then the womans.
Hermione hung her shoulders and placed the rings back in the box, "They are perfect, but I'm sure I don't have enough for them."
The woman looked to her, she could see the disappointment in the young witches eyes. " How much do you have to spend?"
Hermione reached into her bag, "I only have 200.00 in muggle currency."
"Then you have plenty, Consider these rings a gift from and old friend and keep your money."
Hermione couldn't help it, she hugged the old woman and started to cry. After a few minutes she pulled away, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to cry all over you. I just, I guess I just didn't expect it."
The woman patted Hermione on the shoulder and sent her on her way with the rings.
When she arrived back at Hogwarts and made it back down to the rooms, she could hear two people arguing. She ran in, only to stop dead in her tracks. Orias was sitting in the bouncy seat with a small grin as Draco and Severus were trying to put the muggle crib together.
"I'm telling you, part A is supposed to go together with part G." Draco growled out.
"It doesn't look right like that, I think part A goes with Part D." Severus yelled back.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the two men, who were completely confused at the muggle directions. "I hate to interrupt this moment, that I'm sure I'll never see again, but why not use magic to put the crib together?"
Draco and Severus looked to each other, each secretly calling the other an idiot for not thinking to use magic."
Within 45 minutes, the three had everything put together and put in place. Severus looked around and still couldn't believe that his once private haven, a place most grown people wouldn't dare enter, was now filled with baby things. He then looked over to the black haired baby, who was still sitting in the bouncer seat and decided he just didn't care if he lost his personal space, he had Orias and that was all that mattered.
Hermione pulled Draco to the side, "I need to talk to Severus alone, I know I'm asking a lot from you today, but could you watch Orias for say, half hour?" Draco nodded in agreement
"Severus, would you go for a walk with me around the lake, Draco will watch Orias"
Severus agreed and followed Hermione out to the lake. They started to walk until they found a spot with some rocks to sit on.
"Severus, I just wanted to tell you that I was serious about making this marriage work," She dug around in her pocket and pulled out the leather box, "I got these this morning, and I hope you'll accept it." She pulled the mans ring out and and slid it on his left finger. He studied the ring that she had placed on his finger. "Where on earth did you find such a ring?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.
"I went to muggle London today, and found them in a little shop. I thought they were perfect."
He nodded to her, "Indeed they are."
He pulled the other ring from the box and slid it onto her left finger. "I guess this makes if official" she said with a smile."
"I guess it does Hermione, I guess it does." He looked down to the ring again. "Thank you"
The couple started to walk back to their rooms, when suddenly she was pulled back. He looked down to her, looking into her eyes to see any sign of her being uncomfortable, as when he didn't, he bent down and took her into a kiss, that she also returned. When he finally pulled away, still looking at her, he released the breath he had been holding. "Thank you for giving me the chance for a family, you have no idea how much it means to me." she took him by the hand and smiled, "I think I do." is all she said before pulling him in for another kiss.
