A/N: At this point it's sort of writing itself…..please review. And a special thanks to those of you who follow, favorite and/or review!

"How is Draco holding up," the blonde haired Ravenclaw asked as she sifted through a pile of silk blouses.

"Okay….from what I can tell. But it's his mom, you know? And then this whole issue with his dad…..I'm hoping our date tonight will take his mind off of everything for a while," Ginny explained. "Actually, he told me that his talk with Severus gave him a lot of insight."

"I wouldn't know," Hermione commented off handedly, drawing the girl's attention.

"What was that?"

Hermione shook her head. "It's nothing."

"It certainly sounds like something," Luna pressed. "Is something the matter?"

Hermione looked at her two friends debating whether or not she should share her insecurities with them. They never really talked about her and Severus before, but this was a dire situation. "Severus wants to move out of Grimmauld."

"Well, to be honest I'm not surprised. Severus is a solitary figure. He was bound to seek out some privacy." Luna remarked.

"I know. But does this mean he wants to see less of me?"

Ginny placed a hand on her shoulder, "He loves you right?" Hermione tensed. "What? He hasn't said that he loves you yet?"

"Well, not in so many words, but I feel it in his touch and how he treats me," she defended. "Is this a bad sign?"

Luna interjected, "Not necessarily. You know what he went through with Lily. That probably means he's having a hard time making himself vulnerable again."

"Or he hasn't let go of her yet. Either way, if you've already said it, he needs to say it too. Right now your relationship isn't balanced."

Luna frowned. "Harry took a long time telling me that he loved me. But I understood that he needed to get used to that feeling. Hermione, if I were you I'd talk to him. Tell him how you feel."

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"Yes, I'm looking to buy a home that will meet some specific needs I have," Severus prompted. He had cut his brewing short in order to be on time for his appointment at the Ministry's Department of Magical Homes and Property. They had set him up with with his own realtor, and he prayed the young man wasn't as insipid as he looked.

"And what needs would those be?" Mr. Anderson inquired.

"A laboratory for my potions and enough space for a greenhouse," he supplied.

"And what about rooms? Are you planning to have a family?"

"That I don't know. It's just me right now." Severus answered with a slight frown.

Mr. Anderson sensed his reservations. "I'll search the listing for three bedrooms just in case," Anderson replied flicking his wand and calling up a list of residences. "And what is the budget that we're going to be looking at?"

"Let's say 50,000 galleons for now," Severus answered. Mr. Anderson's eyes widened considerably and Severus smirked.

Anderson cleared his throat, "Well that certainly broadens our search."

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"What is that?" Hermione asked with an upturned face.

Ginny looked at her liked she had grown two heads. "It's beer battered fish and chips. I get this literally every time we come here."

Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry, this whole Severus situation has me nauseous."

Luna rubbed her arm, "Are you sure it's just that? You're looking a little peaked."

"You think I'm coming down with something?" Hermione asked with a quirk of her brow.

Ginny scoffed, "Either that or you're on your period."

Hermione frowned. "Actually I'm a few weeks late. But I figure it's just stress-"

"Wait, you're late?" Ginny nearly shrieked. "Do you realize what this could mean?" Hermione shook her head, confused as to why the redhead looked so alarmed. Ginny sighed. "I love you 'mione, but sometimes even you could be thick sometimes…it means you might be pregnant."

Her words hit Hermione like a ton of bricks. "I think I need to go."

She left the restaurant briskly. When she got back to Grimmauld Place Hermione headed straight for Severus's room. She was lucky enough to find him there. "Severus, could I talk to you?" she wondered as she knocked on his door. He opened it up immediately, directing her to come in.

"I have good news," he relayed, scooping her up in his arms. The action caught her off guard.

"You do?" She asked. "What is it?"

"I found a place. Large enough for a lab of substantial size. And a background big enough to grow my own ingredients," His smile was so genuine that it both warmed and hurt her heart.

"Are you happy now?"

"I am very happy, my goddess," his voice trailed into a purr as he used the affectionate name he usually said during sex. He kissed her, crushing her body and Hermione could tell that he was indeed happy. "We should celebrate after I take you to see the house."

Hermione muffled a sigh. "Have you already bought it?"

"No. But it's as good as sold," he grinned down at her. "Now, what did you want to talk about?"

"What am I to you Severus?"

"I don't understand?"

Hermione sighed heavily. "A title. Girlfriend. Lover. What am I to you?"

"Where is this coming from?" Severus questioned taking a step back.

She held his hands squeezing them, "Look Severus, I just want to know where we stand. I love you. So much. But I need to know how you feel about me. And where this is going?"

Severus squeezed her hands in return, bringing them up to his lips as he planted kisses on them. "I care about you deeply-"

"But do you love me?"

"I don't appreciate you trying to force a confession from me," he sneered, moving to turn away from her.

She cupped his face, "No, no, no. That's not what I'm doing." She was pleading now, needing him to understand, to read her thoughts. She removed her hands, and wrapped her arms around her midsection."It's just….I….I'm….I think I might be pregnant."

Silence.

"You think….?"

"I haven't taken the test yet."

Severus sagged against the dresser. "I suppose we have been a bit reckless. But the sex certainly was exceptional." He chuckled and Hermione joined him. The air was still tense, but not quite the same. Memories of their moments of passion flitted through her mind as it no doubt did in his. A lot of those sessions were incredibly intense. Sometimes Severus came inside her multiple times in one night. And for two normally responsible adults, they often forgot about contraception. No wonder she was in this predicament. He held out his hand, palm faced upwards in offering. "We're in this together right?"

Sure, he still hadn't said the words 'I love you' yet, but his actions were certainly speaking to her heart. Sliding her hand into his, she smiled. "Yes." She pulled a slim white box out of her bag. "Ready to find out for sure?"