AN - I own nothing! I'm just borrowing from J.K. Rowling!

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Chapter 10

Severus was seated behind his desk in the library-study room in Spinners End. He glanced at the small clock on his desk. It was almost tine to serve lunch, and the chicken that he was roasting in the oven would be ready anytime soon.

It was the third day that he and Hermione had moved in. Yesterday, she had her first dialysis right after her check up on their unborn child with Dr. McGregor. He was the one that was already in charge of Hermione's case, and if there was an emergency, Poppy was just a floo away.

Dr. McGregor talked to Severus in private for a moment. He told him they had yet found a match for Hermione, even with the few thousand donors that they had on the list. It was very difficult to find a perfect match. Severus didn't like the news. It was then, he thought about testing himself, hoping that in the end, his kidneys were a match of Hermione's body.

He remembered yesterday, how Hermione looked after her dialysis. She looked slightly pale, in pain, and was weak. As soon as they apparated on the grounds of Spinners End, her legs gave out. Luckily, he had an arm around her and caught her before she had hit the ground. Right away, she brought her up to bed, helped her dress, and let her sleep.

There was still an amount of tension between them. Hermione too was still too stubborn at times, and refused his help, even though she couldn't do things on her own. In the end, she would lose, allowing Severus to help her without saying a word.

Of course, he still slept with her in her bedroom despite all her arguing. Again, he didn't sleep on the bed, but rather, on a cot, which was more comfortable than sleeping on a couch. It wasn't the most comfortable thing that he slept on, but he wasn't one to complain, especially since he really just wanted to look over and care for his wife. Heck, if he had to sleep on the floor with just a pillow and a blanket on the floor, he would.

Severus eyes looked at his wedding ring, and then at the calendar that stood next to the clock. They were officially married for two years already. It was their second wedding anniversary. He wondered to himself as to what they could possibly do if Hermione wasn't too weak, and if she was up for it, which he highly doubted. They never did anything last year, nor have they gone out for lunch or dinner like a couple at any time. Dating or celebrating anything was something they never did in the past, even before they got married.

He thought back what he was doing last year on the same day. He remembered that she went out, not knowing were. He on the other hand, was probably doing research or brewing potions. Now, was a better time as any, Severus thought to himself. He may have not been the most romantic person on the face of the earth, but, he would try to romance Hermione one way or another, regardless of how she felt for him.

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Hermione slowly descended the wooden steps with one hand bracing herself on the banister. The smell of roast would have been inviting any other day, but not today. She felt weak, and ill, and she hated it. Oddly, she also felt slightly cold when it was bright and sunny outside. She slowly walked towards the kitchen, deciding to take a few bites, hoping that it would make her feel better.

Severus head turned as he heard someone walk in. He gave Hermione a small smile as soon as his eyes met hers. She was still wearing the same attire that he had put her in last night which was one of his old Slytherin shirts and a pair of her female boxers. She still looked somewhat pale, but slightly better than last night.

Hermione sighed and diverted her eyes from Severus when she saw him smile. She was in no mood. When she got to the small dining table on one side of the kitchen, she slumped herself down on the chair and felt somewhat relieved. The journey from upstairs did seem longer to her than it had before.

"I cooked up some roast chicken," Severus told her as he sliced some pieces and placed them in two plates, next to the potatoes and vegetables. He wasn't a five star chef, but was a good enough cook. Cooking and potions brewing did have its similarities. "Hopefully you are pleased with it."

"Anything's fine Severus," Hermione grumbled as she set her head in her hands, while her elbows rested on the table. Her taste buds weren't craving for anything at the moment.

Severus walked to the table and put Hermione's plate in front of her, while he set his plate across from hers. He then went back to the counter and got the glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. Right after he had filled their glasses with the cold drink, he kissed Hermione's temple.

Hermione froze for a moment and tried to register what had just happened. He just kissed her temple, and she wasn't hallucinating. She raised her head up and frowned in confusion and annoyance. "What was that for?" she asked.

"Happy anniversary," Severus simply said as he sat himself down on his seat. "Is there anywhere else in particular that you would like to go out tonight for dinner? The Fireplace at Diagon Alley, or perhaps a hotel in London such as The Savoy?"

Hermione stared at him for a moment before she stabbed her fork into a slice of chicken. "You can't be serious?" she said before nibbling into the chicken.

"I am Hermione," Severus said with a slight smile.

"We never did anything before; I surely am not interested now!"

"Could you please just set aside your differences just for one day, and perhaps enjoy a night out on a… date. After all, we should be celebrating."

"Celebrate?!" Hermione scoffed softly. "We didn't have a honeymoon on our wedding night, but just merely fucked remember?"

Severus frowned at her comment and felt slightly hurt. He couldn't help but notice that Hermione's voice was somewhat softer than other times when they fought. Usually, she would raise her voice at him. "I don't want to fight Hermione, please," he said.

"Neither do I," Hermione sighed as she reached for her lemonade. After she took a few small sips of it, she started to feel colder, and worse. "Do you know what I did last year during our anniversary?" she asked sadly.

With a shake of his head, Severus said, "No."

"I visited my parents," Hermione replied as she brought her knees up to her chest. "I needed to talk with someone, and just talked with them." Even though they both were dead, talking with them did put her at ease somewhat. She hugged herself and slightly shivered as she closed her eyes for a moment. "Aren't you cold?"

"No," Severus replied as he looked at her with worry. He then remembered that getting chills was one symptom of her condition. "It's actually quite warm."

"It's not," Hermione shook her head.

Severus stood up from his chair and walked towards her. He brought his hands up to her forehead and her neck, feeling her temperature. He felt her shiver with her cold a clammy sweat beneath his skin. "You're shivering."

Hermione immediately leaned into Severus's touch and his body. He felt so good for he felt so warm. Though her mind and heart just wanted to push him away, her body had lost the battle. She needed some sort of warmth, and oddly enough, it was his warmth that made her feel better. She unwrapped her arms from herself and let her hands go beneath his thin white shirt. The warmth beneath it and against his skin felt better.

"Are you in any pain?" Severus asked with concern in his voice as his hand gently went up and down her back.

Hermione shook her head as her face buried into his flat stomach.

"I'd better get a blanket."

"No!" Hermione muffled against his stomach as he tried to take a step back. Her arms around him tightened, not wanting him to separate from her. She couldn't lose his warmth and allow it to escape from her. "It's cold…"

Severus smiled at himself slightly as he looked down at Hermione. Her body slightly shivered from time to time, and seemed to be vulnerable. He extended one of his hands and reached out to move his seat right next to hers. He then sat down on it, as Hermione's arms moved and shifted up to his chest, along with her face. It made his shirt move up and exposed half of his upper body, but he didn't mind.

"You feel nice and warm," Hermione mumbled against the skin of his neck.

"You must eat, for you weren't awake for breakfast," Severus told her. He reached for her plate, and lifted it right in front of her.

Hermione opened her eyes and tentatively took one of the baby potatoes in her fingers. She laid her head down on Severus's shoulder and nibbled on the potato without saying another word.

"Would you like for me to draw you a warm bath right after this?"

"When can we go and visit my parents?"

"We can go when you are able to," Severus replied. He was pleased that she used the word 'we,' and wondered if she knew that she had just said it.

"Bath sounds nice," she said ever so softly, as she reached out for a piece of chicken. She knew she hated him and was already starting to hate herself. She couldn't deny the fact that it felt good to be held by him.

Severus inhaled the sweet scent of Hermione's hair. It was the first time that he had actually noticed that it smelled of vanilla and strawberries. Never had he taken the time to do such a simple act. He wanted to kiss her temple again, and thought it best not to. He didn't want to push Hermione's buttons, thinking that he could push her away. It felt good to hold her and… natural. His heart slightly clenched at the odd feeling within him.

The anniversary date that he had hoped may have not pushed through, but, things were turning out well between them.

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AN – A little sweetness, but, will it last? Review!