Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

Just to let everyone know, this was originally written back in 06-07 so this is just the edited version, that I am gradually reposting on . There are a few minor time-line changes and some things have been mixed-up a little to make the story feasible. Sorry if you thought this was new :)

Kudos go to Alliean for beta-ing this for me.

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Part Ten

There were always times in people's lives when they felt extremely low and self-pitying, and it often feels like the bad outweighs the good. But the few times in life that things are really grand, are remembered and cherished forever. As Severus watched Hermione wandering around the classroom assisting and teaching her seventh year students, he knew that that was one of the grand and cherished memories, and that he would carry the image of her around with him for the rest of his life, however long it was.

She flashed him the briefest of smiles as she stopped with Harry and Draco to "help" them with their potion, which the two were perfectly capable of completing. Smirking, he stood from his seat and decided it was about time to make a little mischief in the classroom. He stopped just behind Longbottom and Weasley and looked over their shoulders, examining their potion. It was actually looking rather good.

'Mr. Longbottom, I had no idea that you were capable of such a normal explosion-free potion,' he drawled sadistically.

Neville jumped when he heard the familiarly silky voice, and accidentally dropped the ingredient he had been chopping into the potion whole. Smiling in satisfaction, he left the two boys with a now over-boiling potion for the other side of the classroom. Ron threw him a dirty look out of the corner of his eye, and tried to help Neville stop the potion from spilling onto the floor and burning through the desk. When things got too out-of-control, Ron was forced to shove his hand into the air and ask for help.

'Madame Apprentice, we need your help!' Ron called frantically.

Hermione rushed over to help them and waved her hand over the potion, and banished their spoiled work out of the cauldron and off the desk, leaving everything spotless.

'All right, go and get fresh ingredients and start again. I'm afraid you'll both have to come back for an hour tonight to make up for the lost time,' she said with a sigh. 'Don't worry; it's not a detention, just to save you time.'

'Yes, Madame Apprentice,' Neville said hastily for both him and Ron.

Hermione nodded.

'Good. Be back here around eight this evening and we'll try and right your potion.'

She left them then and chanced a look at Severus in the back of the classroom. She had not been watching him much this lesson, and when she saw the mischievous glint in his eyes, as well as the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth, she was sure that he had something to do with that. Frowning, she glared at him. She would be discussing this with him as soon as class was over.

When the class was over, she told them to pack up, and once they had all left, she looked to see if her taciturn and house-prejudiced husband was still lingering in the classroom. She saw that he had fled, and decided to go look for him. She walked into his office and spied him by the fire, leaning against the mantle with his arms folded across his chest and a smile playing on his lips.

'Severus, what was that about in class today?' she asked seriously.

'What about class, love? Everything was fine. You taught well today,' he replied, walking towards her, leaning down and capturing her lips in a distracting kiss.

Hermione started to kiss him back, but after remembering that she was supposed to be interrogating him, she pulled away.

'Oh no, Mr. Squiffy. You're not going to distract me this time,' she said, putting some distance between them.

'I didn't hear you complaining a moment ago,' he replied coolly.

Hermione gave him a rueful look and frowned.

'I'm being serious, you. What did you do to Ron and Neville's potion today, and don't try to deny anything. They've been doing perfectly fine all year, and then they suddenly screw-up this lesson. You're behind it, mister.'

'All I did was go over to Mr. Longbottom to compliment his improvement,' he answered as a half-truth.

Indeed, he had gone over and complimented the boy, but with every intention of doing so to shock the boy into messing up the potion. He knew very well that his presence near the boy when he was brewing always got the effect of causing the boy to drop something or add the wrong ingredient.

'Really?' Hermione asked with a speculative eye.

'Is that so hard to believe?' he asked back silkily, eyes never leaving his wife's coffee-colored depths.

'Sometimes I wonder,' she said, not completely convinced, and turning to leave his office. Just when she reached the door she turned back and smirked at him. 'In any case, even if you didn't have anything to do with it, I am punishing you.'

Severus raised a surprised eyebrow.

'What is it to be then wife? Detention?' he asked, visions of a kinky detention rendezvous entering his mind.

'Absolutely not, Severus,' she answered with a grin. 'Actually, you do remember that I have to tutor Ron and Neville this evening, don't you?'

'Yes…' he replied slowly.

'Well, that just means one whole hour less play time for you, doesn't it?' she said with a wicked grin before slipping out of the office, and leaving him with a shocked look on his face.

Severus didn't see Hermione until dinner then, and even then, she didn't talk to him. Actually, she entertained herself with talking to Lucius and Narcissa, who were on the other side of her. Severus ate his food in silence, only occasionally speaking to McGonagall, who only seemed interested in Hermione's progress, before tiring of her incessant chatter and glancing out of the corner of his eye to see his wife eating a dish of chocolate mousse in a most taunting and teasing fashion. He smirked in spite of himself at her cheekiness. She was getting better at teasing him every day, and she knew just how to get him, and when. That afternoon had only just been a taster of what mischievousness his witch was capable of. He knew that somehow he was going to enjoy that evening very much.

Hermione excused herself from the table as soon as she was finished eating to prepare for her evening of tutoring before she could return to her thoroughly teased husband for what she knew would be a night of teasing for her actions earlier. She knew her wizard all too well, and she knew that when he was taunted – well – he gave as well as he got.

A little while after she arrived in the classroom, a cheerful-looking Neville and a grudging Ron entered the classroom with their books, and the tutoring began. The two boys worked efficiently under her tuition and were soon at the same stage as everyone else. By that point, she told them to pack up, clean up, and have a nice evening, and prepared to leave herself.

'Madame Apprentice, can we talk please?' Ron asked as she locked and warded the classroom.

Hermione smiled at him in spite of the way he had been acting for the entire school year and nodded, leading him to her office.

'You can call me Hermione outside of class, Ron,' she said with a reassuring smile.

Ron nodded, and sat in the chair she gestured towards and sighed.

'Hermione, I'm sorry,' he said in a low voice.

She paused for a moment in wonder, trying to figure out if he had seriously just said those three words. Standing, she went around the desk and hugged him around the shoulders as he sat in his chair.

'I forgive you, Ron. But I really think you owe an apology to Ginny, Harry and Draco more. You were mad at them when you didn't need to be,' she said quietly.

Ron stood and gave her a tight hug before releasing her and going to the door.

'I think I'll do that. Thanks, Hermione,' he said quietly, leaving.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and joy. Ron was back, and he seemed genuinely sorry for being such a prat. Smiling, she went to her chambers, and found Severus in his study. Deciding to leave him be for a bit, she took a shower and dressed in a simple cotton nightshirt, with a lace-up front that went down to her waist, and decided to leave that mostly untied. It wouldn't hurt to taunt him just that little bit more.

She stood in the doorway to the study with her arms folded beneath her breasts, and smiled wickedly.

'Come to bed, love,' she said seductively to her husband.

He looked up at her and smiled at her attire.

Such a tease… he thought as he crossed the room to kiss her.

--

The door closed with a satisfying click and the oak finally closed out the dull grey of the dungeon hall. Hermione let out the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding as she slumped against the sturdy wood. She had just bid her farewell to Ron after having invited him to lunch on that fine Sunday afternoon, and was relieved to see him out of there. She had accidentally neglected the few personal belongings Severus had left in her chambers the few times that they had returned there for the evening, and apparently had left it in, of all places, the sitting room. She saw the Slytherin alumni trademark silk bathrobe draped over the back of the lounge, and the black slippers, and the coffee mug with the two 'S's painted onto it.

She had let Ron in, saw it all there, and had to distract him in the kitchen before she could finally go back and remove it all from sight. Luckily, he had been too dumbfounded at being in her chambers for the first time to really bother noticing. Sighing deeply, she sunk into one of the comfy armchairs and rubbed a hand over her tired eyes. She was still aching in far too many places for her comfort, and was sure that her joints had ached like that before her abduction.

'You look tired, love,' whispered a silky voice from beside her.

She opened her eyes and gazed adoringly at her husband from beneath her lashes.

'What are you doing in here? I thought you had research to do,' she asked, stretching her arms out to him.

He took her hands and pulled her out of the seat easily, clutching her to his chest and snaking strong arms around her waist.

'I finished up for the day and thought I'd come and check if Mr. Weasley was finally gone. That boy is insufferable at best,' he said haughtily, with all of his regular sarcasm.

Hermione gave him a reproachful look.

'That boy just happens to be one of my best friends, thanks,' she snipped, trying to push him away.

'I know, Hermione, I was just expressing my own feelings for the termagant, not yours,' he said, bending down to capture her lips in a slow kiss before she could argue with him further.

'You're trying to distract me,' she murmured against his lips, although not really objecting to the attention.

'Yes,' he hissed into her mouth before returning to the delicate task of devouring it as his hands slid inside her robes and caressed her hip through the fabric of her blouse. 'But you already knew that, manipulative witch.'

Smiling, she pulled away, slowly ending that oh-so-good kiss, and walked to the other side of the room, collecting the empty plates and depositing them in the kitchen, then slumping against the bench. She closed her eyes, and took a few moments to recollect the little energy that she had left when she heard her Floo connection activate before loud, frantic voices sounded in her sitting room. Opening her eyes, she made it to the other room fast and found Severus and Albus standing and talking in whispers. Albus looked worried, and Severus was wearing his mask of indifference, although she could tell that his eyes were fearful.

'What is going on?' she demanded quietly.

Severus turned to her and walked to her side, holding out a hand and taking hers in his own as he did.

'There had been an attack at the Ministry of Magic and five people have been sent to St. Mungo's with spell damage and trauma,' he explained. 'There were four Death Eaters there, and Arthur Weasley was one of the victims.'

Hermione gasped, and fell into her husbands embrace immediately, burrowing her face into the front of his robes.

'Is he badly hurt?' she asked softly.

'He was found passed-out, but as far as the Healers can tell, he seems to have suffered the least damage,' Albus answered from beside them as Hermione felt tears making tracks down her face.

The Weasleys were like her second family, and really the only ones she had left now, apart from Severus.

She pulled back and looked at the Headmaster.

'I need to go see him. Do Ron and Ginny know yet?' she said, accepting the comfort Severus offered at the same time.

'Mr. and Miss. Weasley have both been alerted of their father's state, and will be Apparating to St. Mungo's directly. If it is your wish to go also, I can arrange it so that you may Apparate,' he replied calmly.

Hermione looked up at Severus and saw the understanding look in his eyes. He nodded, and she smiled weakly at him, and then impulsively decided that she wanted him to be there with her.

'Come with me, Severus?' she asked.

Snape felt his chest ache at this and simply nodded. How could he deny her anything? She was his life, after all, and he would do everything in his power to ensure her happiness.

'Headmaster, is that alright with you?' she asked Dumbledore as she released Severus from her hold.

'Of course, Madame Snape, that is entirely within reason' he answered graciously. 'But I suggest that you leave immediately, and return as soon as possible.'

Hermione nodded and took Snape's hand, and dragged him towards the door. Turning back, she was able to catch the Headmaster as he left.

'Thank you, Professor,' she said, opening the door, and allowing her husband to lead the way.

They took the short cut and Apparated at the edge of the forest, appearing somewhere in a damp alleyway just outside of St. Mungo's before rushing immediately inside the dusty, run down-looking shack and appearing in a hospital reception. They were directed to Room 23B on the fourth floor, and when they rushed there and peered through the window, they saw seven of the Weasleys in the room surrounding the eighth member, still passed out in the bed.

'Hermione, love, if we go in there, they are all bound to find out about us,' Severus whispered into her ear. 'Do you mind if they do?'

She turned to look up at him and simply smiled.

'They deserved to know a long time ago, Severus,' she replied. 'They are the closest thing I have to family, and I love them all very much. I am not ashamed of you, or my decisions.'

His heart was warmed greatly by this, and he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently.

She leaned up and forwards, pressing her lips against his for a slow, loving kiss before pulling away with a satisfied smile. 'I love you so much,' she said, kissing him again.

'And I you, dear heart,' he replied, pulling away and nudging her to move into the room, still holding her hand.

Ginny was the first to see them enter, and noticed their hands clasped together, and saw Hermione's wedding bands and engagement ring. Her eyes widened and she pointed at them, but Hermione simply shook her head, brought his hand to her lips and kissed it gently. Ginny smiled and nodded, beckoning them over.

'Hermione, you're here now, dear,' Molly Weasley exclaimed with a sob.

Hermione released Snape's hand went to Molly, enclosing the motherly witch in a tight hug. But she had not let go fast enough to escape the notice of Charlie, Bill and the twins, who were giving her strange looks. Ron seemed to be the only one oblivious to that exchange. Once Molly Weasley let go, she smiled at the strange looks she was receiving and simply returned to Severus' side, taking his hand in hers again. This time Mrs. Weasley and Ron did notice as well as the others.

'Hermione, Severus, I think we will need an explanation,' Molly said curiously, eyes fixed to the spot where their hands were connected.

This time it was Snape's turn to speak.

'Molly, I know this may all seem quite sudden, but this is not a new development,' he explained carefully in a lowered voice. 'Hermione and I have been married for a few months now.'

At that point, Molly fainted into Charlie's arms, and she was dragged to the nearest seat and fanned by Ginny. Bill seemed to be unaffected, Fred and George were laughing at Arthur's bedside, but Ron was simply standing there with a sheepish grin on his face.

'Ron, are you mad?' she asked carefully.

He shook his head and gave her a hug, and both she and her husband sighed in relief…

--

Over the week that followed the tragic Weasley incident in the Ministry, the attacks just continued to occur. There were at least a dozen cases filed in the Ministry archives, with plenty more minor occurrences that were left to the Junior Ministry officials to deal with while the aristocrats bickered over what step should be taken next. Severus had been called away from the castle by his other master five times during that week, leaving Hermione to teach classes and worry for him alone. He had just been called away that evening, and Hermione had locked herself up in their chambers and refused to see anyone until he returned safe. Harry had attempted to get through to her, but she just wouldn't hear any of it. She wanted her husband back, and she wouldn't sleep until he was.

After hour upon hour of relentless pacing, Hermione finally sat on the couch, and burst into tears. She wept until she thought she'd choke, and didn't even hear the door to their chambers open. When Severus stumbled through the door quietly, and saw Hermione sitting on the couch crying, he felt his chest ache for her. He peeled himself out of the Death Eater robes and discarded the mask, grateful that he didn't have to actually participate in any of the activities. That was the benefit of being in the Dark Lord's favor. He walked over to her, but she still didn't seem to notice him, and so, he sat beside her, and wrapped his arms around her. She looked up in surprise, and when she saw his face, she threw her arms around him and breathed a sigh of relief.

'Severus! Oh god, you're really back!' she cried, angrily brushing the tears away and peppering his face with kisses.

'Did you expect otherwise?' he asked calmly.

'I was beginning to wonder,' she answered truthfully. 'I have been worried sick actually, but I'm glad I was wrong.'

Severus raised an eyebrow.

'Do you have such little faith in my promises, wife?' he questioned, and smiled when she shook her head in reassurance. 'I promise that I will never leave you alone.'

She hugged him and kissed his lips gently, until he pulled away and sighed.

'Unfortunately, my love, there are far more serious matters at hand that have to be attended to first,' he said apologetically when she pouted. 'The Dark Lord has set a date, and I need to alert the Order and speak to Lucius.'

'He – he has decided the day of the… when he is to begin the war?' she stammered as she began to stand.

'Yes.'

Hermione nodded, pursing her lips and running a hand through her hair.

'When shall we expect to… ummm...' she trailed off, figuring he got the point.

'In exactly five days,' he answered gruffly.

She went to the fire and grabbed a pinch of Floo powder, opening up the network once more and throwing it into the fire.

'Go get cleaned up, Severus. I'll go tell the Headmaster, and we'll organize an Order meeting for tomorrow,' she said with a small half-smile.

'Then you'll come back down?' he asked.

'I might not. I think I'm going to see Harry and Ron about this. They deserve to know before the rest, and I haven't spent much time with them this week,' she explained anxiously.

He nodded, somewhat sadly, but turned to walk towards the bathroom and do as he was told.

'Very well then, I shall go and see Lucius about this,' he said dejectedly before opening the door.

Hermione bit her lip, and stopped him, tugging on his sleeve to make him face her, and hugged him tight around the chest. She leaned up and kissed him hard on the mouth, nipping on his bottom lip and teasing him into the kiss. He eventually responded, so she pulled away and kissed the corner of his mouth once more before caressing his cheek lightly.

'I love you, Severus,' she whispered against his lips before kissing him again chastely.

'I love you too, my wife,' he replied, brushing an errant curl behind her ear, and kissing the pulse point just below there gently.

She stepped into the green flames and called out for the Headmaster's office, and whirled away, leaving Severus very much on his own. He stripped off his clothes and stepped under the stream of water, letting it flow over his head and down his back. He washed his hair and body thoroughly, and dried himself off quickly, dressing in trousers and a black shirt, tucking it into his pants and rolling the sleeves to his elbows. After tying his hair back with a black tie, he Flooed to Lucius' office and knocked on the door to his chambers.

'Severus, you've heard then,' Lucius said when he saw the serious expression on the taller man's face.

'Don't be daft, Lucius, of course I've heard. You were there too then, I suppose,' Severus said when his blonde friend invited him in. 'What does Narcissa think of it?'

'She was asleep when I returned,' he replied, offering him a seat and a glass of something that he assumed was Firewhisky.

Severus set the glass aside.

'Lucius, you know I don't drink this damnable drink anymore,' he grumbled.

'So your wife was awake then you returned, hmmm?'

'What can I say, she is – well, I don't even know how to explain exactly, but she really is a brilliant one. She didn't even panic when I told her,' he said with a reminiscent smile.

'I suppose she was a little afraid, but after the initial shock, she was so…'

'Confident?' Lucius suggested.

'More than that,' he replied proudly.

'She's sounds like a Gryffindor,' Lucius said with a smirk. 'Unfortunately for me, Narcissa is bound to take it badly. She always did.'

'My sympathies,' Severus said with a grin.

Lucius looked pensive for a moment and stared into his fire, taking a gulp of his Firewhisky.

'Has Dumbledore been alerted? And Potter?' he asked, looking over to his friend.

Snape smiled up at him, something he had noticed happening a lot more frequently since he had seen Severus with Hermione.

'Why, yes, I do believe that Hermione has alerted Albus, and that the Order meeting will be tomorrow,' he said smoothly. 'She's telling Potter, Weasley, and most likely your son at this very moment.'

'That's good. I…' Lucius began, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

He set down his drink and opened it, and a frantic-looking Harry and Draco burst into the room, eyes wide and apologetic.

'Professor Snape, you need to come with us!' Harry said quickly.

'What is the meaning of this, Potter?' he demanded as he stood.

'It's Hermione!' Draco said immediately. 'She sort of passed out when she came to see us. We took her to the Hospital Wing and came straight here to find you.'

'Oh God,' Severus muttered as he pushed past all three blocking the doorway, and made haste out of the office and towards the Infirmary.

He went as fast as he could down the hall, and finally reached it, banging through the doors. He went straight to where he saw Madame Pomfrey emerge from, and quickly thanked the matron for caring for her, even though the woman herself seemed quite confused as to why Snape was thanking her. He went in through the curtain surrounding her bed and found Hermione laying there, propped up on pillows, looking pale and clammy.

'Hermione, are you alright?' he asked, kneeling next to her bed, and taking one of her small hands in both of his.

She nodded, and smiled wearily.

'Severus, I'm pregnant…'

'You – you are?' he stammered helplessly, getting up to sit next to her on the bed.

She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it gently in confirmation.

'I am, and we're going to have a little girl,' she said with a grin. 'Are you mad?'

'Not at all, love,' he said kissing her knuckles and smiling, heart swelling with joy.

She was alright…