A/N: I'm sorry for taking so long...it's just that I'm trying to craft the relationship between Severus and Hermione. So the next few chapters might be slower than normal. Also, the majority of this chapter is a flashback which will be italicized.
"Not exactly a romantic morning after experience," his wife grumbled from her spot in his arms. Having finally gotten up off the floor of his bathroom, they were lounging on his bed. It felt good to just bask in their togetherness. After about a month of being apart, this moment was a surreal pleasure.
He kissed her brow and rubbed her shoulders gently. "Not romantic, but still beautiful."
She shook her head and Severus could hear the smile in her voice, even if he could not see it. "That's very sweet Severus, but part of the reasons why I love you is because you're honest. Sometimes brutally so."
"I'm serious. Inelegant the act may be, but it reminded me that my wife is carrying my child."
She pressed a kiss to his palm. "Words of honey. But I do remember you having a not so beautiful moment with a child once." He chuckled lightly and Hermione joined. "I swear, you looked ready to explode."
"I was, but a certain know-it-all came to my rescue," he drawled, and Hermione grinned.
"I used any excuse I had to interact with you," she admitted. Her tone was still light; however, he sincerity was not lost on him. It was still amazing how much she truly wanted to be with him. Even back then, in those early stages of their choppy friendship. Where their interactions were about as awkward as gangly teenagers with knobbly knees. And yet, charged with an underlying attraction. Truly magnetic in the way it begged for them to break the bonds of propriety. To give in. To touch. Feel.
He could remember that afternoon clearly….
…..The kitchen at Grimmauld had always been like the center for the Order's gatherings although at the present a gathering isn't what Severus would call it. It was more like an ambush. "Tell me again why I'm to be burdened with this task," He grumbled at Albus sneeringly.
"Oh, stop griping Severus. Margaret and Phil needed a sitter and no other Order member is available," the old wizard explained for the third time in the last ten minutes. "It's only for a few hours."
"And if I am summoned?"
Dumbledore frowned. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, you were called last night and he rarely asks for you two days in a row." Snape scowled, and at that moment the little bundle in Albus's arms chose that moment to start crying. He heard the Headmaster chuckle and Severus soon found the baby pushed into his arms unceremoniously. "I have every confidence in you," his mentor's voice could be heard just barely over the child's wailing. And then he was gone, leaving Severus feeling annoyed and uncomfortable. Grudgingly, he bounced the small child as he often saw done. He wasn't inexperienced with children, but it had been nearly a decade since he held a child. And even longer since he had to take care of one. Especially one who wouldn't stop screaming.
"You know, you might try feeding him." He frowned, he knew that superior tone anywhere.
"Shouldn't you be running around with your little friends?" His glare would have seemed fiercer, had he not been carrying a bawling baby.
She didn't answer right away, instead heading to the baby bag and pulling out a bottle. He took it and the little boy sucked greedily. "They're too busy playing exploding snap. I was on my way to my room when I heard the noise. I'm surprised to find you here sir. I thought Remus was our only chaperone."
"The wolf's here as well?" Severus growled. "Albus…"
"I take it that you don't like babies?"
"On the contrary, Miss Granger it is manipulative old wizards that I have a problem with," he answered snidely. He was shocked to hear her laugh. It was rare that people understood his particular brand of sarcasm. And for a student to appreciate it was almost non-existent. But then again, Miss Granger was full of surprises. The baby, who's name was Marcus, stopped feeding and the crying started up again. Severus sighed heavily.
Hermione was shocked. This was a display of humanity that seemed at odds with all of her previous experiences with her professor. "Here," she said directing for him to hand her the angry bundle. "Hand me a towel out of the bag."
It was a command and under different circumstances, he might have been against his pupil ordering him about. But he'd do anything to quiet the boy's powerful lungs. "What are you doing?" He asked in a gruff voice. In truth, he was a bit disconcerted by how mature and womanly Miss Granger looked with the child in her arms.
"I'm burping him," she explained. "Sometimes after eating babies get fluid built up in their throat and they get uncomfortable and cry. Burping them, let's them spit up and clear their passage way." Sure enough, Marcus was quiet once more. His little eyes drooped heavily and he fell asleep. Miss Granger smiled down at the baby fondly.
"Thank you," he mumbled, accepting the baby. Marcus gurgled a bit, but otherwise remained sleeping. "You seem….quite competent when it comes to handling infants." He tried to feign nonchalance but it appeared that Miss Granger saw through it. Her smile brightened at the compliment.
"I've had a lot of practice. Cousins and what not," she answered dismissively. She was closer now, a hand placed on his arm in a familiar manner as she brushed the baby's head. He could tell that it wasn't a conscious gesture, he was merely a support as she leaned over to coo at the child. "How long do you have with him?"
"A few hours. I shudder to think how I'll survive until his parents return." There it was. That laugh again. This time he noticed how musical it sounded. Feminine, but not girlish. Much like the rest of her it had matured into an altogether attractive package. But he had no business noticing such things.
"Well, you can count on me to help." Her words hung in the air between them waiting for a response. Why was this so hard? Was it because he didn't know where they stood? Likely. Severus was usually certain about such things. Everyone had a neat little box. Colleague. Student. Master. And there was Miss Granger. She was like an irregular shaped peg that refused to fit. And an odd part of him liked it that way. The idea that for Miss Granger, he'd have to create a place that was all her own.
"That would be much appreciated," he conceded….
