I want to apologise for the delay in updating.
A few days ago I lost someone really close to me , and it threw me.
It was totally unexpected and I wasn't prepared.
I spent the last couple of days walking around either in a daze or in such a low state of mind that I've been fighting dark thoughts that I haven't had in a while , and hoped not to have again.
Sorry for letting you guys down , here's the next chapter.
Suddenly it was all too much and the emotions overwhelmed her, as she burst into laughter at the same time tears began flowing down her face.
"He stole my wand , stole my money , spent 20,000 Galleons on himself and the 10,000 Galleons I'd put aside for our child's college fees...he gambled away on quidditch"
The Goblins had been furious , and not just at the fraud but at whom it was aimed.
Hermione had been a big hitter in the Department for the control and regulation of magical creatures before she'd 'left' the job at Ron's insistence.
It was thanks to her it was now the Department of Non Human Magical Beings Liaisons , with an entirely separate office that dealt with magical creatures.
She'd fought for the rights of 'non human sentient beings' , for Goblins , Centaurs , Werewolves and elves among many others, to be classed as beings and not creatures. It was a hard earned victory, but she'd done it.
The Goblins loved her for it, so used to being looked down upon in wizarding society , they did not easily forget those that stood up for them.
When Ronald Weasley's duplicity came to light , heads were going to roll.
Hermione, so emotionally exhausted from the day had accepted the offer of flooing directly home from the Goblin's private chambers , with Severus to follow shortly after once he'd dealt with the formalities.
Hermione had allowed him access to all of her accounts and funds , and this time it was in front of a Goblin and all genuine.
When she'd left the room , he turned to the head goblin who eyed him critically to which he offered him a wicked smirk full of dark promise.
"I believe there are plans to be made...no?" He questioned.
The goblin had smiled back , showing rows of vicious teeth.
"Indeed Master Snape...please" he gestured to his office.
A quick patronus , and not much later Lucius Malfoy stepped regally out of the open floo.
The three walked into the office, and set wheels into motion.
When he arrived back home , it was a to a sight and smell that made his heart clench in his chest.
Hermione was cooking in his kitchen , Her hair was wet from a shower and she wearing only a pair of pyjama bottoms and his slytherin jumper.
Not only was she cooking but it was from the smell of it , his favourite meal.
Roast beef , with vegetables, gravy and Yorkshire puddings. A proper 'Sunday Dinner' , that made him think of happier times when his grandmother was still alive.
The one person who'd always had time for him.
She looked so relaxed , and so at home that he desperately wished that she would consent to stay forever.
As he watched silently , she ambled about the kitchen doing various tasks simultaneously the muggle way , and was reading from a magical textbook at the same time, which he wasn't even sure was in English.
He was slightly embarrassed by her flawless ability to multitask , as he could barely cook with all his concentration on the oven.
Making sure to take his boots off loudly , so that she wasn't startled by his approach , his stomach did a little flutter when she turned and smiled as she saw him.
"Hey Severus , I was so frustrated after everything today...I just needed something to do , and I wanted to do something nice for you , I hope you don't mind ?"
She actually looked as though she was worried he might not approve of her using his kitchen.
"Witch , trust me that whenever you decide you wish to spend your time cooking for me , I can assure you I shall not mind"
She smiled then and he came over and placed his arm around her shoulders in a half hug. He didn't want to force her into anything more , but she happily put her book down and turned it into a full hug which he returned with gusto.
"Here sit , you've had a longer day than me" She said , and took his coat from him. Once more he fought the buildup of tears in his eyes at the genuine caring she displayed as she took his coat and hung it up , before ushering him into a seat at the small table and bringing him a cup of tea.
"It's you that should be off your feet madam , while you still have that cast "
"I've spent most of my day sat in one way or another , and when dinner is finished I'll be done for the day , I just needed to burn this nervous energy off"
He nodded, for he could understand that.
"After this , you will put your feet up "
"Yes dear " She said with a smile , it was said teasingly but it was like a balm to his soul.
Reaching for his cup of tea, he spoke softly to her as she carried on with her work.
"What were you reading?"
His mouth watered when she opened the oven to check on the meat. Not just at the smell , but of the sight of her bending over in front of him.
"It's an old french text book on practical applications of arithmancy you had on the shelf , from what I can gather it's more or less their version of Stoker's applied arithmancy , but with a few interesting differences"
"Indeed?" He questioned. "Is arithmancy something you remain interested in ?" He remembered vector had always sung her praises , and had hoped for her to apprentice in the subject , before the ministry snapped her up.
"It was, don't get me wrong I loved my job at the ministry and was proud of everything I accomplished as I felt I really made a difference, but one day I would like to..."
She cut off then and cupped her belly with a sad smile.
"...One day I would've liked to have studied it further"
"What's stopping you ?" He questioned and she rose her eyebrow at him.
"Severus, you do remember that I'm pregnant right ?"
He snorted at her and she threw a tea towel at him.
"I'm aware." He said drolly "But what I don't understand is why that will stop you following your dreams of becoming an arithmancer ? If you were to gain your mastery no doubt McGonnagol would snap you up for the teaching position when vector retires "
"I would've loved that" again said with the sad smile.
"Then why the past tense , you are still young and will not be pregnant forever"
"That's exactly the point Severus , once cub is born that's going to be my life for the next 11 years until cub goes to Hogwarts"
"Plenty of mothers work Hermione , you act as though you are going to be chained to the kitchen"
She looked sadly at him , and turned to focus on the dinner.
"Hermione, when I said that I would be here for the both of you , I meant it. If cub is to be mine , I want to play an active part in the baby's life"
She placed a plate of food in front of him that made his mouth water, and sat beside him.
He reached over and grabbed her hand , and her eyes met his.
"You know that I am a man of means Hermione , neither of us has to work again if we do not wish it "
She simply nodded and looked down , but he tipped her chin up with his finger.
"However I shall not hold you back if it is your wish to have a career. I brew specialist potions for the challenge and the sense of achievement, not for the money, and that is all done from home. I have no issues with being a stay at home father , if you wish to work"
With that he began to eat the meal she'd prepared for him and moaned at the first delicious taste burst onto his tongue.
It took him a few more bites to realise that she was not eating as well and he turned to look at her shell-shocked face.
"You'd really do that?" She whispered. "You'd raise cub with me , and let me work , you're not just saying it are you?"
"Of course " He said simply.
"But , you're the man...and wizarding tradition..."
He snorted.
"Wizarding tradition is a bunch of outdated male centric sexist nonsense most of the time , I have spent over 20 years from one master to another whilst simultaneously working to educate wizarding britain in how not to blow themselves up , I have no problem being a kept man and stay at home father if you wish to be the breadwinner of the house"
She smiled widely at that and he found himself returning it.
"Just one condition"
"Name it" she whispered.
"Don't make me cook"
She laughed then and kissed his cheek , and he couldn't help smiling like a loon.
They began to chat arithmancy over the dinner table and his hand sneaked over to cup cub , who happily kicked along to the conversation.
In shocking news today the notorious Mr. Ronald Weasley , who was already on probation at work after recently being seen arriving in a drunken fashion to the Auror offices of the MLE was today found guilty of Fraud by the wizengamot , after evidence given by the Goblins of Gringotts, along with charges of illegal gambling and the confunding of a Gringotts employee.
The man who is 1/3 of the Golden Trio has had all his remaining funds confiscated , and is having charges filed against him for a number of galleons spent that were taken illegally from the vault of one Miss Hermione Granger.
What's that you say Dear readers ? The same Miss Hermione Granger , who was until recently Miss Hermione Weasley ? Why that's right , Miss Granger who is the soon to be EX wife or Mr Ronald Weasley , has filed for divorce in absentia... the reasons for the divorce you say ?
Well here's the juicy part Dear Readers , not only has Miss Granger sited fraud and disloyalty , but also unreasonable behaviour.
Miss Granger was recently climbing ladders in the ministry , and well known as another 1/3rd of the golden trio , but my sources say she didn't leave her esteemed job at the ministry of her own free will... oh no.
" She was so sad to leave , she'd been doing so well." The source explained ."But her husband had wanted her to come home once they discovered she was pregnant, strange, she'd never said they were trying to have kids , she'd always talked about wanting to advance her career first you know ? She wasn't the type to drop everything to become a mother in her early 20s"
What exactly has Mr Weasley done that's so unreasonable ? And where is the pregnant Miss Granger Now ?
Stay tuned for more on this story as it develops
Rita Skeeter
Writing for the daily prophet