Snape's Return-Ch14

(Baby-talk & Admissions)

Hermione arrived at Harry and Ginny's house and they spent most of the evening discussed baby things, when Hermione was finding out the sex of the baby, things she needed and her possibly deciding to stop teaching. They talked well into the night and little James had fallen asleep in his father's arms, they looked nearly identical and it made her heart hurt when she thought her own child wouldn't have that relationship. She sighed, something she had been doing a lot lately it seemed, and decided to shuffle off to bed for the night. She thanked Harry and Ginny and softly kissed both James and Lily on the foreheads before slipping off to her room.

Harry and Ginny exchanged worried looks and quietly talked a bit longer about the possible father of Hermione's baby.

Harry said, "I don't know what is wrong with telling us. I won't get upset, she should know that by now. I love her and it won't matter if Snape is the father!"

Ginny shushed him and remained thoughtful before saying, "Harry, you may just have a point about Snape."

"What?!" Harry whispered loudly.

Ginny looked at her husband and replied, "Now, Harry, think about it. She said it was after the date with Draco, right?" Harry nodded and she continued, "See, she had already told me she came straight back to Hogwarts, she must have slipped up by saying it was the same night. I don't think she realized she inadvertently told me that whoever it was she slept with was already at the school. There are only so many men there and I highly doubt Filch caught her fancy."

Both Harry and Ginny cringed and made disgusted faces at that thought before Harry nodded and said, "You may have a point there, Gin. She has been awfully upset since he returned and for that whole first week all she did was talk about him, then suddenly, nothing, not a word about him. And that was the day after her 'date' that she came over here, saying she didn't want to be at the school. That could only mean she didn't want to be around Snape. He must have hurt her after their night together, bloody bastard. Doesn't he know how hurt she has been? The war took so much from us all, parents, friends and our entire childhood. Lord, Ron is still making up for it missing out on those happy teenage years, which is why he is playing Quidditch and picking up a different girl every night."

Ginny smiled and said, "Yeah, Ron is a bit immature though, always has been."

They laughed softly and decided to go up to bed, tucking the kids in gently before curling up together in their own bed. They had a lot to consider and would make sure Hermione was happy, no matter what.

Hermione stayed up for a couple more hours thinking, she had a healer's appointment in a few days to find out if she was having a boy or girl. She was excited and happy but couldn't help but feel lonely, thinking of Ginny and Harry raising their children together, Neville and Hannah about to have their baby; and all the Weasleys that had reproduced already, excluding Ron. She drifted off into a fitful sleep and dreamed of a black eyed little girl with curly black hair and a smirk on her face.

The week past and Hermione's visit to the healer revealed what she had already suspected, she was having a baby girl. She had not allowed the tears to fall when she had seen the wand glow pink, she had smiled a watery smile and looked at Ginny, who had come to support her. Ginny had been hinting at what the baby might look like and Hermione feared that she might have figured out the father; but when Ginny smiled at the thought of Hermione's daughter having curly black hair, she knew it would be alright. Her friends loved her and without a doubt now, Hermione knew that their knowing Snape was the father would be okay.

She clasped Ginny's hand and said, "Yes, Ginny. Curly, black hair with eyes like midnight… what a beautiful girl she will be."

Ginny laughed and replied, "Let's just hope she has your nose!"

They both smiled at that and that night she sat down with Harry and talked about what had happened and told him that Draco knew as well. Harry was a little disappointed she had told Draco first but understood that as a Slytherin he might understand Snape's behavior better; though she said that Draco had been furious. She smiled softly when she told him what Draco had offered to do for her and her baby and Harry commented on how much Draco really had changed, offering the Malfoy name to a Muggle-born. They retired to their beds later on and before they knew it, Christmas Eve was upon them.

Severus was irritable when he awoke and discovered it was Christmas Eve and he was not in his dungeon quarters but an ostentatious room at Malfoy Manor. He had been there the last three days and Draco had been avoiding him, which was very confusing to Severus. It wasn't as though they were extremely close but he didn't understand what he had done to piss the boy off, unless it had to do with Hermione, which made him furious to consider. Severus did not want to think that Miss Granger had informed Draco of what happened between the two of them, he did not like his private business spread around to all her little friends. He drew himself up out of the bed and headed for the loo with the intention of scalding the memory of her body on his out of his head with hot water from the shower.

Hermione gathered the last of her belongings and told Ginny and Harry she would see them at the Burrow later on, but had decided to go ahead and go over to the Malfoys since she was spending the rest of the holiday with them. She stepped outside and apparated straight to the Manor, where Tibby the house elf let her in and led her to the breakfast room. Narcissa rose gracefully when she saw Hermione enter the room and immediately went to her, taking her hand and leading her to the chair next to Draco. He leaned over and kissed her cheek while placing a hand on her thigh and squeezing lightly in reassurance, though she wasn't sure what she needed reassuring about.

Lucius smiled at her and asked, "Good Morning, my dear. How have your holidays been so far? Enjoying the break from teaching?"

Hermione looked at the elder Malfoy and answered, "I have enjoyed my holiday very much, thank you. I have gotten to spend loads of time with my godson James and my newest goddaughter, Lily. I'm looking forward to spending some time with Draco though. And you all of course."

Lucius smiled at her response and the deep friendship that his son had found with Miss Granger, he said, "Well that's wonderful. I'm sure to meet the lovely Lily Potter this evening at the Burrow and I will endeavor to look forward to it."

Narcissa smiled and said, "Yes I do so love new babies, they smell so divine. I had wished to have another after Draco was born but it just wasn't meant to be."

Lucius shared a sorrowful smile with his wife and said, "It would be nice if someone gave us some grandchildren soon though, wouldn't it?"

Draco glared at his father a moment before looking at Hermione and saying, "Hermione, I may not be having any children right now but perhaps you would like to share your news with my parents now?"

Lucius and Narcissa looked expectantly at Hermione, who glared at Draco before saying, "Well, I, um, I am going to have a baby…she is due in June."

Both Malfoys looked surprised before they schooled their features once more and looked at Draco who shook his head no. They had hoped that something might occur between the two beyond friendship but it seemed that Hermione has found someone else.

Narcissa looked at Hermione and asked, "Are you happy about this?"

Hermione nodded firmly and smiled, saying, "I think it has been the best thing to happen to me in a long while and though the situation isn't ideal, its salvageable."

Narcissa smiled and placed her hand on top of Hermione's, patting gently before saying, "Very good, my dear. Congratulations. If you need anything, then let us know. You are like a daughter to us and your child will be very welcome indeed."

Lucius nodded in agreement and they all finished their breakfast quietly with Draco occasionally looking at Hermione thoughtfully. It wasn't until a shadow cast over the table that Hermione looked up and froze, Draco glaring and taking a hold of Hermione's hand and quickly pulling her up from the table.

"Excuse us, Mother, Father. I believe Hermione could use some fresh air." Draco said quietly while giving his parents an explanatory look and angling his eyes at Severus.

Both Malfoy's eyebrows rose slightly before they nodded and Narcissa said, "Very well, Draco, Hermione. Enjoy your walk. We will see you at lunch then."

Hermione moved stiffly around the table and momentarily stopped when she felt Lucius' hand briefly catch hers, he squeezed it and then turned back to the table. Severus scowled at the display and then stalked to the buffet, ignoring the glares he received from both Narcissa and Lucius. If only he knew what everyone else would find out tonight, then he might understand the glares directed at his back.

**A/N-we are getting toward the big reveal...what will Snape do when he finds out about Hermione's little secret? REVIEW!!!!**