Severus didn't know what to think and it felt like a bludger had hit him square in the chest and taken all of his breath away. Pregnant? I'm going to be a father? Severus felt ashamed that he never thought to use any sort of protection. Hermione doesn't deserve to be tied down with a child when she is so young. Why did I do this to her? Severus thought.

Hermione could tell by the look on his face that his thoughts were not of the good variety.

"Is that okay Severus?" she asked timidly.

Severus had never taken his eyes off of her from the time she had announced the pregnancy until just then. He looked down at his feet and away from her pleading eyes.

"I don't know Hermione. This is a huge thing to think about that will affect us for the rest of our lives," he answered half-truthfully. "Let's just go to bed for now and let me think on it."

Hermione couldn't completely hide her disappointment at his response, but she knew he was right that it was a bombshell that needed to be thought through. She turned from him and headed to the bedroom. Finding some of her pajamas in one of his drawers, she quickly changed into them. As she was getting into bed, Severus came in and changed as well. They didn't say anything as he threw some more wood into the fireplace, turned out the lights, and got into bed beside her. When he got into bed, he pulled Hermione into his arms, holding her close.

"Please don't be mad at me Hermione. Even at my age, this is not something that I have ever dealt with. I'm at a loss as to what to do. We both need to fully think about this before we decide what to do."

"I know Severus. We will talk about it tomorrow or something. Good night." She still sounded a little sad and disappointed, but there was nothing Severus could do at the moment to cheer her up.

"Good night Hermione," he replied.

Severus laid there for an hour thinking about the situation. He truly didn't know how to feel about any of it. Before falling asleep, he decided that tomorrow he needed to get away from the castle for a few hours and think about the situation in private.

Hermione woke up the next morning around seven o'clock. When she woke up, she noticed that the bed was empty and there was no noise around except the fire. Usually on school mornings Severus would wake her up and they would go to the Great Hall for breakfast together. This morning, however, he was missing. Slowly, Hermione got up and ready for the day. As she made her way to the Great Hall she ran into her friends in the Entrance Hall. Everyone asked how she was feeling and Hermione told them the truth- physically she was fine, but mentally she was not okay. They all seemed to understand, even if Hermione was leaving out a very important part. Just being attacked like she was by some random man was enough to shake up anyone's mind.

As they entered the Great Hall, Hermione looked toward the teachers' table, but Severus was not there. She wondered where he was, but she realized that maybe he needed some fresh air and time to himself to sort through everything.

After breakfast she headed to see Madame Pomfrey. Her checkup came back perfect and she was off to classes. Potions was her first class for the day, but when she got there she was surprised to see Professor Dumbledore there instead of Severus.

Hermione went to her normal seat at the front, soon Draco joined her at their table. He had clearly noticed the Headmaster when he asked, "Where is Severus?"

"I have no idea," was all that Hermione could reply. She wasn't lying, she was actually wondering it herself. Harry and Ron also gave her quizzical looks upon seeing that Severus was missing, Hermione just shrugged her shoulders.

Class went by quickly. It was weird to experience a Potions class that was really fun to be in. The Headmaster kept everyone laughing and everyone relaxed while making their potions, which helped them do a lot better. Professor Dumbledore allowed them to help the others and gave out tips on how to chop up ingredients to be more effective and efficient. All-in-all, it was an amazing way to start classes back after a week of not having them.

At the end of class, Hermione was going to ask the Headmaster where Severus was, but he was the first out the door. When Hermione ran out after him, he seemed to have disappeared as soon as he had went out the door. Hermione was disappointed and worried. She hoped that Severus disappearing didn't mean he wanted to end their relationship. Hermione was too far in and felt like she would never survive the heartache.

Lunch and classes went by quickly. By the time Hermione made it to dinner, she had not heard one word from Severus. When she made it to dinner, she once again looked for him, but he wasn't in his seat. She had already been down to his quarters three times since Potions class and he was never there.

As soon as dinner was over, Hermione marched right up to the teachers' table to have a word with the Headmaster.

"Headmaster, I hate to interrupt you but can I speak to you in private?" she asked.

Professor Dumbledore smiled at Hermione. "Of course my dear, let's head to my office. Bring Mr. Potter and your friends along with you."

Hermione was puzzled as to why he wanted her friends to come along, but she did as he said. The group followed the Headmaster to his office. When they got there, he coujured more chairs for everyone to sit in.

Hermione forgot propriety and blurted out, "Sir, do you know where Severus is?"

The Headmaster laughed lightly. "For the most part, Miss Granger. After all of the news he received yesterday, he needed some time to himself, but he decided while he had that time he was going to make good use out of it. He decided to try and find out who the man was that attacked you. I received an owl from him before dinner and so far, nothing. He should be back soon, however."

"Oh, but sir, why did you want my friends here?" she asked.

"Because I knew they would pester you with questions as to Severus's whereabouts. In your condition, you shouldn't be worrying or pestered. You have been through enough the past couple of days."

"Condition?" Ginny asked.

Hermione had completely forgot that her friends didn't know about the baby. At first Hermione didn't know what to say or whether she should even tell them right now or not. However, they were her friends, her family, and she decided that since all of them were there together it would be best. Plus they were with the Headmaster so no one would flip out too much in his presence.

"Uh, yes. It turns out that I'm pregnant," Hermione managed to say without looking at them. She thought that everyone in the room would blow up at the news. Instead, Ginny was up out of her chair and hugging Hermione.

"Awe! Hermione! Why didn't you tell us before?" she asked.

"I didn't know until yesterday. That's what Madame Pomfrey needed to discuss with me when she kicked everyone out," Hermione explained. Ginny finally let her go and she looked around at the three boys. "Are you all mad?"

Harry got up and came to her and just like Ginny he gave her a huge hug. "Hermione, how could we be mad at you?" he asked.

Hermione unwrapped herself from Harry and looked at him straight in the eyes. "I thought that you would be mad because of Severus," she whispered.

"Oh, Hermione. We already know he is a permanent fixture in your life. He is a part of you just as much as we are. While we still may have some small issues with him, you love him, and for you we will support both of you. You are my sister, Hermione. My family along with the Weasley's. All any of us want is for you to be happy," Harry said.

Hermione managed to look around at Ron who still hadn't said anything. His mouth was open in shock, but his face wasn't red with anger, which for him was a really good sign. "Ron?" Hermione asked.

Ron took a moment to answer her. "Hermione, I don't know what to say. I mean, I'm happy for you. I truly am. But before Draco and I got together, I had always imagined that you and I would work out our differences and get back together. I always thought that it would be my child that you would carry. I know you are with Snape, just like I am with Draco, but that doesn't mean that all of this isn't a shock to hear. I love you though and like Harry, I will support you."

Hermione ran over to him and embraced him. "Thank you, Ron. This means a lot to me."

"Well, Granger, I always thought you were making my godfather soft, now this baby is going to turn him into a sap!" Draco exclaimed. "But it's okay. We will all be turned into sap's over the little Snape," Draco laughed. Everyone in the room realized exactly how right that statement was and laughed as well.

"Thank you, Malfoy," Hermione said.

Professor Dumbledore said his congratulations and everyone decided to stay and enjoy tea with him. Just as they were about to head to their beds for the night an owl swooped in to deliver a message to the Headmaster. After looking it over quickly, he rose to his feet and said, "It appears we have a little problem. Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, I will need you three to go and retrieve your warm traveling cloaks and meet me in the entrance hall in fifteen minutes please. Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, you both need to take over rounds for the night if you don't mind. Now go. I will meet you in fifteen minutes." He shoved everyone out without even explaining what was going on and why three of them needed to apparently leave the school.

The students did as they were bid and met the Headmaster like told to do. Once in the Entrance Hall, Hermione's curiosity got the better of her.

"Sir, where is it we are going?" she asked.

"Unfortunately, the reason Professor Snape is not back is because he had decided to stop at the Hog's Head. My brother has informed me that Severus is quite drunk and making a fuss. I believe it best if we go and retrieve him, for his own safety and that of the others in the pub," he explained.

Hermione couldn't believe what she was just told. She knew that at times Severus would drink, but not to that degree of intoxication. When she thought about the fact that he chose now of all days to get drunk, she knew it had to have something to do with her and the baby. All of the events of the weekend were beginning to be too much for him at one time.

The group of four took off out the front doors of the castle and made their way to Hogsmeade. It was a little cold outside, which was strange considering how beautiful the weather had been lately. Hermione didn't even seem to notice the cold, she was too focused on getting to Severus to care. When they made it to the Hog's Head, they opened the doors and as soon as they did, they could hear Severus's loud drunken voice carrying through the pub.

"SHE'S PREGNANT! WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE NOW?"