A/N: I know this has been a long time coming. I've been wracking my brain on how to keep this fresh and exciting without introducing the typical things like a new Dark Lord or something… Pardon the length.

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"Hermione! Hermione, come quick!"

Severus's voice rang through the house at approximately 8:30 a.m. Groaning, Hermione sat up in her bed. At six months pregnant, she could very rarely do much of anything quickly-let alone getting up. Still, the obvious panic in her husband's tone caused her to hasten as much as she could. "Come to the kitchen, hurry love!"

Rushing down the stairs she waddled to the kitchen, panting and holding her swollen belly. She could heAr him moving about in the kitchen and a whimpering sound. Finally reaching the kitchen she saw him hunched over what she assumed was his own cloak and…..and….

"Severus is that a….a-a…"

"-a baby, yes. I've healed the gash on his head, but I was hoping you could help me. You've read far more baby books than I have," Severus explained. Hermione peered at the tiny infant that took great gasping breaths and cried weakly. Her heart twisted immediately.

Gingerly picking up the small child, Hermione looked to her husband, "Can you go get some bottles and formula? I'm sure he's hungry. I'll go find something to keep him warm and then….maybe we should call an auror."

Severus nodded, kissing her quickly on her cheek before he set out to do as she bid. Hermione carried the babe close to her bosom and she waffles back up the stairs to get a swaddling cloth from her daughter's room. It was meant for their own newborn, but he needed it immediately. The sound of his labored breathing and cold body worried her.

As she wrapped him securely, she wondered how her husband had come upon this infant. And she wondered what to do next. She was supposed to have three more months to get used to a newborn, but obviously she'd get in some early practice. Hermione sang a soft lullaby and willed the boy to stop crying. As she sang she wondered who could leave a baby out in the cold? And an injured on no less! It both angered and saddened her to know that someone abandoned such a helpless individual.

Looking down at the small bundle she noticed that he already had a small crop of dark hair and wide dark brown eyes. It made her wonder even more what her own daughter would look like. The boy made a gurgling noise and Hermione worried he'd start crying again. Luckily, he didn't, but Hermione couldn't wait for her husband to return with that formula.

"Oh thank God!" she exclaimed when Severus finally returned. She went about making the little boy a bottle, noticing that he bought a great deal more formula than she thought necessary. That is until he explained.

"The aurors are apparently dealing with more important matters," Severus sneered. An odd look when compared to how gently he handled the swaddled infant. "It might be a few hours before they send someone. Maybe even a few days."

Hermione handed her husband the bottle once it was ready and placed a hand on her swollen belly. "A few days?" she echoed in disbelief. "We're talking a baby that's been left for dead. How is that not important?"

Severus shook his head though his mouth twitched into a near smile as he fed the hungry little baby. "They told me I could drop the infant off at St. Mungo's if I didn't want to deal with it."

"Well…..I don't want to drop him off. Do you?"

Severus shook his head. "No. It's not as if we don't already have required items. And after hearing his desperate wail on my way to get those cinnamon rolls you've been craving, I…..no. Let's wait for the aurors."

She smiled at Severus. He always surprised her with his innate tenderness and protective spirit. "So what now?" she asked.

Severus looked at the tiny boy in his arms, "We wait. And give the boy a diaper. And let's put that little yellow onesie on him-he still feels a bit cold."

But as the day wore on with no sign of an auror coming Hermione and Severus put the boy to sleep in their daughter's crib. As she leaned into her husband's embrace she was overwhelmed with everything that happened that day. A few tears escaped and she knew that this time hormones weren't to blame. "He's just so small and innocent. Beautiful too. I'm glad you found him in time to heal his wound. Poor thing."

He kissed her brow, rubbing her stomach lovingly. "I'm glad I was too. Hopefully when the auror comes tomorrow they'll be able to sort everything out."

"And what if he's a muggle?"

Severus sighed. "I think that's unlikely given where I found him; however, they would hand him over to the muggles if the need arose." Hermione yawned and she heard him chuckle, "Alright love, let's get you to bed. I have a feeling we'll be in for another early morning."