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Severus and Hermione watched Rita leave, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Severus asked, "When is this prenatal appointment to determine the baby's gender?"

Hermione examined his face, but could decipher no emotion. "It's in two weeks. It's just a regular checkup. I was going to tell you about it after she left. I guess I should've told you sooner."

"Perhaps," Severus replied, his expression still stoic. "I suppose I could've asked you about your prenatal appointments though."

"Maybe," she replied. "Although if you don't want to go, I won't press the issue."

"No," Severus answered. "I'll go. If I'm going to raise this child then I want to know it on some level. The first step is to know its gender."

Hermione gave him a smile as she placed her hand over her abdomen. "I suppose so."

A comfortable silence fell between them before Hermione continued, "She's kicking. Do you want to feel it?"

He nodded. She guided his hand over her stomach. His eyes lit up as he felt the pressure. "You can talk to it," Hermione suggested.

He smirked. "What would I say? I doubt it can even hear me."

"You never know," Hermione replied.

"Hello," he began as he tried to fight the discomfort of talking to something he couldn't see. "I'm your dad, I guess."

"You guess?" Hermione asked.

He gave her a look. "I'm trying to get used to all of this."

Hermione nodded as he rested his hand on her stomach. "Anyway," Severus continued. "My name is Severus Snape, and don't worry, I won't name you after me."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because before I went to Hogwarts no one could pronounce my name. Everyone thought I was a freak for having such a strange name."

"Hermione wasn't much better," she replied. "Especially when it was shortened to 'Mione."

"I'm sorry, but 'Mione always sounded so crude." he answered.

She shrugged. "I just got used to it."

"Yes, but Hermione is poetic. Shortening it the way Potter and Weasley did just made it sound cheap," Severus answered.

She gave him a small smile. "No one's ever liked my name."

"It's adequate," he answered before glancing up with a small smile.

She chuckled as he removed his hand. "I think baby is tired," Severus continued when Hermione stopped laughing and looked at him.

"Oh," she replied.

Silence fell between them again, this time a bit more awkward. "I suppose I should begin some research on that new potion…" Severus began as he stood up.

"Wait!" Hermione replied a little louder than she'd intended.

He looked back. "Yes?" he asked.

"Did, did you mean what you said about Ron not deserving me?" she asked.

"No one as smart as you deserves a dunderhead like Ron who is allergic to responsibility," he replied. "I've never believed that you and Ron were each other's true love."

"You were right," she whispered. "For better or worse, you were right."

"I was," Severus answered. "You deserve someone who can bring you happiness."

"Maybe," she answered.

He gave her a small smile before leaving her alone on the couch to meditate on what he had said.

Neville felt his eyes water as the construction crew pulled out their wands to disintegrate the charred remains of his greenhouse. He'd lost track of how many times he'd told himself not to cry today, but after witnessing the burning of his treasured greenhouse, being interviewed for hours, and watching the workers dismantle the ruin, he couldn't help but let the tears fall.

Just as he began to sob, a quiet hoot interrupted his thoughts. He spun around to see a black owl looking up at him expectantly. Neville removed the note from its leg and felt a different type of tears return.

Hermione and Severus had invited him over for lunch the next day, a gesture he greatly appreciated. Even in his darkest hour, he still had something going for him: his friends.

It was enough to give him the strength to walk away from the scorched greenhouse and return to his office, where he'd draw up plans for a new one.