Hermione stalked out of their rooms, up the stairs and out of the castle fueled by pure rage. Even in the cold air it felt as though she was on fire, she was so angry. She knew, it in the small part of her brain that was thinking clearly that she shouldn't be Apparating in this condition, so she set off for Hogsmeade station.

She just couldn't believe Severus would react that way. He wanted to get rid of it? Thought it was a mistake? How could he possibly think the child they made together was a mistake? Wiping tears away with her sleeve, she continued her trek to the station.

Once she arrived, she purchased her ticket and sank down on a bench to wait. Immediately, the tears started again. Shivering in the cold, all alone on the dark platform, she sat and sobbed. This was all happening so wrong.

"Now what would a fine young lady like yourself being doing out here so late?" Something about the man's voice behind her made her skin crawl. She had just enough time to turn and gasp before he cast Petrificus Totalus.

Severus found himself at Harry's dinner table a few nights before his planned wedding day, slumped in his seat and warming his hands on a mug of hot tea. He had searched everywhere, asked everyone and still couldn't find the woman he loved. His feet had led him that day to Godric's Hollow and he had lingered only a moment outside the graveyard where Lily was buried before turning to Harry.

"I can't think of anywhere else she'd be likely to go." Harry said, defeated.

"It's so unlike her to do something like this." Ginny said, pacing the kitchen. Severus sent a glare her way that Harry caught and asked her for some privacy. Ginny cast a worried glance at Severus and agreed, giving Harry a quick kiss before leaving the room. Harry leaned forward in his seat, tracing the rim of his cup with his thumb.

"May I ask, Severus, what happened? Why she left in the first place?" He asked quietly. Severus looked up at him with an angry expression that quickly softened to weariness.

"I suppose I might as well. It's not like keeping it private has helped." He growled. Harry waited patiently as Severus took a swig of his tea and took a deep breath. "Hermione is pregnant." Harry nearly choked on his tea.

"P…Pregnant?" He spluttered. Severus nodded solemnly, staring into his tea.

"It was a surprise to both of us. She had been feeling ill for days so I made her go to see Poppy. She thought it was the stomach flu. Anyways, I didn't know what to say and classes were starting soon so-"

"You left her? After she found out she was pregnant?" Harry's eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Yes, and I'm a bloody fool, I am well aware." Severus snapped at him. Harry dropped his eyes to his tea once again and after a beat, Severus continued with his story. "Anyways, when I finally found her again she was packing to go. Didn't tell me where."

"Did you say anything about the baby? Did she?"

"I told her she needn't go through all of it; that we could fix it."

"Fix it?"

"I told her there was a muggle procedure that-" Harry groaned and buried his head in his hands.

"You didn't." His voice was muffled through his hands.

"It was a mistake. We didn't plan it or want it. I don't understand why she – and you, for that matter are being so thick."

"Us?" Harry cried, lowering his hands. "Severus, you basically just asked Hermione to kill her child. A child you two…" He gestured vaguely with his hands, unable to bring himself to say the words. "She loves you so chances are she already loves the baby. You can't just expect her to get rid of it and not give it a second thought!"

Severus sat a moment, trying to let this sink in. He supposed Harry had a point that Hermione most likely was hesitant since she loved him. But he had obviously made his feelings clear that she didn't need to worry about him, hadn't he?

"I…I don't understand." Severus said slowly. Nothing quite seemed to add up.

"Oh Severus." Harry sighed. "Your parents didn't plan to have you did they?"

"No, they didn't."

"And your father was obviously abusive, and your mother…less than involved?" Severus's brow wrinkled as he tried to see the point behind all this.

"You could say that." Harry sighed again and rose to collect a bottle of Firewhiskey from a cabinet. The younger man poured out two glasses, handed one to Severus, and took a seat beside him.

"You don't want another unwanted child in the world, do you?" Harry asked quietly.

"No, I don't. No child deserves that."

"Are you afraid you'll end up like your father?" This made Severus freeze. Memories of beatings flashed through his head at hyper speed, feeling the acute pain in his chest even now.

"I suppose I am." Severus whispered. Harry took a large gulp of his drink and turned to Severus, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You and Hermione would never – could never be like your parents. Just because this baby wasn't planned doesn't mean you won't love it. Chances are Hermione already loves it if she ran away to protect it. I think she wants this baby, Severus. And you scared her by being so adamant that she needed to get rid of it." Severus downed his drink and thought on this. He had hated his childhood so much he had vowed to never have children – with Hermione, it wasn't that he didn't want them, but that he never wanted to put a child into a situation where they wouldn't be loved. He had felt that keen sting too greatly himself.

But what if this really was different? He had simply known that they hadn't planned this baby and immediately panicked, wanting to save the child from the loveless life he had experienced. But what Harry said was true. Hermione was nothing like his mother. She would and could truly love a child, and certainly seemed to care for it already. Suddenly he was on his feet. What have I done? He thought, pulling at his hair.

Blindly, he stumbled out the door, ignoring Harry's calls behind him. He rushed away through the night, mind racing. He had really truly made a mess of things this time. No matter how he had changed, what improvements he'd made, he had still managed to ruin his life with Hermione.

He realized after several hours that he was quite near Malfoy Manor. He decided to stop by for the night, dreading going back to his empty chambers at the castle. As he walked up the drive to the Manor, a suspicious looking owl swooped in front of him and dropped a small bit of parchment before zooming off. Frowning, Severus unfolded the message and froze, his blood running cold. The ink disappeared the moment he had read it, but the words were burned into his memory.

I've got what you so desperately want. Come and find her.