A/N: Okay, not terribly long, but something says you guys will enjoy this chapter a lot.

Chapter Thirty Five

To anyone else, everything was normal. They saw Hermione throwing herself into her studies with the NEWT exams coming up. They saw a woman who had started planning her wedding. They saw a mother with her son. They saw a potions apprentice studying under a master.

What they didn't see was that she was either in bed long before or long after Severus. And she either woke well before him, or waited until after his first class began. They didn't see that she was mending from a hurt that she knew he didn't cause intentionally.

Hermione was trying to convince herself that she was okay with not having more children. She was trying, and failing, to accept that Harvey would be her only child. She loved Severus, and she loved Harvey. This wasn't a deal breaker in their relationship, it was just one that hurt. And she needed her space to get over it. The truth was, she felt awful. She could see that Severus, though having done nothing wrong other than state his position, felt guilty about the way she was feeling. And to his credit, he was trying to be supportive. She felt him when he pulled her close at night, and kissed her forehead in the morning. She hated that she was making him feel that way, she just needed a little more time and space.

Severus had begun debating his own position. He'd never wanted children. He had always been afraid of treating his own child like his father had treated him. Then it became a matter of he wanted as little personal connections as possible, so that none could ever be used against him again. But now, he had no real excuse. He didn't need to put up walls like he used to.

And their plan to begin looking for a new home passed without being brought up. He knew that if he really wanted to, he could pretend that he was just letting her study. In truth, he recognized that she needed space, and yet she had fought so hard on them making a plan. He knew just how much she was hurting.

So he took Harvey with him on that weekend, and went looking anyway. Not to exclude her, but to give her the space and show he wanted to be with her.

"This cottage is very lovely. Five bedrooms, 4 baths, a walk-on closet in the master bedroom. A lovely kitchen with attached dining room. A fireplace in the living room. A built in library, and a fully finished basement," the realtor prattled on.

Severus held his son close as they looked around the spacious home.

"Plus it comes with plenty of land."

It was larger than anything he'd thought he would live in. And if it weren't for the fact that he'd saved up most of his money from the nearly twenty years of teaching, he'd never be able to afford the house.

"Well, what do you think?"

It was a fair question. Severus had said nothing about any of the other houses.

"I'm going to look around first."

The woman seemed shocked that he was showing any interest at all.

"Of course, I'll be right here."

Severus walked towards the kitchen. It was spacious, with wide windows. The attached dining room had room for a large table that could accommodate the entire Weasley Family and then some.

He found the room that was a library, with built in floor to ceiling shelves. His own collection couldn't make a dent. Upstairs he found the bedrooms. Each had a window seat and plenty of room. The master bedroom was grand and open.

Then finding his way to the basement, it had the perfect set up to be a brewing lab. Something he'd always wanted at home. Harvey seemed pleased to and laughed, speaking in babble as he'd begun to do.

"I think your mother would love this place," he mused to his son.

Harvey responded by clapping, a smile on his face.

"We should tell her."

With Harvey left behind with Minerva, Severus made his way to the potions classroom. He knew Hermione had likely already started working.

And of course, she was standing over a pot, stirring meticulously. She'd gotten better at trusting her instincts. She finally moved away from the texts and made her own changes as she went.

"Hello," Severus greeted.

She looked up at him and went back to work.

He walked over to her and tried to stop her stirring.

"I have to stir this for five minutes without stopping."

"Then cast a stirring charm, we need to talk."

She ignored him and kept working.

"Hermione."

She only kept stirring and looked at the pot. So he waited for her to finish, knowing it was the final stages of brewing. But as soon as she finished stirring, he cast a stasis charm on it.

"What are you doing?" she asked, refusing to look at him.

"It will be fine. You and I need to talk though."

"We agreed to keep it professional here."

"Well you haven't spoken hardly two words to me in the last two weeks. And this is the only moment I can make you listen to me. Now, please, look at me."

She turned her head in his direction. "I just need-"

"Just listen. I know you've been sorting things out in your head. But I want to show you something. Because I didn't forget our plans this weekend."

She looked at him, confused, and then realization dawned. "I'm sorry. I ju-"

"Hermione, I know. Just come with me. Let me show you something."

"Fine."

He took her hand and led her to the fire place.

Severus led her from the fireplace into the living room of the cottage he had seen earlier. It took only a few illusion charms to show her what he wanted, what he saw. A large couch showed the two of them snuggling close with their books.

"Severus what's this?"

"Just watch."

He then led her to the kitchen and dining room. A slightly older Harvey sat at the table reaching for the plate Hermione held. Severus stood by the stove in the kitchen. They walked to the basement where the two of them were chopping ingredients together.

"Severus, what is this?" Hermione whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Just hold on, love."

He led her back upstairs, to the library. The charm filled the shelves and showed Harvey in his pajamas, sitting in Severus's lap as they read a book. Hermione curled up next to them.

"Severus-"

"Hush, love. Just a couple more,"

Upstairs one bedroom showed Harvey surrounded by his toys, laughing. Then he led her to the master bedroom. Severus and she laid in bed, leaned into one another reading books.

"There's just one more, and then I will explain everything." He said as he led her to the closest room.

The next room showed Severus and Hermione sitting in the window seat. Severus held Harvey on his lap and Hermione held a small bundle in her arms.

At this, Hermione looked at Severus, the illusion charm disappearing.

"Severus?"

"I'm not agreeing to have more children. I am not capable of that yet. But I realized, this is our perfect home. And it's far too big for only the three of us. I love Harvey. I love you. And while I don't necessarily want any more kids, I won't be closed off to the idea."

At this point tears were falling down her cheeks. "I don't want you to-"

"I'm not changing my mind. I still don't think I should be a father. But seeing as that's too late, I couldn't bear to see that pain in your eyes. Let's just see how our first year of marriage goes, and we'll go from there."

"I don't think i could ever look at another house."

"You don't have to."

"What?"

"I know we were going to do this together, but I had a feeling when I saw this place. I made an offer, just in case. If you don't want it-"

She cut him off with a kiss. Her fingers wove their way into his hair. Severus grabbed her waist. Somehow they found their way pressed against the wall.

"I love you, Severus."

Don't forget to review! ~Lily