The world around moved slowly, all the sounds muffled by her beating heart. Hermione didn't feel the world return to speed until she was being sat down on a soft couch.

"I can't tell him..."

Ginny hadn't seen a fear like that in someone's eyes since the night Voldemort fell. Her heart ached for her friend and she sat down pulling her head into her chest, "Shhh... it's going to be alright... " Her voice was soothing, "Just take a moment and collect your thoughts..."

Hermione sniffled a turned to hide her face into her shoulder. She was conflicted, so confused and terrified. She wanted nothing more than to go to him, feel his arms around her holding her close. However, the very same idea sent fear chilling down her spine.

"Have you ever thought about having kids?" Hermione turned her head from the journal. They'd reached the part of which the couple inside had started their lives a new, settling down to have a proper family.

"No, I've taught plenty."

Hermione lifted her head watching his face, his words didn't match the look that was forming over his brow and she moved just a bit closer.

"I've never really given it too much thought...with everything else going on...I kind of just pushed it aside."

Severus shifted to face her then, looking down at their still small hands. He had to ask, he had to know.

"Now that it's almost over...do want them?"

Hermione lowered her eyes shifting back just a little. Her brow furrowed with the idea, "Maybe..." Her eyes turned to him then and she reached out with her pinky to touch his hand. "Does that...does that bother you?"

Severus wasn't really sure what to say, he'd never thought of himself ever being a father. The very idea made his stomach curl with fear. His face went tight as he looked down at the weathered page,"I don't know..."

Hermione curled her lips in and took his hand in hers, "There's still time...we don't have to think about that now..."

He nodded slightly and leaned back turning his worried brow to the wall in front of them. He wanted to give her everything she could ever want but what did he possibly have to give? To the world he was dead. His life snuffed out before he had a true chance to live. He had no home, not really, he had no money, no assets. He was nothing.

"You are many things Severus Snape, but you are not and have never been, nothing." Hermione shifted closer laying her head down on his shoulder. She nestled herself against him and closed her eyes, entwining their fingers.

Severus pursed his lips at her comment but allowed his mind to go still, his hand gave hers a gentle squeeze and he let out a soft sigh. Her words fell straight onto his heart. Ignighting a flame that has never burned there before. He felt her strength, her confidence, she was everything he could have ever hoped to be.

"It's too soon...Ginny...too soon..."

"Shh... let's have a nice cup of tea, we don't really have all the answers right? Let's not go jumping into anything." She gave Hermione's hair a gentle pet and pulled herself to her feet. "A nice cup of tea will help, just...wait here okay?"

Hermione dutifully nodded her head and brushed away a few stray tears before her hands ran over her stomach. It still hurt, even more so now, the very possibility that someone was growing inside her was simply too much to think about.

Ginny pursed her lips as she put on the kettle. She knew Hermione was overthinking everything even still, she had no idea what the right thing to say was. The healer had tried to give her confidence on the matter but she was quite sure all his words had been completely missed. Ginny had made the appointment herself with the specialist before they left. She was sure the midwife would have more answers. She just didn't know what could possibly happen in the two days she had to wait. Her mind turned to Snape then. All she knew of the man was what he had been when she was at school. That he had a dark past. The very idea of him carrying around a baby was laughable even in her own mind. He never did strike her as the fathering type.

She made a face as the kettle started to whistle. No, despite how dotting he had been with Hermione in their candid performance. She didn't know for sure one way or the other how he would react.

With a heavy sigh, Ginny moved to get the cups from the cupboard. Setting them down she noticed the small box Harry kept on the kitchen counter filled with potions. It was the basic of medical kits, a few headache relief potions, stomach quenchers, the like. Ginny glanced behind her to the living room. Hermione had her head in one of her hands, the other wrapped around her stomach. The tension wafting off of her was no doubt unhealthy for her and the baby. Looking back to the box she pushed open the lid. Pushing a few vials aside she smiled when she found the one she was sure would help. Draught of Peace. She'd had to give it to Harry on more than one occasion when he came home from work after tracking down some rogue death eater. It always plagued him with nightmares of the past when he'd run into a familiar face. Though those nights were thankfully becoming a thing of the past. Feeling confident that they could spare some, she pulled it out and dropped a few drops into Hermione's cup. She definitely needed it more than Harry right now.

oOOo

"I'm about to clock off to the day, you sure you don't need anything else?"

"No, Mr. Weasley your work has been completed you're free to leave." The chief sparred him a look before jolting, "You father did drop by, asked you to pick up Albus from your mother's house. Mr. Potter will be very late."

"Is everything alright?"

"Just having a bit of trouble tracking down the artifact nothing serious I assure you. Now go home enjoy the night, we have more to do tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

Ron turned away going back to his desk. He looked down at the sandwich he'd bought for Harry and frowned, no point in letting it go to waste since he was on his way to his house anyway. With that decided he grabbed his bag made for the floo.

"Hey, mum." Ron stepped through the gate with a goofy smile. It was nice to be a visitor. He'd just moved into the flat over the joke shop with Goerge and he hadn't looked back.

"Hello, Darling."

"Yep, everything's going great at work. Just following Dad's orders."

Molly gave her son a soft smile and moved away from the stove. She'd just stepped in to make sure everything was going well for dinner. "Well, he's in the den, come on." She led the way with a soft smile.

"Alright you two, time to clean this mess up!" Molly gave the two toddlers at her feet a playful warning look.

Albus poked his head out of the makeshift fort he had made with a soft whine, "But we just maded it to the final match! We can't stop now!"

Molly chuckled softly and moved over. "Oh, who's playing this time?"

"Ginfidor and Sitherin! The lions are in the lead but the snakes is slippery!"

Ron paused at the doorway, "Who's we?" Always a few ticks behind.

"Oh, Albus got himself a new playmate. Seraphina sweetheart, are you in there?"

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. I gots to keep the lions from cheating!"

Albus turned back into the fort, "It's not their fault! The snakes is too quick!"

"Seraphina...?" Ron moved closer and bent down beside his mother looking into the magical world the two toddlers had created. It looked like the toys were playing a game of muggle soccer. The pride of enchanted mismatched lions and snakes were moving around the chalk-drawn field. Each toddler was controlling their respective pieces trying to move a small bouncy ball from one end to the other.

Ron's eyes took in the girls appearance, cobalt blue eyes, blonde hair. The resemblance was hard to deny, "Seraphina Malfoy?" He whispered incredulously to his mother.

"Don't start." She warned.

"Just surprised..." He lied having to bite his tongue.

"Goal! Snakes win!" Seraphina through her hands up in the air while Ablus fell face first onto the field.

"No fair..."

"Maybe next time you'll let me be the lions then."

"No way! You said you wanted to be Ravens!"

"Yea but then you said-ed the Ravens can't play soo-ccer because they can fly and they're not supposed to fly."

Albus opened his mouth to reply but Molly lifted the blanket away with a small smile,"Alright, alright, it's time to get ready to go you two."

Albus whined and started putting the enchanted animals back into their little box. Seraphina helped him get her pieces in before moving onto the rest of the mess they'd left behind in their little fort. Molly nodded approvingly and stood back up. Still ignoring the look on Ron's face and cast a few of her own spells to help the toddlers along.

"Who's picking you up this evening Sera?"

"Mama said you can calls for Thisel, she will takes me to the shop."

"Are you sure about that, you can stay here a little longer if you want."

"That's okay," Seraphina gave her a soft smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Mama has a nice playroom for me there and we always have cookies after the shop closes."

"Well, if you sure." Molly gave her a gentle smile and helped her collect her things back into the small bag she'd brought with her. Most of what she had brought had been books; though the two of them had quickly found other things to do now that they actually had someone else their size to play with.

Ron looked on with a mixture of horror and fascination. He just couldn't seem to process a Malfoy, of any kind, being in his family home. He was sure the world really had turned on end now.

Albus finished and turned to Ron giving him a bright smile, Uncle Ron was always fun to play with and he always had chocolate frogs. The boy toddled his way over and tugged on his pants to get his attention.

"Did you brings chocolate?"

"Ah, sorry not today buddy," He felt guilty when the boy's face fell," But next time I'll give you two frogs. Promise."

That lightened up the boys face dramatically and he happily jumped up into his arms, "And some for Sera too or do I have to share?" Sharing was a concept he was just now learning, it wasn't something he was too keen about.

Sensing the mood Ron chuckled softly, "Yes, I uh I'll bring some for her too so you don't have to share."

"Yes!" Albus squealed happily and bounced in his hold.

"Albus say goodbye to Sera."

Thisel had just popped in and was gratefully taking the toddlers things from Molly. The elf bowed and thanked her for her kindness.

"Bye bye Sera!" Albus waved from his hold, sending her off with a bright smile.

"Bye-bye." The girl gave him a small smile in return and a little wave before taking the elf's hand.

Molly smiled sadly as they popped out, still a bit worried about the girl's apparent lack of coddling. Pushing it aside she turned to Ron, "All set then? Are you coming for dinner Friday night?"

"Of course, wouldn't miss it." Ron turned toward the floo in the kitchen his mother staying behind to finish with the disaster that had befallen the living room. Though the kids had picked up their toys, it didn't say much for the obviously ransacked furniture and shelves.

When he was out of earshot he smiled down at Albus, "What do you say we make a small pit stop at the shop? I think George just got some new lollilickers in."

How could Albus refuse?

oOOo

Ginny looked to the mantle, she had put Hermione asleep about an hour ago the witch had barely mumbled her recognition of the potion before she was out. Ginny had laid her out onto the couch covering up before starting on dinner. Her brow was furrowed now as it was past the time she would have expected Albus to have returned home. She stood from the easy chair and moved toward the kitchen she heard the distinct flair of the floo coming to life.

"Oh, Ron wasn't expecting you. Hey little man what do you have there?"

"Its a lolilicker!" He held out his treat happily and laughed as a bright purple tongue came out of the large swirl and licked his mother's cheek leaving a rather sticky residue behind.

"Oh, Merlin that's so gross!" Ginny backed away as her brother and son laughed. She shook her head and pulled a towel from the table wiping off the stickiness. As Albus made to run to the living room she quickly called after him, "Be quiet! Don't you dare wake her up!" Albus slowed his steps now, curiously making his way towards the living room.

"Wake who up?" Ron leaned back against the hearth giving his sister a suspicious look.

Ginny pursed her lips and sighed heavily, "Hermione. She's here okay?"

"Why does everybody treat me like I'm going to suddenly combust if I see her?"

"I don't know Ron, maybe it has something to do with your stay in the hospital?" Her voice could have coated the great hall with as much sarcasm that dripped from it.

"Look I'm better now okay? I actually saw the two of you today and didn't even stop you to say hello."

Ginny furrowed her brow giving him a critical look, "Where exactly did you see us?"

"The Leaky Cauldron."

Ginny pursed her lips tighter crossing her arms, "Where did you go after that?"

"I went to lunch." Ron's temper flared and he reached into his bag pulling out the sandwich he'd bought for Harry setting it carelessly on the table. "Even got Harry a sandwich like he asked, you wanna see the receipt too?"

Ginny deflated instantly guilt filling her face, "I'm sorry okay? It's just been a stressful day..."

"Yeah." He put his hands into his pocket but lingered.

"Anything else you want to say?"

Ron straightened up just a bit crossing arms over his chest, "Yea, now that you mention it. Why were you going to St. Mungo's?"

Ginny's brow furrowed and her own temper rose, "Not that it's any of your business, but Hermione had a stomach ache. She took her NEWTS today and the stress was just a little too much." She didn't feel it was her place to tell him anything more than what would appease him.

"Stress huh?" Ron turned his head towards the doorway clicking his jaw, a habit he picked up at the hospital when he was having trouble staying focused, "Wouldn't have anything to do with whom she's living with now?"

Ginny ground her teeth and was about to retort when Ablus came back into the room his little face wide with panic, "I didn't wake her Mummy I swear! She woke-ed on her own!"

The small shuffle of feet behind him raised her head. Hermione was still rubbing her eyes and face trying to bring feeling back into it. She gave the toddler a sleepy smile before raising her head to Ginny blinking her eyes back into focus.

"That was underhanded..." She mumbled without any real heat behind it. She let out a soft sigh blinking one last time before she noticed Ron standing against the fireplace. She gave him a dreamy sort of look before her brain started to kick into gear again. "Hello..." Her voice was still few octaves deeper thanks to her nap.

"Hey..." Ron took a slow breath offering her a lopsided smile.

"I haven't seen you in a while..." She tilted her head looking him over from shoes to nose, "You look well."

"Yea, I uh, got a job at the ministry."

"That's wonderful, which department?" Albus tugged gently on her pant leg and she leaned down carefully pulling him up without question; letting him rest his head on her shoulder and play with her hair. It was an automatic response from when she had stayed with Harry and Ginny, and she hadn't even realized she'd done it until she felt his breath under her chin.

Ron glanced at Ginny before back at Hermione, of all the things he was expecting, casual conversation wasn't one of them, "Uh, Aurors, I'm just a desk jockey right now but I hope to take the test to become an Auror by the beginning of next year..."

Hermione nodded her head, still a bit floaty, her eyes turned to Ginny before down to Albus who was lightly tangling a lock that had fallen over her shoulder, "Sounds like you know what you're going for." It was a conversation ending comment, punctuated by the drop in her tone and the turn of her head.

Ron felt his heart ache. When had things become so cold between them? He couldn't believe that this was the woman who had captured his heart all those years ago. The woman who had built a home inside his soul only to be ripped so savagely from his life. "Hermione...I..."

Ginny stepped up then and cleared her throat, "Did uh, Mom say she was going to have a family dinner this Friday?"

Hermione gave one last glance to Ron before moving over to the kitchen chair sitting down with Albus in her lap. The boy seemed to be able to sense that she wasn't up to play with him at the moment and simply laid his head down under her chin and let her hold him. His large eyes turned to Ron then and worry set into his brow. Even at his age, he could feel the rising tension in the room.

Ron couldn't stop looking at the distant look that had started to grow over her features and spoke with no conviction, "Yea, same time..."

Ginny made a point of coming between the two of them, her brows raising up, "Anything else you need?"

Ron lowered his eyes to her then and pursed his lips, "No." With another dark look in Hermione's direction, he took hold of the floo powder and with a bit more force than necessary threw it down calling out his destination with a growling anger.

Ginny huffed softly and turned on her heel her eyes sharp as tacks before she looked in the direction of the two at the table. Her brow twitched as a small tear rolled down Hermione's cheek. Albus looked at his mother helplessly from her lax arms wishing he could do something, anything, to help his princess smile again. Ginny gave him a small encouraging smile before turning her worried brow towards the stove.

"I bet you're hungry?"

"Actually...I think I should get home..."

"Hermione...you're welcome to stay here...until you...well until you figure things out..."

The woman just shook her head and looked down at Albus adorningly. She ran her fingers through his dark hair and tried to imagine his deep eyes as something dark brown or even gold. What would a child between them even look like? Would they have her eyes or his? Her hair or his ebony locks? Would it be curly or straight? Would they be tall or short? Boy or girl? All these questions fluttered by quickly in her mind as she looked into Ablus' innocent face, he definitely took after his father in the face, but his smile was all Ginny's.

"I'll be alright..." She gave Albus a gentle kiss on his forehead and helped him down from her lap. The boy let out a soft whine but didn't press the issue, he large eyes bouncing between the two adults.

"Can you apparate?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." She gave Albus a gentle smile before running a hand over her stomach, "I'll uh...see you Friday?"

Ginny blinked, she was very sure that she hadn't been paying a lick of attention during their time at the hospital, "Yea, 10 o'clock. Do you want to meet here or...?"

"Here's fine..."

"Alright...if you need anything..."

"I'll owl..."

Hermione pulled out her wand slowly from her sleeve turning the ivory wood in her fingers before taking a few steps back from Albus. The boy jumped as the soft crack echoed through the room before turning his eyes up to look at his mother. Ginny gave him a gentle smile and opened her arms to which he ran into wholeheartedly. A soft kiss to the top of his head calmed the little boy's nerves.

oOOo

"Severus?"

Hermione walked into the house cautiously. It was dark, she flicked the old switch by the door and blinked as the light flickered to life. She could tell by the silence that greeted her that he wasn't in the house. She let out a soft sigh, the tension that had risen in her back gently ebbed away and she quickly took the stairs just inside the door. She needed a hot bath and a long nights rest. Her stomach growled in protest for having missed both lunch and dinner but she paid it little attention as she climbed. The small window that overlooked the side yard revealed there were lights on inside the barn and she knew where he must have gone. Over the time they had spent together, they had worked together in creating a rather adequate potions lab inside of the barn. It was well ventilated and made a perfect place to brew without fear of blowing up the kitchen. Restoring it had been a rather challenging experience but they had used it as practice for her Transfiguration exam, using more basic spells at first before moving onto the more complex. Overall, they had finished it within a week and he had spent many nights utilizing it for his research.

Though he hadn't yet shared with her what he was researching she had been curious and went snooping on her own. Of course, he had locked up his notes inside the chest his grandfather had given him only leading to her increased curiosity. She set the snooping aside, however, in exchange for studying for her NEWTS. It all seemed so trivial to her now, given her current circumstances.

Her eyes rose to her reflection in the full-length mirror and grimaced. She looked like death warmed over. Her face was still pale from her deep sleep and her eyes were extremely dark and puffy underneath. With a small sneer to herself, she pulled her sweater vest over her head and let it fall to the floor. She worked the buttons of her dress shirt with practiced ease and ripped it away from her shoulders with a bit more force than intended. Her eyes shot to her reflection then, the scar still visible near the curve of her hip standing out like the north star in a dark sky. With a pinched face she let the shirt fall away looking down at her skin, she didn't look pregnant. She barely had any fat left on her and surely she would have noticed. Her fingers traced the line slowly before she turned her head away shaking it silently as she held back all that threatened to take her feet out from under her. With a deep breath and curled lips and continued the process of removing her clothes, her eyes looked anywhere but at her reflection. When the last sock was tossed carelessly towards the hamper she crawled her way inside the deep tub.

Her head thumped back heavily along the rim and she turned her eyes out the window into the starry night sky. The potion Ginny had slipped her had definitely given her the energy she had been missing but that only left her now with a brain that was more organized than before. She had to tell him, he had a right to know. On the other hand, she didn't really have enough information. What if she told him, and he was happy about it? What if she lost the baby and it was just another dark day in the man's already dark life? 8 weeks wasn't very long time, she would know for sure in just two days. Could she make it two days? She had already shared so much of her life with him. Would withholding such information be seen as a betrayal or deception from his side? The man had already had everyone he'd ever put trust in betraying him in some manner or another and she was bound and determined to never make it to that list. Though if she did tell him, and he left anyway, she could have had two more days with him. Two more days, to memorize his face, his smell, his touch.

Her head rolled along the side as she tried to put each side into columns of pros and cons. The healer's words were still echoing in her heart. The damage to her body had been extensive...he had said that there was very high chance that she wouldn't even be able to carry a child to term. That had hit her the hardest. Even though she hadn't thought about children in her youth, it wasn't something that was completely off the table either. Part of her wanted to have children, playing with Albus had been a treat and the happiness she saw in Ginny's eyes when she ran her hand over her swollen stomach had made her envious. Still so, she knew she wasn't at a point in her life where she would even consider taking such a large step.

A deep sigh left her nose and she dipped her head under the surface. Running her hands through her hair she gulped in a harsh breath of water as her stomach hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her hands scrambled to find purchase on the sides of the tub sending water flying in all directions. A gasp filled with more water flooded her nose and lungs before she found purchase along the side. Pulling herself up as quickly as she could. Hermione threw her head over the side of the tub and sputtered out the water that had filled her lungs. A deep retching from the pit of her stomach launched more than water onto the cold tile floor. Deep gasps and more liquid came forth staining the tile a deep red.

The sound of her own breathing made her head throb though she continued to push water from her nose and lungs into the bath water. Her stomach gave another sharp jolt forcing her eyes open. The room was heavily tilted on its side and it took a few long seconds for her to find her balance.

Heart calming down she managed to reopen her eyes and look down at the mess she'd made. Her stomach pulsed with a dull ache and she knew her time in the bath was over. She needed to eat, she needed to sleep. With another small series of coughs, she pulled herself from the tub and summoned her robe. She cleared away the murky water before moving toward the bedroom. With a massaging hand to her temple, she moved over to the dresser for pajamas.

Getting downstairs was a slow process but she found the strength to do so without injury to her person. The house was still calm and she followed the hallway down toward the kitchen. Flipping on the light inside she couldn't help but smile at the small note left on the counter instructing her to eat. She followed the note's directions to the icebox and pulled out the broccoli soup that had been left for her.

The reheated soup gave wonderful comfort to the ache in her body and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd added something a little magical to its recipe. She tried to pay attention to the taste but found she was unable to discern anything specific. Curling up tighter on the couch she pulled one of the old books from the heavily covered coffee table and charmed it to float before her so she could read while eating.

oOo

Severus pursed his lips as the potion he was working on went sour. He was so close, he could feel it. With a deep sigh through his nose, he banished the mess and turned his eyes to the large clock on the wall. It was designed to show every second, easy to read and easily set to chime when an allotted time had passed. It had taken some doing but he was secretly proud of himself for making it out of an old pocket watch he'd found while cleaning out the barn.

Hermione had told him that the ministry had left a hefty sum of money in her bank account but he wasn't all the comfortable asking for things. Even though she had assured him on numerous occasions that she had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life he still felt guilty for asking for anything. Though despite his protests on the matter she had immediately gone out and bought him a new frock coat, it had been an interesting adventure the day she had come home with it.

"Severus."

The man himself rose a brow to the sing-song-ed tune of his name and immediately closed the book he was reading. Following her footsteps from the entrance way, he rose to his feet as she came into the study holding a large box. His brow ticked at the smile plastered over her face.

"What have you done?" His tone was sharper than intended but the woman didn't even skip a beat, her smile lighting up the room.

"I just did a little shopping you can't seriously expect us to live on just three days worth of clothes." Her voice was still high and playful.

He couldn't help but narrow his eyes suspiciously at the box."I hardly think more than a day's worth of clothing would fit inside that box."

She gave him a small look obviously resisting the urge to roll her eyes, something that she'd quickly discovered made his temper flare, but her happiness didn't falter, "Actually, I think you'll find this particular item to be more useful than more undershirts."

Curiosity official peaked he set down the book he'd been reading and came to stand in front of her. He gave her another once over before reaching down to pull the decorative string from its knot. Throwing her another look, he could see the barely restrained excitement dancing in her eyes. He let the string fall away and pulled off the lid of the box. His own widened in surprise as he looked at what lay neatly folded inside the box. He found himself momentarily frozen. His eyes tracing the beautiful midnight black fabric of a brand new, and suspiciously expensive, frock coat.

"Do you like it?" Her voice held an edge of worry mixed with the excitement from earlier. Her eyes anxiously darting between him and the new coat.

"You shouldn't have." It wasn't a nicety but a statement of fact. His jaw twitched from his clenched teeth. He couldn't resist running his fingers down the lapel feeling the exceptionally tight fabric, he could feel the enchantments under his fingertips and knew instantly what the purpose of the jacket was.

Hermione's smile faltered then. He could see the curves of her lips falling with her head as watched his fingers glide across the fabric, a tense silence wafted between them before her courage resurfaced and her inability to be cowed by his acetic tone took over.

"Consider it a late birthday present." She lifted her chin then, he could feel her eyes searching his face.

His eyes shot to hers then and he gave her a calculating look. "How do you know when my birthday is?"

"Good girls never twll." She smirked at his snort and lifted the box just a bit more."Try it on. Please? If you truly don't like it I can return it."

A soft sigh passed his lips and his fingers dipped in taking the fabric from its neat tissue wrappings and yes, he did notice the green and silver paper. Hermione stepped back, setting down the box as he slipped his arms in. The inlining was a deep charcoal silk and slid effortlessly over his dress shirt. He could feel the magic of the coat making small adjustments to his body size, no doubt a one time charm to ensure the wearer a perfect fit. Settling it up on his shoulders he felt the protective magic start to fall into place. His fingers made it down the first two of the high collar before they started to fasten themselves. It fit him more perfectly than any other coat he had ever worn. All excess fabric pulled tight and he couldn't help but run his hands down the front testing his range of movement. The tail was short like he preferred covering just the tops of his thighs. Its was, for lack of anything else to say, perfect.

Hermione chewed her bottom lip, overtly taking in his restricted appearance. Her face flushed red as she looked upon the man who had changed her life. As much as she enjoyed him without his layers of clothing, seeing him in that coat stirred something carnal inside.

"It's perfect."

A beaming smile fell onto her face and he found himself encumbered by her embrace. His hands rose to complete the act of adoration feeling the heat of her desire under his palms.

"It's designed to protect you. The woman at the shop said its nearly indestructible, I just thought since you were starting your research again you'd need something proper to do it in." Her ramblings were muffled in the deep fabric but he couldn't help the small quirk at the corner of his lips.

"Thank you."

Her head fell back in shock, "You're going to keep it?"

"For you, yes."

Severus made his way back into the house, instantly noting that the hallway light had been left on but the house was silent. His mind searched for her presence and his feet took him straight up the stairs.

He pushed open the partially cracked door and allowed himself a small smile at the sight that greeted him. Hermione had obviously been waiting up for him. Dressed in one of his shirts that she had commandeered for the soul purpose of sleeping in. She was spread out on both sides resting on her stomach while her chest and arms fell over his pillow weakly holding onto the book she must have been reading before she fell asleep. Her legs had twisted the blanket sideways hiding them beneath. The soft purr she made quite often, filled the room with its soft melody. He still hadn't grown accustomed to the sight of a beautiful young woman taking up his bed and it filled his heart with warmth every time.

He moved silently to the closet pulling off his jacket hanging it inside. His boots and shirt came next followed by his pants. He checked to make sure his movements hadn't disturbed her rest then moved to the dresser pulling out the only layer she permitted him these days. A soft pair of sleeping pants completed his ensemble and he turned to join her.

With cat-like grace he slipped the book from her fingers, setting it to rest upon the others that had taken residence on the bedside table. The crunch of her copious notes sounded exceptionally loud but they didn't disturb her in the slightest. Of course, it wasn't the first time he'd found her passed out in such a manner. During the time she was studying for her test he had often woke to find a piece of parchment stuck to his face from when he had gone to sleep before her. The comforter at this point had numerous ink stains from sleepy hands trying to write down just one more piece of information.

With grace only known by a man who had lived in the shadows for so long, he managed to slip the pillow out from under her replacing it with his own unique warmth. She had always been somewhat of a bed hog. He had woke many mornings on the very edge from his sleeping form trying to adjust to the excess heat two sleeping bodies pressed tightly together created.

Settling back on his reclaimed pillow he felt her legs shift and release their hold over the blanket. He gave it a gentle pull, bringing it up under her chin while she settled her cheek on his chest. Her hand opened and closed over his flesh before finally going still over his heart. A soft kiss to the crown of her head stilled her once more and he felt the tension of his failed potion ebbing away to the hypnotic rhythm of her slumbering breath.