A/N: Quick note before we get started today. First of all, I apologize for the time that has passed since my last update. Secondly, this fanfiction is officially finished! I have written all the remaining chapters and will post them all three days apart from here to the end. I've got to make you folks wait just a little, don't I?

Chapter 38

April 1, 2000

Hermione was bored. The approaching due date of her daughter and the impending maternity leave had caused Poppy to release her from her duties for the remainder of the year. She appreciated the gesture, as the size of her belly really did get in her way and she was exhausted after spending the day in the hospital wing working, but she was restless. Logically she knew that this was probably her nesting instinct kicking in in preparation for the upcoming baby but she just wanted to do something. So she had wandered into Severus's study, which he had long since ceased warding from her presence, and seized upon the project of the horribly messy space. She tied back her hair with a loose black ribbon she found on his desk, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. When lunch rolled around, she made a quick turkey sandwich in the kitchen, not wanting to abandon her work. It would be a lovely surprise for Severus, she was sure, and she wanted to have it done when he arrived home for the evening.

oOo

7:15 PM

Severus Snape was having one of the worst of days of his life. April 1st in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was like living in hell itself. The day had begun with sixth year potions class, wherein a student thought that it would be amusing to add just a drop of befuddlement draught to his nearly completed cauldron of erumpent potion. The results had been…. catastrophic. Erumpent potion was infamous for its tendency toward violent explosion. He could not believe that Minerva required him to teach it to sixth years with the maturity and intelligence of a flobberworm fed on entirely on mucus. Stalking down the hallway toward his chambers, he sneered at the empty air. Babbling had filled the air as confused students under the mild influence of befuddlement draught wondered aloud why they were covered in sticky blue potion, and where they, and why was it starting to burn? Ignoring his own burns, Severus had immediately evacuated the room, herding twenty-five bewildered students toward the hospital wing. A run-in with Peeves had left most of the students unhindered. He, however, was then sopping wet as well littered with chemical burns. After being sorted out by Poppy, slathered with a thick coating burn paste, of course, he sent the students on their way with a short bark and stormed to his office, where he declared classes canceled until after lunch. A food fight had broken out at lunch with a large proportion of the flying food being aimed at his section of the staff table, much to his ire. The day had not improved from there, instead continuing on in much the same manner until the final class of the day was over with and Severus was in a mood to rival all others.

He slid into the living room with a hiss, glad to finally be home and done with the horrid day. He had a meeting with Rummel later that evening to discuss the possibility of an apprenticeship the following year – to get him into a more honorable profession, Severus thought with a mental snarl – but he was free until then to take a shower and put his feet up. He did not see Hermione in the main chambers and judged that this was probably for the best. He knew that his face was twisted in a scowl and his shoulders were tight with the tension of the day. He was sure he looked a mess, covered as he still was with burn paste. He probably still had bits of mashed potato in his hair despite having done his best to vanish the food from lunch, and there was a suspicious purple stain down the sleeve of his robe, of which he did not wish to remember the origin. He stomped toward his bedroom, longing only to get himself under the spray of his shower.

"Severus!" Hermione exclaimed in surprise, peering through the door to his study. "Is it that time already?" She glanced down at her watch, eyebrows rising. "I hadn't realized it was so late. Lost track of time, I guess," she said with a smile. "I have a surprise for you."

Severus stepped into his study and felt his blood pressure rising. It had been cleaned. His belongings had been touched without permission and put in Merlin knew what kind of disorder in god knew where. He felt his jaw clench. "What is this?" he ground out.

She frowned, feeling unsure. "I was bored and restless so… I cleaned your study for you."

He turned on her, the overwhelming awfulness of the day getting the better of his temper. "What do you think gives you the right to come in here and move my belongings around without my permission?" he growled, his voice low.

She crossed her arms over her breasts, her belly pressed against them. "I am your wife! I have every right to-"

"You had no right!" he lashed out, his intent deadly and precise. "In case you have forgotten, this is a marriage of convenience. I do not love you, Granger!" His face was tight, nostrils flaring in anger.

Hermione reeled backward. His point could not have been better made had he raised his hand against her. "Severus…" she whispered. Tears sprung to her eyes and she turned her back on him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing his words hit their mark. Her throat tight, she managed to get out, "I'm sorry I can't be Lily for you." She pushed past him, keeping her face down.

He heard the front door of their rooms close behind her, leaving him alone in silence. He could hear a vague roaring in his ears and he took several deep breaths to steady himself. Crossing to his desk, he wrote a short note to Rummel informing him that their meeting was moving up by a few hours. He stalked into the master bath and turned on the water as hot as he could stand it. He had a meeting to get to.

oOo

7:30 PM

Hermione waited until the door swung shut behind her before collapsing into a weeping mess against the frame. How could she have been so stupid? Did she really think that he had changed? That she had somehow changed him? How naïve could she be? She felt as though he had ripped out her heart and stomped on it. Because the truth was… she did love him. She wrapped her arms around herself as best as little Lyra would allow and waited for the tears to subside.

They ran out faster than she expected they would and realized absently that she was probably dehydrated. She had neglected herself today, too caught up in her project to pay attention to what her body needed. She also realized that she had better move away from the door. She knew that he had a meeting tonight and the last thing she wanted was to be here when he emerged. She allowed her feet to go where they pleased, wandering the halls. She was surprised at how empty the castle was before remembering that it was probably time for dinner. Everyone was in the great hall enjoying their meal. She should be hungry, she knew, but instead she just felt empty.

"Hermione?" called a voice from behind her.

She gasped, wiping her face. "Yes?" she answered, turning slowly. She was sure her face was blotchy and red from crying and she was reluctant to let anyone see, but she was a staff member and it was her responsibility.

Radley Lestrange took in her tear-stained face with an expression of concern. "Are you alright?"

Hermione sniffed and offered him a small smile. "I'm fine. What can I do for you?"

"Well…" he said slowly, "I was hoping that with NEWTs coming up in a few months we could maybe get in an extra session. Are you busy now?"

Sighing, Hermione admitted to herself that it might be a good way to distract herself. Heaven knew she wouldn't be going back to her quarters until she was certain that he was gone. "Sure, I'm not doing anything. Professor Snape has a meeting tonight and won't be back until this evening so I've got a few hours. Is the usual classroom okay?" She didn't wait for his response before turning her back on him to head up the stairs.

Because her back was turned, she missed the predatory smile that crossed the boy's face. "Perfect." It was the last thing she heard before the stunner hit her in the back.