Never Piss Off A House-Elf

disclaimer: alas, I still do not own HP. I'd like to, but JKR wouldn't let me.

This chapter is dedicated to . . . DracoxHermioneztruelov4eva!

AN: Pandaemonium is a Dark Phoenix. that's all, folks.

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Chapter 51: Never Pass Up an Entrance

Hermione flushed bright red. She was on Severus's arm while Professors Vector and Trelawney tried to calm Pansy Parkinson down. She had been the one to scream at Severus and Hermione's entrance, while the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables had hooted and hissed, respectively. Dumbledore rolled his eyes as Severus led Hermione up to the staff table. He focused on Severus and Hermione, and Hermione got the feeling something was going on that she didn't quite understand.

"Revered Headmaster," Severus said, ducking his head in a mockery of a bow, "I wish to invoke right of nuptial privilege for my fiancée, Hermione Granger."

Albus twinkled at the couple. "And why should I grant nuptial privilege to your fiancée, Severus Snape?"

"She has been made to feel ashamed of herself, of our engagement, due to the actions and lack of actions of others. She is to be my wife, and I wish her to be granted the honor of dining by my side."

Albus smiled. "And what have you to say, Miss Granger? Have you felt less of yourself these past months, due to the separation you have had to endure?"

Hermione looked from Severus to Albus, scowling.

"You know I have, sir. In bowing to others wishes and ideas of proprietary, we have suffered."

"Do you think that this privilege would lessen your burdens?"

"No, but I do know that being with Severus would give me someone to share them with."

The headmaster smiled and Hermione realized that as coarse as her response had been, it had been the right one. Albus nodded his assent and Severus led Hermione to a chair that had appeared next to his own. As they passed the headmaster, he only whispered a few words to them.

"Next time, chose entrance or apparel, please."

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Hermione didn't completely understand the whole thing with the nuptial privilege, and she stored it away to ask Severus about later. The meal was quite a bit quieter without Pansy, and Hermione ate leisurely, responding when Severus asked her questions about her studies. Albus apparently had not told Severus of the progress Hermione was making.

"I believe I've found a base for the Apparation Powder I was working on," Hermione said between bites. Severus stared at her. "What? I couldn't see you, so I had to have something to occupy my time."

"What did you find that worked with it?" Severus asked to cover his surprise. The witch smiled smugly, and he found it hard not to return the smile. "I assume it is something a wizard wouldn't think of as magical."

Hermione nodded.

"Of course. It is something that muggles use when diapering their children, to keep them from developing rashes on their bums. Talc, also known as talcum powder," Hermione smiled. "It absorbs the ingredients of the potion as a paste but dries to a powder retaining the necessary attributes!"

Severus fought not to give a whoop of happiness. Hermione had managed to figure out her project all on her own. Which meant Albus had no reason to keep her Thursday afternoons; under a technicality, the potion would have been Hermione's final project.

"Hermione, you're done. You've completed a full Potions course at Hogwart's," Severus said quietly. The hubbub of the room made it hard to hear, but Hermione managed it. "You will graduate with honors in Potions, well on your way to becoming a Potions Mistress, should you so desire."

"Do you think I could do it, Severus?" Hermione breathed. "I'll be with child, or a mother already -- I"

Severus shook his head. "It isn't as if you'll be raising the child on your own, and any master or mistress worth the time will allow you time to recover from the birth and be flexible enough to allow you time with the child. But take the time, and think before you decide what you'd like to excel in first."

"First?"

"Hermione, you know as well as I do that you can master anything you so choose to. Take the time, and explore your other abilities," Severus would love to have his wife beside him in the lab, but he didn't want to make the situation look any worse.

"Thank you, Severus," Hermione said as they finished their meal. She assumed that nuptial privilege at dinner was just that -- at dinner. She would retire to her own rooms for the night, and see Severus in the morning. She kissed his cheek and left, dodging questions from nosy classmates along the way.

Severus was left with Albus, who smiled kindly at the younger wizard.

"I've always thought it best to tell the one you love that you love her, as soon and as often as possible," he suggested. Severus turned cold eyes on his elder.

"Then why does Minerva so often rebuke you?"

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Hermione had much to think about. She would graduate with honors, with a potion ready for patent and license. She would have her choice of masters or mistresses to apprentice herself to.

She would be the Lady Snape, and she would have a child, at least one. Hermione thought on all that as she readied herself for bed. She had something she had to do the next day, yet another entrance.

She had to go home, one last time.

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Hermione apparated directly into her parents' sitting room mid-morning the next day.

"Hermione!" Jane Granger's eyes bugged out at the sight of her daughter. She was seated in an overstuffed chair with blankets around her, the fire blazing in the hearth. Nathaniel Granger was adding logs to the fire and almost lost a hand to the blaze in his surprise.

"I thought I'd come back one last time. Things were not left well between us," Hermione said quietly, still standing. "I am still getting married, and I'm not forsaking my magic. But you are still my parents, and I'm still your daughter, whether or not we're happy with the arrangement right now.

"I've completed my final Potions project, and I'll be graduating with honors from Hogwart's. I will get married, have my child, and I will master whatever arts I please. I will make my own, new family, but I don't want to forget what got me where I am.

"I'm sorry that things came about the way they did, but I can't change the past. I won't bother you again, but ple--"

"I'm pregnant!" Jane Granger blurted out. "About four months along. You're going to have a sibling, Hermione."

Hermione smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, that child may well also be a witch or wizard. Do you think you could handle losing another child to magic?"

"I think we can, if you're there to help us, to guide him or her," Nathaniel Granger said. He'd wanted to contact Hermione, but had no idea as to how.

"We'll see, then," Hermione said, her eyes downcast. "I can check, closer to your due date, if you'll promise me one thing."

Nathaniel Granger leapt at the olive twig. "Anything, Hermione, we're really don't want to lose you, not like this."

"Even if the child isn't magical, please let me get to know my sibling. I'll keep my magic away, if I have to, but please don't keep me away."

Hermione's father nodded slowly. Her mother was slower to respond, and Hermione knew their relationship would never be the same.

"I'll be back in a few months, to check on the child," Hermione said, readying herself to apparate back to Hogsmead.

"Hermione --" her mother began, but didn't finish. Without another though, Hermione apparated away, with a loud crack.

Nathaniel and Jane Granger looked at the wisp of smoke Hermione had left behind. Some wounds won't heal; others would scar deeply.

All three had both.

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AN: Sorry, but after all is said and done, I don't think Hermione and her parents will ever have the same relationship again. A case of the last straw breaking the camel's back. At least they're not screaming at each other.

Jane's blurting was an awkward attempt at drawing Hermione back in, and it kinda worked. Unfortunately, things were too far gone.

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