Never Piss Off a House-Elf
disclaimer: no, of course I don't own Harry Potter. Are you done with silly questions? Can we get on with the story?
This chapter is dedicated to. . . Skydancinghobbit!
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Chapter 52: Calling It Even
Hermione tried to sleep that night, after getting back to school from Hogsmead and the visit to her parents. Part of her was glad that they would have another child to love and take care of, but part of her was jealous and angry as well. She tried to think of other things, study, have a little something to eat and drink to calm her down. Nothing worked.
Around two a.m., Hermione called for Satchel as a last ditch effort. The elf winked in, rubbing sleep from his eyes, but bowing deeply. He hadn't been called by Hermione for a long time, and he was beginning to wonder if she really did dislike him for what he'd done.
"Satchel is here when the Mistress calls," Satchel said, the sand gone from his eyes and a smile on his face. "What can Satchel be doing for the Mistress?"
"Satchel, I can't sleep. I visited my parents today, to try to fix things, and now I feel worse than before. Would you take me to Severus, please?" Hermione asked softly. She couldn't apparate within Hogwart's, and she didn't want to stir up anymore trouble by trying to get there on foot.
"Yes, Mistress. Please hold on to Satchel's hand," Satchel said, raising his clawed hand carefully so Hermione could take it without being scratched. She took it and Satchel closed his eyes; Hermione did the same and felt a slightly odd sense of weightlessness.
No sound accompanied house-elf transportation, and Hermione wouldn't have known she'd arrived if it hadn't been for the feeling of Satchel's hand slipping out of hers. Satchel bowed and left Hermione in a small room off the sitting room. The fire burned low enough to keep anyone from flooing in but high enough that someone could stick a head through to communicate.
"That's what I should have done, first," Hermione mused softly. She saw lights blazing in Severus's study and headed there, wanting to talk to someone who might understand. She girded her robe a bit tighter and walked softly, not wanting to distress him.
Severus was bent over papers, marking them up like no-one's business, which didn't seem odd, at first. As Hermione came closer though, she noticed that he wasn't using red but rather green ink, and the papers certainly weren't from his students. Abruptly, the quill in Severus's hand stopped moving and he sighed.
"Hermione, you don't have to slink about in my quarters," Severus said quietly. "What has disturbed you, Hermione?"
"I guess I shouldn't have tried to sneak up on a former spy, then, hmm?" Hermione said, stepping behind Severus's chair and putting her arms around his shoulders. Even sitting, he was tall, making her feel small and feminine. "What are you working on?"
"Why are you here, Hermione?" Severus turned his chair round carefully, catching her in his arms. "And I asked first."
"Please. It's a long story. Tell me what you're doing, first," Hermione said, settling in his lap and snuggling in.
"I'm trying to figure out the end of my project, Hermione. It will make me look very bad if yours is finished, patented and licensed too far before mine," Severus said, teasing her a bit. "And I'm beginning to think I need to think outside the magical box, try some muggle ideas. I was wondering if you'd be willing to help?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. Some things had to be re-worked in magic, and if Severus wanted to do things the muggle way. . . or at least use muggle reasoning. . . Hermione was all for it. Severus looked at her again, and Hermione sighed.
"I visited my parents today, quite as a surprise, for them and for me. I wasn't planning on visiting them, but after the dinner and all that -- I felt that if I was going to be an adult here, I should probably go home and handle things in an adult way.
"I spoke for a few moments with my parents before my mother blurted out that she is pregnant, about four months or so along. I told them that I would come back closer to her due date, check to see if the child would have magic as well," Hermione said quietly. "I made them promise that whether or not my new sibling has magic, I want to know him or her."
"Do you think they'll uphold their end of the bargain?"
"I don't know. But what if they have another magical child? They'll go through the same thing again. And even if the child isn't magical, he or she will never know what the bad blood between my parents and me is about."
"Her--" Severus began, but she kept talking.
"And what if we have a magicless child, Severus? Could you imagine, a squib with the name Snape? Ridicule, being an outsider --"
"Hermione, stop. You're worrying too much. The magic in you is too pure, and I'm a half-blood. We won't have a squib, and even if we did, you would pass on more than enough intelligence to make up for it. I can't make any promises about your parents, but any child we have will never fear loss of our love.
"And I know I can't fix what you and your parents have said, but I --, Hermione, I love you," Severus said in barely more than a whisper. Hermione froze in his arms, and he bit back a curse. He was sick to his stomach, and angry that he'd followed Albus's advice, again, and was looking like a gawky fifth year trying to get a date to the ball.
Hermione hugged Severus tightly, afraid to say anything that would break the moment. She heard his breathing, shallow and quick, and she knew that if she said nothing, it would be worse. She waited a few more moments, letting her mind stop racing, before she looked up into Severus's face.
His eyes were large and luminous, almost glowing. Hermione placed her hands on his face, tracing his features, even his prominent nose. He close his eyes, breathing evenly. Hermione kissed his mouth, smiling.
"I think I love you, too," she said. He opened one eye and sneered. "It's me, Severus. I think about everything first. I love you."
Satchel and Miki, who'd been keeping an eye on their master and mistress both smiled as well, watching Severus carry Hermione to the large bed, close the door, and ward the room.
"Now that the master gets the in-outie, does Satchel get it, too?"
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AN: Short, but I know y'all wanted it to happen.
5 reviews, next chapter.
