Once again, I own nothing and I hope you enjoy this chapter. -Sevy14


Reaching my quarters I was so close to bursting that the tears were leaking out in a fast manner. It was horrible and I felt like a baby but I was just so upset. I'm not a deatheaters whore! The stupid bint! Opening the door I blow in through the entryway, I note that Malfoy and Zabini follow, but I don't stop and I rush into the living room where Severus is sitting in the chair reading. I see him look up and I just burst into tears and he starts but I run past him into our room and into the bathroom.

Back in the living room I'm in shock at Hermione's entrance into our quarters and past me. I eye Draco and Blaise and they both throw their hands up in a silent comment saying they had nothing to do with her current state. "Sit." They do, in a hurried manner and I look at them. "Explain… That." I say to them pointing in the direction that Hermione had gone. Draco starts,

"Well Blaise and I were coming back from dinner and we heard arguing in the hallway just before the Slytherin stairwell. We rounded the corner and saw Gra-her," I say pointing towards the direction that Severus' wife went, "Lavender, Cho, and the Patil twins in an altercation. They were saying some mean things to her."

Blaise steps in and speaks,

"Yeah! Like-like they called her a "deatheaters whore," sir."

I nod at the two boys as they fall silent, "Is that all?" Draco responds,

"No, then I stepped in and basically told them to sod off sir-although I didn't use that language of course but they left afterwards."

Looking between the two boys I won't deny I was in shock. They stood up for Hermione but I didn't tell them that, I just looked at them for a minute or so. "So what do you hear about Mr. Weasley and Ms. Lavender and her friends?"

"Well, I think they're all about rumors and what not, nothing more than that sir."

Blaise responds and from the looks between the two of them that's about all I'm going to get from them-at least for now. "I would appreciate it if you heard anything, that you inform me." They both nod in concurrence. "Good. Now is that the only reason why you're here?"


Hermione's POV from the Bathroom

After getting out of the shower my head hurt from crying and I just felt drained. My body was tired and I was hungry but I didn't feel like going out there to face Severus. I knew he'd ask questions and I didn't feel like talking about it. I felt somewhat embarrassed, definitely angry, vengeful, and downright frustrated with the whole situation. I dress for bed, putting on some shorts and one of Severus' black undershirts, the smell of herbs still making their presence known on the clean garment. I smiled at the smell and moved to the bed to lay down. Lighting the fire with my wand I relaxed there, enjoying the comfort and warmth that the soft blankets and pillows felt upon my skin. I reach over to the nightstand and find a dreamless sleep drought in Severus' drawer and take it, making a face at the taste. Laying my head down I feel the arms of sleep reaching out for me and I succumb, hoping that my troubles for today will dissipate and be gone when I awake in the morning.


Back in the living room:

"Uncle," I don't want to be rude but I don't know how to ask, "What do I, or we… What do we get you and Her- her, for the wedding and for Christmas? I know that I don't know her well enough to get her something for one event let alone two, I'm sure that Zabini is the same." This is just a weird awkward situation. I don't even know what to call her. I've called her Granger for so long that I can't-weird.

Looking at the boys there is a distinct sense of being lost coming from them, Blaise nodding in agreement with Draco in truth, I'm not sure what to say to them since I don't even really know myself. "I shall let you know as the date gets closer. But you know she likes books so that might help…" They both snicker a bit and I raise my eyebrow at them, they stop. Smiling still though Blaise responds,

"Everyone knows she likes books."

I smile at them a bit-that's true. Anyone that knew anything about her knew that. They get up to leave after this, "Thank you for sticking up for her, I'm sure that'll be known throughout the school by tomorrow-if not already." They just nod, Draco holds the eye contact longer, I know he's gotten the hint that it might help him in his quest to be seen differently. Blaise, while with his fair share of run-ins with other houses was saved from embarrassment unlike many of the other Slytherin families because his family stayed neutral and for the most part, he's been kind to everyone. For the most part. "Oh and Blaise, remember to pass the wedding invitation on to your mother-it'd be rude if she weren't invited as well."

"Yes sir. Good evening."

"Good evening you two." The door shuts behind them and I raise the wards. The cats meow but I don't know about what. Why anyone would want an animal is beyond me. Turning I go in search of Hermione for the second time of the night but I find her in bed already, apparently asleep. I notice one of my potions on my bedside table and I sigh. Well at least she's asleep and will be knocked out all night. As I gather up the vile I look down and see that she's left her clothes on the floor along with a wet towel. It was somewhat amusing to me to see that there was a trail of clothes to the bathroom, and then a towel outside of my dresser and then again just to the side of the bed. It was obvious that she wasn't feeling like she wanted to be neat or clean like usual. I gather up her clothes and put them in the hamper, take the towels and hang them back up, picking up the wash clothe and put it back on it's hanger. Returning to the room I magic a wall up around the bed, just in case she doesn't fall, but it's only because she's pregnant I think to myself. That nagging feeling in the back of my head picks up I relent admitting to myself that I'd put up a magic wall when she fell asleep even before she was pregnant so I suppose it's because I-I care… Because I care. Admitting it to myself wasn't so hard, I don't know if I'd ever be able to say it to her but I felt lighter knowing that I'd admitted to myself that I did in fact care about her. Leaving the room I head to my study, a night of marking looming before me. I trip over a bag in the hallway, how I'd missed it before I didn't know. Bending down I pick it up and see that it's stuff that goes in the baby's room. The baby's room… I stop and stare down at the bag in realization that I had just thought 'the baby's room,' that was the first time I'd done so. I shake it off, too much emotional thought from myself, from Hermione for the day and the night. I put it in the baby's room and go mark.

Three hours later at 11:00pm

My night successful, I had graded all of my essays, gotten through all of my tests except for the easiest ones-my Advanced Potions class which I had intend on doing in the next couple of days I felt as though I'd accomplished a lot. Had gotten my mind of off the events of the day and I was ready for bed. Following me into the room Cortes meowed as he wound himself in and out of my feet as I undressed. He wasn't so bad, but so needy at times-I just don't get neediness. Getting into bed I look over at Hermione. Completely past out, Orpheus asleep on her head I get up again and go to her dresser where her camera rests. I walk to the foot of our bed and take a picture. Orpheus blinks and glares at me for disturbing him with the bright flash but I don't care-two can play this game I think. I set it back on her dresser and get back into bed. Cortes now jumps up and places himself between Hermione and I. I look at him, he looks back, "Move!" He doesn't and I sigh. Fine. Bloody cat. I lay there and close my eyes. Listening to Hermione's steady breathing I slowly fall asleep.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this and ALL the chapters I've put up today. It feels SO good to be putting up some chapters. Have a lovely evening and a great week. Happy reading friends. –Sevy14