AN: Thanks so much for reading, reviewing, putting this on alert, and for favoriting! I really appreciate it all, and am so glad that people are enjoying this story.
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Severus felt his eyes droop as he cast the last stasis spell. All week he'd been brewing the potions needed for opening day at the apothecary, but it had proved to be a more monumental task than he'd expected. Tomorrow he'd bottle several of the finished products, but Merlin he still didn't have nearly enough to open the store. It would take another two months working eighteen hour days to fully stock his shelves.
He cast the last stasis spell and dragged himself up to the bedroom. Hermione was already asleep. Severus gave her a soft smile before stripping down and changing into his night clothes.
Hermione felt the bed dip as Severus lay down beside her. "Severus?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"I didn't know if you were ever coming to bed," Hermione replied.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked.
"I don't know. I tried to wait up for you but I fell asleep," she answered.
"You should've spent that time resting," Severus replied. "You and the baby need it."
"Trust me, she's fine," Hermione answered before rolling over to face Severus. She snuggled beside him; too fatigued to consider the consequences.
"I suppose she is," Severus replied as he folded her into his arms. A pang of guilt rushed through his body. He'd been so busy brewing all week he hadn't paid much attention to Hermione. Part of him didn't want to care, but he did care, nonetheless.
"Goodnight Severus," she yawned.
"Goodnight Hermione," he whispered into her hair. He then looked down at her abdomen. "Good night little one."
He shut his eyes as he enjoyed their closeness. Drifting to sleep, two thoughts raced through his head:
I really should make this easier for Hermione. She deserves better than a husband who spends three quarters of his time in the basement and the other quarter in the bedroom sleeping.
Also, we really need to name our daughter.
"Morning," Severus began as Hermione yawned.
She opened her eyes and groaned. As she reached consciousness, she felt Severus' arms around her. She remembered snuggling close to him before she went to bed, but…Oh Merlin! Severus probably thought she was some clingy affection-starved schoolgirl.
"Ah, good morning," she began as she flushed a little.
"Indeed," Severus replied, experiencing a twinge of regret as Hermione backed out of his embrace.
"You came to bed pretty late," she began.
"Yes. I was too absorbed in my brewing to notice the time," he replied.
"You really shouldn't work yourself so hard."
"What are you going to do to stop me?" Severus asked.
"If you work past midnight tonight I'm going to pull you upstairs by your cape," she replied.
Severus couldn't tell if she was joking or serious. He smirked and answered, "I'd like to see you try."
She gave him an equally mischievous smirk. "I will."
Severus chuckled before kissing her lips. "You take very good care of me."
"You need to take care of yourself. You'll run yourself into the ground if you keep working like you have been all week."
"I don't require much sleep," Severus replied. "Besides, I'm used to working late at night."
Hermione swallowed as she envisioned him up all night with the Death Eaters in days past. Finally she replied, "This isn't the war anymore. You aren't spying, and we won't starve if your apothecary doesn't open tomorrow."
"True," he mused. "But I want to have the apothecary up and running before the baby is born."
"Severus, the baby needs you to be in some sort of shape when she comes. Why don't you let me help you brew?" Hermione asked.
"Absolutely not," Severus replied.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked.
"You're pregnant."
"That does not mean I'm helpless."
"Yes, but Merlin forbid an accident occur that could harm the baby."
"I simply won't cause an accident then," she replied.
"Accidents can happen to even the most cautious brewer."
"I promise I'll be fine."
He sighed. "Some of the fumes are not appropriate for a pregnant woman to inhale. They could cause birth defects."
She grew quiet and thought about his words before sighing. "There are some that I could brew which do not have harmful fumes, correct?"
"Right now I'm brewing two potions which have potentially dangerous fumes for pregnant women. They won't be done for another two days. The seal on the basement door protects you on this level of the house, but you really can not work down there right now."
Hermione sighed. "I suppose you have a point. That makes an even more compelling case for you to end your work at midnight so I don't have to come fetch you. Can we at least eat breakfast together?"
"Yes," Severus replied before kissing her cheek. "I may also come up for lunch and dinner. I'm getting tired of eating in the basement and worrying about getting crumbs in my ingredients."
She smirked. "Of course you'd worry about that."
"It's important that the ingredients not become contaminated by…" he began before he noticed Hermione's light-hearted expression. He playfully frowned as he answered, "You witch."
"Would you have me any other way?" she asked.
"No," he replied before pulling her close and pressing his lips against hers.
"Mr. Longbottom?" Minerva began.
"Yes?" Neville asked.
"I've been looking over the plans for your greenhouse, and while I am impressed with you proposal, I fear that it would simply put too much of a strain on our finances," Headmistress McGonagall replied.
"What do you mean?" Neville asked.
She sighed. "I admire your enthusiasm in making Hogwarts a center for Herbology study. I fear, however, Hogwarts only has enough funds to rebuild your greenhouse as it was. There are simply not enough resources to enlarge your greenhouse."
"Don't worry, I have the funds to enlarge it and build it to my vision."
"You do?" Minerva asked.
Neville nodded. "I have the funds."
"Where did they come from?" Minerva asked with a raised eyebrow.
"An anonymous donor," Neville answered.
"I see," she replied.
"The donor has given me more than enough to rebuild my greenhouse. The donor was even kind enough to give me some funds for new plants."
"Where did you find this donor?" Minerva demanded.
"They approached me with this offer. I couldn't refuse."
"Are there any strings attached?" Minerva asked.
"No, I just can't give any of the money to you," Neville answered.
Severus, she thought.
