A/N: Thanks for the reviews and the "adds." It is always a huge bright spot in my day to get something like that in my inbox. Tell me it isn't just because you are all just stuck in the snow with nothing to do... ? I am sorry to have been away so long before. I had been trying to figure out what to do with my life. Nothing came to me, unfortunately :) Thanks for the help, Sel!


Hermione quickly found her own way to the Hog's Head when she saw the destruction in Diagon Alley. Aberforth did not give her back her previous room, however. He placed her in a building behind the inn, the first floor of which was over run by goats.

He brought her her dinner in a pail like the one he used for the goats' evening meal. She must have noticeably balked when she saw him unloading it onto the table, because he chuckled.

"I don't get my pails mixed up. This one's only for people food." He put the sandwich and fruit down and even pulled out a large cloth napkin. "All of this subterfuge. It's because no one knows you are here. I was paid well to keep your being here a secret. Not many people know about these rooms over the barn," he said with a wink.

The thick set man made to leave and then stopped. One hand on the door, he surprised her by turning back. "How's the baby?" he asked in a completely different voice.

"Fine?" It was obvious she was caught off guard by his show of emotion. "Thank you," she said, recovering and smiling finally.

Was it merely money, Hermione wondered once the inn's proprietor was closing her door. Or was Aberforth strangely loyal to Severus?

///

"All this traveling has made you ill," Severus said with strong disapproval.

She could be equally contentious, she decided, especially when she felt so lousy, and he seemed so cold. And so she told him, "Maybe, it is being back here that has done it." She blew her nose for effect and groaned at the pain in her head.

She didn't have to look at him to recognize the grinding of teeth. She took herself out of the room, determined to ignore the signs that things were heading south, and hopeful that she could salvage some of this visit. While she washed up in her bathroom, she called out to him through the open door. She ticked off her points at the pacing man. "I don't want to fight. I'm happy to be back. The trip was worth making. And it's just a touch of a cold."

The trip had been a problem in one respect she admitted. Having been away made it all the more apparent to her that Severus was distant and difficult at time like these. She wondered that she could have ever compared him to the placid Thomas.

Instantly, she hated herself for thinking it, for pulling Thomas to mind when she was with Snape.

It was worse, because she hadn't told Severus about Thomas or Ellie. In a letter, Minerva had convinced her that he wouldn't want to risk knowing. For the lack of a better, more savory term, these were the End Times. Severus and everyone near Voldemort would be severely tested for their secrets as the dark wizard became more and more desperate. The less Severus knew, the safer everyone was.

And she needed this man safe. She closed her eyes as she stood in front of her sink and nearly groaned with her efforts to concentrate.

She needed this war done. She needed to see this man through this.

Because the Order needed him. Dumbledore needed him.

Her hand swept over her belly and she knew she would admit it. She would be selfish.

She needed him.

She wanted to believe that in a world she could not even picture, when this war was over, that he would be willing to see her differently. To love her. To be with her. And in more permanent fashion.

She didn't want to lose him just as she was taking on a baby. His baby.

Feeling focused at last, she walked to where he was standing. He had stopped his pacing and turned his back to her and the room. Months of practice told her it was not disdain or rejection he was projecting. Just his unease. Discomfort. And exhaustion.

"Thank you," she said, as she wound her arms around him from behind. "I'm glad you're here." He said nothing, but she felt his stance soften. She watched his chin sink to his chest. It spoke volumes coming from him. There was trust between them, she reassured herself. He was willing to take some comfort from her touch. And if she understood him at all then, she knew he was echoing her thoughts.

God, let this war end.

"I keep wondering," he said then in voice that wasn't quite his own. "What I could have done differently. If I'll know..."

"If you'll know?"

"...when it's the last time ..." he cleared his throat, changed underneath her touch. "You need to be careful. Watch out for yourself. Do you understand? No dramatics. No heroics," he growled. "I may be of no use to you once I am even more firmly under Voldemort's control. You have put yourself in a very difficult position."

He covered her one hand with his then to hold it tighter to his chest. She pressed her head against his back, closed her eyes, and prayed as she never had before.

////

Three days later, he pushed softly through her door when his knock went ignored. He eased his steps as he walked to the bed where she lay sleeping.

He was not immediately aware that something was wrong. She had taken to having a nap in the afternoon. With her research keeping her up until all hours and her increasing tiredness, it was not surprising to find her in bed before dinner. He stole closer to her and raised the shade at the window by her bed.

Immediately, he saw that she was not well. She was sweating, and even at this distance he could hear that her breathing had a bit of a wheeze to it. He put his hand to her forehead and felt his stomach drop when he registered how hot she was.

"Just a cold?" he said with irritation. "Damn it!"

He wrapped her in a blanket against the chill and prepared to lift her. She had gained a good twenty pounds, he decided as he brought her to his chest with a groan.

He needed to get her to Madam Pomfrey, he knew. But he hesitated as he cradled her. He would take one traitorous, unguarded moment to allow the rush of emotion to have its way with him - just one moment before self preservation demanded he shut everything out.

He felt a thousand things, things he knew he was not man enough to name. Mostly, as he looked at her, he just ached wretchedly inside.

Turning with fresh determination, he Apparated to the gate at Hogwarts . He marched then without hesitation for the castle.

He answered no one who spoke to him. He found he was blind to everything, but the path to Pomfrey's ward. His heart raced noticeably. Hermione was ill, yes. But it was because he knew it was this move, carrying her through the castle, that was going to push everyone's plans forward.

"Poppy," he called, as he pushed the Infirmary door open with a kick of his boot.

The matron was in front of him quickly, knowing that tone of voice. She touched Hermione's forehead with one hand and used a diagnostic wand with the other. She looked at Severus critically, a dozen questions obviously springing to mind, but she didn't quiz him on what this strange appearance meant.

"Pneumonia," she pronounced. "A fever. And she is not getting enough oxygen to suit me."

"A bed," Severus groaned. "I am too old for these heroic displays."

"Put her in your usual room, would you?" And Severus was heartened by the Matron's touch of humor that hopefully meant Hermione's condition was not too serious. "We will need the privacy for her." And again the old witch's look seemed to beg Severus to explain this. But he glowered back, playing his part.

Once he had placed her in the bed, he turned to watch Poppy bustle about drawing potions and supplies, and placing them on a charmed cart that followed her.

He moved to leave the room quietly as Poppy bent over Hermione. "Severus," Poppy bellowed, as he crept away. He ignored her and continued for the door. "Bastard," she murmured. The Matron turned her wand in the direction of the door and whispered, "Phalli Obfirmo."

As she continue to care for the girl, Hermione roused a bit.

"Where is he?" the young witch managed softly. There was something in the way Hermione said the words that froze the Matron. But Poppy refused to give her confused thoughts quarter. She couldn't afford to stop and wonder if the girl cared for him or he for her. There was the illness to manage.

"Shush, girl," Pomfrey managed after a heavy swallow.

Severus found that the door would not open for him, and he began to fume. Turning to confront Poppy, he was set upon by her Patronus, an overly energetic dolphin that circled him before it passed through the wood of the door.

He withdrew his wand and cast at least 5 spells that should have unlocked the door. After each one, he pulled on the handle and became more agitated.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open from the other side. Minerva burst in, rosy cheeked with the rush that had brought her there. She blocked Severus' way while she let the door close behind her, and she extended a hand to the man's chest. Finally, he reached around her and pulled on the door, but it was once again locked to him.

"Damn it, Poppy," he murmured as if speaking to the door.

"Save your breath, Severus," Minerva told him with a crooked eyebrow. "You'll not be leaving until she wants you to."

He returned to Hermione's room with Minerva at his elbow.

"Phalli Obfirmo, Severus," Poppy said without even a look at him. "That door is locked to anyone with a penis."

Minerva's expression offered him no comfort or sympathy.

"Healers have to use that more than you can imagine," the Matron continued. "Men have so little sense in matters of illness or pregnancy."

"But, how is she?" Minerva asked.

"She'll be alright. But she might be here a week. It's pneumonia," Poppy said, looking up finally. She pushed bottles of the foul liquid she had extracted from the young witch across the cart. "I've nearly got all the fluid from her lungs. Poor tike wasn't getting enough oxygen either. By which I mean the baby, in case you are wondering, Severus," Poppy said, pausing long enough to fix him with a humorless look. "And it is too early for him to make an appearance."

Severus rolled his eyes, but decided against a reply.

"Severus, help me here," Poppy said in a tone that would be ignored by only the insane. "Lift her up. I need to get these into her. We need to head off the infection and bring her fever down. Now, have there been any complications with the pregnancy? How many weeks along is she? What midwife has she been seeing? Is she on any medications? What has she been taking for this pneumonia?"

He didn't answer fast enough for Poppy though."You've walked into my ward with the girl. She's pregnant, quite obviously. Did you want me to ignore that part of things? This is not idle curiosity on my part. This is important, Severus."

"It's not his fault," Hermione weakly objected without even opening her eyes. Poppy shook her head at the obvious depth of loyalty in the former Head Girl.

"Be of use, Severus, and answer the damn questions," Minerva said tensely.

"She's 30 weeks now, I think," Severus said. She was seeing Mistress Battleworth, the midwife, in Hogsmeade. She was taking all manner of things for the cold, some Muggle things as well as Pepper up. But her cough got worse. I found her like this this afternoon, but it had been over a day since I had seen her last."

Poppy busied herself with preparing a vial then, and was muttering as she worked, "Well, that would explain the increase in her blood pressure. No use giving her more Pepper up then."

Severus lifted the limp girl and looked to Poppy for approval. "Tell her to open up, Severus," Poppy said impatiently.

He leaned closer to Hermione's ear. "Open up, Girl," he grumbled. "Poppy needs to get something down you."

"Minerva, pull the girl up until she is sitting, please." It did not escape Severus' notice that Poppy spoke to Minerva in a sweet tone meant to highlight the barbarous way she spoke to him.

Hermione groaned and her body lolled about. "Severus. Take a seat on the bed behind her." The man hesitated. "Do it, Severus," Poppy complained. "I need someone to hold her up. I need to get these down her and I need to make sure they stay down! She'll breathe better if she is sitting up, too."

After Severus had seated himself with a shoulder behind the girl, Minerva gingerly lowered her until she was resting against him. He held her head. Finally, he lowered his mouth to her ear. "Hermione, Poppy needs to get some medicine down you . Open up," he said softly now. And he pulled her hair back from her face and rubbed at her jaw.

"Severus?" Hermione managed.

"Yes, now let Poppy get these potions down you. There is no feeling better until you do."

"The baby?" she said, and she fluttered her eyes open searching for Poppy. Severus kept his eyes down to avoid the women at hand. But he found he was waiting for the answer.

"He's fine, girl," Poppy said. "No thanks to you ignoring your symptoms."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said, after the vial had been emptied into her.

"Shhh," Severus whispered almost gently into Hermione's ear.

The sound of the Infirmary door swinging open brought Minerva and Severus' eyes away from Hermione. Severus tensed a bit seeing Dumbledore, despite having predicted this part of the play. There was an ashen look to the Headmaster's face. But his frailty seemed momentarily in abeyance.

"Severus?" Albus questioned steadily.

"Don't cross me on this, old man," the potion master said grimly. Severus' reply sent shivers through the old matron and momentarily stopped her work.

Severus eased Hermione back down on to the bed and stood. He glared at Albus a moment before stalking from the room and into the Infirmary proper.

"If you two would also leave a moment," the headmaster said, "I would speak with the former Head Girl privately."

###

Once he was alone with her, Dumbledore touched Hermione's hand gently. He made himself take in the full measure of her illness and the large sweep to her belly that seemed so unnatural in her. It was a minor penance for so large a sin as his.

"I asked too much," he finally told her. "Please forgive me."

"Headmaster?" Hermione asked weakly.

"Yes. Now, steel yourself," he warned before he walked to confront Severus.

///

Albus ignored the two women as he walked from Hermione's room, and focused soley on Snape.

"I believe we have the truth of this matter now, don't we, Severus?" The Headmaster's words were spoken with a sense of menace suddenly. "Striding through these halls without any sense of shame? As if you were untouchable. I hadn't wanted to believe the rumors, Severus. My trust in you kept me blind. Blind to the depths to which you would sink."

Poppy's head snapped to Snape in disbelief. The older woman obviously willing all of this to be untrue.

Minerva said the words Poppy wished she'd had the guts to.

"What is he talking about, Severus? Tell him you haven't done anything untoward."

But there was no denial on Severus' face. Instead, the half a smile that played there was confident and near obscene.

"Perhaps, sooner or later, we all tire of being what the great Albus Dumbledore wants us to be," Severus said in his slickest tones. "Those people you task and pretend to care about, Albus, does it surprise you that they would find each other? That they would decide to do what is best for themselves rather than serve you blindly?" Minerva felt a chill run through her. She was sure the words were heart felt, even if the scene was manufactured.

"Get him out of here, Minerva," Albus said fiercely. "After what he has done, I will not look on him another moment. Escort him to his quarters and see that he packs. He has 10 minutes to be clear of the castle!"

"Albus?" Poppy finally said in shock.

"Poppy, that man has deceived us. Miss Granger has admitted to the affair. It was this man who seduced her. Who fathered her child."

"Tell him it isn't true, Severus," the Matron insisted.

"For pity's sake," Severus spat at Madam Pomfrey, "release me from your expectations, Old Woman. How many years was I supposed to stay that horrid little boy in your mind? The one who had to wait patiently for scraps. Abused and forgotten..."

"Not by me... " Poppy protested, her faith refusing to fail.

"He admits it, Poppy," Albus said then.

"I admit it?!" Severus bellowed. "I sing it from the rafters, you pathetic, impotent old man."

"I want you out of this castle. I do not want to ever see you again," Dumbledore said strongly.

"You think you can force me from here?" Severus mocked. "Don't you know why I've stayed? Why I've put up with you and the rest of the insipid people in this castle? To hold the door when HE comes. So, go," Snape said, as he took two menacing steps toward the old wizard. "Hide in your office. It will take more than you to push me out of here."

"Minerva," Albus said, as he calmly drew his wand with his good hand and held it on Severus. "Get Flitwick, get any loyal staff you can. Now."

"I'm not leaving you," Minerva said as she drew her wand and cast her Patronus. A ghostly tabby trio burst for the door. She pointed her wand at the tall wizard now, too.

Poppy drew the door to Hermione's room closed behind her. And inched closer to the action. Her hesitant gait spoke to her obvious confusion and the betrayal she felt. Making her decision, suddenly, all that changed. She moved cautiously now to flank Severus, to stand so that his attentions would have to be divided. And she brandished her wand.

"Get out of here, Severus. I'll take little pleasure in hurting you, but I will do it," Madam Pomfrey told him firmly.

"Then I take the girl with me," he announced.

"Like hell," Poppy said moving to block his path to Hermione's room. "If she stays loyal to you, she'll find you when she's well."

A rush of footsteps in the outside corridor broke the tense silence. This was his moment to decide. He spared the door to Hermione's room one more look before he took two large steps for the window. He pushed it open and then looked back. "Soon old man. He has promised me .... soon." And with fluid motions, Severus was out the window and gone.

The following day, Minerva came into the small treatment room and pulled the door shut behind her. "Hermione," the tall witch whispered.

"It's alright. I wasn't sleeping," the younger woman lied, as she tried to push up a little higher on her pillows.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. And I needed to see how much of all this you understand." Hermione was sure McGonagall's tone sounded guilty.

"Professor Snape has been forced out of the castle at wand point. And I am going to guess that the reason Madam Pomfrey will not let me see a copy of the Daily Prophet is because news of my relationship with the professor is all over the front page."

"The news has been quite sensationalized, I'm afraid. Not that the simple truth of it wouldn't have been bad enough."

"Just tell me," Hermione pleaded.

"Obviously, the idea that a professor at Hogwarts would...." the old witch stopped, unable to say the phrase 'bed a student.' And they both knew it didn't really need saying. "Well," Minerva managed after a dignified pause. "It should be sufficient to say that Severus is being vilified. The papers are making you out to be a traitor."

"That's all? Not 'Whore to a Death Eater'?"

"Hermione! Please mind your language," the prim old witch fumed. "But yes," she finally said. "Anything you could possibly think, and some I would not, and they have printed it. Some even claim that you are responsible for tempting him back to the dark forces. That it was in your nature all along to side with Voldemort." Minerva shook her head with sadness and disbelief.

"I can't stay here."

"But you will until you are well. Poppy says you need many more days of rest."

"I can rest just as well somewhere else," Hermione said as strongly as she could. "I can barely stand the way Madam Pomfrey looks at me."

"Tomorrow night then, after curfew," Minerva conceded after a lengthy pause. "I'll take you to Hogsmeade myself."

"Thank you," Hermione told her with relief. She watched the old witch walk for the door and she could not stop herself from calling out. "Please, Professor. What's happened to Severus?"

"We don't know," Minerva said with her head held uncharacteristically low. "No one has seen him or heard from him."