Previously on Making The First Move: Chapter 50
"Now for the surprise," continued Lauren. "According to Hermione's calculations, she is eleven weeks along. However, my examination puts her at fourteen weeks, which means she is now in her second trimester. The vomiting she has been experiencing should decrease and disappear altogether within the next two weeks. The second trimester also means Hermione is past most early pregnancy dangers. Everything should go swimmingly from here forward. Hermione just has to remember not to exert herself, and all will be fine. I'll have my assistant Owl you with the date of your next appointment. Feel free to Owl me with any concerns. Do either of you have any questions?"
For several seconds, neither Hermione nor Severus could find their voice having relegated all but the fact Hermione was in the second trimester to the back of their minds.
A huge grin broke out on Severus' face as he reached out for Hermione's hand before making a comment. "The second trimester love. Our child is healthy and we have passed the danger point."
Hermione squeezed Severus' hand as she returned his grin. With the squeeze of his hand, Severus cleared his throat and straightened himself up in the chair. It was not in his nature to show this much emotion in front of a stranger. He and Hermione would celebrate when they were alone.
/*/
Packet in hand, Hermione landed at the shop seconds before Severus. They'd had a splendid appointment, and had tons to discuss, but right then they were back at work. Any discussions would have to wait.
Severus made a quick stop at Hermione's office door to mouth the words, I love you before heading to his office to bask in the glow of coming fatherhood.
Hermione gazed at the now empty doorway while whispering to herself. "I love you more Severus Snape."
/
Making The First Move: Chapter 51
Ethan, Noah and Allen had a very busy Thursday and considered themselves lucky that each had been able to squeeze out forty five minutes for lunch. There had been a run, not only on the Brewers Masks which had kept Noah and Ethan from their stations, but several newer products which had just gone on the shelves that week.
Between sales, Ethan and Noah had laughed about the possibility of some grand ball being held over the weekend.
"Which will be attended by a roomful of rosy cheeked, dewy eyed witches," joked Noah. "The dark eyed, dusty hued witch will be the standout."
"Agreed," laughed Ethan. "It might be time to expand the line."
"Yoohoo sir! Sir! I'd like service please," shouted a strident voice from over in the Brewers Masks area.
"Coming Miss," replied Ethan as he and Noah headed in different directions. Ethan towards the customer and Noah to his regular station to help reduce the overly long queue.
"Next in queue please."
/*/
When the rush finally slowed down about 4:00 pm, Noah sent Ethan then Allen off the floor for a quick, well deserved break. The shop was quiet which gave Noah time to think about that night's studies. Tonight was it. If he and Ethan didn't have everything down by now, they were out of time. Their trial test with Hermione was tomorrow, and if he knew anything. He knew she would be a hard taskmaster. Not that he was worried. It was just neither he nor Ethan wanted to disappoint the partners by doing less than their best on the Ministry tests.
"Penny for your thoughts Noah?" Asked Ethan coming up from behind. "I'm looking forward to our last bit of studying tonight. In fact, I'm eagerly looking forward to Saturday morning when we can prove ourselves knowledgeable enough to become registered Herbologists and Brewers."
"I look forward to our time as well. Allen has returned to the floor. I'm going to step away to the Men's and have a quick coffee."
"Coffee?" Repeated Ethan in surprise. "Since when?"
"I am a wizard with many tastes," laughed Noah. "Actually, Miranda is partial to coffee, and the taste has rubbed off on me. It's not bad with a bit of milk and sugar. I'll return shortly."
The rest of the day passed quickly. After locking up the front, Noah and Ethan headed to the conference room to study while Allen stepped through the door to Florae.
/*/
Normally, Severus and Hermione would stay around after the end of the work day, but not this Thursday. After a quick good night to everyone, they Apparated home intent on discussing the information they had received from Lauren that morning.
The discussion had to wait a bit, because Hermione headed directly to the bathroom for a shower. After changing into more appropriate clothing, Severus made the most of the time by starting a nice dinner of steamed, buttered vegetables with a peach cobbler for dessert. As he worked, Severus fervently thanked Merlin for being born a wizard. By the time Hermione showered and changed, dinner was waiting on the table.
"Mmm. This is delicious love. Thank you. And peach cobbler, I'll be stuffed."
Severus gave Hermione a skeptical look. "Please don't overeat. You know where that gets you. Instead of holding your hair to keep it from falling into the toilet, I'd rather you be in a position to discuss our appointment this morning."
Hermione daintily wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Because I'm in such a forgiving mood Mr. Snape, I'll pretend I didn't hear that as I have no intention of overeating. In fact, why don't you take your signifying arse into the living room while I clear up. I'll be there shortly."
Severus walked over to kiss Hermione before making himself scarce. He was going to take his signifying arse out of the kitchen as asked.
/*/
It wasn't long before Hermione was seated beside Severus on the couch discussing their good news. When Hermione admitted she didn't know how she had miscalculated the dates, Severus drew her closer and began to run his hand across her little pot.
"Fate and fortune is in favor of our union and has set us on the path to parenthood not wanting to chance us being foolish enough to separate again. Our child has cemented this union."
Although Hermione thought Severus' sentiments to be very sweet, she could not resist responding with a bit of cheek. Reaching over to squeeze Severus' semi formed erection, she answered in a soft, throaty voice.
"Fate and fortune may be in our favor love, but I think it has more to do with your powerfully loaded cock and my very willing eggs than it does anything else."
Struggling to lower the zipper on Severus' trousers over his burgeoning erection, Hermione reached inside and pulled out the large, elongated piece of flesh. As she twisted herself so her mouth could reach him, Severus laid his head back against the couch letting out a soft, involuntary moan.
"My love," he moaned as Hermione fastened her lips around his now rigid cock. "My love. My love. My love." The words coming out in grunts as he moved his hips in time to Hermione's ministrations.
The soft sounds of oral sex being given and received permeated the room until with one loud groan Severus let loose the contents of his powerfully filled member into the mouth of his wife to be. He could only lie there and watch as Hermione swallowed the last of his seed and the rest which dribbled down her chin onto her chest.
In a weak sounding voice, Severus thanked Hermione as he gently removed her wisp of a nightdress then his clothes as well.
Kissing his liquids from Hermione's lips, a still trembling Severus turned her so he was between her legs. "You inflame me to the point I want to become a beast and take you in every way imaginable. I want to eat you. I want to suck every ounce of liquid from your exquisite love box. I want to thrust into you in the most base way possible giving you every inch of my manhood."
And he had.
After, Severus carried Hermione to their bed where they laid silently in each other's arms savoring their lovemaking until Hermione gave Severus a sticky kiss on the shoulder telling him she was going for a quick wash and a pee.
"I'll use the other bathroom because I need to take a pee as well. I'll clean the couch while I'm out there. Would you like juice or water?"
"I'll have some coconut water. I need strength."
Severus laughed at Hermione's comment and replied in kind. "Then it will be coconut water for me as well."
As they sipped their strength renewing coconut water, Hermione and Severus shared several loving, but non-sexual kisses before settling down to sleep.
/*/
By 8:30 pm, Noah and Ethan were convinced they knew the test materials inside and out.
Noah smiled at the echo that went through the shop when Ethan shouted. "We are ready for Hermione and the real test as well."
"Indeed we are mate," added Noah. "Indeed we are."
/**/
George and Angelina were scheduled to be away all day Friday leaving Lee in charge of the shop. His first inkling that the day might not go well was when the arsehole Ron stopped in for an early chat obviously aware George would be out for the day. It wasn't that Lee didn't like Ron. They had got along well enough at Hogwarts, but after Fred died, Ron thought he would be George's partner at WWW and that's when things had gotten sticky. To Lee, it didn't impact his life one way or another if he never ran across Ron. However, Ron was there, and in the process of pestering Verity along with throwing out sly remarks to him.
"Looking lovely Verity," Ron said, watching Lee out the corner of his eye. "It's a wonder no wizard has snapped you up."
Verity blushed bright red hurrying away to straighten things up in the adult section.
Ron kept pushing. "So, Verity. Are you interested in the brown paper items then? If you'd like, I can show you how they are used."
That was enough. Verity could be a nuisance, but she was his nuisance. Lee snapped at Ron. "If you can't keep a civil tongue in your head, leave."
Ron felt satisfied. He'd done what he intended to do. He'd gotten under Lee's skin. Verity would be the last witch with whom he'd do anything sexual. To him, she was only one step above a house elf. He just felt like fucking with Jordan.
"Leave?" He spat at Lee. "Don't speak to me as though I'm one of those tarts you chase around London. Where do you get the bollocks to tell me to leave my brother's shop? I'll stay as long as I like, and I'll say exactly what I like."
Lee wasn't stupid. Now that Ron had gotten off the subject of Verity and was throwing insults, he was in his element. However, before Lee could let loose with some stinging barb, a soft voice from across the room spoke up.
"First of all Ronald Weasley. This is a place of business not some pub in Knockturn Alley. George doesn't allow wizards to make sexual talk with me. I'm a lady and a proper clerk. If you don't have any proper business in this shop, be on your way, or I will let Lee tell you off."
It was Ron's turn to turn red. The witch he thought only a step above a house elf had just told him where to get off.
"Watch your mouth," Ron shouted. "The both of you think too much of yourselves. I'll…"
Lee who had been enjoying Verity's little rant sped from behind the counter. "You'll do what Ron? You're a blowhard now and have always been. You'd probably be dead along with Fred if not for Hermione and Harry protecting you, so don't come in here blowing bull shite. Go chase some wife beater or something. Now get out."
Ron was so furious, spittle was forming in the corners of his mouth, but he knew he'd overstepped. Arguing in George's shop would drive his brother spare. With an ugly eye roll first at Lee then at Verity, Ron opened the shop door with so much force it hit the wall. On the way out, he growled that both of them had better watch their mouths.
"Why?" Lee called out after Ron. "Or you'll watch them for us. As if. George will be sending you a bill for damages."
/*/
The little exchange with Ron had put Lee in a jaunty mood, but Verity brought him up short.
"Thank you for standing up for me, but you swore at Ron. You know Angelina doesn't want swearing in the shop."
For a second, Lee stared at Verity in disbelief. Then he grabbed her up in a big hug.
"You brave, little minx. You are very much a proper lady and proper clerk as well. George and I are very lucky to have you."
"I know that Lee," replied Verity as she smoothed out the apron she wore over her clothes. "If you'll excuse me, I have customers."
Lee didn't get a chance to do more than shake his head before he was approached by a wizard who quietly requested a few things from the private line.
/*/
Lee was in the far back where he was supposed to be packaging mail away orders but in reality was enjoying the flashes of Millie that kept darting through his head. Lee would have liked to get away to take Millie to lunch, but he was in charge for the day and Millie was off with Randy on an overnight mission to Scotland. It would be a lonely bed for him that night.
Pulling himself out of the reverie, Lee hastily finished putting the orders together before calling the shop delivery owl. He had then headed out front to relieve Verity who probably had to pee. The witch peed more than any other person he knew.
/*/
For Hermione and Severus, the sexual feelings from the previous night had carried over into their Friday workday. Although it was done surreptitiously for the most part, they had touched, caressed and even kissed several times before the clock reached 11:00 am. They had almost been caught in an overly loving embrace by Neville who had appeared in the doorway like a stealth tracker.
"Oi! Partner coming through," shouted Neville as he stepped through the door.
Hermione and Severus quickly stepped apart, each offering an apology for their untimely display of affection.
Waving his hand in the air, Neville made an apology of his own. "It's me who should be apologizing. I should at least clear my throat when approaching an area occupied by a loving, engaged couple. It could have been worse. I…."
"Thank you Neville, " Severus offered, cutting Neville off. "It's my fervent hope it will never come to that. Do you need to speak to me? If not, I'd like to go over our newest full and partial recipes."
"I have a question for Hermione."
"Alright then. I'll be in R&D."
/*/
Hermione apologized again for her and Severus' display of affection which Neville again waved aside.
"I know you'll be taking Noah and Ethan through their trial test shortly. If you don't need me for anything, I intend to follow up on what I feel is an unresolved issue."
Hermione paused for a moment. "I hate to put a damper on your plans, but I was hoping you'd be here to step out front if Allen needed assistance. You know what? Never mind. David is here. I'll ask him or Severus to pop out front. The testing shouldn't take more than ninety minutes, if that. Go do what you need to do. We'll be fine."
"Thank you. I'd like to get this little matter settled today. If I'm not back by 5:30, check the Ministry holding cells," Neville added with a wink. "I have several things to tidy up then I'll be on my way."
Hermione sat there holding back a laugh. Did the kindest, gentlest wizard she knew just admit he might do something ill advised? "Get back here safely and in one piece Mr. Longbottom, or the least of your worries will be MLE throwing you into a holding cell."
"Yes boss," Neville answered over his shoulder. In a much softer voice he muttered to himself. "Only if the asinine, little dolt is on his best behavior."
After a bit of lunch with David who agreed to keep an eye on the front, Hermione got all the testing materials together, and there was a ton of them. Looking over the materials, Hermione couldn't help but giggle over the fact the pile was reminiscent of her own OWLs study pile. Hermione thought she could hear Harry and Ron laughing at the size of it.
Relenting a bit, Hermione went through the pile pulling out pieces of parchment here and there thinking she might have gone a bit overboard. While the pile was still large when she was through culling, it was much smaller than before.
/*/
The testing went well. Noah and Ethan had done well. There were a few things each had stumbled on, but they left the conference room aware of where their weaknesses lay. Hermione was sure they would make short work of the official test on Saturday.
Back in her office, Hermione summoned a bottle of water from the little cooler Severus had installed. Closing her eyes as she sipped, thoughts of the wedding, their new home and the baby flit across her eyelids. Suddenly, vivid pictures of her parents were in front of her eyes and pregnancy hormones took over. Hot tears began to slip down her cheeks. Hermione had just lifted her wand to close and lock the door when David slipped in.
"Hermione. The front…." Then David realized what he was seeing and closed the door behind him. He was an old wizard who knew absolutely nothing about pregnant witches. What he did know was his superior wasn't one to cry in public. As fierce as he found Hermione, David doubted she cried at all. Until now. Unsure if he should summon Severus or a Medi-Wizard, David stepped closer.
"Are you in distress Hermione? Do you need assistance?"
A little bit ashamed to be seen in such a vulnerable state, Hermione tried to smile through the bloody tears which just kept coming. Gesturing for David to take a seat while dabbing at her eyes, Hermione assured him she was simply experiencing what was called in pregnancy, a hormonal shift, and it would pass.
"No worries David. Memories of my mum and dad snuck up on me. I suddenly realized that even though I have every good thing in life. I don't have them. They loved me so much. My mum practically had my life mapped out. She wasn't sure who my husband would be, but she was sure he'd be the absolute love of my life. I concur with her assessment, because I've found him. The downside is neither mum nor dad will ever see how happy Severus makes me. Forgive me David. I'm being silly. How can I help you?"
The shift in subject caught David unaware as he had drifted into Hermione's melancholy mood as well. He had to think for a second why he'd come to the office in the first place. Whatever it was could wait. He had thoughts on this subject.
"What I came for doesn't matter. What does matter is you need some familial support. To that end, I offer my services as an alternate father/grandfather, if you, and Severus of course, will have me. I know this may sound a bit awkward, but I invite you to ask my assistance for whatever you might need. I understand Harry Potter has agreed to walk you down the aisle and give you over to Severus, but if there is anything else, don't hesitate to approach me."
Hermione tried to smile, but more tears fell as she became overwhelmed by the generosity of this kind wizard.
"Thank you so much David. Everything is in order for the wedding. However, I look forward to you taking on some grandfatherly duties after the baby is born."
David was ecstatic. "I'd love that. I never had children of my own, so I'll never become a grandfather that way. Thank you for giving this old man something to look forward to." David stood. "I remember why I initially came to your door. I want to commend Allen on a job well done this afternoon. He's bright young man."
"I agree David. He's a valued member of staff. I've also heard rumblings you have plans for him. For the time being, I ask that you encourage Allen, but put those plans aside until we see where things go with Noah and Ethan. I don't think either man will leave SL&G to seek his fortune elsewhere, but I'd like to be sure. The shop cannot afford to be down three valued staff members at the same time. Two would be more than enough. Thanks so much for your counsel as well as the comfort you've extended. We'll talk."
"I understand about Allen. I'm sure he'll understand as well. The counsel and comfort were my pleasure. I'll be getting over to Florae."
/*/
Nothing had changed. Frank and Jean Granger still couldn't participate in her nuptials, or meet their son-in-law or grandchild, but Hermione's short talk with David had lessened the burden.
By the time Severus came upstairs, Hermione's bout of melancholy was long past, but that night she had cried again when explaining it all to Severus.
/*/
Late Friday evening, Randy and Millie were discussing the lack of progress in their case. They had solid evidence that the pair they were searching for definitely frequented the area. However, whether they had been warned or moved on to more fertile grounds, the pair hadn't made another appearance.
"Are we here just spinning our wheels?" Asked a disgusted Randy. "This is bull shite. If I wanted to spend hours at a time sitting immobile waiting for someone to appear, I'd have applied for a position in Library Services."
Millie gave her partner a skeptical look. "This is so not you Randy. Have a drink. Take a shower. Just do something other than grumble. You're beginning to sound like Anthony."
"That's bull shite," he huffed. "I'll never be as impatient as Anthony. I'd just rather be engaged in something useful."
"So would I," replied Millie who was running a clean cloth up and down her wand. "However, at this particular moment, being stationary is part of the mission."
Just as the last words came out of Millie's mouth, the tracker beams attached to their waists began to glow red, which meant one or both of their suspects were within tracking distance. Stowing her wand and jumping to her feet, Millie was two steps behind an energized Randy as they made their way to the door.
With a press of a button, Millie and Randy had the exact location of their subjects. Without hesitation, the two Aurors Apparated to the coordinates. It was time for action.
The coordinates brought Millie and Randy to a small, tidy looking cottage in a sparsely settled area where two witches had a third very pregnant witch who appeared to be under some spell surrounded. This was it. The only surprise was the villains were witches instead of wizards.
Stealing near term magical babies who would be sold for research or other foul reasons was despicable, and would end now. After a short reconnoiter, Millie and Randy burst through the door with a well placed Bombarda. One of the witches was apprehended quickly, but the other wanted a fight, which she lost. After a knockout blast from Millie's wand, the witch landed on her arse out cold on the floor.
The culprits were handed over to the Scottish authorities who had requested assistance from Harry. Medi-Wizards were called in for the pregnant witch who would have woken to find herself no longer pregnant as well.
Four hours later, after all the parchment work had been finalized and the two witches locked in a Scottish holding cell, Millie and Randy activated their Direct-To-Ministry portkeys. In no time at all they had landed in the bowels of the Ministry. It had taken another hour to write up the case notes and leave them on Harry's desk. After that, Millie and Randy were officially off duty until Monday morning.
/**/
It was after 7:00 am Saturday when a freshly showered, damp haired Millie slid into bed beside Lee. The chill of her body and dampness of her hair disturbed Lee which caused him to speak out in his sleep.
"Come on Verity. Not now."
Lee's words initially caught Millie off guard, but she had seen his heart. There was no way he was doing anything with Verity or anyone else. Millie was being rational, but was also afraid she might have misjudged her lover. Grabbing the robe she had thrown aside to cover her nudity, Millie wrapped it tightly around her as she padded to the living room couch.
Upset, and feeling a bit humiliated, Millie pulled the hastily conjured blanket up around her shoulders. She wasn't going to run this time. At least not until after she and Lee had a conversation.
Millie dropped off to sleep with visions of hexing both Lee and Verity floating through her head.
