Severus sat at his desk and read the latest entry from Madame Wordsmith. He snagged up the cigarette and puffed as he lived the heartbreak of Gaia's scorched earth. Helios had left her after burning her with his potent love. She was trekking the reaches of the world in search of water and love before the Solstice.
It was utterly heartbreaking. Severus relaxed in his chair and stared at the entry with misery. She would get through this, and the winter holiday would be the perfect time for her to do so. Him, well, not so much. He snuffed out the smoke and snatched up the snippet before setting it in his bag.
The book sitting there caused him to pause. How many times would he read it now? He wished his pining would stop as his finger traced the 'J' in the title. His very own imagery would have to suffice. Not the fantasies of her animating the voices and smiling at him from across the bed. His little Jane.
Did she do it to make a statement from the beginning? He had read the book so many times, but here her copy was, sitting on his desk around reminders of her. So many things reminded him of what they could have had if he wasn't so wrong for her.
He had to get out. Severus knew he would turn to darker measures if he didn't race from these feelings soon. He craned his head around to see if he was missing anything and breathed. A week away would do him kindly.
There was a knock at his quarters' door, and he scowled before approaching. When the barrier was open, Minerva walked inside and hummed. "Oh, Severus, were you planning on leaving?" she asked.
"Please, do come in," he grumbled and set the bag down by the door.
"Thank you," she pipped. "This place has seen better days," she mused before removing crumpled parchment from the sofa and sitting.
"I planned on taking care of it when I returned," Severus said.
"Seeing as you no longer need the holiday, I was hoping you would stay on. Professor Granger insisted on taking the full time away, and I will be short-staffed."
"I need a week away, Minerva. You know that," Severus puffed.
Minerva thinned her lips in the way Severus despised. Whatever she was going to say was curt. "I don't see why you need the time so desperately. You haven't the complications you had before."
"I have obligations to see to," Severus hissed.
Minerva hummed and set down paperwork. "Yes, as I've noticed. Do you know what this is?"
"What?" Severus huffed.
"It is Professor Granger's notice. It seems our Minister had granted her the disavowment requested by you, post-haste, and she is now assigned. The regulations of surrogacy are quite thorough through the ministry as it seems."
Severus's jaw locked as he crossed his arms. "And why is this my business?"
"I'm curious if you mind preparing her the potions needed on these guidelines. I can leave them for you, so they're prepared for her return."
His lips thinned before he spoke. "Consider it done."
Minerva dropped her defensive posture and trailed the page with her finger. "Why didn't you stay with her, Severus?" Her voice had a ping of sadness.
"So she could be free, Minerva. I cannot be the father she wishes for her children," Severus confessed as he released his arms from their hold. "I shall return in a week."
Minerva stood and snatched up the paper before handing it to him. "You let her do this, and she'll never open that door again."
"That door was closed the minute I revealed my genetic deficit," Snape mumbled and nodded. "I will have them at the ready when she returns."
Hermione was relaxing with Draco and Astoria as they just finished talking about the appointment. The procedure was simple, and to satisfy Lucius, she was not going to be providing the genetic half of his grandchild. They had a safe way for Astoria to be the participant.
"I have to say, Granger, this is mental," Draco laughed.
Astoria was stroking Scorpius's hair as he flipped through a picture book. "It is truly kind."
Narcissa came into the sitting room, noted Hermione, and her eyes lit up. "Ah, yes, Miss Granger. I do have some things I need you to take with you," she said.
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Mrs. Malfoy, I don't need anything."
"Oh, no, it's just a few things I've procured for comfort," She nodded before setting down the gowns on the sofa near her. "The darker greens are enchanted for glamour, as not to announce the child in front of the students. The softer ones are for comfort."
Hermione's cheeks darkened, and she rocked her head dumbly. "Thank you."
"Mother, she's not even pregnant yet," Draco huffed. "Can you give the witch a chance to settle in?"
"She's been very decent to you both, show some respect, Draco," Narcissa huffed. "If you need anything else, I have a tailor who specializes in them."
"Alright," Hermione blushed.
Narcissa nodded, and the door announced a visitor. "Oh, that's Severus. Have a wonderful afternoon," Narcissa declared and walked from the room.
"At least my mother's way of gratitude is better than my fathers," Draco mumbled and rolled his eyes.
"Afternoon, Narcissa," His deep baritone voice filled the hall.
Hermione felt her stomach churning as she tucked her face around her curls. Her fingers caressed her belly, willing it to stop. Even after the weeks of tormented heartbreak, she still missed him desperately. What was he doing here?
"Don't bother with him, Granger," Draco waved. "He's a bloody coward."
Hermione gnawed on her lip and rocked her head.
Astoria tutted as she rolled her eyes. "Incredibly indecent of him if I don't say so myself."
"Good afternoon," the deep tone announced his arrival.
"Aren't you feeling brazen for a Slytherin? If you don't mind, we are finishing a meeting with our surrogate," Draco snapped.
Hermione closed her eyes and wished herself invisible.
"My apologies, I only wished to be polite," Severus voiced.
"Come along, Severus. We have things to do! Plenty of herbs to collect," Narcissa demanded from the hall.
He muttered a farewell, and the footsteps faded toward the doorway. Hermione opened her eyes to see the bane of her heart. He shifted in his robes and glanced back to meet her gaze as he turned to follow Narcissa. It was the vision of pity on his face that nearly wrenched her to the ground.
He was gone in a stride, and Hermione released a teardrop from her eye. Even after the time between them, he still broke her heart. No longer did he sit next to her at the Dining Room table, and no longer did he write to Madame Wordsmith. He was smoke through her fingers.
"What a pox," Draco growled. "Hermione, don't you dare let that bloody wizard break you. He's a bloody coward. If I can learn to be a better father than my own, so could he have."
"The disappointment I have, Draco, is he didn't want to for me," Hermione murmured and batted away the tear. "Let's talk about the appointment tomorrow, shall we?"
The similarities and differences between wizards and muggles are vast, but there was one that felt the same. Hermione was sitting on the cot and twitching her nose, waiting for the healer to arrive. The gown was loose, and breakfast wasn't sitting well with her. The smell of the room, or absence of scent, she should note, was awful.
Alone, in a room, waiting to be basted for her friend's baby. At least she was doing them a service. It would be worth it and might be better for her in the long run. She could have an easier time when she wanted to have children of her own. Possibly. One day.
She fiddled her thumbs and breathed. What was taking so long?
The door opened. "Alright, deary, let's give you a good check before we start. My name is Dorthea, and I'll be assisting with the gift you're giving the lovely couple," the healer in teal nodded.
Hermione pinched her lips together and nodded. There was no going back after this. With the number of potions soon to be in her regime, there was next to zero chance it wouldn't work. Dorthea flicked away and hummed a pleasant song as she collected information on Hermione's vitals.
It was a standard run through and the healer coaxed Hermione to lay down. "Just a few more things, deary. Relax and breathe," she smiled.
Hermione breathed and gagged before sitting up. "Let me just have some water? I'm a bit nervous, and my stomach is bouncing."
The stout healer witch nodded and retrieved the cup. "It's alright to be nervous. You're doing a courageous and wonderful thing! We need more witches like you in this world to help their friends in need."
Hermione just rocked her head before gulping the water. "Thank you for your kindness," Hermione sighed and handed the glass back.
Dorthea returned to humming and smiled as she helped Hermione rest back on the cot. "Now, you just breathe and think of wonderful things. You're going to feel some warmth from the spell, but it won't hurt you. I just need to check if everything is alright."
Hermione read over the notations of the procedure last night and knew about the possible tingle in her more private region as well. At least the healer was pleasant and gentle. She obviously loved her job, or she wouldn't be smiling as she traced her wand over Hermione's abdomen.
"Deary," Dorthea murmured. "Have you done this before?"
Hermione shook her head.
The healer scowled and wandered over to the counter and read through Hermione's file. What was wrong? Did she do something she shouldn't have?
"Now, if you don't mind, deary, I'm going to bring in one more healer. She needs to double-check everything. It's vital that we do this because we only get the single chance," Dorthea beamed and walked to the door.
"Did I not do something correctly?"
Dorthea laughed and shook her head. "Of course not. Now let me just bring in Sandra."
When she left, Hermione slumped and whimpered. Did she really want to do this? Hermione didn't have a choice, right? It was challenging and caused her to run her fingers over her abdomen. She wished Severus was here. His soothing voice to bring her from her anxiety and calm her nerves. When did she become so dependent?
Soon the door cracked, and Dorthea walked inside with a tall greying witch in teal. "This is Sandra, and she's going to look you over."
"Miss Granger, how are you feeling today?" Sandra questioned as she looked over Hermione's file.
"A bit queasy but that's pretty standard I think when you're about to do something this monumental," Hermione sighed and sat up.
Sandra hummed and moved to the stool. "And your disavowment took place how many weeks ago?"
"Six," Hermione sighed.
"Were you intimate before your parting?" Sandra asked.
"It's in my chart, I was, but I've had a cycle since. The healer told me that getting off fertility potions causes a bit of change," Hermione explained.
Sandra nodded with a smile and set down the file. "Alright, let's have a look at you."
Hermione let her do the exam of her upper torso before lying back. Sandra was more meticulous and firm than Dorthea. She made no sound and flicked her wand with a staunch wrist. When the tip touched her abdomen, Hermione breathed and shoved down the instinct to squirm at the odd feeling.
"You see," Dorthea whispered.
"I do," Sandra sighed. "Alright, Miss Granger, you can sit," Sandra said and pulled away before setting herself down on the stool.
Hermione rose from the cot and scowled. "Is something the matter? I thought the procedure was simple."
Sandra twitched her nose and breathed. "Miss Granger, the procedure can't take place."
Hermione winced and rubbed her arm. "Is it because I can't hold children?"
"No, deary, of course not," Dorthea sighed.
"Then why can't it take place?"
Sandra thinned her lips and gestured to Hermione. "Miss Granger, it appears you're already pregnant."
Hermione almost fainted. What. The. Bloody. Fuck.
Author Notes: Come on, you saw it coming! If you didn't, well, hope that was a fun reveal!