"This is an interesting turn of events," Ginny laughed as she gestured to Draco and Harry talking in the sitting room.
From the kitchen, it seemed as if the Potter and Malfoy were talking about the children playing on the floor. It was the first time since Hermione's friendship with the Malfoys that Harry and Draco were speaking alone.
Astoria sighed and nodded. "This is wonderful. We should do this more when Hermione's baby gets here."
Ginny scowled and glared over at Hermione. "Aren't you surrogating for them?"
Hermione shook her head.
"You're pregnant? Hermione, you're pregnant with your baby!" Ginny screeched and shook the curly-haired witch.
Hermione winced as the wizards bustled to the counter. "What, what is it, Gin?" Harry puffed.
Draco looked to his wife and rolled his eyes. "You couldn't wait?"
"Not even close," Astoria smiled.
"This is real? You're having a baby?" Ginny asked.
Hermione groaned. "Yes, Gin. I found out at the appointment when they couldn't put their baby in me."
Harry's eyebrows sunk. "Does Severus know?"
"No, and he doesn't deserve to," Draco huffed. "He left her broken and in pieces because he can't stomach being a father."
Harry scrubbed his face and exhaled. "I told him to talk about it. Not send a bloody letter."
Hermione twitched her nose and waved a hand. "Alright, but that is here nor there. I don't need him crawling back and resenting me for it. So, mums the word. Each of us knows how this works. If he felt he had to do the honorable thing, he would, in essence, turn into the monster he's so afraid of. I don't care if I'm raising his child without him. It is his loss, and I'm sorry for him for it."
Harry breathed and nodded. "Alright, Hermione. This will resume after you get closer to the due date. He's the father and at least should be supplying support of some sort."
Hermione rocked her head. "That is a fair and reasonable compromise. At this moment in time, I can't handle him rushing forth with his guilt and sorrow. I have plenty of work and effort to put in for this child in my stomach."
Ginny rubbed Hermione's shoulder. "We can maybe see if you can stay with Mum?"
"No," Draco snapped and then straightened his form. "No," he said more calmly at his wife's glare. "Granger is going to stay with us. We had planned for it, and she'll be at school until the Spring holiday anyway. Then after my mother finishes renovations on the guest quarters down the stairs, she can stay with us when the baby gets here."
Harry blinked and glanced at Draco. "Really?"
"Yes, Potter, really," Draco huffed. "She was willing to have a baby for us. She's having a damn Slytherin, and I'll be bloody damned if she doesn't get help raising that selfish prat's child."
"Is there a different way to raise a Slytherin? Do you all grow scales at night?" Ginny teased with a smile.
Draco glanced at his wife with annoyance. "No, Potter, we don't. However, Gryffindors are loud, busy creatures, and Slytherins are a bit more," he paused and sighed.
"Introverted," Hermione smiled.
Draco nodded. "Yes, and if that bugger is anything like its parents, then she'll need our help to raise it."
"Harry, before you get offended," Hermione held up her finger at his scowl. "He means that they want to help me because Severus is a pain in the arse. I know I've dealt with him at Hogwarts for years, and he was quite a handful as a partner as well."
"You'll still bring the baby around all the time," Ginny insisted.
"And Molly will be furious if you don't go to the Burrow," Harry added.
"I have made that a real consideration. I sent a discreet letter to Minerva explaining the situation. When the baby comes, I am taking time off for it. After this year ends at Hogwarts, I won't return for a few," Hermione declared.
"This is insanity, Hermione," Harry groaned. "He needs to be told!"
"No, he doesn't," Astoria retorted. "He lost the right to walk back into her life while she's pregnant with his child he unknowingly abandoned. Severus Snape has to earn the right to her loyalty and love again, and we're going to make him grovel before she is whisked away on one of his ridiculous obsessions."
"I understand what you're saying, Astoria," Ginny agreed. "He got afraid and did his Snape thing of disappearing and should show more than just remorse for leaving instead of trusting his partner with his fears."
"Exactly," Hermione said with a nod. "I love him, but I love me more. I have to now I'm going to be a mother."
Astoria beamed and rubbed Hermione's free shoulder. "Yes, Hermione, you have to."
"It will give me time to write my book," Hermione nodded.
"You're writing a book?" Harry questioned.
Hermione's lips curled as her hair bounced in agreement. "I started this week. It's going to be Madame Wordsmith's best yet."
Astoria turned bright red and covered her mouth. "You! Your, what!"
"Calm down, darling," Draco winced. "Remember what the healers told you."
"Hermione, we spent months talking about her entries, and you didn't once tell me you were her!" Astoria huffed and crossed her arms.
"We all have secrets," Hermione beamed.
"Oh, my mother is going just about to die," Draco rolled his eyes. "How did you not know it was her, Astoria? I knew it after the fifth publication."
"What? How?" Hermione scowled.
Draco smirked and tossed a couple of fingers in the air with leisure. "You used the words foul, loathsome, and evil to describe the hatred of man. Not hard to sum up."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Still wounded from that, Malfoy?" She smirked.
"Always, Granger. That stung," He smiled.
Astoria reached over and smacked Draco playfully on the face. "You didn't tell me!"
Draco grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. "I enjoyed your intrigue, my love."
Harry breathed and pressed his hand to Draco's shoulder. "Okay, how's about a drink? We have plenty to go through. She's not easy to live with either."
Draco nodded with the hint of a smirk. "I can imagine, Potter."
"Alright, you wonderful witches go settle in the sitting room. I'm going to finish my pies, and we'll eat," Ginny declared as she opened the oven.
The fragrance invaded Hermione's nose, and she winced and gagged. "On that note, I need to use the loo," she said and covered her mouth before racing off toward the bathroom.
Astoria grimace. "I don't miss that."
"It got easier with Albus. I'm hoping the same for this one. I've been fortunate thus far," Ginny laughed and sighed. "Thank you for taking care of her, Astoria."
"We always will, Ginny. She's willing to give us her friendship at no cost. The least we could do is care for her in her hour of need."
Ginny rocked her head as she set out the pies. "Yes, well, it makes a difference. You both are always welcome in our home, and I'm making positive you're welcome at parties. Mum doesn't need to know why, but she should be extending a hand to you both regardless."
"Thank you. I think," Astoria paused and glanced out at Draco and Harry on the sofa. "I think this is the best thing that could have happened. It made our family grow without another child," Astoria beamed and nodded. "Can I help you?"
"No, go ahead and relax. They need to cool for some time. I best find some crackers for Hermione too. It sounds like she's in for a difficult night."
Astoria laughed and wandered into the sitting room. It was a pleasant night between friends. The growth of a new framework of family.
Severus woke up gasping and rolled his eyes in the back of his head while rubbing his chest. She was drowning in an icy lake, and he couldn't reach her. He rolled over and caressed the pillow resting next to him, drawing the essence of its scent to his nose. It still smelt like her. Her sweat, her shampoo, her.
The roaring turbulent storm of his emotions since his mother's death anniversary had been strange and confusing. Severus desired her, but not to fuck, covet, or protect. Just her, here. He wanted to apologize and tell her about his mother. About how even as difficult of a woman as she was, she loved him and taught him well.
She had taught him about the use of language, and it's design. His mother held high regard for muggle literature because it gave you an insight into the differences magic makes in our lives. Eileen Prince nee Snape was obsessed with operas. Music was her delight, and she forced Severus into piano lessons as a young child to learn the structure of it.
If his father didn't find out about magic, likely he would have been a decent man. He held that grudge against him and his mother until his dying breath. It started as a dull roar of disdain. His wife held secrets. He believed he was tricked into marrying her. That was when the drinking started, and it was his first memories of his loss of innocence while watching his mother beaten to a pulp over the accusation.
Did he love his father? Part of him did. The part you try and forgive yourself for feeling it after the abuse had taken place. Like a whipped dog, he was compliant as he could be as a child. Often, disappearing into the fields to hide when they were screaming at each other.
Severus hadn't realized the tears that fell until they splattered her pillow. He rarely cried, but in the last few months, he had been brimming with tears of despair, shame, and sadness. He couldn't recall at any point in his life where he loved someone as deeply as her.
The knock at his door caused him to scowl and sit up. Two people were allowed through his wards. Harry and Hermione. Reaching for his shirt, he slid it on over his shoulders and bent for his sweats. Severus walked from the bedroom and down the hallway to the staircase. After he descended, he noted dark hair in the window of the door, and his mood soured.
Severus opened the door to see Harry with a pink box. "Good morning, Severus. I brought donuts."
"Donuts? Harry, it is awfully early," Severus grumbled.
"I know, for a good reason," Harry nodded and shuffled toward his kitchen.
Severus groaned and followed with reluctance and disappointment. Of course, she wouldn't come to see him. He was the one to hurt her, not vice versa.
"What can I assist you with?" Severus questioned.
"For starters, Severus. You can get the fuck up and stop sulking," Harry said in the same chipper tone.
Severus crossed his arms. "I was not sulking."
"You are, and it's bloody unattractive, mate. You're going to eat some of these donuts, we're going to chat, and then you're going to go out shopping with Draco and me today. He's never been to a muggle mall, and you need to get out of your house."
"Why would I need to go to a mall?" Severus hissed.
"To buy clothes that aren't Hogwarts robes. To fix up this bloody house, so it's not a tomb. To actually start getting your life together. Hermione won't wait forever, and you have to get your shit in order."
Severus puffed and glared. "She isn't waiting."
"She's going to wait for as long as you make her. As her pseudo brother and your sort of nephew, I'm making a call here. When this is all over, if you haven't proven you can be the man she needs, she'll make you stay as far away from her as possible. A permanent end for a couple, I actually supported one-hundred percent, not just ninety-eight." Harry handed him a plate and nodded.
Severus stared down at the bright sprinkles and sneered. "They look disgusting."
"Eat them. I'm going to make tea, and we're going to talk. I want to know why you refused to be a father: the whole bloody story, Severus. If you won't tell her, you need to tell me. Someone has to help you get beyond this so you can be happy. If you don't find happiness, she'll never be with another man. That I can promise you. You've imprinted so deeply. She won't ever let you go."
"This is ridiculous," Severus hissed and slumped on a chair.
"No," Harry paused as he set his plate on the table. "This is family, Severus. Get bloody used to it."