Insufferable Attraction
SeverusxHermione
Rated NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Insufferable Attraction
Chapter 31
After being discharged from St. Mungo's, Severus took Hermione home to Prince Manor, ignoring the Daily Prophet reporters that were lurking around and asking questions for their articles. Shielding his wife from the cameras and many questions thrown their way, Severus simply told them 'no comment' and kept it moving, holding the brunette closely to him as they went. Thought it seemed to take forever, they finally made it to their home. Entering the manor, they were greeted by Inka, and then by the Grangers upon them reaching the staircase.
"Hermione!" Jean exclaimed upon seeing her daughter. She rushed to her and took her into her arms in a hug saying, "I'm so glad you are alright!"
Robert joined in on the hug saying, "You had us so worried, ladybug. But you've always been a fighter, I knew you would pull through."
Hermione returned their hugs and replied softly, "Hi mum, hi dad."
Pulling away, Robert asked, "So what did the doctor say? You'll make a full recovery? No lasting issues from that curse that boy used?"
Severus watched his wife look up at her father, then turn her gaze to her mother. She opened her mouth to speak, only to close it as a broken expression appeared on her face and tears filled her eyes. Closing them, she shook her head and quickly left, hurrying up the stairs, presumably to their bedroom.
"Hermione!" Jean called after her, alarmed at her daughter's reaction to her husband's question. Turning to her daughter's husband, she asked, "Severus, what happened?"
Severus glanced towards the staircase where his wife disappeared before turning back to his in-laws. Taking a deep, almost shuddering breath, he answered, "We found out that the curse did more damage than we thought. It…it has damaged her womb and we were told that she may never be able to carry a child, or at least carry one to full term."
Jean gasped in shock, her hands flying up to cover her mouth, eyes wide. Robert looked just as shocked before asking, "Were they sure?"
"Positive."
"Oh, my darling!" Jean cried before running up the stairs behind her daughter, intent on finding her and comforting her.
Robert turned back to his son-in-law, taking notice that the man looked not only saddened by the obviously devastating news, but that he also seemed to have an air of guilt around him. What would Severus have to be guilty over? And did it concern Hermione? Stepping up to him, he placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Severus, is there something else?"
Severus looked up at Robert, looking into the brown eyes that his wife had inherited, seeing nothing but concern and care in them. Looking his father-in-law in the eye, he told him that the curse Weasley had used on Hermione was one that he himself had created. He explained to him why he had originally made it, but that he had never meant for it to be used by another person. He went on to explain how the curse had come to be known by someone other than him and how it was possible for Weasley to have used it on him, only for Hermione to take the hit. And as he explained himself, he felt as if he was sinking deeper and deeper into a pit in the ground, especially when Robert's facial expression did not change once.
Once he was done talking, he said, "I'm sorry. I take full responsibility for the curse that harmed Hermione. I hope you can forgive me for it, because if I had never invented that curse, it would never have been used against me, nor would Hermione have been hurt with it saving me. I wasn't worth it, and she shouldn't have to suffer for it."
The Granger patriarch said nothing in response, just continued to look at the wizard in front of him. He eventually looked off to the side, his hands on his hips as he took in what Severus had said to him. Severus was about to ask him what he thought, only to be caught by surprise by the right hook Hermione's father threw at him. With the other man's fist connecting with his jaw, Severus stumbled back but caught himself, looking back at him with wide black eyes. He expected Robert to punch him again when the man stepped up to him, but was surprised when instead he hugged him saying, "Sorry, but I had to. That punch was for my own benefit, but it does not mean that I hate you. And I don't blame you for what happened to my ladybug either; I was just angry hearing you made the curse that boy used. Even so, you aren't to blame for what happened. You care for my daughter Severus, I know you do. And I also know that no matter what, you will make things right. You will even try to find a way to reverse the damage done, I know you will. I still care for you Severus, and Jean will too when she hears about this. You are our son now, you are our family, and we stick together through the tough times. And no matter what, I believe in you, as does Jean and Hermione."
Severus wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't had such fatherly affection and heartfelt words in…well, forever. He wasn't sure how to react to this, but he did acknowledge that Robert's words warmed his heart, especially when he called him their family, that he was a son to them now. Slowly nodding, he allowed for Robert to let go of him before saying, "I will, I'll find a way to heal Hermione. And don't apologize for punching me, I deserved it."
Without saying anything else, he turned to head up the stairs as well, wanting to go be with his wife, ignoring Robert's eyes on him as he went. Despite being punched, Severus felt a bit better after his talk with his father-in-law. And now he needed to check up on Hermione.
Hermione allowed her mother to comfort her as she laid in hers and Severus' bed, her tears having subsided for the moment. Her eyes, tired as they were from crying, were closed while her mother lightly stroked her curls, humming softly as she did to calm her. Her eyes did open though when she heard the door open, prompting her to turn over towards the doorway. Brown eyes landed on her husband, Severus stepping into their bedroom and looking at her in return.
Jean, immediately seeing that Severus wanted some private time with her daughter, gave Hermione a kiss on the cheek with the promise to see her later before leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Silence flowed between the married couple as they looked at each other before Severus moved towards the bed, climbing onto it to sit next to the brunette. Hermione looked up at him, searching his face and eyes for any indication of what he was feeling.
He said nothing, his face not betraying what he was thinking, nor were his eyes. However, his eyes soon shone with love—at least she thought it was, or maybe it was care—and a small smile graced his lips. Lifting a pale hand, he pushed a curl behind her ear before softly saying, "It will be alright."
They were such simple words, words that were said every day for whatever situation. And yet, those same words caused tears to well up in her eyes and spill over onto her cheeks. A sob escaped her throat as she leant into her husband, holding him tightly as she cried, her face buried in his neck as he wrapped his own arms around her, hugging her to him while her painfilled sobs filled the room. He shushed her soothingly and rubbed her back, all the while promising her that he would make things better, that he would fix it. Hermione had no doubt that he would do everything in his power to try to fix their situation and trusted that he would. But for the time being, all she wanted to do was cry while the news of her possibly never having children was still fresh. She'd probably cry all week about it, especially because the reason her and Severus were together in the first place was because of the Bloodline Restoration Act, but that didn't matter to her anymore. She was expected to have children because of the B.R.A., but now she realized that she wanted them with her husband because she loved him, because she wanted to have his children. And now being told she might never be able to was a devastating blow. So yes, if she wanted to cry about it for as long as possible, she could and would. Even so, she knew Severus would try and reverse what Ron had done. But for now, he was holding her while she cried, and she was grateful to have him with her, holding onto him like a lifeline.
Christmas had come and gone, Severus and Hermione having celebrated it with the Grangers, the yuletide mood lifting Hermione's spirits enough to celebrate. Of course, her parents did have to return to Australia, but promised they would see her again in the new year soon. The rest of the holidays passed by, Severus and Hermione settling back into their routines. Hermione had recovered well from her attack, Severus making sure she was taking the proper potions to help aid her healing process. Despite that terrible setback in their lives, things continued to move forward and so did they.
Hermione, wanting to do something productive in her life, as well as to take her mind off of her B.R.A. problem, she decided to take up an internship position in the Ministry of Magic within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She had always been passionate about creature rights—despite her failed organization, Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare back in Fourth Year—and thought this was perfect for her to help make a difference. And she was quite excited to have an intern position in the Being Division. Here she would be able to work with the goblins and House Elves, but she also wanted to work on reinstating the dissolved Werewolf Support Services. And if she could get in a word with Kingsley, she believed she could do it. Werewolves needed all the help and support they could get and wanted to help them despite what most of the public thought. They were people too, just like her and every other person. That, and she also thought it to be a good way to honor Professor Lupin.
While she was busy with that, Severus was busy with his potions. He was filling out orders and brewing all day every day but was also trying to figure if he could somehow reverse the damage to Hermione's womb. A potion could do the trick, if only he could find the right one. Or better, modify one that would work wonders. Also, he wanted to do so before the B.R.A. caught wind of their current situation, especially considering he and his wife had been in the Daily Prophet more than they would have cared for.
One morning, while looking through his many notebooks, he stopped coming across an entry he had made just a couple of months ago. Black eyes widened as they read the contents of the place before saying, "That's it. That's it, I already have the answer."
Standing from his stool, he went to his shelf of prepared potions and quickly looked over them—he had made a lot of potions over the past couple of months—before his eyes finally settled on one. Grabbing it off the shelf, he looked at the phial in his hand, staring at the multicolored potion. This was his modified Fertility Potion, the one he made for his client around the time he first married his wife. This! This was the answer to their dilemma!
Taking it back to his desk and sitting back down, he turned to a new page in his notebook and took his quill, beginning to write. He could use this potion, though it wouldn't work as is. He had modified it already to increase pregnancy chances, as well as stop miscarriages. But what if he could modify it more to have it not only do what it was designed to do, but also heal any damage to a woman's womb? He'd have to do some studying, as well as prepare for numerous trials and errors, but he would get it done. He needed to do this; he needed to do this for Hermione. He loved her and wanted to make her happy, and he had seen just how much of a blow the Healer's news had been to her. Therefore, it was his duty to make her happy again, and he knew this revelation would.
A knock on the Potions lab door caught his attention, soon followed by the muffled sound of Hermione's voice calling, "Severus?"
Severus smiled and called back, "Enter."
Hermione opened the door and peered inside, a smile on her face as she greeted, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Severus replied as his wife moved to stand next to him.
Giving him a kiss on the cheek, Hermione asked, "Aren't you coming to breakfast? Inka and the other House Elves have made quite the spread."
"In a moment, don't worry. But look at this." He showed her his original notes for his modified Fertility Potion. "Remember when you asked me about this?"
The brunette looked over the notes before looking at the phial on the desk, instantly recognizing the rainbow-colored potion. "Oh yes, you were telling me about this the night that we consummated our vows."
Nodding, Severus said, "Right. Well, I've just remembered about it and looking it over, I think that I-"
Inka suddenly popped into the Potions lab next to her Master and Mistress, an anxious expression on her face. In one little hand, she held an official looking letter, while the other hand was bunching and twisting the pillowcase she was wearing. Holding out the note towards them, she said, "Inka sorry to disturb Master and Mistress. Official notice from Ministry for Master Severus."
Severus took the letter from the little House Elf, opening it and reading it over. As he did, Hermione watched as his eyebrows furrowed until her husband was frowning. Suddenly feeling worried, she asked, "What is it?"
"The B.R.A."
"What do they want?"
"Apparently, I've been summoned by them and am expected to see them immediately."
Hermione followed her husband out of his lab, walking him to the foyer of their home to exit Prince Manor. As he grabbed his cloak to put on, she couldn't help but ask, "What do you think they want? And why didn't they ask me to come as well?"
The Potions Master shook his head answering, "I have a feeling as to why. And truthfully, if I am right about why I have been summoned, I'd rather you not be there."
Nodding Hermione nodded and gave her husband a quick kiss before seeing him out. As the front door closed behind him, Hermione felt her stomach twist up inside of her.
Severus knocked on the door of the office of the Minister of Magic's Office and waited until he could enter. Hearing Kingsley's voice say to enter, Severus stepped inside and halted seeing all the B.R.A. representatives. All of them, including Kingsley, had grave expressions on their faces as they turned to look at him.
"Lord Prince, glad to see you could make it," one representative said.
"What is this about?" Severus asked.
"It seems we have heard some rather interesting news about Lady Prince," another representative spoke. "And because of what we know, it has raised some concern, concern that I'm sure you are aware of."
Yes, the terrible feeling in his stomach that he had felt while reading the summoning letter returned with full force. Whatever this meeting was about, he wasn't going to like it.
