Chapter 3
Hermione came home after yet another very long day in another long week. The clinics were a big hit. In fact it was too much. There were more witches and wizards in need than they had appointments open. It worried her. These people were in pain and she didn't want to let them down or turn them away. The need was so great they would have to open more clinics as soon as the classes the next batch of healers were taking were complete. She even thought to sit in on a few herself so she could be an extra hand.
Hermione had given her notes about Lisa to Luna. Her story would be published in two weeks along with the pictures. Ever since she had seen the beautiful roses on Lisa, she began to think of doing the same thing on her arm. The word was there permanent. She had tried everything to remove it. Even Severus had tried with every potion he could think of and a few he'd invented just for her. Nothing worked. Hermione was torn between covering it and celebrating it. The scar in a way, was a mark of her strength, her endurance, and a heritage she would always be proud of. But it was also a horrible word that scarred not only her arm, but her soul. She did not live in the muggle world and she still felt a need to hide it in magical company. If she could make it bloom like Lisa had, maybe it could be both.
She dropped her satchel on the coffee table just as Severus came out of the bedroom. One look at her face told him all he needed to know. She was so worn out and pale. "Hey, you need a hug." He scooped her up in his arms and gently planted kisses on her face. He was reminded of her being sick almost every morning. "You sit and rest, I'll make dinner."
Hermione looked up at him grateful. "I'm not hungry really. Just some sandwiches would be fine. Do we have any ham left?"
Severus smiled and agreed. "You put your feet up and rest and I'll be right back."
He went to the kitchen and by the time he came back she was asleep on the couch. He hated to wake her to eat, but she needed to keep her strength up.
He sat the tray on the coffee table and picked up her legs to lay them on his lap. She opened one eye and sniffed the air. Grilled ham and cheese with carrot curls, two glasses of milk and some grapes. Milk?
"That smells wonderful love. How did I get so lucky?" Hermione groaned as he started to rub her feet.
"Funny, that's what I keep saying. You better dig in before the cheese cools off."
She closed her eyes and stretched. Letting him finish that foot. Hermione picked up one of the plates and began with the sandwich. A little brown sugar and cinnamon between the ham and the cheese made it taste like Christmas leftovers. She was hungrier than she thought and finished in record time. She picked up the glass of milk. It was cold and comforting and washed the whole thing down perfectly. She wondered what made him think of it. Normally they had wine with dinner.
oopOqoo
Hermione received a letter from Lisa saying she was willing to help in the evenings for a few hours. Because Lisa hadn't gotten any training yet she would just be a volunteer there to help the other healers. In time Hermione knew Lisa would take the courses. With her family gone she had so much love to give and that would be the perfect spot for it.
As expected after the first two weeks another letter arrived to tell Hermione how much she enjoyed helping people through their pain. Lisa spoke mostly of a small dark-haired boy of six, Robert Lee, who was brought in by the matron of an orphanage. The boy had lost everything in one terrible night, mother, father, sister. He survived that night only because he was too small to be seen hiding in the backyard shed as his home burned to the ground.
When he first arrived at the orphans home he cried constantly for his parents, but after a while he seemed to settle in with the other children. As Robert got older he began to understand that his life would never be the same. He steadily grew depressed and solitary. He would not interact with the others and didn't eat unless bullied. Now he was near catatonic. Would not speak or acknowledge anyone. Just stared into space. He was losing weight from not eating, Matron Irene, was frightened he too would perish.
Lisa had started off slowly. Just gently talking to the boy not needing any response. His development was definitely stunted, but she was sure if she could reach him he would recover. As just a volunteer she had no real duties, so she stayed with the boy for hours at the home and held him as she read a story. Rocking him gently, stroking his hair, or singing a soft lullaby. Slowly he began to respond, a sigh, a look, a whimper. Lisa gently probed his mind for his memories. It was difficult to watch what had happened on that terrible day, but she managed to go beyond it and bring out happier memories with his family. Soon the better memories won out and he began to talk. Lisa would ask him about his family and the many things they did together. About his sister and his friends. His favorite toys. He reminded her so much of herself after the attack. She poured all the love she could into him and he began to call her Isa and return that love.
Robert was doing well at the home mostly. Matron Irene had managed to keep him talking, but at night the fear and despair returned in the form of nightmares. She would rush in and try to comfort him. He would cry himself to sleep again in her arms. Irene asked Lisa for help, so she spent a few nights with him. When the nightmares came, she asked Robert if he would tell her about them. He tried as only a boy of six could, who didn't understand why it had happened. The more he talked the less afraid he seemed to be. Lisa assured him that the bad men were gone and would never come back. That she, Matron, and his fuzzy bear would always be there to protect him. He missed his family so much, but there is nothing to ease that pain but time.
oopOqoo
Hermione was working too hard. Twelve hour shifts between the ministry and the clinics. Then come home to another 2 or 3 hours of paperwork and organizing. It was starting to show in her face, on her body. She was often sick in the mornings after sleeping on the couch trying not to disturb Severus. He would wake alone to the now familiar sounds coming from the bathroom.
They had fought over her slowing down or hiring an assistant, but she said the ministry was spending so much on everything already. They needed every cent to keep them going. Her weekends were spent lending a hand at the clinics. She would come home and collapse from the strain, sleeping for long stretches when she could. This left no time for Severus. He understood and supported her passion to help the people who needed it, but their relationship was suffering. She kept telling him it was only temporary until the demand slowed down. He begged her to see a doctor, but she refused, saying It was just the stress and she simply didn't have time.
One day at a clinic she fainted. They called Severus to St Mungos. When he arrived the doctor met him in the hallway by her room. "It's not serious. She's dehydrated and malnourished. Her stress levels are unhealthy for a woman in her condition." Severus looked confused. "You didn't know? She…So, neither of you were aware that she is nine weeks pregnant?"
Severus stopped breathing for a full thirty seconds as it sank in, his blank stare told of his shock. "A child? We're going to have a child?" He looked at the doctor who now had a smile on his face. He'd seen this reaction many times on expectant fathers. It never got old.
"Yes Mr. Snape. In the fall. Congratulations."
Severus suddenly beamed at him. "Can I see her?"
"You may go in to see her, but we've given her a mild sedative so she may be a little groggy. We'd like to keep her overnight due to a slight bump on her head from the fall, but she should be fine by morning. Make sure she makes appointments with her doctor for regular checkups." Severus was about to turn when the doctor stopped him. "Mr. Snape, She must rest and eat. I can't say this strongly enough. The stress has not been good for her or the baby."
Severus looked down the hall to her room. "Don't worry doctor. I'll see to it she rests."
He was furious. Not with Hermione, but with the ministry. Expecting her to carry the load alone. Well he would see to it that they hired an assistant. No, make it two. He would not allow Hermione or his child to suffer over their stupidity.
He opened the door to her room slowly, not wanting to wake her. She was sleeping and he got to watch her again. A treat he hadn't had in several weeks. It tore him apart to see her so helpless in her hospital bed. Severus stared at her belly in awe. He'd wanted a child, but didn't want to impose on Hermione's career. It wasn't something they'd talked about yet and there was time. It must have happened one of those nights when she returned home late and woke him for comfort and neither of them thought of prevention. The things she saw and heard in the clinic could be very disturbing.
She opened her eyes to catch the silly look on his face. When he noticed her, it broke out into an all-out smile and he bent to kiss her. A sweet kiss as if he were afraid she would break. Hermione was having none of that and put her arms around him to gift him with a crushing kiss.
"Severus. I have something to tell you. We're going to have a baby."
It was no less wonderful the second time and he huffed between smiles and tears of joy. He laid his head on her shoulder so she couldn't see them. He didn't want her to misunderstand. "Hermione I love you so much. Are you as happy as I am?"
She kissed his head, stroking his hair. "Yes my love. Very happy. I'm so relieved you're ok with this. I was worried…"
"OK!" He was sitting up staring at her incredulous. "I'm not ok, I'm elated. I've wanted a child and didn't know how to ask you. Your career is so important to you. I thought I was being selfish." He was holding her hands covering them with kisses. "Hermione I'm going to take care of you like never before. Anything you want or need will be there for you instantly."
She laughed at his enthusiasm. "How about a nursery?"