Chapter 4

The next day after Hermione was settled at home, Severus requested, well that's not the word, demanded, to see Minister Shaklebolt. When he arrived at their home he was angry that Hermione had not contacted her office in two days. Severus nearly punched him in the face. He spoke quietly but with flair so she would not be disturbed. Hands clenched into fists at his side.

"She's been in the hospital, you idiot! You're lucky I don't grab you by the lapels and beat the shit out of you. I'm going to make this short and sweet. You are going to hire two assistants for her and take some of this load off her shoulders. If you don't I will go to the Quibbler and tell them just how badly you have abused the lioness of the golden trio to the point where she needed to be hospitalized! You won't keep your job for ten minutes!"

Kingsley was blown over by Severus' quiet bluster. He knew he was putting a lot of pressure on Hermione, but he believed if she needed help she would say so. As she hadn't said anything, and he was getting away so cheaply, he had decided to ignore the problem. He sighed and answered Severus who cautioned him to be quiet. "I can see that I have allowed the situation to get out of hand, but believe me Severus, I would have helped if she had just asked. When do you think she will be ready to come back? I'll need her to interview her assistants."

Severus rolled his eyes at the politician in front of him. "She won't be back for at least a week, and if were up to me she wouldn't go back at all." He hesitate to tell him the news as it should come from Hermione, but Kingsley needed to get moving on her replacements. "Kingsley she's pregnant. I will allow nothing, and no one, to cause her more stress. If I have to tie her down to get her to take it easy I will, and to hell with your problems. And keep this under your hat. We haven't even told her parents yet."

Kingsley Shacklebolt was amused. Now he understood Severus' aggressive behavior. With three of his own, he remembered how insane he had been with his first. He was tempted to laugh but he didn't, knowing Severus would hex him with something awful. "Congratulations Severus! This is a bit of news. Now stop scowling at me, I give in. I'll have Wizard resources find a couple of temps until she's back on her feet. I may send them her way so she can tell them where she's left off."

Severus was not convinced. "They will be allowed thirty minutes and then they will leave or find themselves in outer Mongolia. She's weak Kings, you don't understand. I will protect her like a viper from now on."

Kingsley put his hand on Severus' shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll personally see to it this is sorted to her satisfaction. Tell her I said to take as much time as she needs." He sighed thinking of the work ahead, "I'd better get back. There's much to do." Shacklebolt stood in the floo and green flames engulfed him.

Just then Hermione came out of the bedroom to find out what was happening. Severus saw her and acted instantly, picking her up and putting her on the couch. He grabbed the closest blanket and covered her. "You shouldn't be up yet love. Please go back to bed."

A look of utter disappointment crossed her face. "I can't go back to bed again. I've been sleeping for two days straight as it is. I need to get up and do something."

Severus looked at her with determination. "You know the doctor warned you not to do anything stressful. I will not allow you to so much as stand for more than two minutes. Now if you agree to remain sitting I will allow you to watch TV or read, as long as it's sweetness and light, no murder mysteries! If I see you even get a little worried I will intervene. So, what would you like to do?"

Hermione would not be spoken to this way, pulling the blanket off. "Severus Snape you will not treat me like an invalid. If I want to get up and go jogging I will. I promise to rest, but I have work to do that I've missed for two days. I need to contact the office and let them know when I can come back. And I want to go tell our friends and my parents about the baby."

He let her say her piece and then wanted her to know how it was going to go down. "NO. You had your chance to be willful and now it's my turn. You will be resting, either on that couch or in the bedroom, for the next week. There will be no third choice. You have been working full bore for weeks and it ended with you passing out. You didn't even notice you were pregnant! Furthermore I have already contacted Kingsley and he is going to hire two assistants to carry the load until you can return. They will be here tomorrow to be given instruction. I will be stubborn about this for the duration of the week, and then we can re-evaluate based on how you feel and how much weight I can put back on you. Is that clear?"

"Stop dictating, you're stressing me out." The statement hit the target she intended and he paled. Hermione grinned, secretly loving his stubbornness and attention. And she hated when he was right. She still felt weak and would be asleep in ten minutes anyway. "Well so much for getting anything I want or need instantly." He looked sheepish and kneeled in front of her.

"I'm sorry I'm being so bossy." He put his warm hand on her belly. "But I won't let anything happen to either of you. How about a compromise? If you can't go to them, how about I have them come to you? We'll have a small gathering of our friends, just a couple of hours, to let them know our news. You haven't called your parents or seen Harry and Generva since the wedding. And we can invite Ron and Lavender, Nevil and Luna. That woman from the office with the green hair. And Lucius for me, if it's okay. I don't want to be the only adult in the room."

Hermione looked at her husband trying so hard to keep her safe and make her happy at the same time. "That sounds like a grand idea."

He reached up to kiss her and put a forehead to hers. "I love you wife. You scared me you know. Please don't do that to me again."

She put her hands on the sides of his head and kissed his nose. "I'm sorry Severus. I pushed myself because there are so many people in pain. You have no idea. Every day there were more and more, women, children, without parents, without homes, without hope. I couldn't let them down, and I'm telling you now, I am not going to quit my job. It's so very important, I love doing it, and I'm damn good at it." He almost growled at her. "BUT, I have a responsibility to you and our baby, so I'll be cutting back as much as I can. How does that sound?"

Severus stood and towered over her. For a moment it felt like she was back at school, waiting for approval of her potion. "That is acceptable, but only after this week is done. Now, what can I get you to eat?"

oopOqoo

Hermione had called her parents first. They were beyond overjoyed at the thought of a grandchild. There was even talk about moving back to England from Australia. Hermione would love to have her parents close to her again, but they were getting up in years and had built a life there. She didn't want to ask them to move so far.

Next she sent out her patronis to call on her friends for a gathering that weekend. She couldn't wait to tell them. She knew Ginny would start planning a baby shower the minute she heard, and the guys would be happy for her and Severus.

They had discussed finding out the gender beforehand, and decided that Severus would know, but that Hermione would not know until the party. He had already magically added a room onto the back of the house as an artist studio. A conversion should be simple enough. He was going to decorate and furnish it all by himself and then do a big reveal to everyone. Hermione secretly did it that way to keep him busy. His hovering over her all the time was driving her mad. This way he could bring her color chips for paint and fabric swatches for furniture for her approval. He would spend hours tinkering in there and then suddenly pop his head in to check on her. But it was better than hovering.