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 38
"Oh my God! Hermione! Congratulations!" Jean all but screamed into the phone, causing Hermione to smile and giggle in response.
Hermione had decided to call her parents and tell them about her pregnancy, something she still couldn't believe was real. It had been a week since the announcement of her pregnancy in the Daily Prophet, and everyone seemed to be congratulating her left and right. There had been the few that had something negative to say that were still against her marriage to Severus, but those comments were overshadowed by those that wished her and Severus well and luck. As happy as she was, she still needed to let her parents know that they would be grandparents. Thus, that was why she was in London in a phonebooth now.
Giggling, Hermione replied, "Thanks mum. We're really happy about this. And Severus, he worked hard to have his potion heal me."
"And it has. That man you married truly is brilliant, darling."
"She's right, ladybug," Robert's voice said into the phone. "You tell Severus that I'm proud of him for his achievement and healing you against the odds."
Smiling, Hermione nodded saying, "I will be sure to, dad."
The brunette spoke with her parents on the phone for a bit longer before exchanging 'love yous', as well as Hermione promising that she and Severus would visit them in Australia as soon as they could. Done talking, she hung up the phone and left the phonebooth, walking towards a nearby alley before Disapparating away. Feet hitting the ground, Hermione walked behind a few witches and wizards that were entering the Ministry of Magic, her on her way to her internship. She figured she'd do a bit of work today, even though she had just done a lot for Being Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures concerning House Elves just two days ago. Heading in that direction, Hermione walked and passed by many people on their way to wherever they were going. Hermione continued on her way, nearly making it when she turned a corner and nearly ran into Harry and Luna.
Stopping abruptly, she cried, "Oh!"
Luna smiled and greeted, "Hello Hermione Snape."
"Hi Hermione," Harry said. "Sorry, didn't meant to bump into you. But I'm glad I did, because now I can congratulate you properly. Congratulations on your pregnancy. I'm sure you and Snape are thrilled."
Harry gave his best friend a hug, Hermione returning it with a smile. Pulling away, she allowed Luna to do the same before saying, "Thanks, you two. Honestly, it still seems surreal, but I'm reminded every day that it is real when someone congratulates me."
Harry nodded in understanding. "I get that. When it came out Daphne was expecting, I couldn't go but a few feet before someone congratulated me on it, as well as wished us luck as new parents."
"Well, hopefully you and Daphne can give Severus and I pointers when it gets time for us to have our baby."
"Absolutely, and I'm sure Daphne will want someone to share things with that isn't me. She really is fond of you though Hermione, and she told me to tell you when I see you that she is already preparing onesies for your baby."
The brunette chuckled and nodded, telling him that she was fond of his wife as well. Luna silently watched their exchange before looking down at Hermione's midsection. Blinking at hit, she suddenly placed her hands on her stomach, causing the brunette to exclaim her name in surprise. She seemed to be concentrating hard before she pulled her hands away, a serene smile on her face. Looking at Hermione, she said, "Your baby is a strong one, and it will thrive though adversity and hardship."
Harry and Hermione looked at the blonde witch before looking at each other, both wondering what cryptic message she had just spoken. Hermione, like Harry, was used to her unusual way of speaking and accepted whatever she said, but she didn't always like having to decipher her words all the time. Luna smiled a little wider before hugging her and Harry saying, "Well, I must go now; Rabastan is waiting for me. I will see you both later."
With that bid 'goodbye', Luna turned and skipped away from the pair. Shaking his head at his friend, Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "How have you been, Hermione?"
"Swell, very happy," Hermione answered with a smile.
"That's good, and I'm really happy for you and Snape. I know the news of you expecting must be wonderful, especially after all you both have been through as of late. And I know that you both will be good parents to your child."
Hermione smiled at her best friend's words. Yes, it was true that her being pregnant was wonderful news, especially concerning all that had happened to her and Severus in the past few months. But just thinking of that made her think about the fact that Harry didn't know the full extent of it all. She really wanted to tell him everything that had happened in detail. The extent of the damage Ron's attack had done to her, why her pregnancy was so special and important to her and her husband, the B.R.A.'s meddling, everything. And she knew she could trust Harry not to tell anyone. Like he trusted her with his secrets, she knew she could trust him with hers. But this was something to be discussed in private later, not standing in the middle of the Ministry.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped a bit closer to Harry and said, "Harry, I need to talk to you later, if you are available."
"I should be. What is it?" Harry replied, a frown on his face.
"I'll tell you after my internship; it's important. Meet me in front of the Ministry in about three hours, alright?"
Harry nodded in agreement and watched as the brunette walked away, wondering what it was that she had to tell him. It did seem like she had something on her chest she needed to get off. Whatever the case may be, he was going to meet her in front of the Ministry later. For now, he was going home to be with his wife.
Severus walked into the graveyard in Godric's Hollow, making his way to the gravestone that indicated Lily Potter's resting place. Stopping in front of it, he looked at her name engraved on the stone, silent as he did while life buzzed on around him. In the past time and everything around him seemed to stop whenever he visited, but not anymore. To him, that was a good sign.
Crouching down in front of the gravestone, he spoke saying, "I'm not here to stay, Lily. I've just come to say 'goodbye'."
He conjured a single flower, a lily, and placed it on Lily's grave before continuing to speak. "I thought for the longest time that I wouldn't be able to love and be happy with another person, not if that person was you. But I found that I was wrong, and I'm glad that I was because I've found that I am. Our way of coming together is completely unconventional, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love Hermione, I love my wife. I love her more than I loved you. She completes me in ways that I didn't think were possible. I'm no longer stuck in the past, and I'm no longer holding onto you. I won't forget you Lily, for you came into my life when I needed you most, but I'm ready and willing to let you go now. Then again, if I just think about it, I already have, but being here right now saying this makes it official; at least, it does to me."
Severus stood up from his crouched position, still looking at the stone. "I know all you wanted for me was to be happy, and I can finally say now that I am. I'm going to be a father in eight months' time, and I hope that is something that I will be good at. I won't be returning here again; this is the last time. Before I go, I do just want to say, 'thank you'. Thank you for being my friend when no one else would be, despite our lives leading us on different paths. I'm sorry yours ended so short, but I'm glad mine ended up where it did. Goodbye, Lily."
Turning around, Severus walked away from Lily's gravestone and out of the graveyard, feeling a lingering chapter of his life closing for the final time. Smiling, he walked down the street and slipped into an alleyway before Disapparating back home, never to return to Godric's Hollow again.
Later in the Leaky Cauldron, sitting towards the back with a Muffliato Charm on the other patrons, Hermione told Harry everything that had occurred since Ron's attack. The damage done, her diagnostic, everything. She even told him of Severus's efforts to reverse what had been done, as well as the B.R.A.'s ultimatum and deadline when they found out. Harry was shocked and horrified by the information given to him by his best friend, but he was also glad that his sister figure had come through it all okay. The brunette certainly was stronger than she looked, making her underestimated by foes.
Smiling, he took her hand and gave it a squeeze saying, "You are such a strong person to go through so much in such a short amount of time and be alright in the end, Hermione. I do wish that you had told me this sooner, though."
"Well, we hadn't told anyone, so it wasn't personal. Severus and I were just wanting time to process everything and to get through it. But I told you now because I know I can trust you to not relay it to anyone," Hermione replied.
"You can always count on me, Hermione. I'll always be there for you whenever you need me. But tell me something. How do you feel now that all the trauma and pressure is over? After all, the B.R.A. have no reason to pester you and Snape any longer now that you are pregnant."
"Honestly, I feel much better now. I know Ron is still out there on the loose somewhere needing to be captured, but I feel that things are beginning to look up and will only get better from here."
Harry nodded and took a sip of his Butterbeer. He truly hoped so for the brunette's sake, especially since the Aurors still hadn't captured Ron. Even with him helping the manhunt, they still hadn't found him. Still, like Hermione, he hoped hers and Snape's lives would only get better and that they would be able to live happily ever after.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will stay tuned for more. It's not as long as I would have liked it, but that's alright. I hope you all stay tuned for more to come for Hermione and Severus. I'm not sure when I'll end this story, but I feel I'm coming near its end. Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned! XOXO, SehunsBae37.