Disclaimer:- I neither earn nor own anything from this story except my plot. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates.

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A/N:- Thank you to my beta, Golden Asp, for her work on this chapter. Thank you also to everyone for your continued amazing support for this story.

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Chapter Three – Uncertainty

Hermione watched Argus and Mrs Norris in the vegetable garden through the window as she sat at the kitchen table. It was a clear crisp day, and she longed to go for a walk to calm her nerves, but that pleasure was something that was no longer possible.

She was distracted as she finished giving Alice her porridge, wondering what to expect today. She was fairly certain that she was now confirmed friends with Severus - a situation that she would never have thought possible before she become reacquainted with him one month ago. They were even becoming affectionate, and she loved the time they spent together.

Today was an important day; it was exactly one month since they had arrived, and it was the day they had decided on for their revision of her stipulated trial period. She felt utterly ashamed of herself for not trusting him, and she was going to make certain that he knew how sorry she was about that.

The last month in his company had been magical in more ways than the obvious, and Hermione was looking forward to spending more time with this amazing man. She smiled at Alice obediently eating her breakfast; she had become attached to him too.

She sighed, shifting her foot slightly in a futile attempt to make it more comfortable. Even though it was petrified, it had never felt cold, but lately it literally felt like a cold stone weight on the end of her leg, and it was being particularly painful this morning. In fact it had ached all night. Hermione had slept little, and she knew she must look awful.

"You look dreadful," Severus told her as he wandered into the kitchen, shooting a spell at the kettle to heat water for more tea.

"Oh, thank you, Severus. Every girl loves to hear that she looks like a wreck," Hermione said, smirking to cover up her uncertainty.

He ignored her sarcasm and opted for concern instead. "I take it the new ointment gave you no peace?"

She sighed, spooning another mouthful into Alice's mouth. "No," she replied, and even she realised that she sounded defeated. They had been trying various topical ointments for her pain control for the last few weeks but nothing had given her any relief. "I think it's getting worse," she whispered. She looked up at Severus with frightened eyes as he moved to take his place at the table.

"Take heart," he said, and patted her shoulder. "We'll think of something."

Severus swirled the tea in the pot and poured Hermione another cup before he poured his own. "I don't suppose you'd allow me to see the memory of the curse? I might know the counter-curse if I heard the exact wording."

"No!" Hermione replied, instantly panicked. "No!" she repeated. "Anyway, wouldn't she have to say it?"

He pursed his lips. "Technically," he said slowly, but then his lips twitched up at the corner. "But there are ways to get around that."

"Ways?" Hermione replied.

"Polyjuice for one. That potion is a more complicated thing than most people realise."

"What do you mean?"

"The majority of people think that when a person uses Polyjuice that they only look like the person they become. No, it's far more complicated than that. You are using a piece of that person's DNA, you actually become that person."

"No, just n-no," Hermione stuttered. She couldn't let him find out who Alice's father was, he would be horrified. She felt stronger about this resolve today than when she'd first arrived because she now realised that there was much more to lose. He might start hating them and she just couldn't bear that. She knew she was being a coward, and she should have kept her fears to herself, even though, she reasoned that she'd have to tell him sooner or later. However, to her surprise his hand came over the table and covered hers.

"Hermione, what is so awful about what happened to do that you can't share it with me?" He picked her hand up, and covered it with his other hand. "We're friends, are we not?"

She nodded, unable to get her mouth to form words, but slowly her eyes rose to his.

The turmoil of emotions he saw there shocked him. "Just tell me, Hermione, please?"

She shook her head, closing her eyes against the warmth she felt having her hand enclosed in his and his inquiring dark eyes almost pleading with her to allow him to help. "No, you really will hate me if I do…" she paused to rein in her emotions, "or worse still, you'll hate Alice." She gently pulled her hand from his and busied herself cleaning Alice up before she struggled to her feet and placed Alice on the floor, the pain in her eyes still acute. "I've got work to do," she stated quietly, sending their breakfast things to the sink to wash themselves.

Severus just sat there, breakfast forgotten as he watched her hobbling from the room on her stick and holding her daughter by the hand. She was silent and reflective as she moved away from him and Severus felt cold inside at her rejection of his help, but then his brain started to wonder why she thought he could ever hate her or Alice.

xox

Minerva McGonagall was working at her desk when Severus strode through the Floo without so much as a by-your-leave.

"Severus!" she stated, plainly shocked by his invasion of her office.

"I want answers," he demanded, resting his hands on her desk, arms straight and leaning over it.

"Answers to what?" she asked, feigning innocence.

"Tell me the circumstances that saw Hermione Granger as a resident here, or do I visit Poppy and extract the information from her? She always manages to spill the beans when she imbibes a little too much whisky."

Minerva sighed. "Severus Snape, you leave Poppy out of this. She does not know the full circumstances, and I stand by what I said when I brought Hermione to your home, it is not my story to tell."

"But she won't tell me enough to help her; she seems frightened by something. I do not want her to be frightened, Minerva, its wrong."

Minerva sighed and rose from her desk. "Come, sit," she encouraged and she pulled the cord by the fire place to alert the elves that she wanted her tea service. "Hermione does not know how much you've changed yet. Be patient with her, Severus."

"She is in so much pain, and if I had the facts I'm certain that I could help."

"Yes, I'm certain if anyone can, you can. You are very talented, dear boy," and she handed him a cup of tea. "She will tell you in her own time."

"Spring has never taken so long to come," he muttered, taking a sip of his tea merely for something to do with his hands. He forced himself to swallow, even though he felt like his stomach had rocks in it.

"What will happen in spring?"

"The Mandrakes will be ready to harvest." Seeing her interest in what he'd said he explained further. "There is a potion, a variant of the one I made for the petrified students all those years ago, and I believe that it might cure Hermione, but the Mandrake cannot be harvested until the first full moon in spring. Until then my hands are tied."

Minerva smiled. "I'm happy to hear that you have a plan, Severus." Then her brow furrowed. "Why haven't any of her healers suggested this potion before now?"

"Mandrake stays in the system, and because Hermione was exposed to a restorative potion before, great care must be taken to insure that a certain level is not reached or the potion will poison her instead of curing her."

"Oh," was all that Minerva could manage to say in answer.

"Even I cannot go further until I have conducted exhaustive tests, a process we have already started."

"So what's the problem? It sounds like you have things in hand."

"I believe her symptoms are worsening, and I'm almost convinced that there is another curse layered into the in lapidem curse. I haven't mentioned this to her yet."

"How has no one noticed this before?"

"I believe that the second curse has lain dormant, but something recent has triggered it."

"Like what?" Minerva questioned.

"These things can be triggered by a certain word, or feeling."

"The witch who cursed her is vindictive and smart enough to do that," Minerva nodded.

"You know who did this to her?"

"Yes, but all I'll say about it is that Hermione was taken advantage of by someone I would never has dreamed would…" Minerva's words trickled away as a thought took her. Then her eyes focused on him again. "Hermione was… is an innocent, and this person used her inexperience and loneliness against her, and when his wife found out she cursed Hermione." Minerva shook her head. "The witch had never tolerated Hermione," but then she stopped talking.

Severus gleaned more from this statement than Minerva thought he did, and he knew she'd realised she'd said too much. So he changed tack. "Hermione told me that the witch had been trying to petrify her womb, to kill Alice."

"Yes, that's correct."

Even though he already knew this fact, rage consumed him once more with its confirmation, but he managed to control himself. "And you will not tell me who it was?"

"No, I will not break Hermione's confidence." Minerva reached forward and covered his hand. "But she will tell you. I understand her hesitance, but she will learn to trust you, and she will tell you everything."

"How do you know?" Severus asked, feeling defeated.

"Because I can see even in the space of this month how fond she is becoming of you. You have befriended her, and she is starting to trust you. My goodness, even that crusty old dog, Argus, is enchanted by both her and Alice." Minerva smiled. "It's good to see you adding to your family, Severus," she told him slyly.

"My family?" his head shot up from his thoughts and his cup clattered back into its saucer.

Minerva grinned at him. "Yes, your family."

"It's a bit early for that, don't you think?"

"No, I believe once the pair of you have this curse under control you could be very happy together."

Severus snorted, and finished his tea without saying anything else.

xox

That night, Hermione was still working on the book she'd started that morning, but as the clock chimed ten Severus walked into her work room. "Would you care for some supper?" he asked. He had purposely stayed away from his house all day, thinking, as he ran several errands that had lasted well into the evening.

She looked up from her work, her glasses perched on her nose and she stretched before smiling. "Yes, you've timed your entry perfectly, I've just finished."

"Good, then allow me to help you to the lounge." He knew from experience that her foot would be too stiff to take her weight after sitting at her work bench since just after dinner. He placed an arm around her and helped her up right, allowing her to put as much weight on him as she needed to, and they walked slowly to the lounge.

He sat her down carefully, and taking her knees, swung her legs up onto the soft cushioning. She sighed and he chuckled hearing her.

"Thank you, Severus…" She looked up at him from under her lashes, and she took a long breath, her eyes skittering down to her lap as she started to speak. "There is still something we need to discuss that we didn't deal with this morning."

"I'm curious to hear it," he replied, straightening and calling, "Shotsie!"

Hermione waited for the elf to leave and then she said, "It is one month today since we—Alice and I—arrived."

"Is it?" He smiled shark-like at her, mischief written all over his face. He raised a cultured raven eyebrow and said, "So, have I proven myself suitable company for you and Alice?"

"Oh, Severus, I am so sorry for doubting you," Hermione said, wringing her hands. "It's just that I've been… I didn't know… This last month has been magical," she finally settled on.

He pursed his lips. "And you would count us as friends now?"

"Yes indeed," she was quick to reply.

Shotsie returned with tea and toast, and Severus levitated hers towards her.

"Thank you," she stated.

He settled with his own, and then observed her as she did the same. "What would you say if I wished to change our agreement now that you're happy to stay?"

"How?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea.

"I no longer wish us to be employer and employee."

"Then how would it work? I wish to earn my keep."

"My dear witch, you already do that many times over, have no fear on that score. No, I propose that instead of employing you, I pay you for each book you restore, on a contract type agreement. This will leave you available to take on other jobs as well. If you please."

"Where would I work if I took on outside books as well?"

"Here, and if you like I could act as agent for you."

"It would slow me down on your collection."

"That is true, but it will free you up from my employment."

"Do you not want me in your employment?"

He observed her for a moment. "Perhaps I wish to explore other options with you, Hermione, and I wish us to be equals."

"Oh," Hermione gasped.

"Is this unwelcome news?"

"No… unexpected, if I understand your meaning correctly… b-but not u-unwelcome, Severus."

He smiled at her. "Excellent," and turned to his desk, levitating a parchment over to her. "Here is the leger of what I've paid into your Gringotts account for this month."

Hermione looked at the total. "This is very generous, Severus."

"I can afford to be, and I've been extremely pleased with your work."

"Thank you, and I would be pleased for you to procure me other assignments." She sent the parchment back to him, before inhaling to speak. "With the proviso that I am allowed to estimate the cost before I accept so that there are no misunderstandings."

"Done." He finished his tea and pinned her with astute eyes. "Hermione, I want you to know that you can trust me with anything."

Hermione sighed. "Please, Severus, I know that. I really do, but I just need a little more time. I'm sorry that I shut you out so abruptly this morning, but it's my own insecurities that are stopping me from revealing everything to you… Please?"

He took in her tired, but imploring eyes and he nodded. "Very well, I will wait until you're ready, but I want to help you. You're in so much pain, it's not right."

She shrugged. "It might not be right, but it's the way it is," and she exhaled slowly. "I better try and get some sleep before Alice is up again."

Severus watched her trying to get up, and he came over. "Here, allow me." He easily helped her to a standing position, but he did not let her go immediately. He looked at her intently as he said, "And I want you to promise to ask me for help should you require it."

"I will," she stated in a breathy voice. Having him close as he was at the moment was delicious, and she wanted nothing more than to sink into the help and assistance he offered, but she knew she couldn't until she had told him the truth, and no matter how difficult that would be for her he deserved the complete truth. Hermione righted herself as quickly as she could, but her foot was being obstinately difficult. It refused to work and she found herself holding onto his forearms to keep herself upright. "I'm sorry, Severus," she said. "This is difficult."

"It is no such thing, Hermione," and he easily swung her up and carried her.

Despite herself and everything she'd just thought about their situation she rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her to her room. "I'm sorry," she muttered.

"Nonsense, witch, perhaps I like it," his voice rumbled close to her ear.

She snuggled further into his chest in response to his words, and was sorry to be placed on the chair next to her bed. "Thank you, good night, Severus."

"Good night," Severus replied, and quickly left.

This left Hermione looking at the back of her closed door and wondering what had happened.

Severus walked briskly back into his study and poured a Firewhisky. He had wanted to kiss her goodnight, and he'd left quickly so he would not give into temptation. He had promised her time and he would force himself to give it to her. Sitting back down by the fire he considered what Minerva had unintentionally told him this morning, and also the bits and pieces that Hermione had let slip over the past month.

Minerva had said that Hermione was blameless in the situation, but how could that be? Hadn't she gotten herself pregnant? How could she be blameless? Then a terrible thought struck him. Had she been raped? He knew she held a deep pain inside that she was unwilling yet to share. She certainly had been abused by the witch who cursed her, but then she'd told him that she'd Obliviated both her attacker and the wizard who'd caused her problem.

He was fairly certain that the father of her child was not a Weasley; the ginger gene was just too strong in that line, and frankly he thought more of most of that family than that. The daughter however, she was another thing all together. She had proven herself to be a very nasty piece of work to deal with during his year of enforced headmastership. Ginevra Weasley could curse almost as well as the Carrow twins could. She was definitely capable of throwing such a dark curse, but that would mean that… "No!" The glass fell out of Severus' slack grip. "Potter!" he hissed. "Our precious little cherub was sired by Harry fucking Potter." He buried his head in his hands. "Oh Hermione," he groaned. "No!"

Severus was so caught up in misery over this thought that he missed his use of the possessive adjective to describe Alice, and his unconscious designation that she was his and Hermione's child. Well, that was until he'd thought about it for a time, and he gasped. "I already think of her as mine." Then he thought a bit further. "And I want Hermione… I do want us to be a family, and Potter doesn't know. I could legally adopt Alice." Then he was on his feet and pacing, talking to himself as he walked to his desk and back. "I would anyway… regardless of who sired her. It was really only just a sperm donation, like an IVF transaction with an unknown donor in the Muggle world." He paused at his window, watching the wind whipping the clouds around the sky. "I wonder what happened, how she ended up…"

Then it occurred to him that he'd neatly pigeon-holed everything, but he might be wrong, even if he did not think he was. "Have I just created a worst-case scenario?" He walked to his drinks cabinet. "Does it really matter?" He took a sip of his new drink. "I feel too deeply for them to reject either of them. Minerva is right. I am the perfect match for both of them…" Sitting back in his chair, he found himself much calmer. "Would Hermione want me?" He rubbed the lip of the glass over his bottom lip as he thought. "Well, haven't I just admitted to her that I want to be more than friends? She didn't reject the idea."

He sighed. "Could I live with this situation?" and his mind wandered off into deep thought as he sipped his drink.

xox

Two weeks of dubious calm followed, and Severus spent every unobserved moment looking for anything in Alice that would tell him if he was correct about her parentage, and Hermione noted that even though he'd told her he wanted to move their relationship forward that he had not suggested anymore suppers and he hadn't spoken candidly to her since the night they'd rearranged their agreement.

She had the gut feeling that he was allowing her the time he stated he would, and that nothing further would happen until she was ready. Of course, this didn't help matters because she still believed that he would cast her out of his house once he knew the truth. Hermione glanced over at her daughter now busily banging the pegs into her peg board which Hermione had charmed to fall apart again each time Alice got the pegs in. Perhaps they needed to just get the truth out in the open as Alice was becoming just as attached to Severus as he was to her.

It was almost time for Alice's nap, and Hermione noticed that the little girl was getting tired, but she wanted to finish cleaning the cover of the book so she could start on restoring the gold leaf while Alice slept. However, just before Hermione had finished, Alice accidently hit her hand with the plastic hammer she was using to bang in the pegs, and no amount of Hermione wanting to finish her task was going to stop Alice from screaming the place down.

Hermione was just struggling off her stool when a hand arrived on her shoulder.

"Finish, Hermione. I can give Alice her juice and put her down for her nap."

She watched Severus reaching over the warded play area and pulling the little girl up into his arms. "Did that pesky hammer miss the peg, Miss Alice?" he asked in the gentlest voice Hermione had ever heard him use.

"Hurt, Daddy," Alice declared between big tears, holding her hand up to him.

Both Severus and Hermione looked at one another with open mouths, and they both started talking at the same time.

"I didn't t-teach…"

"I'm so sorry…"

But then Hermione saw an opportunity to open the dialogue between them that had to happen, and she got up as fast as her ankle would allow her to, ignoring the pain as she took the necessary steps to reach them. "Severus, Alice has chosen," she said, and she rested her hand on his arm. "And she couldn't have made a wiser or better choice. Would you like to be her father? I know we have only just become acquainted but I can't think of a better person to fill that role."

"Hermione I would be honoured, but while Alice has her nap I believe it is time for us to talk."

Hermione knew that she had to come clean before this went any further. This was the do or die moment. "Yes, you're right," and she nodded. "It is time to come clean."

"You finish your task while I settle Alice, and I'll bring us back some tea."

"Thank you, Severus."