One week later

-.-

"Hermione?"

The voice that was calling her name sounded muffled, it seemed to be coming from far away. She tried to open her eyelids, but they felt so heavy. Her fingers stretched to find something to hold onto. "The Nof-i-kof plin-shiple…." Her lips were so dry and painful when she tried to speak.

"What is she saying?"

"I have no idea. Here Hermione, open your eyes gently my girl. You are safe. All is well." This voice was calming.

She moved her fingers again and felt her chest constricting with apprehension. Tears of dread welled behind her closed eyelids. "The plin-shiple, did I blake it?" Her puffed lips couldn't form the goddamned words.

"Give her some water Ginny, Miriam can we lift the bed a little?" She recognized Harry's voice.

"Hally?" She stuttered and tried to find his hand.

A pair of strong fingers wrapped around hers. "I am here…I am here." He reassured.

"Honey calm down, we are all here with you." This time she recognized Ginny's voice and the tears multiplied.

"Helf me…" She mumbled.

Harry's arm wrapped under her shoulders and pulled her gently up. "We are all here. Don't worry. Here I have you."

She clutched Harry's hand and turned her face around blindingly. "Vater…flease…"

A pair of steady hands lifted up her head and the coldness of a glass touched her bruised lips. She hissed and flinched away.

"Come on baby, it isn't going to hurt much. Your lips are torn, that is why they ache so. Miriam placed a healing balm on them, you will soon feel better. Now let's try again." Ginny's voice sounded worried. Too worried for Hermione's already galloping heart.

Hermione felt the cold glass touching her lips again and tried not to hiss. She opened her mouth with great difficulty and felt the droplets of water cooling down the painful dryness of her tongue. She waited for a moment before taking a more courageous sip. On the third she stopped and pushed the glass away. They lay her back down. Her tongue came out to lick her lips. First she tasted the blood, then she felt the gashes. She prayed her mouth would work and tried again. "The Nofikof plinciple…did I break it?!" Her voice came out coarse and overused. Her shaking fingers twisted painfully around Harry's. Her eyes flew open and that made her hiss as the light pierced her retina like hot knives. She breathed deeply and tried again. She blinked and turned to them dazed and confused. Her vision was blurry but she could see enough to understand. Harry was there with Ginny by his side. Miriam was looking at her nervously….but no one else was there. Where was he? Where was Severus?! Her heart begun beating like a drum from the apprehension that overwhelmed her.

"Which Principle do you mean honey?!" That was Miriam.

Hermione felt her chest exploding with ferocity unmatched upon realizing that Severus was not with them. "The Novikov principle! Did I break it?! Is he alive?!"

"Who is Novikov?" Harry asked dumbly.

"Is he alive!? Tell me! I need to know! Is he alive?!" Hermione looked around wildly. She hissed and grasped Harry's forearm. "Is he back with us!? Tell me!?" She roared with a voice that barely resembled hers. Her body twisted around in the bed and the pain she felt all over made her writhe in agony.

"Calm down honey please. Whom are you talking about?" Ginny tried to keep her steady.

"Severus!" She screamed to the top of her lungs and opened her eyes again. She swore if they told her that this person never existed she'd go mad. They were all leaning over her, trying to stop her from hurting herself even more.

A steady palm landed on her forehead. "Of course he is alive you doofus. He is the one who brought you back from the sixth level." Harry sounded genially confused.

Hermione felt all her muscles clamping and her breath hitching. The enormity of those words fell on her like a ton of bricks. Her exhalation held in it equal parts of relief and agony. "The baby?" She whimpered.

Miriam leaned over her with a bright smile. "Little bean is doing fine my darling!"

Hermione moaned and felt the tears burning her eyes. "They are fine…they are both fine?" She stuttered.

"Of course they are." -Ginny smiled- "Baby has a heartbeat."

"And he does too? Does Severus have a heartbeat?" Hermione sniffled as she turned to Miriam.

She looked at Harry with a frown. "Of course he does my darling."

Hermione grasped her forearm and pulled her close. "Did you check on his heartbeat?"

Miriam winced. "You think he'd ever let me? He'd take my head off if I came too close. You know how he is."

That awoke the first hard sobs that seemed to derive from the very depths of her soul. The poured down her cheeks. "I know…." –She nodded and looked with gratitude towards the ceiling- "I know how he is…yes…"

Miriam exchanged a guarded glance with Harry and Ginny. "I think you should lay back down. You haven't yet regained full consciousness. You are still hallucinating my darling. You need to rest."

"He isn't here…Why isn't Severus here?" Her teary eyes darted across the room once more as if she would see something different this time.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other silently. It was Miriam who saved the day. "He comes in much later, when the people here are fewer darling."

Hermione closed her eyes in relief. "So you have seen him?" Her anxiety spiked as she tried to ascertain that people have seen him, that he was alive…that he wasn't lying dead in the Underworld with a knife sticking out of his chest.

"Of course I have." Miriam smiled.

"Have you touched him? Did he speak with you?!" Her eyes became wild in their search for the truth and her claws got buried in Miriam's palm.

Miriam winced with a smile. "I won't attempt to touch him unless I wish for a quick decapitation, but I have talked to him several times."

"I have talked to him too Mione." Harry was quick to reassure her.

"Thank you…thank you all…." Hermione whispered dazed.

Ginny wiped away her tears. "Honey you need to rest."

Hermione shook her head quickly and then turned to Harry. "Harry listen…" -She panted- "Take care of them for me…please." It suddenly felt as if a ruthless hand was squeezing her throat. The tears gushed once more.

"We are here to take care of you and the baby. Don't worry. Now lay down." Miriam rested Hermione's head gently on the pillow.

"Take care of Severus too!" -Hermione found Miriam's eyes. Then she turned keenly towards Harry and Ginny- "Please!" She groaned.

Harry clasped her hand. "We will take care of him too. Don't worry. Now close your eyes. I won't let go of your hand."

"Me neither." Said Ginny and sat at the other side of the bed.

"Don't let him go back into the Underworld!" Hermione's tone sounded terrified. The depths of her eyes widened as the nightmarish memories suddenly assault her.

Harry frowned towards Ginny. He looked confused.

"Promise me! Don't ever allow him to go back into the Underworld!" Hermione's features cracked from the crushing anguish.

Harry shook his head.

"Promise me!" She yelled and pulled him close.

"Promise her Harry!" Ginny was crying.

"I promise." –He nodded quickly- "I will imprison him if need be until you wake up, but he won't go Under."

Hermione nodded and exhaled hard. "Thank you." She muttered. Her eyes closed heavily and her chest swelled with an upsurge of relief that aimed to drown all the desolation she had felt before. The last thought in her hazy mind before sleep quickly pull her in was…..I didn't create a paradox…he is alive…

-.-

It was the dead of night and ward 49 was silent. Hermione had been sleeping soundlessly ever since her delirium that morning. A magical bubble that held her heartbeat and blood pressure was hovering close by. A rather muggle IV bag was floating next to her which fed her the potions Miriam had prepared intravenously. The curtains were drawn and a gentle storm was tapping the windowpane. It was the rain that begun after the black cloud got destroyed. The heavy rainclouds it left behind never abated. It seemed they were still trying to wash away the hatred and filth that abomination had left behind.

The fire was blazing under the great fireplace and its flames were dancing upon Hermione's calm features. Miriam was in her office, filing out some paperwork. The hallway's dim light flickered a couple of times before evening out. The silence was as comforting as it was heavy. An old clock next to the doors that led to wards 39 and 38, chimed midnight. It was too late for any visitors and even the nurses had settled down for their nightshift behind their booths. Reading a book or chatting about the difficulties of their day.

When the doors of the elevator slid open, no one heard it. The tall and imposing figure dressed in black walked down the hallway unhurriedly. His boots were barely making any sounds as he walked past the double rooms and stopped in front of the suite. His long fingers wrapped around the handle and he turned it quietly. The door creaked softly as it opened, but he didn't enter. He remained a looming apparition at the entrance, throwing his long shadow on her bed for what felt like an eternity.

When he walked in he allowed the door to close slowly, so as not to wake her up. He placed his hand on the pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a vial. A bright green liquid was twirling and twisting inside it. He reached the bed and stood above her mutely. His black coal eyes were filled with profound grief as they held her pale features. His free hand hovered above her forehead for a few moments, before touching it tenderly. His fingers glided upon her temple and then lingered at the goose trail of her eyes that were now more prominent, before stroking the outline of her face and cupping her cheek softly. He leaned down and his long black hair pooled over hers, hiding behind their volume her new thick snowy curl. His lips ghosted her temple as he whispered primordial words of protection that created a pulsating brightness which enveloped her bed. As his hand left her cheek and moved carefully towards her stomach, his mouth touched the side of hers. A small shiver made her moan in her sleep and when his lips placed a soft kiss at her bottom lip careful not to agitate her wounds, a smile brightened her face.

He pulled back and her smile faded away, but his magic didn't. It warmed up her body, softening all the abrasions and cuts on her body much faster than any healing potion would ever manage. As his magical whispers caressed her neck and slowly erased the scar Malfoy's knife had left there, his hand lingered above her stomach. His fingers trembled slightly as he let his hand rest gently on her. Then his eyelids closed as his magic slipped inside her lower belly and warmed it up. He remained carefully unmovable, healing her smoothly, and blessing her stomach with a power that was so rare to find anymore.

When her chest undulated with a deep inhalation which betrayed contentment, his breath was equally deep. He pulled his hand away from her body and clenched his fist. His brow clouded and his eyes closed as he slowly pulled back. The warm brightness slowly faded away, leaving behind it so many healed wounds and even more unspoken blessings. His thumb found the small hairs upon her temple and run down the length of that thick snowy curl that seemed unable to blend with her usual brown ones. His eyes stirred with sadness as he forced himself to look towards the floating bubbles.

He uncorked the vial and brought it up to his sensitive nose. Seemingly satisfied he scrounged his lips and blew gently. It formed a long thin line that got buried into Hermione's IV bag. He placed the vial on the table next to her and pulled up a chair. He sat down soundlessly and crossed his arms. His regard betrayed deep concentration, as he observed Hermione sleeping calmly….and time got lost for both of them as the night roll by.

-.-

"Professor?" The voice should have stirred him, yet it didn't.

He unglued his eyes from the rain that was pattering the window. "Good evening." His baritone reverberated inside the room.

Miriam yawned and walked in. "More like good morning. It is close to breaking dawn."

His eyes returned to Hermione's face unwearied, despite the fatigue of his body.

"When did you arrive?" Miriam circled the bed to check the younger witch's vital signs.

His lips curled in dismissal. He shook his head. "Late at night."

Miriam noticed the change of color in the IV and then saw the empty vial. "You made the Potion?"

He nodded.

"I don't know how easy it is going to be to reverse the effects." Miriam shook her head in chagrin.

He turned to her with a critical regard.

Miriam winced. "Not that I don't trust your expertise."

He tilted his head and directed his attention upon her Hermione who stirred gently in her sleep. She was more alert now, closer to waking up. He had to leave soon.

Miriam leaned over her and touched the wound on her neck softly. "Did you use your healing power on her again?"

He closed his eyes with a soft nod.

Miriam smiled. "Wonderful job. She looks so much better today. Her cheeks have such a healthy hue. You know Professor, I think your talents are getting wasted at the Keepers. You should become a Healer instead."

"I am not working for the Ministry anymore." His voice was heavy.

Miriam paused and the look she gave him was lengthy.

His was so piercing it made her look away.

She cleared her throat. "She woke up yesterday morning you know."

"How was she?" He frowned.

"Delirious." Miriam pressed her lips sadly.

Severus' glower commanded her to continue.

"She wanted to know if the baby was okay." Miriam pressed her lips sadly.

He looked away with a quiet nod.

"And if you were alive…" Miriam let those words linger.

He turned to her abruptly.

Miriam tilted her head. "She was obstinately asking to know if you are alive. If we talked to you, touched you, spoke to you."

"She was hallucinating." His voice was reflective.

"Professor we are both trying to reverse the aging process in her, so I expect honesty from you."

His regard was almost dissecting.

"What happened to her….was it the result of the Underworld's formidable magic upon her untrained body or has she used a rather illegal and possibly almost extinct artifact in order to turn back in time?" Miriam raised her brows.

"She doesn't own a Time-Turner." Severus brow arched.

"Are you certain? If she owns one we have to inform the Ministry."

"And made a Guinee Pig out of her, right." Severus stood up and his commanding posture made Miriam take a step back.

"Are you certain she didn't turn back in time?" Miriam tried to find his eyes.

"I am more than certain. Time-Turners are highly illegal as you mentioned and do not exist outside of the Ministry. Now leave her alone. She has enough to deal with as it is. Don't add more burden to her mind with all this nonsense." He looked at Miriam irritably.

Miriam inhaled deeply. "Very well Professor. Do you think your Potion will reverse the aging process?"

"It will stop it, but I am not yet sure it will reverse it." He said sternly and turned towards the door. He took one step and then Miriam hurried to stop him.

"Aren't you going to ask about the baby?"

His eyes were searing.

"I may sound too bold for your tastes Professor, but I witnessed the fear in Hermione's eyes this morning when she understood your absence. Assuming the baby is yours…." Miriam's voice was careful.

"You are taking liberties not offered Madame." He glowered down at her.

"She was so scared about you and the baby…." Miriam's eyes filled with tears.

He inhaled deeply and his brows met angrily. "The baby is alright. I felt her." He whispered.

Miriam exhaled in relief. A smiled formed on her lips. "I know…and I am glad you felt her too."

His eyes narrowed upon her distrustfully.

"The baby girl was not affected by Hermione's aging process. Why do you think that happened Professor?" Miriam said after a short pause.

"She had a lot of protection from her mother." His voice was quiet. Not wanting to hear anything else he resumed his walk to the door.

"Only her mother? Not her father?"

His stride broke. He lingered there, wordlessly daunting, looking at the exit.

"I am a Healer Professor. I can recognize and appreciate the healing warmth you have bestowed upon the little baby girl, which is equivalent if not greater to the one you have been offering her mother ever since you both returned from the Underworld." Miriam's smile was timid, but also sweet.

He looked at her darkly. "Have you finished?"

"I know this is none of my business…." Miriam rushed, but he stopped her.

"No it is not!" Came the hard retort.

Miriam raised her hand and took a step towards him. "Please Professor….I am only saying all this because I saw Hermione's anguish this morning."

He dismissed her and reached for the door. "I need to go."

"She'd be so happy to see you when she wakes up." Miriam raised her voice, part in order to stop him, part because she wanted to wake up Hermione.

His hand wrapped around the handle and he remained silent.

The silence drew long and heavy before Miriam made another attempt. "You've spent every night by her side judiciously ever since you brought her back …yet you run away every morning. Why Professor?""

He turned to her darkly. "I am not running away…"

"Oh but you are. Hermione is an exceptional woman and I cannot remain silent in front of such pain. She needs you here Professor. She needs the father of her baby to be next to her." Miriam spoke in a haste, in order not to lose her courage.

He gritted his teeth. "Enough Madame…" he warned.

Miriam didn't relent although she looked absolutely terrified at confronting him in this manner. "Don't you want her friends to see you or don't you want her to see you?"

The blackness of his eyes pierced right through her.

Miriam braced herself. "She was asking for you this morning. She was calling your name asking us if you were alive. Needing us to promise that we have felt your heartbeat. She made Mister Potter promise to imprison you if need be, but never to let you enter the Underworld again."

His back tensed and his fingers turned white as he gripped the handle tightly.

"At least let me tell her how much you helped in stopping the aging process. She deserves to know." Miriam tried to approach carefully.

"You will say no such thing." His voice was commanding.

Miriam looked at him penetratingly. "I don't know what is going on between you and her Professor, but she doesn't deserve this."

"I know." He whispered and opened the door. Before she could tell him anything else his long strides reverberated in the silent corridor. Miriam heard the elevator doors closing and sat next to Hermione with an exhalation of dissapointment. She clutched the younger woman's hand tightly and looked at her with unbearable melancholy. "I tried my dear. I really tried."

-.-

Hermione blinked slowly as she tried to clear her eyesight. She looked at Ginny's unclear features.

"Hi honey….how are you feeling?" Ginny smiled.

Hermione felt her mouth trying to form a smile, but eventually failing. "I am fine." –Then her hand slid over the quilt and stopped above her lower stomach- "The baby?" Her voice sounded used and coarse.

Ginny cleared a few loose curls away from her cheeks. "Miriam checked on it last night. She is certain that it is a girl, despite the very early stages of the pregnancy."

Hermione's heart fluttered and her eyes teared up. "A girl?" She muttered.

"One of the benefits of being a witch. You don't have to wait long to know the gender." Ginny grinned.

Hermione closed her eyes and felt the tears coming out of nowhere. When her best friend caressed her hair, Hermione's heart broke because she yearned for the warm touch of another person at that moment. Ginny felt Hermione's despair and embraced her tightly. That soothing touch, released the hard sobs from Hermione's chest. She clutched Ginny's shoulders tightly as she emptied upon her all the dissapointment and misery she had felt when she heard Severus' painful admittance about fatherhood down at the Sixth Level. She cried tears of anguish as she recalled how her soul tore apart when she held his bloody face in her hands. Her tears intensified when she remembered how loud she screamed out his name repeatedly when he was gone. She bellowed as she recalled the terror she felt about the health of the baby when she decided to go back in time alone, inside a world that could eat you up whole.

And now she was here, feeling older…emptier, but also fuller than she had ever been. A huge part of her was missing. The man she loved…and she was not afraid to use that word anymore…was not here with her. It had been expected. After what he admitted under the threat of Grey's wand….it was expected. She could understand his absence, but her heart couldn't accept it. It was aching…bad. Her hand left Ginny's shoulder and caressed her belly. If it wasn't for this baby…her heart would have remained frozen forever. This was the only thing that was making her feel whole again. The only thing that could make her feel warm again.

She didn't want to ask Ginny…she didn't want to know…but her mind decided for her once more. "He didn't come today?"

Ginny frowned and cupped her cheek tenderly. "Miriam says he comes every night. He hasn't missed a single one."

"Because he knows I will be asleep." Hermione was unable to hide the bitterness in her voice at that.

"Will you tell me what happened down there between you?" Ginny pressed her hand.

Hermione shook her head slightly and then looked up. "Do you have a mirror?" She said ignoring Ginny's question intentionally.

Ginny's brows wrinkled in confusion. "What in the name for honey?"

Hermione pursed her lips as her fingers stroked the new faded expression lines close to her mouth. "I feel them Ginny, don't act like I am stupid. Also don't act like Miriam doesn't already know of my ailment or that she isn't already treating me for it."

Ginny sat back and took a small mirror out of her purse. Then she gave it wordlessly to her friend. "Are you sure you want to see?"

Hermione scrounged her mouth as her fingers touched the scars on her lower lip. They felt much smoother and less painful today. "It might seem like the Underworld had been rough on me, but believe me others had it much worst." Her heart clenched with a sudden wave of trepidation when she remembered Severus fate down there.

Ginny leaned over. "So this fast aging process was not the result of you messing around with your Time-Turner. It was the Underworld."

Hermione held her breath for what felt like forever. "You know my Time-Turner was broken."

"Where is it now?" Ginny frowned irritably.

Hermione waved her off and lifted the mirror to her face. "I honestly don't know." The emptiness she felt in her heart intensified when she saw the soft expressive lines around her mouth. Her lips parted as she observed dark circles around her eyes and the fatigue that was mirrored in them. Then her fingers slid up the side of her head and trapped between them the thick white curl. She sniffled and turned to Ginny with a trembling lip.

Ginny lowered the mirror quickly. "The aging process has been halted. Miriam is certain that she can reverse it up to a point."

Hermione caressed the frown lines between her brows. "How much older am I?"

Ginny hesitated.

Hermione turned to her. "Fifteen years?" The dread was clear in her eyes.

"At least ten." Ginny pressed her lips remorsefully.

Hermione closed her eyes and felt another sob arising. She cupped her mouth to stop it.

Ginny sat on the bed and embraced her tenderly. "The process has been stopped darling. Don't cry."

"The baby was not affected, right?" Hermione sniffled.

"Not in the least." Ginny grinned.

Hermione closed her eyes and leaned her head on Ginny's shoulder. Then she felt another cluster of sobs approaching. Ginny's arms went quickly around her. "Has Harry seen him at the Ministry today?" Her voice was barely heard.

Ginny kissed her temple. "No."

Hermione pulled back with a frown and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "He said he saw Severus. Did he lie?"

"We both saw him, the day he gave his resignation. After that no one else has seen him apart from Miriam." Ginny said carefully.

"Resignation?" Hermione's heart missed a beat.

Ginny exhaled and cupped Hermione's cold cheek. "You've been out for almost a week. You've lost so many developments."

Hermione inhaled sharply, then she clutched her friend's hand tightly. "Why did Severus resign Ginny? What happened?"

Ginny stayed silent for several seconds, before reciprocating Hermione's touch. Then she spoke slowly, carefully even. Telling her best friend exactly what had taken place after Severus brought her unconscious and several years older from the Underworld. Harry, his Aurors and the two remaining Keepers didn't remain down there long enough to find the bodies of Grey and Malfoy. In his testimony Snape stated they had been swallowed up by the malevolence of the Underworld along with all of Grey's substantial army. The Ministry closed the case of the Underworld Cloud as one of the biggest successes in the history of magical law enforcement. The rain that started after the black cloud got dispersed, had not yet abated, but that didn't worry the authorities.

The storm clouds that were looming above London now had no magical traces in them. The news of Grey's involvement with the infamous Book of the Void created a shock in the community. The news of Malfoy's involvement did not. His ex-wife and son hurried to distance themselves from the recent events. Grey's army got destroyed and ultimately consumed by the Sixth Level, but the Ministry's work wasn't over. It was obvious Grey's Pureblood movement had many supporters that had yet to be exposed.

Minister Shacklebolt gave orders for an independent investigation to begin two days before he gave his resignation. It was obvious that he was unable to face the furious public after the news broke out that the Marriage Law had been part of Grey's crusade, which was enabled by Ministry officials and the Wizengamot. For three days in a row the public was on the streets expressing their wrath. London flooded with rioters who reacted in a rather violent manner. Mostly led by the Muggleborn movement, which Hermione presided for many years, they took by their side most of their Half-Blood brothers and many Purebloods who never got involved with this unethical Law.

Ephias Doge…"Dumbledore's friend remember?"...was Kingsley's temporary replacement. He was utterly ruthless. He ordered the immediate arrest and detention of all the Purebloods or high stature Half-Bloods who acquired a Muggleborn spouse through this law. At that Hermione grasped Ginny's hand with apprehension.

"Severus…oh my God…"

"He was excluded from that process Hermione. Master Doge knew exactly how much Severus has helped not only the Ministry, but also Harry and yourself." Ginny smiled.

Hermione closed her eyes with a ghostly smile of relief. "Thank heavens."

Even though Doge's main focus are the Purebloods who abused their Muggleborn spouses, the Ministry's cells are full to the brim with some of the most outstanding citizens of London whose conduct is yet to be examined. The next couple of days were absolute chaos. The independent investigations extended to the magical law enforcement and several Aurors were taken out of commission until their involvement with Grey could be cleared.

Doge then turned his formidable eyes towards the interior of the Ministry and many officials were brought in for questioning before his wrath focused on the Wizengamot. Three members are already being investigated, with Judge Sopheous being at the center of this scandal.

Many renowned members of the Pureblood society hurried to abandon the country and found illegal ways to travel abroad in order to escape arrest, but Doge promised the public he will hunt them to the remote mountains of Siberia if needed, but they will face the law.

As expected Doge abolished The Marriage Law the moment he stepped into Kingsley's shoes and addressed the public with a solemn declaration of solidarity. He promised to clear the Ministry and the Wizengamot of all the poisonous weed. He swore to reinvent and renew the Auror force. He proved it by making Harry, Captain of Aurors the very same day. That created some sense of justice and soothed the spirits a little bit. After Doge's public speech the riots seized.

As for the Keepers…they became Ephias Doge's bane from the moment he took over. There were only two members remaining and the slate of that group was not clean anymore because of Grey. Doge wanted a firm hand take the lead once more. So he had an extensive discussion with Severus. No one knows what they told each other, but Severus was headlines the next morning as the hero of the Underworld who resigned not only from the Keepers, but also from being a Ministry official.

Doge assigned to Harry the responsibility of choosing ten men from his Aurors that would be able to withstand fastidious training in the Dark Arts by Oswald and Conroy in order to finally join the Keeper ranks. Harry declared that he was not the best man to make such a decision and insisted that Doge reinstated Severus….something the Professor was making impossible.

Hermione inhaled deeply and closed her eyes in exhaustion.

"So Shacklebolt resigned, the Ministry is in a complete disarray and Doge has undertaken the huge responsibility of clearing this mess up. The Wizengamot is under investigation both from the temporary Minister, but also from the Chief Warlock who instigated his own independent enquiry. The Ministerial cells are overflowing with Purebloods and Half-Bloods who became abusive either because they were inclined or because they were affected by the cloud. Harry's office is swarming with dozens of new cases of Muggleborn abuse each day that needs to be investigated. The press is having a party against Kingsley and his cabinet. The Muggleborn community demands swift justice. As for the Keepers…they remain headless and their former boss hides so well no one can find him unless he wishes so…..Not only does Severus not wish to return to his old office, he doesn't want anything to do with the Ministry as a whole. It is a mess Hermione….a real mess."

Hermione leaned her head on Ginny's shoulder and caressed her lower belly absently. "And I have been sleeping through all this."

"You were comatose you nincompoop!" Ginny glared at her amused.

Hermione shook her head with a faded smile. "Still…I did nothing to help through all this."

"What did you want to do? Lead the riots in downtown London?" Ginny smirked.

Hermione shook her head. "Why did the Ministry let Severus go? Don't they know that it was him who allowed Harry's Aurors to destroy the Book of the Void? It was he who woke up the Sixth level. It was his personal sacrifice that allowed us to win." She felt a fresh wave of tears overpowering her.

"Everyone knows what he did darling. They didn't let him go. He decided to leave and you are well aware of how stubborn this man can be. Once he makes up his mind there is no turning back."

"I could have tried to talk to him." She shook her head with a frown.

"He doesn't want to talk about this with anyone. He comes at night to be with you when you are asleep exactly because at that time we are not here to bother him." Ginny frowned.

"And because at that time I am asleep and he doesn't have to talk with me either." Hermione felt her heart in actual pain by his clear dismissal.

Ginny clutched her hand. "No Hermione you are wrong. He cares about you…he just doesn't want to be seen by us."

Hermione pulled away. "You don't know what happened down there between us."

"Well, you are not telling me." Ginny retorted.

Hermione tried to swallow her tears but failed. "Stop…" She whispered.

Ginny hesitated for a few moments before turning Hermione's face towards her once again. "Do you want me to stay here tonight? Do you want me to talk to him? Convince him to face us…to face you?"

Hermione shook her head. "You will just drive him away…no please…." The tears surged fresh from her eyes.

"Then what can I do to fix this for you?" Ginny's features were saturated with sadness.

Hermione shook her head in distress.

"Stay awake…wait for him to come and when he does face him…talk with him for the sake of reason. This is tearing you apart." Ginny said fervently.

Hermione nodded softly and bloodshot eyes looked up to the grey clouds. She could stay awake….she would stay awake, but she was so afraid of facing his coldness. She longed for his warm touch, his reassurance that everything was going to be fine, not his icy looks and pointy comments. She couldn't handle that side of him…not after what had taken place in the Underworld. Not after he died in her arms. She could call him through their joined Rune. He'd feel her. Then she could show him all her thoughts...show him what happened down there.

But what would she accomplish with that? Fake remorse? Forced smiles? No. She didn't want him to learn that she saved his life but sacrificing several years out of hers. She wanted him to come to her…..because he wanted to….because he wanted her….because he wanted to be close to her and their baby.

"I will stay awake…I will face him." Her voice sounded so feeble. It was as if the strongest part of her had died along with him. It felt as if he was the only one able to resuscitate it. That thought alone was enough to douse her soul with unbearable misery. She hugged Ginny tightly yearning to hold onto something solid as the danger of his rejection, especially now that she was carrying his baby, was making her dangle dangerously close to the edge of the world.