A/N: Well, I'm just gonna keep chugging along….

WARNING! TRIGGERS AHEAD! CHARACTER TRAUMA AND DEATH! Also, I'm not used to dealing with this subject so please don't crucify me in the comments. I'm trying my best.

—-

Despite the situation with the board members, several weeks had passed without incident. But Hermione couldn't relax. They were finally entering into the trial phase of the Cruciatus cure potion and it was extremely stressful. Lots of late nights spent in the lab, lots of paperwork, and lots of worrying in general. She was tired, often dizzy and could hardly keep any food down. She was worried that she was coming down with something but she didn't say anything to Severus or her colleagues. At this point she was surviving on sheer will, tea and copious amounts of invigorating draught. She hardly ever saw Severus. He was holed up in his office or the lab and they rarely left work at the same time. And there wasn't time for any real conversation between them and sex was essentially out of the question. Hermione missed the intimacy greatly, but the thought of anything more than sleep sounded...impossible.

Today was a particularly weary day. In fact, Hermione felt awful. And she must have looked like it because Angela, one of the lab technicians, asked if she was okay. Hermione gave her watery smile, "It's okay, I'll be fine. Just cramps. I've been missing my period for about a month, maybe two. I guess it's finally starting to come back. Gotta admit, it's never felt this….intense," she confessed, holding her stomach.

Angela's brows knitted in concern. "Maybe you should see a Healer? I've noticed how tired you are lately…."

Hermione waved her off. "No, I'm fine. Besides, this is more important than some stupid cramps. I'll get over it." And just like that a sharp pain hit her lower back and she crumpled to the floor.

"Hermione! Oh Merlin! She's bleeding! Someone fetch Master Snape! Oh Merlin Hermione! We need to get you to St. Mungos."

—

There were a few moments where she lost time. She couldn't tell how she got from the labs to the patient's room at St. Mungos but here she was, in an infirmary gown, waiting pitifully for the Healer to return. The door swung open but instead of the Healer she was surprised to see Severus's tall form rushing in. "Oh goodness Hermione, are you alright?! I came as fast as I could," he said, gathering her in his arms and kissing her forehead. "What happened? I was alerted by Angie that you had passed out in the lab and she said something about blood…. What was it? Did a cauldron explode?"

"No I—"

"Miss Granger, glad you see you're up," A clear, calm voice interrupted them. A snowy haired witch entered the room and stood in front of them both. "My name is Healer Michelle Oats. Before I begin, I must ask for you to step out, sir."

Hermione felt Severus stiffen and before he could do more than sneer she placed a restraining hand on his arm, "Um, it's alright Healer Oats, anything you want to share with me, you can say in front of him."

The woman looked unsure, but seeing Snape's glare pushed on, "Miss Granger, this pains me to say, but it seems you've suffered from a miscarriage."

Hermione felt like she hadn't heard correctly. "A misca-but I wasn't pregnant. Was I?" She whispered, wrapping an arm around her flat stomach. Silently, tears began to well in her eyes. "How? And how could I not have known?" She questioned, noting that Severus was frozen next to her.

"Please, Miss Granger, it's not your fault and you shouldn't blame yourself for not knowing. Miscarriage is one of the most common complications associated with early pregnancy. Sadly, around one-quarter of all pregnancies result in miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur during the first few months of pregnancy. A woman may have a miscarriage before she knows she is pregnant. Like you. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but there's more…"

Hermione let out a sharp cry, her breaths quickening, "M-More? Wh-what else could there possibly be?"

The Healer looked sympathetic and even took her hand, giving it a tight squeeze but Hermione was numb. "You have some…. abnormalities with your womb caused by spell damage. It would have to have been a dark spell, likely an unforgivable- or something cast upon you for a long duration… Anyway, this will make future pregnancies extremely difficult or even—"

"Impossible?" Hermione finished in a cold, hollow voice.

The healer nodded. "Now, there are some procedures. All of them are risky so I wouldn't recommend them but you do have options. I have several brochures and a list of support groups for women who've suffered similar experiences. Please utilize them. I know that they help a lot of witches. There's some for couples too," She added. "I'll give you two a moment." And then she left, leaving the room in dead silence.

"I...I can't breathe," Hermione said finally, fisting her infirmary gown in a white knuckle grip. She looked up at Severus but his face was blank and cold like stone. He was disappointed, she could tell and the guilt ate at her. When several more seconds passed without him saying a word her heart plummeted. More tears fell and she wordlessly summoned her belongings. "I...I have to go," she whispered, fleeing the room, ignoring the shouting she heard in her wake.