CHAPTER 3
Sunday morning dawned bright and cheery.
And despite the end of Voldemort's reign, despite the fact that it was still summer holiday for another week and there were no students around to annoy him AND despite the fact that there was a very pretty brunette sleeping in his arms - Severus Snape still hated mornings. Especially mornings that were bright and cheery. And Hermione's French blue and yellow toile bedroom just exacerbated the detested bright part and made his head hurt and made him long for his dark dungeon bedroom at Hogwarts.
Wincing and shifting to better look at the young witch he was holding, he thought about the past few days and the whirlwind that had suddenly become his life. She was fresh flowers in crystal vases and yellow toile and floaty French fabrics while he was granite fireplaces, sooty cashmere and heavy ancient tapestries. We couldn't be more different, he mused drearily. I wonder how long it will take for the novelty of shagging your professor to wear off? I should be history by Christmas, he thought. He sighed and carefully slipped from between the buttery yellow sheets, trying not to disturb his sleeping partner. Grabbing his clothing from her sofa and creeping into her bathroom, he shut the door and cast a soft silencing charm on it, before turning on her shower full-blast and stepping under the steaming water. He sighed again.
This relationship had seemed so much easier last night.
It didn't this morning.
They had decided to spend all day Saturday together, doing a spot of shopping and lunch in Diagon Alley. Severus needed supplies for next week's classes and Hermione had to be fitted for bridesmaids robes for Ginny Weasley's wedding. It had been a wonderful day - ice cream sundaes, an hour spent investigating ingredients in a potions shop, laughing at Hermione in her hideous bridesmaid robes, her quiet insistence that he hold her hand as they walked down the street. Stupidly, in the bliss of the moment, he had imagined taking Hermione to his vault at Gringotts and slipping his grandmother's engagement ring on her finger sometime before lunch and after purchasing dragon's blood. Now, fantasies about rings and fun, sunny afternoons in Diagon Alley seemed to be just that - fantasies.
He snorted. 'Shit, three nights of sex and you're thinking about marriage to a woman half your age,' he sneered to himself and the vanilla-scented soap. Briefly, he wondered if he shouldn't concoct some emergency and sneak out while the sneaking was good. He WAS good at sneaking, after all. A few more appearances with him in the wizarding world and the Daily Prophet gossip pages would be predicting their marriage by Christmas. And Hermione's prospects for a good marriage to a nice wizard her own age someday would be severely hurt. A long-term relationship between the potions master and the corporate potions mistress would never work. Oh, bullocks, who was he kidding? A long-term relationship between a former Death Eater and a sweet, young thing like Hermione would never work.
But that didn't explain the butterflies playing Quidditch in his stomach. Or the fact that they grew more active whenever the thoughts of Hermione, love and marriage flew through his mind. No, he was simply lonely and this was a rebound relationship for both of them. A fun, exciting and brief rebound relationship. A rather kinky and forbidden relationship, as well. Soon, he would go back to Hogwarts and she would forget him and -
Shit.
'People don't really fall in love this fast do they?' he thought, rather desperately.
'Well, you have known Hermione on and off for more than a decade, so it isn't like you were strangers last Thursday night,' a little voice answered.
Snape shook his head to clear it of the voices and swiftly turned off the water. He stepped out of the shower and grabbing what had quickly become 'his' towel, he dried off and muttered a few charms to set his beard, hair and wrinkled clothing to rights. Removing the silencing charm, he opened the door and leaned against the doorframe for a moment just looking at Hermione sleeping. His stomach did the requisite flip-flops that it did every time he looked at her. 'Merlin,' he sighed, 'maybe you can fall in love this fast.'
A quick glance at the nightstand took in the vial of potion that they kept neglecting to attend to. If he was going to hold a conversation with himself, he may as well be honest - if Hermione wound up pregnant from this weekend, he wouldn't mind in the slightest. Sure, it might be a bit embarrassing at first, but the gossips would quickly find something else to occupy their time with. And he would be left with a family. If she would have him and wanted to have his baby - big ifs there. 'Whew,' he thought, 'I have got to quit thinking like this.'
Quickly walking the short distance to Hermione's side, he gently kissed her lips and whispered "Good morning." She groaned and opened one eye to look at him before blessing him with a sweet smile.
"Are you awake enough to talk for a moment, Hermione?" he said, softly.
She took in the fact that he was showered and dressed already and immediately expected the worst. "You're leaving."
"No," he said, leaning down to kiss her until she believed him. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about this."
He picked up the vial and handed it to her. She blushed and took it. Silently, they each contemplated what their carelessness and a quick decision could produce.
"'In for a penny, in for a pound' doesn't sound as sensible as it did earlier this morning, does it?" she said, ruefully.
Severus sat silently for a moment, considering her seriously.
"Yes," he said. "It does."
"What?"
Severus sighed and took a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Hermione, this is going to sound crazy. But, I'm in my mid-forties and I gave up a lot of things during my service to the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry. I was happy to do so, and I'm not entirely sure it makes up for my past -" he paused and abruptly stood. "Hell, Hermione, I want to have children. I - I suppose I should just tell you all of it now."
He began pacing in front of the bed but did not continue. Hermione sat up and reached a hand out to her obviously distressed lover. He took it, squeezed and sat nervously back down.
"Catherine and I," he began softly. "Catherine became pregnant twice in the eight years we were together. She did not want children, so I prepared the correct potion to end each one. If it had been only my decision, I would be a father now."
Silence held both of them in its grasp for a moment as the depth of the situations he had described so simply sank in. Tears filled Hermiones eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks as she waited for him to continue.
"Hermione, I know it is crazy and irresponsible and there are about a million things wrong with what I'm about to say," he said, not looking at her and running his free hand through his hair. "But, if we have - conceived, this weekend, I would - That is, please, have the baby, Hermione. You don't have to promise to marry me or spend the rest of your life with me, and I will provide for the two of you as much as you will let me. I am from an old wizarding family and money is no -"
Hermione smiled and stopped him with a soft kiss. Startled, it took him a few seconds to respond. She quickly deepened the kiss and reached to begin work on his shirt and trousers. Automatically, Severus began to respond to her actions and the stress of the morning and hungrily pressed her back onto the bed and it's soft sheets. Soon, his clothes were once again wrinkled on the floor and he had joined her under the covers. Breaking yet another searing kiss, he raised up on his elbows and searched her face questioningly.
"Hermione?" he said, and watched her as she fished under the blankets for the vial of potion and purposefully set it on the nightstand once again. Settling back on the bed with a nervous smile on her face, she took a shaky breath and blew it out. She then reached up to bury her hand in his hair and draw him down to her lips for a breathless kiss. Her other hand drifted lower to guide him inside her. Kissing the woman beneath him deeply, he slowly began truly making love to her for the first time.
'This isn't just sex anymore,' he thought, wondrously, 'but I still can't believe I'm in love with Hermione Granger of all people.'
Moments later a panting and rather disoriented potions master pulled away from her embrace and looked at the young woman in awe.
"Gods, Hermione," he breathed. "Did we just decide -"
"To have a baby? I think we did."
"This is crazy, you realize that?" he paused and looked at her, she only smiled in reply. "Hermione?"
"Yes," she replied and began kissing his throat and collarbone.
"Hermione?" he tried again.
"I love you, Professor Snape," she finally said. "It's too soon and it's as insane as the rest of this relationship, I know. But, I spent a good part of the time you were sleeping last night pacing the floor and attempting to decipher exactly what we were doing together. And I finally figured it out. We're falling in love."
He looked at her in shock before laughing softly. "And I spent my entire shower this morning trying to decide if I was crazy or if I was in love with you."
"And what did you decide?"
"I love you, too, Miss Granger." He lowered his mouth to hers and captured her lips in another passionate kiss.
"So we're both insane?" she asked, between his hungry kisses.
"Gods help us, we're both insane," he said.
Sunday morning dawned bright and cheery.
And despite the end of Voldemort's reign, despite the fact that it was still summer holiday for another week and there were no students around to annoy him AND despite the fact that there was a very pretty brunette sleeping in his arms - Severus Snape still hated mornings. Especially mornings that were bright and cheery. And Hermione's French blue and yellow toile bedroom just exacerbated the detested bright part and made his head hurt and made him long for his dark dungeon bedroom at Hogwarts.
Wincing and shifting to better look at the young witch he was holding, he thought about the past few days and the whirlwind that had suddenly become his life. She was fresh flowers in crystal vases and yellow toile and floaty French fabrics while he was granite fireplaces, sooty cashmere and heavy ancient tapestries. We couldn't be more different, he mused drearily. I wonder how long it will take for the novelty of shagging your professor to wear off? I should be history by Christmas, he thought. He sighed and carefully slipped from between the buttery yellow sheets, trying not to disturb his sleeping partner. Grabbing his clothing from her sofa and creeping into her bathroom, he shut the door and cast a soft silencing charm on it, before turning on her shower full-blast and stepping under the steaming water. He sighed again.
This relationship had seemed so much easier last night.
It didn't this morning.
They had decided to spend all day Saturday together, doing a spot of shopping and lunch in Diagon Alley. Severus needed supplies for next week's classes and Hermione had to be fitted for bridesmaids robes for Ginny Weasley's wedding. It had been a wonderful day - ice cream sundaes, an hour spent investigating ingredients in a potions shop, laughing at Hermione in her hideous bridesmaid robes, her quiet insistence that he hold her hand as they walked down the street. Stupidly, in the bliss of the moment, he had imagined taking Hermione to his vault at Gringotts and slipping his grandmother's engagement ring on her finger sometime before lunch and after purchasing dragon's blood. Now, fantasies about rings and fun, sunny afternoons in Diagon Alley seemed to be just that - fantasies.
He snorted. 'Shit, three nights of sex and you're thinking about marriage to a woman half your age,' he sneered to himself and the vanilla-scented soap. Briefly, he wondered if he shouldn't concoct some emergency and sneak out while the sneaking was good. He WAS good at sneaking, after all. A few more appearances with him in the wizarding world and the Daily Prophet gossip pages would be predicting their marriage by Christmas. And Hermione's prospects for a good marriage to a nice wizard her own age someday would be severely hurt. A long-term relationship between the potions master and the corporate potions mistress would never work. Oh, bullocks, who was he kidding? A long-term relationship between a former Death Eater and a sweet, young thing like Hermione would never work.
But that didn't explain the butterflies playing Quidditch in his stomach. Or the fact that they grew more active whenever the thoughts of Hermione, love and marriage flew through his mind. No, he was simply lonely and this was a rebound relationship for both of them. A fun, exciting and brief rebound relationship. A rather kinky and forbidden relationship, as well. Soon, he would go back to Hogwarts and she would forget him and -
Shit.
'People don't really fall in love this fast do they?' he thought, rather desperately.
'Well, you have known Hermione on and off for more than a decade, so it isn't like you were strangers last Thursday night,' a little voice answered.
Snape shook his head to clear it of the voices and swiftly turned off the water. He stepped out of the shower and grabbing what had quickly become 'his' towel, he dried off and muttered a few charms to set his beard, hair and wrinkled clothing to rights. Removing the silencing charm, he opened the door and leaned against the doorframe for a moment just looking at Hermione sleeping. His stomach did the requisite flip-flops that it did every time he looked at her. 'Merlin,' he sighed, 'maybe you can fall in love this fast.'
A quick glance at the nightstand took in the vial of potion that they kept neglecting to attend to. If he was going to hold a conversation with himself, he may as well be honest - if Hermione wound up pregnant from this weekend, he wouldn't mind in the slightest. Sure, it might be a bit embarrassing at first, but the gossips would quickly find something else to occupy their time with. And he would be left with a family. If she would have him and wanted to have his baby - big ifs there. 'Whew,' he thought, 'I have got to quit thinking like this.'
Quickly walking the short distance to Hermione's side, he gently kissed her lips and whispered "Good morning." She groaned and opened one eye to look at him before blessing him with a sweet smile.
"Are you awake enough to talk for a moment, Hermione?" he said, softly.
She took in the fact that he was showered and dressed already and immediately expected the worst. "You're leaving."
"No," he said, leaning down to kiss her until she believed him. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about this."
He picked up the vial and handed it to her. She blushed and took it. Silently, they each contemplated what their carelessness and a quick decision could produce.
"'In for a penny, in for a pound' doesn't sound as sensible as it did earlier this morning, does it?" she said, ruefully.
Severus sat silently for a moment, considering her seriously.
"Yes," he said. "It does."
"What?"
Severus sighed and took a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Hermione, this is going to sound crazy. But, I'm in my mid-forties and I gave up a lot of things during my service to the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry. I was happy to do so, and I'm not entirely sure it makes up for my past -" he paused and abruptly stood. "Hell, Hermione, I want to have children. I - I suppose I should just tell you all of it now."
He began pacing in front of the bed but did not continue. Hermione sat up and reached a hand out to her obviously distressed lover. He took it, squeezed and sat nervously back down.
"Catherine and I," he began softly. "Catherine became pregnant twice in the eight years we were together. She did not want children, so I prepared the correct potion to end each one. If it had been only my decision, I would be a father now."
Silence held both of them in its grasp for a moment as the depth of the situations he had described so simply sank in. Tears filled Hermiones eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks as she waited for him to continue.
"Hermione, I know it is crazy and irresponsible and there are about a million things wrong with what I'm about to say," he said, not looking at her and running his free hand through his hair. "But, if we have - conceived, this weekend, I would - That is, please, have the baby, Hermione. You don't have to promise to marry me or spend the rest of your life with me, and I will provide for the two of you as much as you will let me. I am from an old wizarding family and money is no -"
Hermione smiled and stopped him with a soft kiss. Startled, it took him a few seconds to respond. She quickly deepened the kiss and reached to begin work on his shirt and trousers. Automatically, Severus began to respond to her actions and the stress of the morning and hungrily pressed her back onto the bed and it's soft sheets. Soon, his clothes were once again wrinkled on the floor and he had joined her under the covers. Breaking yet another searing kiss, he raised up on his elbows and searched her face questioningly.
"Hermione?" he said, and watched her as she fished under the blankets for the vial of potion and purposefully set it on the nightstand once again. Settling back on the bed with a nervous smile on her face, she took a shaky breath and blew it out. She then reached up to bury her hand in his hair and draw him down to her lips for a breathless kiss. Her other hand drifted lower to guide him inside her. Kissing the woman beneath him deeply, he slowly began truly making love to her for the first time.
'This isn't just sex anymore,' he thought, wondrously, 'but I still can't believe I'm in love with Hermione Granger of all people.'
Moments later a panting and rather disoriented potions master pulled away from her embrace and looked at the young woman in awe.
"Gods, Hermione," he breathed. "Did we just decide -"
"To have a baby? I think we did."
"This is crazy, you realize that?" he paused and looked at her, she only smiled in reply. "Hermione?"
"Yes," she replied and began kissing his throat and collarbone.
"Hermione?" he tried again.
"I love you, Professor Snape," she finally said. "It's too soon and it's as insane as the rest of this relationship, I know. But, I spent a good part of the time you were sleeping last night pacing the floor and attempting to decipher exactly what we were doing together. And I finally figured it out. We're falling in love."
He looked at her in shock before laughing softly. "And I spent my entire shower this morning trying to decide if I was crazy or if I was in love with you."
"And what did you decide?"
"I love you, too, Miss Granger." He lowered his mouth to hers and captured her lips in another passionate kiss.
"So we're both insane?" she asked, between his hungry kisses.
"Gods help us, we're both insane," he said.