Disclaimor: See chapter 1.

A/N: Thanks Corazon for doing such a great betaing job on this!


Chapter 5

"Ginny, can we talk?" Hermione whispered when she found her friend studying in the common room.

Ginny looked up to Hermione and could tell it was to be a serious discussion. She nodded and put down her books and followed Hermione to her private room. Once inside they both sat down on the bed, Hermione sat crossed legged with her hands resting in her lap.

"So what's up?" Ginny asked starting off the conversation.

"You know that secret I couldn't tell you before?" Hermione started.

"Yea."

"Well I can tell you now but you can't tell anyone else, not even Harry or Ron, deal?" Hermione asked.

"I understand."

"All right, but please don't freak out on me here," she took a deep breath and continued. "I've been seeing some one since last summer."

Ginny nodded.

"I've been seeing Severus Snape."

Ginny didn't react. She froze in shock, but overcame it rather quickly and just asked, "How?"

Hermione was pleased at how well she was taking this. "I was in Paris for the summer you know, and one day we ran into each other. He was there for vacation also, doing potions research. We started to talk for a few minutes; he was different than outside of the classroom. He offered me an assistant's position since his last one quit the day before. I mentioned I was bored, and so it started there. Over the next month we got closer and we fell in love."

Ginny took it in slowly; she was the type to think about things before reacting when she could. She could tell Hermione was different. It seemed she was a bit happier now and she did notice Severus being fair to all his students, taking greater care in being fair to the Gryffindors lately. "Is this the reason he has been fair to the Gryffindors?"

"Yes and no. He was planning on doing some of it anyways with Voldemort dead, but with me being a Gryffindor he is trying more because he knows how important my friends are to along with the other Gryffindors," Hermione explained.

Ginny nodded in understanding, but she could tell there was more, "What else is there?"

Hermione smirked at her friend. Ginny knew there was a reason for telling her this now and she wanted to know the rest of the story. "There are three things. First we're engaged." Hermione held up her right hand where she had been keeping the engagement ring on instead of her left hand until they would publicly announce it.

"From him and not your mum right?"

Hermione nodded. "We're getting married soon within a month."

"Why so soon?" Ginny asked suspiciously.

"Well, I'm pregnant," Hermione said softly.

Ginny paled at this but didn't over react. "Are you sure you want to get married just because you are pregnant?"

"I just found out I was pregnant. He asked me to marry him before then. You know how long I've had the ring. I'm only 9 weeks pregnant, we been engaged since November."

"True, will your parents be all right with this?"

"They should be in the end. Severus and I want to go next weekend and tell them. He's asking Dumbledore tonight. We are trying to arrange it so they can be at the wedding. There's another thing I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?"

"Will you be my maid of honor?" Hermione asked smiling.

Ginny grinned widely and said, "Of course!"

.......

Severus was back in his quarters. He needed to inform Hermione about writing her parents. Knowing she didn't have an owl of her own and that the school owls were fine, he chose to use his own owl. His rarely got used anymore and figured now would be a good time to let her spread her wings again. He's had her for several years and was a constant companion when he needed one during the times he spied and was not able to talk with Dumbledore or McGonagall.

Severus went to one of his spare rooms that belonged to his familiar.

"Aego," Severus called to his owl. It was a Tengmalm owl that was grayish in color with yellow eyes, and it was a fairly large owl for most, measuring ten inches tall. Aego came from his perch to land on Severus' shoulder. He already wrote a note to Hermione telling her to use his owl and write her parents. "Aego, take this note to Hermione. You'll need to deliver a note to her parents also, be nice."

Aego nodded and, "oohwack."

After Severus gave the letter to Aego she flew out the window and up around the castle to the Gryffindor Tower.

.......

Hermione and Ginny were still talking about weddings and where they thought Severus might be taking her since she had no clue. When she heard the tapping on her window she went to open it and an owl flew in.

"Aego, hey girl," Hermione greeted the owl. Over the summer Hermione spent some time with the owl and they became 'friends.' Aego accepted Hermione because she was a friend to her owner. Aego had a habit of being a 'bitch' to people who treated Severus rudely in her presence.

"Whose owl is that Hermione?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Severus'," Hermione answered taking the note from Aego and reading it.

Dearest Hermione,

Albus has granted us permission to visit your parents, but he has requested that you inform them first. We will be leaving late Friday night. He will make all the necessary arrangements with Ms. Weasley to cover your duties during your absence. Use Aego for delivery since she is reliable and has been cooped up for too long. I'm afraid she hasn't had a good long flight in a while and this task should please her.

Love,

S


"Thanks Aego. Give me a minute to write the note, kay?" Hermione said to the owl.

"Oohwack," was her agreement.

Hermione quickly wrote a note to her parents asking if they could stay home this upcoming weekend and telling them she would becoming for a visit. She left details out, only mentioning she needed to talk with them in person. She also asked them to feed Aego and listed bacon and toast with real butter as her favorite food.

Ginny waited and watched while Hermione did what she needed to.

Hermione folded the letter and tied it to Aego's leg, for long distances Hermione knew Aego hated carrying the letter in her mouth. "Aego, please wait for their response and I asked them to feed you your favorite foods, all right girl?"

Aego nipped playfully at Hermione's hand as a thank you.

"Do you know where they are?" Hermione asked, considering there was no magical blood in the house and wondered if Aego would find them.

Aego nodded yes. Hermione guessed since they were her parents, Aego could find them.

"Thanks and I will see you in a few days," Hermione let the owl fly out her window. Aego had a habit of being fast but the distance was long and flying there and back would take a few days. It was only Monday so she knew she should get an answer back by Thursday night.

"What was that about?" Ginny asked after the owl left.

Hermione walked back to the bed to join Ginny again, "I owled my parents asking if I could come this weekend to tell them about all this. Severus let me use his owl."

"I've never seen her before. Is she new?"

"No, she stays in the dungeons with Severus. He doesn't like his mail to be delivered in public so she leaves it in his rooms."

"Ahh... she's quite pretty."

"Yes she is and protective of Severus. When he and I got into our first argument over the summer Aego screeched like mad at me after landing on his shoulder. I was shocked and Severus ending up laughing, but after that Aego realized everything was all right and we were on better terms. After she realized we were in love she was friendly and I think she is becoming protective of me too. When Pig delivered a letter to me and was bugging me Aego screeched like mad at him. It was quite a show," Hermione laughed.

"You fight with Snape?" Ginny said in awe.

"Oh yea. Last summer, it was a common occurrence after the first week. Just the usual names everyone here calls him, nothing too wild. It was during one of our arguments that we... umm..." Hermione blushed.

Ginny smirked, "Ahh fighting to love... both involve passion? Too bad I can't use this to torment you yet."

"You can't use it at all!" Hermione warned.

"Yes I can. Once you finish school I can tease you openly all I want," Ginny smugly said.

Hermione dropped her head, shaking it. She knew Ginny would tease her in the future and she had no way out of it.

......

Diane Granger was watching television when she continuously heard tapping on the background kitchen window. She wondered what it could be than realized it was probably from Hermione, one of those owls delivering a letter. When she opened the window the owl came in, but she was surprised, because it was one she had never seen before. When Hermione sent letters home, it was usually delivered by one of the school owls, a brown or tan barn owl, or Harry's owl and sometimes Ron's tawny owl. This owl looked a bit more menacing as it eyed her then it held out its leg with a letter attached. Diane untied the letter and quickly read it:

Dear Mum and Dad,

I have some great news and surprising news but I can't and don't want to tell you just in a letter. I have been given permission to leave school for the weekend and was wondering if it was all right if I came to visit this weekend. I would arrive late Friday night along with a guest that will be bringing me.

The owl that delivered this letter will wait for your response. Also, if you would be so kind as to feed her, her name is Aego. Her favorite foods are bacon and toast with real butter. She could probably use a rest also if you don't mind her there for a little bit. She should be friendly to you, as she knows you're my parents, but give her a minute or two to study you before you make drastic movements, she has been around people who were not so kind sometimes. She isn't violent unless provoked, just to let you know.

Love,

Hermione


"Aego, is it?" Diane said to the owl.

"Oohwack," was the response.

"Would bacon and toast please you?" Diane asked, during the first few years it was awkward to talk to owls but when she realized they could understand her and even responded Diane got over it and made it a habit now to talk to owls that would deliver letters. She tried to feed them often since she knew that Hermione's school was up north and that was quite a long flight. It was a way to show her gratitude.

She noticed Aego nodded.

"All right girl. Give me a few minutes to make you some food and then write the letter. You can take a rest, I'm sure you've earned it," Diane said before moving about the kitchen to make the food. While she was cooking she thought about Hermione's letter and tried to read between the lines. She suspected a few things and dreaded a few things. Diane knew Hermione was involved with her Professor Snape. She could tell during the last part of summer how Hermione seemed to glow more... a look that a mother could tell when their daughter was in love. While Professor Snape was older, a good number of years, she also realized that wizards did live longer so the age difference wouldn't be a big deal, besides Diane and her husband were about 10 years apart themselves. But Diane dreaded the surprising news... that could mean when being involved with some one a baby would be along soon.

Diane then thought of her husband and what his reaction would be. Diane and Christopher Granger trusted their daughter entirely, but sometimes Christopher could be protective, not in a harmful way though. She never told her husband of her suspicions about Hermione and her professor deciding to let Hermione tell them when she was ready. Diane was worried about Hermione's future if in fact she was pregnant and she knew Hermione was biologically 20 years old with the use of her time-turner during school. She was emotionally ready but financially was another story. Diane and Christopher would support their daughter if they needed to but... Diane stopped thinking about it because it would only drive her insane, not to mention she was only speculating on the whole thing. A small voice in her head told her she was right.

After the food was fixed she left it on a plate in front of Aego and started to write a letter back to Hermione.

Dear Hermione,

Of course you can come this weekend. Your dad and I will probably stay up until around midnight for you, but if you arrive after that I'm sure you will be able to accommodate to the sleeping arrangements I will have made for you and your guest. On an advisable note, if it is a male guest I would to put him in the guest bedroom until we can meet him.

I fed Aego and she seems quite pleasant. Who does she belong to? She is a beautiful owl. I'm guessing whatever news you have for us isn't bad and everything is all right. I can't wait to see you.

Love,

Mum


Diane looked up and saw the Aego appeared to be asleep. She decided to wait a few hours and let the owl sleep. The letter would be back in time since it was only midday Tuesday.

A few hours later, Diane heard the owl letting it's presence known and the fact she was awake. Diane came back into the kitchen after putting down the current book she was reading, "I see you are awake. Enjoy your nap?"

"Kraihk, kwahk," owl the sounded.

Diane took this as a thank you since the owl was still in a pleasant looking mood, as far as she could tell for an owl. Diane picked up the letter she had for Hermione and tied it to the owl's leg, which was held out for her. "Thank you," Diane said.

"Oohwack," and the owl flew out the open window.

......

It was Wednesday morning and everyone that was having breakfast was in the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny were sitting close to each other talking while the boys discussed Quidditch and it was soon that the owl post was to be delivered. When it was time, owls came flurrying in from all the windows to deliver the post.

It was then when Hermione saw Aego and was coming towards her. Opps, Hermione thought she forgot to tell the owl not to deliver to her in the Great Hall. When Aego landed in front of Hermione, Harry and Ron was surprised since they had never seen the owl before. It was unusual for Hermione to use other owls besides the school's, Hedwig and Pig. The boys could tell this was not an average school owl.

Hermione untied the letter from Aego and whispered, "Thank you girl." She offered some of her bacon before the owl took off again.

"Hermione whose it from?" Harry asked.

"Oh from my mum," Hermione opened the letter and quickly scanned it making them think it was extremely short and unimportant before she stuffed it in her pocket. Hermione knew she needed a diversion tactic before they asked who the owl belonged to. "Harry, what's your plan for beating Slytherin the upcoming match? I heard Malfoy is trying new dirty tricks."

"Yea I know, Ron and I worked out this whole new plan...." Harry went on and Hermione paid attention grateful she learned a few things from Severus about discretion and diversion tactics.

.......

Later that night Hermione was in Severus' quarters curled up reading a book and waiting for him to finish grading some essays. She didn't talk to him or tell him the answer yet from her mother but she guessed he knew it was probably a yes if she hadn't said it was a no by now.

"Hermione what'd your parents say?" Severus asked sitting on the couch far way from the witch.

Hermione put down the book and lay down after Severus indicated for her to do so. She rested her head in his lap and looked up at him, "Mum said yes. She knew it is a male that is bringing me and if we arrive after midnight Friday night it would be best you stay in the guest room," Hermione smiled. Her mother did seem to have intuition about things like this always.

"How did she know?"

"I'm guessing motherly instinct; she's always been able to do that with me." Hermione answered.

"Hmm... is this good or bad?"

"Well, she didn't seem upset about thinking it was a guy, so I don't think it's necessarily bad."