Chapter 11

Red Wine

***

"Mione?"

Hermione woke up to see Harry sitting on a soft bed with her inside the hospital. She still felt shaky from before, but was fairly all right now.

"Harry, I'm so sorry that I passed out," Hermione began softly as they reached home later that day, and reached for his hands, before continuing on. "I was just so upset with you. I don't want to argue anymore with you. We were such good friends once. What happened to us, Harry?"

"I think that we both need to grow up." Harry chuckled softly. "We were starting to remind me of my cousin Dudley, and his wife, Mary Anne. They fight like cats and dogs."

"Will that really be enough, Harry?" Hermione whispered. "Even in our old house outside of London, we never got a long there too. I'm beginning to think that we're not suited for each other anymore."

"How can you say that, Hermione?" Harry questioned, looking instantly hurt.

"Harry, do you love me?"

"Of course I love you, Mione." Harry defended. "I love you. You know that, don't you?"

"You never say it." Hermione told him sadly. "This is the first time since before we were married that you said the words."

"How about we have a baby, Mione?"

"What?"

"I think it would be the perfect time." Harry confessed. "My Quidditch is done for the year. We could have a new baby by next Christmas."

"Harry-" Hermione replied, finding it difficult to breath again. "Where is this coming from? You didn't want a baby before I took this job. If you did I would have said no to Dumbledore."

"Well then, why not quit?"

"What?" Hermione demanded. "I'm not giving up a Professor's position here!"

"Because of him." Harry replied forcefully. "Isn't it?"

"Harry, If I thought you meant half of the things you're saying right now, I would leave Hogwarts happily so, forever." Hermione said softly. "But you don't mean them. You just want me to come home with you because you don't trust me here."

"That's not true." Harry spat furiously.

"Then prove it." Hermione challenged. "Go home! I'll see you on the holiday in London like we planned."

"Fine." Harry replied firmly. "I'll do what it takes. I love you, Hermione. I will prove it to you."

With that, Harry started packing his things for home.

***

"You look upset."

Hermione took the drink of offered Red wine from Severus' hand gladly, and took a large drink before holding onto it with her hands at his dinning table.

"Severus, I truly am confused here." Hermione admitted with a deep sigh. "I love Harry. But-I don't know what to do next. I married him. My mind tells me that I'm responsible for that. I'm his wife, and should stand by my vows. But-"

"You keep saying that."

"Saying what?"

"But.." He grinned, drinking a mightily sip of his own drink.

She sighed again. "He offered to have a baby with me."

"Oh." was all Severus could manage to say.

"It's all I've ever wanted." Hermione smiled dreamily. "A home. A family. Love."

"Two out of three isn't all bad you guess?" He pressed. He felt guilty for it though.

Potter was a good hearted boy as a child. He had his mother's loyalty. But he had his father's eye for getting into as much trouble as possible. That wasn't the best thing to have in a husband.

"If only I never left." She muttered.

"But you did leave." He replied pointedly. "There is no changing the past, Hermione. For no one. Only you can decide what to do next."

"I know." She smiled sadly. "I know."

"How about deciding for a kiss right now?" He inquired gently, leaning over the table to reach her lips, and poorly trying to hide an obvious grin.

"I think I can manage deciding that." She smiled, leaning to meet his lips with her own.

The kiss was warm, making her feel dizzy, so she grasped his shirt as she leaned more into him. When she clearly all most knocked him off his chair she giggled wildly.

"I think this wine is really good." She said, before bursting into another fit of giggles.

"I think maybe perhaps we've had enough." Severus grinned, corking the top of the bottle with a pop.

****