Hermione awoke with a start.
Instantly, Severus was by her side, holding her hand. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "Just a bad dream," she explained.
"Of course," he said, stroking her hair tenderly.
"How late is it?" she asked. She wasn't tired any more. Since Severus had brought her to the Infirmary the evening before, she'd slept.
"Almost breakfast time," he replied. "Albus worked a Memory Charm on the students. They think last night was like any other night. But I don't know what he thought of to explain that Pansy is missing."
Hermione shuddered when he said that name. "How's Ron?" she asked, suddenly remembering what he had to go through.
"Asleep," he said, stepping aside so that she could see Ron lying in the bed next to hers. He looked pale and she could see the bandages around his chest through the thin fabric of his pyjamas.
"You're awake," Madam Pomfrey stated. She came into the room through her office door and took Hermione's vital signs with her wand. "I took some blood from you last night, and tested it this morning." She surveyed Hermione for a moment, her gaze lingering on her hand, still entwined with Severus'.
"Is she okay?" Severus asked, ignoring Madam Pomfrey'd questioning gaze. "And the baby?"
Hermione looked up, surprised. "You know about the baby?" she asked, not sure if she should feel relieved or betrayed. She had wanted to tell him on her own.
He nodded. "Albus told me after you disappeared," he said quietly.
"I wanted to tell you, you know. But I never got the chance. Pansy was waiting in the dungeons and-" Hermione broke off. Tears had started to fall again. Furiously, she wiped them away. She was sick of crying. She wanted to be strong now. She needed to be strong. Not only for herself, but for the baby and Severus.
"Shhh," Severus whispered. He sat down on the bed and took her into his arms, rocking her slowly. "It's gonna be all right, I promise."
"How can you say that?" she asked, fighting with the tears. "Lucius got away and he swore revenge. What if he finds out about the baby?"
"Even if he does, I will not let him hurt you – both of you. He will have to get past me first. And that will only happen over my dead body!" He kissed the top of her head.
Hermione closed her eyes. It felt good to be held like this. Nothing could happen to her as long as Severus held her. He would protect her with his life. He promised. And Severus Snape always kept his promises.
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought them back to reality. Severus let go of her, but still held her hand. Madam Pomfrey conjured up a cup of a brown, steaming liquid. "Drink this," she ordered, the normal warmth missing in her voice. Hermione got the impression that Madam Pomfrey's whole attitude towards her had changed. She seemed a lot less caring and nice.
Severus eyed the cup suspiciously. "What is this? She shouldn't take too many potions in her state. It could harm the baby," he said.
"I know that, Severus," Madam Pomfrey snapped. "I'm the mediwitch here, aren't I? It's just tea, for Merlin's sake," she said in an impatient tone.
Hermione took a sip. It was normal tea, a little hot, but good. She realized how hungry she was. Of course, she hadn't eaten in nearly a whole day by now. "I'm hungry," she said.
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "No wonder. After all, you threw up everything you ate yesterday. And I don't think they gave you something there, right?"
Hermione shook her head.
Conjuring up a plate with some sandwiches on it, she said, "Severus, you should eat, too. You look pale."
Carefully, Hermione took a bite out of a ham sandwich. It tasted delicious. Hoping she wouldn't get sick again, she finished even another sandwich and two cups of tea. She felt a lot better.
"I will go and get Professor Dumbledore," Madam Pomfrey announced. "I'm sure he has to talk to you, Miss Granger."
Hermione frowned. 'Miss Granger?' she thought. 'Since when am I Miss Granger again?'
They watched Madam Pomfrey leave the room, closing the door behind her.
"Severus," Hermione said. "I think she's mad at me."
For a few seconds, Severus only stared at her. Finally, he burst out laughing.
+~*#
The next few days went by in a rush.
Hermione, Severus and Dumbledore talked about the possibilities, now that Hermione would have a baby sometime in late July.
N.E.W.T.s were due in May and Hermione wouldn't be able to keep up with everything. So it was decided that she should take her N.E.W.T.s early in March. Considering the amount of study Hermione did and the lead she had compared to the other students, it wouldn't be a problem. She already looked forward to March. Severus made her promise not to study too hard, and to let it rest for the remainder of the Christmas holidays.
Harry was shocked by the news of Hermione's pregnancy. Ginny, who had already suspected something like this, just hugged her friend and told her she would be there for her. And then she'd turned to Severus, looked him sternly into the eyes and said, "If you ever hurt her, you can be sure that I'll get it back to you. Feel warned." Severus had just nodded. What else could he have done? Besides, he didn't intend on hurting Hermione.
Ron had taken the news exceptionally well. He'd just looked at them and said, "Oh, good for you." Everyone was worried because Ron didn't seem to be himself anymore. But he just dismissed all their worried glances and careful offers to talk about it. "I'm fine," he used to say, faking a smile. But the expression in his eyes said that he wasn't.
But when a few weeks passed and nothing had happened, their tension slowly started to vanish and everything went back to normal.
+~*#
Ron was pacing. He did that a lot, lately. It seemed as if he'd never stood still since that one night Hermione had disappeared. Well, and he had disappeared.
He had to shiver thinking about that night. He had felt so helpless. And desperately alone. He'd had to watch, as if some magical force had kept his eyes open. Malfoy, that slimy git, had made him watch while he… he couldn't even think it without seeing the whole scene over and over again. He had felt bad, no… worse; he had felt… he didn't know a word for that feeling. And he couldn't forget it.
Imagining what Hermione must have felt… But she hadn't even seen it, just listened. Again he was alone with something.
He hugged himself and looked around. No fireplace. Of course not, as he was in one of the classrooms. But he was cold, so damn cold.
He had never been so happy to see Snape that particular moment. He had seemed like the most wonderful and likable person in the world, appearing out of nowhere and freeing him from those ropes. But unfortunately, Malfoy had managed to escape. And once again, he had to watch. Well, it is hard to do anything at all – except watch – when you are tied to a chair, or lying half-unconscious on the floor, wandless.
Rescue was rescue – even if it was Snape doing the rescuing – but he didn't feel safe. Not in the slightest. Everywhere he went he saw shadows, figures, movements; he heard strange noises and suspected that someone would jump out from behind a column and grab him any moment.
Yes, he was paranoid. So what? And besides, who wouldn't?
Well, Hermione – but Snape was the only shadow she saw, and he wasn't following her to kidnap her. And her spending so much time in the dungeons helped his job of protecting her a lot.
Ron sighed. He still didn't like the thought of Hermione and Snape together, but he knew when he was out of the game. He still did not remember anything having to do with the two of them together at Halloween, but Dumbledore had explained it all. Memory Charms couldn't be reversed easily, but there was the chance that he may get his memory back some time. Now that he knew he 'forgot' something, he could train himself to force his memory back. It was complicated and he hadn't really understood that part, but he didn't mind that much. If he didn't know it, it couldn't bother him, right?
Plus, he'd seen the way Hermione's eyes seemed to be brighter each time she spoke of Snape. She was far more grown up than himself, he thought. After all, she was carrying a teacher's child and didn't freak. Or scream. Or cry. Or all of it. He would… he didn't know. But how could she be so calm?
Yes, she had everything settled for her to take her N.E.W.T.s early and Snape wouldn't let her down, but still… he would have freaked, even if only a little bit. Actually, he did freak out, just without anyone noticing. He didn't want them to worry any more. And he was sick of their worried glances and tactful behaviour when he was around. He wanted to tell them to let it go. To leave him alone.
But he still hadn't had the time to really think about it. After all, he was busy… staying at the Infirmary, getting healed from wounds inflicted by a maniac killer, trying to forget the sight of said killer and a Death Eater – who was still out and about – while having violent sex on the floor of his prison…
'Ron, focus,' he told himself, but couldn't help checking if the door was closed and if there wasn't anyone hiding under the desks. 'Think about Hermione or 60s-style clothes or motorbikes or anything but that night!'
He thought about Hermione. He didn't really know anything about motorbikes or clothes. But he knew Hermione… or so he thought. She seemed to be different, but maybe he was different. He really couldn't tell.
But seeing Snape taking care of Hermione, he couldn't be jealous anymore. Of course, when there were others around, he was like… well, his old bastard self. But when the two of them were alone – or thought they were – he was a complete different person.
It was strange – one day he thought he was in love with Hermione, and then, the next day, he didn't even mind when she was with someone else, and Snape for that matter.
He stopped pacing. What was that? Had he heard something, or was he just a victim of his paranoia again?
He stood still, listening. There it was again! A slight scratching noise. It came from out of the classroom, close by the door, he assumed.
Careful, wand drawn, he approached the door. He surely wouldn't stand in the middle of the room, waiting. He would be the perfect target that way. No, attack before being attacked. That was his new motto.
When he was nearing the door, it suddenly swung open and a person stormed in, shutting the door close quickly. The person was Colin Creevey and he looked out of breath. He leaned his back against the door and closed his eyes.
Ron cleared his throat.
Colin jumped and opened his eyes, looking around with a frightened expression. When he recognized Ron, he relaxed again and slumped back against the door.
"Ron," he said, still breathing heavy. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" He broke off. What could he say? 'Oh, you know, just thinking about the night an insane Death Eater kidnapped Hermione and me – by accident – and I was tortured and witnessed what his sick mind would call love-making – with a fellow student, Pansy, do you know her, by the way?' Definitely not. "Um, just thinking," he then said lamely.
"In the middle of the night? In the – what classroom is this anyway?" Colin looked around.
Ron shrugged. "Dunno. Arithmancy, I think. But I don't really care. It's quiet and I needed some time for myself, so…" Ron scratched his head. "What are you doing here? It's after curfew."
"I know. That's the problem. I was studying in the Library this evening, but a few Slytherins just couldn't keep their mouths shut, so I left and went up to the Astronomy Tower. I guess I fell asleep, because I woke up some time ago," he said, walking over to one of the tables and sitting down. "I was on my way back to the dormitory, and when I came around the corner, I saw Mrs. Norris, sniffing every door of the corridor. I waited till she was out of sight, but she came back into the corridor – don't know why – and I was forced to hide, as fast as I could. So I went through the next door – this one," he said, gesturing towards the door of the classroom.
"Well, I guess we have to wait until Mrs. Norris is out of the way," said Ron. "I don't want to be caught out of bed after curfew."
"Me neither." Colin took something out of his pocket. A deck of cards. "Fancy a game of exploding snap?"
'Why not?', Ron thought. Maybe a little company wasn't that bad after all. He nodded.