A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned.
Chapter Eight
This next day Severus was first up out of bed at the break of dawn, as was his usual. He dressed quickly and performed a few cleaning charms on himself before going downstairs to check on the potion, and Hermione's father of course.
The potion was ready for the next and final stage and Severus got to work quickly as he waited for Hermione and her mother to rise. It was an hour later when Hermione came through the living room door and approached Severus, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"How's it going, love?" She asked quietly as she peered into the cauldron to see him stirring a mustard yellow gloop.
"Nearly finished. I need to stir it ten more times anti-clockwise and then add three drops of camomile extract before letting it simmer for ten minutes and then allowing it to cool." He told her and he continued to work. Hermione moved over to see her father and noticing he was still fast asleep began to move away. "Hermione, your father will need another dose of the first potion now. You should wake him." Severus told her as he continued to stir.
Hermione gently woke her father up. "Dad. Dad." She shook his shoulder as he stirred and opened his eyes slowly. He was still completely doped up with drugs and so was only able to blink slowly. Hermione saw no recognition of her in his eyes. She administered the potion and stroked her father's hair, allowing him to fall back asleep peacefully. He did seem much more settled already since yesterday and his first dose of the potion, which certainly seemed to be taking effect. "Would you like breakfast, Severus? Mum's just finishing in the shower and we can all eat together." Hermione asked him as she continued to stroke her father's hair.
"Yes, please, love. We missed dinner last night and I am rather hungry this morning." He responded.
An hour later Hermione, Amanda and Severus were sitting down at the kitchen table for breakfast.
"We'll be heading back to Hogwarts this afternoon, Mum." Hermione told her.
"So soon?" Amanda asked, looking sad as she looked up at her daughter.
"Unfortunately there is no-one to cover our classes. We are rather short staffed, Mrs. Granger." Severus said as he speared a piece of bacon and egg and popped it in his mouth, chewing vigorously.
"Oh, please call me Amanda, Professor Snape. I really should have told you to last night. After all we are going to be family soon and with everything you are doing for Peter it certainly seems right that we should be on a first name basis." Amanda told him as she patted his shoulder.
"Thank you, Amanda. You must call me Severus then." He told her and Hermione smiled that they were getting along so well. "We will be leaving you a good supply of both of the potions to give to your husband. You should give him the first one- the purple coloured one, a dose in the morning and one before bed. A dose is one whole vial." Severus told her and she nodded. "The second potion will be light green in colour and should be given every four hours until it has all gone. I believe there will be a whole week's supply of this potion but it must be given religiously every four hours or it will not work."
"What about the interaction with the drugs he's already on though?" Amanda asked concerned that her husband may be in for more ill affects after everything he'd already gone through.
"You will find he will not need those drugs anymore. However, the health workers who come to your house should withdraw the medications as they see he is getting better. Until then, it is perfectly safe to give the potions along with the Muggle remedies." Severus replied.
"Okay, I'll write that all down so I don't forget. My mind is like a sieve these days what with everything that's been going on and my lack of sleep. Thank you so much for everything, Severus and you too Hermione." Amanda said clasping a shoulder of each of them and squeezing lightly.
"No problem. We should probably head back soon, Hermione. I expect you'll want to speak to Chris also?" Severus said glancing over in his fiancés direction as she took a gulp of tea.
"Yes, I should let him know dad will be okay." Hermione replied, swallowing.
"The potion should have cooled by now. I'll bottle it and pack everything away. If you could start the second potion off on the hour it would be easier for you to remember the next one, Amanda." She nodded. "Then please excuse me from the table and I'll finish off my work." Severus stood up and headed off back to the living room.
An hour later everything was cleared away and the potions were all bottled up and labelled. Hermione and Severus had collected all of their belongings together and were ready to leave.
"One of us should make sure everything is okay around mid-week. Is it alright to apparate into your spare bedroom?" Severus asked.
"Oh, yes. Just make some noise so I don't think you're a burglar." Amanda said smiling and not knowing really what he meant by the term 'apparate'.
"Will do." Hermione replied. "It's been great to see you again, Mum. We'll see each other again soon I expect. I just wish I could have spoken to dad as well. but next time I will." Hermione said hugging her mother tightly.
Amanda hugged Severus as well who was quite taken aback and awkwardly returned the embrace. "Thank you so much, Severus. I could never repay you. Never."
"It's no problem, Amanda. Really." Severus said moving back towards Hermione and picking up his potions briefcase. It was already mid-day and with any luck they'd be back at Hogwarts, changed and in time for lunch. "Ready, love?"
"Yes. Bye, Mum." Hermione said.
"Good bye, Amanda."
"Bye, dears, and thank you."
Severus and Hermione both apparated to Hogwarts with a loud crack, leaving Amanda to gape is surprise, having never seen anyone travel this way before.
~~*~~
They reappeared just outside of Hogwarts large front gates. Severus proceeded to open one and they both slipped inside heading off up the long winding path back up towards the castle.
"I don't know how I can ever thank you, Severus." Hermione said as she placed her hand on his arm lightly and removed it again quickly since she knew that Severus was still uneasy about these public displays of affection, and it was midday when anyone could be watching them.
"Hermione, you don't have to. Your agreeing to marry me is more than enough." He offered her his arm and looking surprised she hooked hers around his. "Which, incidentally, we never got around to discussing did we?"
"No, we did not, Severus, and I don't think we'll get the opportunity today either." She replied as they passed the Whomping Willow and continued on up the path.
"Oh, before we go any further." Severus stopped them abruptly and pulled out his wand waving it several times he transfigured his and Hermione's clothes back into their customary teaching robes and reduced his briefcase to the size of a matchbox pocketing it neatly. "So much better." He commented immediately. Hermione chuckled as his whole demeanour changed to his Almost-Bastard-Mode before her eyes.
"Severus, your aversion to anything Muggle or any colour not black or white is very strange." She chuckled.
"I don't have an aversion to you, dearest, and you were born to Muggles. As for the colours I wear. well I find that it's easier to colour co- ordinate." He replied and she chuckled even more as she hooked arms with him again and they continued on up to the school.
Reaching the main doors Severus opened them and allowed Hermione to precede him. They were just in time for lunch albeit that they would be the last to arrive in the Great Hall.
Walking between the tables of the Great Hall Severus approached Sonia Flint to find out if there had been any problems whilst he had been away and Hermione approached Samuel Davies to find out the same. Finding out that all was well Hermione moved on down the table to find her brother, who she saw surrounded by Weasley's.
"Mr. Granger." She said distracting him from his conversation from either Josh or Jim Weasley- she still couldn't tell.
"Herm... erm... Professor!" He stuttered and she smiled. "How was he?"
"Come and see me in my office after lunch, alright?" Hermione told him for she did not think that this particular discussion should be had in public.
"Okay." He gulped and looked suddenly very pale as the blood drained from his face.
"Oh, no need to worry, everything is fine, Chris." She told him quickly. He nodded somewhat relieved and Hermione headed off up to the head table.
"I trust everything went well, Professor Granger?" Albus asked beaming at her as she moved along the back of the table towards her seat.
"Yes, Headmaster. My father will recover in a few weeks and my mother and I managed to sort a few things out." She told him feeling much relieved.
"Good, good. If you need to speak with me just let me know." Dumbledore told her.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Hermione said.
"How has Gryffindor been, Minerva?" Hermione asked as she moved along the table a little more.
"No problems at all, Hermione. Christopher is settling in very nicely now as well, he's made friends with the Weasley's and a number of other students as well." McGonagall told her.
"Oh, that's good. Thank you for looking after them for me, Minerva."
"No problem, Hermione." She replied and Hermione moved to take her seat as she saw Severus do the same.
"I trust there were no problems whilst you were away, Severus?" Hermione asked as she saw his usual scowl was even more pronounced.
"A group of third years decided they'd take advantage of the fact I wasn't here and began brewing an illegal polyjuice potion in the ante-common room. Of course they didn't realise they'd have to keep it brewing for one month. Idiots." He grumbled as he ladled vegetables and beef onto his plate.
"Oh." Hermione simply could not comment on that one having done that her self whilst in second year and covered her guilt by ladling her own dinner onto her plate. "What will you do to them?"
"Perhaps give them each cat hairs to use for their final ingredient." He said trying his best to school his face into not grinning like a Cheshire cat at Hermione's look of surprise.
"How did you know!" She asked him suddenly dropping her knife; he'd certainly kept this knowledge about her tightly under wraps.
"I saw you in the hospital wing when I took Marcus Flint up there with a bloody nose." Severus told her as he began tucking into his dinner. "As for those students, well, the prefects dealt with them effectively so I'll leave it at that."
~~*~~
Hermione spoke with her brother directly after lunch. He was much relieved that their father was on the mend thanks to Professor Snape's ministrations and made a point to thank him personally. Hermione told Chris that either Severus or she would be visiting their father on a weekly basis to ensure that everything was going well and he was recovering. When Chris had asked if he could go too, Hermione had had to decline saying that he would see his father at Christmas and he should remain focussed on his school work until the end of term. Chris had respectfully not argued the point and she had made the promise that she would relay any messages he might have for his father.
Hermione had asked Severus to make the first trip to her parents' house that Wednesday night as he was more familiar with the potions for one, and she had been feeling quite under the weather since they had returned. Severus had told her it was probably the stress of the entire situation and told her to take a nice long bath to relax whilst he was at the Granger's.
Unfortunately for Hermione she never quite got round to having her bath as she had to supervise a detention that evening having come across a fight that was ensuing in the Arithmancy corridor between two Gryffindor second years and a Slytherin fifth year. She hadn't quite managed to get to the bottom of why they had been fighting when Penelope Clearwater dashed into her office wishing to speak to her in private and urgently.
Hermione dismissed her detentionees telling them to finish their lines by 8am the next morning and she would know if they'd used magic in order to help them to do it or not. They all left quickly and Hermione closed and warded the door behind them.
"Penny, what's wrong? Please sit down." Hermione said rushing to her side, crouching down and looking at her concerned.
"I just overheard a conversation those Weasley quads were having and it wasn't a pleasant one at all." She started looking quite disconcerted.
"Tell me, Penny." Hermione urged gently.
"One of them. one of the girls was expressing her thoughts, quite venomously, about having to share her dormitory with, and I quote, 'that filthy Mudblood bitch, Nichola Appleby'." Hermione gaped at Penny, completely taken aback that this kind of language would have emerged from a Weasley mouth. Penny continued. "Two of the other three Weasley's immediately started shouting at her, telling her to watch her mouth and that she was no sister of theirs if she thought like a Death Eater."
"What happened then, Penny?" Hermione pressed.
"One of the Weasley's who had not spoken up- one of the boys turned round and said that, 'she has a right to express her opinion'." Penny said, shocked herself that the Weasley quads would be like this. Of course Penny had only really gotten to know Percy Weasley when she had been going out with him in her sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts, so she didn't know what the normal Weasley temper was like having not seen Percy angered.
"What else, Penny?" Hermione prompted starting to feel quite nauseous again.
"Well, that girl said that she wouldn't put up with sharing with a Mudblood anymore, that she was a pureblood and she did not want to be in that dormitory. She had already moved her things out into the dorm next door to hers where she would be with other purebloods. She then said she was going off to see her Ravenclaw friends who also shared her thoughts and stormed off down the corridor."
"Who are her Ravenclaw friends, Penny? I've not seen either of the Weasley girls with any Ravenclaws, have you?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowing in concentration.
"Well, the other three Weasley's left for Gryffindor two of them continuing to argue with the brother who had defended his sister. I decided to follow the Weasley girl and she headed off to greenhouse four. I waited outside and saw Helga Picardo and Theresa Urmintrude entered a short while later." Penny gasped out while Hermione's heart suddenly plummeted and her stomach began to retch. "You realise who those students are, don't you?"
Hermione nodded as she frantically conjured a bucket and threw up violently into it. Penny stood up quickly and went to Hermione's aid, pulling back her hair and patting her on the back. "Penny, we have to tell Albus." She said as she retched again and sat down heavily on the floor breathing deeply.
"Well, I need to get you to the infirmary first." Penny told her.
"No, I'm okay. I have a potion right here." Hermione said as she reached out and grabbed a dark red vial, gulping it down she felt perfectly alright a few seconds later. She breathed deeply. "Come on, help me up and let's go see Dumbledore."
Penny helped Hermione up but stopped her from going anywhere. "Hermione, I'll go. You've been looking ill all day so go and lie down. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will call us all together eventually."
"But."
"No but's. You lie down." With that Penny left Hermione's office and headed for Dumbledore's.
~~*~~
Dumbledore had pulled Nichola Appleby into his office the following evening to find out about what may have gone on between her and one of the Weasley girls. So far it was undecided as to which Weasley girl it had been and so it was necessary to ascertain which one. Dumbledore, however, had not been able to find out since the night the Weasley argument had taken place another one had also transpired. The other argument had been between both Weasley girls and Nichola Appleby regarding the latest Muggle Studies assignment Professor Granger had set. This particular assignment was very controversial in that the students had to discuss the ways in which Muggle wars had been raged and compare one major war to that of a wizarding war that had taken place. Apparently there had been some kind of disagreement about the types of bombs Muggles used compared to what destruction could be dealt by using a wand.
Dumbledore had called Hermione into his office, who was still looking rather peaky and now very stressed, telling her what the disagreement had been about. He had said that there was nothing he could do to stop a student expressing his or her opinions until they acted upon those thoughts. Until then, he simply urged caution and strict observation.
So, all of the staff had then been updated as to what had happened and who to now set their main sights on. The Weasley's however did seem to be drifting apart from each other though and constantly squabbling so much so that they had been separated in most of their classes for bickering. As for the two Ravenclaw girls, they had kept their heads down and were both being the perfect model Ravenclaws that they had seemed to be at the start of term.
The weeks went by and both Hermione's and Chris' birthdays were celebrated in very different ways. Chris had spent his birthday in the Gryffindor common room with his friends and Hermione had gotten him some books, which he might find interesting relating to Potions and Herbology. Chris had gotten Hermione a Muggle photograph made that showed her parents, Chris and herself combined onto one photo via the use of a computer. She absolutely adored the thought that had gone behind this and had placed it in pride of place on the mantelpiece in her office with the other photos she had.
Hermione had celebrated her birthday with Severus who had taken her out to dinner in Hogsmede and he had made a necklace to match her engagement ring, which she just adored and wore around her neck at all times. They had then spent a night together but Hermione was still feeling under the weather so they had simply just held each other and fallen asleep.
The weeks trundled on and Severus had stopped visiting the Granger's now since Peter had made a full recovery. The nurses had put it down to a miracle and said to not question it and to just be thankful.
Severus and Hermione were both very busy and could not spend much time together at all. They had too much to do between classes, marking, House duties, hall duties, and detentions, meetings with prefects and other staff members as well as spying on the selected students. Hermione was feeling the stress very much so, and she could do nothing more than simply sleep as soon as she finished for the day. She missed Severus and the time they had had together. The Christmas holidays were one week away and they both could not wait to simply have no students for three whole weeks and to be able to see each other whenever they wanted.
All of the students were going home this year so the castle would only have a skeleton of inhabitants to make sure it ticked by while everyone was away. In fact only Dumbledore, Minerva, Severus, Hermione, Ron and his family were staying over the break.
~~*~~
"Professor Granger, do you have a moment?" Severus called to his fiancé through the internal floo network, it was the last day of term and the students would all be off home today. No reply came and so he tried again when he heard a retching noise coming from somewhere in the background. "Hermione? Are you alright?" He called a little louder.
"Yes, quite. alright, Severus." She said catching her breath as her head appeared in the fireplace. She'd just been sick again but the frequency was decreasing and so she was sure she would be back to normal soon enough; finally getting over whatever viral infection she had. She seemed to have been ill since the middle of September and two months down the line she was still being sick but only, it seemed when things were particularly stressful.
"Hermione, you look ill. Have you seen Madam Pomfrey yet?" Severus asked concerned.
"It's just stress, Severus. It will pass as soon as the holidays start and I get some rest for once." She told him exasperated, he looked disbelieving at her. "What can I help you with anyway?"
"I wondered if you were going down to the station with Chris?"
"I thought I might, yes. Want to come?" She asked him.
"I think I will. There's something I wanted from the Apothecary in Hogsmede and I wondered if you might like to come with me anyway?" He asked; it would be the first time in weeks since they had spent some time together. They were both far too busy to do anything but fall asleep in each others arms a couple of nights per week thoroughly exhausted from all of their extra duties in the castle- teaching and patrolling to name but two.
"Yeah, I will. I need some air to clear my head I think. Chris is nearly finished packing anyway, we should be good to leave in about five minutes." She told him.
"Okay. I'll meet you at the entrance, love, since I have to go and supervise the departing of the students anyway." Severus said rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
"See you soon, love." With that the floo connection shut down and Severus went to grab his cloak. He left for the entrance hall to supervise the students leaving for the horseless carriages and await his fiancé and her brother.
~~*~~
"Come along, Chris." Hermione said as they slowly descended the main staircase and entered the entrance hall. The noise level was quite over powering as the excited students waited patiently to get through the main doors and into a carriage.
"There's Professor Snape." Chris pointed over to the side where Severus stood with his arms folded and menacingly glaring down at the students. Hermione and Chris made their way over to Severus through the throng being buffeted along the way and generally blocked from proceeding by a severe lack of room.
"Excuse us, please." Hermione said loudly but over the noise she could not be heard. "Excuse us!" She tried again. Severus looked up and noticed them both struggling and mouthing the words to let them through.
"SILENCE!" Severus roared and the entrance hall suddenly went quite enough to hear a pin drop. "Stand aside and let Professor Granger through." He ordered and the students quickly clambered out of the way before House points could be taken.
Hermione walked over to Severus and grinned at him in thanks as Chris followed her. "Thank you, Professor Snape."
"No problem, Professor Granger." Severus said as the students slowly thinned out as they exited the castle. When only a few students were left Severus turned to Hermione and Chris. "Shall we go now? I believe there is a carriage awaiting us."
They made their way outside and to the last carriage as the long line of them had already proceeded to make their way down to Hogsmede station. Severus helped Hermione inside, allowed Chris in next and then helped him with his trunk before entering the carriage himself. Soon they were moving off slowly down the long and winding road to Hogsmede.
"Looking forward to the holidays, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked as he sat opposite Hermione, Chris sitting next to her.
"Oh, yes. I can't wait to see my dad." He paused looking at Severus. "You know, Professor. You can call me Chris if you like. After all you're going to be my brother-in-law one day."
Hermione smiled at her little brother's gall, no first year student. well any student she had known had ever spoken to Severus in such a friendly manner before. "It wouldn't kill you, Severus." She told him quietly.
"Very well, Chris." He said nodding at him. "You may call me Severus. However, this will only be in private and not during school. You shall address me as Professor or Sir otherwise. Is that clear?" Severus told him sternly, making sure there was no question about what he meant.
"Yes, Severus. Thank you." He said as he looked out the window, they were half way there now. "So, when is the wedding going to be?"
"We have not gotten around to discussing our plans yet, Chris." Hermione responded.
"Oh, well perhaps you'll get time over the break." He replied.
"We will." Severus said and glanced meaningfully at Hermione.
"Chris, you're friends with the Weasley's aren't you?" Hermione asked him suddenly, her mind working in overdrive.
"Yes, Hermione. I share a dorm with Jim and Josh remember?" He asked a bit sarcastically.
"Hmm. How do you find Jem and Jo?" She asked.
"Alright for girls I suppose." Severus chuckled slightly at that inflection. "Why?"
"There are some concerns about them. I wondered if you could do me a favour?" Hermione asked.
"Sure. What?" He asked frowning. He had noticed that they had been arguing a great deal lately but he put that down to simple sibling rivalry.
"Just report anything odd that occurs or anything they may say." She told him.
"What am I supposed to be listening for? They after all, do tend to say a lot, especially since they're girls."
"Well, we have reason to believe they may get themselves wound up in the Dark Arts and practice magic that should never be used by good wizards and witches." Hermione told him. "It's important that we find out before they get themselves mixed up too much in the practices that bad wizards such as the likes of Voldemort and his followers were into."
"Oh, I think that Jo was saying something about that Voldemort person the other day. Something about some Book of Shadows that her friend Theresa has." Severus gasped and Chris just frowned as he tried to think what they had said.
"The Book of Shadows? Are you sure this is what she said? The exact title?" Severus asked, offering no opportunity for Chris to back track. He wanted an answer.
"Yeah, pretty sure. Why?" Chris said nodding his head and casting his mind back.
"Never you mind, Chris but thank you for that information it is most helpful." Severus responded as the carriage came to a stop and the doors opened.
"Ready then?" Hermione asked Chris and then sent Severus a questioning look, which he merely shook his head slightly at.
"Wait, Chris. Do not mention anything we've talked about. Do I have you word on this?" Severus asked seriously.
"Yes, Sir." Chris responded and then exited the carriage.
Severus got out next and helped Hermione out before retrieving Chris' trunk for him. They walked onto the platform where the Hogwarts' Express was awaiting the students. "Well, Chris. Have a great Christmas and say hello to mum and dad for me. We may have a chance to drop by for a visit but I don't want to make any definite plans just in case. Remember, no magic outside of school and I'll send your present on via owl post, okay?"
"Yes, thank you Hermione." Chris said hugging his sister tightly. "You have a great Christmas too, and you as well Professor Snape."
"Thank you, Mr. Granger. Happy Christmas to you as well." Severus told him smiling very slightly since they were surrounded by students.
"See you in a few weeks then, Chris."
"Yeah, bye." Chris said as he got on the train with his trunk and moved to find some of his friends. The train departed and Severus and Hermione made their way into Hogsmede.
"So, what's this about.?"
"Not here, Hermione. We must not speak of that here. Later I will tell you." Severus interrupted her before she could ask what he knew was on her mind.
"Alright." She said as he offered her his arm and she linked hers with his again as they walked slowly towards the shops.
"Do you want to go for something to eat, love; you are looking rather pale again." Severus asked her.
"Yeah, I do feel a bit ill, Severus. It must be a bug; I just can't seem to shake it." She said, letting her head drop onto his shoulder as they walked along.
"We will see Madam Pomfrey as soon as we get back and before she leaves to go to her son's for Christmas. No arguments, Hermione, you are ill, love." Hermione just nodded as they entered the Three Broomsticks and took a seat in a quiet corner.
They ordered a light lunch and some pumpkin juice, eating and drinking as they chatted amiably. It was such as change to be able to just share some companionable time together. They would relish the entire three weeks they would have without any student around as distractions.
"So, Severus. You've met my parents and my brother as well. Since we've been together you've never once mentioned your family. Care to tell me about them?" Hermione asked as she sipped her juice.
Severus swallowed what he had been chewing and cleared his throat. "Well, my father died when I was 19 years old. He refused to join Voldemort and out rightly opposed him, which was the last mistake he ever made. Voldemort sent his Death Eaters after him and he paid with his life."
"I'm sorry, Severus." Hermione whispered and he merely shrugged.
"It was a long time ago, Hermione. I do miss him sometimes though." He told her.
"And what of you mother?" She asked, moving away from the topic of his father seeing that despite what he said, it did have some kind of affect on him.
"She lives in Hungary with my Aunt Velsaviour, they are sisters. I had one sister who joined Voldemort and ended up in Azkaban for her troubles. She was my older sister by six years and called Bronwyn, she died several years ago now. I have two brothers who are Demetri and Kelvin. Demetri is two years my senior and Kelvin two years my junior."
"Are your brothers still alive?" She asked, intrigued.
"Demetri is a Mediwizard at a hospital in Bulgaria near Durmstrang School. He has a wife and four children who all now attend Durmstrang since it is the closest school for them. He has three sons and one daughter by the names of Severus, Constance, Simeon and Cameron." He paused, taking a drink of his juice. "Kelvin lives in Ireland and works for the Irish Ministry in the Department of International Affairs. He's married and has two children- Jacinda who is 7 years old and Jordanna who is 10 years old."
"Oh, will we be having the pleasure of teaching Jordanna at Hogwarts next year?" Hermione asked him, it would be strange to teach a member of Snape's family especially since she had never thought about him being associated with any extended family- believing he was an only child.
"I should imagine so unless Kelvin is transferred from Ireland to a different country before then."
"So, do you ever see your mother and brothers?"
"My mother- her name is Delilah has not seen me for about 10 years now. There's no reason for it. I guess we've just both been too busy. She grows potions ingredients and ships them out to her suppliers. She is the managing director of a large firm by the name of Santonin International." Hermione gasped.
"Really? That's the largest wizarding company there is, and you tell me your own mother is the director?" She said raising her eyebrows completely impressed.
"She actually owns it. She built the company up over many years but it really took off when my father died." Severus told her, grinning at the look of shock on her face.
"So, what about you brothers? Do you see them?" Hermione asked.
"I saw Kelvin about three years ago when he first moved to Ireland, he had been living in Australia you see. As for Demetri, well we've not see each other for about ten years now. He took the fact I was a Death Eater very badly indeed and threatened my life if I ever saw him again."
"But surely he knows you were a spy for the Order?" Hermione asked; it would be so sad if the two brothers never got on again.
"Well, he does now but obviously I had to let him think I was nothing other than a follower of Voldemort in order to keep my cover. He has written to me though so perhaps the relationship we had can be saved."
The conversation lapsed for a short while until they both finished their meals. "Are you ready to go, Hermione? I want to get back before Poppy leaves and I still must get to the Apothecary." She nodded and they left.
Once Severus had purchased his ingredients they left for Hogwarts deciding to make the most of the cool crisp December afternoon. On the way Hermione began to feel quite dizzy and so Severus directed her towards a bench that was near the old church on the outskirts of Hogsmede.
"Hermione." Severus asked concerned as they sat down.
"I'm just very tired, Severus. I seem to have no energy these days to be honest. I was up early this morning to sort out the students for their departure and last night I was up late talking with Chris." She closed her eyes and leant forward feeling nauseous again and not wanting to bring up her lunch, it had been nice going down but she didn't particularly want to see it in reverse.
"Okay, I'm signalling for a carriage and we are going straight to the hospital wing." Severus stood up and waved his hand to one of the student carriages which was still near the station a little way up the street. A few minutes later it had arrived and Severus helped Hermione inside. Ten minutes later Severus was stepping through the door of the hospital wing supporting Hermione and calling for Poppy Pomfrey.
"What's wrong, Severus?" The nurse asked, entering the ward from her office and dressed as Severus had never seen her before, in Muggle clothes.
"Hermione has been feeling ill for weeks now. She put it down to stress. She's been very nauseous and vomiting. Today she feels very worn out and lethargic." He quickly said as he moved Hermione over to one of the hospital beds and helped her to settle down on it. He stood beside her continuing to hold and stroke her hand affectionately.
"Is she eating and drinking normally?" Poppy asked withdrawing her wand and beginning her examination while Hermione just gazed up from the bed with a look of worry on her face.
"Well, yes but I don't know how much she is managing to keep down." Poppy just nodded at what Severus was saying.
"Okay. Severus, if you could just step outside and let me do a more thorough scan of her I shouldn't be too long." Poppy said and Severus complied though he did not like the idea of leaving Hermione there.
Poppy waited until they had some privacy before she began. "Do you stop your monthly cycle with potions, Hermione or do you just put up with them in the usual Muggle way?"
"I have started to use the potions but only recently. could it be an allergy to them?" Hermione asked as Poppy continued to move her wand up and down, focussing on her abdomen more so.
"No."
"Oh?"
"How's your appetite?" Poppy continued.
"Good. I eat like a horse to tell the truth but I feel so sick most of the time. I'm sure it's just stress, Poppy." Hermione said asserting herself.
"Hmm."
"What else could it be then?" Hermione asked more worried than ever especially since her father had just recovered from his cancer and she knew that it could mean she had a predisposition to the disease.
"Hermione."
"Is it cancer, Poppy?" Hermione asked timidly. "I want to know if it is."
Poppy frowned and shook her head. "Hermione, you my dear are pregnant."
"What!" Hermione gasped in a mixture of horror, fright and excitement as she sat up in bed a stared dumbfounded at the nurse standing before her. How? Well, she knew how of course but they had been careful.
"You are two months pregnant my dear. Is it such a shock to you?" Poppy asked.
"Well. no, I guess not. But we were careful, Poppy." Hermione thought for a moment. "Oh, my. How will I tell Severus?"
"I'm sure he will be thrilled, Hermione. But you should know that the contraceptive potions may be altered if you use the potion to stop menstruation as well. Of course it's a little late to tell you that now. but for future reference." Poppy assured her. "Perhaps Severus was not aware of the potions you were taking or he could have brewed a contraceptive potion that would work well with the one which stops you menstruating?"
"No, he didn't know." Hermione said dejected, it was all her fault.
"Hermione, if you do not want the baby there is still time to abort the foetus." Poppy said although she personally abhorred the very idea.
"Absolutely not, Poppy!" Hermione protested immediately and angrily at the suggestion.
"I'm very happy with this decision, Hermione. You will both make wonderful parents I think." The nurse said smiling proudly at her. "In the mean time. I will give you a potion for the symptoms associated with pregnancy. One dose ought to last a week." Hermione lay there in total shock as Poppy bustled off to retrieve the potion. "Here you go, if you need more I'm sure you know of a good Potions Master." She said grinning at her.
"Thank you, Poppy." Hermione drank down the contents of the vial and was relieved when it began to take immediate effect and she was back to feeling her normal self again moments later.
"You are welcome, my dear." Poppy said patting her gently on the arm.
"Can Severus come in now?"
"Of course." Poppy moved off out of the ward to fetch him.
Chapter Eight
This next day Severus was first up out of bed at the break of dawn, as was his usual. He dressed quickly and performed a few cleaning charms on himself before going downstairs to check on the potion, and Hermione's father of course.
The potion was ready for the next and final stage and Severus got to work quickly as he waited for Hermione and her mother to rise. It was an hour later when Hermione came through the living room door and approached Severus, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"How's it going, love?" She asked quietly as she peered into the cauldron to see him stirring a mustard yellow gloop.
"Nearly finished. I need to stir it ten more times anti-clockwise and then add three drops of camomile extract before letting it simmer for ten minutes and then allowing it to cool." He told her and he continued to work. Hermione moved over to see her father and noticing he was still fast asleep began to move away. "Hermione, your father will need another dose of the first potion now. You should wake him." Severus told her as he continued to stir.
Hermione gently woke her father up. "Dad. Dad." She shook his shoulder as he stirred and opened his eyes slowly. He was still completely doped up with drugs and so was only able to blink slowly. Hermione saw no recognition of her in his eyes. She administered the potion and stroked her father's hair, allowing him to fall back asleep peacefully. He did seem much more settled already since yesterday and his first dose of the potion, which certainly seemed to be taking effect. "Would you like breakfast, Severus? Mum's just finishing in the shower and we can all eat together." Hermione asked him as she continued to stroke her father's hair.
"Yes, please, love. We missed dinner last night and I am rather hungry this morning." He responded.
An hour later Hermione, Amanda and Severus were sitting down at the kitchen table for breakfast.
"We'll be heading back to Hogwarts this afternoon, Mum." Hermione told her.
"So soon?" Amanda asked, looking sad as she looked up at her daughter.
"Unfortunately there is no-one to cover our classes. We are rather short staffed, Mrs. Granger." Severus said as he speared a piece of bacon and egg and popped it in his mouth, chewing vigorously.
"Oh, please call me Amanda, Professor Snape. I really should have told you to last night. After all we are going to be family soon and with everything you are doing for Peter it certainly seems right that we should be on a first name basis." Amanda told him as she patted his shoulder.
"Thank you, Amanda. You must call me Severus then." He told her and Hermione smiled that they were getting along so well. "We will be leaving you a good supply of both of the potions to give to your husband. You should give him the first one- the purple coloured one, a dose in the morning and one before bed. A dose is one whole vial." Severus told her and she nodded. "The second potion will be light green in colour and should be given every four hours until it has all gone. I believe there will be a whole week's supply of this potion but it must be given religiously every four hours or it will not work."
"What about the interaction with the drugs he's already on though?" Amanda asked concerned that her husband may be in for more ill affects after everything he'd already gone through.
"You will find he will not need those drugs anymore. However, the health workers who come to your house should withdraw the medications as they see he is getting better. Until then, it is perfectly safe to give the potions along with the Muggle remedies." Severus replied.
"Okay, I'll write that all down so I don't forget. My mind is like a sieve these days what with everything that's been going on and my lack of sleep. Thank you so much for everything, Severus and you too Hermione." Amanda said clasping a shoulder of each of them and squeezing lightly.
"No problem. We should probably head back soon, Hermione. I expect you'll want to speak to Chris also?" Severus said glancing over in his fiancés direction as she took a gulp of tea.
"Yes, I should let him know dad will be okay." Hermione replied, swallowing.
"The potion should have cooled by now. I'll bottle it and pack everything away. If you could start the second potion off on the hour it would be easier for you to remember the next one, Amanda." She nodded. "Then please excuse me from the table and I'll finish off my work." Severus stood up and headed off back to the living room.
An hour later everything was cleared away and the potions were all bottled up and labelled. Hermione and Severus had collected all of their belongings together and were ready to leave.
"One of us should make sure everything is okay around mid-week. Is it alright to apparate into your spare bedroom?" Severus asked.
"Oh, yes. Just make some noise so I don't think you're a burglar." Amanda said smiling and not knowing really what he meant by the term 'apparate'.
"Will do." Hermione replied. "It's been great to see you again, Mum. We'll see each other again soon I expect. I just wish I could have spoken to dad as well. but next time I will." Hermione said hugging her mother tightly.
Amanda hugged Severus as well who was quite taken aback and awkwardly returned the embrace. "Thank you so much, Severus. I could never repay you. Never."
"It's no problem, Amanda. Really." Severus said moving back towards Hermione and picking up his potions briefcase. It was already mid-day and with any luck they'd be back at Hogwarts, changed and in time for lunch. "Ready, love?"
"Yes. Bye, Mum." Hermione said.
"Good bye, Amanda."
"Bye, dears, and thank you."
Severus and Hermione both apparated to Hogwarts with a loud crack, leaving Amanda to gape is surprise, having never seen anyone travel this way before.
~~*~~
They reappeared just outside of Hogwarts large front gates. Severus proceeded to open one and they both slipped inside heading off up the long winding path back up towards the castle.
"I don't know how I can ever thank you, Severus." Hermione said as she placed her hand on his arm lightly and removed it again quickly since she knew that Severus was still uneasy about these public displays of affection, and it was midday when anyone could be watching them.
"Hermione, you don't have to. Your agreeing to marry me is more than enough." He offered her his arm and looking surprised she hooked hers around his. "Which, incidentally, we never got around to discussing did we?"
"No, we did not, Severus, and I don't think we'll get the opportunity today either." She replied as they passed the Whomping Willow and continued on up the path.
"Oh, before we go any further." Severus stopped them abruptly and pulled out his wand waving it several times he transfigured his and Hermione's clothes back into their customary teaching robes and reduced his briefcase to the size of a matchbox pocketing it neatly. "So much better." He commented immediately. Hermione chuckled as his whole demeanour changed to his Almost-Bastard-Mode before her eyes.
"Severus, your aversion to anything Muggle or any colour not black or white is very strange." She chuckled.
"I don't have an aversion to you, dearest, and you were born to Muggles. As for the colours I wear. well I find that it's easier to colour co- ordinate." He replied and she chuckled even more as she hooked arms with him again and they continued on up to the school.
Reaching the main doors Severus opened them and allowed Hermione to precede him. They were just in time for lunch albeit that they would be the last to arrive in the Great Hall.
Walking between the tables of the Great Hall Severus approached Sonia Flint to find out if there had been any problems whilst he had been away and Hermione approached Samuel Davies to find out the same. Finding out that all was well Hermione moved on down the table to find her brother, who she saw surrounded by Weasley's.
"Mr. Granger." She said distracting him from his conversation from either Josh or Jim Weasley- she still couldn't tell.
"Herm... erm... Professor!" He stuttered and she smiled. "How was he?"
"Come and see me in my office after lunch, alright?" Hermione told him for she did not think that this particular discussion should be had in public.
"Okay." He gulped and looked suddenly very pale as the blood drained from his face.
"Oh, no need to worry, everything is fine, Chris." She told him quickly. He nodded somewhat relieved and Hermione headed off up to the head table.
"I trust everything went well, Professor Granger?" Albus asked beaming at her as she moved along the back of the table towards her seat.
"Yes, Headmaster. My father will recover in a few weeks and my mother and I managed to sort a few things out." She told him feeling much relieved.
"Good, good. If you need to speak with me just let me know." Dumbledore told her.
"Thank you, Headmaster." Hermione said.
"How has Gryffindor been, Minerva?" Hermione asked as she moved along the table a little more.
"No problems at all, Hermione. Christopher is settling in very nicely now as well, he's made friends with the Weasley's and a number of other students as well." McGonagall told her.
"Oh, that's good. Thank you for looking after them for me, Minerva."
"No problem, Hermione." She replied and Hermione moved to take her seat as she saw Severus do the same.
"I trust there were no problems whilst you were away, Severus?" Hermione asked as she saw his usual scowl was even more pronounced.
"A group of third years decided they'd take advantage of the fact I wasn't here and began brewing an illegal polyjuice potion in the ante-common room. Of course they didn't realise they'd have to keep it brewing for one month. Idiots." He grumbled as he ladled vegetables and beef onto his plate.
"Oh." Hermione simply could not comment on that one having done that her self whilst in second year and covered her guilt by ladling her own dinner onto her plate. "What will you do to them?"
"Perhaps give them each cat hairs to use for their final ingredient." He said trying his best to school his face into not grinning like a Cheshire cat at Hermione's look of surprise.
"How did you know!" She asked him suddenly dropping her knife; he'd certainly kept this knowledge about her tightly under wraps.
"I saw you in the hospital wing when I took Marcus Flint up there with a bloody nose." Severus told her as he began tucking into his dinner. "As for those students, well, the prefects dealt with them effectively so I'll leave it at that."
~~*~~
Hermione spoke with her brother directly after lunch. He was much relieved that their father was on the mend thanks to Professor Snape's ministrations and made a point to thank him personally. Hermione told Chris that either Severus or she would be visiting their father on a weekly basis to ensure that everything was going well and he was recovering. When Chris had asked if he could go too, Hermione had had to decline saying that he would see his father at Christmas and he should remain focussed on his school work until the end of term. Chris had respectfully not argued the point and she had made the promise that she would relay any messages he might have for his father.
Hermione had asked Severus to make the first trip to her parents' house that Wednesday night as he was more familiar with the potions for one, and she had been feeling quite under the weather since they had returned. Severus had told her it was probably the stress of the entire situation and told her to take a nice long bath to relax whilst he was at the Granger's.
Unfortunately for Hermione she never quite got round to having her bath as she had to supervise a detention that evening having come across a fight that was ensuing in the Arithmancy corridor between two Gryffindor second years and a Slytherin fifth year. She hadn't quite managed to get to the bottom of why they had been fighting when Penelope Clearwater dashed into her office wishing to speak to her in private and urgently.
Hermione dismissed her detentionees telling them to finish their lines by 8am the next morning and she would know if they'd used magic in order to help them to do it or not. They all left quickly and Hermione closed and warded the door behind them.
"Penny, what's wrong? Please sit down." Hermione said rushing to her side, crouching down and looking at her concerned.
"I just overheard a conversation those Weasley quads were having and it wasn't a pleasant one at all." She started looking quite disconcerted.
"Tell me, Penny." Hermione urged gently.
"One of them. one of the girls was expressing her thoughts, quite venomously, about having to share her dormitory with, and I quote, 'that filthy Mudblood bitch, Nichola Appleby'." Hermione gaped at Penny, completely taken aback that this kind of language would have emerged from a Weasley mouth. Penny continued. "Two of the other three Weasley's immediately started shouting at her, telling her to watch her mouth and that she was no sister of theirs if she thought like a Death Eater."
"What happened then, Penny?" Hermione pressed.
"One of the Weasley's who had not spoken up- one of the boys turned round and said that, 'she has a right to express her opinion'." Penny said, shocked herself that the Weasley quads would be like this. Of course Penny had only really gotten to know Percy Weasley when she had been going out with him in her sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts, so she didn't know what the normal Weasley temper was like having not seen Percy angered.
"What else, Penny?" Hermione prompted starting to feel quite nauseous again.
"Well, that girl said that she wouldn't put up with sharing with a Mudblood anymore, that she was a pureblood and she did not want to be in that dormitory. She had already moved her things out into the dorm next door to hers where she would be with other purebloods. She then said she was going off to see her Ravenclaw friends who also shared her thoughts and stormed off down the corridor."
"Who are her Ravenclaw friends, Penny? I've not seen either of the Weasley girls with any Ravenclaws, have you?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowing in concentration.
"Well, the other three Weasley's left for Gryffindor two of them continuing to argue with the brother who had defended his sister. I decided to follow the Weasley girl and she headed off to greenhouse four. I waited outside and saw Helga Picardo and Theresa Urmintrude entered a short while later." Penny gasped out while Hermione's heart suddenly plummeted and her stomach began to retch. "You realise who those students are, don't you?"
Hermione nodded as she frantically conjured a bucket and threw up violently into it. Penny stood up quickly and went to Hermione's aid, pulling back her hair and patting her on the back. "Penny, we have to tell Albus." She said as she retched again and sat down heavily on the floor breathing deeply.
"Well, I need to get you to the infirmary first." Penny told her.
"No, I'm okay. I have a potion right here." Hermione said as she reached out and grabbed a dark red vial, gulping it down she felt perfectly alright a few seconds later. She breathed deeply. "Come on, help me up and let's go see Dumbledore."
Penny helped Hermione up but stopped her from going anywhere. "Hermione, I'll go. You've been looking ill all day so go and lie down. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will call us all together eventually."
"But."
"No but's. You lie down." With that Penny left Hermione's office and headed for Dumbledore's.
~~*~~
Dumbledore had pulled Nichola Appleby into his office the following evening to find out about what may have gone on between her and one of the Weasley girls. So far it was undecided as to which Weasley girl it had been and so it was necessary to ascertain which one. Dumbledore, however, had not been able to find out since the night the Weasley argument had taken place another one had also transpired. The other argument had been between both Weasley girls and Nichola Appleby regarding the latest Muggle Studies assignment Professor Granger had set. This particular assignment was very controversial in that the students had to discuss the ways in which Muggle wars had been raged and compare one major war to that of a wizarding war that had taken place. Apparently there had been some kind of disagreement about the types of bombs Muggles used compared to what destruction could be dealt by using a wand.
Dumbledore had called Hermione into his office, who was still looking rather peaky and now very stressed, telling her what the disagreement had been about. He had said that there was nothing he could do to stop a student expressing his or her opinions until they acted upon those thoughts. Until then, he simply urged caution and strict observation.
So, all of the staff had then been updated as to what had happened and who to now set their main sights on. The Weasley's however did seem to be drifting apart from each other though and constantly squabbling so much so that they had been separated in most of their classes for bickering. As for the two Ravenclaw girls, they had kept their heads down and were both being the perfect model Ravenclaws that they had seemed to be at the start of term.
The weeks went by and both Hermione's and Chris' birthdays were celebrated in very different ways. Chris had spent his birthday in the Gryffindor common room with his friends and Hermione had gotten him some books, which he might find interesting relating to Potions and Herbology. Chris had gotten Hermione a Muggle photograph made that showed her parents, Chris and herself combined onto one photo via the use of a computer. She absolutely adored the thought that had gone behind this and had placed it in pride of place on the mantelpiece in her office with the other photos she had.
Hermione had celebrated her birthday with Severus who had taken her out to dinner in Hogsmede and he had made a necklace to match her engagement ring, which she just adored and wore around her neck at all times. They had then spent a night together but Hermione was still feeling under the weather so they had simply just held each other and fallen asleep.
The weeks trundled on and Severus had stopped visiting the Granger's now since Peter had made a full recovery. The nurses had put it down to a miracle and said to not question it and to just be thankful.
Severus and Hermione were both very busy and could not spend much time together at all. They had too much to do between classes, marking, House duties, hall duties, and detentions, meetings with prefects and other staff members as well as spying on the selected students. Hermione was feeling the stress very much so, and she could do nothing more than simply sleep as soon as she finished for the day. She missed Severus and the time they had had together. The Christmas holidays were one week away and they both could not wait to simply have no students for three whole weeks and to be able to see each other whenever they wanted.
All of the students were going home this year so the castle would only have a skeleton of inhabitants to make sure it ticked by while everyone was away. In fact only Dumbledore, Minerva, Severus, Hermione, Ron and his family were staying over the break.
~~*~~
"Professor Granger, do you have a moment?" Severus called to his fiancé through the internal floo network, it was the last day of term and the students would all be off home today. No reply came and so he tried again when he heard a retching noise coming from somewhere in the background. "Hermione? Are you alright?" He called a little louder.
"Yes, quite. alright, Severus." She said catching her breath as her head appeared in the fireplace. She'd just been sick again but the frequency was decreasing and so she was sure she would be back to normal soon enough; finally getting over whatever viral infection she had. She seemed to have been ill since the middle of September and two months down the line she was still being sick but only, it seemed when things were particularly stressful.
"Hermione, you look ill. Have you seen Madam Pomfrey yet?" Severus asked concerned.
"It's just stress, Severus. It will pass as soon as the holidays start and I get some rest for once." She told him exasperated, he looked disbelieving at her. "What can I help you with anyway?"
"I wondered if you were going down to the station with Chris?"
"I thought I might, yes. Want to come?" She asked him.
"I think I will. There's something I wanted from the Apothecary in Hogsmede and I wondered if you might like to come with me anyway?" He asked; it would be the first time in weeks since they had spent some time together. They were both far too busy to do anything but fall asleep in each others arms a couple of nights per week thoroughly exhausted from all of their extra duties in the castle- teaching and patrolling to name but two.
"Yeah, I will. I need some air to clear my head I think. Chris is nearly finished packing anyway, we should be good to leave in about five minutes." She told him.
"Okay. I'll meet you at the entrance, love, since I have to go and supervise the departing of the students anyway." Severus said rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
"See you soon, love." With that the floo connection shut down and Severus went to grab his cloak. He left for the entrance hall to supervise the students leaving for the horseless carriages and await his fiancé and her brother.
~~*~~
"Come along, Chris." Hermione said as they slowly descended the main staircase and entered the entrance hall. The noise level was quite over powering as the excited students waited patiently to get through the main doors and into a carriage.
"There's Professor Snape." Chris pointed over to the side where Severus stood with his arms folded and menacingly glaring down at the students. Hermione and Chris made their way over to Severus through the throng being buffeted along the way and generally blocked from proceeding by a severe lack of room.
"Excuse us, please." Hermione said loudly but over the noise she could not be heard. "Excuse us!" She tried again. Severus looked up and noticed them both struggling and mouthing the words to let them through.
"SILENCE!" Severus roared and the entrance hall suddenly went quite enough to hear a pin drop. "Stand aside and let Professor Granger through." He ordered and the students quickly clambered out of the way before House points could be taken.
Hermione walked over to Severus and grinned at him in thanks as Chris followed her. "Thank you, Professor Snape."
"No problem, Professor Granger." Severus said as the students slowly thinned out as they exited the castle. When only a few students were left Severus turned to Hermione and Chris. "Shall we go now? I believe there is a carriage awaiting us."
They made their way outside and to the last carriage as the long line of them had already proceeded to make their way down to Hogsmede station. Severus helped Hermione inside, allowed Chris in next and then helped him with his trunk before entering the carriage himself. Soon they were moving off slowly down the long and winding road to Hogsmede.
"Looking forward to the holidays, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked as he sat opposite Hermione, Chris sitting next to her.
"Oh, yes. I can't wait to see my dad." He paused looking at Severus. "You know, Professor. You can call me Chris if you like. After all you're going to be my brother-in-law one day."
Hermione smiled at her little brother's gall, no first year student. well any student she had known had ever spoken to Severus in such a friendly manner before. "It wouldn't kill you, Severus." She told him quietly.
"Very well, Chris." He said nodding at him. "You may call me Severus. However, this will only be in private and not during school. You shall address me as Professor or Sir otherwise. Is that clear?" Severus told him sternly, making sure there was no question about what he meant.
"Yes, Severus. Thank you." He said as he looked out the window, they were half way there now. "So, when is the wedding going to be?"
"We have not gotten around to discussing our plans yet, Chris." Hermione responded.
"Oh, well perhaps you'll get time over the break." He replied.
"We will." Severus said and glanced meaningfully at Hermione.
"Chris, you're friends with the Weasley's aren't you?" Hermione asked him suddenly, her mind working in overdrive.
"Yes, Hermione. I share a dorm with Jim and Josh remember?" He asked a bit sarcastically.
"Hmm. How do you find Jem and Jo?" She asked.
"Alright for girls I suppose." Severus chuckled slightly at that inflection. "Why?"
"There are some concerns about them. I wondered if you could do me a favour?" Hermione asked.
"Sure. What?" He asked frowning. He had noticed that they had been arguing a great deal lately but he put that down to simple sibling rivalry.
"Just report anything odd that occurs or anything they may say." She told him.
"What am I supposed to be listening for? They after all, do tend to say a lot, especially since they're girls."
"Well, we have reason to believe they may get themselves wound up in the Dark Arts and practice magic that should never be used by good wizards and witches." Hermione told him. "It's important that we find out before they get themselves mixed up too much in the practices that bad wizards such as the likes of Voldemort and his followers were into."
"Oh, I think that Jo was saying something about that Voldemort person the other day. Something about some Book of Shadows that her friend Theresa has." Severus gasped and Chris just frowned as he tried to think what they had said.
"The Book of Shadows? Are you sure this is what she said? The exact title?" Severus asked, offering no opportunity for Chris to back track. He wanted an answer.
"Yeah, pretty sure. Why?" Chris said nodding his head and casting his mind back.
"Never you mind, Chris but thank you for that information it is most helpful." Severus responded as the carriage came to a stop and the doors opened.
"Ready then?" Hermione asked Chris and then sent Severus a questioning look, which he merely shook his head slightly at.
"Wait, Chris. Do not mention anything we've talked about. Do I have you word on this?" Severus asked seriously.
"Yes, Sir." Chris responded and then exited the carriage.
Severus got out next and helped Hermione out before retrieving Chris' trunk for him. They walked onto the platform where the Hogwarts' Express was awaiting the students. "Well, Chris. Have a great Christmas and say hello to mum and dad for me. We may have a chance to drop by for a visit but I don't want to make any definite plans just in case. Remember, no magic outside of school and I'll send your present on via owl post, okay?"
"Yes, thank you Hermione." Chris said hugging his sister tightly. "You have a great Christmas too, and you as well Professor Snape."
"Thank you, Mr. Granger. Happy Christmas to you as well." Severus told him smiling very slightly since they were surrounded by students.
"See you in a few weeks then, Chris."
"Yeah, bye." Chris said as he got on the train with his trunk and moved to find some of his friends. The train departed and Severus and Hermione made their way into Hogsmede.
"So, what's this about.?"
"Not here, Hermione. We must not speak of that here. Later I will tell you." Severus interrupted her before she could ask what he knew was on her mind.
"Alright." She said as he offered her his arm and she linked hers with his again as they walked slowly towards the shops.
"Do you want to go for something to eat, love; you are looking rather pale again." Severus asked her.
"Yeah, I do feel a bit ill, Severus. It must be a bug; I just can't seem to shake it." She said, letting her head drop onto his shoulder as they walked along.
"We will see Madam Pomfrey as soon as we get back and before she leaves to go to her son's for Christmas. No arguments, Hermione, you are ill, love." Hermione just nodded as they entered the Three Broomsticks and took a seat in a quiet corner.
They ordered a light lunch and some pumpkin juice, eating and drinking as they chatted amiably. It was such as change to be able to just share some companionable time together. They would relish the entire three weeks they would have without any student around as distractions.
"So, Severus. You've met my parents and my brother as well. Since we've been together you've never once mentioned your family. Care to tell me about them?" Hermione asked as she sipped her juice.
Severus swallowed what he had been chewing and cleared his throat. "Well, my father died when I was 19 years old. He refused to join Voldemort and out rightly opposed him, which was the last mistake he ever made. Voldemort sent his Death Eaters after him and he paid with his life."
"I'm sorry, Severus." Hermione whispered and he merely shrugged.
"It was a long time ago, Hermione. I do miss him sometimes though." He told her.
"And what of you mother?" She asked, moving away from the topic of his father seeing that despite what he said, it did have some kind of affect on him.
"She lives in Hungary with my Aunt Velsaviour, they are sisters. I had one sister who joined Voldemort and ended up in Azkaban for her troubles. She was my older sister by six years and called Bronwyn, she died several years ago now. I have two brothers who are Demetri and Kelvin. Demetri is two years my senior and Kelvin two years my junior."
"Are your brothers still alive?" She asked, intrigued.
"Demetri is a Mediwizard at a hospital in Bulgaria near Durmstrang School. He has a wife and four children who all now attend Durmstrang since it is the closest school for them. He has three sons and one daughter by the names of Severus, Constance, Simeon and Cameron." He paused, taking a drink of his juice. "Kelvin lives in Ireland and works for the Irish Ministry in the Department of International Affairs. He's married and has two children- Jacinda who is 7 years old and Jordanna who is 10 years old."
"Oh, will we be having the pleasure of teaching Jordanna at Hogwarts next year?" Hermione asked him, it would be strange to teach a member of Snape's family especially since she had never thought about him being associated with any extended family- believing he was an only child.
"I should imagine so unless Kelvin is transferred from Ireland to a different country before then."
"So, do you ever see your mother and brothers?"
"My mother- her name is Delilah has not seen me for about 10 years now. There's no reason for it. I guess we've just both been too busy. She grows potions ingredients and ships them out to her suppliers. She is the managing director of a large firm by the name of Santonin International." Hermione gasped.
"Really? That's the largest wizarding company there is, and you tell me your own mother is the director?" She said raising her eyebrows completely impressed.
"She actually owns it. She built the company up over many years but it really took off when my father died." Severus told her, grinning at the look of shock on her face.
"So, what about you brothers? Do you see them?" Hermione asked.
"I saw Kelvin about three years ago when he first moved to Ireland, he had been living in Australia you see. As for Demetri, well we've not see each other for about ten years now. He took the fact I was a Death Eater very badly indeed and threatened my life if I ever saw him again."
"But surely he knows you were a spy for the Order?" Hermione asked; it would be so sad if the two brothers never got on again.
"Well, he does now but obviously I had to let him think I was nothing other than a follower of Voldemort in order to keep my cover. He has written to me though so perhaps the relationship we had can be saved."
The conversation lapsed for a short while until they both finished their meals. "Are you ready to go, Hermione? I want to get back before Poppy leaves and I still must get to the Apothecary." She nodded and they left.
Once Severus had purchased his ingredients they left for Hogwarts deciding to make the most of the cool crisp December afternoon. On the way Hermione began to feel quite dizzy and so Severus directed her towards a bench that was near the old church on the outskirts of Hogsmede.
"Hermione." Severus asked concerned as they sat down.
"I'm just very tired, Severus. I seem to have no energy these days to be honest. I was up early this morning to sort out the students for their departure and last night I was up late talking with Chris." She closed her eyes and leant forward feeling nauseous again and not wanting to bring up her lunch, it had been nice going down but she didn't particularly want to see it in reverse.
"Okay, I'm signalling for a carriage and we are going straight to the hospital wing." Severus stood up and waved his hand to one of the student carriages which was still near the station a little way up the street. A few minutes later it had arrived and Severus helped Hermione inside. Ten minutes later Severus was stepping through the door of the hospital wing supporting Hermione and calling for Poppy Pomfrey.
"What's wrong, Severus?" The nurse asked, entering the ward from her office and dressed as Severus had never seen her before, in Muggle clothes.
"Hermione has been feeling ill for weeks now. She put it down to stress. She's been very nauseous and vomiting. Today she feels very worn out and lethargic." He quickly said as he moved Hermione over to one of the hospital beds and helped her to settle down on it. He stood beside her continuing to hold and stroke her hand affectionately.
"Is she eating and drinking normally?" Poppy asked withdrawing her wand and beginning her examination while Hermione just gazed up from the bed with a look of worry on her face.
"Well, yes but I don't know how much she is managing to keep down." Poppy just nodded at what Severus was saying.
"Okay. Severus, if you could just step outside and let me do a more thorough scan of her I shouldn't be too long." Poppy said and Severus complied though he did not like the idea of leaving Hermione there.
Poppy waited until they had some privacy before she began. "Do you stop your monthly cycle with potions, Hermione or do you just put up with them in the usual Muggle way?"
"I have started to use the potions but only recently. could it be an allergy to them?" Hermione asked as Poppy continued to move her wand up and down, focussing on her abdomen more so.
"No."
"Oh?"
"How's your appetite?" Poppy continued.
"Good. I eat like a horse to tell the truth but I feel so sick most of the time. I'm sure it's just stress, Poppy." Hermione said asserting herself.
"Hmm."
"What else could it be then?" Hermione asked more worried than ever especially since her father had just recovered from his cancer and she knew that it could mean she had a predisposition to the disease.
"Hermione."
"Is it cancer, Poppy?" Hermione asked timidly. "I want to know if it is."
Poppy frowned and shook her head. "Hermione, you my dear are pregnant."
"What!" Hermione gasped in a mixture of horror, fright and excitement as she sat up in bed a stared dumbfounded at the nurse standing before her. How? Well, she knew how of course but they had been careful.
"You are two months pregnant my dear. Is it such a shock to you?" Poppy asked.
"Well. no, I guess not. But we were careful, Poppy." Hermione thought for a moment. "Oh, my. How will I tell Severus?"
"I'm sure he will be thrilled, Hermione. But you should know that the contraceptive potions may be altered if you use the potion to stop menstruation as well. Of course it's a little late to tell you that now. but for future reference." Poppy assured her. "Perhaps Severus was not aware of the potions you were taking or he could have brewed a contraceptive potion that would work well with the one which stops you menstruating?"
"No, he didn't know." Hermione said dejected, it was all her fault.
"Hermione, if you do not want the baby there is still time to abort the foetus." Poppy said although she personally abhorred the very idea.
"Absolutely not, Poppy!" Hermione protested immediately and angrily at the suggestion.
"I'm very happy with this decision, Hermione. You will both make wonderful parents I think." The nurse said smiling proudly at her. "In the mean time. I will give you a potion for the symptoms associated with pregnancy. One dose ought to last a week." Hermione lay there in total shock as Poppy bustled off to retrieve the potion. "Here you go, if you need more I'm sure you know of a good Potions Master." She said grinning at her.
"Thank you, Poppy." Hermione drank down the contents of the vial and was relieved when it began to take immediate effect and she was back to feeling her normal self again moments later.
"You are welcome, my dear." Poppy said patting her gently on the arm.
"Can Severus come in now?"
"Of course." Poppy moved off out of the ward to fetch him.