Author's Note: I've been trying hard to strike the right balance between angst and fluff throughout this chapter, knowing that too much of either would ruin the moment. I do hope that I have managed to accomplish this.

This is the last of the chapters that I had written prior to posting this story on this site. I have a lot of scenes ready for the next few chapters, but have to work on tying it all together. I hope to continue updating regularly, but probably not nearly as often as I have been.

Once again, thank you to my reviewers. I only hope that I can live up to your expectations. Thank you also to everybody else who has read my story, especially those of you who are still here :) All questions, comments, and constructive criticisms are welcome if you would like to leave a review.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment

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Chapter 11 ~ Learning to Live Alone

Hermione was breathless when Severus pulled away after a few brief moments. She looked into his eyes and barely managed to whisper, "I should get back to Samuel..."

Finding himself unable to speak, Severus nodded and escorted her out of his quarters. They walked silently to the Entrance Hall. As she began to walk through the door, Severus tentatively reached out his hand and grasped her shoulder. She turned towards him as he whispered, "Thank you."

She smiled nervously at him before pulling away from his grasp and starting for home.

When she arrived at the cottage, she was surprised as she stepped through the door to see not two, but three men hovering over her son. She squealed in delight as familiar face of the tall readheaded man turned and smiled at her. He met her halfway, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around, placing a kiss on the top of her head as he set her back on her feet.

Hermione was startled at Ron's open display of affection. With Harry, it was always so natural, but Ron had always been a bit more reserved... embarassed, even, to be seen hugging his best friend.

"Why, Ron... I never knew you cared!" she winked as she teased him.

Ron blushed as he replied, "I've missed you, Hermione. I took so much for granted when the three of us were together for all of those years... but seeing you now, after not knowing where you were for so long..." he broke off and sighed, as he flashed a brilliant smile at her, "I'm just relieved to know that you're here, and you're OK. That's what's important."

Harry walked over to the two of them, jokingly asking, "Can I get in on some of this action?"

"If you think I'm going to kiss you, Harry Potter..." Ron joked, as Hermione laughingly put one arm around his shoulders, and the other arm around Harry's. The infamous Gryffindor Trio was back together again.

Ron squeezed his arm around Hermione's shoulder gently, and said quietly, "You're son is beautiful, Hermione. Despite having a greasy git of a father."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. If the thought of anyone's reaction had worried her over the past few months, it was Ron's. She knew that he had fancied her a few years ago, and was afraid that he might resent coming back to find her with a child. Especially when the father of said child was none other than the man that Ron still considered to be the Evil Potion's Master.

Harry whispered in her ear, "I told Ron everything, Hermione. I thought it might be for the best to give him some time to adjust to the idea before you returned."

Hermione turned to Ron and placed a kiss on his cheek, "Thank you, Ron. You don't know how much it means to me to have you here..." she broke off as he smiled back at her, slipping his arm down to her waist as he squeezed her in reassurance.

Remus interrupted as Samuel began to wail furiously, "I think your son is getting hungry... it seems he has an appetite to rival his Uncle Ron's."

They all burst into laughter at this, as Hermione excused herself to spend a few private moments with Samuel. Being apart from him, even for such a short time, had not been easy, and she was looking forward to having a bit of time alone with him.

*****

Severus lingered in the Entrance Hall, watching until Hermione reached the gates of the school grounds and disapparated. He groaned as he thought about what he had just done, and as he turned around he met two bright blue eyes twinkling at him over a pair of half-moon spectacles.

"Albus... How long have you been... er... I didn't realize you were there," Severus stammered as he avoided the Headmaster's gaze.

"Severus, am I right to believe that you and Hermione have reconciled your differences?"

Severus paused for a moment before responding in a stern voice, "I would hardly say that, Albus. She has forced me to see the truth, at last. We still have a lot of issues to resolve before we can have truly reconciled our differences. But," he shrugged, "it's a start."

"The students will be back in a few days, Severus," Albus looked intently at Severus as he continued, "I suggest that you spend some more time visiting your son before term begins."

Severus did not see the smirk on Albus' face as the Headmaster turned and walked away, humming to himself.

*****

After feeding Samuel and rocking him to sleep, Hermione started towards the living room just as Remus was opening the door to another visitor. In a billow of black robes, Severus entered the cottage, his dark eyes darting back and forth between Harry and Ron.

The tension was thick as Harry and Ron approached their former professor. They stood before him in silence for a few moments. Surprisingly, it was Ron who first extended his hand to Severus, "Professor Snape," he nodded stiffly as Severus shook his hand. Harry was next, "Good to see you again, Professor," he said as he stepped forward and offered his hand.

Severus quirked an eyebrow as he sized the two of them up, "Weasley, Potter," he nodded in return as he addressed each of them.

"We were just on our way out," Harry explained as they approached Hermione.

"We only had three days off for Christmas, and we need to get back to the Burrow and pack," Ron continued as he reached out to give Hermione a firm hug, "If he ever hurts you, Hermione..." he whispered.

Hermione leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Ron's cheek, "Don't worry about me, Ron. He's not as bad as you remember," she whispered in return as Ron continued to murmur some nonsense about what he would do to the "evil, greasy git".

Harry was next, "Keep in touch this time, Hermione. It better not be another 6 months before we hear from you again," he said as he kissed her brow. Hermione tearfully gathered him into an embrace, "I will, Harry. I don't ever again want to spend that much time apart from the two of you!"

Remus excused himself as well, "I'm going to accompany the boys back to the Burrow. I'd like to spend some more time hearing about their training. I'll see you later."

Hermione stepped back, holding back a sob as she whispered to Ron and Harry, "Take care of yourselves..."

The boys smiled at her and waved as they walked out of the door. Remus flashed Hermione a reassuring smile before turning to leave behind them.

Hermione shook as she tried to hold back the sob that she felt forming deep within her. She was startled when she felt Severus step up behind her. She turned around and buried her face in his robes as she broke down and cried.

*****

Severus was startled as Hermione turned and buried her face in his robes, her body wracked with sobs. Hesitantly, he reached up and awkwardly began to pat her on the back as he let her cry into is shoulder.

Only a few short weeks ago, he would not have understood an emotional outburst such as this. In his entire lifetime, he had never had anybody whose absence would have affected him in such a way. But now, his thoughts drifted to Samuel... and Hermione, as well. What would he do if they ever walked out of his life? He felt a cold shiver of fear down his spine, and he sighed as he silently resolved to find a way to make sure that Hermione would not return to London to live with her mother.

*****

Hermione didn't know how long she stood there, crying into Severus' robes as she felt his hand awkwardly patting her back, but it seemed like forever.

Blushing, she eventually backed away, brushing the tears from her cheeks as she turned to go to her son. She was not aware that Severus had followed her to the bedroom, as she sat down and gently rocked the cradle, softly singing a lullaby as Samuel began to suck his thumb while she soothed him back to sleep.

As she pulled a blanket over the child, she looked up and blushed as she realized that Severus was standing there, watching her.

"You are... an amazing mother, Hermione," he whispered in awe as he stepped forward to look at his son.

*****

For the first time since Remus had taken Hermione under his wing, he did not keep his promise to return to the cottage that evening. Severus had left for the day, and Hermione had never felt so lonely in her life.

She sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she would have to learn to be alone again in just a few short days when term would begin and their visits would likely be limited to weekends, when Remus and Severus didn't have classes.

Over the next few days, Remus was absent from her life more than ever. He still visited regularly, but he always seemed to be in a hurry. Hermione began to wonder what kind of "errands" he had to tend to each time he left. As the beginning of the new term grew nearer, she convinced herself that he was preparing for classes. But sometimes she wondered if maybe he had tired of being with her.

Severus, on the other hand, had continued his regular visits, and the two of them were beginning to become more comfortable in each other's presence. There was still a lot of tension between them, but it was a different kind of tension. Before, there was an uncomfortable silence between them due to their misunderstanding. Now, it was due to the burgeoning feelings that they were each afraid to admit to ever since the day that Severus had kissed Hermione. The tender moments they had shared later that same day, first while Severus comforted her, and later while they watched their son sleep, were the last moments that they had allowed themselves to be so close. But at least they were on better speaking terms, and Hermione found herself enjoying, even anticipating, his visits more than ever.

Much to Hermione's dismay, the holidays came to an end, and she found herself dreading being alone.

The first week was harder than she had expected it to be. Taking care of Samuel, alone, was utterly exhausting. Aside from Christmas, he had never slept through the night. And Hermione began to suspect that he was becoming colicky, as no amount of feeding, rocking, or singing could get him to sleep any more. He did not just cry, he screamed nonstop as Hermione paced the floor with him from midnight till dawn, when he would finally cry himself into exhaustion and pass out for an hour or two. Things weren't much better during the daytime, and Hermione began to suspect that he missed the comings and goings of the two men who used to help care for him every day. He fussed more than ever before, and Hermione found herself near tears every time Samuel demanded her atttention.

Battling fatigue, Hermione hardly had the energy to eat, let alone keep up with the housekeeping (even with magic). And it was not only her house that was in a constant state of disarray. Lounging around in her dressing gown, her hair pulled into a sloppy bun, she didn't eat, she couldn't sleep, and by the weekend she found herself in a constant state of depression.

She didn't know how much longer she could do this. For the first time since Christmas, she seriously began to think about her mother's offer to come home.