Author's Note: I'm wondering if anyone caught on to some of the subtle clues I have been leaving since early on in this story, about Remus. Well, if not, you will see where I am taking him in this chapter.

big grin I really enjoyed writing the exchange between Remus and Severus in this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as well. :D

Thank you again to all of you who have read and/or reviewed my story! As always, all questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you'd 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 17 ~ "If You Need Me"

Hermione emerged from the bath feeling refreshed, as well as relaxed for the first time that day. Though it was still early, she dressed for bed and considered having Severus summon a house elf to bring her dinner. She had long ago come to terms with the fact that the house elves were quite happy with their lot in life, and lived to serve their masters. But even though she had given up her S.P.E.W campaign, she never had been able to bring herself to ask anything of the servants. Nevertheless, she knew that she needed to eat.

Pulling on her dressing gown, she padded over to Samuel's room to find him sound asleep in Severus' arms, and Severus himself nodding off as he rocked with his son. Smiling to herself, she approached him to relieve him of their son. She bent over them and had partially lifted Samuel out of Severus' arms and when she was startled by two deep black eyes suddenly staring at her.

"What time is it?" Severus asked groggily as his eyes darted to the clock on the mantle.

"It's still early, yet. Though, we've missed dinner. Would it be OK..." she hesitated for a moment, "Do you think the house elves would mind bringing some food to my room?"

Severus looked back at her, pleasantly surprised. This was the first time that she had given in and asked for help. Maybe she was actually going to follow Madame Pomfrey's advice, after all. He nodded to her, "Yes. Of course."

He stood as he continued, "I have to start my evening rounds, but I will see that a meal is brought to you," he gave her a stern look, "and you make sure you eat every bite."

Hermione was taken aback for a moment, surprised at his tone as he ordered her to eat. Then she heard Madame Pomfrey's voice echoing in her mind, telling her to take care of herself. She sighed and nodded her head, "Don't worry Severus, I will."

Only a short time later, her small table was laden with enough food to feed her for the rest of the weekend. She groaned... if Severus expected her to eat all of this, he was sorely mistaken. She managed to nearly finish a piece of chicken and some steamed vegetables before Samuel woke up. Again remembering Madame Pomfrey's words, she took a few minutes to finish her meal before going to her son. After clearing her plate, she carried her unfinished pumpkin juice with her to Samuel's room, and drank it as she sat in the rocking chair nursing him.

Samuel didn't go back to sleep, yet he did seem much calmer than he had any evening that previous week. Hermione carried him to her room and laid him in the cradle, where he lay cooing to himself as she sat in the rocking chair and began to read a book. It was the first time she had enjoyed the luxury of reading since his birth, and she couldn't believe how much she had missed her books.

Any time Samuel began to fuss, she would gently rock the cradle with her foot, never breaking her concentration from her book until a couple of hours later, when he began to wail furiously. Hermione sighed as she rose out of the chair to pick up her son. She should have known that it was too good to last. She started pacing the room with him as she resigned herself to another sleepless night.

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As Severus made his rounds that night, he couldn't keep his mind off the woman and the child that were now situated in their own quarters in the dugeons, in rooms right next to his own. He paced the school's corridors, surprised at the lack of errant students that evening. He almost wished he had found students snogging in an empty classroom or sneaking around playing late night pranks. He needed something to pass the time. He shook his head as he thought to himself that he almost missed the Weasley twins' antics at times like this.

He checked in on his Slytherins before making one last round and returning to his quarters. As he finished his final sweep of the upper floors, and was headed for the dungeons, he encountered Remus Lupin returning from wherever it was that he had been that day.

"Good evening, Severus," Remus smiled, with a glint in his eye, "Are Hermione and Sameul all settled in?"

"Yes, indeed, Lupin," Severus paused, smirking as he raised an eyebrow and asked in an innocent voice, "Tell me, Remus, how is Dr. Granger this evening?"

Remus tried to hide his surprise, looking deep in thought as he tried to find the words to reply. Suddenly, he sighed in defeat, "How did you know who I was with tonight, Severus?"

"Do you think I missed your little slip of the tongue this afternoon? And all this time, Hermione's been wondering why you keep rushing off. I wonder what she would think if she knew that you were... courting her mother?" Severus smirked.

"I would hardly call it 'courting', Severus," Remus replied, shaking his head.

"Oh really? Well then, tell me Lupin, what would you call it?"

Remus sighed, "If you must know, Elizabeth has invited me for tea a few times, and tonight I returned the favor by taking her to dinner. We both have mutual interests... namely, Hermione and Samuel. It's nothing more than that, Snape."

Severus raised a curious eyebrow as he asked, "Then why so secretive, Lupin? Surely, Hermione wouldn't object to her mother and her... friend... sharing a cup of tea now and then."

"Stay out of it, Snape!" Remus sighed.

Severus couldn't help himself. Even though, for the most part, the two men had made peace long ago, he had spent far too many years feeling irked by the werewolf's presence to let an opportunity like this pass. "Perhaps..."

"Perhaps WHAT?" Remus snapped.

"Perhaps I will 'stay out of it' if you tell me what is really going on with you and Dr. Granger," Severus shrugged his shoulders innocently, raising his hands in a curious gesture.

Remus groaned, "Look, Snape... I admit, Elizabeth is an attractive, intelligent woman who I enjoy spending time with. However," he paused and sighed, "I am being honest when I say, we're just two like-minded people enjoying each other's company."

"Are you sure that's ALL you're enjoying?" Severus smirked again.

"Yes! That's all!" Remus was becoming thoroughly agitated now.

"I see..."

"No Snape, I don't think you do. Look, Elizabeth lost her husband less than a year ago, and I'm not about to try to fill his shoes when she's not ready to move on!"

"Ah... so then, when she IS ready to move on, will you..." Severus didn't get to finish before Remus shot him a disgusted look and stalked away.

Severus smiled in satisfaction and couldn't surpress a chuckle as he made his way back to his quarters... It wasn't easy to get the best of Remus Lupin. This hadn't turned out to be such a boring evening after all.

*****

Hermione was beginning her third hour of pacing her quarters, trying to get Samuel back to sleep, when she heard a voice from behind her.

"What do you think you are doing?" Severus asked as he approached her.

Startled, Hermione quickly turned to see Severus leaning against the doorway, his brow furrowed as he crossed his arms. He must have been getting ready to turn in for the night, as he was dressed in black nightclothes and a robe.

"Oh! You're back..." Hermione whispered tiredly, "Samuel just does not want to go to sleep."

"I thought I told you to come get me if you need me," Severus responded sharply.

"You were making your rounds..." Hermione tried to explain.

"Have you tried knocking on my door?" Severus snapped quietly at her as Hermione shook her head, "I thought not. I've been back for nearly an hour. If I hadn't checked Samuel's room before going to bed, I never would have heard him crying in here!"

"Do you think me incapable of caring for my son?" Hermione questioned indignantly.

"Not at all, Miss Granger. I just don't understand why you are incapable of asking for help when you so obviously need it. What, exactly, are you trying to prove?" Severus continued in a firm, yet soft voice, "Why, Hermione? Why do you insist on doing this to yourself? You have nothing to prove! Asking for help is not a sign of incompetence!"

Hermione sighed, "I'm sorry, Severus. I just didn't want to disturb you. I know it's been a long day... you had rounds tonight, and I figured you would be too tired to bother."

"So you would rather work yourself into exhaustion again rather than 'bother' me?" Severus shook his head, "Nothing to do with my son would ever be a bother, Hermione. Now, why don't you let me take the next shift with Samuel, and you get some sleep."

"Will you... stay with me?" Hermione asked as she looked down at Samuel.

When Severus looked at her in surprise, she explained, "Just until you get him to sleep. I've never slept apart from him before..."

"So, that's it?" Severus sighed. "If it will make you feel better, I will bring him back here when he's asleep, and put him in the cradle by your bed."

"Thank you, Severus," Hermione yawned.

"Not at all, Hermione. Now get yourself into bed", he urged her.

Hermione sighed and nodded her head as she laid back onto the pillow and closed her eyes.

When she woke a few hours later, Samuel was not in his cradle as Severus had promised. She entered the nursery to check on them, and found Severus sitting on the sofa, sound asleep with Samuel cradled in his arms. She softly approached them, easing herself onto the sofa beside them. Reaching over to caress her son's head, she decided not to risk waking either of them by taking Samuel back to her room. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, instantly drifting back into a deep slumber.

*****

Severus stirred a short time later, feeling a warm weight resting on his shoulder. Something was tickling his nose as he breathed. Barely awake, he cracked open one eye and looked down to see a head of curly chestnut hair leaning against him, a soft warm body pressed close to his side. He sighed as he closed his eyes and went back to sleep with a soft smile on his face.