Hermione's Baby
Chapter 5

Dinner that evening was a tiring affair for Hermione. She was constantly bombarded with questions from her fellow Gryffindors. Many asked about their parents, others asked whether or not she had broken rules, and one fourth year asked the question she had been hoping against all hope that no one would ask: whether or not she fell in love. To which she answered, "Well. . . it's complicated. . ." before trailing off into silence. Harry and Ron quickly began a heated discussion of Quidditch tactics that soon got everyone's minds away from Hermione.

Glancing at the head table, Hermione caught Severus' eye and gave him a quick smile which he did not return. Sighing, Hermione turned her attention back to her food and let her mind wander. Sighing, she thought to herself 'hard to imagine that only two days ago I gave birth.' She turned to look at Seamus, who was currently whispering to Lavender, and she was giggling.

'He's my son' she thought to herself, shaking her head in wonder, 'and I am currently only about three years older than him. This is going to take a lot of explaining.'

She was jerked out of her thoughts by Neville saying "Hermione?"

She looked at him and said "yes Neville?"

"Err. . . I was wondering. . . why didn't Snape punish you for how you acted today?"

Hermione looked at him for a moment before saying "It's a long story Neville. I'd love to tell you - really, I would - but I can't right now." He nodded, looking slightly disappointed.

"That was brilliant though Hermione," exclaimed Parvati, "I don't think anyone has ever pulled one over on Snape before!"

Hermione smiled at that and said "Oh, I wouldn't bet on it." She could tell them about all of the pranks she had 'pulled over' on Snape in the past, but she didn't want to cause him any more pain than she already had. She knew that he was still angry at her and that the affection he had displayed as she had told her friends their story was only momentary. If there was one thing she knew about her husband it was that his temper was not one to be messed with. She would talk to him in a few days, perhaps even tomorrow. But not today. Now she had to focus on readjusting herself to being back in this time period.

She didn't say much else throughout the remainder of the meal, and when she was done eating she excused herself and went to her room, where she lay down and immediately fell asleep.

*******

"Get up sleepy-head! You know. . . I never really have to do this! What has happened to you? Get up now! Time for class!" Hermione groaned and slammed her fist down onto her alarm clock, shutting it up. But, knowing that it was right, she forced herself to get up and take a shower before heading down to the Great Hall. She couldn't deny it. She was dreading this day. She started to mentally curse fate for messing her up like this, but then stopped, realizing that if this hadn't happened she might have never found the love she had had with Severus.

Entering the Great Hall, Hermione was pleased to see that Ron and Harry were sitting at the table, along with Lavender, Dean and Seamus. Ron waved her over, and obligingly went and sat next to the friends she had thought she would not see again for a very long time. The boys and Lavender bid her a sleepy 'good morning' before turning their attention back to their breakfasts.

When she took the seat across from Hermione upon arriving in the hall, Parvati, giving Hermione a grin said "You guys do know that we have potions again today?"

Everyone groaned before they realized what she was talking about. "Yeah," said Seamus excitedly, "Are you going to give us another show? Going to tell the greasy bastard where exactly he deserves to go?"

Hermione looked at him, wondering what he would do if he knew that the dreaded potions master, about who he was currently griping, was in fact his father. Biting her lip, Hermione said quietly, "Don't call him that. You have no idea what he's been through."

The situation would have been funny if Hermione hadn't been so close to crying. Everyone who had heard her comment had momentarily frozen. Dean's spoonful of cereal was coming dangerously close to spilling; Parvati was still pouring herself a glass of pumpkin juice, oblivious to the fact that it was overflowing, and Neville, who had just sat down in time to hear the exchange, stared at Hermione as though she had gone completely batty.

"Honestly you guys!" Hermione snapped, throwing her hands up in the air "And Parvati, you do know that your pancakes are now completely inedible?"

Everyone jumped and muttered 'sorry' before quickly changing the subject, leaving Hermione, once again, to her thoughts. She hadn't thought that she would have to have potions this soon after coming back, but here she was, forced to face her husband on her first day back. Luckily though, it wasn't until after lunch that she would have to make her way down to the dungeons for potions. First period they had Defense against the Dark Arts, with her very good friend Remus Lupin, for which she was very glad.

When all of the seventh years were done with breakfast, they headed towards their DADA classroom. When they arrived, Hermione sat next to Harry and Ron and waited for Professor Lupin to arrive. She shifted uneasily in her seat. She hadn't been in a class for years, and she wasn't sure how Remus would act around her. By the time Remus was two minutes late for the class, Hermione was ready to scream.

All of a sudden she heard two familiar voices approaching, and turned around as she saw Remus enter with a woman who looked not a day older than she had when she had been when Hermione had last seen her. "Alida!" she shrieked, running towards the woman, who, upon seeing her, gasped in shock.

"Lavender?" she questioned, glancing back and forth between Remus and Hermione, "What? When - I mean. . . I thought that I'd never see you again after you disappeared! What happened? Where did you go? What are you doing here?"

Hermione looked at her for a moment before turning to Remus and saying "She doesn't know?"

"No," said Remus, shaking his head slowly.

"I don't know what?" Asked Alida, looking back and forth between her two friends, "And Lavender, why are you in Gryffindor robes? You already graduated years ago!"

Hermione bit her lip, painfully aware of her classmates whispering to each other, obviously confused as to why Hermione was being called Lavender. "Err. . . let's see if you can figure it out if I give you one piece of information, ok?"

Alida looked confused, but said "um. . . ok. . ."

Taking a deep breath, Hermione said "Well, my name isn't Lavender. It's Hermione Granger."

She watched as her friend put it all together. Her facial expression went from shock to disbelief to astonishment, to everything in that area. Finally, "Bloody hell," she breathed, causing Hermione to smile, "You were from the future! And you're THAT Hermione Granger?"

Hermione nodded, smiling sadly at her friend. "I'm very sorry to interrupt this," came the cheerful voice of Remus Lupin, "But I do need to teach my class if the two of you don't mind, and La- err. . . Hermione, you are supposed to be in it."

Hermione nodded and said "But then why did you bring Alida here?"

Remus grinned at her before saying simply "To see that."

Hermione shook her head slightly before sitting down. "Alida, I have to take classes because 'Hermione Granger' is not registered as having graduated, and until my meeting with the ministry I have to act like the normal student. But we'll talk, I promise!"

"Sure Lavenherm!" Said Alida cheerfully, causing Hermione to smile slightly, "Say hi to your oh so wonderful hu-"

"Alida," Hermione interrupted her friend warningly, giving her a pointed look.

Understanding, Alida's eyes widened for a minute before saying "Ah. . . right. . . well. . . I'll talk to you later. See ya Remus!" And with that she left the room.

"Alright class, now that we've gotten that out of the way, turn to page 176 and we will start to discuss advanced methods of dealing with-" here he paused, shuddered, and continued "werewolves. I know that Professor Snape had you write that essay on them in third year, and we briefly covered them, but I thought that it would be a good idea for us to discuss them and give you the opportunity to ask me any questions you might have."

That began a thoroughly enjoyable class for everyone, even Remus, where people asked questions that had been bothering them about him for a while without fearing that they would be punished. Everyone was extremely disappointed when the bell rang, signaling that it was time for Transfiguration.

After saying goodbye to Remus and promising him that they would talk soon, Hermione followed the rest of the class into the hallway. Everyone talked quietly as they went through the hallways, and nothing out of the ordinary happened until Dean said "Hey Lavender!" and two voices answered: Hermione's and Lavender's.

"Err- Hermione?" said Lavender slightly apprehensively, "Why do people keep calling you Lavender, and why do you act as if it is your name?"

Sighing, Hermione explained, "Well, when I was in the past, Dumbledore and I decided that it would be best if I had a false name, so he told me to randomly choose people I knew and so I might respond if I heard the name. So I randomly chose, and became 'Lavender Finnegan.'

Lavender and Seamus looked at each other and smiled slightly, but no one had time to say anything because they had reached the transfiguration room.

"Hello Hermione," greeted Minerva, smiling at the young woman.

"Hello Min - I mean, Professor" replied Hermione, blushing at her slip-up.

"Don't worry about it," Minerva told her, "Now, I think that it is completely pointless for you to be taking these classes since you have already passed them, and with flying colors I might add," here Hermione blushed slightly, "But I understand that you have to be here, so I am suggesting that you simply assist people with their conjuring charms."

Hermione smiled slightly at her and nodded, going around the room and helping those who needed it. When she was walking over to help Dean, she tripped over Harry's bag and just managed to catch herself on Dean's desk with her left hand while her right reached out towards the floor, and thankfully, never had to touch it.

Standing up, blushing, Hermione was confused when she saw Dean looking at her in shock. "Hermione," he gasped, looking down at her hand, "You're married?"

Silence met those words, and Hermione wished that the ground would just open up and swallow her. Thankfully, Minerva came to her aid. "That will do Mr. Thomas. Let me see you do that charm now."

Hermione made her way over to an empty chair at the far end of the room, laid her head down on the desk and started to cry; really cry. This was the first time since she had gotten back that she had let her anger and sadness out. She cried for Lily, James, and Sirius, she cried for her baby who was sitting in the same room as she was, and she cried for the hatred her husband was showing her. She hardly noticed when two sets of arms wrapped around her, holding her as she cried. She hardly noticed that the entire classroom was looking at her in shock and confusion. She simply let it all out.

Finally she stopped, and, looking up, noticed for the first time that her two best friends had their arms wrapped around her. "S-sorry," she muttered, wiping her tears away.

"It's alright!" said Ron, shocked that she was apologizing.

"Hermione," said Minerva gently, "Would you like to go to the restroom?"

Hermione nodded, murmured 'thank you,' and headed out of the room. She headed towards the nearest bathroom, leaned against the wall, and slid down until she was sitting on the floor, her head resting on her knees, crying. She barely registered the passing time, and only looked at her watch when her tears had finally subsided. 'shit!' she thought, realizing that she had already missed lunch and she was going to be late to potions.

Throwing water on her face and muttering a charm to dissolve her read eyes, Hermione grabbed her bag and rushed down to the dungeons. Reaching the door, Hermione took a deep breath and opened it, hoping to slip in unnoticed. However, that wish was unfulfilled.

"So, Miss Granger," came the silky voice of her husband, "You have finally decided to grace us with your presence."

Not responding, Hermione sat down at her customary cauldron next to Neville, which was, unfortunately at the moment, right in front of the angry potions master.

"Nothing to say for yourself Miss Granger?" He sneered, overusing the 'Miss Granger' to emphasize his disdain, "Hmm. . . something has changed, has it not?"

Still ignoring him, Hermione tried to see what potion he had written up on the board for them to do, but Severus' body was in the way. "Could you please move so I can see the board?" she asked him wearily.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger," he said smoothly, before moving an inch and turning to the Slytherins, "Let's see if Miss Granger can actually make this potion, shall we?" Harry and Ron were glaring daggers at their potions master.

"You bloody well know that I can make it Severus," she snarled, finally losing her temper, "In fact, I seem to recall that YOU were the one who made the mistake when brewing it."

Sweeping over to her, he leaned down so that his face was an inch from hers and said smoothly, "Fifty points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger."

What she did next caused her classmates shock and horror. She smiled in a dangerously sweet way, and, pulling his head even closer, said "Whatever you say husband dear," before kissing him.

He jerked away, and she could tell that he had had it. "My office - NOW!" he snapped, grabbing her hand and attempting to pull her into his office.

But at that moment her anger faded again and she felt as depressed as she had while crying in Transfiguration and in the bathroom. "Why are you so mad at me Severus?" she asked quietly as she began to cry again, "I had to come back. You know that."

"You could have at least told me!" He growled, momentarily forgetting that they were in the middle of his classroom. He didn't even notice as his class stared at him in shock. "You could have at least told me the truth instead of just disappearing. I thought you had gone to Black or something, you know how he wanted you and hated me because I had gotten there first."

"I know, Severus, I should have told you. But I've also told you why I didn't! And it was stupid! I know that damn it! And you really distrusted me enough to think that I would go sleep with Sirius?" The class was staring at them in shock now.

"Err. . . Hermione?" Came Ron's uncertain voice from his seat.

Hermione and Severus both jumped, turned around and snapped simultaneously "What?"

"Um, do you want us to leave?" He asked, gesturing to the class that the Snapes had obviously forgotten was present.

Severus looked sharply at Hermione for a moment before moving back towards the front of the classroom. "Everyone back to their potions. NOW!" The class jumped, and everyone, even Hermione, silently resumed slicing their materials.

Hermione had a small smile on her lips, happy that she had at least gotten him to talk to her. After class she would stay and they would argue until they made up. She knew her husband well enough to believe that optimistic thought, and, happily, she muttered to Neville that if he added that ingredient he would blow up the lab.

A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews!! Keep them coming!!!

AnabelleElizabeth: Thanks!

Jordanz: That's an interesting idea, but I think that I'm going to keep it like it is. You could write a story and use that! lol! Anyway, I hope that this chapter explained more of why she acted around him the way she did. (

DistinctVagueness: Thanks! Yeah, I might keep going w/ Minnie Ranger Snape myself, it's just that I have more to say about this one, and if someone is absolutely dying for daily updates on that one then I don't want to make them rip their hair out waiting. lol (

Headncloud: thanks!

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Rose Petal: thanks!