Disclaimer: It ain't mine, it belongs to evil J.K. who needs to get the next book out!
A/N: Hello once again! As always, thank you so very much to everyone for the great response to the last chapter, and thanks for waiting patiently or not so patiently for this one. Lots of fun stuff happening in this chapter (you'll see what I mean :-) hee hee hee) and it's going to be a longer one, so enjoy!
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Twenty Five
"So you're going to come out tomorrow with Snape, right?" Ron asked as he, Harry, Ginny, and Blaise stood with Hermione in the entrance hall, waiting for the carriages to take them to Hogsmede to catch the express home.
"As soon as the staff meeting during lunch is over we'll grab our things and apparate to the burrow," Hermione nodded. "We should be there early afternoon."
"Okay, we'll see you then Mione," Harry and Ron hugged her as the majority of the student body began filing out of the doors.
"See you soon Auntie," Blaise leaned down and kissed her cheek, pulling back as she slapped him playfully upside the head.
"Bye Hermione!" Ginny called with a wave before hurrying off with her boyfriend to a carriage.
"Bye guys!" Hermione stood on the steps waving everyone off till they were out of sight.
Turning back around, her hand came to rest on her flat stomach and she couldn't help but smile as she walked back to the dungeons remembering what had happened yesterday.
OooOooOooO Flashback OooOooOooO
Hermione checked the small calendar she kept in her bedside table once again to make sure she had read it correctly.
"Yep, it's definitely today. So where is it?" she mumbled out loud in confusion.
Several years ago she had found an old spell that when cast, would tell you for the year what day your period would start, so you wouldn't have to guess, and so you'd be able to have adequate time to prepare cramping potions and such. Hermione had performed the spell for that exact reason, and knew she was scheduled to start today. The spell was never wrong, so Hermione knew something was wrong, and went to see Madame Pomphrey.
"Hello Hermione, how can I help you?" Poppy asked as the young woman walked in, a look of confusion on her face.
"I'm due to start my monthly today, and I haven't, so I wanted to see what's wrong," Hermione told her sitting down on a bed.
"Okay, let me just run some scans and we'll know in a jiffy," Poppy smiled and began running her wand over Hermione, starting at her head and going down. When her wand reached Hermione's lower abdomen, it gave off blue sparks. "Well dear, have you been engaging in any sexual relations lately?"
"What? No- well, yes," Hermione blushed and looked down a moment. "But don't pregnancies take a week or two to show up?"
"Not in the magical world. We can tell in twelve hours whether or not a witch is pregnant," Poppy took the girl's hand in hers. "But perk up there dearie, this is wonderful news, isn't it? You and Severus are going to have a little boy in nine months or so."
"Oh it is wonderful!" Hermione's head shot up to show a tender smile and unshed tears in her eyes. "I'm just so surprised, and excited, and, and…I need to go to the library!"
"Of course dear, now would you like me to tell Severus, or would you rather surprise him yourself?"
"I'll tell him, but thank you," Hermione hugged her before dashing out of the room to the library to begin researching pregnancy.
OooOooOooO End Flashback OooOooOooO
"Are you almost done packing Severus?" Hermione asked walking into their room.
"Yes," he glared at her, but it didn't hold any real malice. "Do we have to go the Weasley's for Christmas? I want you all to myself."
"You'll have me all to yourself for the rest of our lives, so you can share me for one Christmas," Hermione kissed him and then began checking her things. "And you made arrangements for the larger gifts to be delivered on Christmas morning? And you have the other gifts packed?"
"Yes and yes," Severus held up a large red bag that he had set near the door. "The ones that fit are in here, and the others are due about ten or so."
"Good, now let's head up to dinner, I'm starved," Hermione smiled at him, and taking his hand, dragged him along behind her up to the great hall.
OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO
"All right, now be nice," Hermione warned, knocking on the door the next afternoon. It was actually closer to dinnertime since the staff meeting had run over a few hours thanks to the interruption of several students accidentally freeing several of Hagrid's latest pets.
"I will, but I still don't see why I had to wear this," Severus grumbled.
Hermione had told him they needed to look nice since it was Christmas eve, and that he wasn't allowed to wear robes or all black. So thanks to Hermione, Severus was all decked out for the holidays in a pair of black pants, a white collared shirt, and a green sweater. Hermione was dressed in a pair of jeans and her Weasley sweater from last year.
"Hermione's here!" Ron yelled back into the house after opening the door and pulling her into a hug. "Uh, hi Professor."
"Mr. Weasley," Severus simply nodded as he stepped into the house and pulled the door closed behind him.
"Hermione! And Severus! You two come into the living room and warm up, it's bitter out there!" Molly Weasley greeted them as she bustled into the kitchen and gave them both big hugs.
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley," Hermione laughed as Severus smoothed out his sweater with a slight grimace once he had been freed from the jaws of death.
"Charlie, be a dear and take Severus and Hermione's things up to their room please," she asked as they walked into the living room where Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Blaise, and Ginny were gathered. "They're in Percy's room."
"Hey Mione!" Everyone chorused looking up.
"Hi Professor!" Ginny called out to Severus, while Blaise called out "Hello Uncle!"
"Sure Mum," Charlie grinned as he stood up.
"Stop it guys," Hermione laughed as Fred and George sandwiched her in a hug after Charlie grabbed her and Severus' bags and disappeared upstairs, returning a minute later and going back to watching Ron and Harry play chess.
She led Severus over to the only open armchair and pushed him down into it before sitting on his lap with a smile. She leaned back against him as she surveyed her friends with a smile. Ron and Harry were playing chess by the fire, and Harry was losing badly. Fred and George were sitting on the couch pouring over a joke catalogue no doubt, while Percy also sat on the couch, reading a book on the History of the Ministry. Charlie and Bill were sitting on stools watching the chess game. Ginny and Blaise were sitting on the loveseat; Blaise with his head in Ginny's lap, and her running her fingers through his hair as they talked. Arthur was reading a muggle paper in his big chair, and Molly was bustling in and out checking on everyone in between preparing.
"What are you thinking?" Severus breathed into her ear, sending a shiver down her back.
"Just how lucky I am to be surrounded by the people I love," Hermione whispered back. "How about you love?"
"That I am truly happy, and incredibly lucky to be with such a magnificent woman like you," he kissed her cheek before wrapping his arms around her tighter.
"Oh how cute!" Fred gave a girlish giggle while pointing at the two of them. "It seems like the dear old professor listened to us when we told him to protect her virtuous beauty."
"Honour her mind and body," George continued.
"Take care of her always," Ron smiled at Hermione.
"Never hurt her, intentionally or otherwise," Percy said without looking up from his book.
"Respect her," Charlie now chimed in.
"Cherish her," Bill also contributed.
"And love her with all that you possessed," Harry nodded respectfully to the Professor who simply rolled his eyes in response to the boys. The things they mentioned were some of the things he had sworn to do when they gave him 'the talk' all those months ago."
"Boys behave yourselves or I'll put you to work with your mum," Hermione looked at them with her best stern teacher glare.
"We're sorry!" They all immediately apologised, not wanting to get in trouble with the formidable matriarch.
"Never do that again Mione, that was too much like a cross between Snape and McGonagall," Bill looked slightly pale.
"And would you really be so cruel as to make us help mum?" Fred asked.
"Yeah, she's a terror at Christmas, more so than any other time of the year!" Charlie gulped.
"No I wouldn't, I'm just teasing you all, just like you teased my husband," Hermione smiled at them and they sighed in relief.
"Oh good, you had me scared there for a moment," Ron shook his head.
"But I'll do it if you're mean to him…or Blaise," Hermione added as an afterthought. "And Severus and I won't give you any presents either."
"We'll behave, don't worry Hermione," Percy mumbled, and everyone agreed.
"I'm going to go unpack our things Sev, so I'll be back in a little while," Hermione kissed him before standing up. "So be nice."
"Yes dear," he replied, to the amusement of the others in the room.
"Hey Gin, you want to come help me?" Hermione looked over at her, her eyes filled with excitement.
"Sure Mione," Ginny leaned down and gave Blaise a quick kiss.
"Hey hey hey! Keep your lips off our sister!" Fred and George warned playfully as Ginny stood up.
"If you do anything to him I'll tell Mum on you and hex you too," Ginny glared at them before following Hermione up to Percy's old bedroom where she and Severus would be staying. Flopping on the bed on her stomach, Ginny looked at Hermione who was practically bursting. "Okay Mione, spill."
"Now you can't tell anyone, cause it's going to be a Christmas surprise for Sev, but I'm pregnant!" Hermione squealed quietly as she jumped onto the bed.
"OH MY GOSH!!!!" Ginny screamed in a whisper, hugging Mione. "That's awesome! So is it a girl or a boy? What are you going to name him or her? How many months along are you?"
"It's a boy, I'm not sure yet, and I'm only a few days along, so he'll be due around late August," Hermione flopped over onto her back before hopping back up to start hanging things up. "I'm so excited, and so nervous too. I've been reading all the books I can about babies and pregnancy and all, and I've got one or two I'm giving Sev as an additional Christmas present so he can learn too."
"Hey Mione?" Ginny said after a brief period of silence.
"Yeah?"
"Would you ever ask Professor Snape to give up teaching for you and the baby?" Ginny asked thoughtfully.
"Part of me wants to," Hermione admitted. "There are some days I wish I could just kidnap him and have him all to myself. But then I'll see him standing over a cauldron making a potion, or lecturing a group of students, and I'm reminded all over again that he loves teaching, even though he's forever denying it. I could never ask him to give it up. I have the rest of my life to be with him, while Hogwarts only has what he is willing to give them."
"I never thought of it like that, but you're right. I know I wish I could just run off with Blaise sometimes, and never have to deal with overprotective brothers or smothering parents," Ginny sympathised. "But I know it's only because they love me."
"True."
"It's hard isn't it? To have to share the one you love with others? Or I guess in my case, to share myself."
"Sometimes, but I think it also makes the time you spend with that one person all the more worthwhile," Hermione smiled at the girl as she put the last piece in the closet. "Come on, let's head back downstairs and see if we can't help your mum out some."
OooOooOooO Meanwhile downstairs OooOooOooO
"Uncle Severus?" Blaise asked a few moments after the girls disappeared upstairs. "May I speak with you outside for a minute?"
"All right," Severus said slowly, wondering what he wanted.
He stood up and grabbed his cloak as he followed his pseudo-nephew outside into the cold afternoon air. He stood a few feet from the door, his hands clasped tightly under his cloak as he watched the young man in front of him, pacing back and forth.
"I wanted to ask your blessing before I give Ginny this," Blaise said just as Severus was about to ask him what he needed. Turning to face his 'uncle' he pulled out a small box with a simple diamond solitaire ring in it. "Since I'm not close to my parents really and all, you're the closest thing I have to family."
"An engagement ring?" Severus questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Not quite. It's a promise ring," Blaise explained, turning back around to survey the frosty grounds. "We're too young right now, but I love her, and I want her to know that I do want to marry her someday, when we're both ready."
"I think that's an admirable idea. Have you talked with her parents at all about your intentions?"
"I spoke with her mother and father last evening and asked their permission, and they gave it. I haven't spoken to her brothers or Harry, but I'd rather wait and see if she says yes before getting beaten by them," Blaise laughed lightly before going silent once again for several minutes. "Uncle Severus?"
"What?" Severus took a deep breath.
"Did you ever have doubts?"
"About what?"
"About your feelings for Mione or wanting to marry her, or any of that?"
Looking down at his hands Severus took another deep breath, "Doubts about my feelings, no…"
"But?" Blaise turned around and locked eyes with his uncle.
"But…there have been times when I wondered if God was sending me or us messages…like I wondered if we would have just been better off not starting this relationship."
Blaise looked truly horrified at Severus' comment.
"Oh stop looking at me like that. I love her more than anyone else in my life, I love her more than life itself…but THINK about it Mr. Zabini, we have had some fairly major downs."
"So why in the hell did you ask her to marry you?"
Severus laughed and smiled brightly, "For the same reason YOU will eventually ask Miss Weasley to marry you. Because a life of nothing but struggles with her is better than a single day without her."
"I don't understand why all of this has to be so hard. When is it going to get easier?"
"I'll let you know as soon as it gets easy for us."
"You do realise you are NO HELP, right?" Blaise said with a groan.
"Of course," Severus smirked and rested a hand on his shoulder in a rare gesture of affection. "Now let's get back inside. It's cold out here, and I'm sure supper is almost ready."
Walking back in, they were just in time to meet up with the rest of the men and head into the dining room where Molly, Ginny, and Hermione had just finished setting the last dishes on the table. They ate the delicious food while enjoying conversing with each other, including Professor Snape. After dinner was finished and the men did the dishes, they all gathered in the family room and sang carols by the fire before heading up to bed, eagerly awaiting the morning that wouldn't arrive soon enough.
A/N: Okay- first off, don't hate me for not including Christmas. I think I'm getting the flu, and I'm just feeling too sick to write anymore. So that's why I'm posting this without Christmas Day included because I wanted you all to have something to hold you over until I'm feeling well enough to write again. Hopefully that'll be soon, and thanks for being understanding.