Bad bad bad bad me. I have excuses, but I won't bore you with them. Here it is now. Just want to thank my beta, who suddenly seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. You know who you are, I miss your advice. I'll try to update soon, but no promises. Enjoy!

Not mine, never was or will be.

Ch. 5-Potions and Mistletoe Part 2: Meet the Parents

Hermione clutched at Severus for support as they stepped into her living room; Flooing always left her feeling slightly unbalanced, and the affects were exaggerated with the extra weight in her abdomen from the pregnancy. Immediately across from them stood her parents, who were glaring at the sight of them. She realized how it must look, arriving suddenly in the fireplace, four months pregnant, her holding onto a strange man intimately. She wasn't sure how to explain the situation to them, so she settled for a simple hello.

"Umm, hi Mum, Dad," she said weakly.

"Hermione! Merry Christmas, darling!" Hermione's mother exclaimed, holding out her arms.

"Merry Christmas, Mum." Hermione's voice lacked enthusiasm, but Severus seemed to be the only one who noticed. She went into the offered embrace, and then moved on to hug her father. "Mum, Dad, I want you both to meet Professor Severus Snape. He's the Potions Master that I'm apprenticing with, and is also my very good friend."

Her parents' eyebrows raised simultaneously as they regarded the dark man still holding their daughter. They remembered how she had written home in the past complaining about this man, though that had stopped sometime around her fourth year. But still, hadn't he always belittled and been harsh to her and her friends?

"Just how good a friend, Hermione?" her mother asked, eyeing her daughter's stomach.

"Mother! No, Severus is not the father! How can you suggest . . ." Hermione was sputtering she was so angry.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger-" Severus started.

"It's Drs. Granger," Hermione's father interrupted testily. "I'm Larry and this is my wife Mary."

"Drs. Granger, I believe that this has been explained to you. Hermione was assaulted and her memory erased, and the attack left her pregnant. She does not need your condemnation and accusations, she needs your support," Severus chastised, at his most cold and proper.

Needless to say, he did intimidate the Grangers somewhat. Having Severus defending her made Hermione feel safe and protected, but she didn't want her parents to be too intimidated by his demeanor. She was sure that she wanted Severus in her life, so it was important for him and her parents to get along. "Severus, I think you're scaring my parents." Amusement threaded her voice as she put a hand on his arm.

"No, he's not, honey," Larry said in a blatant lie. Obviously trying to be polite, he asked, "Have either of you had breakfast yet this morning? We were waiting for you."

"I haven't yet. Severus let me sleep too long," Hermione replied. At her mother's sharp glance, she exclaimed, "God, Mum, get your mind out of the gutter! We weren't even in the same wing of the castle. He was in charge of getting me up and here today."

"Sorry, dear," Mary apologized, though seemed to lack complete sincerity in Severus's opinion. "And you, Professor Snape? Will you be eating anything?"

"Thank you for the offer, but I have already had breakfast. A cup of coffee or tea would be most welcome, whichever you have on hand," Severus responded. Throughout the meal, Severus was impeccably formal and polite, every inch the gentleman. The talk around the table was forced at best, but somehow they managed to get through the meal. Hermione didn't eat much, though Severus kept nudging her covertly to get her to.

After those first few overt comments at their arrival, Hermione's parents were, to all appearances, amiable, though Severus caught several suspicious and cutting looks. Hermione had a chance to talk to her mother while helping her with the breakfast dishes. "Mum, I'm sorry you don't approve of me, but this has happened and I'm rather proud of the way I'm dealing with it, to tell you the truth." I will not cry, I will not cry, she chanted internally.

"Honey, it's not that I don't approve exactly . . ."

"But it is, Mum. You don't approve of my pregnancy, which, news flash, isn't my fault, of me, of my friends, my lack of a significant other, the list just goes on and on. Severus is my friend, one of my best ones, and I trust him more than anyone. He's been so wonderful about all of this, and he really truly didn't have to be."

"You've described him before as cold and cruel."

"That was several years ago. I've gotten to know him better since then, and no, not in the Biblical sense. Right now we are friends, though frankly, I wouldn't mind if it became more later."

This left her mother slightly speechless. Whatever had happened to her shy little girl? This was a bold, outspoken young woman she was talking to. "I still don't believe I approve, at least of him, but I will try harder, I promise."

Hermione knew that she would have to make do with that. She also knew that her mother still did not believe her about the baby.

Her father, oddly enough, was easier to convince of everything. She'd never thought that she was closer to him, but he seemed to understand what she was trying to say better. He also knew that she wasn't lying about her pregnancy. He had known from the start but his wife hadn't wanted to believe him.

Larry let Hermione talk it out, tell him in detail how this man had helped her. He was impressed, both by her description of him and by what he saw when he spoke to Severus earlier. He had showed intelligence and poise and was obviously making an effort to make the way smooth for his daughter. It was just as obvious that he cared for his girl's baby and his girl, though he wasn't sure if Severus realized how much yet. His daughter was in good hands.

By lunch, both parents were actively anticipating the arrival of their first grandchild, especially her father. Severus thought things were going rather well for the most part until he saw Hermione's eyes, which looked suspiciously bright and rather upset. Soon after, Mary Granger left to prepare supper, and her husband quickly followed. As soon as they were alone, Severus moved closer to Hermione and took her hand in his. Stroking the back of her hand with his thumb, he asked softly, "What is wrong, luv?"

Hermione looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "She'll never truly believe unless my attacker is brought before her with a signed confession. There will be doubt until then," Hermione's voice was sad. "And things will never be the same again."

"As you've repeatedly told all of us, you are not a child anymore. This chapter of your life is over; you can visit but it will never be the same. You are a woman now, an expectant mother, one with endless possibilities in front of you."

Hermione wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "I feel like I can face anything when you're with me." She was crying so hard into his robes that Severus had a difficult time making out exactly what she had said. He got the gist of it though, and he wondered how someone who once hated him passionately could say something like that to him now. How could she trust him after everything? And God, how come her tears and fears became his as well? Why did he think about her so much during the day? He didn't understand it, and he didn't understand her.

Her father came in just after that, and glared fiercely at Severus holding his crying daughter. "What did you do to her?"

Severus sighed. "Nothing. It's her mood swings again." On the behalf of peace, and since it was partly true, he fibbed slightly.

It was clear that he did not believe Severus, so Hermione spoke up. "It's true, Daddy. I burst into tears all the time, honest." Hermione was still crying; she couldn't seem to stop.

"I think we need to leave," Severus told Larry. Mary, who had just come into the room, objected. "Do you have to?! Supper's nearly ready!"

"I'm sorry, Mum, but I'm not feeling well." Hermione hugged both her parents goodbye, tears still sliding down her face, though at a slower rate than before.

Severus reached up to grab a handful of Floo powder but was stopped by Larry Granger's hand on his arm. "Take care of her. She's still my baby; I can tell she cares for you, and you for her. Please take care of her," he admonished quietly.

"I will," Severus promised, and again reached for the powder. Speaking a little louder, he said, "Come, little witch, let's get you home."

Hermione went gratefully into his arms. "Severus Snape's quarters, password, Cupidas Cordis," he commanded, and they were gone.

Cupidas Cordis means Heart's Desire Thanks to Arcessita for the Latin translations.

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