Ch. 7 Sick and Tired
After climbing several flights of stairs to fetch the medi-witch, Hermione had to turn right back around and go down them again. She was seriously considering finding out where the builder of the castle was buried, resurrecting him, and then killing him again just for the pleasure of it. The builder must have been a sadistic, cruel man to put so many damn stairs in the damn castle.
Madam Pomphrey went over Severus as Hermione quickly ate a sandwich. "Just one more class to go," she told him. "Then I can sleep."
"You didn't sleep last night?" Severus questioned. Madam Pomphrey had told him how long he'd been out.
"Oh, I tried to sleep, I wanted to sleep, but alas, sleep didn't want me. First Poppy here woke me up, then there was a problem in the Serpent's Den, and then my old nightmare hit me. No biggie." She failed to mention that she'd had no sleep the previous night due to him.
"Need to sleep for the baby," he told her, half asleep himself.
She pressed a kiss on his forehead. "I'll work on it, luv. Now, I've got to run."
When she came back, Madam Pomphrey was still there. She didn't look happy. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked, looking towards Severus. He appeared a bit pasty but was asleep.
"Just a bad case of the tremors. Some vomiting but that is expected now that he's conscious," the medi-witch explained. "It'll probably happen again, so be prepared."
"I understand. I'm in here for the night, if someone will send a house elf down with a night gown and a fresh change of clothes similar to what I have on now? A Freshening Spell only goes so far," Hermione said.
"Don't I know it, dearie. I'll have that done for you. If you need anything else, you know where to find me."
Hermione waited until Poppy couldn't hear her to mutter, "Yes, up four flights of stairs and eight corridors."
Too tired to wait for the nightgown, she stripped down to her bra on top and just undid the latch of her pants. She didn't want to climb under the covers with Severus since his skin was still tender, so she grabbed the green afghan from the couch.
Hermione stretched out next to Severus and snuggled under her blanket. With a contented sigh, she was asleep a minute later.
Harry and Ron took down the wards like Dumbledore had told them to. Juggling the trays of food, they looked around the living room. No Hermione there. Setting the trays in the kitchen (no Hermione there either), Ron called, "Hermione, where are you?"
There was no answer. Harry had a sneaking suspicion of where she was, but he was NOT going to suggest it to Ron.
Hermione heard a voice somewhere, but merely groaned and pulled a pillow over her head. It wasn't Severus so it didn't matter. She had barely gotten to sleep!
Harry stood in the living room while Ron searched all of the rooms in search of Hermione. Finally, there was only the bedroom left. Harry knocked on the half-open door. There was no answer.
Ron pushed the door open a little harder than he intended and the door crashed into the wall. Hermione sat up with a small scream, revealing her less-than-well-clad top half. Severus just rolled over and pulled the other extra pillow over his head.
"You're sleeping with the bastard now, 'Mione?" Ron hissed angrily.
"Don't start, Ron," Hermione scrubbed her face with her hands before getting out of the bed. She latched her pants and reached for the previously discarded shirt. "I'm just taking care of him."
Ron was red-faced and sputtering. Sensing an explosion, she pushed both boys out of the bedroom and closed the door nearly all of the way. "Oh, yeah, Hermione you're taking real good care of him. You're fuc-"
Here Harry smacked Ron upside the head, preventing him from completing the sentence that could possibly ruin their friendship forever. "You're being stupid, Ron. Just because she's in the same bed as him doesn't mean they're having sex. Anyway, don't you remember what I saw when my scar was burning? He's hurt!" Harry defended both Hermione and Severus.
"What Harry says is true, Ron. Severus only just woke up this afternoon and he'll be awhile in recovering." Hermione continued derisively, "But you should get used to it, because I hope it will someday be like what you thought. I love him, and I know he cares for me."
Ron's jaw dropped at her forthright honesty. She added fiercely, "And I better not hear any of this from the rest of the school."
Ron flushed with embarrassment and hurt that she would bring that up again. Before anyone could say anything, there was a loud groan from the bedroom. Hermione took off inside like a shot, the still-unbuttoned shirt flapping around her rounded stomach.
She was on the bed supporting Severus as he retched into the empty bucket Madam Pomphrey had left there. She pulled back his hair and crooned soothingly. The tremors finally receded and Severus fell exhausted onto the bed, clutching his sides. His bruised ribs and torso were screaming at him, and the muscle spasms had managed to tear open one of the semi-healed gashes on his chest.
Hermione just sat there and stroked his face for a moment before telling him she'd be back in a second. She crawled off the bed and pushed herself between the two boys still in the doorway. "Go away, you two. Severus would be upset to find you here, and he doesn't need that right now."
Ron started to protest, but Hermione hissed, "Go away. I'll try to see you tomorrow. Right now I have to get Sev his medicine." She had reached the kitchen and was taking different vials out of a cabinet, where Madam Pomphrey had put them.
She ended up with five vials and a glass of water. Her two friends were still standing there. "Please, guys. Go," she pleaded. Harry nodded and took Ron's arm, leading him out.
Just before he stepped outside, Harry turned and said, "If you need anything, just let me know."
"Thanks, Harry." Hermione went back to Severus and gave him the water first, supporting him until she stacked the pillows again. "Next," she gave him the stomach calmer and then the mild muscle relaxer. He downed all of the potions without complaint except the last one.
Severus looked at her. "Why are you doing this?" he asked softly.
"You helped me when I was sick."
"No, really. I know there's more to this than your Gryffindor honor," Severus pressed.
"I happen to love you, you great prat. Now drink that potion." She couldn't believe she'd just confessed to his face that she loved him.
When he didn't drink immediately, she guide his hand with the vial of Dreamless Sleep Potion into his mouth. He swallowed automatically.
He fell asleep thinking What did I ever do to deserve her? Hermione thought she caught the words, "I love you too," on his breath as the potion took effect, but couldn't be sure.
Hermione didn't sleep that night even though she was exhausted. She was worried about Severus, and about Harry and Ron possibly being angry with her. Then there was the fear that her nightmare would come to her again.
It was a pity, really, that she couldn't take any Dreamless Sleep Potion because she was pregnant. If she ever needed it, it was now.
The next morning Hermione ate breakfast with Severus, who felt much better than the previous day, when there was a knock at the outside door. Hermione yelled, "Who is it?"
"It is I, my dear," Dumbledore called back.
Hermione got off the bed, trekked to the door, and ushered him in. "We were just eating breakfast, Professor. Would you like some?"
"No thank you. I would like a word with you and Severus, though," he requested.
"Come on back to the bedroom, then." Hermione climbed back up to sit next to Severus. She was dressed in the fresh clothes she had requested last night. "Hope you don't mind if I keep eating. I'm starving," she said apologetically.
Dumbledore took a seat. "No, go ahead. Good morning, Severus," he greeted his Potions Master.
"A better morning than yesterday, but not quite good," Severus replied in his silky voice.
Uh-oh, Hermione thought, Confinement's starting to get to him already.
"Yes. Well, what I am here to tell you is that there is a meeting of the Order this afternoon, since the afternoon classes are cancelled and the Ministry is on a holiday."
Hermione had forgotten about that. It meant she had one less class to teach today. "Miss Granger, I want you to attend with Severus. I believe you may have some valuable input, and there is the added bonus of you being able to make sure he doesn't overdo things."
Severus glared at those words. "I won't overdo things," he snapped. "I don't need a keeper."
"The hell you don't. You've tried to walk around your rooms three times this morning," Hermione retorted back. "Now stop being grouchy; he's allowing you to go out."
Severus sighed and took her hand in his in silent apology. She gave it a squeeze and took it back so she could eat. Dumbledore twinkled, pleased at their progress. "It is in a room on the fourth floor, second door on the left in the third corridor. It starts at noon, and lunch is provided."
Hermione groaned inwardly. Just has to be on the fourth floor so I would have to climb stairs.
When Albus had left, Hermione turned to Severus. "I'll be out of class just in time to make it up there. We can go together," she told him.
"Sure," he replied distractedly. He was thinking about having to tell the Order that he'd failed, that he'd been discovered.
She kissed his cheek as she pulled on her outer robe. "I'll see you later, luv. Don't try to do everything. You're not Superman. More like Batman, really." At his befuddled expression, she laughed. "I'll explain later. Gotta go, bye!"
She semi-swooped out of the room and into the classroom, where she dropped the façade and collapsed into the chair. The moment the first student entered, however, the mask was put back in place. Funny she thought I never thought I was one that would be wearing a mask.
This class was fifth year Hufflepuff and Slytherin. She discovered that that was a Very Bad Combination. The Slytherins, who lorded over their meeker companions, intimidated the Hufflepuffs to distraction.
If she expected relief from the next class, she was to be let down. They were first year Slytherin and Gryffindors, whose rivalry was the worst since they hadn't learned any better yet.
Afterwards she fled to his quarters to fetch Severus. He wasn't there, but the closet door was open and a robe was obviously missing. She growled and reversed direction.
Up five flights of stairs, down two corridors and part of a third. She knocked on the specified second door on the left and was asked, "Who's there?"
"Hermione Granger," she answered. A lock clicked and the door opened halfway. She slipped in and saw Severus facing off with a woman with black hair.
"He's a Death Eater, I tell you!" the woman shrieked.
Hermione made a quick assessment and decided on a course of action. "Severus Snape, you were supposed to wait for me. Now sit your ass down this instant before you fall on it."
All heads in the room (which weren't terribly many, at least not yet) snapped towards her. After giving her a half-glare, he did as she said, his face paler than normal. Not sensing any threat in Hermione, the woman continued her tirade.
"Uh, excuse me, Melantha," Hermione interrupted. "Severus was a Death Eater. Duh!" she said, using an expression she'd picked up from an American movie. "But newsflash! He was a spy. If you'll notice the was, as in past tense." She spoke slowly and made movements with her hands like she was teaching an exceptionally slow child.
A venomous look came over Melantha's face. "What would you know, little girl?" she spat.
"I happen to know that you're being a stupid fool," Hermione replied, putting her hands on her hips.
Which brought attention to her stomach. "Why, Severus, I see you found yourself a whore and knocked her up!" Melantha said in a fake- delighted voice.
Hermione covered the ground between them in three strides and slapped her with all of her strength. Several people saw it coming and winced, remembering Hermione popping Malfoy in her third year.
"I am tired of people calling me that! I am no whore! Never have been, am not now, never will be. Get that straight right now." Hermione whirled around and started back to the table where most of the people present were sitting.
"You're a whore and he's a traitor!" Melantha yelled at her back.
Hermione stopped and stood very still. She slowly walked back to Melantha, giving the woman enough time to become mildly apprehensive.
"Do you really want to get into this, Melantha?" Everyone shuddered with foreboding at Hermione's voice. It had every bit the silk that Severus's did when he was at his most dangerous. "Before you decide, consider several things. I have had a grand total of ten hours of sleep in the past four days, all of which happened two days ago. I'm five months pregnant, possibly with twins, by an attacker I cannot remember, unless you count the nightmares about it.
"I just walked up five flights of stairs with swollen ankles, taught a class of Gryffindors and Slytherins that were set on killing each other and a class of Hufflepuffs and Slytherins that had not one, not two, but three students that make Neville Longbottom look like a Potions Master. I have been worrying over Severus here for months but for three days I've been scared out of my mind for him."
Just when she seemed to have finished, she added one more thing. "You should consider yourself lucky that Harry talked me out of sending you a curse when you sent that Saving Honor potion to Severus for Christmas. Now if you still want to go after me, wait until business is done and I'll be more than happy to oblige you."
The whole room gasped. That potion was an extremely deadly poison, and sending it to someone was disdained by most of the wizarding population.
Hermione left Melantha looking traumatized and went back to Severus. Her face was flushed with anger and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Severus held out his arms to her and she went into them. He pulled her into his lap, tucking her head under his chin and resting a hand on her stomach.
Hermione didn't cry, not now, but sat there drawing strength from Severus. Suddenly she gave a little "oh" of surprise and Severus's hand jumped off her stomach. "What was that?" he asked.
"The baby kicked. Oh, there he goes again. Feel!" Hermione grabbed his hand back and a look of wonder came into his eyes as he felt it again.
Their small audience held its breath, afraid to break whatever spell had come over them. Severus Snape was showing actual emotion. He was holding someone on his lap and showing emotion.
Melantha, too, was watching, and was equally as surprised by this. All of the new knowledge plus this sight was overwhelming. She collapsed in a chair at the end of the table to begin processing everything.
The pair in the chair hadn't noticed the outside world yet. "Twins?" Severus asked softly.
"Maybe. We can only find one, but it still may be twins. The one we can see is a boy," she replied quietly. "I was going to tell you when you were better."
They both seemed to realize they weren't alone in the dungeons. She jumped off his lap as he half pushed her and sat down in the chair next to him, color high. Arthur Weasley broke the silence by walking up to Hermione and asking about the baby. In the next ten minutes, about twenty- five more people arrived and Dumbledore had everyone sit down. With a wave of his wand, plates appeared in front of them, and then platters with food, just like it would in the Great Hall.
Hermione served herself a healthy portion but when she picked up her fork, Severus saw hat her hands were shaking. Arthur noticed as well, but Severus commented before he could. Severus reached over and steadied her hand with his own. "Luv, would you rather go to sleep than stay here? I can assure you that Albus won't let me overdo."
"I'll be okay. Anyway, I won't leave you where that woman will get a hold of you," she whispered back.
"Don't hold too much of a grudge, Hermione. Let her adjust to what she now knows. She was a wonderful child, an intelligent young woman. I loved her then, I believe I may still. Let's give her a second chance," Severus's voice was still low to avoid being heard, but Arthur heard anyway. He was surprised to hear him speak so freely of love and emotion.
"You are right, my love. I will try my best." She started to eat.
"Did I imagine what you told me last night, Hermione?" Severus's voice was so low that Arthur had to strain hard to hear. This was one of the times he wished he had one of the twins' Extendable Ears.
"No, you didn't imagine it. I do love you. Did I imagine your answer? You were falling asleep." Hermione's voice volume matched Severus's.
"I love you as well." He glanced around and gave her a half-smile. "Though this isn't the most romantic place to admit it."
In mock-shock, she teased him, "Severus Snape, worried about romance? My, hell must have frozen over."
Severus stifled a chuckle. He didn't want to shock too many people in one day, as fun as it would be to do so.
Arthur filed away the conversation to discuss with Molly later. His wife had been worrying about Hermione; perhaps knowing that Severus would take care of her would comfort Molly. It also explained some of Ron's problems with Hermione lately.
The meeting started when everyone finished eating. The first item of business was Severus's being discovered. Dumbledore started, "On Tuesday, Voldemort discovered Severus's role as a spy." He waited for the sudden burst of conversation to subside. "Severus, if you would explain further."
Severus immediately stiffened; he had not expected Dumbledore to request this of him. Unobtrusively, Hermione put her hand on his knee under the table. His covered it, then twined his fingers with hers.
"I was summoned in the afternoon; he has taken to doing that the past year or so. Immediately I was surrounded. He wasted no words, just proceeded to make life a . . . very painful thing. I don't know how long it was, but it was dark out when they stopped. They set a guard and I believe they went to dinner." His voice was cold and bitter. "Somehow I managed to kill their guard, a young Death Eater, one Marcus Flint, I believe.
"There was an empty wizarding home some miles away that I got to. It was obvious that the family that owned it was on vacation, but their fireplace was still on Floo. I managed to start a fire and get to my quarters. After that, I don't remember."
"What do you mean, you don't remember?" several members protested.
"He means . . ." Hermione had to raise her voice to be heard. "He means he landed on the hearth with a loud crash and passed out cold in the thirty seconds it took me to get there."
"Why did he pass out?" a voice called. It was Percy Weasley.
She sneered slightly. She used to like Percy, but after his hurting his parents the way he had, she hated him. His now being a part of the group unnerved her. "Severus may have used the terms 'very painful,' but translated, it means he was tortured for about half a day. If I hadn't been waiting for him, he would have died. He was unconscious for about two days, and won't be completely well for awhile. Just look."
She pulled back his black robe, which he had left unbuttoned, and pushed a hand against his chest, just over the reopened wound. The fabric blossomed red as Severus pulled back with a hiss. "You didn't have to do that," he told her.
She looked at him, her eyes unyielding. "Well, someone thinks well of herself," Percy drawled.
Hermione decided she liked Draco much better than she did Percy. At least Draco drawled with class. "Well, I don't have the market cornered in arrogance," she snapped back.
"Children, we don't need you bickering," Dumbledore cut in.
"How many times do I have to tell you, I am not a child!" She made an inarticulate sound of rage and pushed back her chair to get out. It fell to the ground but Hermione paid no heed; she stalked past the door keeper and through the door, slamming it behind her.
"That display was childish," Professor Sprout commented into the ensuing silence.
"There is only so much a person can take, especially a pregnant woman," Severus replied. He was angry with her, but understood where her anger stemmed from.
To break up the tension, Arthur said, "Well, now I know how to defeat You-Know-Who. Deprive Hermione of sleep and get her really pissed off at him. I don't think he could survive that."
Even Severus chuckled at that. He fidgeted in his chair after about five minutes, though, anxious about Hermione. She had been in some mood when she had left and might do something rash.
Surreptiously, Arthur leaned over. "Severus, don't worry about her. Molly had worse mood swings than that when she was pregnant."
Severus gave him a questioning look but Arthur just went back to listening to whoever was speaking. Severus did relax a bit, however, enough to pay attention, anyway.
After climbing several flights of stairs to fetch the medi-witch, Hermione had to turn right back around and go down them again. She was seriously considering finding out where the builder of the castle was buried, resurrecting him, and then killing him again just for the pleasure of it. The builder must have been a sadistic, cruel man to put so many damn stairs in the damn castle.
Madam Pomphrey went over Severus as Hermione quickly ate a sandwich. "Just one more class to go," she told him. "Then I can sleep."
"You didn't sleep last night?" Severus questioned. Madam Pomphrey had told him how long he'd been out.
"Oh, I tried to sleep, I wanted to sleep, but alas, sleep didn't want me. First Poppy here woke me up, then there was a problem in the Serpent's Den, and then my old nightmare hit me. No biggie." She failed to mention that she'd had no sleep the previous night due to him.
"Need to sleep for the baby," he told her, half asleep himself.
She pressed a kiss on his forehead. "I'll work on it, luv. Now, I've got to run."
When she came back, Madam Pomphrey was still there. She didn't look happy. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked, looking towards Severus. He appeared a bit pasty but was asleep.
"Just a bad case of the tremors. Some vomiting but that is expected now that he's conscious," the medi-witch explained. "It'll probably happen again, so be prepared."
"I understand. I'm in here for the night, if someone will send a house elf down with a night gown and a fresh change of clothes similar to what I have on now? A Freshening Spell only goes so far," Hermione said.
"Don't I know it, dearie. I'll have that done for you. If you need anything else, you know where to find me."
Hermione waited until Poppy couldn't hear her to mutter, "Yes, up four flights of stairs and eight corridors."
Too tired to wait for the nightgown, she stripped down to her bra on top and just undid the latch of her pants. She didn't want to climb under the covers with Severus since his skin was still tender, so she grabbed the green afghan from the couch.
Hermione stretched out next to Severus and snuggled under her blanket. With a contented sigh, she was asleep a minute later.
Harry and Ron took down the wards like Dumbledore had told them to. Juggling the trays of food, they looked around the living room. No Hermione there. Setting the trays in the kitchen (no Hermione there either), Ron called, "Hermione, where are you?"
There was no answer. Harry had a sneaking suspicion of where she was, but he was NOT going to suggest it to Ron.
Hermione heard a voice somewhere, but merely groaned and pulled a pillow over her head. It wasn't Severus so it didn't matter. She had barely gotten to sleep!
Harry stood in the living room while Ron searched all of the rooms in search of Hermione. Finally, there was only the bedroom left. Harry knocked on the half-open door. There was no answer.
Ron pushed the door open a little harder than he intended and the door crashed into the wall. Hermione sat up with a small scream, revealing her less-than-well-clad top half. Severus just rolled over and pulled the other extra pillow over his head.
"You're sleeping with the bastard now, 'Mione?" Ron hissed angrily.
"Don't start, Ron," Hermione scrubbed her face with her hands before getting out of the bed. She latched her pants and reached for the previously discarded shirt. "I'm just taking care of him."
Ron was red-faced and sputtering. Sensing an explosion, she pushed both boys out of the bedroom and closed the door nearly all of the way. "Oh, yeah, Hermione you're taking real good care of him. You're fuc-"
Here Harry smacked Ron upside the head, preventing him from completing the sentence that could possibly ruin their friendship forever. "You're being stupid, Ron. Just because she's in the same bed as him doesn't mean they're having sex. Anyway, don't you remember what I saw when my scar was burning? He's hurt!" Harry defended both Hermione and Severus.
"What Harry says is true, Ron. Severus only just woke up this afternoon and he'll be awhile in recovering." Hermione continued derisively, "But you should get used to it, because I hope it will someday be like what you thought. I love him, and I know he cares for me."
Ron's jaw dropped at her forthright honesty. She added fiercely, "And I better not hear any of this from the rest of the school."
Ron flushed with embarrassment and hurt that she would bring that up again. Before anyone could say anything, there was a loud groan from the bedroom. Hermione took off inside like a shot, the still-unbuttoned shirt flapping around her rounded stomach.
She was on the bed supporting Severus as he retched into the empty bucket Madam Pomphrey had left there. She pulled back his hair and crooned soothingly. The tremors finally receded and Severus fell exhausted onto the bed, clutching his sides. His bruised ribs and torso were screaming at him, and the muscle spasms had managed to tear open one of the semi-healed gashes on his chest.
Hermione just sat there and stroked his face for a moment before telling him she'd be back in a second. She crawled off the bed and pushed herself between the two boys still in the doorway. "Go away, you two. Severus would be upset to find you here, and he doesn't need that right now."
Ron started to protest, but Hermione hissed, "Go away. I'll try to see you tomorrow. Right now I have to get Sev his medicine." She had reached the kitchen and was taking different vials out of a cabinet, where Madam Pomphrey had put them.
She ended up with five vials and a glass of water. Her two friends were still standing there. "Please, guys. Go," she pleaded. Harry nodded and took Ron's arm, leading him out.
Just before he stepped outside, Harry turned and said, "If you need anything, just let me know."
"Thanks, Harry." Hermione went back to Severus and gave him the water first, supporting him until she stacked the pillows again. "Next," she gave him the stomach calmer and then the mild muscle relaxer. He downed all of the potions without complaint except the last one.
Severus looked at her. "Why are you doing this?" he asked softly.
"You helped me when I was sick."
"No, really. I know there's more to this than your Gryffindor honor," Severus pressed.
"I happen to love you, you great prat. Now drink that potion." She couldn't believe she'd just confessed to his face that she loved him.
When he didn't drink immediately, she guide his hand with the vial of Dreamless Sleep Potion into his mouth. He swallowed automatically.
He fell asleep thinking What did I ever do to deserve her? Hermione thought she caught the words, "I love you too," on his breath as the potion took effect, but couldn't be sure.
Hermione didn't sleep that night even though she was exhausted. She was worried about Severus, and about Harry and Ron possibly being angry with her. Then there was the fear that her nightmare would come to her again.
It was a pity, really, that she couldn't take any Dreamless Sleep Potion because she was pregnant. If she ever needed it, it was now.
The next morning Hermione ate breakfast with Severus, who felt much better than the previous day, when there was a knock at the outside door. Hermione yelled, "Who is it?"
"It is I, my dear," Dumbledore called back.
Hermione got off the bed, trekked to the door, and ushered him in. "We were just eating breakfast, Professor. Would you like some?"
"No thank you. I would like a word with you and Severus, though," he requested.
"Come on back to the bedroom, then." Hermione climbed back up to sit next to Severus. She was dressed in the fresh clothes she had requested last night. "Hope you don't mind if I keep eating. I'm starving," she said apologetically.
Dumbledore took a seat. "No, go ahead. Good morning, Severus," he greeted his Potions Master.
"A better morning than yesterday, but not quite good," Severus replied in his silky voice.
Uh-oh, Hermione thought, Confinement's starting to get to him already.
"Yes. Well, what I am here to tell you is that there is a meeting of the Order this afternoon, since the afternoon classes are cancelled and the Ministry is on a holiday."
Hermione had forgotten about that. It meant she had one less class to teach today. "Miss Granger, I want you to attend with Severus. I believe you may have some valuable input, and there is the added bonus of you being able to make sure he doesn't overdo things."
Severus glared at those words. "I won't overdo things," he snapped. "I don't need a keeper."
"The hell you don't. You've tried to walk around your rooms three times this morning," Hermione retorted back. "Now stop being grouchy; he's allowing you to go out."
Severus sighed and took her hand in his in silent apology. She gave it a squeeze and took it back so she could eat. Dumbledore twinkled, pleased at their progress. "It is in a room on the fourth floor, second door on the left in the third corridor. It starts at noon, and lunch is provided."
Hermione groaned inwardly. Just has to be on the fourth floor so I would have to climb stairs.
When Albus had left, Hermione turned to Severus. "I'll be out of class just in time to make it up there. We can go together," she told him.
"Sure," he replied distractedly. He was thinking about having to tell the Order that he'd failed, that he'd been discovered.
She kissed his cheek as she pulled on her outer robe. "I'll see you later, luv. Don't try to do everything. You're not Superman. More like Batman, really." At his befuddled expression, she laughed. "I'll explain later. Gotta go, bye!"
She semi-swooped out of the room and into the classroom, where she dropped the façade and collapsed into the chair. The moment the first student entered, however, the mask was put back in place. Funny she thought I never thought I was one that would be wearing a mask.
This class was fifth year Hufflepuff and Slytherin. She discovered that that was a Very Bad Combination. The Slytherins, who lorded over their meeker companions, intimidated the Hufflepuffs to distraction.
If she expected relief from the next class, she was to be let down. They were first year Slytherin and Gryffindors, whose rivalry was the worst since they hadn't learned any better yet.
Afterwards she fled to his quarters to fetch Severus. He wasn't there, but the closet door was open and a robe was obviously missing. She growled and reversed direction.
Up five flights of stairs, down two corridors and part of a third. She knocked on the specified second door on the left and was asked, "Who's there?"
"Hermione Granger," she answered. A lock clicked and the door opened halfway. She slipped in and saw Severus facing off with a woman with black hair.
"He's a Death Eater, I tell you!" the woman shrieked.
Hermione made a quick assessment and decided on a course of action. "Severus Snape, you were supposed to wait for me. Now sit your ass down this instant before you fall on it."
All heads in the room (which weren't terribly many, at least not yet) snapped towards her. After giving her a half-glare, he did as she said, his face paler than normal. Not sensing any threat in Hermione, the woman continued her tirade.
"Uh, excuse me, Melantha," Hermione interrupted. "Severus was a Death Eater. Duh!" she said, using an expression she'd picked up from an American movie. "But newsflash! He was a spy. If you'll notice the was, as in past tense." She spoke slowly and made movements with her hands like she was teaching an exceptionally slow child.
A venomous look came over Melantha's face. "What would you know, little girl?" she spat.
"I happen to know that you're being a stupid fool," Hermione replied, putting her hands on her hips.
Which brought attention to her stomach. "Why, Severus, I see you found yourself a whore and knocked her up!" Melantha said in a fake- delighted voice.
Hermione covered the ground between them in three strides and slapped her with all of her strength. Several people saw it coming and winced, remembering Hermione popping Malfoy in her third year.
"I am tired of people calling me that! I am no whore! Never have been, am not now, never will be. Get that straight right now." Hermione whirled around and started back to the table where most of the people present were sitting.
"You're a whore and he's a traitor!" Melantha yelled at her back.
Hermione stopped and stood very still. She slowly walked back to Melantha, giving the woman enough time to become mildly apprehensive.
"Do you really want to get into this, Melantha?" Everyone shuddered with foreboding at Hermione's voice. It had every bit the silk that Severus's did when he was at his most dangerous. "Before you decide, consider several things. I have had a grand total of ten hours of sleep in the past four days, all of which happened two days ago. I'm five months pregnant, possibly with twins, by an attacker I cannot remember, unless you count the nightmares about it.
"I just walked up five flights of stairs with swollen ankles, taught a class of Gryffindors and Slytherins that were set on killing each other and a class of Hufflepuffs and Slytherins that had not one, not two, but three students that make Neville Longbottom look like a Potions Master. I have been worrying over Severus here for months but for three days I've been scared out of my mind for him."
Just when she seemed to have finished, she added one more thing. "You should consider yourself lucky that Harry talked me out of sending you a curse when you sent that Saving Honor potion to Severus for Christmas. Now if you still want to go after me, wait until business is done and I'll be more than happy to oblige you."
The whole room gasped. That potion was an extremely deadly poison, and sending it to someone was disdained by most of the wizarding population.
Hermione left Melantha looking traumatized and went back to Severus. Her face was flushed with anger and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Severus held out his arms to her and she went into them. He pulled her into his lap, tucking her head under his chin and resting a hand on her stomach.
Hermione didn't cry, not now, but sat there drawing strength from Severus. Suddenly she gave a little "oh" of surprise and Severus's hand jumped off her stomach. "What was that?" he asked.
"The baby kicked. Oh, there he goes again. Feel!" Hermione grabbed his hand back and a look of wonder came into his eyes as he felt it again.
Their small audience held its breath, afraid to break whatever spell had come over them. Severus Snape was showing actual emotion. He was holding someone on his lap and showing emotion.
Melantha, too, was watching, and was equally as surprised by this. All of the new knowledge plus this sight was overwhelming. She collapsed in a chair at the end of the table to begin processing everything.
The pair in the chair hadn't noticed the outside world yet. "Twins?" Severus asked softly.
"Maybe. We can only find one, but it still may be twins. The one we can see is a boy," she replied quietly. "I was going to tell you when you were better."
They both seemed to realize they weren't alone in the dungeons. She jumped off his lap as he half pushed her and sat down in the chair next to him, color high. Arthur Weasley broke the silence by walking up to Hermione and asking about the baby. In the next ten minutes, about twenty- five more people arrived and Dumbledore had everyone sit down. With a wave of his wand, plates appeared in front of them, and then platters with food, just like it would in the Great Hall.
Hermione served herself a healthy portion but when she picked up her fork, Severus saw hat her hands were shaking. Arthur noticed as well, but Severus commented before he could. Severus reached over and steadied her hand with his own. "Luv, would you rather go to sleep than stay here? I can assure you that Albus won't let me overdo."
"I'll be okay. Anyway, I won't leave you where that woman will get a hold of you," she whispered back.
"Don't hold too much of a grudge, Hermione. Let her adjust to what she now knows. She was a wonderful child, an intelligent young woman. I loved her then, I believe I may still. Let's give her a second chance," Severus's voice was still low to avoid being heard, but Arthur heard anyway. He was surprised to hear him speak so freely of love and emotion.
"You are right, my love. I will try my best." She started to eat.
"Did I imagine what you told me last night, Hermione?" Severus's voice was so low that Arthur had to strain hard to hear. This was one of the times he wished he had one of the twins' Extendable Ears.
"No, you didn't imagine it. I do love you. Did I imagine your answer? You were falling asleep." Hermione's voice volume matched Severus's.
"I love you as well." He glanced around and gave her a half-smile. "Though this isn't the most romantic place to admit it."
In mock-shock, she teased him, "Severus Snape, worried about romance? My, hell must have frozen over."
Severus stifled a chuckle. He didn't want to shock too many people in one day, as fun as it would be to do so.
Arthur filed away the conversation to discuss with Molly later. His wife had been worrying about Hermione; perhaps knowing that Severus would take care of her would comfort Molly. It also explained some of Ron's problems with Hermione lately.
The meeting started when everyone finished eating. The first item of business was Severus's being discovered. Dumbledore started, "On Tuesday, Voldemort discovered Severus's role as a spy." He waited for the sudden burst of conversation to subside. "Severus, if you would explain further."
Severus immediately stiffened; he had not expected Dumbledore to request this of him. Unobtrusively, Hermione put her hand on his knee under the table. His covered it, then twined his fingers with hers.
"I was summoned in the afternoon; he has taken to doing that the past year or so. Immediately I was surrounded. He wasted no words, just proceeded to make life a . . . very painful thing. I don't know how long it was, but it was dark out when they stopped. They set a guard and I believe they went to dinner." His voice was cold and bitter. "Somehow I managed to kill their guard, a young Death Eater, one Marcus Flint, I believe.
"There was an empty wizarding home some miles away that I got to. It was obvious that the family that owned it was on vacation, but their fireplace was still on Floo. I managed to start a fire and get to my quarters. After that, I don't remember."
"What do you mean, you don't remember?" several members protested.
"He means . . ." Hermione had to raise her voice to be heard. "He means he landed on the hearth with a loud crash and passed out cold in the thirty seconds it took me to get there."
"Why did he pass out?" a voice called. It was Percy Weasley.
She sneered slightly. She used to like Percy, but after his hurting his parents the way he had, she hated him. His now being a part of the group unnerved her. "Severus may have used the terms 'very painful,' but translated, it means he was tortured for about half a day. If I hadn't been waiting for him, he would have died. He was unconscious for about two days, and won't be completely well for awhile. Just look."
She pulled back his black robe, which he had left unbuttoned, and pushed a hand against his chest, just over the reopened wound. The fabric blossomed red as Severus pulled back with a hiss. "You didn't have to do that," he told her.
She looked at him, her eyes unyielding. "Well, someone thinks well of herself," Percy drawled.
Hermione decided she liked Draco much better than she did Percy. At least Draco drawled with class. "Well, I don't have the market cornered in arrogance," she snapped back.
"Children, we don't need you bickering," Dumbledore cut in.
"How many times do I have to tell you, I am not a child!" She made an inarticulate sound of rage and pushed back her chair to get out. It fell to the ground but Hermione paid no heed; she stalked past the door keeper and through the door, slamming it behind her.
"That display was childish," Professor Sprout commented into the ensuing silence.
"There is only so much a person can take, especially a pregnant woman," Severus replied. He was angry with her, but understood where her anger stemmed from.
To break up the tension, Arthur said, "Well, now I know how to defeat You-Know-Who. Deprive Hermione of sleep and get her really pissed off at him. I don't think he could survive that."
Even Severus chuckled at that. He fidgeted in his chair after about five minutes, though, anxious about Hermione. She had been in some mood when she had left and might do something rash.
Surreptiously, Arthur leaned over. "Severus, don't worry about her. Molly had worse mood swings than that when she was pregnant."
Severus gave him a questioning look but Arthur just went back to listening to whoever was speaking. Severus did relax a bit, however, enough to pay attention, anyway.