Hey hey people, I've updated again. Yeah me! I have an excuse, a valid one this time, for not updating for awhile. I've been moving in to the dorms up here at college, so I've been busy busy busy. Classes start tomorrow, wish me luck. Well, please read and review, I love compliments and concrit both. Later! Enjoy!

Ch. 11- Discussions Abound

Hermione's sleep had been becoming more and more troubled by bad dreams. Not only had her original night terrors come back to plague her, but she was having disturbing dreams about giving birth. Frankly, she was scared of what was to come in about two months.

Severus knew this, since he comforted her when she awoke terrified, and had finally hit upon a course of action. He was going to get Hermione some help.

Help that only came in the form of Molly Weasley.

The very next Saturday, which happened to be a week from when Sturgis left, he enacted Phase 1: Extraction.

They slept in some, but Severus put on regular robes instead of casual clothes, telling Hermione that he had some errands to run. She didn't question him, since he'd done this before.

Once outside Hogwarts' gates, however, he Apparated to just down the road from the Burrow. He was nervous, since Molly had never been terribly friendly to him. He walked up to the house. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

Molly answered. "Oh, hello, Professor. The men are working today, so you'll have to go find them."

"Thank you, but it's not them I'm looking for. I'm actually here to ask a favor of you," Severus explained.

Molly looked very surprised. "In that case, come in and have a seat, Professor."

"It's Severus, and thank you," he said, following her in and sitting in the kitchen where she indicated.

She took a seat across from him. "Well, Severus, what is it you want?"

Severus paused to gather his thoughts. "I was hoping that you could come to Hogwarts for at least a couple of hours to talk with Hermione. She is scared about giving birth, and I think you might be able to help."

Molly gave him an appraising look. Arthur had told her what he had overheard at the meeting, but she wanted to hear it for herself. "Why are you asking me, Severus?"

Severus decided to be honest with her. "Because I love Hermione and want her to be able to sleep at night. Every night this week she's woken up terrified." At Molly's glare, he sighed wearily. "We may share the same bed, Molly, but there is nothing going on beyond sleep, I promise."

Molly could tell that he was being honest; she had learned to judge him n the meetings of the Order, not to mention having so many children had honed her lie-detecting skills. "I believe you," she declared. "And I'm more than willing to help her, especially since Arthur told me she could be having twins."

"Yes. Poppy still isn't completely sure, but more so than before."

"I wish we knew who did this to her," Molly's fist clenched on the table. "Even . . . even if it was one of my boys, by choice or Imperio. She didn't deserve this, not at all. She is like a second daughter to me."

"I know. That's why I'm asking you to help her," he told her.

Molly stood up. "Well, what are we waiting for? I'll write Arthur a note and maybe Floo him later." She bustled around for a moment. Severus waited for her, and they walked outside together.

"To in front of the gates," he said, and an instant later they were there.

He led her up to the castle and down into the dungeons. Thankfully, they encountered no one along the way, so they didn't have to explain to anyone why Molly was there. Before he brought her in, though, he stopped and turned to face her. "Just a warning, there are a few other people here at the moment. You know them, so don't worry about it."

He undid the wards and said the password, and then bowed her inside. There, she was greeted by the sight of Tonks, Melantha, Remus and Hermione deeply involved in a game of Exploding Snap. At the sound of someone entering, they looked up. Someone must have touched the stack of cards, because they suddenly exploded, making the four burst out laughing.

Severus chuckled at the sight of all four faces blackened with the soot from the explosion, especially Tonks, whose hair was neon lime green. Hermione stood, wiping the tears of mirth from her face, smearing the soot further. "Mrs. Weasley. How nice to see you. Umm, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, still giggling but pulling herself together.

"I came here to see you, dear," Molly replied.

Hermione looked from Mrs. Weasley to Severus, her face showing her dawning understanding. She threw her arms around his neck - she seemed to do that a lot - and kissed him passionately. Pulling back abruptly, leaving him looking stunned, she said, "Thank you."

Molly glanced around to see Tonks looking uncomfortable and Melantha and Remus appearing bemused. "Would you like to go for a walk, Hermione?" she requested.

"As long as it's not up too many stairs," Hermione agreed, and they walked out the door together.

Severus didn't see her again until that evening after dinner back in his quarters. She looked like she had cried some, but had a big smile on her face. She was alone. "Where is Mrs. Weasley?" Severus inquired, giving her a hug.

"She went home. Thank you for bringing her here for me to talk to."

"It's what you needed," he told her.

"She promised to be here for the birth. Reassured me on a lot of things. We also discussed some other things." She deliberately left things vague.

He pulled her down onto the couch. Melantha and Tonks had chosen to stay as roommates, despite Remus's offer to take the couch bed, so it was no longer a bed. "What about?" he asked.

"About you." She smiled coyly.

"Good things only, I hope."

"Oh, gag," Tonks said sarcastically, but not meanly. She was coming to terms with everything.

"Ah, shove it, Tonks," Severus called to her good-naturedly. "Continue, luv."

"About baby names, and a nursery. What are we going to do about a nursery?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"I've planned to turn one of the guest rooms into one. I think I can get it done in a day or two, so there is no hurry. We basically have enough for a double nursery."

Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "Good."

"What names are you thinking of?" The three guests came over and joined them. It was Remus who asked.

"Well, we know one is a boy. I'm pretty sure from what I've felt that there are two, and I think the other is a girl. Just a gut feeling, mind you," She snorted at her pun. "The first set is Nathan and Dora. Then there's Benedict and Amelia. Keefe and Kalila. Aluin and Adora. That's about it, I guess."

For the rest of the evening, the discussed baby names, sometimes tossing in a new one, deliberating over them. Occasionally Tonks would come up with one so outrageous that everyone would crack up.

Going to bed, Hermione whispered to Severus, "And she thought her mother chose a ridiculous name. I feel sorry for her children."

They laughed themselves to sleep.