Thats for cosmicangel i hope I explained it right...

A handfasting is not a marriage. Not in the wizarding world and not in our
medival one. A handfasting is not really binding and to a woman of royal
blood it would be a great shame to be asked to do that. (just for example)
Voldemort wanted them to do teh handfastung because he thought that Snape
could go to Harry over Hermione.
They aren't married!

you're right. in the sequel she was raped, but I asked you to ignore the
fact that the sequel happened in the 7th year and pretend that it happened
in the 6th year. I am sorry for that but I had mixed up rthe timelines.

What other bits are there? I really would like to hear them, so I can
correct them or explain them..

Thank you very much for your review, i hope you enjpy reading it and keep me
informed when I do make mistakes...

For all my other faithful readers thank you so much. your reviews always make me smile...

-

When she woke up the next morning she learned that he was already gone from their rooms. After washing and dressing, she went to her classes. Because she didn't have Potions today, she wouldn't see him before the evening.

The day went by quite nicely and soon she was sitting in the library doing some research for her homework. Once she had finished, she decided to do a little research on another topic. She looked through the books, always careful that no one was watching her. Soon she found what she had been looking for: A Guide To Wizarding Pregnancy and Childbirth. She checked it out, earning a strange look from Madam Pince but as she told her that she had to write an essay about the differences between Muggle and Wizard pregnancy, she was satisfied.

She left to have dinner with her friends before returning to the dungeons. Severus still wasn't there. Hermione showered and put on a silky white night gown. She settled back in the bed with her new book after she had wrapped it in a different cover so that officially it looked like she was reading a book about Advanced Transfiguration. Soon she found herself lost in it.

That was exactly how Severus found her an hour later. He studied her for a few moments. She looked so innocent and so damn sexy in that white silk nightgown. He liked the way she left her hair loose in bed and the way she could lose herself in the written word. He went straight to the bathroom, showered, and put his black trousers on before he reentered the bedroom and slipped under the covers without a word.

"Severus?" she asked hesitantly, putting her book on the night table.

"Yes?" he asked with an air of boredom, not even turning to face her.

Hermione bit her lip. "I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. You were right. I shouldn't have left alone. And moreover, I shouldn't have hurt you."

"Accepted," was all he said, his voice still emotionless.

"Would you please look at me?"

He turned just enough that she could see his profile. "Is there anything else you want?"

She opened her mouth to speak but lost her will when she noticed the hard expression in his eyes: so she just shook her head.

"Good!"

Hermione explained his strange behavior to herself with the events of yesterday, so she put her worries aside and decided to make a new try tomorrow.

-

"What are we going to do during Christmas break?" she asked him during breakfast next morning.

"I don't know what you are going to do but I already have plans!" Severus couldn't have said it more clearly. He didn't want her, not even for his bed.

She tried to smile but couldn't. Looking away from him, she mumbled something about visiting her parents.

He just nodded.

-

Hermione didn't go to see her parents nor did she leave with Harry and Ron. Since Severus had told her that he would be away during the two weeks, she decided to spend her time alone in the nearly deserted castle. She needed a little space to sort things out for herself and she found the familiar surroundings helpful. Moreover, if she couldn't spend her time with him, she could at last feel his presence. Oddly enough, she still wanted to feel it.

After she had done all her holiday homework, she concentrated fully on her pregnancy. She used the first weekend to buy the needed books at Hogsmeade and the first week flew by in no time. She had finally come to terms with her baby and had decided that she wanted to keep it. She was already thrilled about it. She wanted his baby more than anything. She didn't even care any longer about she being so young or he being so much older. She didn't care about Voldemort or about anything else. She already loved the new life growing inside her womb.

-

Severus seized the break to have long talks with his brother, something he had deeply missed all those years. Although Ernestus was a full Death Eater, Severus loved his little brother.

During these weeks, Voldemort had called twice knowing that he didn't have school. Both times he had attended the gatherings, playing his part like he always did. But now, every time he touched a woman all he could see was Hermione Granger. He had to admit that her words had hurt him more than he had thought. He didn't understand what had happened. Of course they didn't love each other but he had thought that they had come to an agreement. Obviously, he must have been wrong.

During a quiet night at Snape Manor, he sat in a big armchair by the fire, a cognac in his hand, while he repeated the conversation she had had with Potter over and over in his mind. Suddenly, he remembered that there had been a part he hadn't paid attention to. She had been furious about his non-caring attitude! In fact, almost the entire conversation was about his non-caring. He also remembered that her voice had sounded lost and sad.

He sipped on his drink and tried to concentrate harder. He needed to talk to her again. Something had gone wrong that night. Horribly wrong!

-

Knowing that he would return three nights before the end of the break, Hermione removed all pregnancy books from their rooms. She didn't want him to know yet. First, it was still her little secret and she loved that and second, she didn't want him to know until they had solved their current problems.

"Hopefully you father will be in a better mood when he returns, little one," she said softly, patting her tummy.

She went to bed early that evening. It was the same evening Severus returned. He entered his rooms and went straight to the bedroom. When he entered, he noticed that she was already sleeping. He put his bag down and moved towards the bed. Crossing his arms, he leaned against one poster looking at her. She lay in the middle of his bed, hugging his pillow. She stirred softly while he continued to watch her. Then her beautiful brown eyes opened suddenly and she smiled at him. He waited until she had opened her eyes completely.

"Severus?"

"Obviously. Did you expect someone else in your bedchamber?" he snarled.

"Of course not!" She sat up. For a moment they just stared at each other; she noticed that he looked tired. "How are you?"

He raised an elegant black eyebrow. "Since when is my health one of you concerns?" he asked coldly

Hermione raised the bedcovers up and swung her feet out of the bed. She grabbed her silk silver bathrobe and put it over the matching nightgown. "You are not fair, Severus!" she said as she went by him to leave the room but he grabbed her arm and turned her around so that they were facing each other.

"I am not fair?"

"Damn you, Severus! Damn you for your nasty behavior. I apologized. Isn't that enough? I'm sorry that I hit you. What else do you want?" she sounded, desperate.

"What I want? Why should you care what I want?"

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Don't you know?"

"Know what?" He was still holding her arm.

"That I like you! I do care. I missed you so much these last days. Do you know how terrible it was for me not to know if you were safe? If he had called you?"

"Oh please. Spare me! Do you really expect me to believe you? Why should you care? After all, I'm the man who ruined your life! I'm the man after who's touch no one decent will ever want to touch you, remember?" There was pure hate in his eyes as he looked down at her and Hermione paled.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, whispering.

He snarled before he let go of her arm as if he couldn't bear any more contact between them.

"No need to deny it. I overheard your conversation with the boy wonder."

She needed a few moments before his words completely sank into her mind. Conversation? What conversation? The talk she had had with Harry so long ago?

"You followed me and overheard my conversation? How dare you?"

"Excuse me for actually being worried bout your well-being!" he hissed.

He had been concerned for her well-being? "You care!" she said.

His brows furrowed. "What?"

"You really do care," she said in wonder; hope filling her eyes.

Feeling himself cornered, his next words left without thinking but he was sorry for them immediately. "Don't be ridiculous. Why should I care for a filthy little Gryffindor Mudblood?"

If anyone can hear the sound of a breaking heart, he must have heard Hermione's the moment the words slipped from his lips. She stared blankly at him.

Severus wanted to take them back. He hadn't meant to say it. But then, maybe he had wanted to hurt her like she had hurt him. He wasn't prepared for the sadness and the haunted look in her eyes. He reached out to touch her but she stepped back. Without a word she turned around and fled from the dungeons and from Severus Snape.

-

So, we are getting closer to the end. I would say 5 chapters more that's it...