Chapter 3:
Hermione didn't remember the walk back to her bedroom, nor did she remember climbing back into bed. She didn't sleep once she got there; instead her mind would not let her get any rest. She had told Madam Pomfrey that she wasn't going through with the termination and she left. Her mind went blank from there on until she had gotten into her bed. She had been trying to rest there for what had felt like hours. She couldn't get the words of Severus Snape out of her head. How dare he say something like that? This was his child too. But if he wanted nothing to do with it, she was going to raise this child. She knew her parents would be upset, but they would support her in whatever decision she made. She knew her cousin had been in this situation before, although in that case, her cousin willingly had conceived this child and knew what was going on. In Hermione's case, she knew what was going on, but she hadn't been in her right mind. She wasn't sure if she was in her right mind now, but being determined, she knew what she had to do.
Defeated, she got up out of bed and moved to her desk in the corner of the room. Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and her quill. She hadn't written to her parents in a long time, she remembered the last time she had. It was at the beginning of the year to wish her parents a good vacation. Her parents had gone to Egypt for two weeks in early September. Hermione sighed, this wasn't going to be easy.
'Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you both doing? I am doing well. My studies are going well, everything so far has been what I expected. Actually, there is something that I need to tell you. I cannot do it in a letter. I'm going to see if I can get out and come visit you two one weekend in the next little while.
I hope to talk to you soon, I miss you both.
Love,
Hermione
Hermione reread the letter. She knew it didn't explain much, but she didn't feel she had to. Her mother would panic when she read the letter and would try to be in touch as soon as possible. She also didn't tell her parents who the father was, that was something that would wait until they met in person. Her parents would most likely panic and try to take Hermione out of Hogwarts. To Hermione, that was the worst thing that could happen, she wanted to finish her school career here.
Hermione sealed the letter and made a mental note to ask Harry if she could borrow Hedwig later on that night. She then climbed into bed and this time, fell asleep.
Severus finished his classes for the afternoon and stalked into his private studies. His classes had gone pretty badly since this morning, after finding out about Hermione and then her telling him there was no chance she was going to terminate the pregnancy. He had spent most of the day thinking about what she had said and everything that had happened. He, the potion master, almost blew up a cauldron today for the first time in his life. He saw his mistake just at the last second and was able to correct it before he disintegrated the whole class of second years. Severus shook his head, he'd never been in a situation like this before. He knew he was in deep, especially now that it looked like there was no chance of him not having this child. He didn't go back to see Madam Pomfrey, he didn't want to hear the news. Severus knew what was coming; Hermione was a Gryffindor, there was no changing her mind once it was set.
Albus Dumbledore had an inkling on what the outcome of this would be. He knew there was no way that Hermione was going to give up this baby but he also knew Severus was a very stubborn man when he needed to be. It was something else that the death eater training had taught him. Dumbledore was waiting in his office for the official word, Poppy had flooed in earlier to tell him that Hermione had left, but he was waiting for Hermione or Severus to come up and tell him. He knew it wouldn't be too long before one of them arrived in his office, Hermione would want everything planned out and ready months in advance. He also knew that she'd want to tell her parents in person and for that, she needed his permission to leave the school grounds. She'd also have to an escort, and Dumbledore hoped Severus would be up to the task.
'Come in,' Dumbledore answered before the person behind the door could even knock. Severus walked in and took the same seat that he had occupied earlier that day.
'She's decided to keep the baby, hasn't she?' Severus didn't meet Dumbledore's eyes, he didn't even blink.
'I do not know that answer to that, Severus, you will have to ask her yourself.' Dumbledore's comment was met with a glare and a sigh.
'Albus, don't do this. You know damn well what she's decided. Tell me.' Severus didn't take his eyes off of Dumbledore, he squinted hard knowing that he wasn't going to get the answer he was looking for.
'I can't do that Severus. It is Miss Granger's decision and if you want to know, you have to go talk to her. I can't do it for you.' Dumbledore clasped his hands and smiled slightly at Severus. Severus glared back, he didn't say anything but he knew that Dumbledore was right.
'As you wish, headmaster.' Severus got up from his chair and left the office.
Hermione had just woken up from her nap. She hadn't been asleep long, but when she woke up, she felt oddly refreshed. She stretched out on her bed and pulled the covers up past her neck. The woolen blanket felt warm against the previously exposed skin of her neck and cheek. She turned onto her side and found herself facing the door. She could see a piece of black fabric just outside the door. It hadn't been there when she went to sleep. Suddenly, a foot came out from beside the fabric; Hermione jumped and put her head under the covers. A knock came from the direction of the door.
'Miss Granger? Are you awake?' It was Professor Snape, he was still standing half hidden behind the door, as if afraid to look in.
'I am now that you've woken me up.'
'There are matters to discuss, would you mind meeting me in my studies when you are decent?' He didn't wait for an answer. Hermione could hear him walking down the stairs just as he finished his question.
'Yes, Professor Snape, sir. I'll do your bidding, sir. Prat' Hermione cursed Severus as she got up out of bed and got dressed. She continued to curse him all the way down to his studies and wouldn't have stopped but she ran into Snape at his door.
'I see you made it here finally.' There was no softness in his voice or in his eyes.
'Yes I did, no thanks to you waking me up. What is it that you wanted with me?' Hermione answered him in the same cold tone he had used with her.
'If you must, take a seat. Make yourself at home, do what you want.' Severus replied sarcastically.
'Fine I will.' Hermione shook her head; if he was going to be rude about this, she wasn't going to be nice to him. 'Could we get this over with, I would like to go back to my room.'
'You can as soon as you tell me what you've decided.'
'You already know, congratulations Professor Snape, you're going to be a father.' Hermione glared back at Severus. 'What did you think I was going to do? Just because you don't want this child does not mean I want the same. This is what I've decided and if you want no part of it, fine.'
'I never said I want no part of it, this is just as difficult on me as it is on you.'
'How is this as difficult for you? You can go scot-free, I can't. The most you'll have to do is pay child support and that's it. What do I have to do? I'm graduating this year, but where do I go from here? Nowhere, I can't go to college with a child, especially one I'm raising alone.' Severus could see for the first time that day, Hermione's eyes were filling up with tears. 'I've basically lost my whole future because some idiot decided to play a prank.'
Severus paused and thought about what he was going to say next. He walked over to the sofa on which Hermione had already say down upon. He cautiously reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder. 'I was not planning on abandoning you and our child. You may think I'm a monster, but I'm not. I will be there to raise this child no matter what. I'll admit, this was not the way I wanted it to happen. But this is my obligation and I will do whatever is necessary.' Hermione looked at Severus and backed away.
'If this child is 'your obligation', then forget it. Just because you're the father does not mean you have to be in the baby's life. If it is going to be such a burden to you, then go. I can do it on my own without someone worrying about a burden on their life.' Hermione got up to leave, but Severus stopped her.
'That is not what I meant. I am the father and I will do what is necessary to make sure this child has the best life. Miss Granger, I am not quite used to this news yet as I'm sure you aren't either. Just give me some time, I will come around. This isn't what I wanted and I'll be honest, I wasn't planning on ever having children.' Severus sighed. 'And come hell or water high, you are going to college. Don't let this stand in the way of your intelligence. You've done nothing wrong and you shall not be punished for this.' Hermione nodded.
'I'm going to go back up to my room now. Next weekend, if it is okay with the headmaster, will you please come with me to tell my mother and father?' Severus nodded his head and Hermione left.
When she'd gotten back up to her room, she wrote her parents a letter telling them she'd be there sometime next weekend and that she was bringing a guest. She sent it from the owlery and went silently back to her room. She didn't want to face anyone else yet. Maybe tomorrow, but not right now.
