Disclaimer: Ahh, I can't believe I almost forgot this. Uh...let's see. If Harry Potter was mine, I prolly wouldn't be here. I'd be doing something way cool. And no, you can't know what it is. 1) because it's that cool. and 2) because I have no idea what it is. I'll shut up nowand let you get reading.

It had been a week. Seven ungodly long days, and Hermione still hadn't awoken. The entire wizarding reveled in the death of Voldemort and celebrated Jane Austiere's "victory" while Severus Snape sat in the Hospital Wing, merely waiting.

What he had wanted to do was hex the living daylights out of Jane Austiere, but that wasn't exactly an option.

At least not after the Headmaster had forcibly dragged him back to the Hospital Wing. For such a small man, he sure had one hell of a grip.

And, to speak the truth, Severus wasn't happy with Albus Dumbledore either. Would this have happened if he hadn't forbbidden Severus to tell Hermione? Was it the right thing to do?

As a future father, absolutely not. Nothing was worth the life of his child. Looking back, he regretted his somewhat nonchalant attitude to his son.

But as a human being, a wizard in a time where there were many terrible things going on, some of them done by himself, he could not help but feel relieved. Grateful. Happy?

No, he couldn't go as far to say that. He was never a happy man and even during a time when everyone had something to celebrate, he couldn't bring himself to be optimistic. Someone he cared about, maybe even loved, was lying inert on a hospital bed, refusing to wake.

Severus could just see a few strands of his own black hair and the stone tiles of the floor as he held his head in his hands, with a sort of desperate feeling to it. A heavy hand grasped his left shoulder and Severus flinched at the touch, quickly shoving the intruding hand off.

"Severus?" said a clear voice from beside him.

"What now?" Severus groaned in response.

"I need you to make me some more restorative draughts. It seems like they're going to be needed, and you know how St. Mungo's is about them," continued the voice.

Severus couldn't help it, he gave a long-suffering sigh. "Fine, I'll go it. Just leave me alone, old man."

A slight, jovial chuckle was all that he got in response. When he finally did look up, he barely managed to catch the purple hem of Albus Dumbledore's robe as he left the Hospital Wing.

Severus stood, cracking his stiff back as he did. He glanced over once more at Hermione's emotionless face. He frowned slightly then left the ward, to go do as the Headmaster asked. Because Merlin only knows what the man would do if he couldn't down one or two restorative draughts a day.

Die maybe? Severus snorted. Not with his luck.

As Severus stalked down the halls, scowling of course, he stumbled upon someone he rather wished he wouldn't.

"Hello there, Severus. How're things?" said Jane Austiere. She was still a professor, but Severus would be damned if he ever called her that. It wasn't the most prestegious job in the world, but it did have somewhat of a sense of honor to it.

His scowl deepened. "I suggest, Ms. Austiere, that you refrain from speaking to me. That is, unless you actually do have a death wish. Because in that case, I'd be more than happy to oblige," he half growled, sarcasm dripping from every word as he narrowed his eyes in the petite woman's direction.

Austiere ran a hand through her grey-speckled auburn hair. "Oh, now Severus. How is Hermione, by the way? Such a lovely girl," she said in a rather pleasant tone, intent on making friends with the snarky professor. After all, she was famous! Everyone should love her. She deserved it, of course.

After her husband, Amos, and her son, Jeremy, died at the hands of Death Eaters she had dedicated her life to fighting those that had killed them. And now, Voldemort and his vigilanties were gone. She deserved a little happiness in her life. It had been such a hell before. Could anyone deny her happiness?

"Don't," Severus spat out, "talk to me about Hermione. You have no right to."

"Whatever do you mean, Severus?" asked Jane Austiere, patiently.

"I know what you did, Austiere. Nothing. You didn't defeat the Dark Lord, and eventually, your lies will come back to you. I'll make sure of it," Severus paused between rants, wondering if he should divulge the rest. In the end, Severus decided to. He wanted her to feel guilty. He wanted her to hurt inside.

"My wife is in a coma, my son dead. And do you know why, Austiere?" Severus said menacingly. "Because they sacrificed themselves to kill the Dark Lord. It is them who deserve whatever good they can get and not some half-bit auror who ran at the first sign of danger."

"You think I don't know? I saw you Austiere. You only did enough to make sure your own arse got covered and no more." Severus sent a deathly glare in Jane Austiere's direction.

Throughout Severus' tirade, Jane Austiere had become increasingly quiet, her wrinkles becoming prominent as she set her jaw in a hard line. "I don't know what you're talking about Snape," was all that she said before she turned and continued on her way. Severus watched her retreating form for a moment, internally fighting the urge to catch up with her and scream and yell and rage all he wanted.

He sure as hell felt better though. Or worse. It wasn't exactly clear to him anymore.

Once he was sure that Ms. Austiere was out of the vicinity, Severus made his way down to the potions laboratory to finish that replenishing potion. Better to keep himself busy, he mused silently.

One of Severus' favorite things about brewing was stirring. Which was rather convenient, when you think about it, him being a potions master and all. To him, it was relaxing, almost like yoga for the white, scrawny, and athletically impaired.

And what, might you ask was Severus doing at the moment? Why, he was stirring! Stirring an extra-large vat of milky blue restorative draught. Despite his earlier encounters, he was relatively calm, though every once in a while his face would tense into its customary scowl for a moment or two.

The stress Severus was feeling was obvious to anyone who had seen him brew before. While his work was still flawless, he wasn't quite as artful as he usually was.

The door burst open, and just as Severus was getting ready to bark a particularly nasty comment at the intruder, a slighly disheveled McGonagall walked through. "Severus," she said with a slightly breathy tone as if she has ran to the dungeons, "she's awake."

Severus didn't need to ask who. Casting a stasis charm on his potion as he ran out the door, he made his way to the Hospital Wing as quickly as his legs would take him, leaving a lagging McGonagall behind.

Hermione lay sobbing on the bed, clutching her stomach as she muttered, "all my fault," over and over again. Severus' heart tore out of his chest as he stalked over to his crying bride and sat next to her.

With red eyes, Hermione looked up at him and said, "How can you stand to be near such a monster?"

"What are you talking about, Hermione?" said Severus in a low, soothing voice.

"Me," she choked. "What I did..."

"Hermione..." Severus started to say. Hermione looked away, stuffing her head against a pillow once more.

"Hermione, look at me." Severus gently brought Hermione's face to face him. She hiccuped several times, sniffling loudly from her earlier sobbing.

"I do not blame you," Severus said sincerely, meeting her eyes directly.

A/N: Sorry took so long to update. Almost a whole month! ::winces:: Alright, well, it's here! Hope you liked the Austiere bit. XP

Insane amounts of reviews, over 30 I think it was for this chapter. I'd love to answer you all personally, but I just don't have the time and/or patience. But I still appreciate and read every single one. You guys rock!

imogenhm and Cassiana Joy: Two cookies each for proving me wrong. ::cough:: I mean...I meant to do that...to make sure you were reading. Yeah....that's it....

Ashley579: Heh, it's getting to be quite an epic. I didn't know I was writing differently, but hey, cool I have a "style". Thanks alot!

JeanMarie: Oh no! I don't want you to be confused. What in particular confused you? Lemme know so I can fix it!

June W: Some lovely Austiere-bashing for you. What'd Lupin do though? ::confused::

Hysterically Insane Author: Heh, I'm a bit crazy myself, so who knows? I like messin' around with peoples heads. ::grin::

And the rest of you: Natsuyori, iamtherealmaverick, Julia Bartlett, zenni, Anarane Anwamane, emikae, Sabrina, beckythorn13, ScrewyLouie12, blackwolfs900, Makalani Astral, grangerhermoine, teh munchkin (reciprocal ::GLARES:: hehe!), I-LUV-ILC, Scarlet Angel16, Queenofwitches, stargazer starluver, Cee, simplyme89, m482, Kimberly, kalinda, peanutilover, the-sexy-flower

THANK YOU! Hehe. I promise everyone will get whats coming to them. Maybe. ::whistles innocently::

R/R