A/N: Sorry about the wait. It's been a little crazy between spending a semester abroad and coming home at Christmas, especially dealing with the jet lag since I got home. Should be regular updates for awhile now. Please review!

Disclaimer: Ownership of characters belongs to J.K. Rowling.

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In her tired state, Hermione did not immediately take noticed that the majority of her belongings had been moved to Severus' quarters. However, finding a pile of her schoolbooks on his desk, she discovered a note.

Mrs. Snape,

I've had the house elves move most of your possessions to your new quarters. Given your post as Head Girl, I've also taken the liberty to allow you access to your old quarters at your leisure. I trust this arrangement is suitable.

Headmaster A. Dumbledore

Severus was reading over her shoulder. "Albus also informed me you have a direct floo line from here to your rooms. I trust you will take advantage of it as needed."

"Thank you, Severus. It's very helpful." She smiled weakly at him. All the implications of the arrangement began crashing down on her at once, and tears filled her eyes. She sat tiredly on the couch. Severus watched her, unsure exactly what to do. He timidly sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. He might be a total bastard while he was in Professor mode, but she was his wife, and he would have to begin treating her as such. Hermione buried her head in his chest, grateful for the comforting contact.

It had been ages since Severus had found himself that close to anyone in such a way. He could not even remember the last time. He sighed and wrapped the other arm around Hermione pulling her into a full hug. He caught a glimpse of his wedding band in the process painfully reminding him of what needed to be done before they left their chambers. After some time, Hermione finally began to straighten her posture. Severus released her and backed away a bit. Her expression was still grim, but the tears had abated.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I should be happy, but it's just, well, everything. There's so much I hadn't even considered before now. It's all so much."

"I understand," he responded soothingly (he hoped). "I admit a lot has finally crossed my mind as well." They sat silently for some time before he spoke again. "There's a matter which we need to discuss before we go any further. We should have probably spoken on this earlier, but I never felt a strong desire to know."

"It can't wait until morning?"

"No, Hermione. It cannot wait any longer for several reasons." She looked at him expectantly. "Hermione, there is no other way to really ask this. Was I your first sexual partner?"

She had been waiting for that question. It was a matter they did need to discuss. "Yes, you were my first. I know I'm not your first," she responded straightforwardly.

"No, you're not," came his reply.

She nodded her head. Before long, curiosity got the best of her. "How many were before me?"

"You were my third," he responded honestly. For some reason, she thought there would have been more. He continued, "I want you to know the first two were mistakes on my part. They were consensual, but they were mistakes nonetheless. I'm afraid I was intimidated by Lucius Malfoy to follow through both times." However, he did not stop here. What Hermione heard next was something she was sure only a select few knew. "There was almost a third time that would have been," he hesitated briefly, "well, it would have been rape in the truest sense of the word. Fortunately, Malfoy left me alone with the poor girl and I was not forced to commit the act. I felt her fear completely. It, it scared me to know I could be the cause of it." The expression in his eyes seemed far away, as if somewhere else. Shortly, he came back to reality and finished by saying, "That was nearly twenty years ago now."

She surveyed him a bit after his admission. She knew part of him was struggling with telling her, but he had done so nevertheless. Extending a hand to reach his, she gently stroked the back with her thumb in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. He gripped her hand firmly in response. He looked like he had something else to say, but he thought better of it and kept quiet. "Severus? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong. I was just thinking."

She knew better than to question him, so she voiced the question that had been on her mind all day. She had noticed the glow on the rings again, and, not being familiar enough with the magical properties of the ring, wished to know why they did so. "Can I ask you something?"

He smiled briefly. "I believe you just did, but what's on your mind?"

"I was wondering about the rings. Why do they glow? I've never seen any other wizard couple who have glowing rings."

He considered the question for a moment, despite knowing it was what she would ask. He had to phrase his response in a way that would not anger her. She would be distraught enough with his answer. "Hermione, please don't get angry when I explain this to you. There are some traditions in our history that go unspoken. This, unfortunately in our case, is one of them. Not all ceremonies include it, but Albus snuck it in without telling me or I surely would have objected."

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes and no. The glow will dissipate, but not before we consummate the marriage," Severus replied, drawing out his response.

She closed her eyes in frustration. He was telling her the truth. This was not something he would lie about, but it did not make the whole thing any less ridiculous. "You're telling me everyone will know whether we had sex or not based on this."

"That would be correct." He could feel her anger rising. Neither of them needed the added stress that resulted from the whole ordeal, but they really only had one viable option. "Hermione, I'm not forcing this on you. I will let you decide once again how we proceed. It is only fair."

Hermione stood up and turned away from him. Suddenly, turning back to him, she whispered harshly, "Nothing of this is fair! Damn it, Severus, I don't deserve any of this!" He was not about to interrupt her just yet. She needed to work it out of her system. He was surprised it took this long for it all to come out in the first place. "I shouldn't be pregnant, and I sure as hell shouldn't be married to you! This is all wrong!" Hermione quickly regained her senses. She knew she was getting nowhere in her ranting and plopped down next to him on the couch. A few tears glistened in her eyes. "Why me, Severus? What have I ever done wrong?"

He was unnerved by the sudden sadness in her eyes. She was finally coming to the realization he had come to at her original proposal of marriage. The whole situation was unfair to her and should not have happened in the first place. He felt guilty once again even though he knew he should not feel it. Severus had to keep reminding himself he was not at fault, nor was she. The phrase "If only" kept popping into his head with a variety of endings attached.

She kept staring at him, as if accusing him of something. Their marriage certainly had started on the wrong foot it seemed. If this kept up, although it was only the first night, it would end in disaster before it had begun.

"Maybe we shouldn't have gotten married. What was I thinking when I told you it was the best way to go?" She had been half addressing him and half addressing herself.

"You were thinking of what would be best for our child, Hermione," he replied, tentatively placing a hand on her stomach. She looked up at him, tears trailing down her cheeks. He was unsure what to say or do, so he had said the first thing that came to mind. This comforting business was completely new territory for him, and he was sure it showed. What could he do for her? He was part of the problem, was he not? A flurry of questions attacked him, questions he had no answer definite answers for.

Hermione settled her head on his shoulder, taking some comfort in his touch. She sighed and replied, "Nothing is simple anymore, is it?"

"No. Nothing has been simple for quite some time now." He held her for a while before saying "We should get some sleep. It's late, and tomorrow will be a busy day." She nodded and found her PJ's. He did the same before voicing the concern that crossed his mind. "Hermione . . ."

She stopped him before he continued. "Severus, stay with me tonight. I know it sounds silly, but I don't want to be alone. I want to share your bed with you. It's ours now, is it not?"

He could not turn her down. She was correct in her assessment of the situation. It was their bed, not his. What was "his" had become "theirs" when they spoke the vows. She was his wife and he her husband which is how he found himself in the current predicament.

"It is our bed, Hermione." He looked her in the eye as he said it. Then, a thought crossing his mind, he smiled at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Severus, what . . ." Before she knew it, Hermione had been picked up and carried to the bed.

"Don't tell me I didn't do this properly." He placed a kiss on her forehead as he pulled back the covers and tucked her in. She watched him warily while he found his side of the bed and tucked himself in. Flicking his wand, the lights went out as he said, "Good night, love." Despite the dark, Hermione could tell Severus was smiling a little. His behavior the last few minutes seemed very bizarre indeed. She shook her head in bewilderment and settled in next to him. The long day had taken its toll on her and she was asleep in no time, Severus snoring lightly beside her.

End Part 12