A/N: A huge thank you to all my lovely reviewers! You are wonderful, really. I love hearing your feedback. So please do review!

Hannah: I'm speechless as far as your becoming a SS/HG shipper because of this story is concerned. It's an honor.

psychoblondebitch: are you sure this is one of the best stories you've read? Of course, I wouldn't actually know because I'm writing it not reading it. But your flattery gets you everywhere.

RileyBlack: concerning the length of chapters, I'd love to make them longer, but you wouldn't get updates as frequently. I drain too quickly in the creative process (one of my downfalls, I admit). I aim for 3-5 pages in word per chapter, so at least I'm consistent.

Everyone at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry formulated their own opinion about the marriage between one Hermione Granger, Head Girl, and Severus Snape, Potions Master. Many believed Hermione was shagging the professor to secure a perfect grade in the subject. Others thought the professor had seduced the girl. And there were those who were rather keen on the concept that Professor Snape was actually still a Death Eater and was using the Imperious Curse on Miss Granger in order to make everyone believe he was truly on the side of Light. Only a select few really knew the truth behind the matter, and that list included Professor Severus Snape and Mrs. Hermione Snape (Granger) of course, along with Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Madam Poppy Pomfrey, the resident mediwitch of the school, and The-Boy-Who-Lived-That-Many-Believed-Should-Really-Have-Died-Some-Time-Ago-But-Didn't-Through-Some-Stroke-Of-Really-Good-Fortune, Harry Potter. Mr. Draco Malfoy, traitor to the Dark Lord as well as son of Death Eater and now Prisoner of Azkaban Lucius Malfoy, would soon be joining the list of those who knew the truth behind the marriage that caused more than a stir throughout Hogwarts and undoubtedly the whole of the wizarding community in Great Britain.

: P

Draco was none too pleased when he arrived for detention only to find that Lady Snape was present, not the professor. "What's this, Granger? Is your husband giving me detention or has he sent you to do what he doesn't like?" he asked with a scoff. "Can't he stand the sight of a pure-blood now that he's married to you?"

"Mr. Malfoy," a chillingly dark voice said from behind the young man, " I suggest you refrain from insulting me or my wife when I am present. This is twice now, and I'm not appreciative of your comments." Draco cringed visibly at the tone Snape was using. "Now I suggest you sit down before you're forced by some other means." He sat, sinking as far down in his seat as possible, so as to get as far away from the professor as he could. Hermione and Snape pulled up chairs and sat opposite him.

Hermione said as she sat, "And it's Mrs. or Lady Snape to you, not 'Granger.'" She received a glare, but paid it no heed.

Snape spoke a bit more gently after he and his wife settled. "This detention is not meant as a punishment, Draco . . . yet. However, it could quickly become so if you do not show respect. Have I made myself clear?"

"Y-yes, sir," he responded. Draco relaxed a little as he noticed the look in Snape's eye lighten.

In more god fatherly tones, at least by his standards, Snape continued, "Hermione and I have come to the agreement that there are certain facts you should know in regards to our marriage; facts which could cause a lot of trouble if they were told to the wrong people. As such, you must first agree that you will tell no one what you know."

Draco scowled. "Why should I agree to that?"

"Because if you don't, I will let slip some secrets you wouldn't want getting out," Snape replied in a low threatening voice. Hermione raised an eyebrow at the comment, but said nothing.

"Fine. I won't tell anyone. Happy?" Draco obviously was not, but he knew he would learn nothing by not agreeing.

"You're bound to that promise, so yes." Severus looked to Hermione. He gave her a small smile and she grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze in return. She knew it was difficult for him to have to admit the truth about the marriage to anyone, but she knew it was harder for him to tell Draco because of the boy's father. Draco rolled his eyes. Snape continued. "Draco, take this seriously. Whether you like it or not, you are involved in the matter."

"Yes, let's blame the man who cannot defend himself!"

Hermione responded seriously, "It's true, Draco."

Severus picked it up from there saying, "Your father is in fact the reason behind all this." He let Draco process that statement for a bit.

Finally, the boy looked confusedly at his godfather and asked, "How? I don't understand."

Severus looked to Hermione and she nodded for him to continue. He sighed heavily. "Draco, Lucius managed a curse before he fell into unconsciousness. Neither Hermione nor myself noticed the effects of the curse until we were alone with each other. That was when . . ." He paused to gather his thoughts.

"What?"

"We had sex, if you could call it that . . ."

"Stop, I don't need to know any more."

"Hermione became pregnant as a result of our actions that night."

"Say it, you shagged like bunny rabbits in heat."

"Well, you don't have to put it that way!"

"Sorry, Gra-Lady Snape."

"Accepted."

"Well, that's a bit cliché isn't it? I mean, she gets pregnant, can't or won't have an abortion, and you get forced into a marriage that you don't really want. Am I right? Is that not the real truth behind the matter?"

Hermione looked to her husband for an answer. Draco was right about how things had happened. What she really wanted to find out suddenly was how Severus really felt. He did not say anything for a several minutes before finally responding mostly to his wife while looking her in the eye, "I made a promise that morning and I was not going to break it. I've spent the majority of your academic career tearing you down when I should have been encouraging and helping you, but I let my other job get in the way of that. There were ways around it, but I still did nothing. This marriage was a shot at redemption in a way, and I don't want to ruin what we have." He paused for a moment and looked between the two seventh years. "What we have, Draco and Hermione, is a future with possibilities, something I didn't think any of us would have seven years ago."

The honesty of Severus Snape's words hit home with both students. They had all considered their possible and more likely fates many times, and it was nothing short of a miracle that all three of them were sitting in a room together just short of two months after the fall of Voldemort. It was then that Draco realized the unlikely couple in front of him had a future together. He thought about what his father had done and realized that it maybe was not the awful thing it could have been if it meant Snape could be happy for once. Surely, he of all people deserved some happiness in life.

"Um, Professor, this is going to sound a little odd, but are you angry with my father for this?"

"No," he said simply and without hesitation. Hermione was slightly surprised by the answer, but she kept it to herself. She was smiling inside though, as she realized that she was not angry with Lucius Malfoy either for what he had done to them.

"What kind of curse was it exactly?"

"We don't actually know what it's called, but the basic effect is that one becomes so overtaken with a need for sex that they do whatever is necessary to fulfill the desire."

"How exactly did you two end up together though? Shouldn't you have been separated by most of castle by the time it took hold of you?"

Hermione answered that one, "Dumbledore didn't want anyone wandering the castle by themselves, so when I took Severus back to his chambers, I was forced to stay the night. As it turns out, it was for the best."

"Something Father surely did not count on. I rather think you've gotten the best of him, Godfather," Draco said with a smile.

"How so?" Severus took note of the lighter atmosphere in the room. Relief washed over him as Draco explained his logic.

"Well, he's in Azkaban, rotting away for the rest of his life, and here are the two of you, happily married with a child on the way. If that's not getting revenge in itself, than I don't know what is!"

Hermione and Severus smiled as Draco chuckled at the thought. However, they both wondered if they were indeed happily married. It was too early to say, and more trouble would likely occur in some form or another. Through the trials and tribulations they would find out whether or not the marriage could last.

Draco cleared his throat to get their attention. "Um, Professor?"

"Yes, Draco?"

"I do have one other question."

"And that is?"

"Who else exactly knows about all this? I mean, surely the Headmaster and presumably McGonagall, but are there others?"

Hermione blushed. Severus looked to her to answer as a result. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey is aware of what has happened. And then there's Harry."

It was like a light bulb lit in Draco's mind as he exclaimed, "That's why Potter was so quick to jump to your defense this morning! I knew something was up. As an afterthought, he groaned. "I feel like such an idiot now."

"How so?"

"Oh, come on, Professor! I've made a total ass out of myself and aroused suspicion over this because I was convinced Hermione had done something to you when in the end it was all my father's fault. How would you feel in my place?"

Severus could not stop himself from laughing at the comment. It was entirely true, but the way Draco admitted to it amused him to no end. If one thing could be said for the way Severus Snape impacted Draco Malfoy's life, it was that the boy had the ability to recognize his mistakes and make the proper amends, even if they did not involve an outright apology.

"You don't think I should apologize, do you?" They both looked at the blond. "Right. Dumb question."

"Quite. Now, Draco, you know the rules about this discussion. I expect no one will know we've had it except those who already know. Understood?" Severus knew the question was rhetorical, but it still had to be asked for the sake of propriety.

"Yes, sir."

"Very well. You are dismissed. And your punishment is that you must apologize to Mr. Potter for this morning's incident. Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear, sir," he responded with a smile as he left his detention and bid the professor and his wife a goodnight. They responded in kind and sighed in relief before returning to their quarters for a good night's rest so they could tackle whatever obstacles were thrown their way the next day. In all honesty, Severus had expected more of a challenge from Draco, but then again, the young man was definitely not his father. And that, most certainly, was a good thing for all who knew him.

End Chapter 16