Disclaimer: Something about me not owning them . . . in other words, they aren't mine. I'm just borrowing them.

After the incident in Potions with Draco, life settled a bit for Hermione and Severus. They were mostly assured to be left alone because of the fact Professor Snape was so stern with his favored student and Godson. In fact, most students did not even consider looking at the Lord and Lady if they were seen together in Hogwarts Castle or outside of it. An occasional whisper or wayward glance was all the pair received from the student body in general. The teachers also stayed away from the matter, instead sticking to neutral subjects such as class material and the weather. As for the pair themselves, Hermione and Severus slipped into a comfortable pattern of dining together on weekends and reading or doing work during the evenings. After Hermione's numerous trips to the library and back with armloads of books, Severus decided to allow his wife access to his private library. She was delighted to find he had supplied her with more than enough resources for all her subjects in that one gesture. He also pointed out that, through marriage, what was his became hers as well.

The months continued on and Hermione's pregnancy advanced. Nobody really said much in regards to it, but Severus received congratulations from several staff members. They had been afraid to say anything at first, but Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall seemed to have gotten away with it, so several more approached the Potions Master. He would merely nod his acknowledgement and continue on with the current topic of discussion. Hermione, on the other hand, received a less friendly response. Many students simply ignored her or turned away from her if she came by. Some even gossiped behind her back loud enough for her to hear. The Gryffindors rallied around her, as did Draco and several members of the DA from other houses that Hermione had gotten to know well. Hermione, to her credit, did not take being ignored or the gossip to heart. She had enough to take on with the end of the year quickly approaching. In fact, she was focused on balancing her health and her schoolwork for the first time since becoming a student at Hogwarts.

Of those present at the wedding, the only person who remained unaware of the pregnancy was Severus' mother. This was largely because he worried what she would do to Hermione, and also for the effect it would have upon her when he sprung the news to her that she was a grandmother at the child's birth. The Grangers took news of the pregnancy quite well and were excited at the prospect of having a grandchild. Hermione and Severus had made a point to visit her parents at least once a month, and, to his initial surprise, he found he quite enjoyed his time with them. It was nice to be able to visit the muggle world without the threat of bringing undue harm to muggles.

Things were as they should be at in Severus' mind. Hermione was doing wonders for his disposition, although he still remained a commanding and frightening figure in all his classes. And as for Hermione, she was beginning to take on some of his mannerisms, especially in the mornings. I he had not had to live with himself for all these years, he was sure he would not have been able to live with her. Life, for once, seemed to be going in his direction, and he wondered just how long that would actually last with his fortune, or misfortune as it were.

: P

"Hey, Mione!"

"Oh, hi, Ron. What do you need?" She was sitting in the Head Girl's room trying to concentrate on advanced transfiguration, but having little luck as her mind wandered everywhere else. She found that she was having increasingly more trouble keeping to her topics as her pregnancy progressed.

"I was, uh, well, would you like to come outside and watch us practice? It's Harry and my last game tomorrow, you know," he said a bit sheepishly.

She smiled at him. Realizing she was not really get much done, she agreed to watch Gryffindor's Quidditch practice. "Just as long as you don't try to hit any bludgers my way 'just for practice.'"

Ron smiled. "I wouldn't do that! Well, six months ago maybe."

They walked to the pitch talking about everything except that related to school and Professor Snape. Hermione was glad to just be outside for once. The long hours between the dungeon, classrooms, and her room were wearing on her. She needed a change of scene. As it was a sunny May day, she wanted to take advantage of it.

Hermione watched as Harry would fly high into the sky looking for the snitch and then dive toward the ground, pulling up only seconds before a potential collision. She realized how happy he looked soaring through the air without a care in the world. Part of her wished she could go back to a simpler time and feel the same, but that was most certainly not in the cards. Ron was having a blast dealing with the three chasers and giving out instructions for better formations and increased scoring chances. The beaters, for their part, seemed to be playing ping-pong with the bludgers. One beater would clobber the bludger only to have it skillfully returned back. After a couple hours, Ron called an end to the practice managing to get in one last pep talk before allowing the team to head back to the castle.

"Thanks for coming, Hermione," Harry said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "It's been a long time since you came and watched us practice."

"Yeah, Mione. Thanks."

"I should thank you two for dragging me out here. I needed that. Everything's been so crazy that I haven't taken time to myself really to just relax." She was smiling widely, and it felt good. Hermione wondered when she had last been this happy.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, just enjoying being together. Hermione waited in the Gryffindor common room as Ron and Harry put away their brooms and changed into their clothes for dinner. Ginny had just returned from the library when the boys arrived.

"Hey, Gin," Harry said, walking over to his girlfriend and giving her a quick kiss.

"Hi, guys, Hermione. Let me put my books away and I'll join you."

They only had to wait for a minute and she returned. They started for the Great Hall. Hermione commented, "It feels like it's been forever since we did this. I can't remember the last time all four of was went down to dinner together."

"Well, if someone wouldn't be so busy with that husband of hers, maybe we'd be able to do that more," Ron said playfully. Hermione gave him a light punch on the arm and he faked injury. "Seriously though, this is great."

"I agree. It's been a long time since we've really seen you, Hermione," Harry said. "I'm just glad you haven't forgotten about us."

She stated matter-of-factly, "I see you in classes and at breakfast."

Groaning, Ron retorted, "That's not nearly enough!" The other two nodded their agreement.

"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do. But I have to tell you, Severus is a slave driver. He always needs me around to check that he's color coordinated! You'd think that man has no fashion sense with the combinations he comes up with. I mean, purple and brown is just bad for his complexion . . ." The group laughed at Hermione's sarcastic comment briefly, but quickly stopped when a voice came from behind them.

"I personally always thought yellow and pink were bad for my complexion, but apparently I have no fashion sense to begin with." He was smirking wildly at the group, taking the boys off guard. "Potter, Weasley, close your gaping mouths. It's not very attractive. And I do, in fact, have a sense of humor." For all he tried, he could not quite hide the amusement in his eyes. As he walked ahead of the group, he added, "I just don't tend to let those brainless children Dumbledore refers to as students know about it."

Ginny and the boys turned to Hermione with questioning looks on their faces. She just shrugged like it was a normal thing for him to do. They quickly followed the normally surly professor to the Great Hall. Other students were filing in as well and parted to let Snape through. He had a scowl in place, but inside he was still laughing at Potter and Weasley's surprise. He always did enjoy the shock factor of a well placed, if not out of character, statement. Only a few people really knew of his wicked sense of humor, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hermione being those few. He thought perhaps that was part of the reason why he actually felt like they were his friends. But then again, one does not survive being a Death Eater without alienating most of the people surrounding oneself.

Dumbledore seemed to be the only staff member who picked up on Severus' good mood as he seated himself at the table between McGonagall and the Headmaster. "Severus, you seem awfully chipper this evening."

"Albus, I am not chipper. I am merely content at the current moment. There is a difference, one being that I am never 'chipper' as you are so fond of accusing me of being this evening."

"Happy, content, chipper. It's all the same at this point, Severus, my boy." He raised an eyebrow at the Headmaster and fixed him with a glare, but looked away as he noticed Dumbledore was not affected by it.

By this point, McGonagall was eavesdropping. "Hermione's done wonders for you, Severus." He scowled a bit, but then neutralized his features again. "You agree of course, Albus?"

"Certainly, Minerva. I believe she's just what our dour Potions Master needed to brighten his dungeon!" Both elder staff members were twinkling like crazy at Severus and for once he could not argue with them, nor did he feel the desire to do so. He completely agreed.

"Suffice it to say, Albus, that Hermione has not been the unfortunate intrusion upon my life that I once thought her to be. And before you say that it's only right that it took a Gryffindor to tame the Slytherin, Minerva, I am so content in my retirement from espionage that it would not have mattered whether she were a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. However, I do find that my wife has the proper traits to deal with my mannerisms." Dumbledore looked as if he was about to speak, but Severus quickly said, "Don't even think it, Albus. We've got a long way to go before you can call it all a success." The Headmaster and Headmistress were still twinkling at him, but they said nothing. None of them would speak of it later, nor was it necessary. Severus had had his say on the matter, and there was no need to push it because he calmed any fears they might yet have regarding the arrangement. He had taken Hermione as his wife for better or for worse and was not going back on that promise. She was his now, and he planned to keep it that way, no matter what came their way in the future.

End Chapter 17

Verity Brown: I completely agree that Draco must be charming and snotty. He wouldn't be Draco otherwise, whether good or bad. And if I'm including him, then I must keep him in character, mustn't I?

Magicalwonder: Severus and Hermione's marriage is certainly not going to be easy. I guarantee they'll have a lot of work ahead of them.

Morena-Forever: I'm glad you're optimistic about every chapter being good, because I'm not sure most of the time. In fact, I'm not really feeling this chapter at all.

Sarah (loonygurl): Thanks so much for reviewing. I appreciate any and all comments, especially yours. It's great to know you're enjoying this fic enough to review. I do plan on finishing this sometime, but it's still a ways off. Hopefully before the summer's out (cross your fingers).

Misty's Dawn: I'm glad I could supply you with a bit of joy amongst all those emails you were sifting through. I know what that's like, and it certainly is not any fun.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers. I enjoy hearing your comments. Please review and tell me what you though of this chapter too! Thanks bunches!