Disclaimer – (See previous chapters)

Wow, I didn't think that many people would like this story. Thank you all for the reviews, I'm so happy! (Gives out cuddley toys that look like Severus to all reviewers)

Well, I know that the story has been slow, but from this chapter onwards, it will pick up. I just wanted to make sure that I had everything down. I have and there will be conversations between our favourite couple!

Chapter 8

That night, Hermione couldn't sleep. It was the early hours in the morning and she had already woken up due to a nightmare about the baby and Severus. It was the first time she had dreamt about them in four years. She sighed, it must have been because of all that has gone on tonight and the fact she was back here. She turned over onto her side. It was a warm night and she couldn't get comfortable. Across the room she could hear soft snores coming from Ginny, who would occasionally mutter something in her sleep. Hermione found it amusing listening to some of the things she says.

She turned onto her back again, before sitting up. Trying to get back to sleep was useless now. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. She decided to get a glass of water and maybe read for a while. That always helped her sleep. She briefly considered a Dreamless Sleep draught, in case the nightmares returned. They hadn't been as violent as they had been before she told Ginny, but they always left her with that guilty, self loathing feeling when she woke up.

She made her way into the kitchen. It was dark, the only light coming from the moon through the window. Quietly she padded over to the cupboard and pulled out a glass. She filled it with some water, taking small sips, feeling cooler than before. A small noise from behind her startled her and she spun around. She bumped into someone and she gave a small shriek, dropping the glass and took a step back, only to find the sink was stopping her from doing so.

She looked up to find Severus staring at her. She had expected him to be scowling at her, but instead a calmer look graced his features and noted that he looked younger when he didn't scowl.

They stood looking at each other for several minutes, until Hermione couldn't look at him any longer. She distracted herself by kneeling down to tidy up the broken glass on the floor. Suddenly the cupboard door under the sink swung open, knocking Hermione over, who was unable to keep her balance.

Kreacher came storming out of the cupboard. She had forgot the house elf lived there. She prepared herself for it so shout at her, but Kreacher just stormed off, muttering about how he needed sleep, and how the 'mudblood' had disturbed it.

It wasn't until Severus knelt opposite her and grabbed her hand that she noticed in her attempt to stop herself from falling over a piece of glass had lodged itself into her palm. He took out his wand and cleared the shads of glass and the water from the floor.

Hermione was unnerved. He hadn't said anything. He just sat there opposite her, cleaning her cut. He removed the glass and transfigured a towel into a bandage. Hermione was unsure if it was just her, but he seemed to be taking his time. She didn't know what to say. She knew she should be angry with him but the way he held her hand, she just couldn't find the words to yell at him.

So she sat there, although her hand had been wrapped, Severus seemed reluctant to release it. She looked up at him to find he was staring at her. She could just make out his outline in the moonlight. She licked her dry lips and tried to think of something to say. She knew she had to tell him about her child, but she didn't want to ruin the mood. She cleared her throat.

"Er, thank you."

He smiled slightly. "No problem."

She looked down again, unable to meet his gaze. Why was this so hard? And why was he so calm? She felt his fingers under her chin and allowed him to lift her head up to look at him. His hand cupped her cheek and he kept staring at her with those dark, troubled eyes.

"Why?"

She didn't realise she had spoken until he looked away.

"I had to. I didn't want to, believe me, but Albus had found out. He asked me to end it." He knew what she meant, seeing the look in her eyes.

"But I wasn't your student anymore. He didn't have the right to do that."

He sighed and looked at her, "He had every right when it came to your safety. He was worried the Dark Lord would find out. I agreed that it would be for the best, until he was killed."

"You mean, you didn't want to leave me?" Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't believe she was talking to him again.

"I never wanted to do what I did. But Albus made me see that it would be better for you. You're already a target being Potter's friend. I couldn't put you in any more danger."

"Why couldn't you tell me that, instead of pretending that you didn't want me?"

"Because if you had been caught and the Dark Lord looked into your mind, he would have seen that memory. He would know it was real and would think that I really didn't care about you. If I told you the truth it would have put us both in danger."

This angered Hermione. "Oh, I see. You were just trying to save your own neck."

"No! I didn't mean it like that. If the Dark Lord had found out that I care about a muggle-born, then he would have killed us both. If he was under the impression I didn't like you, he would have held you hostage and the I would have found a way to get you out."

Hermione looked down, feeling like an idiot for jumping to conclusions. "Oh."

He moved to sit next to her and he placed an arm around her shoulders. "I just want you to know that I do care about you. I think its safe for me to say t now, seeing as how we are about to go to war."

Hermione sighed. "You really hurt me you know."

"I'm sorry, but I had to do it, forgive me?" He looked at her with a sad look on his face, knowing she couldn't say no.

She laughed then replied, "Ok, but I'm still upset with you."

He smiled. "Well I'll have to be on my best behaviour to get back into your good books then."

They both stood up. Hermione turned to him and spoke up.

"Well, I should be going back to bed, goodnight, Severus."

She was about to head back upstairs when he grabbed her arm. She looked at him questioningly.

"Stay with me."

"If you don't mind, I would rather take it slow."

He nodded before replying, "I understand, goodnight Hermione." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek and walked up to his room.

Hermione returned to hers in a daze. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She felt guilty for not telling him, but Ginny's advice came back to her. 'Tell him when you're ready.' And she would. She slipped into her bed allowing a smile to grace her features. He does care, after all. She drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the tall dark man and for the first time in four years, it wasn't a nightmare.

Say it with me people, awwww! I thought about that last night and thought 'I'll add that to my story!' But it will still be a couple of chapters before I get to the quote in the summary though. Well, review! You know you want to!