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HermioneResilda

Chapter 7

"He looks so...frozen." Hermione ran her fingers across the old skin that lay across Albus' brow. It had been two weeks since what has come to be known to Hermione as 'That day'. It was a few days after 'That day' that Hermione and Severus had have another fight. He wanted her to try again. She had refused shouting that the other child wasn't even cold in its lying place yet. The high point of that argument had been when Severus had told her that the child had all ready been discarded after test had been done to see if it was his modified sperm that had cause the miscarriage.

It had been another week after that when Hermione had started talking to him again. She had been horrified that he could have done that to their child but what was done was done and after a promise never to do it again, they began to work together again.

"He would be, after all he is under a freezing spell." Severus sighed as he watched Hermione go about stroking the old coot. He hadn't wanted to bring her down here but she had insistent to a point where he was prepared to be sent to Azkaban for her death.

"It's just like sleeping beauty." Hermione smiled. "Well it would be if there were some flowers down here."

"I am not picking any flowers." Severus was prompted by Hermione's suggestion to look around the room as he moved to check on the wizard himself. The room was a bit bland but it wasn't being used to impress any one. After all nobody goes to the dungeons to see the wonder flowers it has. "That whole story is a big exaggeration of a little witch getting locked in the toilet and had charmed the temperature to below zero."

"Really?"

"No, it's just a stupid story Muggle's made up to stop children from asking too many questions."

Hermione smiled softly down at the headmaster before turning to Severus to ask "Then why-

"Ever heard of Goldilocks and the Three Bears?" Severus cut in; all he wanted to do was to go back to their rooms. He didn't know when he started to call it 'their' rooms but it was a habit he found he could not break, nor wanted too. To say he was confused with their current situation was an understatement. It was an unspoken rule that she was the only one who could start a discussion about having a child or speaking of the last one. Meals was still spent together, morning he was in classes, the same with afternoons but after supper it was another unspoken agreement that they would spend this time together. Severus had no idea what she did in the time he spent in class but from discussion he had overheard from teachers and Poppy, she would help in the odd class, read in the library and at 2pm every week day she went and spoke to Poppy. It was clear she was still grieving for their child.

"I get your point. I'll stop asking question…even though for me to help I do need to know certain things. And it's not like you would tell me anything without me asking first."

"Well I think…its time for bed. Come on." Severus stood away from Albus and headed for the door. Turing he saw Hermione was still watching the headmaster. "Would it hurry you up if I promise that he will still be there in the morning?"

"There's no point, I doubt he will be up offering us a Lemon Drop anytime soon." Hermione sighed smoothing the blanket that Albus rested on.

"Stop being so morbid and lets go." Severus said while motioning towards the door he was holding open.

"I want to go out." Hermione huffed as she sat ungracefully on the couch. She had just come from the study. She puffed out a breath of air and watched her frizzy hair waft in the breeze.

"You could go to the Great Hall for supper." Severus responded after resettling himself back into a comfortable position on the couch. It was five days since she had first seen Albus, now she spent her mornings with him and her afternoon with Poppy and in the library.

"No, I mean out! Like to Hogsmade, for supper." Hermione explained while pulling the thread on the cuff of her jumper. It was getting close to the end of October and the castle was getting colder.

"You're not going on your own." Severus started as he picked up his mug of tea and sipped lightly as it was still near boiling point.

"I know, that's why I'm asking you." Hermione was beginning to get fed up with remaining with the castle; even the grounds had lost their interest. Last time she step out of Hogwarts grounds was when she was at that bloody 'Mares for Hire' being forced against her will to conceive the child who she had yet to accept its death.

"You want to go tonight don't you?"

"It is the weekend. A Saturday night no less."

"If I say no will you leave it at that?" Severus turned to face her. He had to admit she was looking down in the, for lack of a better phrase, dumps. The fresh air and different environment could do her some good but no way was he taking her out dressed like that. She had an old thread bear jumper on with baggy jeans and thick woolly socks that were odd. When he realized she was complaining again said he spoke. "It is late to make reservations anywhere decent plus you're not dressed."

"We don't need to go somewhere posh. I just want to go somewhere else."

"Hermione, there is something you need to understand about my bloodline. It is one of the purest around and comes with great wealth and social calls. It would not do to take you to a pub a buy you a stake and kidney pie with chips, when we Snape's treat our women like princesses." He had said this while looking her straight in the eyes. Yes it was true Snape's were known for their signs of affection for their ladies but that had stopped when several of them had been heart broken when it was made clear the woman was only there for the wealth but it gave him a good reason to why he should buy her the jewelry he sees in the copies of the Potions Masters weekly.

"Women?"

"Well, the women underneath our care."

"I don't like the woman part but I'm all game for being treated like the princess bit." Hermione felt taken back at what he had said.

"Well you have 30 minutes to get ready. I'm sure I can find some where adequate for us to go." Severus said while thinking he knew exactly they could go; he was owed a favor by the owner of a fine Italian restaurant. While she was getting changed he would floo him. Severus hoped he could get a table after all it was late notice and as Hermione had said, a Saturday night. It would be a nice change to see Hermione in a different environment. "Wear your best robes."

"Such a demanding man."

"For your cheek make that 25 minutes."

"This place is so beautiful Severus!" Hermione said as she sat opposite him at the table they had been seated at. It was lucky that Roberto had a cancellation otherwise it would have been the stake and kidney pie. She had done better than he could ever imagine, her dress was one of a rich midnight blue, elegant in its shape so it focused on the best parts of the wearer while flattered the not so parts. Her hair had been a main favorite for Severus, for lack of time she had simply twisted it up but it still made her a picture of beauty. Her neck was exposed, as was more of her face. She looked youthful but mature, it was an image Severus would not being putting in to a pensieve for storage any time soon.

"I'm pleased you find it so."

"I like this." Hermione gestured with her hands to nothing in particular.

"Like what?"

"Us. We're how we use to be, you know, back then." Hermione smile flattered as she spoke about the war days. "I remember how at first you hated me-"

"I never hated you." Severus had at first despised that idea of working with Hermione when Albus had appointed her as his assistant but after a few harsh words and bitter tears they had reached a ground they were both afraid to call friendship incase it crumbled under their feet.

"Ok. When you were first 'upset' with the arrangement, you were so hard to work with! With you I didn't know if I was coming or going half the time." Hermione smiled drinking out of the glass that held the very expensive wine Severus had ordered with their meal.

"When I was lucky, you were going." Severus muttered as Hermione smiled sweetly at him.

"Just before the war broke out you admitted to me that I was a great credit to our world." Hermione said as the waiter finally arrived with their starters. She waited until he left before she continued. "You even admitted that you wouldn't have coped with out me at your side."

"I never said such things! Miss Granger lying is a horrible tendency."

"You was abit worst for wear at the time Sir, I doubt you will remember it. It was when you had come back from a reveal and I was helping you to your rooms. It took you three days to fully recover." Hermione thought back to that time, she had been found to be at his side for the days that past, helping him recover. It was then she became scared of losing him in the final battle.

"Ah, that lovely experience. I must assure you, that I was not thinking straight at the time."

"I hate to disagree but those were the sanest words you have ever spoken to me."

"Miss Granger, I warn you…"

"Eat before it gets cold. I know how cranky you get when your food is cold." Hermione scolded as she started to eat her own.

"Really! Of all the impudence!"

Severus sat and ate his meal in silence as he scowled at the woman across from him. Here he was paying for her to eat and enjoy herself and she spends the time mocking him. He swallowed his mouthful and aimed another harsh look at her.

"You can stop that." Hermione stated as she cut apart of her Chicken Marsala ready to be eaten.

"I can do what I like Miss Granger." Severus forked a shrimp rather aggressively before placing it in his mouth and biting with as much vigor as he did spearing it.

Placing down her cutlery and resting her chin on her hands she aked. "What's the matter?"

"You are." Another shrimp. "I expect respect off you at all times. I am not a man you can treat as a child. You can not disuse me because you are feeling grief. I will give you all the help you need to recover but I will not be you whip boy."

"Whip boy?" Hermione had lost her smile and now a frown creased her face. "Its just banter."

"Then why do you feel guilt?" Severus spoke softly, he was not going to shout at her, he was going to help bring her out of this inner turmoil she was trapped in. "In your eyes whenever you look at me or phrase out, guilt shines through. Why is this Hermione?"

"It's just so hard." Hermione choked as she tried to regain her composer. She could have trusted Severus to see through her. The past weeks had been eating away at her, even more so once she found out the reason behind his wanting of a child. It was her fault Albus was still dieing. "It's my fault the baby died."

"It wasn't, your body rejected it. I couldn't pin-point why it did so but your body refused to accept it. It was eating away at the sac the second you conceived. I have been working to see if it was my own fault. The results are yet to be known." Severus reached over and took her hand in his. "Don't blame yourself. You have no need to feel guilt. Come let's go home."

"Ok." Hermione sniffed as a tear fell from her eye. She watched as Severus stood from his chair, walked around to her and helped her from her own chair. Take his arm Hermione was lead out of the restaurant.

"I'm sorry I ruined tonight." Hermione sheepishly said as Severus sat next to her on the couch. He had covered her with a blanket and made her a cup of tea. Her face was wet and red as tears had just finished their falling, her hair was falling out but most of it remained held up.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize what was happening before it had got to this stage." Severus stretched as he yawned. Looking at the woman he spoke in a softer tone. "And for not saying how wonderful you look tonight."

"I look a mess!" Hermione huffed wiping her nose.

"I beg to differ." Severus replied as he started into her eyes. Hermione was taken back at the powerful look in his eyes, they was a mixture of concern, heat and trust. She felt he moved close to her and take her hand like he did before. "I want to make this work Hermione. I want to help you, be there for you, as you were for me every time I returned from a reveal."

"Severus…" Hermione felt her chest tighten and her eyes flutter with out much thought she leant towards him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. With out giving him chance to respond she pulled back and smiled and then left him on the couch as she went to her room to sleep.

Severus sat confused as he watched her go but it was when he heard her door click shut that he realized what had actually happen and a smile formed on his face. She was getting under his skin again he realized as he dosed the lights and made for his own room. It would be hard parting with her once her apprenticeship was over now.

school is now over, have no job yet and plently of free time. Guess what this means! quicker updates. Remember i reply to reviews via email! and thanks for getting me past the 100 mark for the first time ever!