I do not own anything to do with the Harry Potter universe. J K Rowling owns it all. I'm just having fun with her characters. This is the sequel to my first story Sekhmet's Book, which I do advise you to read first. I don't as yet know if I'll make this into a trilogy series. I guess I'll just see how this story goes for now. I am currently writing this story as fast as I can, which is unfortunately about one chapter per month. So, it's not complete but it most definitely will be- just give me time. Please leave a review as my muse needs feeding before she gets up and leaves. This story is only available at the following sites- Fan Adult and Whispers.

Enjoy.

A/N: I don't own anything here- just having fun blah blah blah... Please leave me a review if you read- good bad...? Let me know. So sorry for the delay, I wrote this chapter a while ago now. I will get round to finishing this story... I see it as a personal mission!

Chapter 17

Several days had passed and Hermione had seen hide nor hair of Severus. Information had been relayed to herself and Michael through Harry, who had been the only person Severus had seemingly talked to. Whatever he was up to was simply beyond her. He could have been anywhere in the castle; she would not know since she had been mostly bed bound, as she was nearing the birth of her second child. She had sent Harry off to try and bring Severus back to her several times now but he had returned with a defeated expression on his face each time. Michael had been keeping mainly to himself as well, and Hermione had only seen him when they dined together for at least one meal of the day. The food here was marginally better than in Ancient Egypt but owing mainly to the fruits that could be reaped from the land of Ancient Scotland. The meat dishes would consist of wild boar, dragon, something called Shalwin, which was a rather large fish with teeth and two dorsal fins. There were nuts and berries that Hermione assumed had been gathered from the Forbidden Forest; although she had never yet ventured outside to know if there even was a forest nearby.

Hermione could stand for only short periods of time these days. Her loss of balance had started the day after they had returned to Hogwarts but she had simply put this down to still having copious amounts of alcohol in her system. Unfotunately, it was not the case. She felt weak, dizzy and uncomfortable which ever way she stood, lay or sat. The baby had moved and was pressing down onto her pelvis, beginning to engage its head. It would be a matter of days only before labour would ensue… and then what? There were no doctors or medi-witches in this time. Hermione really didn't feel like having the local aged witch assist her just because age was supposed to have brought wisdom in these things. Frightening, truly frightening…. And where in hell was Severus!

Hermione sighed for the umpteenth time, looking up as there was movement near the door- Harry following the noise he was making. "Ah, awake I see, 'Mione." She grunted in response. "I've brought you some food and drink… erm.. I think it is something like tea but I'm not sure." He handed her the provisions he was carrying and sat down in the chair, opposite the bed she was sitting on. A wash of pain hit her face and she flinched as she moved awkwardly to the side.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked as he leaped to his feet.

"No, Harry. I am not alright," she flinched again as her anger built inside her. "I am stuck in this godforsaken room, bored out of all belief. I am heavily pregnant, off balance and unable to walk anywhere and the one person I want at my side won't even look at me let alone sit with me!" She sighed, "So, no, Harry… I am far from anything remotely related to 'alright'."

Harry was used to the sudden bursts of anger or tears from his best friend. Hermione's hormones were all over the place these days. "Everything will come out right in the end, 'Mione." Harry said as he moved to sit next to her and rub her back with his hand.

"And what if it doesn't, Harry? What if he never ever wants to s-see me ag… awwww." Hermone stopped midsentence and bent as far forward as she could over her pregnant abdomen. "H-Harry…"

"'Mione?" Harry asked as his heart began to thump hard in his chest and ears.

"Th-the baby is coming," Hermione said as she began to pant heavily. Harry turned green, he did not want to be in this position… where indeed was Severus?

"Here," Harry moved to stand in front of Hermione. "Raise your legs onto the bed and lie back. I will get help." Harry had no sooner helped Hermione back onto the bed when he dashed out of the room to try and raise the alarm with anyone he saw.

Harry managed to find Sinjin Snape within moments and relayed the need for the 'medi-witch' to come quickly to the sub-dungeons. Sinjin noted the air of panic and rushed off to summon the witch leaving Harry to go back to Hermione and make sure she was alright. Harry hadn't seen Severus on his rush through the dungeons and right now he had no time to go hunting for him either. To Harry it seemed like seconds before he was back by his best friend's side but to Hermione he had been away entirely too long.

"The medi-witch is on her way, Hermione. I managed to raise the alarm with Sinjin." Hermione looked up with hope on her face but Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry, Severus was not with him or in the dungeons when I rushed through." She rolled her eyes and the all was forgotten as a wave of pain hit her and she panted again.

The medi-witch arrived around fifteen minutes later and upon first sight of her Hermione grabbed Harry's arm so tightly he yelped. "Do not leave me with her, Harry." The witch looked scary, dressed in animal skins and with scraggily long dirty brown hair streaked with white. Her expression was not of understanding or mirth but of someone who had been dragged away from doing something far more important for this immense inconvenience. Hermione was quite frankly too vulnerable right now and scared.

"Leave us, no male is welcome here at this time. You will interfere with the magic." The witch glared to Harry and gave no hint that she may be joking. Harry gulped and looked to Hermione uncertainly. She nodded and let go of Harry's arm as another contraction hit. Harry made his way out of the room and closed the door, looking back only once as the medi-witch pulled out her wand and moved towards Hermione.

It had been around three hours before the aged witch came out of the room and shook her head solemnly, as Harry looked at her in alarm.

"Hermione? Is-is she...?"

"Fine," the witch responded. Harry shook his head in confusion.

"Then what?" Harry asked as the witch sighed and shook her head again.

"One of them is female, a sad case to be first born for it should be sacraficed within the hour."

"Sacraficed! Why for Merlin's sake?" Harry roared at the injustice.

"First born should and must be male." The witch responded coldly.

"But she already has a son, so the baby is her second."

"Oh," the witch smiled slightly in understanding. "Then I congratulate you for you have a daughter now as well."

"Oh, she's not mine but thank you anyway." Harry thought for a moment. "You said one of them is female...?"

"Yes, the other baby is male. I bid you good day now as I must leave." Harry didn't get a chance to say anything more as the witch brushed past him and was gone.

"Twins..." Harry stepped into the room where Hermione lay and was amazed to find that both babies were suckling while Hermione looked up exhaustedly.

"Tell him, Harry. Please find him." Hermione whispered and Harry nodded before leaving the room to go in search of Snape.

Harry found Severus in the alchemy classroom where he had obviously come back with different ingredients that he had gathered from outside. He was busily working over a cauldron with Sinjin, which he seemed to do a lot these days. Harry didn't know if they were merely comparing techniques across their different subjects or actually working on something specific but Severus could be found in the classroom the odd time, or otherwise he was in complete hiding from all.

"Severus, Hermione has given birth to…" Harry said rushing into the room.

"Go tell Creevy then," Severus replied sullenly as he stirred in some chopped green leaves to the orange gloop forming in the bottom of the cauldron.

"Severus, the babies are yours, not Michael's," Harry sighed in exasperation.

"Oh? How do you know for certain?" Severus looked up, intrigued by the pleural term that Harry had used. "Babies?"

"Yes, two of them, a boy and a girl." Harry informed him.

"Creevy will be proud," Severus said getting back to his work and raising his eyebrow.

"Fine, miss it then. Screw it all up, make your life go back to the miserable existence you had before you were married. See if I give a damn. I can't convince you and you won't listen to Hermione or Michael so live with the choice you are making." Harry stormed out of the room irate.

It was one week later and Hermione had just about had enough. The babies were sleeping and she was pacing back and forth contemplating what to do. Severus had not even laid eyes on the twins as far as Hermione was aware. She had struggled all week with her volatile emotions, caring for two new borns, battling with her own change in hormones and indeed, the situation she and her colleagues were still in.

There was a knock to the door of her temporary chambers and she turned hoping that the person on the other side was who she most wanted to see. Once the door slid open however, she found it was Harry. Harry had been such a pillar of strength to her, allowing her to cry on his shoulder just about every time she saw him, and taking care of the twins for short bursts when Hermione needed to attend to her own hygiene needs and nutritional requirements. Harry had come prepared but upon seeing Hermione, noted the look of returning power and conviction on her face.

"Feeling better today then, 'Mione?" Harry asked as he stepped over to look at the twins.

"I have to see him, Harry. Now." Hermione told him.

"I am at your service then. I shall be here when you return." Hermione nodded and smiled at him before she turned and left in search of her elusive husband.

She had left the dungeons quickly, having only been up above ground level a few times since she had temporarily moved in. What had immediately struck Hermione upon her first venture above ground was that the castle was actually made of wood. The dungeons were stone simply because they were drilled into the cliff but the structure above ground had been constructed of wood from, presumably, the Forbidden Forest. It was cold as well, the wind rattled through the rafters and cut to the bone. Hermione had noticed the attire the students wore and they were completely insulated against the temperatures as they wore animal skins instead of her more familiar wool cloak.

There seemed to be only around fifty students, all of varying ages. All were housed in quarters above ground although some seemed to live in the near by village called Smugshemp, which would later be renamed as Hogsmead. The staff consisted of around six teachers and the headmistress. The subjects seemed to be completely different to what young witches and wizards were taught in her own time. This was an interesting time indeed but, Hermione was not able to feel at home here in this primitive Hogwarts.

She moved out into the entrance hall and saw a few students milling around. They knew the visitors were here but tended to ignore the fact that they were strangers, and greeted them amiably enough. Conversing with the students was still a bit strange due to the need for translation spells but they managed. Hermione caught sight of a billowing cloak out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Severus heading towards the library. She followed.

The library was small but quiet and filled with thick leather bound tomes, which would likely be housed in the restricted section of her own library, assuming they survived so long. The shelves were not numerous but spaced out and not many quiet study areas were available, not that they needed them. Severus, predictably, was milling in the Potions/Alchemy section so Hermione approached carefully.

"Severus," Hermione said quietly, despite the library only having two occupants. Severus turned sullenly and glanced at her before returning to his book. "We need to talk."

"I have said all that I wish to, Miss Granger." It cut her to the quick to be called that again but she didn't let it phase her, that was something she could contemplate later.

"Severus, you've not seen our children, our babies since they were born. You've not seen me."

"Ours?" Severus spat at her as he slammed his book shut and turned to give her his full attention.

"Yes ours, Severus. How many times must I explain myself to you! I cannot keep doing this, it hurts so much. I am completely and utterly lost without you. I'd rather die than have to go through this for much longer."

"You need to calm yourself down, this is not the time or the place to be going over this again." Severus told her callously. He would give so much to be able to swallow his pride and comfort her but she had hurt him as well, and his wounded male emotions simply would not allow him such a luxury.

Hermione took a shuddering breath. "Do you have means of making Veritasserum?"

"No," Severus said simply.

"Then how… how will I convince you?"

"Why must you try?"

"Because I love you and want to at least try to save our marriage…" The door of the library creaked open and emitted two students. Tears began to trail down Hermione's face once more as Severus held his book in one hand and began to move past his soon-to-be ex-wife. "Severus," Hermione moved to grab his arm to stop him going any further but he pulled free and marched out of the library. Seconds later, Hermione followed.

She caught up with him half way down the corridor to the dungeons. "Severus, will you at least come and see our babies?"

"No."

She sighed heavily. "At least tell me what you have been researching, perhaps I can help."

"I do not wish for you to help."

"Severus…"

"Hermione, look! I do not want to have anything to do with you or your happy little Creevy family. Leave me alone."

"Callum…"

"Callum has been fine without his mother for months now, Hermione…" Severus said cutting her off.

"Then you wish for me to not see him again?" Hermione's heart dropped as the worst case scenario rushed through her mind's eye.

"It might be best for a while, until he is old enough to understand…" She let out a cry and he stopped mid-sentence.

"Then…Severus, I am not going to go back with you." Hermione informed him as he stood facing her in the darkened corridor. He rounded on her, his cape billowing as he moved closer and his dark expression began to stir fear within her similar to that which he mustered from his first year students.

"What?" He simply said in a low harsh voice.

"I said," Hermione swallowed hard, "that I shall not be returning with you and the others."

"You have no option here…"

"I am not seeking your consent," Hermione replied, her voice becoming louder as her eyes flashed angrily. "I am simply informing you of…"

"You," Severus stepped into her personal space and glared at her in the eye, "will cease this childish behaviour immediately. Staying in the past is not an option for you. I will place you under the imperious curse and force feed you the potion like a baby if I have to but, you will be returning to our own time line. Like it or not." Severus spun on his heel and was out of sight before Hermione could mount a counter attack.

She wasn't going to let him get away with the last word. Seconds later she ran after him and collided with a large warm body as she rounded the corner at speed. Severus fell to the floor, he had been leaning against the wall with his head in his hands. She lay ontop of him, having fallen with him and gazed into his eyes, filled with tears. "Why do you do this to me?"

"I love you, Severus, and you have gotten all of this into your head and its all wrong… all of it." Hermione replied exasperated. Severus stared at her before lying back on the cold stone floor, allowing his head to flop back. All energy seemed to have left him now, his tightly controlled emotions having taken their toll on him for too long now.

"We need to talk about this. I cannot keep chasing you through the castle, it is tiring after the week I've had." Hermione told him. There was movement up ahead and Severus began to get to his feet.

"Then, let us move this to a more private location," Severus said, as he held out his hand to help her to her feet. She nodded and they moved off towards her chambers.