Chapter 13

July 30

It was lunchtime in the Snape flat. The newlyweds were chatting about the Order meeting to be held that night and Harry's surprise birthday party tomorrow.

"Ron and Draco went through alot to get a day off for Harry, they're going to be doing favors for a month, so he had better damn well show," Hermione said. "And as much as I paid to lease out Wandwavers for the night, I'll throttle him if he doesn't." Hermione quipped.

That night at the Order meeting, everyone chatted while waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. Severus sat by Hermione as she talked with Mrs. Weasley, who was gushing over her grandaughter and the pending birth of two new grandchildren, courtesy of Fred and George and their wives.

Dumbledore arrived and brought the meeting to order. They reviewed the minutes of the last meeting and assignments were discussed.

"Mr.Malfoy, Mr.Weasley, Miss Gran- excuse me Mrs. Snape, how goes the progress at the ministry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Our medallions don't warm at work, so there's no one of suspicion in the department," Draco said.

"But they do in the cafeteria," Ron offered.

"I know who the deatheater is, or was rather, in my department," Hermione stated. The room was silent. Severus looked to her in surprise.

"Continue," Dumbledore said.

Hermione nodded. "It took me a while to figure this out, so here goes. Before the incident in Scotland, my medallion warmed every day, and after I finally returned to work it ceased to warm and was told that someone in the department suddenly resigned. In Scotland, right before I was stunned," Severus noted that Hermione's hands were clenched into fists and were shaking and she took a deep breath, "I recognized the voice of the deatheater who punched me, taunted me then stunned me. It was the voice of Henry Caulfield, who was also the one who resigned suddenly from my department. "

Severus stood, put his hands on her shoulders and sat her down in a chair beside him. He squeezed her hand.

"I'm alright," she said softly.

"I see, very well," Dumbledore said.

The meeting continued for a few minutes more then broke up. Harry approached Hermione who was again talking to Mrs. Weasley. He tapped her on the shoulder.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked her.

Oh Harry, something better have not popped up tommorrow! Hermione thought.

"So Mione, what time is my surprise party tomorrow?" Harry teased.

"Huh? Oh Harry!" Hermione pleaded.

"Mione, don't worry. I'll act real surprised," Harry assured her.

"Okay smart aleck, it's starts at eight p.m. at Wandwavers," Hermione said.

Around midnight, Hermione was wide awake staring at the ceiling. She sighed softly and felt Severus touch her arm.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Not exactly," she replied.

He turned on his side and ran a hand through her hair. "Not exactly?" he teased. "Come on sleeping beauty, out with it," he urged.

She said something so softly and quickly that he couldn't understand.

"Mione, I didn't hear you," Severus said.

"I-didn't-take-my-contraceptive-potion-last-week," she whispered.

"How did you forget? You have it marked on a calendar," he wondered.

She turned on her side to face him and said, "Sev, I didn't forget."

July 31

That morning at breakfast, they reviewed the conversation from last night. Hermione wanted a baby. Severus didn't know what had changed her mind but was thrilled, and Hermione was relieved he wasn't mad about "forgetting" to take her potion.

"Mione, of course I'm not mad. You know I want children, I was just waiting for you to be ready. Are you sure?" Severus asked.

"Yes, I want nothing more than to make a baby with you," Hermione said.

"Good, now that the matter is decided, we can get down to the business of conception," Severus teased in his teacher's voice.

"Gee, how romantic, husband of mine," Hermione said.

"Would you like to retire to the bedroom to get down to business?" Severus asked her pulling her into his lap.

"Why? The sofa is right there," she said nipping his ear.

Around eight pm that night, Hermione and Ginny were making last minute preparations around the restaurant. Ron and Draco were sent to track Harry down. If there was one thing the auror training was doing for him, it was teaching him the art of not being found.

"They better find him, or he will be paying me the 100 galleons it cost to lease this place out for the evening," Hermione said to Ginny. Hermione and Ginny settled into a booth, and talked, laughed and schemed.

Meanwhile, Severus was chatting with Minerva while looking at Hermione from time to time. He never felt happier. Then suddenly something occurred to him.

Mione said she hasn't taken her potion for a week. That could mean she's with child as we speak. Severus thought. He looked more closely at her. She wasn't feeling any different these days or acting any different. Just the thought of them making a child made him smile. She's young and healthy, it shouldn't take long. he thought happily.

"Care to let me in on what's amusing you Severus?" Minerva asked.

"Not yet," Severus said. "But soon enough I hope."

Around 10 pm, a bottle or two of firewhiskey had made its way to the room. The party was going well, and everyone was having fun, and the firwehiskey only added an element of silliness to the proceedings. As Hermione was reaching for a glass, it was taken away quickly by Severus. He leaned over to her and said in her ear,

"Hermione, you know you can't have this, what if you are with child," Severus said softly, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Oh that's right," Hermione said. "But I can still dance, can't I?" she asked and joined the mass of dancers.

They had cleared the tables away to make room. There was mostly freestyle dancing that Hermione and a few of the others did well. A latin number came on and Hermione and Draco did to tango because they did it so well together. The partying group cheered and whistled as Hermione and Draco moved. When Hermione wrapped a leg around him towards the end of the dance, the crowd whistled and hooted again in appreciation of the show the two put on. Severus looked on in pride at his beautiful, sexy wife. When the dance ended, Hermione and Draco bowed and went back to their signifigant others. A flushed and panting Hermione went to Severus and sat in his lap. Severus nuzzled her neck and said,

"Hermione, it's approaching midnight. I, unlike you, have an early day tomorrow at school," Severus said.

"You're right Sev, I'm sorry. I'll say my goodbyes then we can leave," Hermione said. She made her way around he room, shaking hands and giving out hugs every now and then. As Severus and Hermione were walking out the door, Hermione heard Ginny holler,

"Herms! You have to teach me how to tango!"

Back at the Snape flat, after they had showered, the two waltzed around the living room.

"My turn to dance with the most beautiful lady in the room," Severus said.

"I thought you wanted to get to bed for your early day tomorrow?" Hermione teased.

Severus looked at the clock. "Technically, it is tomorrow Mione," Severus said.

"Yeah, yeah, so can we go try and make a baby now?" Hermione asked.

"I love it when you're direct," Severus said.

They didn't go anywhere, they simply dropped their robes and continued in their pursuit of perfecting the act of conception, right there on the living room floor.