Late One Night

Disclaimer: I only own Maria and a couple of other things that may crop up at some point.

Brunette89: He he, yey! I'm awesome! Thanks.

Eleonora1: Ok so yeah, it was bad wording on my part. So Sev doesn't trust her more than Remus, he just feels he can tell her more than he can tell Remus. For reasons like you said, to protect our poor werewolf. Ah of course Hermione's puppy eyes work on Sev, he was just saying that so he didn't have to look up and see them. I love making Remus a white wolf, I don't know why? Maybe it has something to do with the poster of a white wolf that I have on the wall next to my computer. There is a serious lack of Maria isn't there? I'll put more of her in. Yes, the library is Hermione's second home, but I would spend hours in that library to if I were her. And finally, yes, there is a reason for the bit of animosity between Remus and Romulus, I just haven't figured that reason out yet.

AffectedMangoO: He he, glad you like my Sev and Rem! Don't ya just love them? More about Romulus will be coming very soon.

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Chapter 8: Christmas Break Mistake

Remus was sitting at the table in the staff room with his head in his hands, he was so tired and his head was pounding, he had taken a potion for it and he still felt awful. The full moon wasn't for another week, he shouldn't feel this bad. He was trying to mark his third years' essays but the words on the parchment kept blurring together, either it was the headache or his eyesight was taking a rapid decline.

He had a free period and he was trying to catch up with his marking, he had been getting so behind since the new term started and it was all because of the lack of sleep he was getting. Of course, Severus hadn't noticed, the man slept like a log in the winter.

"Are you all right, Remus?" Asked Minerva McGonagall from her chair near the fire.

"Depends," replied Remus, "What's your definition of all right?"

Minerva smirked slightly, "I see Severus' demeanour is finally starting to rub off on you."

Remus lifted his head a little and smiled wryly, "Well when you live with him, its hard not to get like that."

"I don't doubt that."

…

"Weasley, what is this?" Questioned Severus as he prowled the desks in his classroom during the lesson before lunch. He had the sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins, his least favourite class, mainly due to six students, Neville, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco and Pansy Parkinson.

"A Healing Solution." Replied Ron defiantly.

Severus smirked slightly, "And tell me, what colour is it supposed to be?"

"Red."

"And what colour is your solution, Mr Weasley?"

"…Orange…" Replied Ron hesitantly.

"Tell me, are you incapable of following simple instructions or do you make a point of blatantly ignoring them?" Severus raised his eyebrows slightly; a sneer firmly set in place.

Hermione frowned slightly, then she decided to speak up, which wasn't the best idea. "I can help him correct it, Professor."

Severus turned his eyes to her; "Did I ask for your input, Miss Granger?"

"No, Sir."

"Then kindly keep your mouth shut and get back to work." Snapped Severus before moving away.

The Slytherins were throwing amused glances at Ron and Hermione.

Hermione, all the while, was giving her father the nastiest glare she could muster and she was well aware that he had noticed.

"Thanks." Whispered Ron from next to her.

Hermione turned her eyes to him and gave a small smile, "No problem."

"Ten points from Gryffindor for ignoring an order, Miss Granger."

Bastard! Shouted Hermione in her mind. Does he realise how much of a bastard he comes off as? God I hate him sometimes! I don't care if he's my father; he can be so nasty sometimes! God I hope he's doing his little Legilimancy trick right now so he can hear what I want to say to him…

By the time Hermione had finished ranting about her father in her mind, class was over. She quickly filled up a flask with her potion, labelled it, put it on his desk and cleaned up all her equipment so she could get out of that classroom. She usually enjoyed Potions, she usually enjoyed all of her subjects but she felt they were all nothing but a waste of time at the moment.

She followed everyone else to the Great Hall for lunch, hearing a few comments on her way.

"What's the matter, losing your touch, Mudblood?" Sneered Pansy Parkinson as her and her Slytherin friends caught up. "

Hermione stopped and turned to face the Slytherin girl, "For your information Parkinson, I am not losing my touch, nor am I a Muggleborn. If you want to know anymore than that, go and talk to your dear Head of House, I am sure he could tell you the details of my conception, my birth and my life." She turned on her heel and continued on her way to the Great Hall, muttering as she went. "Stupid bitch…"

………

After lessons that day, Hermione went and hid in the very back of the library, hoping beyond hope that no one would find her there especially now that she had pretty much given away her secret. If that got back to her parents she knew they'd come hunting her down.

With her head buried in a book, Hermione didn't notice the red headed teenager come over to her table.

"Hermione."

Hermione slowly lifted her head to see Ron standing near her, "Ron." Oh god…what does he want? "If you're here to insult me…then please don't bother."

Ron pulled a chair out and sat down, "I'm not here to insult you… I-I'm here because I feel guilty and I want to apologise…"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "Apologise?"

Ron nodded, he hesitated, this was obviously hard for him, "…I'm sorry…f-for the way I've been treating you. I don't have any excuse and I don't know why I did it…" Hermione raised her other eyebrow as well. "I guess…I don't like Snape, I really don't and I'm sorry, but it's the way I feel… And being your friend in the summer would mean seeing more of him, wouldn't it?"

Hermione snorted, "Ron…I don't like my dad at the best of times, like today, I really want to inflict pain upon him…or the Slytherins. But anyway, I mean…I know you don't like him and I understand why? But…throwing away a friendship over that?" Ron looked down at the table guiltily. "Look, I'm willing to forgive you," Ron looked back up expectantly. "If you hug me."

Ron scowled at her, "Do I have to?"

Hermione smiled and nodded, "Yes, please. I need a hug, I've had such a bad time the last month."

"All right!" Ron held out his arms. "And we're friends again?"

"Yes." Hermione hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. "No more stupid fights, ok?"

"Ok." Ron realised he was still hugging Hermione, but he didn't really want to let go. He had had a crush on her for the longest time.

"If those hands move any lower Weasley, I'll be chopping them off."

The two teenagers pulled apart abruptly and looked to see Romulus Lupin leaning against a bookcase with his eyebrows raised slightly.

Hermione scowled at him, "And how are you today, Professor?"

"Don't call me Professor." Said Romulus shaking his head, "Makes me feel old." He looked to Ron. "And I meant what I said about your hands."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Go away." Her uncle was more concerned about teenager boys touching her than her parents were. "We were talking."

"Is that what they call it now?" Questioned Romulus in amusement.

Hermione picked a bottle of ink and got ready to throw it at him.

"OK, ok… I'm going. See you later, you two." And he left.

Hermione put the inkbottle back down, "Sorry about him…"

Ron smirked, "Doesn't matter, I'd be like that if I saw a guy touching Ginny. So, he's your uncle right?"

"Yeah…did Harry tell you?" She asked tentatively. Harry had barely spoken to her since Christmas and she was almost certain she knew why now.

Ron nodded, "What happened between you and Harry?"

Hermione sighed and frowned, "I'm not quite sure, I have a hunch though…but I don't know if I can tell you or not. I should ask first."

"Fair enough." Ron thought for a moment. "So eh…what did you say to Parkinson to get her talking about you?"

Hermione bit her bottom lip, "I said I am not a Muggleborn and that she should speak to her Head of House about it as he knows all the details… I know, it was stupid but everyone was bound to find out sooner or later."

………

By dinnertime Hermione was absolutely sure her parents knew what she had said to Pansy Parkinson. And when she left the Great Hall she was headed off by Severus who ordered her down to his quarters.

"I know what you're going to say and I don't care." Said Hermione once she was alone with both of her parents.

Remus sat down in the armchair opposite her, "Why did you say it?"

Hermione shrugged, "Does it really matter? Voldemort wants me in his clutches anyway, that's why you were keeping it a secret in the first place." She could practically hear Severus grinding his teeth at her casual use of the Dark Lord's name. "Anyway, I'd like to see what new insult that stupid cow Parkinson comes up with for tomorrow now that she knows Mudblood doesn't apply to me."

Remus sighed; he couldn't really punish his daughter for sticking up for herself though he was sure Severus wanted to. "Did you have to say it to the children of Death Eaters though?"

Hermione glanced at Severus who was wisely keeping his mouth shut and then she looked back to Remus, "Well, they were the ones trying to pick a fight, so yeah…" she huffed and spoke more bitterly. "Not like their Head of House was doing anything about it."

Severus opened his mouth to snap at her but Remus gave him a warning look, so he held his tongue.

"What has gotten into you lately?" Questioned Remus, "You never used to be like this."

Hermione shrugged again, "I'm growing up, maybe its permanent PMS…that and I'm sick of everything going wrong. My friends abandoning me for instance…" She sniffed. Oh god, don't cry Hermione, you idiot. "Can't I just have a normal life for once?"

Severus thought this was as good a time as any to leave, so he did. He was not very good with crying teenage girls, never had been and probably never will be.

Remus got up and sat down on the coffee table in front of Hermione, he could tell she was trying not to cry. "Mione, you can tell me, you know?"

Hermione wiped her eyes on her sleeve and sniffled, "Harry's been going out of his way to avoid me ever since Christmas…and I'm sure I know why."

"Why?"

"Hasn't been doing his Occlumency has he?" Replied Hermione sniffling again. "Voldemort probably let him see that he'd be using me as a pawn."

Remus raised an eyebrow, "I doubt it, somehow." Hermione glanced back up at him in confusion. "Look, Voldemort's plan wouldn't work if he did that, would it? If Harry doesn't trust you then he's not going to allow himself to be alone with you, is he?"

Hermione nodded meekly, "I guess so…then why is he avoiding me? What did I do?"

"I don't know."

Hermione folded her arms and tried to blink the tears away, "I just want to hide until all this is over…"

Remus smirked slightly, "Me too kid, me too."

Hermione smiled weakly and sniffled, "Why does dad have to be such a bastard all the time? Can't he just lighten up for once?"

Remus moved onto the couch, rubbing his abdomen gently, "Its just the way he is, you know that. Nothing is going to change his personality, god knows, I've tried."

Hermione pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them, "I'm sorry I said what I did to Pansy, but someone has to put that cow in her place…she can't keep going around like she owns the place, no one likes her anyway."

Remus nodded in agreement, "I agree, most of the staff don't like her either." He still had one hand firmly on his stomach and he saw that Hermione had noticed this odd behaviour now.

Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her dad, "Tell me you're not…"

Remus shook his head, "I am…" he nodded in the direction of Severus' office, "He doesn't know yet." Hermione smiled. "You know, you're getting more like him everyday. It's worrying."

Hermione glared at her dad, "I don't know whether I should be insulted or complimented."

Remus smirked, "I know you don't want to hear it, but its true. Though you haven't quite mastered the sneering yet…"

………

Remus sat in the armchair by the fire as Severus came back into the quarters, "Thanks for helping to calm our daughter down."

"You're welcome." Replied Severus with as much sarcasm in his tone as Remus had.

Remus watched his lover move around the room for a moment, "You know, it wouldn't do you any harm to be nicer to the Gryffindors on occasion."

Severus snorted quietly as he sat down at the table with a pile of essays to mark, "And why would I want to do that?" He dipped his quill into the ink and started putting critical notes on the first essay.

Remus sighed, "It might give your daughter a reason to respect you again." Severus scowled at him. "You are part of the reason why she is having such a horrible time at the moment, you know that? Now I'm just repeating what Hermione said, so don't have a go at me." He stood up and stretched. "Now if you don't mind, I am going to bed. Goodnight."

Severus watched Remus disappear into their bedroom in slight confusion before turning back to his marking. Remus had been acting mighty odd since the Christmas break and Severus was pretty sure he knew why, but he was just waiting for his lover to say something about it.

And the next night, he got what he was waiting for.

………

It was late the next night when Remus got back to the rooms he shared with Severus and Maria; he headed straight to the bedroom and saw that Severus was in the ensuite bathroom. He went to the doorway of the bathroom so that Severus could see him in the mirror. "We need to talk."

"About?" Replied Severus after spitting out the toothpaste in his mouth. The man was really very hygienic despite his appearance and his hair only looked greasy and lank because he was standing over boiling cauldrons everyday.

Remus hesitated, "…Children."

Severus raised his eyebrows slightly, "Oh?"

Remus sighed and sat down on the end of the bed, "Stop humouring me. I know you suspect something so say what you're thinking."

Severus folded his arms and leaned against the bathroom doorframe in nothing but a pair of black pants. "Ok then. I think we made a careless mistake during the Christmas break without really talking about what the consequences could mean. And now that we are in the middle of another war, any number of things could happen because of this." He indicated to Remus' stomach.

Remus sighed and nodded, "Yeah, I didn't think you'd be too pleased." He folded his arms over his stomach and looked down at the floor. "I'm not getting rid of it…"

"No one said you had to."

Remus looked back up to his lover, Severus had an unreadable expression on his face but it was pretty obvious that he wasn't too happy about this. "What now? …Do you want this?" he was afraid of what the answer would be. If Severus didn't want this baby would he let Remus stay with him?

Severus sighed, he went over to the bed and sat down next to Remus he had averted his eyes again, "You know how to pick the worst of times, don't you?"

Remus glared at his lover, "I didn't ask for this."

"I know, I know." Said Severus quickly before Remus felt the need to inflict physical pain upon him. "I'm just saying, I would be more happy about this if it happened after…after the Dark Lord is dead."

"Well it's happened now." Remus looked away from his lover again and spoke quietly. "I just need to know if you'll be here for me or not."

Severus turned Remus' head so he could see his lover's eyes, "I will be here, I was when you were carrying Hermione and I will be now."

Remus just fell into Severus' arms and squeezed his eyes shut.

It hadn't been easy being pregnant during the First War against Voldemort, with all the worry about what Severus had been doing Remus had nearly miscarried Hermione. The werewolf was just hoping he wouldn't miscarry this baby, it had been a terrifying thought the first time around.

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A/N: And yes, a pregnant werewolf will not transform for the duration of the pregnancy.

Next Chapter: Oh god…what do you guys want to see? More of Romulus? More Sev and Rem loving? You name it and I'll see what I can do.

You know, I know what's going to happen later on in the story, I'm just stuck for ideas for the current chapters.