BONUS CHAPTER, for some reason chapter 21 didn't transfer to the active story. As today should have been chapter 22, I will publish it today as well. Sorry for the delay.

James looked around the room at all the men and women on the walls. His voice was reflective but strong. "I am so proud to be a part of this institution's history. Your portrait and mine will be on these walls someday Severus. To guide the others who will take our place and continue into the future."

"I do not wish to be on these walls…James. I failed this school and it's students. I brought evil, terror and death into these walls. I knelt at the feet of that beast and did his bidding. I do not deserve a place here."

James turned to Severus very grave. "You are wrong Headmaster Snape. You deserve it more than most, for you risked your life countless times to rid us of that evil and succeeded. No one knows how to recognize and deal with such men better than you. It would be a tragic loss to the future, if your knowledge and insight were not here on guard against the next one that will come. To guide whoever sits in that chair to find the light. Oh yes, you will have a place of honor headmaster."

Severus was caught off guard by this man's praise. "Goodnight sir." He turned and left the room without Hermione, unable to respond.

Hermione had tears of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you. I've been trying to tell him that for months, but he wouldn't believe me. Goodnight James."

He took her hand and kissed it. "I meant every word. Goodnight Hermione."

oopOqoo

Hermione caught up to Severus at the bottom of the stairs. He was leaning against a wall just staring at the end of the corridor as if in a trance. She came up next to him and tugged his sleeve gently. "Earth to Severus. Are you alright love?"

He looked down at her with tears glistening in his eyes he would not let fall. "I always thought I would end up on that pile in the ravine Hermione, or one like it. I would do or say something because I couldn't take any more, and He would kill me, slowly, painfully, as a warning to others. I also believed I deserved it, as just what I had coming." He squeezed his eyes closed in memory. "You don't know the horrible, detestable things I did for him. I didn't want to do them. They fill my nightmares. But I had to do it to maintain my place in His court and feed information to Dumbledore. I bought my life, time and again, at the expense of so many others Hermione. I should have stood up to Him. I should have said NO! I won't do it! I shall have to live with my cowardice the rest of my life. I don't deserve any praise. I don't deserve a place on that wall. You will be there Hermione. Don't let them. Promise me you won't let them."

Hermione was angry and she was just hormonal enough to tell him so. Her arms crossed over her chest. "No Severus. I will not promise you that. You were twisted into darkness as a helpless child, when all the adults turned their backs and did nothing. You are not an evil man. A truly evil man would not have the terrible remorse you do. Haven't you seen enough of them by now to know the difference? Do you really think I don't know what He was capable of ordering you to do? After personally witnessing His atrocities at Hogwarts? Your choice was between the unthinkable and the unspeakable. It was not cowardice that made you choose who would live and who would die, it was courage. The most difficult kind courage known to man. How dare you dismiss the lives you saved so casually, mine among them. The people who had to die to keep you where we needed you, did not die in vain. You will not dishonor them now by sitting in self-pity. You have paid, are still paying, a terrible price for your involvement with Him. The scars on your back are a grim testament to that. It's time to forgive yourself and honor their sacrifice by living your life as you should. I will personally hang your picture on that wall one day. Because you are the bravest, most caring and compassionate man I have ever known."

Hermione walked away and left him to think about what she had said.

oopOqoo

The smell of new paint was strong at St Mungos. It was obvious that they had a turn at reconstruction themselves. A new room for supervised daycare was set up in the lobby. The kids were having a ball while their parents visited sick and injured loved ones. Hermione grinned at the use of Voldemort's funds.

"Mr. and Mrs. Snape? The doctor will see you now." The pretty nurse showed them to Dr. Sparrow's office. A no nonsense kind of witch, she was only average height and build, but her hazel eyes were sharp as nails. They brought out the color in her short sandy blond hair. She leaned against the front of her desk with her arms folded on her chest, her mouth set in a line. "You're four months along Hermione and this is the first I've seen of you! You're an intelligent witch by all accounts. What took you so long?"

Hermione was caught off guard. This wasn't the kindly gentle doctor Fleur had described. "I'm sorry doctor. Life has been a bit precarious, and this is the first break I've had. Madam Pomfrey has been making regular visits."

The doctor tapped her index finger on her sleeve. "If you want to be my patient you will make regular appointments, and keep them, understood? We are going to start off at every two weeks so I can assess your situation. I take it that you are the father… Severus is it?" She was looking through the paperwork on her clipboard, though she knew exactly who he was.

Severus didn't like the way the woman was bullying Hermione and had a bit of guilt as he realized how right she was. "I am." He answered simply without emotion. "You may rest assured doctor she will be here, for every appointment, on time."

Dr. Sparrow huffed in acknowledgement. "All right then. Let's have a look at you." She motioned for Hermione to get up on the table for a diagnostic scan. Her wand slowly moved back and forth over her whole body as the readout showed above it. It took several minutes for her to complete.

The doctor sighed and turned her back to them as she contemplated the results. It took so long Severus was near panic that something was wrong, though he was careful not to show it. After what seemed like an eternity, she looked back at them. "You are in acceptable condition at this time. A little thin and too much stress. You must remember your body is not your own anymore. You are sharing it with a growing human being. If you want that human being to be healthy you will stop worrying about your figure, for now. No skipping meals, and I want you to get a little easy exercise. Walking in a park or someplace peaceful for fifteen or twenty minutes twice a day would be optimal, then rest for at least that long. I have some supplement potions for you to take once a day as well."

"Hermione has been on a nutritional potion of my own design since I was told of her condition. It is much better than the swill they have here."

The doctor raised her eyebrow in disgust. "I'm sure you have some home-grown recipe your mother swore by, but are you sure you want to risk your child's development over it? My potion has been proven by new mothers again and again."

"I am a… Potions… Master, madam. The only risk will be when she returns to you. I intend on being with her for every appointment to be sure she is treated well."

Dr Sparry smiled as she goaded the pompous man. She was glad to hear he would participate. It would make it so much easier on Hermione. "You don't seem to have a lot of faith in my practices. Perhaps this will change your mind."