"Why that crackpot old food feels compelled to schedule staff meetings the day we return from Christmas break-" Severus muttered as a slim shadow fell over him.
"'Crackpot old fool', hm? Why, you wouldn't be referring to me, now would you, Severus?" the voice behind him asked.
Severus turned to see Dumbledore towering over him, smiling. "No, Headmaster, never," he replied, adding just enough sarcasm.
"I didn't think so," said Albus, in the same tone Severus had used. "Good morning, Hermione," he said, his voice returning to its usual warm, pleasant tone, and he nodded at her. She smiled up at him sweetly.
"Good morning, Headmaster." At this, Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling as always, and walked to the head of the table. He then took his seat, waiting for the arrival of the rest of the staff.
Beside her, Severus coughed into his hand, sounding remarkably something like, "Kiss ass." He smirked at her when he had lowered his hand.
She only eyed him, unable to repress a smile. Of course, she was seated next to him, as she was at all staff meetings and meals. They had taken to arriving for such events side by side. Although they never openly showed affection for each other, it was well-known that underneath the table, their hands were constantly linked together. They had nearly become the sort of couple that, not such a long time ago, Severus himself had despised and been utterly sickened by. Over the past several days, he had managed to mostly forget Hermione's harsh words spoken impulsively, although it was only because he simply did not allow himself to dwell on them. Who knows what would happen if he did.
Minerva was seated just two seats down from Hermione, on Severus' other side. He glared at the older woman as he stood to get himself a cup of coffee. When he had taken a few steps away from his seat, Minerva leaned over toward Hermione and said kindly, "You two really are quite charming together. It is so very pleasant to see him truly happy for the first time in who knows how long. And you... You are glowing."
"Well, I do love him-"
"You what?" Her eyes widened and a grin spread across the old woman's face. "So, you've finally said it?"
"Said it?"
"Admitted it."
"Pardon me?"
"That you love him."
"Oh, yes."
"And you have told him?"
"Yes, of course."
"What was his reply?"
Blushing, Hermione answered, "He answered that he loved me, as well."
"How splendid!" Suddenly, her tone turned businesslike has she called out, "Sinistra! Get over here, please!"
"What is it, Minerva?" the younger woman asked, approaching.
"You owe me five sickles."
"What?" Hermione asked, for realization had not yet dawned on her.
"We had a bet," she replied casually as Sinistra began digging around in her pockets.
"A bet? You mean you two were betting on Severus and me?"
"Not just us. The whole staff, actually. Remus, get over here. You lost," Sinistra said, tossing three Galleons onto the table.
"They've finally said it, then?" he asked as he walked over to the small group of women.
"Yes. You owe Minerva four sickles."
"I suppose the second pool is still going, though?" he asked, glancing at Hermione.
"I don't suppose you're pregnant, love?" Sinistra asked Hermione, her eyes flitting over her stomach.
"No, not of my knowledge," she replied.
"Then yes, Remus, to answer your previous question."
Hermione's jaw fell open as she stared at her colleagues. "Are you all serious?"
"Oh, very much so," Remus said, receiving a shocked glance from Hermione.
"We're not doing anything wrong, Hermione. Lighten up a bit."
"You are betting on us!" she cried.
"We are quite aware, love." Sinistra paid Minerva the last of her money and returned to her seat down the table, as did Remus just seconds later.
Hermione sighed. "I suppose you are right. However, I doubt if Severus will see it the same way."
"But he will not find out, correct?" asked Sinistra, winking at her.
"Of course. So, out of curiosity, what exactly did you bet on my being pregnant?"
"I bet that you would be pregnant by January 5, although it seems as if I am going to lose that bet," said Minerva.
"Well, I'll just have to get straight to work on that, then," Hermione said, grinning, just as Severus appeared over her shoulder.
"You must get to work on what?" he asked, taking his seat.
"Grading essays. It's really nothing special," she stated, still grinning and trying to stifle a giggle.
He raised an eyebrow. "What were you discussing?"
As Hermione snorted into her coffee, Minerva replied calmly, "Nothing of great consequence, or any interest to you."
Severus sipped his black coffee as he surveyed the two women on either side of him, scowling as he wondered what could possibly be so amusing.
"Gryffindor women," he muttered, shaking his head.
Rolling her eyes, Hermione replied quietly, "Slytherin men," and gave his hand an affectionate squeeze underneath the table.
OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Standing in the front Entrance Hall, dreading his first step out into the biting weather, Severus had his arms crossed over his chest and his usual scowl on his face.
Bloody woman, he thought. Why can't she be on time?
He was just awaiting the arrival now of Hermione, who seemed reluctant to show. It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the second semester, and Severus had been assigned to it. Naturally, he had chosen Hermione to accompany him, although at the moment, he was frighteningly close to marching down to Lupin's quarters and order him to come on the trip instead.
The students are acting a bit strangely, he observed. None of the teenagers dared to venture anywhere near him (though I suppose that is fairly normal, he thought), save a few six-year girls who would take several steps toward him, and then run back to their group of friends, giggling like mad. He rolled his eyes at their childish behavior, and was just beginning to become suspicious of the girls when he caught sight of Hermione rushing down the stairs.
"Where in the hell have you been?" he asked once she had reached him.
"I had a bit of trouble," she replied, out of breath.
"With what?"
Lowering her voice considerably, she answered, smirking, "With the lingerie I have on for you after Hogsmeade."
His eyes widened, and it took all that he had not to simply grab her and kiss her right there in front of the students.
"In that case, I vote for skipping Hogsmeade altogether."
"Sorry, love, but I doubt if the students would be too happy with the making of that decision, for the simply reason that their escorts are too horny to wait three or four hours to get into the bedroom with one another."
"I'm certain they would greatly appreciate that mental picture," he muttered sarcastically.
She laughed, touching his arm casually, because she couldn't very well throw herself into his arms in front of 650 young students.
Then she looked to the teenagers. "Your attention, please!" she called out, standing beside Severus. Everyone's eyes became fixed upon the professors instantly. The girls were now giggling uncontrollably, Severus noticed. Hermione cleared her throat rather loudly for the girls' silence, but she received only a loud hoot of laughter.
"Miss Evan, would you care to enlighten me about what can possibly be so hilarious that you feel the need to discuss and laugh about it while I am speaking and requesting your complete silence?"
The girl who had gotten the closest to Severus before scampering away sobered a little, grinning at Hermione.
"Well, Professor...er... Well, you and Professor Snape... Er, look up."
Both professors tilted their heads upward, and Severus knew instantly what the girls had been laughing about. Above them hung a small piece of mistletoe, with a fat red ribbon tied around it neatly.
The one decoration in the entire school that Filch forgets to take down... Severus thought.
He glared evilly at the girls, who were all shaking and had their hands clapped over their mouths.
"You must be jok-"
"You know the rules, Severus," she interrupted, smirking and taking a step closer to him.
A girl in the crowd whistled as Severus rolled his eyes. Quickly, desiring nothing more than to get through this hurriedly, maintaining as much of his dignity as he possibly could, he leaned down toward her. Just as his lips were about to touch the soft skin on her cheek, Hermione turned her head slightly. Their lips pressed against each other as she placed a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. Then they pulled away, lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.
"Well, shall we go, then?" Hermione asked the students, taking a step back from Severus. The students only nodded, apparently still too in shock to do much else.
Smiling, Hermione led the way through the oak doors and out into the snow, with Severus close beside her.
OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Two days late. Oh Gods. Oh crap. Hermione paced her office, wringing her hands nervously. Quickly, she went to her desk and examined her calendar once more. Still two days late. As if she had really expected it to change within the last three minutes. The small red mark was in the corner of the box marked the third of January. Today was fifth of January.
Perhaps it is only coincidence, she thought, trying to reassure herself. Eventually, she decided to wait a bit longer, so that she did not worry herself over nothing.
OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Five days late. January eighth.
Severus and I only did it twice, and we haven't done it since then. Well, except for that other time... But other than that, we've never done it again, I swear! Maybe if I just wait a little while longer... Or maybe, I'm just fooling myself...
OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
Seven days late. One full week. January tenth.
Sitting at her desk, Hermione covered her face with her hands and glanced at her calendar once more, just to be sure.
This cannot be, she thought, shaking her head.
"I cannot be pregnant."
OoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOoooOooo
"Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione called out as she entered the Hospital Wing.
"Yes, dear?" came Poppy's high-pitched voice as she poked her head out from her supply closet.
"I am in need of your...assistance," she replied uneasily. She glanced around at the beds, in which there were a few students lying comfortably, their bodies tucked under the blue sheets. Although many of their eyes were closed, Hermione suspected that their ears were wide open and alert.
"Whatever for, dear?" Poppy asked, approaching her.
"Well, I... Can we perhaps talk behind these curtains?"
"Of course." Poppy slid the curtains around the bed so that they were shut, blocking out unwanted visitors.
"Thank you." Biting her lip and wringing her hands, Hermione stood awkwardly before Madam Pomfrey, who was watching her.
"What did you need, dear?"
"What? Oh, yes, of course." Remembering the students, Hermione lowered her voice. "I think I might"
""Yes?"
"I think I may be pregnant."
"What led you to believe this?"
Hermione stared at Poppy, who grinned back at her. "Sorry, of course. Severus will be so happy to hear-"
"No! He must now know. Not now. I mean, not yet."
"But why ever not? He is the father, isn't he?"
"Yes," said Hermione slowly, "of course. But" She sighed. "Never mind. Look, Poppy, I only wish to know if I am or not."
"Very well. Calm down, dear. Everything will be all right." At this, she hurried off through the curtains and returned moments later with a wand and a vial.
"Drink this," she commanded. "The entire thing, or we won't be able to tell for sure."
Hermione nodded, taking the vial and quickly downing the contents. The drink was not at all revolting; on the contrary, it was a bit like sweetened lemonade.
"Well done. Now, lie down here on the bed."
Hermione followed Poppy's instructions and lay down on her back, over the sheets.
"Relax," Poppy instructed in a soothing voice.
"What are you going to do?"
"A simple spell, nothing to worry about."
"Will it hurt?"
"Heavens, no!" Poppy chuckled. She carefully lifted up Hermione's shirt to just above her belly button. Then she pulled out her wand and touched it to Hermione's exposed skin, again uttering the word, "Relax." Softly, she began to mutter the words to a spell under her breath. When she fell silent once more, both women's eyes remained fixed on the spot where Poppy's wand was still lightly touching her skin.
"What happens now?" Hermione asked.
"We wait."
"For what?"
"If your stomach glows yellow, there is no child. However, if it glows blue, then you will have a new baby in nine months."
"I see," Hermione nodded, not daring to take her eyes from her stomach.
Suddenly, she began to feel a pulsating in her abdomen, though she could hear no sound. A wave of heat and then a tingling sensation washed over her; it was a very pleasant feeling. All of a sudden, though, the pulsating ceased and the feeling vanished. Her stomach was visibly glowing, though at first, it was just a simple white light. Then, it began to change, very slowly.
Hermione watched anxiously. She didn't know what color she was waiting to see, or rather, what color she wanted to see. She wasn't sure if she even wanted to be pregnant or not. Surely not. What would she do with the child during her lessons? Would she move in with Severus? Would he even want to be involved with it? For the next seventeen years, she would be obligated to care for this child.
There would be diapers, new clothes, and all those other extra expenses that accompanied another member of the family.
Family? Where did that come from? she thought.
Everything would change with a baby around. More laughter, more smiles, more hugs and kisses... Indeed, everything would change.
Change is good, said a voice in the very back of her mind.
Yes, she agreed, change is excellent. But a baby...
What would her parents say? Of course, she loved Severus, and he was in love with her. They were in a relationship. It wasn't as if it had just been a one night stand between them. But still... They were not married. However, her parents were not at all religious, and, as far as she knew, were not against premarital sex. Then again, they weren't exactly for it either. Not that her parents' thoughts would greatly affect how Hermione felt about the situation, but still, she couldn't help but worry.
But a baby... A beautiful, brand new baby... Hermione's parents had always wanted grandchildren. Severus was a gentleman, and a good man; he would want to help and support her. Wouldn't he? Yes, yes, of course he would. And Hermione had always wanted a child, to love and care for. It would be difficult; there was certainly no doubt about that. But when Hermione thought of having a child, she felt warm and tingly and so happy, and somehow, she knew that it wasn't the spell.
Yes, she thought suddenly. Yes, I do want this baby.
She was surprised by her own thoughts, but she accepted them, nevertheless. Still, she watched her glowing stomach intently. She thought she saw a hint of yellow as the white light transformed. Slowly, it changed from white to a vivid violet, then bright emerald, and finally... a deep, brilliant royal blue.
Hermione gasped, not daring to believe her eyes. It was blue. Blue.
That meant...
Hermione smiled. It appeared as if Minerva had won her bet after all.
I know this chapter kind of skips around a lot, but that's sort of how it has to be.
As you all surely noticed, and as was brought to my attention recently, responding to reviews individually during chapters is no longer allowed. But that's okay, because now I respond to each and every one of your (signed) reviews!
Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed! I am almost up to 400 reviews now!
The next chapter shouldn't take too long to post, but I wouldn't count on it within just a couple of days.
Disclaimer- (See Chapter 14)
As always, remember: Please Review! Even if you don't like my story, please tell me what you dislike about it and I will try to work on it in the future. Thanks!