A/N: I realized that I have probably confused some people about the name of the new potions professor. His name is Professor Walter Mines. I will be going back through the story and changing the ones my hands typed at Barns at a later time.
Please Enjoy!
Chapter 23
Hermione looked around at all the professors as they deliberated on the new situation and how to keep them both safe. McGonagall stated that they should use a shield on her as soon as she walked in the door of her classroom to protect her from stray spells as it would shield her from most, if not all, the things they would be working on in the foreseeable future. Albus and Severus agreed to that for Minerva's as well as Filius' and Professor Lupin's classrooms, but they still had the problem of the potions classroom. The fumes would definitely be able to get past any shield, so that was a no go.
"The only thing I can think to do is to not have her be in the classroom with the other students. Instead, have her learn the potions in theory while she is pregnant. She can forgo her NEWTs until she has had her baby with a note from 4 of her professors or 3 professors and the headmaster in extenuation circumstances. I would say this is such a time, wouldn't you?" Professor Mines asked, directing the question to Albus, who nodded before turning to Hermione.
"Is this acceptable to you?" He asked.
"Of course, but who would teach me the theory? Professor Mines will be in class at the only time slot that I have available, so he is out. If we can find someone to teach me, then I will of course accept it." Hermione answered academically. Albus smiled and turned to Severus, who was shaking his head.
"I know you aren't stupid, so don't act like it. I will teach you potions so that you can understand how they work in theory. I have nothing else to do at that time as I would be with you in Potions then as well. Since I am a student again in most ways and a professor in others, the board of governors shouldn't have a problem with allowing that in place of active lessons in the classroom. Is this correct, Albus?" Severus asked already knowing the answer. When Albus nodded, he looked to Hermione with a smug smirk. Hermione just shook her head and looked back at the teachers as they began to talk amongst themselves again. McGonagall looked at Hermione after a moment of meaningless chatter.
"So, what is the plan with this new development? What are you hoping to have?" She had to ask.
"Well, we really haven't had the chance to sit down to talk about the baby besides the fact that we will be keeping him or her. I never thought I would be a mother at 18, but I am actually excited to meet them. I really want a girl, but if we have a boy, he will be just as loved and welcomed." She said with a smile and then glanced at Severus as she saw him nod out of the corner of her eye.
"I agree that either will be welcome, but I would like a boy. Or even one of each." He stated with a small smile on his face.
"Don't you know how many you're having? Poppy?" Minerva asked and then turned to the nurse.
"Unfortunately, Miss. Granger was exposed to an unknown potion and, I am speculating on this, but I believe that it is the reason I can't get a picture of the womb. I am hoping that the impairment will fix itself before the birth so that we can find that out beforehand. I didn't inform them of this because there is nothing to worry about even with this added detriment as it only seems to be affecting the visual aspect of the baby. Obviously, the test to determine whether there is a baby was successful, or we wouldn't even be here. Also, that the baby is healthy was determinable. We have set an appointment for tomorrow morning to see if anything has changed and to check on everything else. Right, Miss. Granger?" She asked, directing her last question to Hermione, who nodded with a look of surprise on her face.
"Alright, I think that is all that we needed to discuss with these two." Dumbledore said and then turned to Severus and Hermione to dismiss them. The couple nodded their understanding in unison and stood from their chairs to leave. The chairs vanished as soon as they rose, disappearing with a popping sound. Walking toward the door, Hermione was stopped by Professor Lupin, so Severus continued to the door to give them a moment to talk.
"I wish to speak to you later. Would you come have tea with me in my quarters at 12:30 today?" Hermione nodded, so he continued. "Great. I hope today goes alright for you. See you later, then." Lupin finished before walking back over to his seat to wait for the meeting to begin.
Hermione joined Severus at the door just as he opened it. Allowing her to go through first, Severus glanced back at the teachers to see Professor Barns watching them leave with an unreadable expression on his face. The door closed softly behind them before he could really get a good assessment of the emotion it portrayed. Shrugging, he turned and followed Hermione to the great hall for breakfast. The hall was only half filled as it was still too early for most students to be up on a Saturday. Hermione spotted Harry and Ginny sitting at the Gryffindor table sitting opposite each other, talking. She headed in that direction, reaching out to grab Severus' hand to pull him with her. She didn't even realize that she was doing it until he tugged on her hand. It wasn't a tug meant to have her let him go, but one to stop her movement. Glancing back, she saw Severus looking over at the Slytherin table. She turned to see Draco sitting there alone and assumed Severus wanted to go sit with him to keep him company.
"Go ahead and go talk to Draco, if you want. I will be over here if you need me." Hermione said with a smile.
"I want to invite him to sit with us at the Gryffindor table. Do you think that would be okay with the others? I know Harry would be okay with it, but I don't know about anyone else. I don't want to cause any trouble with them." He stated, surprising Hermione.
"Umm… you know, I really don't care if they don't like it. I want you to have someone nearby to talk to and if that means Draco must sit with the Gryffindors, then that's what we will do. I will deal with anyone who doesn't like it or causes trouble. How about we surprise…" She would have continued, but Severus surprised her by leaning in and kissing her. The noise in the Hall instantly vanished. Not in the sense of the kiss being so amazing everything melted away, but as if the people who were talking before suddenly stopped. The couple pulled away from each other and glanced around to see that everyone in the room was indeed staring at them. Instead of becoming embarrassed as she would have only a month ago, Hermione smiled at Severus. This caused him to smile back, making the people in the room coo at their sweetness. Severus immediately scowled at everyone and marched around Hermione to the Slytherin table. Hermione continued smiling as she made her way over to her friends, who were sitting with their mouths open and staring at her as if they hadn't known that Hermione was dating their old potions teacher in the first place.
"Close your mouths or you might catch some flies." She said with a short laugh. She sat down next to Ginny as they both finally closed their mouths and looked at Hermione. "How are you doing this morning?" She asked, reaching for the plate of toast in front of her. She still wasn't really feeling all that up to eating, but she knew that the feeling would be worse if she didn't eat something. Picking up a slice, she took a bite of it just as Harry spoke.
"Umm… I am doing great this morning. Although, it would be better if Draco could sit with us instead of been alone at the Slytherin table." He said, pouting as he ate his eggs. Hermione looked at him, surprised at his change in attitude. Ever since they had all found out about them, Harry and Draco had stopped hiding their relationship all together.
"He has been saying the same thing the whole time we have been sitting here. I am perfectly fine this morning except for the complaining. Thank you for asking. And I see you are getting along very well with your new partner. Nice kiss. What prompted it?" Ginny answered and couldn't help poking her nose into Hermione's business. Hermione couldn't help smiling and shaking her head at this.
"That's not really your business, but, if you must know, I believe it was because of my response to… this." She said with a wave at Draco and Severus, who were both walking toward their table. Harry didn't see her wave her hand so he looked up to see what she was indicating. When he didn't see anything in front of him, he looked around to see that his boyfriend was standing right behind him. Severus walked over to sit on the other side of Hermione, watching for Harry's reaction. Harry's face immediately lit up with a large smile and he reached up to pull Draco down onto the seat next to him. Hermione knew that they still hadn't gotten to see their classmate's reactions to them being a couple, but the two seemed to be in their own little world and didn't notice several girls look over at them and begin giggling with their friends about something. Hermione didn't miss it though and Severus's expression told her that he hasn't either. They looked at each other and rolled their eyes. When their eyes contacted again, and they realized what just happened laughter burst from their mouth before they could control it.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked turning away from his boyfriend to gaze at them suspiciously.
"Nothing important." Hermione answered. She took a bite and chewed slowly, contemplating how she would tell them that she would no longer be in potions, but she didn't have to worry about it.
"Just for informational purposes, Hermione and I won't be in potions class again for the rest of the year. We have spoken to Dumbledore about a personal matter and he has agreed that it would be better if I taught Hermione potions in theory instead of practical lessons with Mines." Severus said as he ate the eggs and bacon from his plate. The others didn't seem to absorb this information for a few minutes as they continued to eat. Ginny was the first to respond.
"Why would he allow you to teach her? It would be a conflict of interest, wouldn't it?" She asked, putting down her spoon and looking at Hermione and Severus. Hermione nodded.
"Normally, yes, it would be, but in this case, they are going to speak to the board of governors to request that it be allowed under special circumstances. This bond is hard enough as it is without having to deal with… potions class and the complications of… making them." Hermione finished with a few pauses to think of how to phrase it. They really didn't want a slip up on the first day. She went back to eating the rest of her toast as the others looked at each other and nodded in agreement as they looked confused. Severus scooped up another spoonful of eggs as he watched Hermione. She could feel his gaze on her face, but she didn't need to look at him to know what he was thinking. She wasn't being very secretive and even though she hadn't said anything about what the special circumstances were, she knew they would all be wondering if it was the bond or something else completely. With the way she had said it, would have made Ginny curious if not Harry. She didn't know Draco very well, but he could have also caught on to the odd phrasing. No one said anything though, so they were able to finish breakfast in silence.
Hermione pushed her plate away quickly as she began feeling the normal nausea. it almost overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes for a moment and began to get up hoping it would go away, but she stumbled when she tried to lift her foot over the bench, the movement made Severus look up. He immediately reacted, dropping his fork and reaching out to steady her. He was able to catch her just as she was about to hit the floor, lifting her up in his arms.
"Hermione, What's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked quietly.
"No, get me out of here. I am feeling very sick." She said, opening her eyes and looking up at him. She immediately closed them again as the nausea rushed back to her along with a wave of vertigo.
Severus did as she asked and carried her out of the hall. He wasn't sure where to take her at first but decided that taking her to the hospital wing would be beneficial for both of them. Poppy hadn't had time to get the nausea potion to them, so he suspected that was the problem. As he walked out of the great hall, he could feel many eyes on him, but he ignored this. He continued on up to the hospital wing listening to the footsteps behind him, knowing that one of Hermione's friends were following him to make sure she was alright. They obviously didn't want to ask him this question, but that was fine with him. He strode through the doors of the hospital and placed his mate on the same bed she had been in not 2 hours before. Leaving her with her friend, which he saw was Miss. Weasley, he walked over to the office and knocked to get the mediwitches attention. He wasn't sure if she was still at breakfast, but he suspected that she was eating in her office as she did about half the time. He was correct as the door swung open and the witch stepped out.
"Hermione is experiencing nausea again, but this time it was after she ate some toast." Was all he said before he turned to return to her bedside with Miss. Weasley. They both watched as the mediwitch cast a few spells to make sure Hermione was okay, but Ginny couldn't wait for her to finish before she spoke.
"What is the special circumstance? Hermione seems sick, so is that the problem? Is there something wrong with her?"
Severus was silent for a moment as he watched Hermione. "You are just going to have to wait to find that out. Nothing is wrong, she isn't dying, so take comfort in that." He replied. Ginny nodded and smiled.
"You seem happier now. Is it because you're a teen again or because of Hermione?" She inquired mischievously. Hermione smiled softly waiting for Severus's reply. She was feeling a little better now, but she kept her eyes closed anyway. He was quiet for a moment.
"I really don't know why you need to know, but I think it's a little of both. I will deny I told you this if you tell anyone, but I was never happy as a teen the first time, so I didn't get the chance to experience a lot of things. This time, though, I am experiencing a lot more and beginning to realize why teen boys are so stupid." This comment made Ginny and Hermione laugh. Severus quirked the corner of his lips in a small smile, glad he could make Hermione laugh even through her sickness. They all went quiet and waited for Madam Pomphry to finish her tests. The mediwitch smiled at them all in a kind way as looked at them and spoke.
"She will be fine. I will find out if Professor Mines has the potions I mentioned yet. He probably does. I will be right back." She disappeared out the main doors of the hospital, heading to the potions labs. Severus pulled up a chair and sat down. Looking up at his bond mates' best friend, he noticed that she was looking between him and Hermione suspiciously. He hoped she didn't figure out what was going on with them just yet. They still wanted to get used to the idea of a baby before telling others.
"Miss. Weasley, would you mind leaving us now that you know Hermione is alright? We have a few things to talk about in private." He said with a wave to the door of the hospital. Ginny took a moment to consider, then nodded. She then walked out without a word.
A/N: Thank you everyone who has been waiting for an update! I can continue to apologize for my bad updating skills, but I think most of you are tired of the same old message every time, so I won't this time. I have moved recently and am working non-stop to get a place of my own. I will probably have a lot more time now to write then I did while in school. I have officially graduated with 2 Associates degrees and am 1 class away from my Bachelor's degree in Education. I am not in school at the moment, but will be signing up this summer for that final class.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.
Questions I leave you with:
Will Ginny figure out what is going on with Hermione first?
Was the baby the reason for the pink orb?
Why did the orb split?
What should Hermione and Severus name their child?
