"It is highly unlikely I will be able to father any children."
The words were suspended in the air. Hanging weightless but so heavy. The resulting silence was thick, and he dutifully prepared himself for the shattering of it when she spoke. But Severus watched as Hermione neither spoke nor moved from the place beside him she resided in. It was as though she were frozen, but he could see her eyes dilate and soften, her breath raise an almost imperceptible amount, and her lips part the faintest of distances. These were all signs that whatever she was thinking about, she was thinking thoroughly. His heart clenched in his chest, thickening with fear at her silence. He had been dreading this revelation since the Ministry.
Severus walked calmly through the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to a guarded conference room. Although only arriving 30 minutes ago, Severus felt as though he had been in the Ministry for hours. He had just completed his signatures on all of the necessary forms to be "alive" again. He still had to visit the Minister's office to be officially cleared with the Chief Warlock, but only after this appointment with the healer appointed by the DMLE. Hermione had told him that Harry had arranged for Draco to be the healer called in to confirm his living status, and Severus found he was looking forward to seeing the young man.
When Severus entered the conference room to begin the exam, he found Draco in the crisp lime green robes of his occupation standing next to a privacy screen. "Hello, Severus."
"Draco." Severus nodded to the man. Neither one were overly keen to reflect on their past; Slytherin characteristics choosing to push forward through the bleakness and focus on the present. "What do you require of me today?"
Draco looked over a scroll placed atop the conference table. "Looks as though the basic diagnostic spells will suffice, but I was hoping you'd allow me to look at your bite scar and run some diagnostics of my own?"
Severus stared at him. Draco quickly began to speak again. "I'm not sure if Hermione has mentioned that I work with her in Cursed Maladies? I am curious if there are any lingering effects, as Nagini was imbued with a Horocrux, I-"
"She has mentioned it." Severus broke in. "Run your tests. Aside from the scars, I have noticed little lingering problems."
"Thank you, Sev." Draco replied, and he felt himself warm at the familial childhood nickname. Draco had had a hard time pronouncing 'Severus' when he was little, but 'Sev' was easily said so it had stuck. "I'll just start with the basics first."
The incantations and readings had not taken long for the basics. Aside from the scars and the beginnings of some arthritis in his hands from years of brewing potions, Severus was a healthy and hale 41 year old wizard. He was pleased that despite the years of torture he had endured that he was so well fit, and he couldn't help but smirk. Then Draco began to examine the scar site.
"The first thing I want to check is how much venom she put into her bites." Draco spoke as he moved his wand in intricate motions, magic that was unfamiliar to him. He watched Draco record something on the parchment. "It would appear her strikes were not exceedingly venomous, rather destructive with aim to cause bleed out."
"Please, Draco," Severus sighed. " I was there."
Severus watched the young man's cheeks pink at the realization. "Sorry."
"Continue," Severus replied. "But perhaps you could leave out the commentary. I'd rather like to be out of here sooner than later."
"The wife waiting at home?" Draco asked bemused. He continued to wave his wand, running test after test. Severus realized that despite the joke, Draco wasn't actually aware of how deeply involved he and Hermione had become.
"As a matter of fact," Severus began and watched the blonde still instantly.
"You've married her, then?" Severus watched as Draco carelessly attempted to hide the feelings that crossed his face. There was surprise, and a flicker of envy.
"No," Severus eased. "Not yet."
Draco nodded, once again returning to his task. They spoke no more, but Severus knew that his former charge was conflicted. While Hermione had maintained that her friendship with Draco ran strictly platonic, Severus sensed it wasn't as easy as that. While he knew Draco could never admit to the feelings he had for the muggleborn witch, Severus could plainly see that the Slytherin had indeed felt something for her. It made sense now why Draco had been willing to play decoy for Hermione at work, and rather enjoyed the attention she payed him to keep the ruse going. He continued to observe the motions and magic of the healer, and saw as Draco's face became increasingly drawn.
As Draco took a step back, Severus raised a brow. "What is it?"
"I know I'm treading into very delicate territory, Sev. I will do my best to be professional, so please don't take offense and curse me."
"Go on." Severus' growl held irritation, but brokered no malice. It was his only clear indication that Draco could proceed with his findings without fear of retribution.
"I've traced the path of the venom through your system." Draco drew a steadying breath. "It seemed to briefly touch on most of your body, but as you were seated for such a long time post-attack, it pooled closest to your reproductive center."
Severus' stomach gave a discomforting flip. He felt a darkness creep up the back of his spine that had been absent since Hermione's appearance in his front garden almost a year ago. "What, exactly, are you telling me?"
"I can't be certain, as I am only getting readings from the trace left behind. It's been so long since your attack, and little is known about the properties of Nagini's venom-"
"Get to the point, Draco."
Severus watched the pale grey eyes of the young Malfoy meet his. "I'm telling you that there could be curse damage in the area where the venom was most prevalent. I'm telling you that if Hermione has visions of children in her future, I can't guarantee that they will be with you."
Severus shut his eyes and heard Draco utter two more words he hated hearing during the course of his life: "I'm sorry."
The rest of the events at the Ministry and the evening dinner with the Potters had been a blur. Baring the stabbing pain of jealousy at the news of a tiny Potter in the future, Severus had spent the majority of the evening outwardly numb as emotions raged behind his occlumency shields.
—xx—
Minutes had passed. Hermione still had not spoken. Severus gripped her hands and decided to break the oppressive silence. "I'm sorry."
That did it. He watched her eyes blaze, her hands wrung his tightly and she threw her legs astride his hips to face him. "Don't you dare apologize to me. This changes nothing."
"Hermione, this changes everything." He placed his hands atop her thighs and fixed her gaze. "I know we haven't discussed it. But from the beginning we have both envisioned children. I imagine you pregnant every time we are intimate. I hear them when you laugh. I see them when you push your hair over your shoulder. I picture them begging sweets from Winky, and playing in the back garden, and being underfoot when I brew in the lab. I didn't know how much space they had acquired in my mind until Draco said it won't be real."
"He said it was unlikely, not that it will never happen." She countered and plowed forward before he could stop her. Damn bloody Gryffindor. "And I don't care. I never pictured children in my life. I was never the little girl that played with dollies. I cringed every time Victoire cried as an infant, and a I wouldn't touch her at first. The only child I have ever been comfortable with is Teddy, and I think it's because I see so much of Remus in him-stop it Severus, you know exactly how much that bothers me."
He had begun a disparaging remark against his former colleague. Even in death, there was little love lost for Severus at the mention of Remus Lupin. Hermione continued on, and he was enraptured by her vehemence to prove her point.
"My point is, it wasn't until the very moment you kissed me that I saw every possibility of what my future-our future-could look like. That first night, when you showed me the faceless child with black curls...I didn't think anything could be so beautiful." She cupped his cheek. "But since I have never planned my life around children, I won't miss what I can't have. As long as you are with me, I don't think I'll ever miss anything."
Severus let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Gods, woman. I will never know what I did to deserve you, but I would do it over again."
He kissed her. Lovingly. Tenderly. With as much expression of his depth of gratitude and gratefulness for her understanding as his lips and breath and tongue could convey. Then, he drew back from her to stare at her warm, honeyed eyes. "Marry me, Hermione."
"I already said yes, Severus." She cocked her head slightly and laughed.
He smiled. "Tomorrow. Marry me, tomorrow."
She stopped laughing, and he knew she was interpreting his seriousness. "You've only just come back from the dead. You've named me beneficiary in your previously non-existent will. I'm still being asked about my personal life. It is only a matter of time before someone begins to connect the dots. Do you really think that marrying me tomorrow is going to help keep the press away?"
"I don't give a fuck what the press does." He answered steadily. "I know I asked you to marry me a month ago and we haven't discussed it much since. I already feel married to you, and according to Miss Lovegood, we are soulmates so this is not an illogical next course of action. I don't want another day of my life going by without being able to call you my wife."
"Alright. Tomorrow, then." She said after a moment. "And what of the rest? Children?"
She spoke the finally word quietly. He pressed his forehead against hers. "As you pointed out, Draco didn't say it was impossible."
He ran a hand up her thigh, over the top of her short, smooth night dress. He gripped her hip and cradled the back of her head with his other. "And I've never known you to shy away from a challenge, my little lion."
The roving hand continued north, gently holding her breast and tracing a thumb to peak the nipple under the thin material. He listened to her sigh hotly, and enjoyed her back arching, thrusting the heavy mound further into his hand. "I've been told that practice makes perfect."
She ground herself down on his hardening cock and teased the base of his skull with her fingers. She gave a breathy sigh as their cores lined up and created delicious friction. She maneuvered her mouth to his ear, tracing the shell with soft kisses and a trail of her tongue. Her next words sent the blood rushing to his shaft. "Are you willing to give me private lessons, Professor?"
He let out a growl, bringing both hands to the hem of her night dress. He stripped it from her body to reveal the nakedness he craved. Her curls were wild around her face and he crashed his lips to hers. With a gracefulness not always associated with his stature, he rolled her to her back and vanished his pajama bottoms. She moaned as the head of his hard cock rubbed at her wet entrance. "Any time you'd like Miss Granger."
He took a peaked, flushed breast into his mouth, sucking and pulling at the tender flesh. He moved across to its twin and stilled at her next words. Fingers traced down his back and she panted gently, "It's Snape, now, isn't it?"
His sucking hot kisses rose to her throat, and he rocked teasingly at her entrance in reply to her words. He captured her mouth and sucked at her tongue when it entered his own. He swallowed her cry of satisfaction when he drifted a hand down, aligned himself and thrust deeply into her.
They broke apart as they set a quick rhythm. Severus knew that they both enjoyed a soft, sensual love making from time to time, both preferred a coupling that reflected their first night together. Driven by passion and grounded in love, their bodies slapped together and the room was filled with grunts and moans. "Oh, fuck, Hermione! You feel so good."
"Deeper, Severus. I want you deeper."
They continued to moan, and Severus hooked his elbows under her knees. In spreading her wider and raising her hips, his cock filled every inch of her, the tip brushing against her cervix. "Oh, I can feel you there Severus! I can feel all of you."
"You take me so good," he thrusted harder into her. As he was accustomed to doing after Hermione had decided to stop taking the contraception potion due to unwanted side effects, he brushed a hand across the top of her belly beginning to speak the incantation for the charm. Her small hand covered his larger one.
"We don't need it." She held his gaze, and instead moved his hand lower to her sensitive clitoris. He gently brushed it with his thumb and was rewarded with her gasping inhale. She looked at him, the unspoken question floating between them. It wasn't impossible...
Hermione smiled. "Whatever happens, we will be together. And we will be happy."
As their rhythm had slowed during the exchange, Severus felt her buck her hips upward renewing their coupling. "Ugh..." he moaned.
"Fuck me, Severus." She continued to rise to his thrusts. His hand was now circling her bud and she had moved her own hands to her breasts. She massaged them and plucked gently at the hardened nipples. He renewed his efforts and went as hard and deep as she would allow, letting her cries dictate his actions. "There! There!"
"I'm going to come soon, Hermione." He told her. The blissful feeling was building, and he could feel his balls pull up closer to his body. He knew she was close as well, he heat clenching at his stiff cock on each thrust. "I can still pull out."
He didn't want to. He hoped she wouldn't let him. He loved finishing inside her, and despite the odds, now he hoped it would mean something when he did. Without speaking, he knew they were willing to let nature-and magic-take its course. He kept thrusting when she gave no answer, but his resolve was crumbling.
"I'm almost there, Severus." She looked at him. "Please don't stop. Please don't pull out. I want you to come with me. I want you to come in me. Please."
He kept pistoning his hips, going as deep in her as he ever had. He rested his weight on his elbows, releasing her legs, and brushed a soft kiss against her lips. "I love you. Let go with me."
And then, in a flurry of final thrusts and enthusiastic cries, they both found release.
A/N: Only a few more chapters left (including the epilogue). I can't believe this is so close to the end. Thank you so much for the support and love throughout this story. If you haven't left a comment yet, please do so. I would love to hear from you! -Archer
