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Chapter 12

Hermione hadn't slept well at all the night after the eventful Ministry meeting. She'd been glad she hadn't been due to Severus that evening as she wanted to get her own thoughts in order first, and even more pleased that the next day was Saturday allowing her some time to sleep in considering she'd slept so fitfully.

After she'd finally convinced Harry that she was fine, she did some paperwork for an hour or so before the visits started. As evidenced by the arguments in the meetings, most of her direct reports were not happy about her relationship with Severus, although when asked why not one of them could actually give her a convincing reason as to why it concerned them other than the fact that he was an ex-Death Eater and had been responsible for Albus Dumbledore's death. That the wizard in question had been dying anyway thanks to his own stupidity, was not a point that anyone wanted to listen to.

Rhodes had been particularly vile and smug about what he had announced in the meeting, however oddly, it was Alethea Robbins who had seemed most angry with her, although Hermione suspected that it may be have been because she hadn't told the witch about her relationship. A few years previous Hermione had dated Alethea's brother for a few months, but in the end they had little in common and he'd ended it.

She'd ended up waking around half-eight that morning, which was unheard of for her, but testament to the fact that she'd been awake for most of the night. She didn't want to risk taking Dreamless Sleep, and didn't have any in the house anyway considering her previous problems with the potion, and the muggle drugs she had eventually taken didn't work as well as she'd wanted them to.

As soon as she was up, her two cats were on to her and demanding their breakfast, having normally been fed at least two hours earlier. She was grateful that they hadn't actually woken her up, and wondered if they somehow knew she needed the rest. Still, now she was up there was no way she was going to be able to make herself any breakfast before they were fed.

Once the cats had full stomachs, she boiled the kettle for her tea and popped some bread in the muggle toaster she preferred. She then sat down at her kitchen table to eat her breakfast while looking over the Daily Prophet, with Elphaba lying on the table next to her and Willow asleep in the comfy armchair behind her.

"Motherfucker!" She yelled as soon as she saw the front page of the rag, sending Elphaba scattering off the table.

She saw that she was seemingly headline news, with a picture of her and Severus from their trip to Bath. In the looping picture they were holding hands and walking slowly along the street wearing muggle clothes, and when stopping for the traffic she leaned and kissed his lips. The article accompanying the picture didn't give much information about their relationship, mainly due to the fact that they didn't know anything, but simply stated that she was Minister for Magic and it was therefore inappropriate that she was dating Severus Snape.

She threw the paper across the room after she'd read the article and started pacing. She had no idea what to do. Yes, she'd previously been front page news, and yes she'd had ridiculous articles published about her and her love life. But this one annoyed her more than any of the others had considering what they were saying about Severus.

After starting to receive worrying glances from the two cats as they watched her, she heard her floo activate and a few moments later Harry strode in.

He held out his arms and Hermione buried her head into his chest, his arms wrapping around her.

"I'll kill him," he told her. "I know how to cover it up."

She laughed into his shoulder, determined not to let any tears fall. "He's the head of the Wizengamot. It's probably not the best idea."

"And I'm head of Magical Law Enforcement. Believe me, accidents do happen."

She was grateful for Harry's support, but didn't think that murder was quite the right solution here. She went to make a him a cup of coffee as he didn't drink tea in the morning, and judging by the state of his hair he'd only just got up, when the floo went again.

"Snape?" Harry asked.

"No, he doesn't take the Prophet. I can't say I blame him."

A second later Daphne walked in, a murderous look on her face.

"I expected Ron," Harry told her while Hermione got an extra mug to make Daphne a cup of coffee as well.

"The last thing that's needed is three over-emotional Gryffindors not thinking things through before they act. And particularly you three Gryffindors. I left Ron at home with the kids. He's not happy about it, but we don't need him here right now. I do hope you've not done anything yet?" The blonde gave the two of them enquiring looks.

"No," Hermione responded as she sat back down at the table. "Though I did throw the paper across the room and upset the cats."

"Well we can't have the cats upset."

Daphne sat down at the table, grabbed a slice of the toast Hermione had made herself and petted Willow who came up to her and bumped her head against Daphne's. Harry sat down at the table as well, but avoided the black cat.

"Did Rhodes give any indication about this yesterday?" Harry asked.

"As in Thaddius Rhodes?" Daphne asked. Hermione nodded a response to her. "That man is a shyster. I have no idea how he got the role. There was a reason he'd not got the job previously."

"I know. He didn't get my vote," Hermione replied. She had never liked or trusted Rhodes, and this had only solidified her thoughts on the man. Unfortunately he'd finally got the job he'd been after for a long time.

"Nor mine," Harry confirmed.

"And no, he didn't mention anything yesterday, although thinking about it now he did seem oddly smug about something. Clearly this is what."

Daphne levelled her with a gaze. "So, any plans?"

She looked to Harry. "We were considering murder…"

"See? And this is why you need me. Although I will point out that you have some key allies. Or Severus does, anyway."

"Oh no, I'm not getting Malfoy involved in this."

"Daphne has a point," Harry told her. "And strangely, he is Snape's friend, so will have his back."

"I take it you've not spoken to Snape yet?" Daphne asked her.

"No, although I was due to meet him for lunch at his place."

"Was?" Harry asked.

"No, I still am. I don't quite know what to say about all this. He doesn't deserve any of this."

"I don't think for one minute that Snape gives a shit about what people think of him," Daphne pointed out.

"I know. But if anyone deserves freedom from the press and happiness, then it's Severus."

"Hermione, don't you dare go getting all noble over this, and decide that you shouldn't be together. While it pains me to say it, the two of you just work. Just talk to him tonight."

She was grateful for Harry's in particular acceptance of her relationship with Severus. "I will do, thanks Harry."

.

Hermione flooed into Severus' cottage a few hours later to find him and Lucius Malfoy in the library leaning over some papers and speaking in low voices. On the sound of her entrance, the two men looked over and both had matching blank expressions on their faces. It was clear they were up to something, and Hermione was certain that it wouldn't lead to anything good.

"Miss Granger," Lucius greeted her with a nod as he moved away from Severus and sat down on one of the wingback chairs by the fireplace.

"Do I want to know what that was about?" She asked the two men as she approached Severus.

"Probably not, but-"

She placed a gentle kiss on his lips cutting him off.

"I assume you have seen the Prophet?" She asked him.

"I have."

"And that was what your little tête-à-tête was about?"

"Hermione…"

"You know, Daphne came over to mine this morning to make sure that me, as a Gryffindor, didn't do anything rash. Should I have been more concerned about you two Slytherins?" She looked from Severus to Lucius.

He gave her the haughty, superior look that she'd have seen on his face when she was a teenager. "No, because where you Gryffindors think without acting, I can assure you that plenty of thinking has taken place."

She sighed. "Can I request that you don't do whatever you're planning to do?"

"You can request," Malfoy told her with a smirk.

"Hermione," Severus said gently, bringing her attention back to him. "Don't worry."

"You'll forgive me if being told not to worry by you two only causes more anxiety?" She started to pace in the centre of the room, the eyes of the two Slytherins on her. "Look, this is my job we're talking about here. I don't want you two doing something that could ruin things for me!"

Severus came up to her and placed his hands on her arms stilling her.

"You know I wouldn't do that."

"I know. But Malfoy would," she countered.

"You're right, Miss Granger, I would. But Severus has asked me not to do anything without the say so of you two, so I won't."

She sat down heavily in the chair opposite Malfoy.

"You don't even know who orchestrated this," she told them feeling resigned. She had no idea what they were up to.

"And you do?" Malfoy countered with a raise of an eyebrow.

"I have a strong suspicion."

"And do you want Thaddius Rhodes to get away with it? He's clearly out to get at you."

She stared at Malfoy with an open mouth. There was entirely no way he should have been privy to any conversation that took place in the meeting the previous day. The rooms were regularly checked for all listening devices, including muggle ones, and no one should have talked about the contents of a confidential ministry meeting.

"Miss Granger, do please close your mouth, it is quite unseemly in a lady."

"How the fuck do you know that?"

"Language, Miss Granger!" Malfoy somehow managed to sound quite offended by her choice of words, but then shrugged and smirked at her. "I have my sources."

"Who?"

"I'm hardly going to tell you that, am I?"

"Hermione," Severus said as he sat down next to her and took her hands in his. "Lucius came to me last night after he'd heard what had been said in the meeting. He suspected where this might be going and spoke to a contact he knows at The Prophet who confirmed what was on the front page today. Please know that I am not going to let any harm come your way, including any harm which would come from any association with me."

He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips. When he pulled back he had a determined expression on his face.

"However, there is one thing I can tell you. I am not letting you go. And I am not going to let anyone stand in between us. I know your job is important to you, and if I had to, I would take a step back to allow you continue and stay in the shadows. If you wanted to tell the world we are not together, then so be it. I do not care. But unless you do not want to continue our relationship, I am yours."

Hermione couldn't help but just stare at him. Not one person had ever made such a declaration to her. Not one person had ever been willing to fight for a relationship with her. She'd been worrying in the night that he wouldn't want anything to do with her, or that she'd have to end it with him as he deserved to have a normal life without the drama that came with being in a relationship with her. She didn't want to have to put her job ahead of him, and absolutely didn't think it was fair that she'd be asked to do so.

But he wanted to fight for her. He wanted her to keep her job and for them to continue in secret if necessary. He was willing to stand by her, or even behind her if that was what was required.

She swallowed thickly around the lump which was forming in her throat, and she was sure that her eyes were getting a bit watery.

"Gods, I love you," she announced before pouncing on him, burying her face in neck, and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

She heard him chuckle to himself, and after a moment when she'd loosened her arms around his neck, he pulled back from her to look into her eyes and placed his hands either side of her face.

"I love you, too."

He leaned in and kissed her, putting that love into her kiss. She couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips, and she moved closer to him, deepening the kiss and wrapping her arms around him again. Her tongue brushed against his, and she heard a low growl from him as he pulled her onto his knees. She felt his erection at her centre as she straddled his lap, and she threaded her hands into his hair to pull him closer still.

"And whilst I am enjoying this almost pornographic show of affection, I was sure that we had matters at hand to discuss."

She'd completely forgotten that Malfoy was still in the room, and she felt her face flush red at the intimate moment he'd just witnessed between the two of them. She hadn't expected Lucius Malfoy to be present the first time her and Severus told each other they were in love.

She pulled back a little and leaned her forehead against Severus', but remained in his lap and keeping her hands still on him.

"Is there a reason you're still here, Malfoy?"

"Yes."

She sighed to herself.

"Remind me, why are you friends with him?" She asked Severus rhetorically, while disentangling herself and sitting on the sofa next to him. She could feel that her face was still flushed, and when she did eventually look over to Malfoy, the blond wizard had a smirk on his face.

"He's right, Hermione," Severus told her gently. "I did ask him to stay so we can let you know what he knows and talk this through with you. I know that you don't want the two of us acting without getting you involved first."

She was grateful that Severus had at least thought of that.

"Fine. Do tell," she looked over to Malfoy and gave him a mock bow who gave her a nod of the head.

"You are aware that Thaddius Rhodes is not liked."

She nodded at his statement. "I am"

"Have you asked how exactly he therefore managed to get his job as Head of the Wizengamot?"

"Well I would assume that it was because he was voted in."

Malfoy gave her a look suggesting that he thought that she was being naïve or stupid. Or both. "Gryffindors. And do you know of anyone who has admitted to voting for him? I can assure you, I did not."

Malfoy had a point there. Although it did annoy Hermione that Malfoy still had a seat on the Wizengamot. At the very least she thought the seat should have been given to Draco.

"Most other members I have spoken to, have also admitted to not voting for him. So how, exactly, did he gain leadership?"

"I'm assuming you're going to tell me? If the election of the wizengamot has been rigged, then that is an absolute scandal, and as Minister, I need to act immediately."

Malfoy smiled at her, which didn't give her confidence. "You probably should…"

Severus took over. "We believe a variation of the Imperius curse has been used. It's not the Imperius, therefore doesn't contain the same automatic Azkaban sentence, but it's been tailored to have a specific action and to affect multiple people."

"And you have proof of this?" She asked the two wizards.

Malfoy smiled again. "I have enough to tip off a freelance investigative journalist looking for a good story."

"This isn't a matter for a journalist. This needs to be dealt with by the MLE. I need to get Harry here to handle this." She went to stand up and head to the floo, but Severus held onto her hand and pulled her back down onto the sofa.

"Hermione, you're front page news today. How is going to look if you order an investigation into the man who clearly set you up. All of your heads of department will know that Rhodes is likely behind this, so if you and your best friend Harry go after him so quickly …"

She knew what he meant. "But surely with this timing, they're going to think that anyway, even if it's leaked by a journalist?"

"Not when the journalist has a few months' worth of information," Malfoy informed her with a smug smile.

"Meaning that you've known about this from the start?" Malfoy just shrugged. "Were you going to anyone?"

"I'll have you know, Miss Granger, that I am allowing you to have a very strong bargaining tool here. You have no idea the strength I could have used with the Head of the Wizengamot in my pocket."

"I'm not sure I want to know," she told him.

He shrugged nonchalantly.

"We won't act straight away," Severus told her. "Let's see what the general public opinion is of this. I will stand by you, whatever decision you make. But I will not let that cretin get away with it."

"Thank you," she said to Severus, before turning to Lucius. "And thank you as well. Though please do be aware that this does not mean you have me in your pocket."

He stood up languidly. "Of course not," he said with a wink. "I'll let myself out."

Once he'd left, she rested her forehead against Severus' chest.

"Why do I feel like I've just made a deal with Lucifer himself?"

Severus smiled. "Well, I believe there is a muggle proverb, better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

"And Malfoy is definitely that devil." She leaned in to gently kiss him. "So, I understand you love me."

"I do."

"That's good, I wouldn't want this to be one-sided."

Almost as soon as she'd said that she knew she shouldn't have. This wasn't the time to be making any kind of references to Lily, even if it was accidental. Severus obviously saw where her mind had gone.

"It's okay, Hermione. I have come to peace over Lily. It was one-sided, and it wasn't healthy. This … this is so much different. I have never felt like this before. I have never felt so content. It's why I do not want to let you go. We Slytherins can be possessive, and I cannot help those feelings for you."

She smiled. "I feel pretty possessive myself. You're very much mine."

He pulled her back onto his lap, her laps straddling his and they started kissing again, his fingertips creeping underneath her top slowly before pulling it off and throwing it over his shoulder. She started undoing the buttons of his black shirt, but struggled with them, and started tugging at the shirt, not caring if she sent the buttons flying.

"Snape, I need you at the Manor!"

Lucius strode back into the room, and Hermione plastered herself against Severus to stop Malfoy from getting an eyeful of her chest.

"What's wrong?" Severus asked, an urgency in his voice.

"Astoria's gone into labour. Draco's called her Healer, but he's with someone else, and he won't leave them yet. What use is it in having a private Healer if he is going to have other patients!" Lucius sounded more worked up than she had ever seen him. "I need you at the Manor. And Miss Granger, do put on some clothes."

Malfoy stormed back out of the room in a flourish, and Hermione climbed out of Severus' lap. "This isn't going to be our day, is it?"

"No. But hold those thoughts, we'll get back to it."

"I'll hold you to that." She pulled her top back on and straightened Severus' shirt. "I didn't think Astoria was due for a few more weeks."

"She's not. Hence why Lucius is panicking. I dread to think what Draco is like."

The two of them apparated over to the Manor and headed up to the master suite. Hermione still tried to avoid the place where possible, but over the last few months she had been to the Manor with Severus, so didn't have the same negative feelings about the place she once did. She had to admit that the place was entirely different.

When they reached the outer room of the suite, Severus went into the bedroom, which left Hermione alone with Lucius. Luckily a few moments later a stressed looking Draco appeared.

"Snape is examining her. Gods, what will happen if-"

"Draco," she went over and sat next to him on the sofa, taking one os his hands in hers. "It will be okay. Women have been doing this for millennia. And Astoria's strong again now."

"I know. I just…"

"Have you called Daphne?" She asked him.

"Yes, she'll be here shortly. I asked her to leave the red-headed idiot behind."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "As much as I don't like you calling him that, he'd probably not the right person to be here right now."

An equally stressed looking Daphne arrived five minutes later, and Severus came out, looking a little haggard but not overly concerned.

"She is in labour, and there is no reversing it. I will fire-call her Healer again, and make sure he is here as soon as possible. I've given her some pain medication, but for now we need to let this run its course. Draco, you can go in with her."

Draco thanked Severus and went back in to see his wife. Severus gave her a quick hug before going back in to oversee Astoria. Over the next few hours Daphne flitted between being in with her sister and out in the sitting room with Hermione, Lucius and Anya, who had also joined them with Scorpius from Hogwarts. The Healer eventually turned up, and after receiving a verbal grilling from Lucius Malfoy, went in to relieve Severus who had done an excellent job.

It was just after eight in the evening, when Draco eventually came out of the bedroom, tears in his eyes and a smile on his lips. He had a bundle of baby in his arms.

"Can I introduce my daughter, Cassiopeia Narcissa Malfoy."

Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione and stood behind her as they crowded around a very proud Draco Malfoy, who'd wrapped his spare arm around Scorpius.

Hermione and Severus gave the Malfoys their congratulations, and then left to head back to the cottage after a very tiring and eventful day. After a light meal they finally found themselves alone and in Severus' bedroom.

"I've warded the place to keep Lucius out," he told her.

"Good. Now where were we?"

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