Chapter 31: Smitten Lovers
{A/N: The Move's been canceled so here's to the start of more uploads...-S.S.}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
As the weeks passed both Hermione and Snape had been caught up in the new wave of feelings that had seemingly taken over them. Neither of them seemed to notice the heated looks or the casual caresses that seemed to take place whenever they were alone. Their strange life together had become more and more domestic. On some evenings Hermione and Snape would be in his front room, him at his desk grading parchments and her on the sofa doing her classwork. Other evenings they were sprawled out in bed tangled in a mass of limbs and bed sheets. Things seemed to be going rather well for the couple. So much so that even Dumbledore had taken notice. The Headmaster had not truly liked the idea of Hermione and Snape growing closer together. Their marriage had been one made of convenience and he wanted to keep it that way. He could not afford for his spy to grow too complacent and forget all about the mission at hand.
The Headmaster made up his mind to put things back into perspective for the Potions Professor by reminding him of all that was at stake in this war with Voldemort.
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
On a quiet and particularly warm afternoon found the couple sprawled out in bed tangled in a mass of limbs and black bed sheets. Snape's raven hair had been wild in it's stature against the black pillow that he rested his head against. His lean pale form in stark contrast to his bedding. Hermione had been sprawled out next to him, her slender fair complected frame draped loosely beneath the single black sheet as well. Her bushy hair a sweat drenched mass against the pillow her head rested on.
The Potions Professor smirked at the sight of her.
"I'd say that was an afternoon well spent." he said.
Hermione giggled some before turning to face him.
"Beats studying and making potions." she said.
"Indeed it does." he replied in agreement.
Unable to keep back the wave of affection that surfaced, Hermione stroked his sallow pale cheek almost absently. Snape did not seem to have any objections to his young wife's causal caresses. One would think that he was starting to become use to her soft hearted gestures. Snape sighed looking up at the ceiling as he lost himself in gentle touch of his wife.
"Severus." said Hermione.
The tone in which she spoke had gotten his attention. It was a quiet and seemingly innocent tone but serious at the same time. He arched an eyebrow and sat up just enough so that he could look into her amber eyes.
"Severus...I...I want to try for another baby if that's okay with you." she said, her words growing shaky at the end and uncertainty filled her eyes.
Snape thought her a curious sort. Not only had she embraced being his wife, but she wanted to have a child with him...despite knowing that he wasn't a kind man or that he was a death eater, serving the dark lord...and that those very ties had gotten their previous unborn child killed.
"Hermione..." he said in his usual serious deep baritone drawl.
"S-S-Severus before you say no...just think about it..." she said. "That's all I am asking for now...just for you to think about."
Snape sighed.
"Insufferable know-it-all." he said. "Once again you prove that you do not quite live up to your title...I am perfectly alright with the aspect of trying for another child..."
He trailed off suddenly lifting himself to his knees and towering above the now giggling young witch who's amber eyes seemed to peer into his very soul.
"I love you Hermione." he said serious. "If you want children...then we'll have them...as many as you want..."
"Really?" asked Hermione pleased.
"Really." replied Snape with heat behind his obsidian eyes.
The young bushy haired witch threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into her eager kiss. They both seemed to agree that getting started as soon as possible was preferable to waiting.
Later...
The Corridors, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...
Hermione made her way briskly down the long corridors. She had spent the better part of the evening in the arms of her brilliant Potions Master husband and was now headed toward the grounds to meet Ginny for a chat. The two witches had been more than a little excited about the shift in Snape's behavior when it came to him being her husband. Some times Ginny had visited Snape's quarters to chat with Hermione and do homework while Snape was busily marking his parchments or down in his private lab.
Despite the strangeness of the situation, Ginny Weasley had supported Hermione and her new found affection for Snape whom, from Ginny's perspective had started to become much more in the way of husband material when they were alone. Of course Snape had an image to maintain, that went without saying but there would be little things, little almost undetectable things that always caught Ginny's attention when it came to the couple that no one else knew to look for.
"About time you showed up." said Ginny with a smile on her face. "Snape has had you under lock and key for far too long."
"Who says it was he that held me under lock and key?" asked Hermione with a knowing smirk.
Ginny burst into giggles. Hermione followed suite. The two Gryffindor girls sat quietly and cast a silencing charm over their sitting area and casually chatted about their respective afternoons and homework. Neither of them had noticed that a well hidden Draco Malfoy had been about listening to every word as he had been in their vicinity as the silencing charm was cast.
"So." said Ginny with a smirk. "What did he say?"
Hermione smiled warmly.
"He wants to try for another baby." she said happily. "He says as we can have as many as I want."
Ginny sighed.
"Who ever would have thought that Professor Snarky pants would be family man material?" she asked.
"Professor snarky pants?" asked Hermione giggling once again. "I'll have to use that some time."
"You're welcome to it." replied Ginny giggling as well. "Just don't tell him I said it...he's only nice because he's married to you."
Hermione nodded.
Ginny observed her friend for a moment.
"You two seem to have a lot of affection for each other...despite this being a marriage of convenience." she said.
"Lately that was perceptively what I have been thinking." said the bushy haired witch. "I never thought this would ever be possible...when we first got married I was terrified that...that maybe we'd both be trapped in a miserable loveless marriage until the law was repelled but..."
"But what?" asked Ginny eager to know more.
"But it's much better than I could have even imagined." said Hermione with a pleased smile. "If we all survive this war and the Ministry of Magic does repel the law I...I still want my husband...I can't see myself without him...he's really such a sweet and decent man beneath all that Slytherin exterior...and so very thoughtful...It's kind of hard to explain..."
This time Ginny nodded.
"I'll bet." she said. "But I get it...he's someone else when he's alone with you."
Hermione nodded once more.
"I would never have known him...the real him...if not for this law and I am just glad that I chose him." said the bushy haired witch. "I love him so much Ginny...I want to make him happy...he deserves some happiness after the life he's lived."
"If you say so." said the red haired witch. "I suppose I'm happy that you two found each other than."
"Thank you." said Hermione grateful. "You have no idea how much this means to me...with Harry and Ron being so against my marriage and the Ministry of Magic breathing down our necks and all the trouble with Voldemort..."
"Sounds like you two really could use some support." said Ginny.
"We do." said Hermione. "It's comforting at least on my end to know that you give us your blessing."
"No worries." said Ginny. "I know you'd do the same for me if I was in your shoes."
The girls continued to chat unaware of Draco's listening in.
The young albino blond wizard could not believe what he was hearing. Hermione Granger was actually in love with his Godfather and he seemed to reciprocate her affection. It was surreal to say the least that a man as cold and ruthless as Severus Snape could fall for his young student bride in such a manner but...Draco had seen Hermione after she lost the baby. The way his Godfather looked after it was confirmed that the child was gone spoke volumes.
The junior Malfoy had his own path to follow but he made up his mind that if Hermione Granger ever did need him for any reason he would be there to help her...it was the least he could do on the part of his Godfather, the man had so few moments of happiness and with this war between the dark lord and Dumbledore's order of Phoenix heating up, casualties were bound to increase.
"If you need me I'll be there Granger." said Draco unbeknownst to the two witches chatting away.
He left them unnoticed and headed toward the Slytherin dungeons. He had not had much time to talk to his godfather since Hermione had lost the baby but he was fairly certain that Snape was at Malfoy manor with his father, who was most likely inquiring about the minor changes in his marriage as well.
Draco smirked as he thought of how unnerved Harry Potter had been at the prospect of it all. His best friend in love with his most hated enemy. It was too rich not to indulge in a little gloating and his arch-nemesis being uncomfortable. He said he would protect Hermione not become friends with any of the other Gryffindors.
Lucius' Study, Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
The warm orange glow of Lucius' fireplace had attributed to the comforting atmosphere of the evening as Snape and the wizard in question began to relax enjoying a few drinks in the process.
"So she wants to try again?" asked the handsome albino blond. "Do you think that's wise?"
Snape took a sip of his firewhiskey.
"No." he replied. "Obviously it is not wise to have a child at this point in time with the war going on and the dark lord being so angry at the last pregnancy...but I can nothing about any of it...if she wants to have another child then so be it."
"Bold words little brother." said Lucius taking a sip from his glass. "Bold but...admirable."
"So you tell me." said Snape.
"How do you feel about all this?" asked Lucius. "It can't be easy given your status and after what happened with your first two children..."
"I'm fine." replied Snape with a glint behind his obsidian eyes.
Lucius arched an eyebrow at this.
"You know something." he said observing Snape carefully. "Pray tell little brother, what is it that you know?"
"It's not what I know so much as it is what I've seen." replied Snape.
"Well, now you really have my attention." said Lucius.
The handsome blond wizard shifted to direct his focus on his "little brother's" words.
The Potions Professor sighed.
"At the risk of sounding like that hack Trelawney, I must admit I was a bit put off by the dreams that I have been having." said Snape.
Lucius arched an eyebrow again.
"Dreams?" he said serious. "What kind of dreams?"
"I cannot explain it." said Snape. "I lack the ability to summarize such things...but suffice if to say, I know for certain that having a child with Hermione is the best course of action."
"You sound quite sure." said Lucius.
"I am." replied Snape.
He finished off his firewhiskey then sat the glass down.
"I must make a request of you Lucius." said Snape looking into the gray eyes of his oldest and dearest friend.
"Anything little brother." said Lucius.
"If anything should happen...with the dark lord...this war...swear to me that you will look after my wife and any children that we may have in the future." said Snape.
Lucius got to his feet.
Snape did the same.
"With my life." said the handsome albino blond. "As you will look after Cissy and Draco...should misfortune befall me in the coming days."
"With my life." repeated the raven haired wizard. "You seem really concerned about this war."
"Aren't we all." replied Lucius making himself another drink.
He offered some to Snape who declined.
"The Dark Lord does not seem to appreciate my contributions to his war efforts or rather the lack there of." said Lucius downing his firewhiskey as soon as he poured it. "To be frank the despot despises me and everything I stand for...he wants to use me to take out his frustrations but not while I still prove useful to him...should I ever falter...even once...there is no telling what will become of me..."
Snape's eyes were filled with concern.
"Lucius..." he said.
The senior Malfoy held up a hand.
"No worries Little brother." he said. "You cannot protect me forever and I would much rather you look after your young wife, Draco, and Cissy."
"As you wish." said Snape.
Lucius sighed.
"If things should take a turn for the worst it would be a good idea for you to keep your distance from me." he said. "No matter what happens...I do not want you to interfere with the dark lord's plans for me...my family's protection is all that I require."
Snape nodded.
"And should the worst come to pass on my end of the spectrum?" he asked.
"Your wife and any children you have will want for nothing." said Lucius. "The name Snape will be as good as Malfoy by the time I'm done."
Snape smirked.
"Given that we are both death eaters I hardly see how that has any merit." he said.
"It does to me." said Lucius. "Any child of yours would rightly be my Godchild after all."
Snape made his way over to the floo and grabbed a fist full of floo powder. He tossed some into the fireplace and called out his destination as the orange flames turned emerald.
"Good luck to you and yours." said Snape.
"And to you Little brother." said Lucius raising yet another glass to him. "We could both use a little luck to come out of this one alive."
"Indeed." agreed Snape.
With a final farewell he stepped through the floo and back into his quarters at Hogwarts. Lucius sat down at his desk as he came to terms with what was about to happen and continued setting up contentency plans for him and his family. If the Dark Lord wanted to end him he would not bury the Malfoy name in the process the handsome albino blond had worked too hard to restore it after his father's death to let the despot bring them low ever again.
The Senior made up his mind right then. If the worst should befall him, he would seek out Dumbledore to work out a deal for his family. If he could not be spared the least the old coot could do was take in Narcissa and Draco. At least then Snape would be able to protect them without the dark lord interfering. Finishing off yet another glass of firewhiskey, Lucius threw it into a nearby wall shattering it to pieces.