Chapter 98: Common Understanding

{A/N: Here's Another Update...late post, sorry for any mistakes I missed}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S

Warning: Sexual Content ahead...

The Snape Residence, Muggle London, England...

The pounding of the headboard against the bedroom wall accompanied by the ringing of passion filled voices rang out as the mattress springs go a decent work out. The sweat blasted naked forms of Severus Snape and his very pregnant wife Hermione. The slender form and protruding belly of Hermione had been easily protected as Severus spooned behind her in the peaceful comforts of their bedroom. The seemingly insatiable young Gryffindor witch had demanded her husband's notorious freakishly large cock to sate her baser appetites and he was not one to deny her by any means. His own building need for her had taken a back seat as he struggled to keep his wayward passion in check so that he did not harm her or their unborn child.

"SEVERUS!" shouted the passion filled witch gripping at the sheets on their bed and pressing her back into her husband's chest. Each carefully timed thrust radiating through their collective bodies.

A low growl escaped the pale lips of Severus Snape as he tried with all his might to concentrate to keep himself in check. His hands came down on her wide child rearing hips gently squeezing the soft exposed flesh.

Tears streamed down the cheeks of the Gryffindor witch as Bellatrix LeStrange's taunting came back to her. A moment where she should have been enjoying being with the man she loved, her husband...her treacherous mind was trying to make her over analyze what didn't need to be.

{"You have no idea what a man like him needs."} hissed the deranged witch. {"You have no idea of the darkness that resides in him...with me he can embrace it...he'll never have to hide from himself or be ashamed..."}

All the while Snape had nearly lost control of himself as his passions began to get the better of him. He began thrusting rather hard into his pregnant wife's warmth. The Gryffindor witch noted that he had been seemingly holding back whenever he took her to bed, as if she had been some delicate flower he had not wanted his baser appetites to rip apart.

"Yessss." hissed Snape as his grip on her thigh became tighter.

He kissed his wife needing to feel her against him.

"SEVERUS!" shouted Hermione losing herself in the passion he was stirring.

Both Snape and Hermione found themselves skyrocketed to their collective release and completely spent from their activity. Looking up at the ceiling and trying to catch her breath, Hermione found herself still plagued by the words of Bellatrix, even as her husband slept peacefully with her in his arms.

Tears streamed down the pale cheeks of the formidable Gryffindor witch. Snape as if he could sense her sadness in his sleep, nuzzled close to her and took in the familiar scent of jasmine from her bushy hair. His wide pale palm against her hard belly as if still trying to protect his unborn child even in his sleep.

"Hermione." he grumbled in sleep.

Despite the assurances of his love and devotion, Hermione could not bring herself to ignore the foul words of Bellatrix that seemed to cut through her like a knife through butter. It pierced her very core and made her even more afraid of losing the man she loved. There was no denying a chemistry between Snape and the deranged witch, she had witnessed that much when she found them together, there was also the strange way the older witch seemed to command her husband especially given his baser instincts. As two Slytherins she didn't doubt that they would have a better understanding of each other.

Hermione recalled all the times Severus had taken her to bed and told her how much he loved her. The look in his eyes, the conviction in his tone told her that she was indeed the woman he had loved and would always love despite his very complicated past. Though she had been intimidated by his daunting sexual history before their marriage, it was another thing to know of him intimately and then find out about his sexual exploits. The sleepy witch tried to shake her wayward thoughts.

Severus loved her.

He had given her two beautiful sons and there was a third child between them on the way.

There was no way that he would walk away from her and their children.

There was no way that Bellatrix could get her slimy claws into him and take him away.

Was there?

In the wake of wrestling with her own thoughts, Hermione Granger-Snape pushed aside the silly notion of losing her husband and settled into his loving embrace as she drifted off to sleep. Severus was her wizard. If Bellatrix thought for one minute that she was going to take him away from her or their children she had another thing coming.

The Snape Residence, Muggle London, England...

Hermione Granger-Snape sat quietly in the sitting room of her Muggle London flat. She had been about six months to term and already a proud mother of two intelligent and resourceful boys. She had never imagined that her decision to meet with Professor Dumbledore about her impending participation in the ludicrous Marriage Law invoked by Minister Fudge and taken advantage of by Voldemort would lead to her having a life with her former Potions Professor. She smiled some thinking about what had become of them since the first few seconds of signing the document that sealed their union as husband and wife. She also didn't imagine Ginny not being apart of her life. Nor Harry for that matter. Ron Weasley had always been a thorn in her side. The only reason she tolerated his crudeness was due to Harry being his friend as well, not to mention how nice his family had been to her.

Hermione sighed as she rubbed her pregnant belly trying to imagine if it had been a boy or a girl growing in her womb. She and Severus never wanted to be told before hand what gender their child had been. They liked the idea of being surprised when the time came, although Severus seemed to have an almost sixth sense when it came to her actually being pregnant. There had been a knock at the door that got her out of her thoughts and she reluctantly got to her feet. The flat had been empty with Sidney off to primary school, Severus at work, and Phaeron attending Hogwarts. She herself had been on maternity leave, mostly due to Severus' insistence. After she had lost their first child due to Dolohov's attack, he never liked her to take chances during pregnancy, especially knowing what kind of workaholic she tended to be.

The heavily pregnant witch made her way over toward the front door and opened it.

To her surprise she found herself staring into the somber brown eyes of Ginerva Weasley.

In an instant she felt her rage creep into her veins as she glared at her former best friend.

"I-I know I am the last person you wanted to see." said Ginny looking down at her feet. "I only came to apologize for not believing you when you told everyone what Harry did to Severus."

Hermione's amber eyes had still been narrowed at the current Mrs. Harry James Potter.

"Well if you are expecting an out pour of emotion..." she started but was cut off by noting the tears streaming down Ginny's noticeably pale cheeks.

Ginny had not known what to think or believe anymore. She never would have suspected Harry capable of such cruelty and then to know what it cost Hermione and Phaeron after everything they went through in the war.

"I'm so sorry." said Ginny. "I-I didn't think...I didn't believe Harry could be so cruel..."

Hermione sighed noting that Ginny really had no responsibility in what happened to Severus back then. She had been lied to just like much of the wizarding world and by two people she trusted the most to have merit when it came to their word.

"Come in Ginny." she said exhausted with this subject. "We'll have some tea and you'll feel better."

Ginny nodded and entered the flat Hermione shared with her husband and two sons.

"Baby number two?" she asked noting Hermione's belly for the first time.

"Three actually." replied the amber eyed witch. "Well, Fourth pregnancy if we're including them all."

Ginny nodded.

"You two still don't waist any time." she said with a weak smile.

Hermione closed the front door locking it as they walked toward the kitchen.

Later...

Severus Snape had come through the door with a rather exhausted Sidney in his arms with his head resting on his shoulder. Hermione smiled when Snape brought the boy into the sitting room. The obsidian eyes of the former Potions Professor had fallen on the red haired witch whom had come from the kitchen. It appeared to him that Hermione and her good friend Ginerva had made up. He thought it was good that she had someone to talk to aside from her all too nosy mother. Besides, he had been use to the playful girlish banter from the witches. Having had to endure it for so many years as their Potions Professor at Hogwarts.

"Hello Professor." said Ginny not at all comfortable using his first name or even his new muggle name for that matter. "or would Headmaster be more appropriate?"

"I have not been your professor for some time, Mrs. Potter." said Snape with his familiar obsidian eyes taking in the sight of the blossomed young Gryffindor witch. "I also do not relish being addressed as Headmaster either, that was a particular dark time that I do not like to revisit when possible."

Ginny seemed to grimace at the mention of her married name. Her marriage to Harry Potter had been something of a sore subject given all she had found out about him.

"Please." she said nearly fumbling over her own sadness. "Call me Ginny."

"Only if you cease referring to me as Professor." he said. "And never refer to me as headmaster again...in the interest of remaining civil, Severus would be as fine an address as any."

Ginny nodded.

"I'll try Profess...Severus." she said catching herself on the formality.

"I will as well Miss-Ginerva." he replied purposely letting her know that he had not felt the need to refer to her in such casual terms.

Hermione looked back and forth between her husband and her former best friend. It had been like a strange dream given these past six years.

"Baby steps." she said with a hopeful tone.

"Indeed." replied Snape turning his attention to his young son Sidney who had taken to tugging on his father's coat for attention.

"Papa who is she?" he asked.

His voice small and delicate like that of a truly innocent child's.

Ginny's eyebrow arched at the nickname the boy referred to her former Potions Professor as. He had seemed at peace with it. The red head witch noted how much Sidney resembled both of his parents, with Severus Snape's raven hair, and Hermione's thick texture. His nose had been like that of his father's (the poor kid). His eyes were amber like that of his mother's and he favored her in most of his looks. His impressively thin build was similar to that of both Snape and Phaeron and his bountiful energy had been like that of his mother.

Snape pat the boy on the head and sighed.

"This my son is Ginerva Weasley-Potter." he replied honestly noting her cringe at the mention of the name Potter. "She was a former student of mine at Hogwarts."

Sidney seemed amazed by this news. His amber eyes widened and he looked at Ginny Weasley in shock.

"Just like Mommy?" he asked turning his attention back to his father.

"Yes." replied Snape with patience that Ginny had never seen the man display before, not even to his Slytherins when he had been Head of their House.

Sidney smiled as he turned his attention back to Ginny who politely returned his smile. With all the confidence of a Gryffindor in the making, he strolled over to her and offered his hand. If Snape had the unfortunate fate of siring a Gryffindor he would look no further than Sidney. The boy was a fit for that house as his insufferable bushy haired mother. It also didn't help that she encouraged that horrid house's values in him.

"Papa's a good teacher isn't he?" he asked in a wondrously innocent tone. "Mommy said she learned a lot from him...me and Phaeron did too."

"Phaeron and I." corrected Snape barely concealing his annoyance.

"Phaeron and I." Sidney corrected himself the with a sheepish grin reminiscent of Lupin turned back to Ginny. "I forgot...Papa doesn't like it when I talk like that."

"That's okay Sidney." said Ginny in a reassuring tone. "He didn't like it when I talked like that either."

The smaller Snape flashed another smile before making his way back toward his stern looking father.

"I like her Papa." he said pleasantly. "She's nice."

Hermione sighed.

"I suppose I am just chopped liver over here." she said looking at her younger son.

Sidney moved away from his father and made his way over toward his mother with the sweetest smile spread across his innocent face.

"MOMMY!" he exclaimed happily.

He had been careful when he hugged her, mindful of her belly and his possible brother or sister.

"Mommy, I missed you." said Sidney happily. "Papa took me to the park and we got ice cream...he was really funny..."

Hermione looked up at Snape who shook his head.

"He gave you ice cream did he?" she said narrowing her amber eyes. "Before supper no less."

"And that just proves the boy won't cut it in Slytherin." said the Potions Master making his way to his favorite chair and collapsing into it.

"And why is that?" asked Hermione with her hands on her hips in defiance.

"Because a true Slytherin knows what happens in Slytherin stays in Slytherin." replied Snape. "That boy is ready to write a bloody tell all...definitely Gryffindor material."

Ginny couldn't help but laugh at the two Snapes it was as if nothing had ever happened that separated them for the past eleven years. She admired their bond and feisty nature. It took her back to their time at Hogwarts before...Harry did the unthinkable.

"Sidney go and do a bit of reading for a little while." said Hermione kissing her youngest son on the cheek. "Mommy's got a few choice words for Papa."

Sidney smirked and made his way toward his bedroom and closed the door.

Hermione turned her attention on Snape who had swiftly gotten out of his seat and whirled around her before she could even finish her breath. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close to him. Forgetting in his display of affection and manipulation that Ginny Weasley had still been there.

"You greasy git how dare you poke fun of my baby." said Hermione outraged.

Snape smirked and ran his hands along her aching body.

"I meant nothing by it witch." he replied. "Sidney is my son after-all, I simply figured you'd be proud to have confirmation of his very Gryffindor traits."

"Not if you are going to ignore him." said Hermione defensive.

Snape pulled back from her meeting her amber gaze with that of his obsidian one.

"Hermione, I may have had a reputation for disliking Gryffindor house at Hogwarts but that does not mean I will ever treat my children any differently because of where they will be placed in Hogwarts." said Snape in a serious tone. "I am not a saint nor am I a particularly pleasant person, but I will not hurt my children based on old house prejudice, I am nothing like Albus Dumbledore nor the dark lord."

Hermione sighed noting the shock on her husband's face at her blatant accusation.

"I'm sorry Severus." she said evenly. "It's just...up until now Phaeron was the only child we had and we both knew he was a Slytherin out of the starting gate...Sidney is a bit different but he loves you...he considers you the best thing since sliced bread...if you were to reject him it would destroy his whole world."

"I have no intention of rejecting my children." said Snape in an emotionless tone. "I have lived that pain for far too long and I would never subject any child of mine to it's agony...Gryffindor or not...I wouldn't even care if one of them were sorted into Hufflepuff...I just want better for them than what I got at their age."

Hermione studied her husband for quite some time.

She could see the slight hurt behind his infamous mask.

"I'm sorry Severus." she said apologetically. "I-It's just that I worry for Phaeron and Sidney...I don't want anything to come between us."

Snape smirked some and stroked her cheek.

"It's probably the hormones talking." he said in a pleasant tone.

"Maybe." replied Hermione. "Carrying your children is no picnic."

"Maybe it is when you're the child." replied Snape.

Ginny smiled when she witness the rare aspect of affection on the part of her former Potions Professor. Never in a million years would she have ever dreamed to see him so loving with anyone let alone her best friend from childhood.

"Come now witch." said Snape with a smirk. "Let's get dinner on."

Hermione sighed and quickly kissed her husband on the lips before he turned his attention to getting dinner started in the kitchen.

"He really loves you." said Ginny approvingly.

Hermione turned and noted that her friend had witnessed their little exchange.

"I love him just as much." she replied with a smile. "Maybe a little more."

"Well, I'm happy for you two." said Ginny before a wave of sadness washed over her. "Again I'm sorry for what Harry did to him...to both of you...I know having to be without him for so long...it must have hurt something awful."

Hermione sighed. She had not wished to discuss Harry Potter or his cowardly actions.

"It did hurt." said The amber eyed witch looking toward the kitchen as Severus messed about with the dishes for supper. "It hurt more than I can ever describe but he's home and we're finally happy...we've got Phaeron and Sidney...and this little one..."

She gestured toward her pregnant belly.

"Sometimes I can't believe this is really happening and I pinch myself." she admitted. "Being without him for so long was...nearly unbearable...if I didn't have Phaeron...I don't think I could have survived it."

Again Ginny looked saddened.

"Harry was such a thoughtless prat." said the red head with anger swelling in her chest. "If he had looked passed his own selfishness and saw how much the Professor meant to you...he never would have done it."

"I wouldn't be too sure." replied Hermione. "But anyway what's done is done...Severus is home and we are together again that is all that matters."

Ginny shook her head.

"You really are amazing Hermione." she said in awe of her friend. "I'm not sure I'd be so easily forgiving...or that I will...Harry has gone too far and the cover up...Dumbledore actually covering the whole thing up just to keep Harry popular...I...I just don't know if I want to stay married to a bloke that could be that heartless to his own friends."

Hermione sighed once more.

"I never said anything about forgiving Harry Potter." she said. "I am simply not interested in vengeance...I have what I have always wanted and people know the truth...that is good enough for me for now...as for your own relationship with the heartless git I cannot say much about...but you do share three children and that has to count for something...far be it from me to hold horrendous mistakes against people given whom I am married to...no doubt Severus has a few more skeletons in his closet...but for the better part of it all I know whom I married."

"That is the difference between you and I, I think." replied Ginny thoughtfully. "I don't believe I've ever known the real bloke Harry Potter...he's lied so much and to be fair you knew Severus well enough before you said I do...it was one of the reasons you married him...Harry was nothing like Severus or any other bloke with a past...he chose to be ruthless and vengeful...he chose to keep everyone in the dark about his heinous act...he chose to hurt the very witch who had seen him through the worst of times with hardly any a vote of thanks...he chose to take Severus from you despite your apparent love for the bloke..."

Ginny Weasley sighed and got to her feet.

"I will think on what more to do with what he has done." she said. "But I wish you and Professor Snape all the happiness in the world Hermione...even thought I didn't believe you when you first told us what Harry had done...I am not just going to let this get swept away...Harry will find some way to atone...if he's going to have me to live with of course."

Hermione smiled.

"I wish you luck Ginny." she said.

"Likewise." replied the red head witch. "And do let me know when this little one is born...I would like to be there this time...like I promised when we were girls."

Hermione and her former friend shared a contented laugh before Ginny took her leave wishing farewell to Snape and Sidney as she did. Once Ginny was gone, the bushy haired witch turned her attention to her smirking husband as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen with an apron on and his arms folded across his chest.

"I love you Mrs. Hermione Granger-Snape." he said pleasantly.

"And I love you Mr. Severus Snape." she replied.

They shared another pleasant kiss and made their way into the kitchen to prepare the night's supper together.