Chapter 10
Severus let Hermione hang out in her room after the trial. A letter had been waiting when they got home saying they she had to start trying for a child tonight. He watched the tears begin forming in her eyes before she took off. Instead he apparated to her parents, having done a search. He knocked on their door pretending to be a salesman and then tried to push past Hermione's block on their memory, finding her favorite comfort food, however her blocks were far too good.
He returned home and went to a near by grocer, completely out of his comfort zone and asked about comfort food. He knew she liked mac and cheese, and as he looked at the blue box in his hand he was disgusted, but he knew her dessert would be so much better. To make the boxed meal healthier he got some shalotts, asparagus, and shrimp. Then he collected the ingredients he needed for dessert and headed home.
Hermione listened to Severus apparate out of the house then let the tears flood out of her eyes as her whole body shook with violent sobs. The ultrasound was something she wanted to forget seeing, it brought her pain. Some where along the way she cried herself to sleep, maybe she could get away with not having to have sex with Severus. When she awoke it was her wards going off and being disabled. By the time she sat up Severus had opened the door.
"What the hell Professor?! Don't you ever knock?"
"My apologies Hermione, I did knock and received no answer. I wanted to tell you dinner is ready."
"Oh."
He held his arm out, motioning for her to lead the way and she made her way slowly towards the kitchen. Hermione found herself shocked to see a romantic setting of a candlelit dinner. Severus walked past her and pulled out a chair, motioning once more for her. She stepped forward and took a seat.
"Thank you," she spoke meekly.
Severus remained silent as he took his seat across the table from her and she picked up her fork and took a bite.
"Did you really buy Kraft mac and cheese?" Hermione stated in surprise after swallowing probably the best bite of mac and cheese she'd ever had.
"Are you displeased?"
"No, I'm just shocked."
A few more moments of silence passed and Severus spoke again, "Are you enjoying dinner?"
Hermione paused, she loved it, but right now she had already showed him more emotions than she cared to have so she simply nodded.
"Good."
The two continued to eat in silence as the candles flickered.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"I do have a potion we could take. It would increase your chances of getting pregnant and we could black out the whole experience, so you didn't have to worry about it."
Hermione kept wondering where this soft man hid. The way he was in private differed so much from the man she knew.
"I think not Severus."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she spoke, confidently and then continued, "If we are going to have a child together I want to try for a real relationship, and I don't to forget the day my child in conceived. But I'm not ready for that relationship."
"I understand."
As both finished eating Severus spoke again, "Should you ever need to talk about earlier today or the experience itself, my door shall be open. I cannot pretend to understand the emotional aspects or the experience but I can promise to listen."
"Thank you."
Severus stood again and took their plates to the kitchen. Hermione was about to stand when he spoke up, "I made dessert as well, would you like some?"
"Yes please."
She waited as he walked to the fridge and pulled out a pan then a couple of small plates and forks and a knife. She waited while he plated the dessert, garnished it, and put the pan back in the fridge. Her eyes lit up as the plate was set before her.
"Tirimasu Professor? I didn't realize you such the cook."
"Well, potions and cooking are very similar."
Hermione's fork slid through the pastry and it melted almost the second it hit her tongue and a small moan escaped her lips. She waited for a comment but nothing came from her portions professor other than the smirk she didn't notice.
They ate dessert in silence and while Severus took care of the dishes despite Hermione's protests, she went to the bathroom to take a shower before the rest of the evenings 'festivities'.
A/N: So the next chapter will be pure smut, just a heads up. Also I added a cover, it's a picture I took while four wheeling.