A/N: Hey guys. Sorry, another delay. I know I'm awful. But I hope this makes up for it. Also…did y'all hear? I was right all along. JK Rowling admitted she made a mistake in pairing Ron and Hermione and even went so far as to say they would need marriage counseling and that Ron couldn't make her happy. Which has always been my thought. She wouldn't be happy in a marriage unless there was some intellectual conversation, and let's face it, Ron couldn't be intellectual about anything but quidditch, which Hermione didn't care for.

Chapter 18

After letting him in, Hermione showed Ron into the den, "Excuse me just a moment."

Ron nodded and Hermione went out into the hall, trying to keep her self from hyperventilating. Why was he being so calm, civilized, and quiet?

"Hermione, who was at the door," Severus queried after seeing her against the wall, flushed white.

"Ron. And he's in the den."

"Why would you let that git in here?"

"Because, he looks like he needs to talk. And there's a lot of unresolved issues there. I just, I want to close that door."

Severus looked at Hermione, and felt a protective surge. He didn't want that buy going near her. He might hurt her. And even with a spell made to prevent miscarriage, a beating could easily cause one. Not to mention, hurt the baby. He felt the anger rise, and almost an animalistic instinct to protect.

"Severus, are you ok?"

"Of course I am."

"Then why are you growling?"

He hadn't even noticed it, but he had been making a low and deep growl. "Would you like me to accompany you?"

Hermione her head, "No. I need to talk to him alone. And besides, I see you glaring at the door. If looks could kill, the door wouldn't even have any ashes left and he would be dead."

"Fine. I'll at least go make some tea."

Hermione nodded and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. The look in his eyes, and the growl Severus had made, scared Hermione. But not even because it was a look to kill, but because it was directed at Ron, knowing his behavior. Severus was protective of her and not in the way she thought he ever would be.

After collecting herself, Hermione opened the door and went in, facing her fear of what he would do.

"Hermione we need to talk. About, well-"

"The abortion," the word wasn't as poisonous as she thought it would be. It was still difficult to say.

"Yeah."

"Well hurry up. I don't have all day."

"Look Hermione, you know how we were supposed to audition for the musical, and even though we aren't going to school, Harry and I did just to keep up appearances, so we need to make amends. For rehearsals."

"Who are you? Since when can you sing or act?"

"I think it was a form of irony. Harry wasn't cast at all. We didn't try."

"But who are you?" Hermione couldn't handle any role that involved loving him or kissing him. He hurt her too much and she was still trying to fight those feelings.

"Raoul. But I think it's just McGonagall's way to be ironic. I think she set some potions nerd as the phantom."

Of course, casting a potions nerd as the Phantom and Ron as Raoul. As if this wasn't hard enough.

"Alright Ron. I was serious, I don't have all day. So just, tell me whatever you wanted to tell."

"George told me."

"What?"

"I never knew you guys were such good friends, but I was ranting on about you and he finally screamed at me. He said, 'Shut up you git! It's not like she always had a thing for Snape! She was kidnapped and she had no choice! It was him or someone worse! So stop calling her a whore Mr,. Lied about losing your virginity to her!' and then I realized I was being unfair not knowing the whole story."

"Wait? You lied to me about losing your virginity and yet you had the audacity to make assumptions and call me a whore? I knew I shouldn't have believed you when you said you and Lavender never did anything."

"Well actually-"

"There was someone else? Who the Hell would you have slept with other than her."

"Well, I mean, she and I did, but that summer I was out doing something and met someone else and one thing led to another. We were just a summer thing."

"I can't believe you Ronald! Here I was feeling completely awful about everything, and you did nothing but lie to me!"

"You should feel awful! You killed our children!"

"THEY WEREN"T CHILDREN RONALD! They were two embryos that were going to cease to exist after KILLING ME! I couldn't wait another week to tell you and get ministry permission. I was cleared of all charges!"

Ron was taken aback by Hermione's outburst. This wasn't like any of the ones in their past. She was truly hurt, angry, and, almost confident in herself and her actions, yet fear of what could happen. He had never loved her more then right now.

"Hermione. I'm sorry. I know it wasn't easy. I think I'm just mad because you didn't tell me that you even thought you were pregnant. It would have been hard, but I could have gone with you. And you wouldn't be here right now."

"Ron. They would have had us both. I would still be here, and you'd be who knows where. Maybe as the Malfoys' torture toy. I don't know what his plan is, but V- He has a plan for me. Be it simply providing an heir for Severus, or getting to you and Harry. I don't know, but he wanted me alive. And with one of his death eaters."

"Alright Mione. But promise me you'll avoid getting pregnant as long as possible. Promise me you won't fall for him. Because when Harry wins, we know the ministry will let you leave the snake and you and I can be together again."

"Ron, I can't promise any of that. The ministry is forcing us to try. And what if they don't annul the marriage? Besides Ron. It's too late, I'm already pregnant."

"WHAT?"

Hermione saw the rage he was known for start. His face grew to it's bright red color, his breathing became more aggressive and his fists began to clutch. And then he lunged fist flying at her abdomen. Instinctively, She dropped and curled into a ball, her arms across her stomach. And she stayed that way until she heard porcelain shatter and Ron crying out in pain. She looked up to see Severus' hand hold Ron by his neck against the wall.

"You will NEVER lay a hand on her again. And you will NEVER come to this house again. Believe me when I saw, you just lost your part in the musical. Now leave. Before I make you with that I crucio'ed you."

Severus let go and Ron ran for the door without looking back. And then Severus walked over to Hermione and helped her up.

"Is that the first time?"

He didn't have to ask anything further. She knew what he wanted to know, "Yes. He gets angry, but punches a wall or walks away."

He nodded and waved a wand to clean up the mess. "You should go relax. Or go shopping. Get your mind off things."

Hermione nodded and left. After a moment of silence Severus spoke to himself, "No one will ever try that again."

A/N 2: Well? Was this a good chapter? I hope to be able to write the next one soon, but no promises. Although I have the next three days off. So I promise to try.