A/N: Not going to have a very long note here, want you to be able to get to the next part and enjoy. I'm glad people enjoyed the last chapter. I think this story will be ending soon (being a relative term) and I have most of it planned now. Thinking of maybe writing it again but following Luna and Harry and Ron…any takers? Anyway, hope you enjoyed the cliffie (I know I'm evil) and I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 41

Severus ducked as the book Hermione had been reading came flying across the room. Her temper was short, understandably so, and she was envious every time he left their quarters. Bed rest did not rest well with her. Being stuck in bed for a month was getting to. A whole month of laying in bed, only allowed up for the bathroom. Pomfrey would have liked for Hermione to stay in the infirmary until she reached term, but with some begging, and Severus promising to keep an eye on her, she wasn't trapped in the infirmary.

"Severus, something's wrong, I think the baby's coming."

Those words were like a petrificus totalus on his body. He knew they were both thinking the same thing, that it was too early. But he saw the fear in her eyes, she was looking to him for help. And he acted. He gently but quickly swept her up in his arms, not even noticing how much heavier she was from the previous times he had done this. He simply carried her straight to the infirmary, using nonverbal spells to push students out of the way.

Madame Pomfrey jumped as her doors slammed open. When she saw Severus rushing to set Hermione down on a bed, she rushed over.

"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. We were in Hogsmeade and all of a sudden she stopped, as if she was in pain and said something was wrong. She passed out on the way here."

Pomfrey nodded, "Accio salts."

The nurse waved some smelling salts in front of Hermione's nose and the girl slowly woke up, her face twisting in pain.

"Hermione, I need you to tell me what's wrong."

Hermione nodded slowly, her voice strained, "It hurts, like what I imagine labor feels like. But it's too early, something feels wrong."

"Alright, I'm going to cast a few spells and figure out what's going on."

Hermione nodded, and Severus offered her a hand, which she squeezed as she was come over with more pain.

"Coercereintra uterum," The medi-witch took notes and cast another spell, "Sanitatemreprehendo."

Madame Pomfrey walked away briskly muttering under her breathe.

"Severus, what do you think is wrong? Do you think," she couldn't even finish her thought. It was too much.

Severus sat down next to her, holding her close, "Everything will be fine, Hermione. Our daughter will be perfect, and beautiful and strong and brilliant, because you are her mother."

Tears started rolling down her face, "I'm scared, Severus. I'm so scared."

Madame Pomfrey returned with several potion bottles in hand. She set them down on the table next to the bed, and began to open one.

"I need you to drink this, Hermione. You have started premature labor. These potions should slow it and hopefully stop it. But even with these, you'll have to be on 24 hour bed rest. And I mean it. I do not want you getting up unless it's to go to the bathroom," the medi-witch explained as Hermione choked down the potion, "It would be best for you to remain here under supervision."

"No, please, I cannot stay here for a month and a half doing nothing all day. Please don't make me stay in here."

Severus pulled Pomfrey to the side, far enough away that Hermion wouldn't be able to hear if they were quiet.

"Does she need to stay here?"

"It would be the easiest way to monitor her. Severus, she is dangerously close to having the baby prematurely. I have no doubt it is from the amount of stress caused by your 'extracurriculars' with those criminals. I need to monitor her."

"Then do so by visiting our quarters. Bed rest means she needs to be calm and comfortable right? At least our bed is more comfortable than the ones in here. I promise to do what I can to keep her relaxed. And besides, she is not sleeping anywhere without me as long as the Carrows are in this school."

"Well who's fault is that?"

Severus inhaled deeply, trying to keep his calm, seeing Hermione's fearful eyes watching them talk, "Listen, there are things at stake that cannot be explained. Even I didn't want them here. And not everyone agrees with him about her being alive. Believe it or not, everything I've done has been to protect her."

The medi-witch paused and a look of realization came over her, "You're in love with her, aren't you? Do you realize how sick and wrong that is? It's bad enough that you married her, and impregnated her," she said with a tone of implication, "but to actually fall in love with her."

Severus looked away, she was right of course, but he didn't want Hermione to know, "Look, you can see how distraught she is over everything. Let me take care of her in our quarters. I don't even have to leave unless I'm summoned. I know a house elf or two that would love to come take care of her. Maybe some of her friends or McGonagall even, just let her be at home. I could make sure you are sent for any time she is left alone, just let her be at home."

"Fine, but she is never to be left alone. And you are to make sure she doesn't get out of bed except for the loo. She needs those potions every half an hour. Encourage her to sleep as much as she can, maybe slip her a couple of light sedatives. But I want her here over night, preferably until the potions do their thing."

"Thank you, Poppy."

It wasn't easy, he had been gone more than he had planned, and Ginny and Hannah were unreachable as the Carrows had been taking over in his absence, but Hermione was stuck in bed beyond a doubt. And she hated it. Today was especially bad. She was officially almost to term, and wanted nothing more than to just have the baby, and given the scare, had been trying to find a name like crazy.

"Severus, it's not fair. I HATE this stupid bed. I HATE this stupid room and I never thought I'd live to see the day, but I am SICK of reading."

"You should be happy you aren't coming with me. He has not been happy and is handing out several more punishments than usual. Potter is up to something."

"Severus, at this point I don't care, I need a change of scenery."

"I know you care, and I know you care because of her."

"Well SHE needs a name, and you're being useless."

"Hermione, I was waiting for you to say the name that I know you really want."

She looked at him, puzzled by what he meant.

"I found out that mac and cheese is your favorite comfort food, down to the brand. How do you think I managed that?"

"I don't know."

"I managed to get past your obliviation to find the information I needed. I found some small things, including some memories your mother had of a young Hermione walking around with a baby that she named all by herself and promised her mother would be the name of her first child, boy or girl."

Hermione blushed, she had a vague recollection herself of this memory, but her mother had never missed a chance to recite it herself, "That was very nosey of you Severus."

"Still, I know exactly what you want to name her, I just don't know why you haven't said it yet."

Truth be told Hermione had forgotten about her childhood wish. She imagined her mother would have reminded her the second she knew she was pregnant. But now, she did want to use that name, knowing it would make her mother happy, "Rose."

"Rose Snape, although I think she'll need a middle."

Hermione smiled and laughed before adding, "Or an incredibly high amount of name, like Albus. Rose Cornelia Elizabeth Mary Snape."

"Not even if he were around to force me into it."

Severus walked over and kissed Hermione on the forehead as they heard their living room door opened, "Rose Mary Snape doesn't sound bad, but not quite right either. Maybe you could decide by the time I return."

"Be safe, Severus. We'll be here waiting for you."

Minerva stepped into the doorway and waved, "Severus, you should be going, you wouldn't want to anger him."

Severus nodded and left as Minerva sat down in a chair, making herself comfortable.