A/N: Well, glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I also posted what I had of my new Severus/Hermione pairing Not So Black and White. It's a different premise than this story and takes place AFTER the war versus during. Of course, THIS fic is my priority. I'll only work on chapters for that one if 1) an idea is itching and surfacing, demanding it's way out 2) I have finished and published one for this fic 3) when I have finished this fic. You have all inspired me, and I want desperately to finish this one. So here's the next chapter.

Chapter 45

Severus enveloped Hermione in his arms. She was far more terrified than he had ever seen her.

"Take them, and go."

She pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes, shooting him a furious look, "You want me to run away? After all the years I've put into this, after everything I've sacrificed? Severus Snape, I thought you thought more of me than that!"

"I do, Hermione, I do. But we are parents now. I know my chances of surviving this battle. Do you want to risk leaving them orphans? Enough children are going to come out of this orphaned, parents will lose their children. I would rather not have our daughters be part of that."

"Severus, I'm the brightest witch of my age, the people I'm fighting with love me too much to attack me and the people I'm fighting against are probably too confused to attack me, and many are going to believe you. I know I can survive this. And you could too, if you tried or cared. Why can't you take them and run?"

"Hermione, I know my fate. I've prepared for it. And besides," he said, placing a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, "I know that you could survive without me, but I don't know that I could survive if anything happened to you."

"Severus, I'm not-"

"Please, at least stay in the Room of Requirement. If you have to leave it, so be it, but please, try. If not for me, then at least for Rose and Dahlia."

He knew she would agree. And she knew that, but she wanted to fight him on this, she wanted to partake in the fight that she knew was coming. But she also didn't want to leave him.

"Severus," She started softly, looking into his eyes fearfully.

"Hermione, I need you to promise me that. Please."

"Only if you swear to me that you'll do everything in your power to live. I don't care if you think you know what's going to happen; you have a responsibility to our daughters too. They need they're father too. Promise me you'll try to live."

Severus sighed, how could he make a promise like that to her? He would be looking in her eyes and lying to her. But she needed to hear it; he had to get her to keep herself and their girls safe.

He looked lovingly into her eyes, wondering how it was possible they had reached this point, and told her exactly what she needed to hear, "I promise you, my love."

She kissed him softly, and passionately, like it might be their last chance to be together. He wrapped his arms around her waist, placing a hand on the small of her back, pulling her body as close as he could. She was softer now, and he couldn't help but hope she didn't lose all her baby weight. She reached up and wrapped her hands around his neck and entwined her fingers in his hair. They held each other tight and close, locked in a passionate kiss, before slowly pulling away from each other. They didn't dare hold their embrace a moment longer, knowing if they tried, they would do more and this wasn't the right time.

"Severus, I love you. Please be safe."

He kissed her forehead gently, "I love you too, Hermione," and then there was a knock at his door, "Go, go to them, and think of needing that door gone, just in case."

Hermione stole one last quick kiss and nodded before turning and walking through the door. She transfigured her daughters' cribs into a shared pram and watched as the door she just walked through disappeared. She took her daughters into the common room, where she was alone. Rose started to cry and Hermione picked her up rocking her slowly, before adjusting herself to allow her to feed. Of course shortly after Rose had finished, Dahlia decided that it was her turn.

She looked at them, laying in their crib, arms flailing gently, occasionally bumping each other's hands. She smiled as she watched them. They were sweet and adorable and had Severus' hair lightly covering their heads. Their eyes were grey, and she had no doubt they would darken to meet the black of their father's eyes. They were beautiful.

But her peaceful moment ended when the door opened and the Slytherin students began filing in behind a determined Ginny.

Hermione rushed to her friend, "What's going on?"

Ginny looked at Hermione with a look that could only be described as pity, "Hermione, He's here, He wants Harry. And-and"

"And what, Ginny? What is going on?"

"Snape abandoned his post. I'm sorry, Hermione, but he left."

No, he didn't. He wouldn't. He's doing what he must, to survive. So that He doesn't ever find out about the side Severus really fought for. She thought to herself.

She fought back tears and grabbed her daughters, holding them protectively as she watched them file through the portrait that Harry had walked through just earlier that day.

"The order will be coming soon. Everyone is preparing for battle, you shouldn't be here, not with them. You should go some where, be safe. Protect them."

She was right, they shouldn't be here. They needed to be somewhere safe.

"Ginny, do you have scroll and parchment in your trunk?"

"Yes, why?"

"No reason. I just need to write something."

Ginny was surprised when she saw Hermione walk back through the portrait alone. She looked sad, and scared, but some of the worry that had been evident disappeared.

"Hermione, where are the twins," Ginny asked, worried for her friend.

"I took them somewhere safe. I promised Severus I would wait in here until I no longer could, I knew I had to take them somewhere safe, but I, I couldn't stay away from the fight. I-I don't really wanna talk about it right now."

Ginny nodded and hugged her friend.

Tonks stumbled through the painting, looking scared and confused.

"Do you know where Remus is," she asked, her voice shaking.

"No, we don't. Where's Teddy," Hermione, placing a hand on Tonk's arm.

"With my mother, the twins?"

"Somewhere safe."

Tonks nodded in understanding and the two mothers hugged.

Ginny spoke up, "I think I heard that he was going towards the great hall, that's where most everyone was."

"Thank you!" Tonk ran out the door, a newfound hope in her eyes.

Harry came in shortly after, surprised that Hermione was there, but not noticing, or maybe he just wasn't going to ask, that she was without her children.

"We need to go to the room of hidden things. It's where he hid the diadem. We have to look for it."

The girls nodded and walked out with Harry, and walked in front of the door three times, needing the room of hidden things.

"Harry, I'm coming with you," Hermione spoke softly.

"Hermione I don't think that's a goo-"

"Harry, I'm coming, and that's it."

He could tell by the look in her eye, that fighting was useless. He saw something that he had never seen before, a burning fire of rage and determination. So he nodded and they walked in together as Ginny ran off to join the battle.

"Accio-Diadem," Hermione cast, thinking that it couldn't hurt to try. But nothing came.

An older woman opened the door of her small cottage, looking around and finding no one there. She almost closed the door when she heard a small gurgle and looked down. She saw two baskets, each holding an infant. Their names were embroidered on their blankets and an envelope balanced between them, and envelope simply addressed to "mother."

She leaned over and picked up, looking for anything more, but there was nothing more to see.

"Honey," she called out to her husband as she picked up the baskets, not daring to leave the poor dears in the open like that, "Honey, someone just left two baby girls on our front porch with a letter addressed to 'mother'."

Her husband stepped out from the kitchen where he had been reading the paper, and his jaw dropped when he saw that his wife was being honest.

"Mother? But, you never had any children."

"Should I read the letter?"

They both stared at it for a moment, the wax seal and look of a fountain pen, made it look like something from the past.

"Well, there's probably an explanation for these two on our porch."

The woman nodded and opened the letter.

Mother, Father,

I know you don't remember me. I know that you don't even know that I exist. I know you can't remember that my first word was "book" and that I took my first steps at exactly one year old. I know that you don't remember my first report card, filled with straight A's. I know that you don't remember the day we found out that I was a witch. I know you don't remember any of that.

I also know that you missed my wedding. And you missed the birth of your first grandchildren. You've missed out on so much in my life in just a few months. And I hope one day, you'll be able to forgive me for that.

I know what I am asking, is huge. These are my daughters, Rose Marie Snape and Dahlia Jean Snape. They were born April 1st and are the sweetest things ever. They've only really gotten to know me in their short lives. But their father loves them. Unfortunately we didn't have much time together as a family. Times in my world are crazy.

I don't have a lot of time to explain everything. Where I am, there is a huge battle about to break loose. And that's why I need you. I have to stay and fight, I've been involved since I was 11. And though you never understood why I was constantly willing to risk my life to save Harry, this is why. To save my world, the wizarding world. I expect that we will win, but I might die. And my husband might die. A lot of good people actually. So I need you to watch over them. They are your grandchildren, I swear. And I know, you're too young to be grandparents, but the wizarding world is a bit complicated, and if I live, I promise to explain.

Now that you've read this letter, you'll remember, eventually. I've charmed this paper to remove the memory charm on you when we win the war in the event of my death. If I do die, and we win, you'll gain back your memories instantly. It's going to be a lot to take in. But after that, I need you to find Severus Snape, if he lives. If he doesn't there's a whole list of people you can contact. But the best option would be Molly Weasley. Ron's mother. She'll help in anyway needed.

If I do survive some how, I promise, I'll be back and I'll return your memories myself. Please take good care of my daughters. I know you'll love them as much as I do. And thank you. You're amazing parents.

Your loving Daughter,

Hermione Jean Snape (nee Granger)

"We have a daughter," the woman said softly.

"And apparently granddaughters," her husband spoke, after reading the letter for himself.

"And she's a witch."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed. This note is just a side note…have you ever noticed that almost all of the Hermione/Severus fan pics are REALLY bad photoshop pictures. Usually it's Severus' face that's the worst. I give them credit for trying…but something I noticed…I prefer the drawn ones more. Anyway…hope you enjoyed. I just decided that I didn't want to write the scene in the Room of Requirement, because I wasn't going to do J. K. Rowling Justice. Next chapter is going to be a touch one…one that I'm still debating on the outcome. Does he live or not? I guess we'll know soon enough.