-1Poppy was particularly surprised when Severus came and fetched her, saying that Hermione was in perfect health, and was free to leave. Severus and Hermione both knew they could put off telling Albus no longer. They quickly stalked back to the dungeons to get changed. They both changed in their separate rooms, and when they came out, once again they were both surprised. Hermione had decided on a black draped v neck t shirt with long flowing sleeves, and a tight black skirt that went down to her ankles, but had a high slit that stopped at mid thigh. She wore black stilettos, and her hair was straight and flowing. He had donned a navy blue sweater, tight navy blue jeans, and tan boots. They both smirked at the others outfit.

"What possessed you to wear that Hermione?" Snape asked losing a battle with a smile.
"Three things: You like me in black, I won't be able to fit in this for much longer, and I wanted to see your reaction. Why are you wearing that?"

"We seem to have the same thought process, because my three reasons are exactly the same as yours, except, I won't be able to wear this once school starts, because the children would have a heart attack, and we'd have piles of burning blue jeans. Filch would have a heart attack." he said with a smile.
She laughed, a warm sound, and then they were off. Once again she took charge, and muttered "Laffy Taffy." and they were in the headmasters chambers.
The look Albus gave them was one of disbelief, shock, and utter happiness. He kept looking from Hermione to Severus, and back again. Finally they sat down, and he just gaped at them.

"Headmaster?" Hermione said softly "I think wee need to tell you something."
"Congratulations!" The headmaster said jovially.
"You knew?" Snape said with a smirk.
"Surely you did too Severus. Or has no one told you about the mark of soul mates?"
'I knew that binding marks must be consummated, for them to truly bind you."
"The mark of binding, must be consummated, but for it to truly be a mark of soul mates between elements a child must be conceived. If that happens, you are truly bound as one. This pregnancy is a miracle, and the elements view it as such. Anything that would normally harm the baby, will not. The elements have surrounded that child in a cocoon of power, and safety. This is truly wonderful news. Lemon drop?"
Snape reached out and grabbed a lemon drop, and without looking handed it to Hermione.
"Also, Severus, I have been thinking, and the best way to explain her sleeping arrangements to the students is to have her be your apprentice." Dumbledore said as he popped a lemon drop into his own mouth. He wasn't even looking at the pair, who now gaped at him. "Unless, you have a problem with that, Hermione?"

"No, I would love to! Unless you don't want me to?" She aimed that question at Severus.
"No, I don't for-see a problem, but what will she do with her studies?" Severus asked.
"With the time turner, she has done all of the grade required classes. She will have some of the classes she would have had this year, but I see no reason why she couldn't do them while you have her year in the classroom."
"Then it's decided, of course. Now I believe Minerva must know. Her teachers will all have to be taught of the circumstances."
"I will tell her, and I believe you may need to go to Hogsmeade, to get Hermione teaching robes. I believe you two being out of the castle while I tell Minerva would be best." Albus said with a smile.
"Yes, headmaster, I believe she will need new robes." With that they both got up, and left. Walking out of the gates, they were on their way to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was beautiful, and so was Hermione. Severus was getting double takes, and he didn't even notice. He had enough self presence to stop himself from grinning like an idiot, but that was it. He couldn't stop staring at her. She really was emanating beauty. She even made Hogsmeade more beautiful. Stopping at the robes store he grabbed her arm, as she tried to walk in. "You will let me buy you these, will you not?"
"I brought my money. I can get them." she said skeptically.
"But I want to buy them." with pleading in his eyes she gave up with one condition.
"If you insist on paying, then I must insist you see me try them on."

She put a do-not-notice spell on him, and ushered him to follow her inconspicuously. She was greeted by two witches, whom gave her about eight robes to try on. They were all black, because they would be changed to new colors upon checkout. Then she was led to a dressing room. With him following quickly, and reluctantly at the same time. As soon as the witch was out of the way, they followed suit into a dressing room. Hermione first stripped out of her skirt, then her shirt. She wore black silk panties, and a black bra with silk panels. Her breasts were spilling out, and he knew that it wasn't a push up bra. She needed new undergarments he realized. What they say about women when they're pregnant, that they glow, he instantaneously knew it was true. She had a protrusion of her stomach, just below her navel. At the risk of being called, caring, soft, and passionate, he reached out and placed his hand gently there. To the normal person it would not be visible, but to a potions master, a millimeter might mean life or death, so he saw what she did not. He kept his hand there for a moment, then took it away. It wasn't like him to indulge in such frivolities.

She stood still for a moment, then turned to get the first robe. He helped her into it, and it seemed as if her new mission in life was to get him to touch her stomach. The robes she tried on all seemed as if they billowed, but were form fitting. They gave her the presence of a lady, without being overly revealing. Everything he helped her do consisted of him either holding it up next to her stomach, or brushing up against it in some way, unfortunately for him, he now had a tent pole sticking out of his trousers. She noticed, and giggled, and he had the grace to look ashamed.
"I think I'll need to cast another do not notice spell." she said in a hushed tone. He looked embarrassed, and she put a finger under the hook of his jaw, he tensed but didn't pull away. She took that as a good sign, and moved her finger forward. Leaving her index finger under his jaw, she raised her thumb, and trailed her fingers once across her lips. Then took her hand away quickly. Severus had closed his eyes, but the stiff line of his jaw had reared it's ugly head again, which said he was either out of his element, or he was uncomfortable. She hoped it wasn't the latter.

By the time he had opened his eyes she was dressed in the clothes she had come here in, and now he could see the slight bump under her clothes. It was tiny, miniscule even, but if you knew what you were looking at it was significant. It looked like she gained a pound, or something. She walked out, and was followed by Severus, she pointed him to the door nonchalantly as she spoke to the sales-witch. Then he walked out of the door, as a woman was leaving also. Then he came back in, and spoke with false severity. Claiming she was taking entirely too long, and such nonsense. He noticed that all but two of the robes stayed black. Of the two that were left, a more shapely one turned red, and a billowy one turned a dark navy. She blushed with false modesty.& she realized he played the part of frustrated husband very well.

Walking out of the store he led the way to a store with racy lace garments in the window. Then she realized they were both going in. The first rack of things were more fetish than anything. Severus left her to her own ministrations, and wandered. Spotting a green slinky dress he stopped. He pictured Hermione in it. The front was a very low cut v neck, and had a push up bra effect. There were slits up each side, which stopped a little higher than mid thigh. It was a deep olive in color, and the fabric was a lacy silk. But it wasn't that that made him get it for her, it was the fact that even on the shelf it glowed. Just like her.

He immediately grabbed her size off the hanger, along with a matching robe, and went to the check out. He had it gift wrapped, then, performed the reducto charm on it and slipped the gift into his pocket. Then Hermione came up next to him, carrying several pair of black lingerie. She had even picked out several negligees.

"It'll match, and I need something to sleep in." was her only reply, at Severus' raised eyebrow. She handed them to the witch that manned the counter, and when she went to pull out her wallet. Severus just touched the tip of the receipt with his wand, and it vanished. She looked at the pink and black bag she was handed and then took it.

Severus watched her as she walked out of the store on her own power, then waited for him to catch up. "I believe I need to tell you that the same deal goes for the underwear as did the robes."
"What do you mean?" He ask genially confused.
"You bought them, so you get to watch me try them on." She smiled at his bewildered expression, then kept on walking, not even waiting for him. Finally he regained his composure, and caught up, as she was contemplating going to London. Then she had a sudden urge for ice cream. Vanilla ice cream. With gummy bears and chocolate sauce. The thought made her mouth water. "Can I ask you for a favor Severus?" She asked in a sweet tone.
"Yes." he said still slightly abashed from the earlier comments.
"Can you take me to muggle London for some ice cream. I suddenly crave Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and gummy bears." Severus made a face and held out his arm, then tensed. She hooked his arm in hers, then after a moment he relaxed, then they were at an ice cream shop where Severus was nearly getting sick just watching Hermione devour the sugary confection. He just couldn't resist the temptation and actually took a gummy bear then dipped it in the melted ice cream and chocolate. He took a bite, and almost gagged, then since curiosity had been sated just watched her as she ate.

Finally when she couldn't eat anymore she threw away her dish, and asked him if he was ready to leave. He got up with a sweep of hands and followed her back. The whole way back neither said a word, but somehow his free hand found one of hers. Severus was carrying all the packages by himself. They went past the gates and into the castle itself. Minerva met them and opened her mouth to yell when Hermione let out a quite oh my god, and made a dash for the bathrooms followed by Severus and Minerva. As soon as she got to the toilet her stomach emptied its contents.

Somewhere between it all she noticed Severus was holding her hair back, and rubbing soothing circles in between her shoulder blades. When she tried to pull her head back up she was struck with two things, another bout of nausea, and Severus pushing her head back down. "Stay like that until your sure it's actually passed." He was right, and then the waves rushed over her again, finally when the tension eased she lifted her head out of the toilet. Severus put a wet washcloth on the back of her neck as she stood up, and he curled his arm around her. It was to help her stand but it was also defensively. Which brought her back to the current situation. Minerva, looking as confused as ever.

"Say what you will, but I must get her back to her bedchambers." her heart fell when she was once again reminded that they now had separate rooms.

"I had a speech, a lecture, and a hundred reasons why this shouldn't happen. But, seeing this" she swayed her arm towards them "I can't say anything. Not one thing at all. You both deserve to be happy, and if this is what it takes, then… I will manage." Minerva sounded almost defeated.

"Thank you Minerva." Snape said whole-heartedly.

"Might I suggest you carry her. She looks faint." Minerva said, the mother hen peaking her concerned head out of the nest.

With a swoop of his arms he picked her up, and carried her to his rooms. She was asleep by the time he laid her down. She stirred a little, and that reassured him that it was only sleep. He put all the packages from today in a little line on the bed. Then he conjured, another closet, and dresser, and started returning the things to their rightful size, and putting them in the appropriate spots.

After he was done he prayed to the gods to answer him a question :Why did he get this? He Hadn't been good. He had had this before and it had gone sour. Why does he a death eater get more than one chance at pure happiness, while most people didn't even get one? What kind of father would he make? He wouldn't he answered himself. He would have to end his misery for there to be happiness in Hermione's life. He would end his life, and give Hermione his fortune. That is the day Severus finally decided he was to kill himself, but it wasn't out of hatred, or misery, though self-loathing was a part, he did it out of love.