-1Hermione glanced around the sitting room. Two weeks later, and today would be the start of everything, her reception, and her honeymoon. Madame Promfrey had forbid her from leaving A very pregnant Ginny, and a very worried looking Harry were awake. She saw what they were looking at. A package wrapped in simple black wrapping paper, but it had the sinister quality just as Voldemorts robes had yesterday. She thought about it. "Who is it addressed to?"

"You."

She blew out a breath. She knew he wouldn't harm her. She was too powerful for him to not try to win her over first. He would try to be able to control her, but he had seen her use incredible power, more so than he could use. She stepped over to the box, and unwrapped it, then stepped back as two smaller packages sprung forth, and opened. Two tiny baby rattles revealed themselves, each encrusted with a green gemstone, each with a snake wrapped around it's handle. One going around the handle, then up to the bulb, and the other opposite. Two baby blankets popped out, both of water snakes. One a faint green on silver thread, and one silver on green.

Did he really think that she was that stupid? The horrible truth was yes, he did. He thought that without Severus she would be an invalid and worthless. She would have been worthless, but if there was one thing ever Hermione was not, it was being an invalid. She tucked the things in a box, and bound them. Then she tucked that safely I a locked closet. When she returned to the sitting room she saw another package. She grabbed it and lifted it off the table, when she did a it started dripping, it was a red so dark it was almost black and she raised her hand toward the fire. It was blood. She opened to find an animal so matted with blood you couldn't see it's true color. She knew just by the squashed face what, or rather who, it was. Crookshanks. She dropped the box, and turned pale as a ghost. For them to have gotten Crookshanks means… They had gotten her parents. Sure enough, there was a picture of Voldemort laughing while her parents were being tied up.

They were both unconscious. She prayed for them to be alright. She saw a letter on the coffee table.

Ms. Snape,,

You will join me. That is not a request. I enjoy my meat young, or old. I prefer girls. Your mother seems the perfect candidate for such a feast. Did you like your familiar? That is what happens when one defies me. I know I have only to talk to you for you to agree, we would make such power. You have two fortnights, to get over your tragic loss, and contact me.

L.V.

Her stomach heaved. She spilled onto all fours, and started hurling. It felt as if she threw up every millimeter of bile, then her insides. She heaved until her head pounded and her sides ached. She felt a cooling cloth pressed to her forehead. It was Ginny, she looked like a whiter shade of pale.

Hermione stood slowly, using all the muscles in her back. The pain that set in two weeks ago after she had awoken Severus set back in. Her body stiffened and she gasped. She sat on the couch. Severus sat down beside her. "They have my parents." was all she said. There were no tears on her face. She got up.

"What're you doing?" Harry asked.

"He can't know he got to me. If he knows hurting my parent will effect me so much than I'm his, I can't be his for another two weeks. I think that Ginny's idea is a good one. I can have the baby's safely, and pretend. Voldemort thinks me vulnerable now. I don't know what he'll do if her finds out that I'm not pregnant anymore. He may just kill me, I can do things he can't. And, honestly Harry, you'd think I'd miss my own reception?" She smiled, but her eyes told the truth. She may make light of it, but, she was dying a little inside.

Hermione went into the bedroom with her, and handed her a giant parcel. She opened it and found a gorgeous black silk ball gown. On top of it was a simple masquerade mask. The mask had black trim, and silver lining. "Another surprise. It's a masquerade ball. We were going to the estate for you to change." His voice was soft, and held sadness.

"Thank you." she said as she raised on her toes, and kissed him.

She put it on moving as little as possible, then Ginny came in to help her with her hair. The mask went on last and completed the outfit. She went barefoot as everyone would, to be closer to the earth. Though, she didn't even know where they were going.

They came out, and Severus put his arms around her gently. She caught a glimpse of his thoughts. ' I did this to her, she's hurting because of me.' She flipped around, and ignoring the protests coming from her body, raised on tiptoe, and forced Severus' head down. He was surprised at her aggressiveness, and let her win. He met her mouth in a hot passionate kiss.

He felt at that exact moment the connection between his heart, and her. But more specifically his heart, and her power. He knew at that moment my the kiss of life was so rare. It took the persons power. It was taking Hermione's power to make his heart beat. He had in fact stolen a bit of her power. She was still dealing with the aftereffects of healing him because she was giving him his energy. He decided to push that thought aside for a moment, and just enjoyed kissing her.

Finally they came up for air, then Severus grabbed her and apparated. He set her down on an ebony throne, and took a seat next to her in an identical one. People started to arrived, and Hermione put on a smile, and she looked encouraging apparently because every bought it, except for Severus, and Ginny.

Harry didn't seem to be buying it either, but he would also be delivering his child tomorrow night. He was worried about ginny in labor. They had figured out that if they separated the potion, and did not use it right away then the unused portion would be worthless. They would be doing everything together, getting ready, and delivering around the same time. Hermione had worked out the formula. Twenty minutes for every week you had left in your term after a full nights sleep. They weren't exactly sure if you woke up and were full term, or if you grew when you woke. They knew you had to go naked until you stopped growing. Then you did what you could without potions to start your labor. Usually with twins you went into labor automatically, sometimes even before your body hit full term.

Hermione was anxious, and nervous when Snape had told her of the only potion that would trick Voldemort into thinking she was still pregnant. It was necessary especially now, but she didn't likee the side effects. She would have to have a duplicate spell put onto her. That would make exact replicas of the fetus' and then they would have to be transferred into her as soon as she delivered. It was a spell that would trick even Madame Promfrey. The downside was that she would have to carry the replicas to term, and then have an exact replica of her labor. That part would most definitely suck, but it was necessary. Voldemort could not know she had her children otherwise they would be targets. She would not allow that to happen.

The reception passed, and Severus was relentless in making her have a good time. She realized the world did not stop spinning, and she went on. When it was time to say their goodbyes, Hermione quickly pecked, and wove. Then the four apparated back to what they now all call their chambers. Hermione and Ginny both drank the potion, then got stark naked and went to bed.

Severus watched Hermione as she slept, she looked so peaceful. She looked delicious. Her breasts heavy on her chest, stomach round. He had not gone to sleep yet, it had been two hours since she went to sleep, and she had not changed. He decided nothing was going to happen that night, and went to sleep. He awoke to a groan, then a heavy weight fell onto him. Hermione fell onto him sideways. Like she had been levitating. He knew it was her because of her smell, but she felt wrong. He awoke quickly then, and took in the sight of his very pregnant wife.

She had heavy breasts now, they fell onto his chest and were warm. The nipples were darker, and more prominent. Her belly was the biggest change, it looked like she swallowed a watermelon. She looked beautiful, and her tattoo looked real against her skin. He heard a soft moan from the living room, and got up slowly as to not wake his wife. As he walked in, Ginny was gripping her stomach. "Braxton Hicks, My mom told me about them, I'm waiting for Harry to wake up so we can… get this baby on his way."

Severus knew the various strategies as to get the baby on it's way, he wasn't entirely comfortable with them, but he knew they would be done. He also knew he wouldn't 'fall short' when it came to it. They would have to have sex if all else failed and Hermione did not wake up in labor. Just like Ginny and Harry, they were trying to avoid using any more magic in the delivery, so they would have to do it the old fashioned way. Hermione came into the room fully dressed, followed by Harry.

Hermione looked enchanting, her belly was bigger than it had been in the bedroom, and she wore a green silk nightgown. It stretched across the great expanse of her stomach. When she walked she waddled a little bit, a great smile implanted itself on Severus' face.

"What?" Hermione said sounding agitated.

"You're waddling." Severus said with a smirk. Harry just barely reduced his chuckle to a cough.

"I am not!" Hermione retorted, then she hit Harry. Ginny walked over to Harry and began walking him away. Harry gave a nervous glance in Severus' direction.

"Remember what I said, I'm only a few feet away." Harry nodded his head at what Severus had said, and he followed Ginny.

Hermione started with the raspberry tea. Two hours and nothing they did was doing anything. They heard Ginny, and Harry both cry out at the same time. Hermione smiled, "Guess we know what they're doing, huh?"

"Yeah." Severus laughed. Hermione got heat in her eyes.

"I want to take a bath." Hermione said, and Severus didn't understand why that would give her that look. He looked at her quizzically.

She rolled her eyes. "I want to take a bath together, and you better remember to put the silencing charms up. I don't want them to know what we're doing."

Severus needed no further urging, and he swept Hermione up, then strained to carry her. He didn't show it, but he mentally scolded himself.

Then they were in the bathroom. The tub quickly filled, and they both stripped, Hermione kind of clumsily. He got in the water and held out his hand for her. She walked up the steps into the tub, and got in, she shivered slightly as she got into the water. He knew she wasn't cold. She sat down in the water invitingly. He scooted up to her and took one of her nipples in his mouth, he was surprised to find a sweet jet of fluid hit his tongue, she moaned and one hand clutched her stomach. He went to take his head away, but her other hand kept it there. He continued to suckle, and that brought low moans from Hermione. He raised his head and laughed as she let go. She lifted herself up and onto him, and plunged him inside in one motion. Somehow the water had not washed everything away. She was awkward, and eventually after many frustrating slips, and frustrated groans from Hermione he bent her over. The water cradled her stomach. She moved with him. Her hands were bracing her, and his moved to her breasts. Kneading her breasts drops of the clear fluid hit the water. Then he turned her again, he laid her on her back in the recliner portion of the tub. He started to thrust, and he knew he was hitting that spot. Her breathing changed and her body stiffened, he began to slow, but she slammed back into him. Then he realized, she felt it building, and it had to continue.

He pounded away fast, and the water actually changed an opaque shade of blue, and started to glow. With every thrust it got brighter, and the color darker. She started moaning deeper as he took her breast in his mouth, and began suckling once more. She got more vocal as it build, and it built for a while. He spilled over, but stayed stiff inside of her. He had taught himself this, and he kept on going. After another minute she screamed. Her body clamped down on him, and still being in her, and having direct contact with every part of her prolonged the contraction until she arched her back and broke the contact. About twenty seconds later she slowly lifted herself off of him, using the side of the tub as leverage, and he released her breast from his mouth.

They waited for ten more minutes, and when they had almost given up hope Hermione had another contraction.