Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery

by Ms-Figg

A reluctant Severus Snape is ardently pursued by Hermione. A few tantrums, hexes, nasty spells and wellplaced knees later an understanding is reached...sort of: RemusOFC too. Yummy. Alternate Universe, Humor, Lemons, Oral, Anal, More.

6. Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery 6

A/N: I would like to make you all aware that this story is an Alternate Universe story, and veers quite a bit from JKR's world in that it contains different characters. I have made a major change in one for the sake of the story…turning a canon character into an original character. It was much more fun that way. Lol. Still, I hope you'll continue reading. Thanks

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Becoming Familiar with a Man of Misery 6

Severus returned to the furniture shop and looked over the tagged items Hermione purchased. A crib, dresser, changing table, a rocker, bassinet, bedding, two lamps, a rug, and a mobile that had the names of several basic potions ingredients on it that said the names when it spun. He raised his eyebrows at this last item and fought back a smirk. She also had several cans of paint, off-white and yellow and green pastels.

"You might want to consider some extra storage items," the clerk suggested. Hermione shook her head.

"No, this is enough for now," Hermione said, wincing at the thought of what all this would cost.

"Tally it up," Severus said to the clerk, looking at Hermione.

She didn't seem able to meet his eyes. Severus looked down at the slight bulge again, and a warm feeling washed over him. Of course, he scowled. He caught her arm and walked her up to the counter, where he paid for all the items, giving the clerk his account information. Hermione gasped when she saw the total.

"Severus, that's too much!" she said, frowning.

The Potions Master's nostrils flared as he looked down his nose at her.

"Hermione, I have been saving my money for years. I have next to no expenses since I live and eat at Hogwarts, and my house is paid for. Except for the occasional item of clothing, I spend next to nothing. Plus I have residuals coming in from Potions I have marketed. I am fully able to afford this, and much more than this. Neither you nor my child will want for anything…ever. If there is anything worth spending my galleons on, it is you and my baby. I never want to hear you question the cost of anything I purchase. Am I understood?" he asked her imperiously.

"Yes," she said in a small voice.

"Good," he said, allowing his eyes to soften a bit as he looked at her.

Hermione felt her heart catch at the tender expression on his face. Maybe everything would be all right. He still hadn't said anything about becoming a father. It was obvious he intended to provide for her and the baby. But what about school, and her future? A child changed everything.

Severus soon scowled again as he gave the clerk the address for the goods to be shipped to, telling him he expected everything to be assembled as well. Finished, he caught her by the arm and escorted her out of the store.

"One more stop before I take you to the house," he said to her.

"Where?" Hermione asked looking up at him.

Severus looked down at her a moment, then placed his pale hand on the small bulge, rubbing it tenderly.

"Hogwarts," he said, disapparating with her.

---

"Yes, Severus, she's pregnant all right. Eight weeks and already showing," Poppy said, lowering both her wand and Hermione's shirt. She and the baby are healthy, though I think he or she will be a big one."

"I weighed nine pounds at birth," Severus said, looking at the petite witch worriedly. "My mother was bigger than Hermione. If my child is that large at birth, will that be a problem for her?"

Poppy looked at the Potions Master's worried expression.

"He really cares for the witch. That's good. Maybe he'll do the right thing," the medi-witch thought.

"She'll be fine, Severus. In the magical world we can help her with her birth so it is next to painless," Poppy reassured him as he helped Hermione sit up on the cot.

"I weighed eight pounds at birth and my mother did just fine," Hermione said, "And she's about the same size as I am."

Poppy smiled at her and patted her hand.

"You'll do just fine, my dear," she said, giving Hermione a comforting smile.

Hermione hopped off the cot, and Severus started.

"Hermione…are you mad? Don't jump around like that!" he said, scowling at her.

Hermione's face darkened, but Poppy interceded.

"Severus," she said severely, "Hermione is not made of glass. She should be encouraged to be active. The baby is well cushioned, believe me. Now, she's going to be going through a lot of changes, emotionally as well as physically, and she doesn't need you bullying her."

"Bullying her? I wasn't bullying her .I was simply…" the Potions Master started to say, but Poppy put her hands on her hips.

"I'm warning you right now, if you irritate her Severus, she'll end up leaving or hexing you terribly. Pregnant women can't take a lot of aggravation. You need to be on your best behavior. Your role is to support, NOT control," Poppy said frowning at him.

Severus looked at the medi-witch blackly, but Poppy didn't give an inch and matched him glare for glare. Finally, he sighed.

"Fine," he said shortly, taking Hermione's arm, "Thank you Poppy. We'll be going now."

"Thank you, Poppy," Hermione called back at her as Severus walked her toward the infirmary floo. He took a bit of powder out of the box on the mantle and tossed it into the fire.

"My rooms," he said.

The flames turned green and he escorted his pregnant lover through.

They emerged in his study. Raucous cawed a greeting to his master then squawked as he saw Hermione. He readied himself for a quick drip. Severus looked up at him and scowled blackly. The raven settled back on the rafters, miffed. His master ruined a perfect hit. Normally Severus didn't interfere with his attacks on the witch. What was going on? Raucous peered into his master's mind and quailed. Oh no! A chick?

Raucous shook his black head. He wouldn't be allowed to harass the witch while she was with egg. Humans took forever to hatch their chicks too, their eggs being internal. Quite inconvenient really. But then again, human females could move around and not be stuck on a nest all day, waiting for the males to feed them. Ah, well. At least he'd get a few good caws watching the witch roll around.

"Sit down, Hermione." Severus said, gesturing toward the chair. Hermione sat down, butterflies in her stomach. She knew it was time for them to talk.

Severus walked back to the floo, cast in some floo powder and called the kitchen. He ordered milk and a chef's salad with cubed chicken, Swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes and fresh sweet onions. Hermione listened to him. She had asked for salads but never in such detail. In a moment an elf popped in with a large bowl of salad, a fork, napkin and a huge glass of milk. Severus took the food from the elf and set it on the table next to Hermione. He sat down as the elf winked out.

"Eat," he said, looking at her, his eyes drifting down to her belly.

Hermione realized she was famished and picked up the bowl of salad and began to eat hungrily. Severus watched her consume every bit in silence, his black eyes washing over her. Hermione was like candy to his eyes. He hadn't touched her in two months. He wondered if it would be safe to indulge himself before taking her to the house. He missed her badly. Then his eyes drifted down to her belly again. He didn't know if it would hurt the baby. Poppy said the child was well cushioned. He wouldn't have to take her the way he usually did after being starved for her.

Severus had learned to enjoy slow, easy sex as well. But he knew that he would be tempted to drive into her hard and deep…reclaiming her after the long summer. Well, first they would talk and then…he'd see if she would accommodate him.

Hermione finished her milk, and felt sated. Her amber eyes drifted over the Potions Master, and she felt a sudden stab of desire. He hadn't touched her in so long. The Professor saw the heat that flashed in her eyes for a moment and knew in that instant she desired him just as much as he desired her. But they had to talk.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" he asked her in a low voice.

"I was afraid how you would react. Forgetting my patch was a stupid thing to do. It's all my fault," she replied, her eyes starting to fill up with tears.

Severus considered her for a moment.

"The last I heard, Hermione, it isn't possible for a woman to get pregnant alone. She requires sperm. I could have used a contraceptive as well as you. I left that responsibility on you alone, when it should have been a shared responsibility. It is not your fault, Hermione…both of us are responsible for the child you carry, and will be for the rest of our lives," he said, "But how did you think I would react to learning you were carrying my child?"

:"Severus, you are good to me…but I know you don't love me. I was afraid that you would think I did this on purpose, to trap you. To obligate you to me. To force a commitment out of you. But that's not the case," Hermione said.

"I wouldn't have thought that, Hermione. Not from you. Another woman, I might have considered it a purposeful entrapment. But I know you never planned on becoming a mother this soon. Your education was too important. A child would interfere with your plans," Severus said, looking at her intently.

"No, well, I'm not sure if I wanted to have children," she said hesitating as she remembered daydreaming about black-haired boys and bushy-haired girls with Severus. But that was all it had been. Severus had seen the ghost of her daydream as well. But it hadn't been a solid desire. More like a passing thought.

Severus leaned toward her.

"I am glad, Hermione, that you didn't terminate the pregnancy and kill our child. If I had found out…" he didn't continued. He didn't want to think how horrible his reaction would have been if he found out his child had been aborted. It didn't matter he never intended to be a father, the child would still have been his flesh.

Hermione frowned.

"I would never abort my child. But my parents had told me to think about adoption," she said hesitatingly, "I was considering it…"

"Without telling me? Without giving me a choice in the matter?" Severus asked, fighting to keep his temper in check.

"I've already taken away your choice," Hermione said, "by putting the baby up for adoption, you would still have your freedom. You wouldn't be saddled with a child you didn't want."

Severus was silent for several moments as he mentally calmed himself.

"What in the world would make you think I wouldn't want my own flesh and blood?" he asked her, "My own son or daughter?"

"Because…it would force you to deal with me until he or she reached adulthood," she said softly, looking away from him.

Severus considered the witch, his mind drifting to how she gave herself to him so freely.

"And dealing with you is supposed to be some horrible task?" he asked her, "I deal with you now and I find it quite delightful. Why do you suppose that would change?"

"Because our relationship wouldn't be carefree as it is now. You would have to provide monetary support for the baby, help me take care of him or her…you would have to share my time…" she said.

"Hermione, I have no problem with any of those things. You sound as if I am sacrificing instead of gaining. I assure you I do not see caring for my own child or the mother of my child as a burden. It will be a blessing that I never thought I would ever experience. I never intended on being a father, Hermione, but that doesn't mean I never wanted to be a father. There is a huge difference," he said taking her hand and kissing it.

"Hermione, you have moved my life into the realm of normalcy, and given me a most precious gift. It was unexpected, but believe me, it is not unwelcome. I want my child, and I want you…I can handle both…maybe more," he smirked at her as the thought of even more children crossed his mind.

He reached into his pocket and extracted a small box. Hermione's eyes widened.

"Severus, is that a ring?" she asked him, staring at the box as if it might bite her.

"Yes," he said, opening it and showing her the engagement ring. It was white gold with several diamonds across the band.

"I can't accept that, Severus. You would never have proposed to me if I wasn't pregnant," she said, her eyes watering again.

"And how do you know that, Hermione? Are you a seer? Perhaps I might not have done it this soon, but are you so certain that I never would have asked you to marry me?" he asked softly. "I'm not. You have no idea how much I've missed you these past two months. I asked you to move into my home so you would be close to me, in my domain, in my life in a more permanent way. That was before I knew you were pregnant. Can't you see the stages of it, Hermione? The unfolding of my heart for you?" he asked her.

Hermione didn't answer him, but there had been many wonderful changes in him over the past few months. He was more affectionate. He didn't hide his relationship with her. He treated her more as a woman and less as an object for his pleasure…but still…what about love?

Severus looked down at the ring.

"This ring was on its way, Hermione, believe me. The fact that I put it on your finger sooner, rather than later makes no difference to me…it was going to be placed there eventually if you accepted me. I want no other woman. You are bound to me, and can have no other man while I live…and you say you love me. You do don't you?" he asked her.

"Yes, I do Severus. You know I do," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "But what about you. Do you love me, Severus? Or are you doing the honorable thing for the sake of the child I carry?"

"I am doing this for a number of reasons, Hermione. Yes, the welfare of the child is important. I want him or her to have my name. I also want a stable family life for my child, a household with a live-in mother and father, not a few galleons sent here and there for diapers or milk, or weekend pick-ups, or scattered overnight conjugal visits with you while he or she sleeps in the next room, then I'm gone in the morning. What kind of life would that be for you? You would have to put your dreams on hold without me, Hermione. This life growing in you is a gift, not a sacrifice. Together we can work it out," he said sincerely.

"But what about love, Severus? I want your love. I don't want you to marry me for the sake of this child only. Or because you feel guilty that my plans have to change. You can still give our baby your name without marrying me. I don't want to marry you if you don't love me. Call me selfish or even crazy, because you are offering me everything else. Everything but the one thing I want the most," she said, reaching out and closing the box gently.

"I'll stay in your house, I'll have your child. I'll share your bed, Severus. I will be a good mother to our child, and continue to love you as dearly as I do now. But I won't take your name until I know you want me to have it from your heart. Your heart, Severus, not your sense of duty," she said softly.

Severus stared at her and wished he could tell her what she longed to hear. But he couldn't Yet she agreed to stay with him and raise his child. Still, there would be gossip…maybe scandal. She would still be an unwed mother and many would look down on her for that. The wizarding world was not near as forgiving as the muggle world. An unmarried mother was still treated as a pariah.

"Hermione, if you remain unwed, you may be targeted for shame and ridicule," he said gently, "let me spare you that."

"I can handle adversity, Severus," Hermione said firmly. "But what about you?"

"I will be thought of as a cad most likely. It will only add to the already long list of derogatory titles I've received over the years. I can handle ridicule. I can promise you this as well, if anyone dares to mistreat you in my presence, I will call them out," he said darkly.

"I don't want my child's father in Azkaban," Hermione said softly.

Severus looked at her, and felt a pulse in his loins.

"Hermione," he said, a slight hoarseness in his voice that Hermione recognized at once as desire.

"It's been a long time for us, hasn't it?" she said to the Potions Master.

"Yes," he agreed, his eyes falling to her belly. They probably conceived their baby the day he asked her to move into his house.

Hermione saw where his black eyes were focused.

"Don't worry Severus. Sex won't hurt the baby," she said.

"Even my sex?" he breathed, looking at the witch hungrily.

"Later on you will have to tone it down, but right now I could take your best…or worst," she said, feeling the familiar ache for him start to throb between her thighs.

He arched an eyebrow at her.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Yes. I've missed you, Severus," she said, biting her lip against the desire that began to pulse through her.

"You're absolutely sure?" Severus asked her again.

Hermione was burning up now, and scowled at his hesitation.

"Damn it, Severus. Don't question me. I've missed you, I want you and I need you. Poppy told you not to treat me like I'm made of glass. I need to know you still want me," she breathed at him. "I need you to take me the way you know I need to be taken."

Severus knew what that meant. The witch didn't want slow and easy.

The wizard went rock hard so fast Severus was almost dizzy from the sudden rush of blood from one head to the other. His body took over now. The Potions Master stood up and scooped Hermione out of the chair, then strode with her quickly to his bedroom, kicking the door closed.

Raucous looked at the closed door, squawked and shook his head in disgust. He knew the headboard would be banging against the wall in short order, and the witch would be shrieking like a banshee.

Raucous leapt off the rafter and winged his way toward the floo, which turned immediately green as he soared through.

He just wasn't up for the noise this afternoon.

---

Severus and Hermione spent a bit more time than they intended getting reacquainted and slaking their desire for each other. The Potions Master couldn't recollect a more intense, intimate interlude with the witch, he must have touched, kissed, licked and explored every inch of Hermione's body ten times over, the fact that she was carrying his child endearing her to him more than he ever thought possible, by the time he took her, she was begging for him. Her ferocity and passion stunned him. She kept whispering "more" and "harder, Severus" and a slew of erotic obscenities and sweet endearments that drove him wild.

Raucous had been right, there was headboard banging and shrieking going on, but the Potions Master was just as vocal as the witch this time, he was so lost in the woman, lost in what she carried for him, the gift she'd inadvertently given him, and he couldn't get close enough to her, though Merlin knows he tried his very best to climb inside her. It was five hours before they emerged from the bedroom, showered, tired and both relatively happy.

If Hermione had any doubts of Severus' continued ardor for her, he had dispelled them without question. He had also told her passionately as he buried himself repeatedly in her body that she wouldn't have to give up any of her dreams, that he would be there for her and help her reach her goals. His words affected Hermione like an aphrodisiac or lust potion and the witch responded to him powerfully. He had never experienced so many orgasms from her in so short a time.

Afterwards, as he lay there with the sleeping witch on his chest, Severus wondered if pregnancy affected a witch's sex drive. If it did, he was in for a very pleasurable next few months. The idea of her rounding up with his child was very arousing to him. She would be even more beautiful to him than she was now.

They ate before disapparating for Little Hangelton, appearing with a crack in front of the cutest little house Hermione had ever seen. There was no way she would have associated the light blue house, white picket fence, flowers, wind chimes and immaculate lawn with the dark wizard. It was just too bright, too homey. No doubt this was all Eli's work. She walked around the house. It had a nice sized backyard, a patio with a grill on it and a table and chairs, and a lovely, babbling little stream, about half a foot deep flowing past it. No houses bordered it however, it was set off by at least an acre from the nearest home. Severus watched as she inspected the yard, his dark eyes watching her every move. Hermione turned to him.

"What a lovely home you have, Severus," she said to him smiling.

The wizard looked at her soberly.

"No. What a lovely home we have," he responded. "Do you think it suitable for a child?"

"Yes," she breathed, "Although we will need a fence to separate the brook."

"Consider it done," Severus said, "Let's go inside."

Severus and Hermione entered the house through the back door. There was a small foyer with coat hooks that opened on the kitchen. The kitchen was painted a bright cheery yellow, and the sink was by the window that looked out into the back yard. A box of fresh, green herbs sat in the window. A yellow and white table with four chairs sat in the middle of the kitchen, and there was a dishwasher and cooler. There were white cabinets, a pantry and plenty of counter space covered in a speckled yellow marble. The table was set for four with bright, fruit covered dishes, and the floor was tiled and matched the countertops. It was adorable.

"Master! You is home!" squeaked an excited voice.

A house elf bounded up to them, all bows and smiles. It was Eli, Severus' servant of many years. He grinned at the couple.

"You is not telling me you is coming," the house elf beamed. He looked at Hermione.

"Hello Miss," he said rather shyly but looking at her curiously. The Master had never brought a female to his home.

"Eli, this is Hermione. She is going to be living here," Severus said to the elf.

Eli beamed even more.

"Will Master will be staying as well?" the elf asked excitedly. He doted on Severus and would love for the dark wizard to dwell in the house. It was quite lonely.

"I will be here much more frequently, yes Eli," Severus replied.

The elf did a little wild jig of joy. Then his brown eyes washed over Hermione again, and he noticed the small bulge. Eli froze, his eyes rising to meet Hermione's.

"The Miss is with child?" he asked her, quivering.

Hermione looked at the elf.

"Yes, I am Eli," she responded.

The elf looked from her to Severus and back again. He didn't dare hope, but he had to ask.

"Is it Master's child, Miss?" Eli asked in an almost reverent whisper.

"Yes Eli, she carries my child," Severus answered for her.

The elf burst into tears, his tiny shoulders shuddering.

"A blessing!" he blubbered, "A great and welcome blessing, Master. I prays for this day, when I would have a child to love again!"

He turned his great brown eyes toward Hermione.

"You is most welcome in this house, Miss. Most welcome. I will serve you well, you will wants for nothing, you and the young one, Miss," he said bowing to her several times, his eyes wet.

"Thank you, Eli," Hermione said, reaching out and stroking the elf's head gently. He looked at her with adoration.

"She will be staying in your rooms, Master?" he asked.

Severus looked at Hermione.

"It is up to her, Eli," he responded.

"Yes, I will be sharing your Master's bed, Eli," she responded.

The elf danced about again. His Master had a witch of his own and a child on the way. This was a happy, happy day. He didn't think to wonder about marriage…house elves didn't marry, they simply claimed their mates. Clearly his Master had claimed the witch, or he wouldn't have made her with child and brought her to his home to share his bed.

Severus fished in his pocket and took out the small box of Hermione's things. He handed them to the elf.

"Here are her things, Eli. As you see they've been reduced. Place them in our bedroom. A shipment of maternity clothing and nursery furniture will be arriving either late tonight or early tomorrow. I expect you to oversee the delivery, storage of her clothing and the assembly of furniture. Also there will be painting according to what Hermione wants. You will help her," Severus said.

Eli was beside himself with joy. He had work to do!

"Yes Master!" Eli said, bowing very low. He looked at Hermione, then at Severus.

"Master, she is with child…another Snape. May I?" the elf asked.

Severus nodded.

Suddenly the elf began to glow golden, and a tendril of light stretched out from the little creature and wrapped around Hermione, who gasped as she was enveloped with warmth. It squeezed her a bit, and she felt as if something had been added to her, then the light snapped back to Eli with a crack of thunder. The elf bowed low to her.

"Thank you, Mistress," the elf said, rising and looking at her with affection.

Hermione looked at Severus.

"What did he just do?" she asked him, staring at the elf.

"He has bound himself to you because you carry a Snape. He is as much your servant as he is mine now. He will serve you, protect you and even give his life for you if need be." Severus replied.

"Oh Eli, you didn't have to do that!" she exclaimed to the elf.

Eli frowned slightly.

"Yes, Mistress. You is mother to a Snape, and therefore a Snape. I is duty-bound to serve you and your child," the elf said soberly.

"But, I'm not a Snape. I'm not married to your Master," she said.

The elf waved his clawed hand in negation.

"You is Snape, Mistress. Papers and ceremonies is nothing to house elves. You is bound to him by the child you carries. I is bound to you by the child you carries until I dies," he said with finality.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Severus placed his hand on her arm.

"It's no use, Hermione. Eli is your servant now. Nothing you can say will change that. You'll get used to him. He will be a great help to you," the wizard said, smirking at her. Severus remembered Hermione's failed crusade for house elf rights. Having one for a servant must rankle her.

Eli looked down at the small box in his hand.

"Eli must go and make the room suitable for Mistress," he said, smiling at both witch and wizard. Suddenly he winked out.

"Would Mistress like to see the rest of the house?" Severus asked her in a squeaking whining voice that made her scowl blackly at him.

"Severus, you knew this would happen," she said to him accusingly.

The Potions Master caught her arm.

"Yes, I did," he agreed, "and it puts my mind at ease to know that when I am not present, Eli will watch over you and help you. And he will make sure you eat properly. You eat like a bird, picking here and picking there. He won't stand for it. You will have three balanced and square meals a day. He will make you lunch for school as well," the wizard said as he walked her into the living room.

Like his study at Hogwarts, the living room was covered in bookshelves, more rare titles. Hermione walked over to them, letting out little exclamations as she read the bindings.

"Unlike the books in my study at Hogwarts, you have free access to these tomes. They come with the territory," he said.

Hermione actually did have free reign of his books at Hogwarts. Severus would glower at her when she took them off the shelves, but he never stopped her from reading them. He would simply mutter about her taking advantage of his desire for her, and let her read.

There was comfortable furniture in the living room, two plush sofas, one large and one small, and two armchairs arranged in front of the fireplace with a small table between them, much like in his study at Hogwarts. There was also a small writing desk and a liquor cabinet. But unlike his study, the room was airy and brightly painted in off-white, and had several large, leafy plants. It also had a huge window to let in natural light which opened on the side of the yard.

Severus led her down a hallway. There was a bathroom off to the right, with a normal sized tub and shower combination, a loo, vanity, sink and mirror, tiled in light blue. Then there were three bedrooms. Severus led her into their bedroom. Eli was there, putting her things away happily.

Hermione was delighted to find it wasn't furnished in Slytherin colors. It had a huge four-poster bed, a large mirrored dresser and two wardrobes and a walk-in closet. It also had a master bathroom with a huge sunken tub surrounded by scented faucets, a large walk-in shower with a glass door, two sinks, a linen closets full of fluffy towels and shelves full of lotions, shampoos and conditioners.

"I installed a jasmine scented spigot," Severus said, reaching for a tap and turning it on. The smell of jasmine filled the bathroom as rich lather and water spewed out of the faucet.

Hermione smiled at him. That was very thoughtful.

"There is also a special jasmine scented shampoo I brewed for you myself. You left a few hairs behind in my bed, and I created a shampoo that is specifically for your hair type," he said, picking up a white bottle and offering it to her.

Hermione opened it. It smelled wonderful.

"Thank you, Severus," she said. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, leaning her head on his chest. "Thank you for everything."

The Potions Master wrapped his own arms around the witch reactively. He could feel the little swell of her belly against him, and suddenly felt fiercely protective. He pressed his lips to her temple.

"Hermione, you be sure to tell me or Eli if you need anything. Anything at all. Do you understand me? No hedging about it. I want you lacking for nothing," he said gruffly as he held her to hide the strong emotions he was feeling.

"All right Severus," she murmured against his chest. She felt very safe in his arms. She wondered if he were going to stay the night with her.

"Severus, will you be staying the night?" she asked him, pulling back from his embrace.

He looked at her.

"I had intended to return to Hogwarts tonight…but if you'd like me to stay, Hermione…I will," he said softly. "But if I stay…we'd have to break the bed in."

Hermione scowled at him as she felt him hardening against her at the thought of it.

"Severus, after all that activity earlier, aren't you tired? I swear, I think you sneak sips of lust potion or something. The amount of sex you want from me can't be normal," she said.

"Well, little Miss know-it-all, do you have any statistics locked away in that brain of yours as to the normal amount of sex a couple engages in?" he asked her sarcastically.

"Actually, there are no hard cold facts on what's normal," Hermione replied, a little miffed she couldn't give him a standard. "But it's pretty much a given that having a child slows down the sex life," she said. At least that was something she could present.

"Given by whom?" Severus growled, "I assure you, I will want you child or no child. And will make sure you want me too."

Hermione snorted back a laugh. Severus was way too intense. But his intensity was quite a turn on for her. She loved being wanted by him.

"The bedroom is ready, Mistress," Eli said, smiling at both of them in a rather lascivious manner, "shall I turn back the covers?"

It was obvious the elf thought some serious in-outie was going to happen tonight.

Severus gave Hermione a heated look.

"Yes, you may Eli. The Mistress and I need to gather research for some 'personal statistics,'" he said, smirking down at her.

Eli gave his Master a rather confused look, shrugged and proceeded back into the bedroom to turn down the covers. He also laid out a short silk nightgown for Hermione and a pair of silk boxers for the Master. He doubted either garment would be used, but they were available if needed.

The elf walked back to the bathroom door.

"Will the Master or Mistress be needing anything else?" he asked, bowing.

"No, Eli. You may go," Severus said, his black eyes locked on Hermione.

"Thank you, Eli," Hermione said to the elf, who beamed at her.

"No, thank you Mistress. You makes this old elf very happy," Eli replied, bowing low to her again.

Eli winked out.

"He's sweet," Hermione said to Severus.

"You say that now," the wizard replied, "when he is looking after you, you might change your mind. He is quite determined."

"I'm sure I can handle him," she replied as Severus led her to the bedroom. He began to undress her.

"I hope you're taking notes," he breathed, a wicked grin on his face.

---

Hermione returned to university with her hours and recommendations and was initially well received. But in the passing weeks, she noticed a difference in the way her professors were treating her. She was showing her state now, and there was no ring on her finger. What was happening was that her questions were being passed over for the most part, and her marks were lower than what they should have been. She was doing the same quality of work as she usually did.

Fed up, she approached her Potions Professor with her latest marks, and asked him why they were so low.

Professor Floodsworth looked at her, his gray eyes resting on her belly with a look of distaste.

"Miss Granger," he said, "emphasizing the 'Miss', "I gave you the grade I felt you deserved. You must realize that at the university, we focus on students that have a promising future and serious drive. Your current state shows that you are no longer in the running as a witch of consequence. Despite the quality of your work, your situation shows me you are unsuitable for pursing working in the Potions field. I will not give you marks that encourage pursuit in that field."

"You're giving me lower grades because I'm pregnant?" Hermione asked him incredulously.

"I'm giving you the marks you deserve, Miss Granger. It isn't the point you are pregnant. It is that you are unwed and pregnant, and as such show a lack of morality, ethics and virtue. You have disregarded the principles of conduct. Without morality and ethics, you will not make a good candidate in any field of magic, all of which require those particular qualities. You will find your other professors in agreement with me on this. You've thrown a perfectly good career away, Miss Granger, through your promiscuity. No one will send you out of university to serve in any position of worth. Your character is not suitable."

"How dare you question my character when you do not even know my situation?" Hermione said, frowning at the professor.

His eyes dropped to her belly.

"I know all I need to know," he responded with a sneer, "Do you even know who the father is?"

"Of course I do," Hermione said, seething.

"Well, he can't be much of a wizard if he would leave you in this condition, about to rear a bastard on your own," the Professor said. "Perhaps it would be best for you to withdraw, Miss Granger, place the child up for adoption, then return to us. Still, there would be the shame, but you might manage to get higher marks than you will while carrying this…this child. You are setting a bad example for the other witches who attend university. We don't want to send them the message that it is all right to be unwed and pregnant after all."

Hermione glared at him.

"But professor, you know I have the ability to excel in the field of Potions, regardless of my personal situation. Doesn't intelligence, hard work and drive account for anything? I've kept my grades perfect throughout my three years attending school. Doesn't that mean anything? It has to mean something," she said, her hand trembling. She felt like hexing the wizard, but that would get her expelled.

"It meant something before you threw your life away bearing a child out of wedlock. How do you hope to accomplish anything when you have such a responsibility? No one will want to hire you anyway, Miss Granger, once they discover your shame. An unmarried witch with a child is considered little more than a whore. That is the way you are and will be viewed. Now I am finished with this discussion. The marks I gave you will hold," he said.

"This is blatant sexism!" Hermione said, outraged.

"This is the way it is in the wizarding world, Miss Granger. I am aware of your muggle roots. Your condition may be acceptable in that world, but not this one…I assure you. There has always been a different standard for witches in our world. It is accepted. Perhaps you should return to the muggle world. It will be easier there for you than here," the professor said, picking up his notes and preparing to leave. "That being said, good day Miss Granger."

He exited the classroom. Hermione leaned back against a desk, her eyes filling with tears. She had noticed the drop in marks in all her classes. Even the ones with female instructors. This couldn't be considered remotely fair. She gathered her books and walked over to the Administration building and asked to see the Dean.

The student behind the counter looked at her belly, then at her hands. She frowned slightly and told her to take a seat rather dismissively. Hermione did so, aware of the aura of disapproval radiating from the young woman. She also noticed that aura wafting from everyone who looked at her, always from the belly to the hands first, then the slight frown. She sat there for about forty-five minutes before she was called to the Dean's office.

Dean Wankton was an older wizard, balding on top with gray hair rolling around it his head in a fringe. He had a thick gray mustache, and an air of dignity. His eyes dropped to Hermione's belly and her empty ring fingers, but he had the good grace not to frown, though his blue eyes took on a worried look. He had a folder on his desk in front of him. He cleared his throat, then addressed her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Granger. How may I be of assistance today?" he asked her.

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Dean Wankton," Hermione said, her hands twisting in her lap nervously. "I'd like to talk to you about unfair treatment I am receiving from my Professors. They are purposely giving me low grades because of my condition. Surely you don't approve of this, sir?"

The Dean leveled his eyes at her.

"Miss Granger, up to this point in time you have been an exemplary and extraordinarily gifted student. Your marks were phenomenal, and we had high hopes for your placement. However, in view of your condition as an unwed witch, you have rendered yourself unsuitable for placement now. You have no one else to blame for this but yourself. To give you grades that belie your lack of moral fiber and questionable character would be misleading to the public, Miss Granger. No Professor is going to promote you, despite your marks in the past. Were it in my power, I would remove you from university as you set a bad example for other female students. But it is not. It would be best if you withdrew," he said evenly.

The Dean certainly didn't mince words. He believed as Professor Floodsworth did. He too viewed her as little more than a whore and wanted her out of his school. It was as if everything she had ever accomplished was reduced to nothing because of the child she carried in her womb.

"I can't believe that my carrying a child makes everything I've accomplished null and void. My mind is just as sharp as always, and the quality of my work remains unchanged. Surely you can see the unfairness of this, Dean Wankton. I can accomplish great things with my degree," she said to the Dean, who was looking at her with distaste now.

"Your lack of virtue certainly does change everything, Miss Granger. You are a witch. It is hard enough for a witch of excellent character to make it in an established field dominated by wizards. You will not be accepted as an unwed mother. You have not only let yourself down, but your sex as well. You may have opened doors for other witches in the more prominent fields of magic where they are sadly lacking. No one could have questioned your abilities, your intelligence and your knowledge."

The Dean looked at her, shaking his head dolefully for a moment.

"Unfortunately, once you have shown a lack of moral fiber, no one wants you, no matter how brilliant you are, Miss Granger. The only positions available to you now are unskilled ones, and you may have a problem getting gainful employment even then. Perhaps you should withdraw. Once the board finds out your condition, your scholarship will be withdrawn. There is a condition of your enrollment which states you cannot indulge in immoral activities. You have obviously done so. I have hesitated reporting you, hoping you would withdraw on your own. But after this conversation I think I would be lax in my duties if I did not make them aware of your state of expectancy without a husband. I will contact them this afternoon," the Dean said, closing her folder.

Hermione was aware of the terms of her scholarship, but students engaged in sex constantly. Obviously, the crime was getting knocked up. She looked at the Dean.

"I can't believe this is happening," she said, her lip trembling.

"You should have thought about what having an illegitimate child in the wizarding world would mean, Miss Granger. You have been relegated to a status occupied only by women of the most reprehensible character," he said.

"Meaning whores and prostitutes," Hermione replied, scowling.

"Precisely," the Dean said, looking at his watch. "Now, Miss Granger, I have an appointment in five minutes. If you would kindly show yourself out."

Hermione looked at the Dean a moment more, then rose to her feet and exited his office wordlessly. There was nothing more she could say. If the Dean of the school ascribed to this archaic belief that a witch who had a child out of wedlock was unsuitable for a professional career, then certainly the Professors would not be reprimanded. She realized that it was all a concerted effort to get her to leave university.

She had one more class to go to, but what was the sense? She headed for the main floo.

"My home," she said, tossing floo powder into the flames and stepping through.

---

Eli had a time trying to get Hermione to eat that evening. He offered her the blackened shrimp, baby peas and buttered corn several times to no avail. Hermione was in no mood to eat. Finally, tired of the elf nagging her, she whipped out her wand and pointed it squarely between Eli's eyes, which crossed as he looked at the tip of it.

"I…don't…want…it," she seethed at the stricken elf. Eli had never had a wand turned on him before, and found it quite distressing.

"But…but…the baby, Mistress. He needs feeding. Only you can feed him," the elf said imploringly.

At that moment, Hermione's belly bounced.

"You see, Mistress? He is hungry. He wants food," Eli said, as Hermione's hand went to her belly. "If not for you, Mistress, then for the child inside you."

Hermione lowered her wand. Eli was right. She couldn't neglect the child because she was in no mood to eat. She sighed and took the plate from Eli.

"For the baby," she said, spearing a shrimp, putting it in her mouth and chewing, forcing herself to swallow it down. It was tasty, but that didn't make it any easier to eat.

"Yes, for the baby," Eli agreed, nodding his head and sitting opposite her to make sure she ate every drop. He was relieved she didn't hex him. Pregnant witches were quite dangerous. But something was troubling the witch. Eli's ears moved forward a bit.

"I begs your pardon, Mistress, but why is you so sad you don't eat?" he asked furtively.

Hermione sighed. She didn't know how much the house elf understood about the way things work in the wizarding world, but he had two big ears to listen.

"They want me to leave the university because I am having this child and am not married," she said to the elf, who cocked his head.

"Do you wants to leave uni-ver-sitee?" the elf asked. He didn't know why it should matter that she wasn't married, but obviously it did.

"No, I've worked very hard to get where I am," she said.

"So gets married," the elf said as if that would be the answer to everything. "Master has rings."

Hermione looked at the elf. If only it was that easy.

"The Master doesn't love me," Hermione said, "He cares for me, but doesn't love me, Eli. I don't want to marry him if he doesn't love me."

Eli looked at the witch as if she were mad.

"Master does love the Mistress!" he said, "But Master has a broken heart. It is hard for him to say love. But he shows love, yes? He brings you home. He buys you all. He shares his bed. He asks Eli constantly what you eat and do. He gives you good in-outie. I hears it. It is very good for both of you. Why you think he doesn't love the Mistress?"

"Because he won't tell me he does," Hermione replied, wondering at the house elf's perception of his Master's love for her.

"I have known my Master since he come to the world, Mistress. I have seen him in love before. He is the same now. But is scared to say it. Scared of hurt. He loves you, Mistress. Marry him and things will be good again at uni-ver-sitee," the elf said earnestly.

"But the things he does could be because of the baby, Eli, not because of me," she replied, hoping the elf had an answer for her that could prove her wrong.

"Master told me that you was to come before you was with child. Master has never brought a female to this house. He wants you for you before the child. I see the love in his eyes, Mistress…not in his mouth but his eyes. Look at his eyes for love, Mistress. You will see what words cannot say," the elf encouraged.

The elf sounded so sure, so sincere. Was she so stuck on wanting to hear him say he loved her that she couldn't see it?

"Is Severus coming tonight, Eli?" she asked the elf, who nodded.

"Yes Mistress, Master tells Eli this by floo when he checks to see if you has eaten breakfast," he replied.

"He checks to see if I eat?" Hermione asked the elf, bemused.

"Every day he calls Eli to check," the elf responded, beaming. "He likes round. Wants you nice and round."

Hermione had noticed how Severus' eyes lingered on her belly and breasts whenever he saw her. In bed, he refused to let her wear a nightgown, and constantly caressed her belly. He paid quite a bit of attention to her breasts as well. Many nights she felt as if he were trying to nurse rather than arouse her. And when she complained she was fat, he would tell her she was beautiful, then show her he meant it in no uncertain terms.

She considered what Eli had said. He had helped raise Severus after all, and served him all his life. He probably knew the wizard better than anyone else alive. And the elf believed he loved her.

"Eli, you believe your Master truly loves me?" she asked the elf, wanting confirmation.

"Yes Mistress. But Eli not believe. Eli knows," the elf said, his brown eyes fixed on her.

The two stared at each other across the kitchen table.

"Look deep. Then Mistress knows too," the elf said softly.

Suddenly they heard a 'foomph!' signaling someone had entered by floo.

"Eli?" Severus' voiced bellowed, "where are you and the Mistress?"

"In the kitchen, Master," Eli called back. The elf looked at Hermione.

"Looks deep," he said to her in a whisper, "You will see it."

Severus walked through the door, directly to Hermione and kissed her. He looked at her half eaten plate and scowled.

"Eat," he said imperiously, sitting at the table and leveling his black eyes at her.

Hermione stared at him searchingly, trying to see what Eli saw.

---

Hermione stared at Severus so hard, he wiped a pale hand over his face and looked at his palm, inspecting it. Then he looked at Hermione.

"Is something on my face, Hermione?" he asked her, taking another wipe.

Hermione started. Her searching was too obvious.

"Ah, no Severus. There was, but it's gone now," she lied, spearing another shrimp.

"How was school today?" he asked her.

Hermione finished chewing her shrimp, swallowed it, then hesitated a moment before answering him.

"It was fine," she said, her amber eyes shifting slightly.

Severus caught both the hesitation and the eye shift. He knew from back when she was a student, that she wasn't telling him the truth. She always hesitated and her eyes shifted when she lied. He decided to let her finish her food. He'd find out how her day went, even if he had to wait until she was asleep and use legilimency on her. It bothered the wizard when she wasn't open with him. He didn't think she was hiding how her day went to be sneaky. More than likely she didn't want to upset him…which did upset him.

Hermione finished her food and drank the milk Eli placed on the table.

"Aren't you going to eat Severus?" she asked him.

"No, I had supper at Hogwarts," he replied searching her face. She had a tiny bit of acne on her nose, and her face was filling out. She was gaining weight, which was good. Severus stood up and extended his hand.

"Come, let us go to the study. I have parchments to mark, and I'm sure you have some assignments to complete before bed," he said as Hermione took his hand. She didn't feel like doing her assignments. What was the use?

Hermione allowed the Potions Master to escort her to the living room and the writing table. She sat down. There were quills and parchments there, waiting for her. Mostly she had writing assignments to complete. There was an essay due on charm work, but her heart wasn't in writing it. She sat at the table staring at the parchment.

Severus sat down at the desk. He had deposited the stack of parchments on the desktop when he first arrived and now leafed through them. He set the papers down, opened his bottle of red ink, selected a quill and dipped it inside. He started marking the papers and was at it about ten minutes when he noticed Hermione wasn't working. That was odd. This was the first night since she had come to the house that she wasn't writing or studying. Severus put the quill down and walked over to the witch. Hermione was so distracted, she didn't hear him approach. But the Potions Master was always rather quiet when he walked.

He stopped in front of the desk and looked down at the witch.

"Hermione, what's wrong? Why aren't you working? Surely you have assignments. The last year of university is always fraught with work," he said, looking at the witch with concern.

"I just don't feel like working, Severus," she replied softly.

"Are you sick?" he asked, placing a cool hand on her brow. No, her temperature was fine.

"No," she said, her bottom lip starting to quiver.

Now Severus was sure she was upset. He took her arm and led her to the sofa and sat her down. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her into him so her head rested on his shoulder.

"Something happened today, didn't it?" he asked her.

Hermione didn't answer him, but her eyes filled with tears. Already, Severus felt his chest tighten. Someone had done something to the witch. Probably related to her pregnancy. He scowled at the thought of anyone upsetting his pregnant lover.

"Tell me what happened today, Hermione," he coaxed her.

"I…I…can't talk about it Severus," she said, "it's just too awful."

"Then let me see," he said gently, placing two fingers against her temple. He felt her resisting.

"Let me see, Hermione," he said, this time with command in his voice. He felt her occulmency walls lower and let him through as the witch started crying softly.

He watched and listened to her conversation with Professor Floodsworth, and his whole body tightened with rage as the idiot said she was considered a whore, and questioned her morality and ethics, suggesting she return to the muggle world and all manner of insulting, unfair comments toward her. Then he witnessed the Dean's remarks, equally insulting, and learned how she would lose her scholarship. He also saw her draw her wand on Eli. He was rather startled at this, but after the day she'd had, he could see how she felt she was at the end of her rope.

He noted with approval Eli was able to convince her to eat using the growing child within her as impetus without getting hexed. He heard Hermione tell Eli her problems…then suddenly she raised the occulmency walls. What had she spoken to Eli about that she didn't want him to see? He wouldn't be able to get it out of the elf. He kept Hermione's secrets as well as his own. Severus withdrew from her mind, completely enraged but keeping a tight rein on it.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. But I warned you this would happen," he said softly, pulling her against him tighter. He planned to pay a little visit to the Dean tomorrow.

"I just couldn't believe that people who seemed so open to knowledge could be so archaic when it came to women," she sniffed.

"The wizarding world is hardly progressive in social issues, Hermione. We live by codes that were followed centuries ago. Unwed witches used to be exiled. At least that practice has died," he said, caressing her hair.

"No, they still exile women…in a different way, Severus. By removing all opportunity. Forcing them into a life of hardship while they live among plenty. Denying them education and decent jobs, slandering them and making them objects of ridicule and shame. I imagine the children of unwed witches suffer too," she said bitterly.

"Yes. They are treated quite badly if they are born bastards," Severus replied softly. "Albus does not allow mistreatment of such children at Hogwarts, but in the adult world, if the condition of their births are made known, they suffer the same fate as their mothers and are regulated to a lower status and deprived of the ability to advance, no matter how adept they are."

Hermione digested this quietly. So if she didn't marry Severus by the time she delivered the baby, she would be condemning her child to the life of a second-class citizen or worse. Hermione was aware of discrimination in the wizarding world since she was a muggle-born…but her brilliance was always a cushion, though she knew many thought of her as the exception to the muggle-born rule. But she had never experienced such blatant discrimination. The thought of her child having to live with such injustice made her heart tighten with grief. It couldn't happen. She pulled away from Severus and looked at him.

"Severus, I want you to do something for me," she said to him.

"What Hermione?" he asked her, his dark eyes locked to hers. He would do almost anything for the witch if it were in his power.

"I want you to think of how you feel about me…not tell me, but just think about it," she said softly.

"Why, Hermione?" he asked her.

"It has to do with something Eli told me tonight," she said, "will you do it, please?"

"Of course," he said, and he began to think about the witch, from the time she approached him and he brutally turned her away, how he finally gave in to her desire for him and his own lust toward her, how she gave her virginity to him and took an oath of loyalty, how she braved Voldemort and almost died saving him, how she submitted to his darkest desires, how she gave her entire heart to him, asking nothing in return but to be with him, and how she now carried his child. There were many other acts, deeds and characteristics the witch evidenced that went through his mind, things that endeared her to him greatly. He became lost in his thoughts about her, unaware that the witch was watching him closely, particularly watching his eyes as his thoughts took him over.

Hermione watched him for several minutes, then broke into his flow.

"Severus, look at me," she breathed.

The Potions Master's dark eyes fell on her, and the look in them, the tenderness, the caring, the warmth, the desire…and yes, the love she saw there washed over her like a powerful flood.

"He does love me. It's all there, in his eyes…just like Eli said. How couldn't I have seen it?" she thought, looking up at the wizard. A slow smile lit up her face.

Severus looked puzzled. What had he done to make her smile like that? He wished he knew so he could do it more often. He looked at her closer. She seemed to glow.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" he asked her.

"I'm better than I've been in a long time, Severus," she replied softly.

"Why?" he asked her, his face showing his puzzlement.

"Because I've found what I've been looking for," she said, "It was there and I just couldn't see it."

Severus' brow wrinkled. The witch was talking in riddles.

"I think I'd like that ring now, Severus," she said to him softly.

"Ring…what ri…" Severus began, then stopped as he realized what the witch was saying.

"You mean you'll marry me, even though I haven't given you what you want from me?" he asked her, hardly believing his ears.

"Yes. You've given me everything I want Severus," she said.

"But…"

Hermione placed the tips of her fingers against his mouth.

"Just get the ring, Severus," she said softly.

The stunned Potions Master stood up as if under the Imperious curse and walked to a section of the wall covered by books. He took out his wand and said an incantation, and a portion of the books slid back, revealing a safe. He opened it and took out the small box he had presented her the day he discovered she was pregnant with his child. He swallowed, a bit nervously, glad he was turned away from the witch. It wouldn't do for her to see him lose his cool demeanor. He turned and walked back to the sofa and sat down next to the witch. He opened the box and they both looked down at the engagement ring.

"Are you sure, Hermione?" he said, "You won't take my ring, think about it later then give it back to me, will you?"

"I am positive, Severus," she said, her heart thudding a little at the way his voice caught when he asked her that. It was plain to see that it would hurt him if she did such a thing. Only a man in love would feel that way.

She held out her hand, and Severus took the ring out of the box, and slid it on her finger. Then he smiled at her. He had a beautiful smile, slightly crooked teeth and all. Suddenly he grabbed her, kissing her deeply and passionately.

"You've made me the happiest wizard in the wizarding world at this moment," he breathed at her. "I will be a good husband to you, Hermione. I promise you."

"I know you will, Severus," Hermione said, "And I will be a good wife to you and a good mother to our child."

He looked at her soberly.

"I know you will," he said, kissing her again a powerful feeling washing over him as he did so. So powerful, he shuddered.

"Are you all right Severus?" Hermione asked, feeling him quake against her. There was an answering quake from the witch as well.

He looked at her, his eyes smoldering as they shifted from her face to the ring on her hand and her face again.

"I will be," he breathed, standing and sweeping her into his arms.

Hermione shrieked at the suddenness of his grabbing her. Holding the witch securely, the Potions Master strode toward their bedroom, covering ground quickly. They entered and the door slammed behind them.

In the living room, Eli materialized slowly, a broad smile on his face.

"Like I tells you, Mistress," the elf said in a low voice, looking toward the bedroom.

"It's in the Master's eyes."

---

The next morning Severus told Hermione not to go to university classes, but stay home and rest up. Hermione looked at him with defeat in her eyes. She was engaged to him now, and going to get married, but the damage had been done. Now she had only a feeling of loathing for the school she had attended for the past three years and the administration that ran it.

Severus looked at his intended, and his heart swelled with rage as he saw defeat clearly in her face. It was an odd look for her. The Potions Master caught her by the chin.

"There is a solution, Hermione. Don't lose heart," he said to her gently, kissing her lightly on the lips. Then walked over to the fireplace and tossed some floo powder into the fire.

"University," he said, stepping through with a billow of robes.

Hermione stared at the floo with her mouth open. Severus went to her school? Dear Merlin. What was he going to say? Worse, what was he going to do?

---

With a tight jaw, Severus walked into Administration and demanded to know when Professor Floodsworth's next class would be held. He was told ten o'clock. He would be lecturing in the amphitheater. It was now nine forty-five. Severus knew where the amphitheater was. He had been a guest lecturer on this campus for many years. Something that would definitely stop now, no matter how many galleons they offered him.

He followed the meandering stream of students into the amphitheater, and took a seat at the very top. He would be sure to be seen by the Professor, pale and dressed in all black as he was. Plus he would take roll, and notice a guest among his students.

Professor Floodsworth did indeed take roll, and noticed the Potions Master in the upper row. He gave a delighted smile and an animated lecture, no doubt driven to put on a good show in Severus' presence. He was quite respected in the field and considered one of the top Potions Masters in the wizarding world. Floodsworth was quite honored he came to listen to one of his lectures.

Severus found Professor Floodsworth's lecture as dry as toast, despite his animation. He was following a formula that hadn't changed in the last six years. How did the wizard expect to inspire anyone with such an old and practiced approach? Ah well, Severus wasn't here to judge Floodsworth's teaching abilities, though he felt Hermione could probably do a better job as a Professor than he could.

Severus sat through the lecture and waited for the students to clear out, including the suck-ups surrounding the Professor and exclaiming over his boring lecture. Then he glided down the steps and approached the podium. Professor Floodsworth was all smiles.

"Ah, Professor Snape, I was quite honored that you attended one of my lectures. It is good to see you," Floodsworth said, extending his hand.

The Potions Master did not take it, and the wizard let his hand fall back uncomfortably.

"Professor Floodsworth, I did not come here to listen to your lecture, but it was quite unavoidable," Severus said stiffly.

"Oh, I see," Floodsworth replied, the wind knocked of his sails. So the great wizard didn't come for his lecture. What did he come for? The Professor looked at Snape curiously.

"Then, how can I help you, Professor?" Floodsworth asked.

"I came to ask your assessment of a student, a Miss Hermione Granger," Severus said evenly, "She interned under myself and several other teachers at Hogwarts last year and did quite a good job. I found her very bright, and was considering offering her an apprenticeship when she left university.

Miss Granger being offered an apprenticeship to Severus Snape? Floodsworth himself had applied for that position years ago and was turned down flat. Professor Snape simply did not do apprentices. The wizard must feel Miss Granger to be exemplary to want to make an offer like this. Jealousy rose in the teacher's breast. Well, let the Professor find out the truth about the witch.

"Miss Hermione Granger is not qualified to serve as your or anyone's apprentice. The witch has gone and gotten herself pregnant, and is of unfit character to serve in any position of worth, sir," he said rather stiffly.

"But last I heard, the witch had perfect marks and was setting new records on campus for her grades," Severus said, scowling.

"No longer. Since becoming pregnant, her grades have dropped significantly. We are currently trying to make the witch withdraw, Professor. She clearly lacks morality, ethics and virtue…and is unsuitable for anything but the coarsest employment," he said.

"Has the quality of her work changed since her impregnation?" Severus asked.

"No, but her situation has, and that gives us enough reason to discourage her continuance at this school," Floodsworth said.

"You mean to tell me you are trying to get the most intelligent witch in your school to quit because she is with child? Floodsworth, the woman is brilliant. She could contribute a great deal to whatever field she is interested in," Severus said.

"Maybe once that was true Professor, but since she has chosen to become the mother of a bastard, she has thrown away every opportunity that she had," the Professor said coldly. "She should have kept her legs closed and her books open, sir."

"When you say 'thrown away every opportunity,' don't you mean had every opportunity taken from her?" Severus asked him. Professor Floodsworth gave him a measuring look.

"Surely you don't approve of an unwed witch having a child out of wedlock, Professor? We have to discourage such behavior, not reward it. The witch has proven herself to be little more than a whore, Professor, and sets a negative example for other witches in attendance here," the Professor said, then his eyes narrowed.

"I wish I had known what a common piece of fluff she was. The witch is quite pretty. I could have given her some 'extra credit' assignments in my rooms," he mused.

"Do you know the situation surrounding her pregnancy, Professor Floodsworth?" Severus asked him in a controlled voice. Not only had the wizard called his intended a whore, but all but said he would have gladly shagged her for an exchange of marks.

Floodsworth scowled.

"I didn't need to know that. She's pregnant, and there's no father. No ring on her finger. She's a fallen witch, Professor, that's all anyone needs to know," he replied.

"So it doesn't bother you that one of the brightest minds of our age is to be taken out of circulation because she is having a child, a child that most likely will be as intelligent as she is?" the Professor asked him.

"Not in the least. If she is so brilliant, why didn't she abort the child and continue her education? That would have been the sensible thing to do. If her education were so important, she would have gotten rid of it. Miss Granger made the choice to keep an illegitimate child, now she must live with the shame of it. Society cannot smile on such a choice, or we would be overrun by bastards and women of low moral worth and virtue," Floodsworth said archly.

"Yet, we are instead overrun with professionals in the field without a bit of originality between all of them. They simply continue to work with the established formulas and postulates and don't advance their art one iota," Severus said evenly, a clear reference to Floodsworth's lecture. "Miss Granger is an original thinker, who already exhibits the potential to improve the art of Potions Making and any other field she decided to work in. Surely you've seen her potential."

"Miss Granger is a lost cause, Professor. She will never amount to anything now, so the point is moot. You have asked me my assessment of her, and I have given it to you. It is the same assessment you will get from any teacher here," he said with finality. "She will get no letters of recommendation from anyone at this university. Her scholarship is even now in the process of being pulled."

"Tell me, Professor, if Miss Granger were engaged, would that make a difference in the way she was treated here at university?" Severus asked.

"Yes, with an upcoming marriage, her position of good standing could be restored and her marks re-evaluated. But she is about five months pregnant. If the man were going to come forward, he would have by now," Floodsworth replied.

"But what about her low moral character?" Severus asked, his eyes hard.

"Some question would remain, but it would not be reflected in her marks. A husband would legitimize her. She could pursue a professional career," he said diffidently. "She would no longer be an unwed mother. She'd be an honest whore, with a name."

Severus could stand it no longer. He grabbed a startled Professor Floodsworth by his collar.

"The woman you have spoken so crassly about, Professor, is my intended. She carries MY child. I had to see for myself if you were as insulting and narrow-minded as I perceived when I looked into her mind last night," Severus said, shaking the now pale wizard.

"She resides with me, and will shortly be marrying me, sir. I take great offense at the things you have said to her, and done to her as a result of bearing my child," Severus said, throwing the wizard back and drawing his wand.

"I take it you know my history, Professor Floodsworth. My other darker history," Severus hissed at him.

Floodsworth nodded, looking into the other wizard's cold, black eyes. They were murderous. He was going to die. Everyone knew the story of him serving under Voldemort as a spy. He was a deatheater for all intents and purposes, although he worked on the side of good. A very dangerous wizard as well as a celebrated Master of Potions.

"I…I didn't know. I would never have said such things had I known," Floodsworth said in an attempt to calm the wizard's wrath.

"You never thought to ask, did you?" Severus snarled at him. Hermione wasn't engaged to him before last night, but the wizard didn't know that. "Did you ever stop to think there might be a reason she wasn't wearing a ring?"

"I assumed it was because she didn't have one. She could have revealed you were the child's father and had honorable intentions toward her," the wizard gasped, shaking now.

"Miss Granger is not the type of witch to take advantage of her husband's standing. She works hard to be acknowledged for her own abilities. She believed they would be enough to get her through university and that she didn't need to 'drop' names in order to graduate. And she shouldn't have to. She has been a feather in your cap since she arrived here, Floodsworth. Her accomplishments would have been attributed to your 'superior' teaching skills. Your class enrollment would have doubled or tripled. Instead, you tried to force her to leave…" Severus seethed.

The Potions Master pointed his wand at Floodsworth, muttered an incantation and cast a spell on the wizard, who shrank back as he felt magic wash around him, fully expecting the Killing curse. But he found himself in no pain. Severus put his wand away.

"What…what did you do to me?" he asked Severus, feeling himself all over.

"I suggest, Professor Floodsworth, that you adjust Hermione's marks to full ones within the next twenty-four hours, or you will find out quite painfully, what I've done to you. And the pain will last for weeks, I assure you. Her marks are to be corrected and turned in to Administration immediately. And I suggest you tell all of Hermione's teachers that we are engaged and encourage them to do the same. Do not tell them about the spell I've cast on you. It will be ten times worse if you do so, and triggered in less time. If I am reported, Floodsworth, I promise you…this spell will be nothing compared to what I will do to you next time. I can find you anywhere, be sure of that. You are lucky I don't beat you within an inch of your life for the pain you've caused my pregnant fiancé. All changes to her transcripts had better be in order by tomorrow or you can count on receiving that beating as well," Severus said, his voice hoarse with rage.

"Yes sir," Floodsworth said, scared to death.

He was going to pull all of Hermione's marks immediately. They would be on the Dean's desk by this afternoon. Then he would inform the other teachers of her impending marriage to the Professor Snape of Potions renown. They would hurriedly adjust their marks as well. No one would want to displease such a revered Master.

"I also want you to owl my wife with a letter of apology," Severus snarled at him. "She won't accept it, but I want you to do it anyway. Understand?"

"Yes sir," Floodsworth said.

Severus started to leave, then turned back toward the quaking wizard.

"And if I were you, Floodsworth I would be careful about insulting unwed witches," he warned. "Some wizards would not show the restraint I have."

Floodsworth nodded and watched with terror as the dark wizard strode across the amphitheater and out a side exit. Floodsworth looked down at himself, thinking of the spell.

"I've got to adjust those marks now!" he gasped, running from the amphitheater. His office was several blocks away, and he didn't stop running until he got there. Many students wondered at the wizard flying across campus, his robes billowing and his eyes as wide as saucers, looking as if a tribe of trolls were on his tail.

Severus saw him too, and smirked.

"One down and one to go," Severus said to himself, walking purposefully toward Administration.

And the Dean's office.

---

Severus entered the Administration building for the second time that morning. The assistant at the desk quailed when she saw him striding toward the counter. The wizard was quite imposing.

As the Potions Master walked up to the desk the young student asked him, "May I help you sir?"

Severus glowered at her a moment then said, "My name is Professor Severus Snape. Would you please ask the Dean if he could spare a moment of his time to see me?"

The student looked at him. Despite the wizard's scowling demeanor, he had been quite polite.

"Yes sir. Would you please take a seat?" she said, gesturing to the chairs that lined the walls of the office. Severus turned without a word and took a seat. The assistant disappeared into the back. After a moment, she returned.

"The Dean says he would be most pleased to see you, sir," the student said, "The wait will be about five minutes. Would you like some coffee while you wait, Professor?"

The student said this with such alacrity that Severus knew the Dean had told her he was someone of import.

"No, thank you," he replied.

"Very well," the student said, obviously disappointed she couldn't serve him something. "If you want anything, don't hesitate to ask."

She stood there a moment, hoping he would request something but the Potions Master said nothing. She returned to her duties.

After about ten minutes, the student returned.

"Dean Wankton will see you now, sir," the witch said to Severus, who rose and followed her back to the Dean's office.

Dean Wankton rose from his chair and reached out to shake the Potions Master's hand, but Severus simply sat down in the chair in front of the wizard's desk, disregarding his proffered hand.

Dean Wankton cleared his throat and sat down.

"So good to see you again, Professor Snape. It's been quite a while. Possibly I could secure you for a lecture in the near future?" the Dean asked.

Severus was a highly sought after speaker. Few could discuss potions like he could. His voice, his presence and his obvious love of his art held listeners mesmerized from beginning to end. If Severus Snape was passionate for anything other than Hermione, it was Potions.

"I highly doubt it, Dean," Severus replied in a cold voice. "I am here to discuss the withdrawal of a student from your institution."

The Dean's eyebrows rose. He was unaware that there was a student here linked to the well-known Professor. The fact that the wizard wanted to withdraw the student was bad news indeed.

"The withdrawal of a student? But why? Is he not receiving a good education at our school, Professor?" asked the Dean.

"Actually, up until recently the student was receiving top marks. There is no doubt in my mind that this student will excel in whatever field of study that is ultimately chosen," he said evenly.

This was high, high praise coming from the Potions Master, who had turned down the university's best students who sought apprenticeships with him on the grounds they weren't bright enough. To have a student in university that met with his approval meant the university would get credit for turning out such an exemplary graduate, and increase the rolls.

"Why do you wish to withdraw such a promising student?" the Dean asked Severus, his thick brows furrowed.

"I believe this school can no longer provide the kind of education that will allow this student to reach full potential," Severus replied coolly. "In fact I find the staff at your facility substandard both in teaching and discriminatory in attitude."

"That is quite a claim to make, Professor," the Dean said rather sharply. "I assure that if any student has been discriminated against unfairly, I will soon set the issue back in order. It would be unfair of you to withdraw a student of such abilities from our hallowed halls without allowing us to correct our errors."

Severus looked at the Dean levelly.

"I highly doubt, sir, that you could do anything to change my mind at this point, since you yourself are one of the guilty parties, and I witnessed your insulting, derogatory remarks via legilimency myself. I assure you, were you not Dean of this institution, a simple withdrawal would not be the only act I'd be committing at this point in time," the Potions Master said with such deadly coldness the Dean blanched and spluttered.

"Surely you are in error, Professor Snape. I do not make it a habit of discriminating against students, particularly one who is so gifted that you hold him in high esteem," the Dean said placatingly.

"I am not in error, Dean Wankton, the student in question is one Hermione Granger," Severus replied evenly.

The Dean went silent for a moment, then recovered.

"Ah, Miss Granger…the unwed witch with child, I presume," he said a bit coldly himself.

"No, Miss Granger, my fiancée who is carrying my child," Severus replied. "And the most brilliant student your institution has seen in years. And believe me, it is not due to your substandard and outdated instruction, but her own hard work. You insulted her, sir and made no attempt to discover her situation before your entire staff embarked on destroying her perfect marks as well as her reputation with a complete and willful disregard for all she had accomplished. You called her a whore, sir, in loosely veiled language, and deemed her unsuitable for anything but the most menial employment. A witch who will most likely make the most dramatic changes and discoveries that have been seen in years, if not centuries."

The Dean paled. He had no idea Miss Granger was betrothed to Severus Snape. Her youth and lack of a ring led him to automatically assume she was promiscuous and her child was fatherless. Oh great Merlin, what a mess. What a gods awful mess!

"And by insulting my wife to be, and my unborn child sir, you have insulted me. As I said, if you did not hold such a position at this institution, I would call you out, sir and beat you soundly for your unconscionable actions toward Miss Granger. But I have decided to withdraw her, and transfer her, along with her corrected transcripts to another institution, where she will receive her degree and all of her future successes will be attributed to this new institution and all her hard work. In addition, I will be writing the board concerning the treatment of the witch, and sending along a pensieve of both yours and Professor Floodsworth dialogue with her. I will also be speaking with some of your esteemed alumni, who contribute funds to your school about your treatment of my wife."

The Dean looked at the wizard white-faced. Severus continued.

"And if this is not enough, Dean…you still have my fiancé to deal with. As of right now, she is distraught, but soon…she will become quite angry sir, not only at your treatment of her, but of other witches who may not have wizards to stand for them. You do not know Miss Granger, Dean, but you have made quite an enemy. Soon she will be forming some kind of support group, most likely with political implications. There are quite a few unwed witches and illegitimate children in the wizarding world sir, and if they are mobilized, I assure you Hermione will turn them into a force to be reckoned with. And I will put all my resources behind her, if need be."

The Dean's face fell at this statement. The Potions Master went on, leaning forward a bit in his chair, his silky voice resonating throughout the office.

"The practices of your institution will be her first target, I assure you. You would better be pummeled with fiery stones from heaven than have that witch against you. She is voracious sir, and will see you and your professors disgraced and removed from your positions in the end. I suggest you reconsider your institution's stand against unwed mothers before this Armageddon occurs, Dean. You do this, and you might manage to retire in good standing when this is all over. You have quite an ordeal ahead of you."

"Surely we can make some sort of amends toward your intended, Professor. A public apology perhaps from myself and her professors," he suggested desperately.

"Too little, too late Dean. The wound you've made in that witch is too deep for a Band-Aid. Tomorrow I will come pick up her transcript and her transfer papers. I want them all in order so she can enroll in her new school immediately," Severus said, then an ugly expression washed over his face.

"If you hamper her transfer in any way, Dean Wankton, I will forget your esteemed position at this university and return to personally take more than a pound of flesh from you. Am I understood?" Severus said, his black eyes glinting with malice.

"I understand you completely, Professor Snape," the Dean replied, his heart pounding. He knew of the wizard's dark past and knew that the man would not hesitate to physically injure him if driven to do so. This was awful, just awful.

"I will return tomorrow morning for Hermione's transcripts. If they do not reflect her true standing in this university, there will be the devil to pay," Severus said with a sneer. "That devil being me."

Severus exited the Dean's office with an impressive billow of robes.

Dean Wankton pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. The wizard was absolutely frightening. He called his assistant. She opened the door.

"Yes, Dean Wankton?" she asked, her eyes concerned as she looked upon the obviously flustered wizard.

"I want you to contact all of Miss Hermione Granger's teachers and have them convene in my office at four o'clock this afternoon. The meeting is mandatory," the Dean said to her.

"Yes sir," the assistant replied, "I'll get right on it."

"See that you do," the Dean said gruffly, dismissing her.

He stared down at his desk. He had to come up with something for the board to explain the mistreatment of the betrothed of one of the most respected wizards in the field of Potions today. He was in a world of shit, that's for sure.

Severus walked across the campus, feeling somewhat vindicated, though he wished he could have let his fists speak for him. Despite being a powerful wizard, Severus was an extremely physical being and preferred beating to hexing when meting out deserved punishment. Possibly, one of the wizards wouldn't take him seriously, and he'd get the opportunity to avenge his lover in the manner preferred.

But it wasn't going to happen. Both the Dean and Professor Floodsworth would have nightmares about him and Hermione for weeks to come.

Severus apparated directly to Hogwarts to complete his afternoon classes. Dumbledore took his morning class. He could only imagine what a fiasco that had been. His student quailed when he billowed in. They had heard he was absent for the day. Obviously they had been misinformed.

"Get out your gloves," Severus said imperiously. "You will be cleaning refuse out of Manticora entrails today."

The students groaned as the Potions Master smirked openly.

---

"I want spaghetti with just a bit of sauce," Hermione told Eli stubbornly as he offered her a delicious ham sandwich with baked chips and a small salad.

"Not proper food, Mistress. This is better," Eli said, waving the plate back and forth under her nose.

"I told you what I want, Eli. I'm absolutely dying for spaghetti with a little sauce. I want it cold too," Hermione demanded.

Eli's ears cocked toward her as he realized what this was. The Mistress was craving. Eli had dealt with craving years ago. Severus' mother craved dry bread. It had to be very crunchy. It was difficult to get her to eat anything else until she had it.

Eli looked at Hermione and sighed.

"Very well, Mistress. I makes you spaghetti," he said, putting the sandwich in the cooler.

"Thank you, Eli," Hermione said, smiling. She could almost taste it.

As Eli puttered around the kitchen, Hermione thought about Severus' visit to her school. An image of the entire institution in flames filled her mind.

"No…he wouldn't do that," she told himself.

Then the image of a very beaten and broken Professor Floodsworth appeared.

"He might do that though," she thought wryly. But she hoped he didn't. Severus could be arrested for assaulting the teacher, no matter how much he deserved it. And it really wouldn't help anything.

Then the vision of Dean Wankton hoisted up the flagpole that stood in front of the Administration building, the rope strung through his dress robes, struggling wildly as Severus stood below looking up at him with a self-satisfied little smirk floated through her thoughts.

Hermione giggled. She could see him doing that too. Then she sobered. Whatever her husband to be was doing at the school, she could be sure it would be of some import. Severus was a force to be reckoned with when angered. She only hoped he could show some restraint. She saw the rage seething beneath the surface. When he took her last night, he whispered passionately over and over how she was the most intelligent witch of the age, and he would allow no one to hold her back from her destiny. He was so determined she would succeed.

Hermione felt a swell of love for the wizard wash over her.

Eli set a plate of cold spaghetti with a hint of sauce in front of the witch, disapproval in his brown eyes. He offered her a fork.

"No, I'll use my hands, Eli," Hermione said, lifting several long pieces with her thumb and forefinger. She leaned her head back, dangling the strands over her face, then dropped them into her mouth and sucked them in with an appreciative slurp.

Eli stared at her. Never had he seen anyone eat this way before.

"Oh, this is perfect, Eli!" she gushed, gathering more spaghetti with her fingers. The elf shook his head and sat down across from her.

"Maybe Mistress will eat salad after?" he asked her hopefully. Cold spaghetti was not enough. Hermione looked at the elf's furtive expression.

"All right," she said.

Eli smiled and practically ran to the cooler, removed the small salad and returned, setting it on the table beside the rapidly disappearing plate of spaghetti.

"Is good salad. Cheese, turkey and vegetables. Good for the baby, Mistress," he said encouragingly.

Finished with her spaghetti, Hermione plucked the meat and cheese out of the salad. Eli couldn't get her to eat any more and finally gave up. He would give her more vegetables at dinner. He cleared the table and was in the process of scourgifying the dishes when he heard Hermione gasp. He turned quickly and rushed over to her.

"Is Mistress all right?" he asked, his ears flat against his head with worry.

"Yes, Eli, the baby is moving," she said.

The elf looked at her belly and saw small quick pulses. His brown eyes grew soft. He peered up into Hermione's face.

"May Eli touch Mistress?" he asked, "Touch the little one?"

The expression on the elf's face touched Hermione's heart. It was plain to see he loved the child she carried.

"Yes Eli," she responded.

The elf beamed at her and slowly, reverently placed his clawed hand on her protruding belly. The child moved under it. Then to Hermione's surprise, the elf leaned his head against her, his ear placed against her roundness.

"I hears you little one," the elf said softly, his hand rubbing Hermione's lightly. The witch didn't feel repelled. On the contrary, Eli was very comforting.

"You is loved," he whispered, "Very loved. We waits for you."

After one more caress, Eli lifted his head and looked up at Hermione. His eyes were wet.

"Thank you, Mistress," the elf said. He looked as if he were going to burst into tears at any moment.

"You're welcome Eli. Thank you for caring for our child so much," she responded softly, rubbing his head between his ears. The elf rolled his head in pleasure for a moment.

"He is my next Master, Mistress," the elf said, "I is already bound to him."

Hermione stared at the elf.

"He, Eli?" she asked him.

"Aye, Mistress. You carries a son, you does," Eli replied, smiling at her.

"But, how do you know, Eli?" Hermione asked him in amazement. Poppy could tell how healthy the baby was, but not the sex.

"I am bound to his service, Mistress. I knows, like I knows Master's love for you," he replied, returning to the dishes and scourgifying them.

Hermione stared at the elf for a long moment, marveling in the magic that passed between elf and those he served. It was obviously quite powerful.

"A son. Severus will be so happy," she thought.

An image of a black-haired little boy standing next to his father, both of them scowling came to mind. She fought back a giggle and shook her head. With her luck, that's exactly how it would be too. A snarky little son, the spitting image of Severus in looks and personality. Not that she would mind a bit.

Hermione suddenly let out a huge, unexpected yawn. She realized she was tired. She pushed herself from the chair and walked into the living room. The exhausted witch lay down on the sofa on her back, both hands wrapped around her belly and developing child, and closed her eyes.

Sleep came quickly.

---

Hermione found herself in Voldemort's throne room. She was pregnant and alone, though a lone fire burned in one of several floos that lined the wall.

"Severus? Severus!" she called. No one answered.

As she wandered about the empty room, there was a "foomph!" and she spun to see the fire in the grate turn green. She hoped it was Severus, coming through to find her. But it wasn't. Instead, it was Voldemort.

He was gray and mottled, his robes in tatters and he walked stiffly. But his eyes still glowed red. The wizard raised an accusing finger and pointed it at the witch.

"You had no intentions on saving me!" he cried in his high-pitched voice, walking toward her with that frightening gait.

Hermione screamed and ran as best she could, but her belly was so large she couldn't move too quickly. She tried several locked doors to no avail, and discovered she didn't have a wand.

Voldemort stalked toward her, and Hermione could see with horror that maggots were eating at one side of his face. The wizard was dead and after her. He drew closer.

"You thought you killed me, but I'm not dead. I'm just waiting," he hissed, his red eyes dropping to her belly. "The time is almost here, so I'm taking what's mine now, witch."

Hermione backed against the wall, her escape blocked by the shuffling wizard. He stopped about five feet from her.

"Now I am renewed!" Voldemort cried and dove at her, shrinking and passing through her flesh into her swollen belly. The witch screamed as she absorbed the dead wizard.

"See you in a few months, Mother," the voice of Voldemort whispered.

Hermione screamed and screamed.

"Hermione! Hermione! Wake up, love! Wake up!"

Severus had stepped through the floo to the witch's screams. In his worry and concern he had called her 'love' without realizing it as he rushed to her side, knelt and shook her gently. Eli winked in immediately.

"What is wrong with Mistress?" the elf asked, his ears flattened and eyes whirling with worry.

"A nightmare it seems," Severus replied, trying to wake the screaming witch.

Finally Hermione's eyes flew open with a gasp. She clutched her stomach.

"He's in me! He's in my baby!" she screamed hysterically, her hands moving over her protruding belly. Severus pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hermione! It was a dream, you're safe. No one is in you or our child. Hermione, I'm here," the Potions Master said, holding her tightly until she relaxed and started sobbing.

Severus held her securely and let her cry herself out. Eli shook his head.

"Nothing good comes of cold spaghetti," he said, looking at the sniffling witch.

Hermione pulled away from Severus, her amber eyes wide with horror.

"It was terrible, Severus…just terrible," she said trembling.

The Potions Master climbed up on to the couch and pulled her against him.

"What did you dream?" he asked her, holding her tightly.

"Voldemort. He came back from the dead and entered my body," she said shuddering. "I could feel him go inside me. He ran at me and just dove in through my skin. It was awful. Then he said "I'll see you in a few months, mother."

"It was just a dream, Hermione. What did you eat before you went to sleep?" Severus asked her.

"Some cold spaghetti and sauce, and a couple of pieces of turkey and cheese," she responded.

Severus scowled at Eli, who held up his hands.

"I does my best, sir. The Mistress is cravings, Master. Witches won't eat if cravings sir. I does my best," the elf said, bowing slightly and trembling. He didn't like to displease his Master.

Severus looked back at Hermione.

"Cold spaghetti?" he asked her, frowning slightly.

"I felt like I'd die if I didn't have it, Severus," the witch replied, clutching his arm tightly.

The wizard sighed. He had been perusing books about pregnancy and read about the strange food cravings pregnant witches got. He had hoped Hermione wouldn't go through that. But obviously she was.

Severus got a better idea of just how bad her cravings were that night. He didn't tell her what happened at the university that day. He promised to tell her all tomorrow. He wanted to collect her transcripts and transfer papers first. She had protested, but he was firm.

The wizard was sound asleep, when he felt a hand smooth across his cheek.

"Severus? Severus, wake up," Hermione said urgently.

The Potions Master's eyes fluttered. The witch pushed him hard.

"What?" he said snarkily, his eyes snapping open, bloodshot and red.

"I want banana chips," she said, looking at him.

"You want what?" he said, waking more fully and turning to look at her. Then he reached for his wand and turned up the torches.

"I have a craving for banana chips," she said again, rubbing her stomach.

"And just what, pray tell am I supposed to do about that?" he asked her.

Hermione frowned at him.

"Go and get me some," she said simply as if they were in a cabinet in the kitchen.

"What! Do you have any idea what time it is? Where am I supposed to find banana chips at this time of night?" he asked her, both eyebrows raised.

"There is an all night market in Little Hangelton proper," Hermione replied. "You can get them there."

Severus looked at the clock.

"But Hermione, it is after three in the morning," he said.

"But Severus, the baby wants banana chips," she whined at him.

Severus' eyes went wide at this statement.

"The baby wants…the baby? Dear gods, Hermione," he said sitting up in the bed now and scowling down at her.

"Pleeeeeaase," she said, "I can't help it that I'm craving, Severus. It's part of being pregnant. I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want them so badly. Though I suppose I could go myself…if you don't want to…"

She started to sit up. Severus sighed and rolled out of bed.

"I'll go," he groused, walking to the wardrobe and slipping on his robes and pulling his boots on over his bare feet. He turned and looked at her.

"Banana chips. Anything else?" he asked her.

Hermione looked thoughtful.

"Pickles. Dill," she said. Severus looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

"All right. Pickles and banana chips. I'll be right back," he said, disapparating.

The Potions Master appeared in front of the all night market. It was cold, and he clutched his robes around him. All he had on underneath was a pair of silk boxers. He was in a foul mood when he entered the market and stalked up to the counter. The young wizard behind it paled, thinking a red-eyed vampire had just walked into his store.

"Banana chips. Pickles," Severus grunted at him.

The wizard pointed at a rack full of assorted chips.

"Banana chips should be right there, sir," the wizard said rather weakly, hoping the creature would buy what it wanted and leave his store without biting him.

"And the pickles?" Severus snarled at him, almost making the poor young man piss himself.

"Down aisle two on the right sir," the wizard responded.

Severus walked over to the chip rack, and after a close investigation, located what he was looking for. Then he stalked down the aisle, grabbed the biggest jar of dill pickles they had and returned to the counter. He set the items down.

"How much?" he growled.

The clerk told him. Severus felt his pockets then scowled. His coin purse was in his pants. Damn it.

"I've forgotten my purse," the Potions Master said to the clerk, glaring. He wasn't actually angry with the clerk…he was just looking at him. The frightened young wizard pushed the items toward the Potions Master.

"Just…just take them sir. You can come back and pay for them later…or not at all. It's up to you. Please…take them and go."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the wizard, then picked up the items and left the store. He'd pay for them later. He disapparated.

The clerk heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the thunder crack. He really needed to find a job with better hours.

Severus reappeared in his bedroom and handed the chips to Hermione. He set the pickles on the nightstand, shrugged out of his robes and tossed them on the chair, too tired to make the effort to hang them up as he usually did. He climbed into bed and watched Hermione tear the bag open, stick her small hand in and remove a slice of banana. She crunched down on it and made an amazing amount of noise chewing it.

"Mmmm, so good. Thank you, Severus," she said, leaning in and kissing him on the lips. She tasted of banana.

He grunted in reply. His black eyes washed over her as she ate her chips, and he felt a little throb. Hm. He had gone out in the middle of the night to get her pickles and chips. A little reward should be in order. He hadn't gotten any tonight. His eyes swept over her again.

"Are you almost finished chomping on those?" he asked her, sliding a little closer.

"Yes," she said with a satisfied sigh and folding the bag down. "They were delicious."

Severus took the bag from her and placed it on the nightstand, next to the unopened jar of pickles. Hermione lay back down, sated. Severus continued to look at her so intently, she felt him and looked over.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked him.

"Do you really have to ask, Hermione?" he purred, "You roused me out of a perfectly sound sleep to go out into the cold night for pickles and banana chips. Now that I'm back, I find myself still roused," he said, his eyes flicking toward his tented boxers.

"Oh," Hermione said looking at his erection and then back at him. She yawned exaggeratedly.

"I'm kind of tired, Severus," she said.

His eyes glinted at her.

"I was tired too," he responded, pulling the witch towards him and rolling her so her back was facing him, "but don't worry…I'll do all the work." He pulled up Hermione's nightgown and pulled down his boxers, releasing his erection. He shifted closer to her, and lifted her leg slightly, then penetrated her with a sigh. Hermione groaned as he filled her.

"Yessss," he sighed, beginning to thrust, burying himself in her warmth. The witch began to move against him, moaning as he pistoned into her body faster. Severus reached around and clutched Hermione's breast, fondling it as he stroked her, feeling her peaked nipple beneath his palm. He wasn't taking her too hard, but just hard enough to be satisfying, the witch emitting little gasps as he touched bottom. She began to tighten, crying out and he slid his hand to her belly, groaning as she orgasmed around him, the flood of her release pouring over him as her inner muscles squeezed and clutched at his shaft.

Severus let go with a grunt, releasing into his lover, pleasure washing over him as he felt his flow added to hers.

"Mmmm," he growled against her ear as his pulsing eased. "Worth a trip to the market in the middle of the night."

Hermione sighed then gasped as Severus slid out of her, then pulled her against him, kissing her soundly before laying his head back and closing his eyes, satisfied.

"Good night, Severus," she whispered to him. His arm tightened around her.

"Good night, love," he responded sleepily.

Hermione's eyes widened at the endearment, then softened as she snuggled into her husband-to-be. She wouldn't ruin the moment by saying anything.

Maybe he'd say it again.

Severus arrived on the university campus at precisely ten o'clock, apparating directly in front of the Administration building. He strode inside, straight to the counter. The assistant took care of him immediately.

"Good morning, Professor Snape. You can go right in. The Dean is expecting you," she said, gesturing toward the Dean's office. Severus nodded and walked to the door, opening it without knocking and striding in.

Dean Wankton looked up at him startled. He had two folders on his desk. Severus could see the name "Granger" scrawled across the top of each.

"Good morning, Professor," the Dean said, his face rather white as he addressed the wizard. Severus ignored his greeting and took a seat.

"Those are Hermione's transcripts and transfer papers?" he asked, leaning forward and reaching out his hand for them.

"Yes," the Dean replied, passing him both folders.

The Dean watched nervously as Severus carefully read Hermione's transcripts. The dark wizard nodded to himself several times, his eyebrows rising now and then. Then he closed the transcripts and looked at the transfer papers. He closed those too and looked at the Dean.

"All appears to be in order," Severus said evenly.

"She was quite an extraordinary student," the Dean said regretfully. "Would you at least tell me where she is transferring to?"

Severus looked at him.

"Golpalott University," the wizard replied. The Dean gasped.

Golpalott University was a small, private and very prestigious university where only twenty to twenty-five percent of applicants were accepted. The major degrees the university offered were in the fields Potions, Charms, Spell-making and Magical Liberal Arts. It offered associative degrees in Transfiguration and Healing as well and was well known for its independent study programs. It was Severus' Alma Mater, though much of his degree was acquired through life experience credits. The then current Dean was well aware of Severus' double role in the ranks of Voldemort, and a special, clandestine dispensation was made for the Potions Master to graduate with full honors from the prestigious institution. Not even a tenth of the current Potions Masters could claim such an honor. Now Hermione would be attending. One of the few witches to ever walk those hallowed halls.

The university's namesake, Golpalott, created Galpalott's Third Law, a lesson taught in every potions class today. That law states: "The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components." He was considered a mover and shaker in the field of Potions in his day, and left a great legacy behind.

The Dean was quite impressed with Hermione's placement as well as bemoaned the fact that the university was losing such a brilliant, brilliant student. He decided to try to convince Severus to give them one more chance.

"Professor Snape, I do wish you would reconsider. Miss Granger is a credit to…" he began.

Severus held up his hand, scowling at the Dean.

"If you say it, Dean, I swear I will assault you," he seethed.

The Dean shut up quickly. Severus stood and exited the office without a word, folders in tow.

He exited the Administration building as was about to disapparate when someone called him.

"Professor Snape? May I have a word please?"

Severus turned to see a rather pretty woman in teaching robes approaching him. He scowled.

The witch walked up to him.

"My name, sir is Professor Elena Tacturn. I am…er…was Miss Granger's Arithmancy teacher," she told him.

Severus folded his arms.

"One of the Professors who actively pressured my fiancée to withdraw from university to become a scullery maid," he said coldly.

The witch looked at him.

"I am so sorry about that Professor. I assure you I did not want to do it, but was pressured into it by the other Professors, and even the Dean himself wouldn't do anything to stop it when I went to him in protest. I've only been here two years, Professor and he reminded me I didn't have tenure. I was in danger of losing my job if I didn't comply. A termination on my work record would make it difficult for me to find employment elsewhere sir. Miss Granger is a brilliant witch, and with or without you should have been allowed to complete her degree unhampered. Having a child is not a crime, sir, and too many women have been cut off because of choosing to bear a child without its father rather than abort it. Many great minds and talents are going to waste..." the witch said vehemently. Then she caught herself and looked up at the pale wizard.

"I guess what I really want is to let Miss Granger know how sorry I am for contributing to her pain," she said softly.

Severus studied the young Professor solemnly. He understood what it was to be pressured into doing something that went against your personal beliefs for your own survival. If Professor Tacturn did not comply with the other professors, she may have been replaced on staff and turned out of the university. It was obvious the witch empathized with women who found themselves in the situation Hermione was. He drew in a breath.

"I will relay the message to her, Professor Tacturn," Severus said evenly. "You may want to send her an owl and let her know yourself."

"Do you think she would accept it?" the witch asked him.

"She will read it. As far as accepting it, only she knows the answer to that, Professor. All you can do is make the attempt," he said. "Now, if you will excuse me."

Severus disapparated.

Professor Tacturn stared at the spot the Potions Master had occupied a moment, full of remorse. If she had any other recourse, she would leave this damn school. She wiped her eyes, turned and walked back toward her office. She had a class in half an hour.

---

Severus apparated to Golpalott University and stood there for a moment admiring the rolling, tree-covered campus. A large lake was visible in the distance, and walking paths snaked through the area. Stone tables were scattered throughout the landscape. The buildings were made of gray stone, stately and vine-covered, having been established several centuries ago. Hermione would love it here. The library itself would drive her to conniptions and there were many collaborative research opportunities to be had as well.

He entered the Administration building and walked to down the hall to the enrollment office. An older witch in half-moon classes looked up at him from over a muggle typewriter. The only difference was she had been in the process of dictating to it, the machine typing out word for word.

"May I help you sir?" she asked, then looked down with a frown as the typewriter typed her greeting.

"Oh bother," she said, pulling the parchment out of the machine with a scowl. She sat it beside the machine, and walked up to the counter. She peered at the Potions Master.

"Yes, I would like to have a student transferred to this institution," he said, handing the witch Hermione's transcript and transfer papers.

The witch's eyebrows went up in surprise. It was hard enough to be accepted to Golpalott and next to impossible to transfer from another school.

She cleared her throat.

"You are aware, sir, that it is quite difficult for students to transfer to our institution. Some say we are selective to a fault," the witch said, trying to prepare the dark wizard for a letdown.

"Yes, I am quite aware of this, Madam. I myself am a graduate of this illustrious institution, and am prepared to add my recommendation that this particular student be accepted. She is quite exemplary," he replied.

The witch's eyes washed over him.

"Your name sir?" she asked him.

"Professor Severus Snape," he replied.

Her eyes widened.

"The Professor Severus Snape?" she breathed.

Severus scowled slightly.

"Unless another graduate by the same name has passed through these halls, Madame, I can safely assume I am he," he responded a bit snarkily.

The witch smiled at him broadly.

"Please have a seat, Professor. I will take these back to an admissions advisor immediately," she gushed.

Severus smirked and took a seat. Evidently he was not forgotten. Him nor his annual contribution to the school.

After only about five minutes, Severus was asked to accompany the clerk back to the offices and she led him to a small office where a smiling middle-aged witch stood and greeted him, shaking his hand firmly and offering him a seat. She had bluish hair and wore a somber, black robe. Her eyes were green and kind, though there was a sharpness to them that the Potions Master noticed immediately.

"Good morning, Professor Snape," she said smiling at him and sitting down, "It is an honor to meet one of our most notable graduates. My name is Grizelda Hummingsford."

"Miss Hummingsford," Severus said inclining his head slightly as he settled in the chair in front of her desk. He watched as the witch looked over Hermione's transcript, her eyebrows rising and falling much as his had when he perused Hermione's marks.

"My, she is quite exemplary, Professor Snape," Grizelda said, looking up at him, "but what I am wondering is why she is transferring in her last year? And why you are here and not Miss Granger?"

The admissions clerk was quite sharp.

"May I be frank, Miss Hummingsford?" Severus asked her.

"Most certainly," she replied.

Severus proceeded to tell the admissions clerk Hermione's situation and how the staff and administration of the college treated her. By the time he finished, Miss Hummingsford was near bursting with indignation for the brilliant witch.

"Dean Wankton is an ass," she stated firmly. "A chauvinistic, archaic, bigoted ass. It's because of attitudes like his so many brilliant and promising witches and their children are held back. People who might make exciting advances in the magical fields if given half a chance."

She clucked her tongue and looked at Hermione's transcripts again.

"She needs to be approved by the board, but I see no reason not to set her up. She will most certainly be accepted with these marks, hours and letters of recommendation. Let's see how soon we can get her in here," Grizelda said, her face frowning in concentration.

Severus smirked. He knew he had found an ally.

---

Hermione was sitting expectantly on the couch when Severus finally flooed in. His arms were full of parchments. He deposited them on the desk, then turned to the witch. Hermione's belly was well rounded now. She was just entering her third trimester. She was wearing a large white maternity shirt and stretchy blue pants. There were some little stains on her shirt, probably from her eating. He noted she was barefoot and her ankles were swollen.

He looked over the parchments he had dropped and picked up a folded one, walked over to Hermione, leaned down and kissed her, resting his hand on her belly for a moment and rubbing it gently before straightening, looking down at her.

"So tell me, Severus…what happened? What did you do?" she asked him.

"Well, first I have to tell you, Hermione, you are officially withdrawn from university," he said softly.

Hermione's face fell, and tears filled her eyes. She knew it would probably happen. Severus was quite a force to deal with, but this injustice was just stronger than he was. She had worked so hard, and now…she had nothing to show for it.

Severus let Hermione immerse herself in self-pity for a few moments. He had a wicked streak still. Then he held out the parchment and waved it under her nose.

"And officially enrolled here," he said.

Hermione looked up at him for a moment and snatched the parchment from his hand. Her amber eyes skimmed it, then bugged out alarmingly as she read the name of the school. She looked up at him in disbelief.

"Golpalott? I'm enrolled in Golpalott?? Severus, do you have any idea how difficult it is to be accepted into this university, much less transferred in? It has to be one of the most prestigious schools in the wizarding world!" she said, her voice quavering with disbelief.

"I am somewhat aware, being that the school is my Alma Mater," he replied, his black eyes twinkling.

"Are you sure they'll accept me?" she asked him. The Potions Master gestured toward the desk.

"The paperwork is all there. Go take a look," he said.

He helped Hermione up from the couch and she walked as quickly as she could over to the desk. The Potions Master noted she was starting to get a rather rolling gait. He grinned slightly as she sat down and began reading over the parchments. After about fifteen minutes of silence, Hermione put the paperwork down and looked up at him, her eyes shining.

"You did this for me. You used your influence," she said quietly.

The Potions Master felt his chest tighten at the love he saw in her eyes. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Hermione, all the influence in the world couldn't have gotten you through those doors if you didn't have the marks for it. You are truly exemplary, my dear. You got yourself in," he said.

Hermione rose from her chair and walked toward him.

"I wouldn't have thought of trying to get into Golpalott," she said softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I wouldn't have thought of transferring at all, I was so depressed. Thank you, Severus. I love you so much."

She pulled him down and gave him the sweetest, most passionate kiss he could ever remember receiving from her. He was breathless when she finally broke it. Hermione took his hand.

"Come on," she said, leading him into the bedroom.

"Don't you want to know what happened at the university?" he asked her, even as he felt himself hardening.

"You can tell me later," she replied softly, "right now I have something else on my mind. You."

Severus followed the witch like a lamb to slaughter. Hermione closed the door and led him over to the bed, where she sat down on the edge and pulled the wizard toward her. She began to unbutton the lower part of his robes.

"Hermione," Severus breathed, realizing what she was about to do.

"Shhh, Severus. Just let me," she said softly, unfastening his pants and pulling them down around his hips, then doing the same to his silk boxers. His member popped out, hard, long and swollen. He hissed as she took it in her small hands.

"I love you," she said as she slipped her warm mouth over his organt.

"Gods, witch," he breathed watching the witch as she began to bob, her tongue swirling as she pleasured him. Severus closed his eyes and enjoyed her ministrations, his hips beginning to thrust forward reflexively as one of his hands locked into her soft curls. Gods, she felt so good. He hadn't expected this response from her.

Hermione put her whole heart into pleasuring the wizard, the Potions Master watching her, his black eyes half-lidded in bliss as she lovingly attended him, now using her hands as well, stroking him.

"Hermione," he groaned, starting to thrust into her mouth more forcefully as she brought him to the edge. Both of his pale hands were locked in her hair now, and he was pulling her forward, grunting with every slide of her wet, sucking mouth over him, lost to the pleasure she was giving him.

"Shit," he breathed as he felt himself tightening. Hermione felt him begin to shudder and sped up, her mouth flying over him, her hair wrapped around her face. Gods she loved him so much.

With a cry, Severus came, clutching her head tightly with his fingers. His mouth was slack and his head spinning as he emptied into the witch, and his heart swelled with emotion that she felt so strongly for him she would give herself this way so freely and with so much love.

As soon as he was able the Potions Master dropped to his knees, wrapped his arms around Hermione and kissed her deeply, tasting his own essence as he did so. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"I would do anything for you, Hermione, anything in my power," he declared passionately.

"I know, Severus. I know. And I love you for it," she replied softly.

Severus looked at her, overwhelmed with an emotion that he could no longer deny, no longer hide from. An emotion he could no longer pretend wasn't churning inside him, demanding to be let out and recognized. At last it boiled over.

"And I love you too, witch," he breathed, "with everything I am. You are my world, Hermione Granger. Everything in my life revolves around you now. You and the child you carry. I'll never let any harm come to either of you. You both belong to me."

Hermione looked at him, then sobbed, burying her face in his shoulder and clinging to the wizard as if she would never let him go.

He hoped she never would.

---

Now that the three words Hermione longed to hear from Severus were out in the open air, she felt complete. It had happened just like she believed it would. The dark wizard responded to love like any other human being. He had certainly put her through the wringer though. He treated her much better now, but secretly she hoped he wouldn't lose his edge. She liked him dark, snarky and dominating. If he turned into a complete softie towards her, she wouldn't be able to stand it.

"Severus?" she said to him as he lay sated beside her, both arms behind his head, his eyes closed.

He opened one eye.

"Yes, Hermione?" he responded.

"Now that you've admitted you love me, you aren't going to change are you?" she asked him.

Severus rolled toward her now, his brow wrinkled.

"Change? Change how?" he asked her.

Hermione hesitated.

"Well…become…soft. Sweet," she replied, her eyes fixed on his face.

Severus snorted.

"If you are worried I'll start acting like a love-struck sixth year, it will never happen. I do feel tenderness toward you, Hermione…but my gentleness toward you in and out of bed lately is mostly due to your condition. I don't want you blubbering every time I say something to you, so I am not as sharp as usual. I bite back my comments quite a bit, I assure you. And now that you are in your third trimester, I can't possess you like I want to…so I am 'gentle'."

His eyes swept up and down her body.

"Trust me, after you have the baby you will get your normal treatment," he said, his eyes glittering. "You didn't want a 'sweet' man, Hermione. You wanted me. I'm as far from sweet as you can get, witch."

Hermione smiled at him.

"That's good Severus. I want to keep the snarky wizard I fell in love with. I don't want you to change," she said softly.

Severus looked at her a long moment.

"There isn't the slightest chance of that happening," he said. Actually he could already feel the changes in him towards her. But if she wanted him snarky and hexable, then that's what he would be for her. "Now go to sleep. Tomorrow we have to go see Albus and plan our wedding ceremony. I want you rested when you waddle into Hogwarts. That gait has to be tiring."

Hermione frowned as Severus rolled to his back again, closing his eyes.

"Waddle? I don't waddle," she declared, scowling.

"Hermione, you do waddle. Ducks and penguins waddle less than you do," the Potions Master replied sleepily.

Suddenly he got a pillow in the face, hard. Stunned, he scowled at the witch next to him.

"Bet ducks and penguins can't do that," she griped, replacing the pillow and falling back on it.

Severus' nostrils flared. He was going to go to sleep…but she started it. He had something much better to hit her with than a pillow.

"They don't do this either," he growled, grabbing the witch.

So much for Hermione getting a good night's rest.

---

They next day they arrived at Hogwarts. They floo'd directly to Severus' room. Raucous was on the rafters when they arrived, and squawked a greeting to his master, fluttering down to the armchair so he could get a few caresses from the wizard. Hermione stepped through after Severus. She rolled through the floo, and Raucous cocked a beady eye at her, then fell off the back of the armchair and into the seat, cawing with birdie laughter at the rotund witch. He writhed around on his back with his claws in the air. Oh, this was too good.

Hermione glared at the bird as he struggled to his feet, looking at her, his beak open in mirth.

"It's not funny," she said to the raven, frowning.

This only had the effect of sending Raucous into more birdie conniptions. Between squawks he sent an image to Severus of the wizard rolling Hermione like a huge ball down the corridors of Hogwarts. The Potions Master helplessly let out a snicker, tempted to laugh out loud at the outrageous image. Hermione caught it.

"What did he say to you, Severus?" she demanded.

Severus sobered quickly.

"Just a comment about how you've rounded out a bit," the wizard replied, his lip quirking a bit as Raucous hopped on his shoulder and eyed the witch exaggeratedly as if looking at something extremely large, his beak still open.

"Stupid bird," Hermione muttered bad-temperedly as Raucous preened Severus' hair.

Severus walked over to his desk, opened the drawer and took out a couple of parchments, which he put in his pocket. He then returned to Hermione took her arm and said, "Albus is waiting for us."

Severus took some floo powder out of the box on the mantle and threw it into the flames.

"The Headmaster's office," he said, and led Hermione through, Raucous still riding on his shoulder.

Albus was sitting at his desk looking over some paperwork when the fire suddenly turned green. He looked up expectantly, adjusting his glasses, a broad smile on his face. He rose when Severus and Hermione stepped through. His eyes darkened just a bit when he saw Raucous. The Headmaster still hadn't gotten over their initial meeting. That familiar was trouble.

"Severus! Hermione!" Albus exclaimed, walking from around his desk to embrace Hermione.

He pulled her close, then hesitated as he felt her belly press against him. The old wizard looked down at the witch, his blue eyes twinkling kindly.

"I see things are developing nicely, my dear," he said to her, stepping back to look at her. "You are radiant. Absolutely radiant."

Hermione smiled at the Headmaster tersely. She didn't feel radiant. She felt like a beached whale. But she accepted his compliment graciously. The Headmaster then shook Severus' hand firmly, his eyes focused on the dark wizard's face. There was some change there, something he couldn't put his finger on…but it was definitely something for the better.

"Ah, Severus. How are you adjusting to approaching fatherhood?" Albus asked him.

"I must admit I am looking forward to it, Headmaster," Severus said, helping Hermione to a seat in front of Albus' desk. "It will be a pleasure to raise a child that is not an innate dunderhead."

Albus returned to his desk as Severus sat down next to Hermione. The old wizard noted how Hermione reached over and clasped the Potions Master's pale hand, and how Severus' thumb gently caressed the back of it as they faced him. Hm. Oddly affectionate of the wizard. Could it be Hermione finally reached the wizard's hardened heart? Albus hoped so. There were few wizards as deserving of a second chance at life as Severus was.

"So, I understand there is to be a wedding," Albus said, beaming at the two.

"Yes, Headmaster," Hermione said, blushing slightly, "and we were hoping you would conduct the ceremony here at Hogwarts. It would be a small affair. Just family and a few close friends."

"I would be delighted," the Headmaster replied. He looked at Hermione's belly pointedly, "I gather the ceremony will be quite soon."

"Very," Severus replied, "We were hoping next weekend, sir. On Sunday."

The Headmaster opened a large appointment book on his desk and flipped to the date in question. He smiled up at them.

"I'm free all that day," he replied. "Would you like a morning, afternoon or evening ceremony?"

Severus and Hermione spoke quietly for a moment.

"The morning if you please, Headmaster," Hermione replied. "I'm usually quite tired in the afternoons."

"Is ten o'clock a good time?" Albus asked, picking up a quill and dipping it into the inkwell.

"Yes, that's fine," she replied. Albus marked it in the book. He looked up at the couple.

"Hogwarts will supply a light brunch to follow the ceremony," he said. "I am very happy for both of you. This is a joyous occasion. Do you need help rounding up your guests, Hermione?"

She shook her head.

"I'll owl the invitations tomorrow. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Mr. & Mrs. Weasley, Remus, my parents of course…I think I'll skip Fred and George," she said. She had found out that Fred and George had released a subtle lust draught in the Great Hall the night of the reunion that had the most unlikely people snogging each other for ten minutes. Hagrid and Professor McGonagall for one example and Trelawney and Filch for another.

Minerva had been appalled when she recovered. Hagrid was a bit green himself, and launched himself at the hysterically laughing twins, who beat a rather hasty retreat from the irate half-giant via the floo in the Main Hall. Lucky for them Hagrid was too big to fit into the fireplace or he would have followed them and beaten them within an inch of their lives.

"Do you have anyone you'd like to invite, Severus?" she asked him.

A strange expression crossed the Potions Master's face.

"Yes," he said slowly. "There is one person. She lives in Naples."

"She?" Hermione asked looking perplexed.

He looked at her.

"Yes…she. My mother," he replied. "For years I perpetuated the lie she was dead, to protect her from the Dark Lord. I moved her there, shortly after the death of my father."

The Potions Master scowled at this. His father had been an abusive man, who beat him and his mother mercilessly. He died shortly before Severus joined the Dark Lord. When the wizard discovered how twisted and cruel the despot was, he convinced his mother to leave England. He knew Voldemort wouldn't hesitate to use her to control him, or kill her to punish him.

When Severus told his mother he had joined Voldemort, she was very disappointed in him. She left England and worked in Naples for many years. As soon as Severus was employed at Hogwarts, he sent money to her every month to help her. He still provided support for her, his solicitor taking care of sending the payments. The dark wizard hadn't laid eyes on his mother for a long, long time. Now that he was about to take a wife, and have a child, he wanted to see her. It would make her very happy to know he had started a family and she would be a grandmother. It was time for her to come back to England.

"Your mother," Hermione whispered, her eyes wide. "I thought she was dead."

He shook his head.

"She left the country to avoid being targeted by Voldemort," Severus replied, "But he's gone now, and it's time she came back. I want my family together."

Hermione looked up at her husband-to-be and blinked back tears.

"Oh Severus," she said. "We'll send her an owl this afternoon and make arrangements."

"Better yet, we will send Fawkes," Albus offered, looking at the Phoenix, who trilled excitedly. It had been a while since he had been on a journey.

Raucous squawked indignantly. What about him? It was HIS master's mother after all. He should be the one to deliver the invitation. Severus petted him.

"Raucous, Naples is approximately 1615 kilometers from London. That is quite a distance, and there are predators that would love to have a raven for a light snack. I would rather you didn't go. I've gotten used to you," he said to the bird.

Raucous rubbed his head against the Potions Master's hand. This was the first time the wizard had expressed any care for him vocally, and the bird appreciated it. He cawed acquiescence.

The couple and Albus hashed out the details of their upcoming nuptials. But Hermione was distracted. Severus' mother? Alive? Returning to England?

Hermione could not help but wonder what the mother of Severus Snape would be like? Was she as disciplined and severe as the Potions Master? What did she look like? More importantly, would she be accepting of a muggle-born daughter-in-law? Suddenly, Hermione didn't feel very well.

"Headmaster, may I use your bathroom?" she asked Albus.

"Certainly, my dear," he said, looking concerned at her greenish tint. Severus helped her up, concern also on his pale face.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" the dark wizard asked, his brow creased.

"I'll be fine," Hermione said, holding down the bile rising inside her. She hurried to the bathroom and just managed to make it to the loo before she vomited. The two wizards heard her and looked at each other.

"I imagine Hermione has just come down with a case of 'nerves', Severus. Obviously you didn't tell her about your mother," the Headmaster said. "It must be quite a shock to her."

Severus looked in the direction of the bathroom.

"Yes. There are many things Hermione doesn't know about me," he said, then looked at the Headmaster rather plaintively. "This is all so new to me, Albus. You know I am used to keeping details of my life a secret. It is difficult to open up and share them."

Albus nodded. For years, Severus' very survival depended on his ability to keep secrets from others. He had become quite adept at concealing his own history while learning that of others. It would take time for him to open up to Hermione.

"It will become easier, Severus. Give yourself time, my boy," the Headmaster said, "though the witch may take you to task for concealing such a thing."

Severus scowled.

"I wasn't concealing it. My mother just never came up. Hermione believed her dead after all," he replied.

"Well, she's been admirably resurrected, my boy, and Hermione is going to have questions," Albus said.

"When my mother arrives, those questions will all be answered," the dark wizard replied.

Hermione returned from the bathroom, looking pale. Severus was on his feet in a moment, Raucous hopping down to the back of the chair. He strode over and grasped her arm to support her.

"I should get you back to the house," he said, looking down at her.

Hermione nodded weakly. She felt lightheaded.

Albus rose.

"Yes, Severus. Get her home. I will see you both in two weeks. I take it I may invite the staff?" he asked.

"Of course," Severus replied. "I imagine Minerva and the rest of that cackling brood will be overjoyed that I am finally getting a ring put through my…"

He stopped and looked at Hermione, who was glaring at him.

"…on my finger," he amended, giving her a smirk.

Hermione hit him in the shoulder and he arched an eyebrow at this small attack.

"I'm adding that infraction to my 'list'" he growled at her, "I won't forget it either. It doesn't take a witch as long to recover from delivering a child. You'll be on your back in no time, witch."

Even ill, Hermione flushed with a bit of desire. Severus was so delicious when he was threatening her.

Albus watched the couple, smiling. Ah, young love.

Suddenly Hermione remembered him and flushed even deeper, this time with embarrassment. She turned to face him with a small, embarrassed smile.

"Goodbye Headmaster," she said as Severus nodded toward him.

"Goodbye Hermione, Severus. I will send Fawkes along in a bit." Albus replied, still smiling as the pair stepped through the floo. Raucous squawked at the wizard from the back of the chair and flew into the fireplace behind them, Albus scowling after the raven.

The wizard sat back down at the desk and stared into space, his blue eyes misting up a bit.

Severus' mother. It had been a very long time since he had seen her last. He hoped the years had been kind. She was quite a looker in her day. Actually, she would be going on sixty, so she was still relatively young…not even middle aged yet by wizarding standards. She was probably still a looker. The old wizard looked forward to seeing her again.

The Headmaster selected a quill, dipped it in the inkwell and set about writing a memo to the staff concerning the upcoming marriage of Severus Snape to Hermione Granger.

No doubt it would be the talk of Hogwarts.

---

Isadora Snape sat in front of her computer monitor making muggle travel arrangements for a witch who wanted to visit San Francisco, California. This had been her job for the past twenty years. When she arrived at Naples, she found a job in a travel agency that needed someone who spoke English. They trained her and the witch quickly became a favorite of the agency's patrons. She moved up in the company quickly, earning marvelous commissions as a travel agent specializing in muggle travel for those in the wizarding world. She made quite a good living at it, setting up complete itineraries for witches and wizards traveling abroad. From flights, to hotels, to restaurants, to places of interest she put together packages tailored to their needs as well as written instructions of how to move through the muggle world without drawing undue attention.

Finished with her latest arrangements, Isadora printed out the paperwork then sighed, stretched removed her glasses, rolled her head and rubbed her eyes. She had a dinner date with Alfonso tonight, but she was too worn out to deal with the courtship rituals of the ardent Italian. She'd have to find a way to gracefully bow out of the date. The witch stood up and stretched again, extending her arms above her head as she walked toward the large open window of her villa and looked out across the bay.

Isadora stood about five foot seven and was dressed in black jeans and a white blouse. The witch was slim, dark-eyed, well formed, with high cheekbones and a complexion as pale as porcelain. It was easy to see where Severus got his features. He had the male version of her aquiline nose and sensuous mouth. His mother's crowning glory was her beautiful, silky black hair that fell to her waist. The witch had it pinned up to keep from sitting on it while working.

As Isadora looked out across the water, she noticed a speck on the horizon, quickly growing larger. She saw it was a bird flying steadily towards the mainland. She watched it. It was quite a large creature, with scarlet and gold coloring. It almost looked like…no…it couldn't be his bird. But as it flew closer there was no mistaking it. It was a Phoenix, and heading straight for her villa. And she only knew one Phoenix.

"Fawkes?" Isadora said as the bird flew in through the large open window and landed on the back of her sofa. The Phoenix looked at her with his beautiful golden eyes and trilled a greeting at her.

"Fawkes! It is you!" Isadora said, gliding over to the Phoenix and caressing his head gently, smiling at the bird. Severus' must have gotten his teeth from his father. Isadora's were perfectly straight. "I haven't seen you in years. You're as beautiful as ever."

Fawkes trilled again, and lifted his leg so she could untie the parchment. She did so, and set it on her computer table and looked at the bird.

"You've had a long journey. Let me get you some food and drink before I read that," she said, walking into the kitchen and retrieving some dried and fresh fruit, olives and filling a bowl with cold water. She cut up some persimmons, cactus pear and arranged them on a plate with dried figs and some cured olives. She brought them along with the bowl of water into the living room and set them on the dining room table.

"Come Fawkes and eat," she said to the Phoenix who flew over and landed on the back of the chair, looking at the gleaming surface of the table, unwilling to scratch it with his claws.

Isadora looked at the bird with her hands on her hips for a moment, then realized what was wrong. She quickly went and got a large towel and laid it on the table, placing the food and water on it. Fawkes hopped on the towel and started eating. Isadora gave him one more caress, walked over to the table and picked up the parchment. She recognized Severus' seal and frowned. She and Severus exchanged cards on birthdays and during the holidays, but didn't write other than that. It might have drawn attention to her.

The witch turned the parchment over and over in her hand, hoping it wasn't bad news. Fawkes stopped eating and sang an encouraging note at her, his eyes whirling. She gave the bird a small, nervous smile and used one long fingernail to break the seal, and opened the parchment. Another small envelope lay within it. She took it out and read the parchment first.

Dear Mother,

It has been some time since I have written you, and you know the reasons for this. No such reasons exist any longer. Lord Voldemort is dead and I am free of his evil forever. Now that his evil is departed from this world, I can let you know that I was not a true servant to him, but worked for the Order of the Phoenix in an attempt to bring him down all these years. I hope that this knowledge serves to allay some of your disappointment in me. I've done my best to redeem myself for the errors I've made in the past through my service to the Greater Good. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive the mistakes I've made as well.

Isadora's eyes filled with tears as she read her son's letter. Severus had been a loving child, but his father's beatings and the way he was treated by others while attending Hogwarts had changed him to a serious, unsmiling young man. The gods only knew how much his service for the Order had changed him. She continued reading.

I have news that I hope will further warm your heart, Mother. I am marrying in two weeks, a very lovely and brilliant young woman. There is a large age difference between us, much like the one between you and Father. But she is bright and I am quite satisfied with her. She is also expecting my child, so you are to be a grandmother.

Isadora clasped her hand over her mouth. Severus marrying and having a child on the way? She never thought her son would marry, and it had been a constant sadness in her that she would have no grandchildren to love. But now…

She continued reading.

Mother, I would like you to attend our wedding…and more, I would like you to return to England permanently. It has been too many years and I have a child to raise now. I would like to raise him or her with your influence and your love in his or her life. You were always a good mother to me. I know you will be a treasure to my child. Enclosed is an invitation to the wedding. Please let me know if you can and will attend by way of Fawkes. I await your answer, Mother and hope to see you soon.

Your Son,

Professor Severus Snape

Isadora opened the invitation and read it, then walked over to her desk, sat down, picked up a quill and signed the little RVSP card attached and slipped it into the envelope. Fawkes was finished with his meal and flew over to the sofa again, his wings raised slightly.

"Ready to go so soon, Fawkes?" she said to the bird.

Fawkes nodded. He had quite a long flight home.

"Very well," the witch said, walking over to the Phoenix and attaching her acceptance of the invitation to his leg, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Fawkes sang her a sweet song to ease the powerful emotions her son's letter had elicited in her. Isadora felt soothed.

"Thank you, Fawkes," she said petting his crested head gently. "I'll see you in a week or so."

The Phoenix trilled at her, then launched himself across the room and out of the open window. Isadora watched him fly until he was just a speck on the horizon.

She turned from the window and looked at the letter lying on the sofa.

"Severus marrying. And a grandchild. My grandchild," the witch breathed. Then she let out a whoop and ran to her computer, sitting down quickly and putting on her glasses. She clicked through the screens impatiently.

"Let's see, let's see…ah, here it is. Flights to London," Isadora said to herself looking at the screen intently. Alfonso would have to find a new witch to stalk.

She had a wedding to attend and a move to plan.

---

A/N: Thanks for reading. More to come.