ohhdarkstonedone11: Thanks for reviewing and as for your question about the baby having Malfoy traits, you'll just have to read this chapter to see. HEHE. Believe me all of that is answered in this chapter!
Three days had passed since Hermione had seen the mysterious woman in her dreams, and in those three days she had never been happier. Before her dream, Hermione had almost considered aborting the baby. She had thought it would be easier than having to raise a child while she was so young, but now she couldn't even think of getting rid of her baby. She loved the feeling of having life growing in her stomach and would spend long moments looking at belly in the mirror, fancying that she saw a small bump (even though this was just her wishful imagination). Hermione had been sleeping in Severus' bed ever since that night and nightmares had yet to return. She felt invigorated to finally be free of Lucius' trap on her mind.
She even felt as if she might be ready to return to her classes in a few weeks. She had not told Ron or Harry of her pregnancy yet and didn't know if she would any time soon. They were her best friends but she didn't want to see their reaction when they found out that she was carrying Lucius' baby. They might try to urge her to get rid of it or worse Harry and Ron together might storm up to Azkaban together and attempt to murder Lucius themselves. Hermione smiled at this thought, she definetly wouldn't put it past the two. She knew she would have to tell them eventually, but now was not the time. She was definitely anxious to return to classes. She missed all of her friend immensely and knew she couldn't stay cooped up in Severus' rooms forever. Even though she feared being around all of those people she was also very excited. Not to mention the school needed their potions master back, even though the students might not want him. From she had heard the new potions master or rather disaster was not going over well. Apparently he couldn't tell a potion from a goblet of pumpkin juice.
Severus had noticed her change to and pinned it down to her joy of the baby. She was move lively and vivacious than she has ever been, teeming with happiness and glowing joy. Her skin was no longer dull but shone with inner stench. He was very happy to see that she had put on some weight also.
She had not told him of her dream, but was contemplating it. For some reason she felt that it was very private matter but on the other hand, Severus was always the one that she confided in. She trusted him not to scorn at her or look with skepticism upon what had occurred. So that evening over dinner she decided to tell him.
While she was daintily eating her spaghetti she brought it up. "I had an unusual dream the other day." She saw his features stiffen and realized he must think she was talking about another nightmare. "No, it wasn't a nightmare. It was a good dream. I dreamt I was visited by Alena Fulgencia-Latrice. She called me Hermione Donum-Unus. She told me that I had been given a blessing, and that the blessing was my child. She told me to think of my baby as a gift and not a curse. She then kissed my cheeks and put this (she slowly pulled the necklace out of her robes) around my neck."
Severus stared at her in shock for a moment before whispering "Are you sure it was Alena Fulgencia-Latrice who gave you this necklace?"
She nodded and looked curiously at him, surprised that he looked so shocked. His reaction has made her nervous.
"If this is truly who you say it is, then your child is not Lucius' baby." Severus said. "Alena Fulgencia-Latrice was a queen centuries ago. It was said that when she died she became the Goddess of Childbirth, due to her immense love of children. There is a legend that exist somewhere that thousands of years ago she bestowed a child upon a young girl like yourself. The girl had been abused by a man and was told she would never be able to have children herself. She slowly fell in love with another man who showed her kindness, though they had no physical relations. Several months later she became impregnated. It was impossible she thought, the only man she had ever slept with had been the man who had raped her and that was months ago. Too long ago for her to just now be with child. She had a dream similar to yours shortly after she was told she was pregnant. Alena Fulgencia-Latrice visited her and told her she had been given a gift, the gift bestowed upon her was the child, the girl was given a necklace just like yours. The child's father was the man that she now loved. Alena Fulgencia-Latrice had taken his seed and placed it in her body for a child to grow as if it had been normally conceived. The legend ends happily saying that the girl and the man were overcome by joy because of the child and later became married."
Hermione looked at Severus in complete astonishment "But how…I mean I didn't know that legends such as that actually existed…its impossible…I mean….stuff like this can't really happen." But even as she said this she still reached up and felt the necklace. It glowed with warmth against her fingers and she knew it to be true. "And…how will I know who the father is?"
At this Severus looked very uncomfortable when he spoke "It is said that the father will be the man who holds your heart, the man who you trust and care for above all others."
Hermione looked at Severus as her cheeks burned red. She immediately knew who the father was. "It's you Severus." She whispered. "I know it's you. You are the father. I trust you and care for you above all others. I just don't understand why she gave me a child?"
Severus sighed and looked down. Shockwaves were reverberating through his body at the thought of having a child, of being a father! And to top it all off, it was to none other than Hermione Granger. This thought, rather than making him sick with dread, filled him with joy. He was going to be a parent. He and Hermione would raise this child together, that is if she wished. As he thought of this he immediately felt apprehensive. What if she didn't want him caring for the child? What if she somehow blamed him for her becoming pregnant? These thoughts coursed through his head in wild chaos until, with a start, he realized Hermione had asked him a question.
"It is a mystery to me as much as it is to you Hermione." He said. "But Alena Fulgencia-Latrice must have had a good reason for giving you her gift, she was always said to be quite wise. Just know this, she would not have given you something you couldn't handle."
Hermione looked at him, her brown eyes wide with emotion. "I don't know if I can handle it Severus, but you don't know how happy I am to know that the baby is yours." She blushed and averted her eyes at her last statement, feeling she may have gone too far.
He quickly swept over to her and took her in his arms, holding her gently with all the love he could muster. He was ecstatic to know that she did want him in her life, and that she did want him to help care for their child. "Oh sweet Hermione" He whispered against her soft strawberry scented curls. "I will be here for you every minute. I will love you and take care of you and this child. Our child."
Hermione had quivered when he had said "love you". She knew he wasn't really saying that he loved her, but it still felt good. She gently leaned back from his embrace, stood on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek, breathing in his warm musky scent.
Severus reveled in the feeling of her touch. Her lips were like a soft breeze brushing up against his face. The spot where she had kissed him tingled with warmth that he never wanted to go away. She then looked up at him and ran her hands along the length of his whole face, touching his wispy eyelashes, brushing her fingertips against his thin mouth and tracing her hand along his jawbone. It seemed as if she was trying to memorize every line and angle in his face. Severus leaned into her warm touch and strangled down a moan of longing that threatened to escape him. When she was finished she rested her head back down on his chest and whispered. "I'm still scared but I know that you will be there to protect me. I want to keep our baby."
Severus buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed in the smell of her skin, before he said. "I too am glad for this baby."
That night was different for both of them, it felt as if they were somehow much more intimately connected because of the child growing in her womb. As Hermione slipped into bed and under the sheets, she did something she had never done before. She snuggled up to Severus and rested her head upon his bare chest (his preferred pajamas were black boxers). It felt like the most natural thing in the world to do. Without a word Severus placed one arm around her shoulders and put the other one gently against her stomach. He then turned off the magical lamp and fell asleep more quickly and easily than ever before, with her warm form pressed up against him
Authors Notes: Please Review!