Hermione awoke to fresh sunshine pouring down on her face and a familiar arm encircling her. She looked over at Severus and suddenly remembered with a start that neither of them was wearing clothes. It was so strange that she was in bed with the naked form of the formidable potions master, who actually didn't look so formidable at the moment. His face looked peaceful while he was asleep, his form completely straight and on his back, his dark hair lying on his forehead. Hermione carefully eased herself out of bed, so as not to wake him and went to go shower.
She looked at herself in the mirror and realized that she still had a few stray petals caught in her curls. Pulling them out she turned to the side and caught a glance of her pregnant stomach. Hermione was now six months pregnant and protruding belly was getting harder and harder to cover. She now always had to wear robes or a long jacket over her clothes and she had to be careful which angle she stood in front of people. Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to hide it from the rest of the school before long. She stepped into the shower the hot water was soothing on her aching body. She was surprisingly sore from last night's excursions. Hermione blushed to herself as she thought about that. She looked up as she heard a knocking on the door.
"Would you like me to make you breakfast?" Severus said through the crack.
"Ooooh yes. Can you make waffles with strawberries, chocolate chips and whip cream? Oh and could you maybe get me some peanut butter?" Hermione had been craving it for some odd reason, she guessed it was because of her hormones.
"Peanut butter for breakfast? That sounds disgusting but I'll see what I can do. I'll summon a house-elf." He walked away before Hermione could mutter her diatribe about house-elf treatment.
Hermione finished her shower, dressed and then walked out to the wonderful smell of waffles.
"Mmm that smells so good. I'm starving!" She said enthusiastically.
She was greeted by a small house-elf in a Hogwarts toga who said "Thank you miss. We is pleased to make waffles for you miss."
"Oh. Well thank you so much. You don't have to really…." She trailed off and looked sadly at the little elf.
"Hermione don't bother trying to free these. They wouldn't leave even if you forced clothes on them. Now come and eat your breakfast. Your baby needs nourishment, even if it is waffles and peanut butter."
Once they had finished there breakfast, Severus suggested that they go into Hogsmeade for the day. He wanted to go to the new potions supplies shop that had opened up. Hermione agreed and they set off together after Severus had badgered her into putting on her biggest, heaviest coat. "I don't want you getting sick and neglecting yourself" He had said to her sternly.
It was cold but sunshiny day outside. It had that brisk wintry feel to it that Hermione loved. She held Severus' hand as they walked along the road toward the apothecary.
"Are you worried what people will think about us? Just openly being together out here?" She said glancing over at his thing prone figure.
"Not really" He said dryly. "I think it's is no good trying to hide it anymore. We might as well let people find out."
"Yes….I suppose your right. I just get scared about what some people will do. I mean remember Lavenders reaction? And she was someone who was supposedly my friend. I can't imagine what Blaise Zabini or some other Slytherin would do."
Severus snarled, his face taking on a very angry aura. "I need not worry Hermione. If anyone so much as lays a finger on you, they will have to answer to me."
They walked the rest of the way quietly. Severus seemed to be simmering in brooding silence. Severus opened the door and led her into the darkly lit shop. It smelled like a strange mixture of herbs, some pleasant and others atrocious.
A tall thin man with balding gray hair came up to them and said cheerily "Is there anything I can help you with? Anything in particular that you're looking for?
"Yes there is actually. I am looking for dong quai root and unicorn root." Severus told the man.
The man seemed to fleetingly glance at Hermione's stomach, but when she looked back up she thought it was just her imagination. "Ah I have plenty of that. Just follow me over here sir." He then led them near the back of the store where there were rows and rows of hundreds of different herbs. Hermione hung back and took note of the rare herbs like the Abrus precatoriusand theTylophora indicawhile Severus picked out and bought his items.
Hermione wanted to stop by the bookstore next which he readily agreed to. Hermione loved that she had finally found someone who relished in the scent of fresh parchment like she did. Hermione entered the bookstore and quickly found what she was looking for, as she pretty much had the place memorized. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The book was a muggle classic. She took in her hands and ran her fingers along the glossy covers while Severus peered over her shoulder.
"Ah Frankenstein" He said. "The feminist novel by Mary Shelley."
"You've read it? But is a muggle novel?" She said in disbelief. She learned something new about him each day.
"Of course I've read it. Just because I'm wizard doesn't mean I don't educate myself with the works of muggles. She was a great writer." He plucked the book from her fingers and flipped through it. "I think I'm going to buy you this."
"No" She said sternly "I have my own money that I can spend on things like that. You can't just go buying me everything. Remember what I told you."
"This doesn't count though, because I would like to read this novel again as well. So really I am buying it for myself too." He took the proper amount of money out of his pocket and left Hermione standing there. Even though she was a little angry with him she knew he was just being kind and trying to act like a proper husband. Husband..…that felt good to say.
When they left the bookstore Severus saw that it was nearly 1 o'clock and they decided to head back.
"You need to rest Hermione and you also need to eat. I don't want you overexerting yourself." Severus said, acting very protective of her.
"I'm not overexerting myself." Hermione said crossly but followed him home anyways.
Severus had Nelson (the house elf) make Hermione a turkey sandwich and a glass of milk.
"I bought the potion ingredients for something I am making for you." He said.
"Oh really" Hermione said, finishing her sandwich and getting up. "What is it?"
"Come here and I'll show you"
He led her to the spare bedroom where he had set up his potions ingredients and his cauldron. There was a large moldy looking book lying open at a section titled "Motherhood and Fertility" He had circled a potion called "Childbirthing Tonic" She saw a list of ingredients that included some of the ones that he had purchased today.
2 parts ho shou wu
1 part astragalus root
1 part dong quai root (substitute ginseng for men)
2 parts false unicorn root
3 parts wild yam root
1 part vitex berries
1 part squaw vine
1 part cinnamon
"This is a remedy to help you with your pregnancy. It provides essential herbs for you and the baby's growth." He said to her.
She smiled at him "Severus that's thoughtful of you." She placed her hand behind his head and pulled him down to her in a kiss. She had meant to just kiss him lightly but he opened his mouth with intense passion. He parted his lips and slid his tongue into her mouth as though trying to taste every part of her. She felt her body growing hot with a familiar desire and twisted her fingers into his fine hair.
He picked her up and threw her onto the bed as they desperately flung each others clothes off. Hermione had no inhibition now. She straddled him and ran her fingers down the muscular panes of his smooth chest. He groaned in pleasure.
She gave a small gasp as she noticed for the first time the long thin scars that covered his abdomen. "Severus how did you get these?"
"Tokens from my past with Voldemort" He gave her twisted smile and then leaned up to kiss her small red mouth. "Don't worry about it Hermione."
She gave a small pleasurable yelp as he unexpectedly nibbled her hair. Grinning at him, she leaned down and started kissing his chest. She flicked her tongue across his nipples and he dug his fingers into her back.
Hermione then repositioned herself and then decided to try something she had never done before. She moved her hands to his throbbing erection and began moving her hand up and down. She felt powerful to have him writhing in pleasure under him. It felt good to know that she could produce such reactions from him. When he finally orgasmed she looked up and gave him a mischievous grin.
"Where did you learn that? You seem very practiced at it?" He said looking slyly at her.
She gave him a mock look of shock and shrugged. "It must just be natural talent."
He laughed and suddenly grabbed her and switched positions so he was leaning over her. He made love to her for the second time. This time more slowly and passionately. He loved the way she looked just now with her honey brown hair fanning out around her wildly and a look of pure ecstasy on her face. After they had finished and were lying, intertwined around each other she said "I never knew making love could be so beautiful and feel so wonderful."
He kissed her forehead. "It's the most wonderful thing in the world with the right person."
Hermione sighed. She wished her and Severus could stay like this forever. She wasn't looking forward to starting back school next week, but she knew she had too. Severus also had to resume his teaching duties. They would still get to stay at his cottage though, which she was very glad of. She liked it much better here than at Severus' old rooms in the dungeons.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She said, disentangling herself from Severus' arms.
She always had to go to the bathroom nowadays. It was very annoying having to pee constantly. Hermione used the bathroom and was washing her hands when she started craving peanut butter again. Mmm, to the kitchen I guess she thought to herself. She opened the door and was walking down the hallway towards the kitchen when the most unexpected person stepped around the corner.
"It's good to see you again Hermione" Said Andreas Bruselle.
Before Hermione could scream for Severus, Andreas had thrown a red powder into her face and the world went black.
Author's Notes: Pssh down forget to review!