Sorry for the wait. I actually had this one written for a while, but I kept changing things so I didn't post it for a few days in case I thought of something else to change. Things are going to be moving quickly now. Mainly just a few little blurbs grouped together and all will be complete... hmm... how sad

Oh, and I had some questions about what Hermione does. Yes, all she does is do more research. I think someone like Hermione would enjoy a life of research. And as for the 'new titles' line in the last post, I just meant she bought a lot more titles to add to Severus' library; she didn't write them. I'm still debating whether or not to give her a real job or not. For now, it's easier for her to do research while pregnant/having small children.

As always, None of this is mine! I'm just a college student doing something other than my finals... oops :\

A few weeks later Hermione remembered one thing she hated about being pregnant: the weight gain. She wasn't vain, in fact she thought nothing bad of a little extra weight, but what she was gaining was ridiculous. She already had to expand her skirts and pants because she could no longer fasten them, and she wasn't even in the second trimester.

To add to her bad disposition, she had been craving the oddest things at all times of the day and, to Severus' displeasure, night. One night she had been craving a certain sandwich from the Three Broomsticks.

Hermione lay in been wide awake as she thought of the wondrous sandwich, knowing if she didn't have it, she'd never sleep. It was early, maybe three or four in the morning but she knew the Three Broomsticks was still open. It turned into a pub more than a restaurant at night, but Hermione knew they would be willing to make a sandwich for her.

Finally deciding to get it instead of thinking about it, Hermione sat up and reached for a robe to slip over her husband's large dress shirt she had commandeered. Just as she was about to slip out of the room, her husband's voice bounced off the walls, "And where do you think you're going?" His voice was deep and intimidating.

Hermione froze before slowly turning towards the bed. Severus still stayed lying down but his eyes were zoned on her. "I'm going to the Three Broomsticks to get a sandwich."

Severus slowly sat up, black eyes scowling. "Do you realize what time it is?"

"Yes, but I can't sleep. It won't take long, just go back to sleep." Hermione turned to leave again, but Severus stopped her again.

"Why don't you just order something from the kitchens?"

Hermione glowered at her husband. "Because, Severus, I want the sandwich from the Three Broomsticks!"

Severus tried one last time to get her to drop the subject. "You aren't going anywhere dressed like that."

Hermione looked down at herself. Through the open robe, the loose fitting shirt left little to the imagination, due to the top few buttons being undone. Her bare legs and feet glowed in the dark. "Oh, oops." She moved back in and started pulling on clothes.

Running his hands over his face, he sighed. "You really want this sandwich?"

"Yes," she said as she pulled on some comfortable boots, "I can't sleep and it's the only thing I can think about."

I can help you get your mind off it, Severus thought, but knew better than to voice those opinions. Hermione's temper had been very touchy lately. He instead pulled back the covers 

and pulled on his teaching robes, ignoring the rest of his ensemble. "Go back to bed; I'll get you your sandwich.

Smiling at the memory, Hermione's mood increased greatly. She decided to take Essie Ann for a walk and go to the lake. It was one of Hermione's favorite spots. As she was walking around, she couldn't help but feel happy at anything she saw. It wasn't to last though.

Essie Ann wasn't paying much attention to her mother as she uncovered secrets in the ancient castle when the bell rang, signaling a break in classes. Hermione pulled Essie Ann to the side of the hall so they could stay out of the way of the students, but part of a group of girls' discussion caught her attention; especially when she heard her husband's name.

"Have you had Professor Snape's class yet?" one girl asked.

"Please, call him Severus. It's much more alluring." The girl in the center of the group flipped her hair back arrogantly as she moved past Hermione, not giving her even a glance. Intrigued—or at least angry—Hermione followed. "The last couple months he's been a lot kinder. Rarely yelling in class and deducting points. And when he smiles in class... I just melt. By the end of the year, I'll be screaming out his name at all hours of the night, if you know what I'm saying."

Who doesn't know what you're saying?! Hermione thought angrily.

"Phoebe! Did you forget he's married?!"

Phoebe, the leader, scoffed. "Yeah, and have you seen what to? I don't know why Severus would marry such a thing. Maybe he pitied her."

"The marriage law—"

"Yes, but it was recently abolished. He could have left her." She ignored the onslaught of arguments and continued. "I mean, have you seen how fat she's getting? It's a wonder how she can get through any doors."

"Phoebe, you're horrible!"

"I heard she's pregnant again."

"My Severus wouldn't think about touching that thing twice. He's just staying there for his adorable daughter. I'll make him see he doesn't need that babysitter-wife anymore. He can have me and we'll take care of little Esther together." Phoebe grinned at the thought, while Hermione's stomach churned.

"And what makes you think he'll even look twice at you? You're still a student."

"Not for long."

Hermione couldn't listen anymore. She grabbed Essie Ann's hand and grunted, "Come on," before dragging her daughter down to the dungeons.

"What about the lake?"

"We'll go another time."

Hermione went past the messy kitchen and sitting area and went straight to her room. Realizing what a waste a spare bedroom was, Severus had it remodeled it so Hermione could have her own study. The only thing that could get Hermione to forget what she heard was to bury herself in her research. She sat herself down behind her desk and looked down at the book she had been studying. After staring at the page for five minutes, Hermione realized she wouldn't be able to do research now. She pushed the book away and dropped her head into her folded arms to hopefully cry the memory out. She only cried herself to sleep.

Severus knew Miss Phoebe Landers had been acting strangely, but he hadn't been able to put a finger on it yet. Now he felt foolish for never guessing. The twit had practically attacked him when he ordered out of his classroom. Then when he reported to Minerva about the girl's actions, she had teased him about letting a teenage girl get the best of him.

Teased.

The thought of it.

Deciding to break the rules and eat dinner in his quiet chambers, he slipped through his office door. When he entered the kitchen, he couldn't believe how messy everything was. Usually Hermione kept everything neat. Perhaps she was a bit tired today, he thought. He didn't care if the place was a little messy. Deciding to see where his family was, he started down the hall. His and Hermione's bedroom was empty, so he assumed they were in Esther room. Before he reached there, though, he saw Esther in Hermione's study.

"Esther, you're not supposed to be in here—"

"Shush, Daddy!" Esther whispered harshly. She was lying on her stomach reading a book. She pointed to the desk and Severus saw Hermione slumped over the desk fast asleep. Esther sat up and looked worriedly at Hermione. "She was crying."

Severus stooped down to Esther's level. "What was she crying about?" he whispered.

"Some people were making fun of her. They called her fat!" she whispered indignantly.

Fuming, Severus asked the question he already knew the answer to. "Do you know who was making fun of your Mum?"

"The other girls called her Phoebe."

Miss Landers! Severus seethed. He was about to stand and reprimand the girl when Esther mentioned something else.

"Is Mummy going to be okay? She always cries and sleeps."

Good job again, Severus. Your first thought was to reprimand a student, not comfort your wife or child. How do I explain this to a child?! "Do you remember the discussion we had about how you're going to be a big sister?" Esther nodded. "Well, it takes a lot of energy to make a baby so your mum gets tired a lot. As for the crying, don't you get upset when you're tired?"

"Oh. So Mummy's okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. Do you want to help me make dinner for your mum? Go out to the kitchen and call a house elf to bring dinner back. I'll get Mum into bed and we can serve her there."

"Yay! Breakfast in bed!" Essie stood and quickly left the study.

Severus stayed hunkered down on the floor a few minutes before moving to Hermione. He was sure she'd be very stiff for sleeping at an odd angle for so long. He pushed her hair away from her face and kissed along her hairline until he reached her ear. "Hermione," he whispered.

She slowly opened her eyes and had barely moved when she groaned, "Ouch."

"Let's get you to bed." Severus lifted her from the chair and went across the hall to their bedroom. After she was changed into his large shirt, he sat against the headboard with her leaning against his chest. He began working out the tight muscles in her neck and back as he thought of how to broach the subject without offending Hermione. He could tell she was feeling better when she melted against him. He moved his hands around her waist to feel the small bump that was his child forming. He felt something strong for both Hermione and the small child, but he wasn't sure what it was. Love?

Before he could formulate the answer, Hermione pulled away quickly. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," her blush betrayed her answer.

"You're blushing. What's wrong?" He caressed her back slowly.

"I'm just a little... thicker than what you're used to," she whispered.

Severus snorted. "Of course you are. You're pregnant."

"I shouldn't be this fat already," she scoffed.

"You're not fat," he growled and pulled her back against him. "That's our child inside of you. I don't care what anyone says, you're not fat and you're not ugly. Phoebe Landers is just too Slytherin for her own good."

Hermione gasped. "How did you know about her?"

"Esther told me what happened today." He decided to keep Miss Landers' seduction attempt filed away. Little did he know Hermione already knew of her plans.

"I highly doubt she told you everything. She couldn't have understood what that witch was saying," she hissed.

Severus rarely heard Hermione speak about anyone like this. Whenever he did, it was usually him who caused the wrath. "What did she say?"

"She said she's noticed you acting nicer lately and she couldn't understand why you'd want me around, or something about I'm a babysitter-wife. She said she'd convince you you didn't need me, and she'd take care of you and Essie Ann and..."

"And?" he prompted.

"She said she'd seduce you before the year is over."

Severus drew her to his chest again and whispered in her hair, "Don't worry about that. I would never touch her, or any other woman."

"I have food for Mummy!" Esther stumbled into the room and put the tray on the edge of the bed. The first thing Hermione noticed was the colorful card under her silverware. She grabbed that first and opened it. It read '2 the purtiest Mummy in the world.' Hermione couldn't control the tears and rested her head against Severus' chest. Severus laughed quietly while rubbing Hermione's back and looked up at Esther to see tears in her eyes as well. "I made Mummy cry again!"

"Oh, no sweetie," Hermione sniffed. "These are happy tears. Come here." Hermione wrapped her arms around their daughter and let her tears dry before eating. "Thank you for dinner sweetie."

"You're welcome. I'm going to go read again," she announced as she scurried from the room.

"Like mother, like daughter," Severus smirked.

"Like you don't read." Hermione tensed when Severus rested his hands on her stomach again, "I'd rather you not—"

"I think I'll need to prove to you how beautiful you are after Esther is in bed."

"I can manage that," Hermione smiled. "At the rate I'm growing, that task will be near impossible in a few weeks."

"Never say never," he purred into her ear. He thought for a few moments before saying, "It's been known for the Snape males to be large babies."

Hermione looked up at him. "You think it's a boy?"

Severus nodded. "You didn't grow this fast with Esther, correct?"

Hermione smiled. "That would be nice. One of each?"

"I couldn't agree more."

So I've given it a lot of thought (not that any of you would let me forget...) about Ron's love life. I finally figured out someone to work with him. That will be introduced in the next segment.

Hope all is well! :)