Disclaimer: All characters that are from the Harry Potter series, along with locations & other things recognizable to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 14

"Seriously man, when are you going to ask Mia to marry you?" George asked as he took his seat at the table again. The Weasley brothers, Harry, and Severus sat around a round table that was covered with poker chips, cards, and beer bottles. Harry had sent out owls the night before requesting that the men join him for a boy's night. He had been away on his honeymoon for a week and wanted to hang out with his brothers-in-law and his soon to be "brother-in-law".

"Jesus Potter, how many people have you told?" Severus asked, just slightly annoyed at the question that was asked just before each new hand of Texas Hold 'Em.

"Harry knows?" George looked at his friend. "How did you know? Albus told me because he was mad that Severus wasn't telling him anything."

Severus started laughing, causing everyone at the table to look at him in shock. They'd never seen the bat of the dungeons laugh, nor had they ever heard it. "That crazy ole coot! He's got so much free time on his hands now that he gets impatient when he's not included in something." Severus slowly stopped laughing, and then he took a drink of his beer before continuing. "To answer your question George, I plan on asking her this weekend. She doesn't know it yet but I'm taking her to Italy for the weekend." He went on to explain how Harry knew before the rest of the men at the table and his plans for that weekend. Just as Severus finished answering questions the fireplace light up with green flames.

"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked as she stepped out. She was trying to act like all was fine but she was beyond nervous. She had a small black box in her hands that she was twirling. When she saw that Severus was there she quickly dropped it into her pocket. "Oh, Severus I didn't realize you would be here tonight. I though you were spending time with Draco."

"No, love, that's tomorrow night. What's wrong?" He asked; he didn't like the way she looked. Her skin was rather pale and her eyes were looking everywhere but at him.

"Did I hear… Hi Mia. What are you doing here?" Ginny walked through the door bringing her into the kitchen.

"I was hoping to have some girl time with you." Hermione said. She hoped the younger woman wouldn't mention that they had plans for a girl's day the next day.

"Oh, okay. Come on we'll go up stairs and leave the boys to their 'manly' game." Ginny held her arm out for Hermione but before she could wrap her arm around Hermione, Severus was up and behind her guiding her to the living room and shutting the door in Ginny's face.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Severus asked as he made her sit on the couch and crouched in front of her.

"Nothing." Hermione still wouldn't look at him.

"Damn it, Granger! Don't lie to me or keep things from me. What is wrong?" Severus was getting very worried.

"I'm not the one that has been keeping things from people!" Hermione snapped back.

"What are you talking about?" Severus was confused. If she was talking about what he thought she was talking about, he didn't understand why she would be mad about it.

"This!" She pulled the ring box out of her pocket. "I thought you said you didn't love her." With that Severus's head snapped to his right as Hermione slapped him as she began to cry.

"What? Love who?" Severus asked as he held his left hand to his smarting cheek. "Who do you think this ring is for?"

"Lily! The emerald matches her eyes doesn't it? That's why you got it for her. If you don't love her anymore why would you still be holding on to the ring you bou… I think I'm going to be sick." With that Hermione ran out of the room, past a shocked Severus and Ginny, who was standing on the other side of the door with Harry.

"I'll check on her, Severus," Ginny said and went after Hermione.

Severus got up off the floor and sank into an armchair. She thought… she thought it was for Lily? Severus couldn't believe that Hermione had jumped to the wrong conclusion. His plans to take her to Italy and tour the towns and then propose on a gondola ride were ruined. "How could I have been so stupid to get her a ring with an emerald on it?" he whispered to no one in particular.

"It's all my fault, Severus. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pointed out the emeralds. I didn't realize that she would think it was meant for my mum. It doesn't even match her eyes." Harry said as he sat across from the older man whose spirit seemed to be breaking.

"It's neither of your faults." Ginny said as she walked in. "Severus, I think you should go talk to Hermione. And I mean talk; no yelling." She waited for Severus to get up and then she took him into the kitchen where Hermione was sitting at the table sipping tea. The Weasley brothers had left after their baby sister threatened them with hexes.

"Hermione, you need to tell Severus." Ginny sat down next to her friend as Severus sat across from her and reaching for her hands, but she pulled her hands away.

"Love, what is going on? I promise you that ring was never for Lily. I bought that ring for you with Harry and Draco. I bought it the day you went shopping with Ginny before the wedding."

"Oh Severus, I'm so sorry." Hermione started crying even harder.

"It's okay, love. I wasn't trying to keep it from you, I promise. I just wanted surprise you is all." Severus held his hands out for hers. She slowly moved her hands from her lap to his hands.

"I'm sorry about that but that's not what I meant." Hermione let out a long sigh. "I don't know how to tell you this, and I hope you won't be angry with me but I-"

"You don't want to get married?" Severus whispered, he thought his heart would burst with the pain of the thought of his witch not wanting to be with him for the rest of their lives.

"Oh god no, I don't mean that at all." Hermione said as her head snapped up to look him in the eyes. "I do want to marry you. Very much so. Its just that, well, you may not want to after I tell you what I need to tell you."

"What is it? You can tell me, I promise I won't be mad," Severus said. His nerves were getting worst.

"Well… I guess the day of the wedding I was in such a hurry that… that I forgot to take my, um…" Hermione stopped.

"Mione, you need to tell him," Ginny said gently.

"Okay. I forgot… I forgot to take my contraceptive potion before we left for the burrow. I'm pregnant I'm really sorry Severus! I didn't mean to, I swear! I swear I meant to take it, just like I always do. I'm so sorry, please don't hate me." Hermione rushed out. She was so scared that he would accuse her of trying to trap him or that she was trying to replace his daughter, Mercia.

Severus got up and walked around the table and stood by Hermione. "Ginny would you leave us alone please?" As Ginny got up Severus took her seat and turned Hermione to face him.

"I'm so sorry, Severus." Hermione started crying harder

"Hush, love." Severus whispered as he pulled her into his arms and let her cry on his shoulder. "I'm not angry at you. I could never hate you for giving me this wonderful gift."

"What? You're not… you're not mad?" Hermione pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes were red, and her cheeks blotchy with red spots from the tears. As Severus looked at her, he started to notice her disheveled look. She was in wrinkled sweats and an equally wrinkled t-shirt. Her hair was in a bun that was even messier then usual. "No, love. I could never be mad at you for this. But, Hermione are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Well, I feel like a right bitch for slapping you and accusing you of buying the ring for Li-" Severus leaned in and cut her off by kissing her. He pulled her into him again, wrapping her up in his arms.

"Hush, I've already forgotten it." Severus said as he pulled away to look at her. "I love you Hermione. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't wait to start our family and to see you pregnant with my babies."

"Babies?" Hermione asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Yes, babies. I want as many as you are willing to give me." With that he started kissing her again.

"Aw, aren't they just adorable?" Ginny asked Harry from the door way as she pushed it open to check and make sure that everything was okay.

Date posted: 2/20/2012