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Here you are! The next chapter! Finally!
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"WHAT!?" Harry and Ron both shouted.
"Pregnant. Preggo. Knocked up. In the family way. A little person is gonna come shooting out of my..!" Hermione said.
"We got it, Hermione. I just don't understand. How did this happen?" Ron asked, his eyes wide in shock. Harry just sat there, staring at her newly formed baby bump.
"Well, Ron, when two people are hot for each other, they.." Hermione started, only to be interrupted again.
"I know HOW! I just don't understand how you could've let this happen? You always said you wanted to be a career witch before a mother. You wanted to have a career for at least 5-10 years, then have a baby." Ron said.
"Yes. And I have. Between the restaurant, the book shop, and working at the Ministry for a few years, I've done what I set out to do. The house-elves get 1 day off a month, 5 galleons a month, proper uniforms. I worked to change werewolf laws. I worked with Minerva to implement a special program for Muggle-borns so their parents can visit Hogwarts on special occasions. Because of me and Lucius, Muggle-borns aren't treated like before. Then, the book shop is wildly popular. I work at the restaurant 5 nights a week. I wrote a book which spent a few months in the #1 spot. Gin, Luna, Lavender and I own a clothing store. I also own half of Sev's apothecary. Now, I'm looking forward to relaxing and just being a mother for a while."
Harry and Ron just stared at her for a moment. Hermione resisted the urge she had to laugn. Indeed, a great part of her life plans had already been accomplished.
"Bloody hell!" Ron said.
"Eloquent as always, Ron." Hermione said. She went back to eating, waiting on Harry's brain to catch up. She just hoped he wouldn't say something stupid and piss her off. She wasn't surprised when he did, though.
"Mione, I love you. But, I gotta question your sanity here. I mean, you're married and having a baby with the man who pined for my mum for over 20 years. A man who joined the Death Eaters because of her. A man who then joined the Order because of her. Don't you understand? He's always loved her, and always will." Harry said.
Hermione took a few deep breaths before speaking.
"Listen, and listen good, Potter. I'm only going to say this once, and then you will not question it Severus and I started seeing each other, we had a good long talk about his past. Now, normally, I wouldn't tell you this because I feel it's really none of your business. He and your mum were BEST FRIENDS when they were younger. That's' it. Yes, he did love her for a while. But then he realized it wasn't love love. It was a friendly love. He did not join Voldemort because of Lily. Severus joined because it was the first time he felt truly accepted by people. Voldemort offered to get Sev an apapprenticeship with the best Potions Master in the world." she said. "He also overheard and passed on what he heard of the prophecy. He switched because he felt GUILTY. He couldn't bear the thought that his one time best friend was going to be targeted because of him." she said. "Let. It. Go! Now, I'm pregnant and hormonal and you are really pissing me off so I'll say one more thing and then go."
"Harry, Ron. I missed you while you were gone. I missed my best friends. I'm glad you're back. Really. I miss the friendship we had. In the 7 years it's been, I've grown up. Gin's grown up. Most of the Weasley kids have kids. The Weasley's all get along with the Malfoy's. The Malfoy's! You guys need to learn to accept these changes, or feel free to leave. As much as I want you guys to stay, I'll not have you messing up the nice lives we all have now. We suffered too damn much for you to come swooping in and dredging up things that we all have moved on from."
With that, Hermione stood and left the basement.
After Hermione left, Harry and Ron sat tnere thinking. The realisation they both came to? Hermione was right. As always.
"Harry, mate?" Ron asked.
"Yeah?"
"I think..we should..we should watch that memory of Snape's." Ron said.
"Yeah. I think we should, Ron." Harry said.
Walking back to the pensieve, Harry pulled out the old memory and poured in Snape's memory.
Harry and Ron found themselves looking at a different Severus Snape than they were used to. He was wearing jeans and a Rolling Stones t-shirt. His hair was clean and non-greasy. This was the Snape from the BBQ.
"Potter. Weasley. Know that I don't want to do this. However, Hermione asked me to contribute, and I would do anything for her. If I'm correct, and more often than not I am, you are not taking our marriage and impending child well." Severus said. He took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Once upon a time, Potter, I did love Lily. She was my first friend. However, once she became friends with the Marauders, she changed, and not for the better. I realized over time I did not love her as more than a friend. Then, the incident in our fifth year happened. After that, we may not have been best friends, friends at all really, but I did still care for her. I always will. But it was not love for Lily that drove me. After I learned of the Dark Lord's plans for you and your parents, I tried to find a way to save you all. Obviously, I was not successful. It was guilt that drove me after that. Guilt that I had been duped, essentially, by the Dark Lord. Guilt that my one time best friend and her family were in danger because of me."
Severus took another deep breath.
"After you started Hogwarts, I treated you the way I did because you looked like James with Lily's eyes. Weasley had her hair color. And Hermione had, and still has, Lily's intelligence. That, combined with my..extra-curricular..activities, made it impossible to be kind to any of you. You three together felt like the Potter's had been re-incarnated in all of you. It was difficult to look at you, Weasley or Hermione without that feeling of guilt coming back. Also, I was watched by children of associates of mine, who would've been happy to report to the Dark Lord about my treatment of you. And, yes, Hermione does know all of this."
"Now, I'm going to show you when Hermione and I met again. I was..intrigued..by her. This is Lucius and Helena's wedding."
The scene changed, and Harry and Ron found themselves at the wedding. All the guests were wearing varying shades of their house colors. All the Weasley's were in Gryffindor red and gold. Lucius and Severus were wearing black (big surprise there), Draco was in Slytherin green, Helena was in a silver dress, Hermione was in a floor length strapless deep red dress that hugged her figure, and Ginny was in a knee length gold dress.
The band leader announced it was time for the bride and groom's first dance. Hermione walked up to stand by the piano.
"I wanted to do something special for my mum and Lucius, so I hope this will do. I love you guys."
The room was filled with soft piano music.
At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
At last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped In clover
The night I looked at you
I found a dream
That I could speak to
A dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill
To press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
You smile
You smile
And then the spell was cast
And here we are
In heaven
For you are mine
At last
Harry and Ron could feel the awe coming from Snape's memory. This Hermione wasn't the one from Hogwarts. He was fascinated by this Hermione.
Severus walked over to Hermione where she stood by her mother and Lucius. Once they walked away, he made himself known. Walking up behind her, he surprisec her.
"Miss Granger."
Hermione gasped and spun around. "Professor Snape! How are you?" she asked.
"I am well. Thank you. And please, call me Severus. I am nobody's professor anymore." Severus said in his silky drawl, making Hermione blush.
"Alright, Sev..Severus. And it's Hermione. Calling me Miss Granger feels like you're about to take house points." she said. At his nod, she asked, "Are you enjoying yourself, Severus? Not feeling sick at all the Gryffindor colors?"
He let out a chuckle, then made no attempt at hiding his appraisal of her dress. "Not at all." he said with a smirk. "Would you care to take a walk with me, Hermione? I was wondering if you had read the article in Potion's Monthly about a new variety of Asphodel found in the Andes?" he asked.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "I'd be delighted." she said. After taking his arm, she answered, "I did, actually, read that article. I was surprised.."
The memory ended there, with Hermione and Severus walking away talking about Potions. Severus reappeared in front of them.
"That was the first time outside of Hogwarts I had seen her. She was not the know-it-all I had remembered. She is no replacement for Lily, I assure you. I had moved past Lily many years before you were even born. Now, do yourselves a favor, and start trying to get back on my wife's good side."
Harry and Ron pulled back from the memory in a bit of shock.
"I think..and I cannot believe I'm saying this..I think Snape's right, Ron. We need to get back in everyone's good graces." Harry said.
"I think you're right." Ron said with a sigh. "How do we do that?" he asked.
"I don't know, Ron." Harry said. "But, I think it starts with apologizing to Hermione and Ginny, and learning how to get along with their..you know..husbands."
"Yeah, alright. Blimey, Harry, our girls are married, and Mione's going to have a baby." Ron said.
"Yep, Ron. And I for one wanna be a part of it. Uncle Harry has a nice ring to it, eh?" Harry asked with a smile.
Ron just got a dopey grin on his face.
The boys slowly walked upstairs to talk to Hermione.
AN: SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG. I HOPE THIS HOLDS YOU OVER UNTIL THE NEXT TIME.
I SUGGEST LISTENING TO CYNDI LAUPER'S VERSION OF 'AT LAST'. IT'S WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER.
PLEASE REVIEW!