Summary: How is our couple doing a few months down the road?

A/N: Early posting. I'm heading out of town this weekend. Thanks, everyone for your support and comments. This is the end. Hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 14

Six months later

Severus and Hermione were enjoying their breakfast together in their room. Hermione nibbled on some toast, and Severus read the paper and sipped on some tea. All of a sudden, Severus chuckled.

"Six months and they're still talking about us," he said to Hermione.

"What now?" Hermione asked with a groan.

"Well, they're on again about my miraculous reappearance. It seems like they also still feel we have cheated them out of something by not announcing our engagement or nuptials until they had already been completed."

Hermione chuckled. "That would have been a story indeed!" she gushed as she smirked at Severus.

"Definitely." He continued skimming the article. "It's basically an op-ed on what they think we'll be up to next. Will you continue teaching? Will I return to my post as teacher… as Headmaster? Now that the current year is coming to an end, they're betting I'll be Headmaster again."

Hermione huffed. "You'd think they'd have gotten tired of us by now. It's not like we're leading an exciting life. I thought we were old news."

Severus shrugged. "Must be a slow news day."

They settled back to eating for a little bit until Severus looked up at Hermione.

"I want to find a storefront for an Apothecary," Severus said as he placed the paper next to him on the table.

"You're sure you don't want to teach with me? We could split the classes."

"Heaven forfend, no!"

Hermione giggled. "What about taking up your position as Headmaster again?"

"No, heaven's no. I want nothing more to do with this school. If we could move off grounds, I'd be thrilled."

"Well, I think Minerva would let me do that. We could find a home in Hogsmeade."

Severus smiled at Hermione. "I'd like that. And I could probably find a storefront there as well. Didn't that little coffee shop go out of business recently?"

Hermione nodded. "Oh, that would be perfect, Severus! Let's head into town and see if it's been bought yet."

oooOOOooo

Several hours later, not only had they bought the storefront but had found a lovely house down the street from where the shop was located. Hermione looked around the home and smiled at Severus.

"It's perfect," she said to him.

He gathered her in his arms. "Yes, it is. It will be exactly what we need to start our family."

Hermione arched an eyebrow at him. "I didn't think we were going to start a family for a while," she mused as she kissed his nose.

He gave her a stern look. Hermione lightly slapped at his arm with her hand.

"Stop it!" she cried. "I know you love it when I give your nose affection."

Severus cracked a smile. "Guilty," he replied.

She reached up and ran her finger down his nose. "And I love it so much." She chuckled as she continued to caress his nose. "You know I can't keep my hands off it."

He chuckled as well and kissed her passionately. She pulled back finally.

"Very Slytherin, my love. You almost made me forget your little comment about starting a family," Hermione crooned.

"You're too brilliant for me to be able to fool you like that."

Hermione gazed into Severus' eyes soberly. "Do you want to start a family soon?" she asked.

Severus looked away and his cheeks flushed. "I have been thinking over the last week or so that it would be nice to have a child sooner rather than later. After being dead, I find that I don't want to put off anything for fear I won't be around to enjoy it."

Hermione laid her head on Severus' chest. She squeezed him and sighed.

"You don't agree," he said flatly.

She pulled back and looked at him. "For once, our bond has failed you."

Since they had been reunited in life, they found their bond had given them an uncanny sixth sense about each other. They could sense each other's moods and sometimes could even communicate without speaking.

Severus arched his eyebrow at her.

"I wasn't sure how to tell you as we'd agreed that we didn't want to have any children for a while." Hermione looked down as she continued. "I've been having stomach issues for a few days, so I visited Madam Pomfrey this morning."

She looked back up at him with hope in her eyes as she revealed her secret. "I'm pregnant."

Severus grew pale, and Hermione gave him a nervous look.

"We're having a baby?" he whispered.

Hermione nodded tentatively. Before she could say anything else, Severus scooped her up and twirled her around. Placing her down on the ground again, his lips crashed down on hers, and he kissed her with all that he had. His lips worshiped her as she opened up to him. Their tongues danced together, and she moaned at his passion. He pulled away from her suddenly, trying to catch his breath. He laid his forehead against hers.

"We're going to be parents," he said softly.

"We are!" she said with a laugh.

"But how?" he asked as he gave her a puzzled look.

"Well, I think that's obvious!" Hermione said.

"No, I mean… we haven't missed your potion. This should be impossible."

Hermione pulled him to her and rested her head on his chest once again. "I wondered that myself. Maybe we should consult the book. There may be some bond magic involved."

They had consulted the soulmates' journal several times as they had grown closer. It now sat high on their bookshelf for when it was needed.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Severus murmured.

He pulled her back so he could see her face. "Let's buy this place and go see, hmm?"

"Let's do that," Hermione said with a grin.

oooOOOooo

With a quick hello to Dorlyth, the couple entered their quarters. Severus went to the bookshelf and took the red-covered journal from the top shelf. They settled on the couch together, Hermione lacing her arm through his as he opened the book to a blank page.

Writing began to form on the page and Hermione and Severus exchanged glances. As it filled the page, they eagerly read what had appeared in the book.

Having children as a bonded couple can be a rewarding experience. Your bond can detect when the best time for you to have a child is, and if both parties are in agreement, fertility can be enhanced through the bond.

Hermione looked at Severus. "So, we both wanted to have a child…"

"Evidently," Severus said as he smiled somewhat sheepishly at Hermione.

"We'll have to be more open with each other in the future on this front. I don't want to end up like Molly and Arthur," Hermione told him.

"Indeed," he answered. "It seems that our connection didn't let us know the other's thoughts on having a baby."

Hermione thought about what he'd said. "The connection is relatively new to us. Maybe it will increase as we grow in our marriage?"

"You're right of course, but the book did say it works when both of us are attuned to one another. It would still be prudent to discuss such desires sooner rather than later."

Hermione nodded.

They read through the rest of the entry. Severus turned to Hermione and kissed her lovingly. His hand moved to her abdomen.

"I can't believe there's a baby in there," he told her.

"Me neither." She watched him closely before saying anything more.

"Are you really happy about this, Severus?"

He looked from her abdomen to her eyes and gave her a curious look.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Hermione shrugged. "You don't really get along with children."

"Hermione, I don't get along with dunderheads. Our child will never be that."

Hermione giggled. "Well…" She snuggled against him as he put his arm around her. "I think you'll be a marvelous father."

He studied her seriously for a moment. "Do you really think that's possible?"

Hermione tapped his nose. "Absolutely."

"I want to be that for our child, Hermione."

"I know you will be, my love."

Leaning in, she kissed him softly. She chuckled for a moment, making Severus pull back and give her a curious look.

"I can't believe we're going to be parents!" Hermione cried.

Severus' hand came up and caressed her cheek. "And homeowners, and business owners. So many wonderful things."

"And I have my soulmate here… alive…"

"All because of Sybill Trelawney's prophecy," Severus finished.

Hermione burst out laughing. "Who would have ever thought that I would ever be indebted to that woman!"

"Oh, forget about her. I sent her a case of sherry when I came back to life. She doesn't even know why I sent it either."

They laughed together for a little before hugging one another.

"I love you, Severus," Hermione said as she squeezed him.

"I love you, too, Hermione."

Hermione felt their bond tingling with the feeling of their love. It always did this, and it always made her feel so full with the knowledge of how much they felt for one another. Over the last six months, they had worked hard to understand each other and it had helped them to not misunderstand one another. She pulled back and looked into Severus' eyes. They were filled with love for her.

"I love feeling our bond grow, Hermione," he whispered.

Tears filled her eyes, causing Severus to look concerned. He reached out to her and wiped the one that had escaped her eye. She reached up and took his hand, turning it and kissing it.

"Thank you, my love. Thank you for making it possible for me to bring you back. You're my everything."

"I never thought I could be this happy, Hermione. Thank you for saving me."

His kiss was reverent as her arms went around him, and she pressed into him. The soft, loving kiss turned passionate, and her heart beat rapidly as she became engrossed in her husband and his ministrations. He was everything to her, and she was filled with joy at the knowledge they'd have their entire lives together. She loved this man in her arms, and she always would.

The End