Author's Notes: So once again a big gap in uploads, sorry! I promise I haven't abandoned you completely though and I'm still doing this story...just slowly. So I imagine everyone is thinking what's going on with Hermione so I'll just shut my pie hole and let you get on with reading now!
Disclaimer: You know the drill, I don't own it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"Hermione, are you alright?" he asked, seeing her rub her stomach as if in pain. Then she gripped the chest of drawers with her other hand as she doubled over in pain. "Hermione!"
"I don't know what it is." She gasped as he helped her to sit.
"We need to get you to the hospital wing." He frowned. "Is it just your stomach area?"
"Madam Pomfrey didn't know what it was last time I asked her." She sighed. "I've been having pains...since before the school year started...I spoke to her about it a couple of weeks ago and she couldn't find anything unusual."
"Where is the pain? Is it always in the same place?" he asked her.
"Always the same although they started weaker, it's like period pains only...urgh!" she groaned wrapping both arms around her abdomen tightly.
"Your potion, did it not help with that issue?" he asked.
"It did to start with." Hermione nodded, in far too much pain to be embarrassed. "Both my other test subjects reported lessened pains and lighter bleeding and they still reported as much last week."
"Anything else changed recently?" he asked. "No other new potions, muggle medication? No changes in diet?"
"Nothing except that potion." She winced. Her eyes widened in horror as she felt a rush of warmth between her legs. She panicked, she wasn't due on. "I need to see Madam Pomfrey again." She grabbed the draws tighter to stand but Severus stopped her. He took her hands and helped her carefully to her feet.
"Can you walk?" he asked, summoning a cloak and wrapping it around her for modesty, before pulling on a pair of trousers and fastening them.
"I think so." She replied biting her lip to keep from crying as she clutched the draws for balance.
"Not good enough." He swept her off her feet in one fast movement and strode out of the bedroom to the living room fireplace.
"No! You can't carry me!" she protested. "I think I'm bleeding."
"Of for heaven's sake woman, you seriously think I'm going to get all squeamish over a bit of blood right now?!" he snapped. He barked his destination and stepped into the fireplace.
"Severus what can I- oh dear!" Poppy gasped, seeing the barely covered pair hurrying into the room. "Hermione dear, what seems to be the problem?"
"Pain's worse." She replied.
"This way." The mediwitch said, leading them to a bed on the far right side of the hospital wing. Severus placed her on the cot and no sooner had he let her go than the mediwitch brushed him out of the way and sealed the curtains around the bed. He growled at being shut out but he supposed that Poppy wasn't exactly aware of their relationship...hell they hadn't actually got around to discussing their relationship either. He began to pace on the other side of the curtain, he had to do something.
"I'm bleeding." Hermione said worriedly.
"I can see that dear, hold still." The older witch told her. She began casting diagnostic charms over her.
"Severus?" she asked, glancing around.
"I trust that you two have more than a professional relationship then?" Poppy asked. Hermione just bit her lip and nodded. It was fairly obvious from the fact that he came through wearing only trousers and herself only a cloak that they were involved. "Alright, he can come back in in a moment. The worst of the bleeding seems to be slowing now. Let's get you cleaned up a little and then we'll get you some potions."
A few charms later and Hermione was cleaned of blood. Poppy came back with a few potions and Severus followed baring clothes and now looking as least decently dressed. The mediwitch waved her wand and the pyjamas in Severus' arms vanished and reappeared on her body, with another wave the cloak vanished from her.
"Pain potion and a mild dose of blood replenisher," Poppy said, handing Hermione two vials. She downed them quickly to avoid the bitter taste of the pain potion. The blood replenisher didn't taste overly bad but it was salty. "Your blood loss seems surprisingly minimal but I don't want to take any chances so you'll be staying here for at least tonight."
"Christmas morning..." Hermione mumbled miserably. "I've sorry Poppy, Severus...I know this isn't exactly the Christmas morning anyone wanted."
"Hush now," Poppy shushed her, fluffing the pillows a bit. "I just want to go over some questions with you and I would like to run some further tests...it's up to you whether you would like Severus to leave the room or not, you won't need to remove your clothes but the questions may be personal."
"He can stay, I think we've crossed pretty much any embarrassing personal conversation we're going to by now." Hermione laughed weakly despite herself. Severus couldn't help but allow his mouth to twitch at the thought of her embarrassment and horror at the potion's ingredient on her final potion. He doubted that anything pertaining to Hermione's health, even in such a private region could be much worse for her.
He took in the sight of her, slightly paler than normal with her hair still ruffled from their earlier love making...she was still beautiful. Or at least he thought so. She thankfully looked to be in one piece and Poppy didn't appear to be panicking, these were good signs. He couldn't believe how worried he was, was he doomed to spend the rest of his life feeling like he'd been kicked in the stomach over the girl?
"Alright, so the standard questions first..." Poppy said, "when was your last period?"
"Two weeks ago." Hermione replied without hesitation.
"And your periods have been normal?" the mediwitch asked.
"I think so, nothing so unusual that springs to mind." Hermione nodded, she chewed her lip nervously.
"And are you currently taking any medicinal potions?"
"Only a contraceptive potion, my own one..."
"Alright...we'll come back to that in a minute then. Are you sexually active currently?" she asked. Hermione had to give the older witch credit she didn't so much as blink or look between her and Severus as she asked the question although she had to know the answer.
"Yes." Hermione said quietly.
"And that is all normal? You've never experienced pains or bleeding afterwards before?" she asked. Hermione looked a bit awkward and felt the heat creep into her cheeks.
"I um...there's only been the once...tonight." Hermione replied.
"Before tonight you were a virgin?" Poppy asked to clarify, looking at Hermione somewhat shocked.
"Yes...is that why this..."
"No, this is definitely not just the normal lose of a young woman's virginity dear." Poppy replied reassuringly. "Believe me there should never be this much pain or bleeding afterwards so don't go fearing that in future will you?"
"Oh...no, of course." Hermione nodded shyly.
"The pains you were suffering before, have they been gradually getting worse or have they only returned today?"
"No, they've been gradually getting worse, but there was never any bleeding until now." Hermione explained.
"And you were a pure adult..." she frowned. "I'll need to run a few tests to be sure but...I do have a theory."
"What's wrong with me?" Hermione asked quickly.
"If I'm correct, absolutely nothing." The mediwitch replied. "Your external scars are gone and I can't sense a glamour charm. I also noticed that Severus' scars have disappeared and I know for a fact that he does not make a habit of using glamour charms..."
"You think the magic did this." Severus spoke up from his seat to one side. Hermione glanced towards him, she wanted to reach out to him but wasn't sure he would appreciate the gesture in the company of others.
"It is only a theory but...a few years back you will remember that Hermione suffered a rather nasty hex or two when she and the other students decided to take on the ministry. There was some extensive internal damage that couldn't all be fixed." The mediwitch explained.
"You think it healed inside as well as out?" he asked.
"You mean I can get pregnant now?" Hermione suddenly asked, trying to sit up, Severus reached his arm out to stop her before Poppy could protest and she led back down.
"It is possible but let's not jump the gun, I will need to test you to be sure." The mediwitch cautioned her. The mediwitch glanced between the couple and Hermione nodded for her to continue to explain to Severus. "The internal damage left some question as to whether Hermione would ever be able to conceive and although there was still a chance that she could conceive the internal scarring made it unlikely that she could carry a pregnancy to term should she wish to. In my initial tests a moment ago...her reproductive system appeared normal. I would like to run further tests to be sure but my theory is that you have both indeed been healed inside and out."
A short while later Poppy left them in privacy, to get a few hours sleep before the castle started to wake for Christmas breakfast. Severus sat with his elbows on his knees and his chin resting on his hands.
"What are you thinking?" Hermione asked him, when the silence grew too unnerving to stand any longer.
"Does this change things for you?" he asked, meeting her eyes.
"What? No, of course not...does it for you?" she asked looking startled. Severus shook his head but still looked at her seriously.
He saw the hope on her face when Poppy had expressed her beliefs that Hermione should be completely healed and have just as much chance as anyone else at having children naturally. The hope and excitement...Hermione wanted a family. He wasn't sure that he did. It wasn't that he didn't want children or a family; more that he didn't think he would be any good at it. His children would hate him as he hated his father. Not to mention that he did like his life the way it was, change discomforted him.
"You chose to gamble your future on me when you were under the impression that you would be unlikely to have them either way. You now know different." He told her.
"You don't want children." Hermione nodded. She couldn't say she wasn't disappointed and it most likely showed on her face.
"I didn't say that." He replied. "But if it is a deal breaker for you then it may be a problem."
"Severus, I-..." she looked up at him and reached her hand out to his, taking it from under his chin and tugging it into her lap. "I love the idea of having children one day...most witches do. I can't lie and tell you that I'm not disappointed that you don't want children...but I'd still rather live my life with you and no children than live it without you. I don't want someone else...I know I'm still young but...magic doesn't lie does it? The magic was there tonight. For me it's you or no one."
"I never said that I absolutely don't want children Hermione." He told her, relaxing his posture a bit after her reassurances. "I just...I've never really thought about it and in case it has escaped your notice I'm not overly fond of the children I have to teach every day. I will be an awful father and I don't really want to put a child through that."
Hermione couldn't help it. She laughed. Severus scowled at her, how dare the little chit laugh at him?!
"Oh Severus, it's always different when it's your own children! I never thought I'd hear you say you didn't want to do something because you were worried you'd be bad at it!" she laughed. "We have plenty of time later for us to discuss children anyway. Right now I'd rather worry about us."
"Quite." He agreed, leaning forward and pressing his lips to her forehead. "I have orders to let you get some sleep before morning so I should leave you."
"I'd rather you didn't." She pouted., catching hold of his shirt and pulling his lips down to meet hers. She didn't want to let him go, not when she'd only just gotten hold of him.
"But since you are not in a life or death situation, I am not allowed to stay. So, I will wish you pleasant dreams and I will be back to help bust you out at breakfast." He told her, kissing her again before standing to leave.
"Severus?" she enquired softly as he reached the curtain. "I'm sorry our first night together was ruined...but I still don't regret a thing."
"Nothing is ruined." He replied shaking his head. "Nothing could ruin that memory for me Hermione, nothing...I have never had a Christmas gift that can compare to this one."
"I love you." She whispered, as he disappeared to the other side of the curtain. She didn't know whether he had heard her or not because he didn't pause or turn back. She didn't mind, she considered herself blessed to see even just the small signs of his feelings shining through. She knew he loved her, he had to or the magic wouldn't have worked the way it did. She smiled to herself as she settled into the covers more comfortably. Severus Snape loved her back.
Author's Notes: OK, so they are finally manoeuvring into "couple" status. More to come, we're not finished yet