All mistakes are my own.
"Our anniversary is in a few days." He whispered to her pale exposed back as she sat on the floor playing with Michela.
"And I'm supposed to be excited about that?" She looked over her shoulder at him her expression blank.
Voldemort swallowed hard attempting to control his temper for their daughter's sake. He continued to hold her gaze. Hermione quirked an eyebrow in silent challenge. She knew he would do nothing with their daughter present. As of late she found herself pushing had become to push the envelope always retreating just before he losses control. It was a dangerous form of entertainment. As of late she found herself pushing him crossing certain lines, testing known boundaries.
He shifted his gaze to Michela. Ever her parents' child, she had removed her focus from the whizzing quidditch set and was now intently watching them. He quickly smiled his daughter's stern look shifted her chubby cheeks flushing a deep plum as she reasoned all must be right with the world and resumed interest in the toys spread before her.
Hermione huffed and rolled her eyes shifting her body. Once again her back was to him.
He gritted his teeth in controlled rage before spinning on his heel and leaving.
It was late afternoon when the dinner invitation came. he would have considered it a fluke a double of the previous one they had received regarding the the invitees' anniversary.
Severus had yet to show this second invite to Ginny. The young red-head was out procuring the proper anniversary gift. He had a sinking feeling and sat at his desk still fingering the expensive cardstock.
"What could you possibly want?" He whispered sighing and tossing the invite onto the desk.
Ginny arrived back an hour before dinner her arms laden with packages.
"Severus, look through these and pick the best two. You know him better than anyone."
She had entered his study tossing the items on his desk.
"Hello and welcome back. Dinner will be ready shortly I had the elves prepare something."
She looked at him nodding as she pulled his chair back and sat in his lap.
"Cool." She kissed him on the bridge of the nose.
She looked at the papers on the corner and reached for the invitation.
"What's this? Did they send another?"
"Yes." Severus drawled his hands still on the arm rests.
"Why?"
"They are separate invites one is for the anniversary party the other for a private dinner."
Ginny's head immediately snapped up and she had a panic in her eyes.
"Private dinner?" she asked sighing tossing the invitation next to the forgotten presents.
"That can't be good," she leaned against him and he responding by engulfing her in his arms.
"No, it usually isn't."
"You think it's Resistance stuff? See what you have found out?"
"I doubt it. I gave my report two days ago. Nothing has changed but dinner is tomorrow night."
"So soon? I don't like this."
"Neither do I."
A small elf appeared before Ginny had a chance to further voice her concerns, dinner was ready and the husband and wife rose to gather their children.
He found her reading in her private library and entered shutting the door behind him. Voldemort did a quick scan of the room to ensure his daughter wasn't present.
"What is your problem?"
He stood over her as she casually flipped a page. Her gaze never leaving the book.
"You are blocking my light."
He ripped the book from her hand tossing it near the fireplace.
"That's an original Elizabeth Bathory's Kitchen Apothecary for Maladies and Aliments. It's probably ruined now."
She stared at him as she leaned back her hands folded on her stomach.
He looked down at the them and her midsection.
"Are there any signs?" The Dark Lord nodded at her stomach.
"No. You would be the first to know." She rolled her eyes.
"This isn't a game, Hermione."
"Of course not."
His sighed trying his best to keep his temper at bay. Severus and Ginny would arrive shortly for dinner and he wanted to appear as pleasant as possible for his ask. He knew he could simply demand that the two comply but would prefer if the two agreed without a heavy hand. He would do his best to opt for a light touch.
"Everything hinges on this pregnancy. I," he paused taking a deep breath, "we have stood before our followers and made promises. We have to deliver on those promises for our sake. For Michela's sake. Our power rests on this. We lose our authority to rule if we can not deliver on the simplest of things." He stared at her hoping she would understand.
He was met with the defiance of a rebellious teenager and she merely rolled her eyes picking up the Witch Weekly that was next to her.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes!, Yes, I heard you and I am hearing you, and no, we don't lose anything, you do!" she shouted pointing at him.
"You lose your ability to rule don't drag Michela into this remember I have already lost. I was on the losing side, and when I decided to comply with your suicide games, I lost my son. I have lost everything." She returned to the magazine.
He sighed. He hadn't come to argue.
"You are coming to dinner."
"I don't know."
"That wasn't a question Hermione. Your presence is expected. Get dressed," He hissed the command low and she slowly closed the magazine and placed it back in its former position on the vacant cushion.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. GET READY!" The statement was whispered low and harsh as the words rattled around in his throat.
The two couples exchanged pleasantries. Severus and Ginny showing the proper etiquette to their dark lord and lady by bowing. The women exchanged stiff kisses and an awkward hug as the husbands looked on. Both men uncomfortable with the display of affection.
"Come," Voldemort raised his hand indicting the way. The Snapes followed their lord and lady to a private dinning room. Severus quickly recognized it as the former teachers' lounge. His heart raced as he was flooded with memories and he exhaled slowly trying to rein in the onset of emotions that threaten to drown him.
Ginny gave his hand a squeeze as she pulled it back as they reached the table. The gentlemen allowed the ladies to take their seats first pulling out their chairs. Ginny giggled the formal settings had an unusual affect on her may be because as a child she had always dreamed of hosting large dinners.
Voldemort sat the ladies made small talk the falling out between them forgotten as they chatted over their growing children.
The first course was served and Voldemort took this as an opportunity to speak and lay out his thoughts.
"Speaking of children," he paused casting a sideways glance at Hermione before shifting his gaze back to the guests of honor, "we are running into unexpected difficulties."
"We are in need of a healthy carrier and given your loyalty as well as your discretion in sensitive matters over the years we thought of no one better than you and your wife."
Ginny paled and Severus resulted to biting the inside of his jaw.
"I am not sure I am following you my lord, you would like for Ginevra and I to produce a child and give to you?"
He chuckled, "no, of course. There is nothing wrong with your children. From my few interactions with them, they are lovely and Michela has great love for them. No, I would like for your wife to bear my child. Given your wife's fertility I am sure I will need to lie with her no more than... less say twice." He motioned in the air as if swatting at a fly.
It was Severus' turn to pale and he reached for the sleeve containing his wand. Ginny noticed the movement and quickly grabbed his hand giving it a firm squeeze.
"I..." she cleared her throat stealing a glance at her husband before she continued," there would be no greater honor to help out a friend," she smiled at a sullen and angry Hermione, "when will we need to...begin."
He sighed as a smile formed, "we can start tonight."
She panicked and thought quickly of an excuse, "no!" Ginny watched his face fall his expression from before quickly replaced with something akin to rage. "Forgive me my lord and lady," she locked eyes with Hermione who seemed to be as nervous as she was. Ginny was glad to see some part of friend remained.
"Not tonight, this is the week of my menstrual cycle. I have found my fertility is at its peak the week following." She smiled it was pained but she hoped the man before her bought it. The statement seemed to quell any
"Ah, I see. Next week then, I will owl with the details. Of course you will need to stay here so please make the necessary arrangements."
He focused on Severus.
"What do you say Severus?"
He had paled considerably and beneath the table his hands had begun to shake, a sign his wife recognized as rage. Carefully, she reached for him again making small circles with her thumb on the back of his palm. Over the years this seemed to calm him and it had the same soothing effect at the table.
Severus cleared his head. Emotion was clouding his thoughts and he mentally scolded himself; this wasn't like him. The war may be over but he was still a spy always having to hide his disloyalty and loathing of the man before him. Even the slight quirk of an eyebrow on his part could be misconstrued for refusal and in an instant they both would be killed for disobedience.
"It would be an honor to aid in any way your lord sees fit." He inclined his head his expression unreadable and Ginny let out a breath she had realized she was holding.
"Perfect!" The dark lord turned his gaze to Hermione. She had sat silently her mouth slightly agape as she watched the exchange.
She stood knocking over her chair.
"I never took you for a coward Professor!" She hissed turning her dark gaze on her husband, "this is low even for you!"
"How dare you? Sit down," Voldemort's voice was just above a whisper and it was deadly, "now!"
"NO!"
Ginny was beginning to panic fearing that Hermione may have pushed too far. She turned to Severus but he only shook his head his wand at his finger tips in case he needed to protect his former student. Ginny could no longer sit quietly and decided to speak.
"Hermione, please no need to be upset. You and I have always been like sisters. Besides, I am more than happy to fulfill the request of my lord and lady. It would be a great honor for Severus and I." She spoke smiling, it was strained and she reached under the table to grip her husband's thigh. The touch was more for her than him. She feared she would become sick.
Hermione's eyes grew large and round, not believing what she was hearing.
"Are you two serious?" her gaze shifted between the former potions master and her friend.
Voldemort kept his gaze firmly on his wife, "sit down."
"Go to hell Tom!"
"Dealing with you sometimes I think I'm already there."
Ginny gasped and Severus' mouth fell slightly agape as he stared at Hermione in horror. As quickly as a coiled snake, she had grabbed the goblet of wine and doused the contents in the dark lord's face. The older man didn't flinch as his gaze shifted from a deep green to a bloody red.
Hermione smirked as she spun on her heels leaving an angry husband and two shocked guests behind.