Unaware he'd uttered his thoughts aloud and flustered at this knowledge, he held Minerva's hand and internally prayed to any god that would listen to keep the baby safe for Hermione's sake.
"Oh! Have you notified Mr. Wealsey?"
Pomfrey looked back at her friend, "No, I haven't had a moment to do so."
Minerva quickly sent her patronus with a message before scurrying away. "I'll meet them in my office."
The moment they were alone, Severus shifted closer to the bed.
"May I sit with her Poppy?" Severus asked. At the medwitch's shocked look, he quickly added to his request, "At least until her husband or Mr. Potter shows up, of course."
Pomfrey merely smiled and nodded before pulling the covers over Hermione and leaving. "Of course, Severus."
Severus walked awkwardly to the edge of the bed and sat in the vacant chair. He watched her carefully, focusing on her pale face, peaceful with sleep, her curls fanned out on her pillow.
After a short while, Hermione groaned and rolled onto her side, facing him. Opening her eyes slightly, she squinted at him and gave him a sleepy smile before gasping and sitting up. Severus stood and tried to ease her back down.
"Hermione, you need to lie down. Poppy!" he called almost frantically.
The medwitch came in the curtain and immediately began casting a diagnostic spell above Hermione's abdomen. Hermione clung to Severus's hand, her eyes never leaving the witch working above her. Severus was slightly shocked that Hermione was grasping his hand,d but he found himself squeezing back just as tightly as he watched Poppy, even as Hermione baffled him again by sitting up and clinging to him more, her free hand winding into the folds of his robes.
"Did I-did I lose it?" Hermione asked, her voice trembling.
Madam Pomfrey cast one final spell, making a pink ball of light appear above Hermione's abdomen again, and she smiled, "No, Hermione, your baby iswonderfule." Hermione sobbed and leaned into Severus, who, while still a bit shocked, took her into his arms without thinking about it. Madam Pomfrey smirked, "You are aroundeight8 weeks and will need to rest for the next few days. I'd say you're due in late May. How far along were you last time?"
Resting her head on the potion master's chest, she looked at Madam Pomfrey, one of her hands still curled into his robes, the other intertwined with his, "I had a spontaneous miscarriage at 24 weeks."
Unknowingly, Severus tightened his hold on the young witch in his arms. He'd known she'd been pregnant before, they'd talked about Rose on occasion. Like the others, he'd seen her stomach grow each month subtly until she stopped coming to the Order meetings. He'd never inquired about what happened but he got his answer when she attended a meeting weeks later with a flat stomach and a vacant look behind her eyes. No one asked but they all knew. He knew now of course, she'd mentioned it the second time she'd been in his rooms with Draco and Scorpius. But hearing it now as he held her after she'd almost lost another baby made him want nothing more than to pick her up, take her to his rooms, and make her rest on the old chaise she seemed to love.
"So late. I take it it was from complications caused by your torture with the cruciatus." Hermione nodded, head still against Severus's chest, allowing her to feel him stiffen against her. "That explains your description of the pain. Well, you need to start taking prenatal potions, and I want you to take a few others to help strengthen your uterine lining and placenta to support the fetus throughout your pregnancy. Severus, can you make those?"
"Of course, Poppy."
"Good. Now let's check, baby, yes?"
Hermione's eyes widened but she gave Madam Pomfrey a small nod against Severus's shoulder. With a flick of her wand, a projected picture appeared in front of them all. Nothing happened at first, just a black picture. Then a small noise became audible and Hermione's grip on Severus's hand and shirt tightened.
"Is that.." Severus's questions drifted off as both witches nodded, and a picture became visible as the beats got louder.
It was just a blip, barely anything distinguishable, but it was there. It's a tiny heart palpitating vigorously. Once more, his own grip on the witch in his arms tightened. The pair stared in awe at the picture until a small call came from the infirmary doors interrupted, and Madam Pomfrey canceled the spell with an apology before leaving the curtained area, mumbling about reckless children.
Hermione let out a strangled laugh, watching the medwitch leave, and turned into Severus with a relaxed smile before realizing her position. She barely registered how calm his stature was or how serine he looked at that moment, still staring at the space where the picture had been before pulling away slightly to wipe her cheeks. Afterward, she replaced her hand on his shirt, although this time, it stayed flat against the now wrinkled fabric.
"I'm sorry, Severus."
"Don't be, little witch. Are you alright?" his fingers brushed her knuckles as he finally looked at her.
She seemed to consider his words, but her eyes remained trained on his fingers, "I thought...I'm..I'm just tired."
Severus smiled and urged her down with his free hand, "Lay down. Poppy said you need to rest and I agree. I also need to start on your potions." Hermione let him ease her into the bed but her grip tightened on his hand when he mentioned leaving. "You'll need to let me go, Hermione."
Her grip loosened, "I'm sorry. Thank you for making them. I know your workload is enough without you making potions just for me."
"It's nothing. Although I will need a sample of your DNA to bind them to you so they're tied to your magical signature."
"They didn't need that last time," Hermione frowned.
Severus raised an eyebrow before smirking, "Mine will be better. They will help much more than anything Mungo's gives you."
"You don't have to do that," she said, looking down at their still joined hands.
Severus followed her gaze and gave a gentle squeeze, "I want to." Hermione's eyes met his obsidian ones, and she found herself returning his squeeze.
"Will you stay? Until I can fall asleep, at least." A blush erupted under his gaze. "You don't have to of course, you don't need to babysit me. You're already going to be doing enough by making the potions for me. Oh, what DNA will be best, hair or saliva?"
He produced a vial from his pocket, "Saliva." Handing it to her, he watched as she discretely turned her back to him and filled the vial. When she handed him the full vial he conceded seeing her blush and avoid his gaze.
"Of course, I will stay with you, Hermione." She smiled and relaxed back into her bed as he summoned his chair closer and sat beside her. Hermione turned on her side and watched him relax into his seat, still holding her hand.
When she drifted off to sleep, he couldn't find it in himself to leave her even though she knew he needed to go start her potions. Instead, he just watched her sleep, her even breathing continually moving a stray curl off her face, only for it to fall back against her nose. After an internal battle, he gave in, leaned forward on her bed, and brushed the curl away, smiling as she sighed at his touch. He fell asleep watching her, his head on the bed, looking at their connected hands. When he woke up shortly after his head was on his bicep, his free arm laying across her hips, and her hand in his hair as she cooed to him.
"Severus, I can hear Ron in the hallway."
He didn't need to hear anymore. He sat up and righted himself in seconds before looking at her. She smirked at him, and he winked before he heard Ron enter the infirmary, and he pulled on his mask.
"Thank you," she whispered just before the curtain to her makeshift room was thrust open.
"You're pregnant?!" Ron bellowed the moment he saw her. His attention turned to Severus a moment later, "What are you doing here?"
Harry followed behind and immediately came to Hermione's side.
"Mione, are you okay?"
Before Severus could speak, Hermione addressed her husband, "Ronald, you are in an infirmary. Keep your voice down. Yes, it appears that I am. Professor Snape is here because he has agreed to make my potions, and to do that, he needed DNA." Severus held up her vial of saliva. Looking at her best friend, she gave him a weak smile, "Yes, Harry, I am okay. Why are you here?"
He nodded towards Ron, "McGonagall floo'd me."
"How long have you known?" Ron's hands circled her ankles above the blanket and Hermione stiffened.
"Do not touch me," she kicked his feet away and pulled them under her. Severus's eyes narrowed at the scene before him. "I found out when I came to see Poppy. This doesn't change anything."
"Like hell, it doesn't! You're still my wife!"
Hermione's hair sizzled with her power, "Only because you won't sign the damned papers!"
"And I still won't! We can get through this, I didn't mean it."
"So it was an accident?" He nodded, "Your prick just slipped into Pansy Parkinson, and who knows how many other slags? No, I won't be with someone who can't be faithful to me. Sign the damn papers and let me go!"
Even though he knew about Ron's affairs, Severus bristled internally when he heard her mention it but he continued to lean against his chair and pick at his fingernails.
Ron turned bright red at the mention of his infidelity, "You are pregnant with my child!"
"How long have you been sleeping with other women?" Ron pressed his lips in a hard line. "How long, Ronald?"
He still looked reluctant, but he answered nonetheless, "Since last year. After..."
Hermione blanched. "After R-rose?" her voice cracked, and Harry grabbed her hand. Severus was creating a list of ways to kill the Weasley boy.
Ron nodded, "I was trying to cope! Healers had just told me my wife couldn't give me the family we always talked about! That she had always promised me! I needed to come to terms with that."
"Bloody hell, don't even try to use that as an excuse."
Ron tried again, "You weren't the same after."
"Of course, I wasn't. I'd just traumatizingly lost my daughter."
He rolled his eyes, face turning red, "No, I mean you weren't the same," he used his hands to illustrate an hourglass shape.
Harry audibly groaned and dropped his face into his hands. Severus continued to bristle silently beside the bed, although he was gobsmacked by Wesley's words. He thought Hermione was perfect and had to work not to stare at her on a regular basis.
Hermione flushed. "You mean because my body changed?" Ron nodded. "So let me get this straight, you cheated because I put on extra weight while carrying our daughter? Weight that is perfectly normal and that I easily lost?"
"Well, and your hips-"
"Shut up, you stupid sod," Harry growled.
But the damage was done, "My hips? "
"They're a bit wider now."
"Because I birthed- " she stopped, swallowing the hurt his words caused. "No, that's just another excuse. You were cheating long before pregnancy changed my body. I stayed with you because of Rose and your promise to stop. Gods, was I naïve to believe you would actually stay faithful."
"Mione.."
'Wait," he stopped, and her eyes widened, "I wasn't even completely healed when you crawled on top of me, and you were cheating anyway!" She leaped from the bed and started searching through the blankets for her wand, "Where's my wand? Severus, where's my wand?"
Ron paled and took a step back.
Severus couldn't help it he smirked, part of him deeply enjoyed seeing this side of her, the fire within her.
"I haven't seen it, Hermione."
She stalled momentarily, listening to her name cross his lips, but after a moment, she refocused on her task. Not finding her wand, she lunged at Ron, who was starting to look smug.
"Get out."
Harry's arms wrapped around her waist.
"Mione, I know you're hurt but you need to calm down."
"Mr. Potter is right, Miss Granger," Severus put extra emphasis on the Miss while sneering briefly at Ron. When she continued to struggle against Harry, Severus tried again, "Hermione," Hermione turned to face the man who addressed her across her bed and slumped back against Harry. "You need to lay down."
Still lost in Severus' fathomless eyes Hermione took a deep breath before facing Ron once more, "Ronald, sign the bloody papers," her voice was leveled and calm. "You may have a part in this child's life but it won't be as my husband." Hermione grabbed the edge of the bed and crawled in with help from both Harry and Severus. When she was under the covers again, Hermione faced her husband, "Leave." Her tone was frosty and gave away nothing.
"If I sign those papers, you will get rid of that," he pointed at her abdomen.
Hermione became a statue, her hand coming to rest protectively over her abdomen.
"You have no right to suggest such a thing!" Harry bellowed but his words fell on deaf ears.
"That will never happen, Ronald," her voice was too calm for the situation.
"If you keep it, then you will raise it alone. I will not claim it if we are not married."
Hermione slowly pulled her feet back underneath her and sat to her full height. "Add it to the divorce proceedings. I will not kill my child, and I will not stay married to a self-righteous prat who thinks he has the right to demand such a thing in a pathetic attempt to blackmail me into staying married to him. Get out."
Ron tried to stare her down, but when she didn't falter, he spoke again, "I mean it, Hermione."
Her hair cracked, and the various vases on the bedside tables around the infirmary shattered. Thoroughly impressed, Severus wandlessly repaired them.
"So do I. Amend the papers, sign them, and send them to me."
He narrowed his gaze at her and crossed his hands over his chest.
"Get the fuck out, Ronald!"
He went to speak but closed his mouth and left the curtained-off area. When he was gone, she crumbled back into her bed, hearing the infirmary doors slam shut.
Harry sat on the edge of her bed and grabbed her hands, "Mione.."
Hermione stared at the curtain entrance, barely noticing when Harry took her hands. "Can you get Molly for me, Harry?"
Her voice was low, and Harry flinched. He'd heard her speak in that tone only once before. Looking up at Severus, he knew the man understood his worry. Hermione didn't see their silent exchange.
"I'll be in my rooms, so you can floo her directly in."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, I need to before he finds a way to manipulate the story in some way."
"Alright, Mione, I'll go get her. We'll be back in about an hour or so." He smoothed out the bed as he stood up, "Will you be alright?"
"I'll be fine. I just need to find my robes," she looked around, "and get to my rooms. I'll see you soon."
Effectively dismissed, Harry gave her a kiss on the forehead before nodding to the dark man still standing by her bed and leaving. When he disappeared, Hermione sank into the bed with a tired sigh before turning to face Severus again. He started to speak but Madam Pomfrey came in and gave Hermione a kind smile while holding out her wand.
"Based on what I just heard, I am glad I kept this," she gave Hermione a small smile.
Hermione tried to return it and accepted her wand. "It was probably for the best. I apologize for the vases."
"Think not of it, dear. Someone," she pointedly looked at Severus, "repaired them."
Hermione smiled, "I'd like to go to my rooms, Poppy. May I leave?"
The medwitch cast a few more spells before nodding. "That will be acceptable but you need to stay in bed for the next few days. Lift nothing heavier than a teapot for the remainder of the week! And do be careful on those stairs. I don't need you slipping. If you have more bleeding, come to me immediately."
She smiled at Hermione's blush and walked away before Hermione could ask about her robes. Hermione just grunted and heaved herself out of the bed.
Severus spoke gently from beside his spot by her bed, his voice dropping an octave with sensitivity. "Come on, Miss Granger, I will escort you to your rooms before going to work on your potions."
"Sev-Professor," she blushed and looked away, transfiguring her hospital gown into a set of simple robes, "you don't have to do that. I am more than capable of making it to my chambers on my own."
He frowned at her correction. "Nonsense." He said nothing else as she righted her transfigured robes and started to out of the privacy curtain on bare feet. "Miss Granger, shoes!" he called distastefully as he caught her easily with his long strides.
She waved away his disgust, "Are gone with my robes, apparently. I will be fine until I reach my chambers."
"You are the Transfiguration Professor, surely you could transfigure some. Much like your robes," he sneered, looking down at her. Not for the first time, he noticed she was quite small compared to his tall frame.
"I could. Easily." She said nothing more. Just started up the stairs towards her rooms with Severus quickly behind her. When they arrived at her chambers he watched her mumbled her password and the door open, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"I would love one but I really need to go make your potions. I will bring them by tonight if it's not too late."
Hermione gave him a small smile and nodded, "Thank you, Severus."
His lips turned up into a smirk and Hermione couldn't keep her smile from growing.
"Anything for you, Hermione."
Severus turned and walked back down the hallway in a flurry of black robes, with Hermione still smiling in the doorway to her rooms. When his figure disappeared, she turned into her rooms and let the door shut, resolving to take a shower and change before Harry brought Molly.
"Mistress Mia, Master Severus has finished Mistress's potions and would like to know when would be an appropriate time to deliver them."
Hermione and the Weasley matriarch turned to face the house elf that appeared at the other side of the bed. Dotty offered Hermione a steaming cup of tea when she looked at her.
"Thank you, Dotty. You can tell Severus he is welcome to deliver them at his discretion."
When she disappeared, Hermione turned back to Molly and grabbed her hand, seeing the older witch start to cry again.
"I am so sorry, Hermione. I tried every hard to raise all my sons to be proper wizards, I can't imagine what possessed him to demand such a deplorable thing from you. Arthur and I understand your wish to divorce him after another...indiscretion." Hermione gave her a tight-lipped smile. "I hope you still allow us to be a part of this child's life, despite our son's behavior."
"Of course! Even if Ron goes through with his threat, you will always be this baby's grandmother. I would never keep it from you because of him. That would be unfair to everyone. However, if Ron does sign away all rights, I don't want him around my child. Especially not after his request." She bit out the word.
Molly tightened her grip on Hermione's hand, "I would expect nothing less, my dear." Molly pulled Hermione into a hug. "I must be going now. Remember, you are still my daughter, Hermione, whether you are married to my son or not. There will always be a place for you at the Burrow."
"Thank you Molly," Hermione wiped away a stray tear and righted herself in her bed. "Is Harry still here?"
"I am," he manifested in the doorway to her room. "Are you ready to go, Molly?"
"Yes, dear, I am." She stood and kissed Hermione's forehead. "Take care and rest easy, love."
Hermione nodded and watched as Harry winked at her before taking Molly from her room. She heard the floo moments later. Picking up her papers, she conjured a makeshift tray and began grading her student's papers. She was halfway through when she heard the portrait hole open and close.
"Severus?" she called, looking up from her work.
"It's me," his voice answered from the other room.
She wasn't surprised he'd been able to gain entrance to her wards without knowing the password. He'd keyed her into his own wards so she could get to his books with or without him. When he first mentioned it to her, she'd laughed and told him it wasn't necessary, but it turned out to be quite helpful with their opposing schedules.
His dark shadow appeared in the doorway as she started to ease herself off the bed. "Stay in bed, Hermione," his tone was harsh but she heard the softness underneath it.
She ignored him and continued up, pulling her dressing gown around her and moving slowly to meet him by the door. Severus bit back a smile seeing her in a tank top and loose sleeping pants, dressing gown open, hair piled in a high knot on her head. He held out a small crate of vials as she got within arms reach but noticed her hand trembling as she reached to grab it.
"Where do you want them?" he asked as he pulled them back to his abdomen.
"I'm going to put them in my bathroom," she motioned to the door.
Severus swept past her and through the indicated door before she could speak, reemerging moments later with two vials. "Back to bed," he ordered as he came to stand beside her. "You're trembling, and I doubt it from being cold."
Hermione scoffed but let him guide her slowly back to her bed with his hand on her back. His touches were rare but they never failed to set her skin on fire. When she was situated against the headboard, she pulled her tray back over her lap.
"This," he held up a blue potion, "is your prenatal; it will do more than your average prenatal as it will help strengthen your uterine wall to try and prevent any placental abruption. This," he held up a purple veil, "has a dual purpose. It will counteract your tremors while also working solely to strengthen your placenta to support the baby as it grows. They are both tied to your magical signature, so that should help boost their effects as well. You need to take them every day, and I've given you a two-week supply. Bring me your empty vials when you come get your new regiments."
Hermione nodded and took the potions as he motioned for her to and immediately felt her tremors recede. Lifting her hand, she inspected herself and breathed a sigh of relief as she sank further into the pillows behind her. "You're a miracle worker Severus Snape," she breathed.
He released a small chuckle and sat in the chair beside her bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly?" she asked. He merely arched a brow. "Terrified. I don't want to lose it," her hand rested on her abdomen. "Molly and the rest of the Weasleys haven't forsaken me, for which I am grateful. They are my only family, despite Ronald. I'm also very sore," she wiggled, "I never realize how much my tremors are in effect until they're gone. But they always leave me sore."
"Mine as well." Her eyes snapped up to meet his. "Yes, I, too, suffer the effects of the cruciate from time to time. Although I must admit, I was never subjected to it as long as you were in one sitting."
Hermione grimaced, "But far more often, I presume."
"You would be correct," he chuckled. "You really should be resting, little witch."
"I am resting," she countered as she dipped her quill into the ink pot and started on another paper.
"You forget I teach these dunderheads too. Grading their work is never restful."
Hermione laughed and Severus found himself craving the sound. He immediately reprimanded himself for the thought.
"Well, seeing as I have no one to cuddle with, I doubt my sleep will be very restful."
"Why not call upon Lupin for Teddy? I am sure he'd bring him for you without hesitation."
"Sounds like the perfect plan, does it not? But Teddy kicks in his sleep. Normally that's fine but tonight I think it may do more harm then good. Minerva is determined to oversee my classes for the rest of the week, so I can only occupy myself with papers and my books. By the way, how did you breach my wards without a password?"
Severus chuckled, "Dotty."
"Of course," Hermione laughed, "meddlesome little thing."
"That she is. I think I will take my leave," he stood dusting off his robes, "Remember to take your potions every day. Come to me if your tremors return and when you need refills, I will have them ready every two weeks."
"Thank you, Severus. For everything today."
She blushed as the memory from earlier that day flashed across her subconscious. Severus asleep with his arm draped across her hips, running her fingers through his hair, making him murmur incoherently but tighten his grip on her ever so slightly. All things considered, it was perfect in that moment.
He was halfway to the door when she spoke but her soft voice had him turning to face her once more. "Anything for you, Hermione." He swept away before she could respond, her heart in her throat at his words.
"Yes...you keep saying that.."