Grumbling, Hermione stepped out of the floo into Severus's room. The final weeks of term went by quickly, with exams finishing and students preparing for the holidays. Hermione began to dread the holiday as soon as Molly began writing her weekly, trying to get her to agree to stay at the Burrow. Harry and Ginny's invitations came shortly after, followed by a few from Sirius through Remus and Teddy. While she was overwhelmed by their generosity, in the end, she decided to stay at the castle and simply floo over on a day-to-day basis.
While she was ready for the holiday, she was exhausted. As much as she tried, she couldn't sleep; her belly, while still small, was keeping her from finding a comfortable position. Anytime she lay on her side, she could feel the nerves start to pull and pinch; her body pillow was no help. Which is how she found herself once more in Severus's rooms, searching for a new book to try and occupy herself with.
She'd just sat down on the chaise and opened the book she had chosen when Severus's bedroom door opened. He didn't seem to see her in the soft glow of the light from the fireplace, but she could see him clearly. He wore only a pair of black and dark green plaid pants. His chest was bare, allowing her to see the silver wisps of scars along his torso and back. It made her heart hurt to see them.
He did that for all of us, she thought, not for the first time.
She'd seen them on occasions much like this one before when she'd retreated to his rooms for a book when a nightmare plagued her, but if she was honest with herself, she barely noticed his scars.
Shaking herself silently she returned to her book as he started to work around the kitchen, fiddling with the kettle. She tried to be as quiet as possible, but somehow, despite her prior thoughts, he still knew she was there.
"What brought you here so late?" he asked, his voice husky with sleep.
Hermione grinned, "I can't sleep."
"Nightmares?" The kettle whistled, and he began preparing their tea.
"Nope," she popped the 'p' and turned the page.
Severus chuckled, "Then what has you up at such a late hour?"
He passed her a mug before moving to sit opposite her. He smirked, taking her in, and Hermione was suddenly hyperaware of the fact that she had floo'd over directly out of bed. She'd gone to bed in a fitted blue tank top and black cotton sleepy shorts.
"I—" she huffed and tried to run a hand through her mass of curls. It's the baby," Severus began to sit up, looking concerned, "or my belly at least. I can't find a comfortable position; my back just keeps pinching, and my pillows are no help. So I came seeking the solace of your books."
She watched him relax back into his chair, a slight grin touching his lips.
"Is it truly that bad?"
"Mhmm," she returned to the book. "It's just the position. None of them are comfortable. My pillows are too soft to offer the proper support I seem to require. It's been easier to fall asleep in my chair because if I shift the arm of the chair, it gives me the support I need. But I finished my book last night and needed another, and none of mine seemed interesting."
"How long have you been sleeping in your chair?"
He was frowning; why was he frowning? Hermione shrugged, "A week or so."
Severus studied her as she continued to read. Now that she'd mentioned it, he could see the bags under her eyes. She might be sleeping, but it wasn't restful. He didn't know how he'd managed to miss it up until that point. Standing up he vanished their mugs to the sink, "Come on."
Hermione looked up, startled, "What?"
"Let's go to bed," he said, simply walking towards his bedroom door. I'll be your body pillow for the night; you need a good night's sleep."
"Oh, Severus, you don't have to do that," she got up slowly and sent the book back to the shelf. "I don't want to bother you with this. Truly, I'm alright."
She already had her hand in the floo powder when he turned around.
"Hermione," she stopped and looked at him as he reached out his hand, "If you haven't been able to sleep there for the past week, what makes you think that's going to change tonight? I'm offering and you are not bothering me. If you were bothering me, I'd have told you to leave and re-warded my chambers."
"Are you sure?" she frowned.
He merely wiggled his hand, prompting her to take come to him, which she did. Severus smirked and led her into his room, letting go of her hand only to move to his bed while she stalled in the doorway.
Severus's room décor matched that of his living space. It was warm and comfortable, and she instantly felt like she was intruding despite his invitation. He had more shelves lined with books on the wall off to her right, with a desk seated in the corner closest to the door, and she noticed all the woodwork in the room was the same dark mahogany as in the living room and kitchen. On the left side of the room, there were more shelves, but these were lined with what looked like journals. There were two doorways cut out, like hers. They probably led to his closet and bathroom. His 4-poster bed was positioned in the middle of the room, the blankets were dark green flanked by sheets of a rich brown.
"You've been holding back on me," she murmured as she slowly walked towards the bookshelves on the right side of the room.
Severus chuckled from his seat on the right side of the bed. "You may explore them whenever you like, but for now, you need to come to bed. You're exhausted even if you won't admit it."
She turned to him as if to argue but yawned.
"Fine."
Her heart picked up speed as she walked around the bed to the opposite side. Even if he wasn't already seated on that side, it was clear he usually slept on the right side of the bed. The side table was personalized, whereas the other on the left was bare. Trying to steady herself, Hermione pulled back the green duvet and slipped in between the sheets. Severus did the same, but when she kept her distance, he chuckled and extended his arm across the pillows.
A clear invitation.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the cowardice building inside her gut and scooted closer before she gave into the urge to run from the room.
Sensing her unease, Severus gently tucked his arm around her and pulled her closer, stopping just as her belly touched his side. With her swollen stomach resting on his hip, she let out a wonderful sigh that did unspeakable things to his control.
To mask his desire, he chuckled, "Feel better?"
"Amazing.." she sighed.
The moment he pulled her completely to him, she felt the tension in her spine release. Without thinking about it, she tucked into him fully, and with another sigh, she let her head burrow into his shoulder, her hand coming to rest on his chest.
"Absolutely amazing."
"Sleep, little witch," he cooed into her hair. Taking a deep breath, he planted a soft kiss there before resting his chin on her head and letting himself drift off with her. He barely felt her return his kiss with one of her own on his pectoral as his eyes closed.
Severus woke with a grumble. He was too hot, something completely abnormal being in the dungeons. Opening one eye, his focus trained on a mass of chestnut hair sprawled across his pillow and arm. With a frown, he opened his other eye and tried to focus when images of the night before flooded him.
Hermione, he grinned, his arms tightening around her.
They were facing one another; one of his arms was rested under her neck, his fingers in her hair, while the other rested on her small belly, which was between them, pressing into his abdomen. As if sensing his eyes on her, Hermione rolled her neck, burrowing her face into his neck, and released a moan as her right hand reached for his chest, stopping just above his heart.
She relaxed again after a moment before groaning painfully and bolting from the bed. Severus sat up on his elbows and watched her go, feeling a pang in his chest, but it dissipated as she ran into the bathroom.
Morning sickness, he thought to himself.
When she reemerged she shot him an irritated look at his smirk and crawled back into the bed. "I thought you didn't get morning sickness," he mocked playfully.
"It started just after my first trimester ended," she mumbled. "I'm sorry for waking you.
"I was already awake," he relaxed back down on his pillow, turning his head to the side to look at her.
"Oh?"
He nodded, "You radiate heat and enjoy cuddling."
Hermione laughed, "You invited me into your bed. You can't complain because I made it too hot."
"I wasn't complaining little witch," he smirked. "It's still early would you like to get up for breakfast or stay in bed for a bit longer?"
Instead of answering, Hermione shuffled closer and tucked herself back into the crook of his arm, which he raised when she began to move. "Since you aren't complaining," she teased as she rested her head on his chest, her small belly resting on his hip. Her head bobbed on his chest as he chuckled, and his arms moved to encircle her again. His hand hovered over her stomach as if wondering whether or not he could touch her again. Hermione smirked and placed his hand on her stomach, keeping hers on top of his.
"Has it moved much?"
"No. Every time I think it may be, it turns out just to be gas or I'm hungry," she grinned at him. "But Poppy said I may feel it earlier since this is technically my second pregnancy."
"You're only," his eyes became unfocused as he thought, "17 weeks?"
"I forget you know that," she chuckled, "You are the only one who tracks it besides me," her voice was soft as she said it. His hand moved from her stomach, but she gaped, pulling it back down as she rolled to her back, effectively pulling Severus to lean over her. Hermione watched his face as she waited for the small movement to happen again, meanwhile he looked at her with a furrowed brow.
"What are you doing?"
She smirked at him when the movement happened again. "Keep talking."
"About what?"
"Anything Severus." He started listing various potions ingredients without question and Hermione smiled, it widened every time she felt the tiny alien like movement. When it subsided, she moved her hand off his and back to his chest. "This is the first time I've felt it."
"And my voice helped how?" his voice was filled with wonder that made her smile widen even more.
"It started when you spoke and had your hand on it. But it's over," she said, almost sad, but when Severus didn't move his hand, her smile returned.
Severus looked at her with a smile, "Was it wonderful?"
"Yes. I wonder what you'll say when you can feel it too," she giggled, pulling herself up to rest on the headboard.
"Most likely the same," he smirked. Pulling himself up he grimaced as his body protested, "Would you like breakfast?"
"Do we have to leave the bed?" He quirked an eyebrow at her, "It's so comfortable," she replied sheepishly, but something crossed her eyes, and she started to fidget, "unless I have overstayed," her eyes widened as she took in their positions, "Gods, I- ah." Hand running through her rampant curls, she awkwardly moved from the sheets and looked anywhere, but at the man watching her from the bed she'd just vacated, "Thank you for letting me sleep here with you."
Severus left the bed quickly. "Stop," he stood in front of her at the foot of the bed. "You did not overstay." He watched her eyes cloud over again and put his hand on her cheek, "You didn't, and I would have gladly stayed in bed and had breakfast with you. But now it is you who seems uncomfortable."
Her eyes cleared, "Why?"
He frowned.
"Why would you have stayed in bed with me?"
"Because," his thumb traced her cheek, "I find I didn't mind having you so close." Hermione shivered at his words. "Dotty," he called, his hand on her face, their bodies almost touching.
The elf appeared and smiled brightly, seeing them so close together.
"Mistress Mia stayed the night?" the elf inquired.
"She did," Severus turned to her, letting his hand finally fall from Hermione's face, "Could you bring us breakfast, please?"
"Of course, Master Severus," Dotty looked at Hermione, "Does Mistress Mia want anything specific for baby Snape?"
Severus stilled beside her and Hermione felt herself blush, "Porridge please, with strawberries, if you can." Dotty disapperated without another word, leaving Hermione to face Severus, who was still frozen. "I'm s-"
"Don't apologize for something you have no control over," he suddenly smirked. He put his hand on her lower back and guided her back to his side of the bed. She eyed him carefully but climbed into the warm bed when he prompted her to. When she was leaning against the headboard, a hand resting on her abdomen, she watched him walk around the bed and do the same. "Plus it's Dotty, the name will most likely stick until you pick a name."
"You don't mind though?" His eyebrow quirked up, "She'll most likely slip around others, at least the staff. People may start to assume that i-its yours if they hear her."
"I don't mind." Dotty arrived with their food, and he conjured two lap trays. "Thank you, Dotty," the elf smiled and disappeared. "But," he continued, "I understand if you do. People hear my name and often think of all the bad things I did. They would probably think I forced myself on you or berate you if they think you are carrying my child."
Hermione scoffed, "I don't care what anyone has to say about you. Or me for that matter. They don't know who we really are," she took a bite of strawberry, "those who matter would know the truth and wouldn't mind. That is all I care about." She took another bite, "Besides, you would be a much more fitting father than it's biological father."
It was his turn to scoff, "My only experience with babies is Draco, and in the end, I couldn't protect him when he really needed me."
"You did your best to help Drake," she hushed him. "You've also been around Scorpius and you do just fine. And Ted, although he's older. I know you, Severus."
"You don't know me."
Hermione laughed but shrugged, "I beg to differ but you may think as you like."
There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Severus spoke beside her, vanishing his tray. "If you know me so well, why were you so quick to leave?"
"I know you don't like people touching you or invading your personal space, and this," she motioned between them, "is your most personal space, next to your lab, and I have been all over you since last night. I value your.." she searched for the right word before amending, "you and I don't want to burn you out or make you uncomfortable with me."
Hoping to mask her blush she wiped her mouth with her napkin before vanishing her tray.
"Hermione," she looked at him, "you may invade my personal space whenever you'd like. Especially on nights like last night. I would much rather have you sleeping comfortably with me as your pillow than curled up sleeping in a chair. I told you earlier I do not mind having you so close and I meant it. You're...special."
He grimaced as he said it but Hermione seemed to understand and giggled.
"So are you," she touched his face, a days worth of stubble rough under her palm. Severus closed his eyes at her touch and she smiled. "As much as I hate to say it, I need to go back to my rooms and have a shower before escorting the students to the train."
Severus nodded, eyes still partially closed. "Are you going home for the holidays?"
Her thumb stroked his jaw, causing Severus to open his eyes completely. "I don't really have a 'home' to go. But Sirius invited me to stay with him, Remus and Teddy, so did Harry and Gin as well as Molly," she rolled her eyes with a small smile, "and Drake, but I thought I'd stay here and just floo over on certain days. I think I'd like a quiet holiday before the baby comes. Are you? If I remember, you usually stay."
"I used to, but I find I need to get away from the dunderheads more than just during the summers. So I've been taking the time to fix Spinners End."
"By yourself?" He shrugged, "With charms or the muggle way?"
"A bit of both. I've been trying to do the majority of it the muggle way, using charms only when necessary."
"That's impressive, Severus. Home improvement charms are difficult, and muggle ways are harder."
He shrugged again, "It needed it and I needed something to do on top of my research."
Hermione rolled her neck and started to edge herself off the bed. When her feet touched the floor, she shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, "I'd love to see it one day. Spinner's end looked dreary in your memories."
Turning to face him she saw his eyes boring into her as she slowly walked to were he'd stilled on the bed.
"Thank you for letting me sleep with you. It was the best nights sleep I've had in weeks." Reaching him she hesitated but leaned down and kissed his cheek, "Have a good holiday Severus," she breathed against his cheek just before turning and padding from the room.