Severus walked through the Entrance Hall, angry at himself. He was somewhat disappointed that there weren't yet students to scowl at. How could he have let the conversation go so awry? He thought about dropping the books at her chambers on his way to the dungeons but then thought better of it. She probably didn't want to see him right now. He'd just have a house-elf deliver them to be safe.
As he rounded the corner to his own chambers, his entire mood changed. Pacing outside of his door was Hermione. And she didn't look angry.
"Hermione?" he questioned. She stopped her pacing and whipped her head around to look at him. There was pleading in her eyes.
"Oh, Severus. I'm so glad I found you. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left like I did. I-I was just so taken aback by what you said," she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth so fast he barely understood her.
"Hermione. Calm down. Come inside and we can discuss it," he said, letting down the wards and gently guiding her into his rooms. His sitting room was furnished with dark wooden bookshelves, two matching high back chairs and a sofa that was more comfortable than it looked. The fireplace roared with a fire, casting a glow around the room.
He sat the bag of books on the side table between the two chairs and sat down on the sofa. Hermione was staring at the bookshelves with hunger in her eyes, but quickly snapped back to the current moment.
"Come sit down. We need to talk," Severus said gently. She sat next to him on the sofa and took a deep breath.
"Severus, I'm so sorry I left like that."
"Hermione, think nothing of it. I'm sorry I upset you. I shouldn't have mentioned marriage."
"No, I'm glad you did. It did frighten me a bit at first, but I'm glad you did." She shifted towards him a little and continued. "I spoke to Ginny after leaving you at the café. She gave me some…perspective." Severus said nothing. What was he supposed to say to that? She continued.
"I was with Ron for five years. It was something that was comfortable, but never passionate. But with you, it's very passionate. I feel things I never have before when I'm with you."
Severus stared at her. He was amazed at the young woman in front of him. "I feel the exact same way, Hermione. I've never had the chemistry I have with you with anyone else. I've also never been able to carry on such an intelligent conversation with another woman. You are a thrill to be with, body and mind."
Hermione blushed. "I don't want us jumping into anything just because I'm pregnant. But I feel like we have more in common than just the baby. We enjoy each other. And any relationship is going to be work. I don't think we should get married tomorrow, but I think we should look towards that goal." She grabbed his hand as she finished.
Severus smiled. It wasn't something he did often, but he found himself doing it more in the past five weeks than ever before. "I think that is a good plan. Do you have a timeline in mind?"
"Well, I think before the baby is born is a good starting point," she laughed. Her eyes sparkled as she scooted closer to him on the sofa. "We can either set a date for later in my pregnancy or just wing it." Her face was getting closer and closer to his. He rested his arm around the back of the sofa and lightly pressed against her shoulder until she was close enough to kiss.
"Winging it sounds fun," he said with humor in voice as he closed the distance between them and kissed her lightly. She responded with enthusiasm.
Suddenly, she stopped and pulled back. Severus froze. Had he done something wrong?
"I'm sorry. I just got a wave of nausea," she said, putting her hand in front of her mouth. Severus sighed with relief.
"Did the peppermint tea help?" She nodded in the affirmative. "Pips!" he called out to the room. Immediately, there was a small crack and a house-elf appeared, wearing a pink apron.
"Yes, Professor Snape, sir?" the house-elf said, her watery blue eyes shining.
"Please fetch some peppermint tea for Professor Granger. And some ginger biscuits."
"Of course, sir." There was another crack and the elf was gone.
"You didn't have to do that. I could have just gone back to my chambers." Hermione said.
"Nonsense," he said in return. "If we are going to make this work, we need to spend more time together outside of work." He placed a kiss on her forehead just as there was another crack. Pips had returned with a tray of tea and biscuits. "Thank you, Pips."
Severus poured a cup for Hermione and motioned for her to eat some of the biscuits as well. She took the cup and breathed in the aroma deeply before picking up a biscuit. She took a bite and then a long sip of tea. After swallowing, she sighed contentedly.
"Better?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you, Severus." She smiled at him and leaned back against the sofa back, snuggling into his side. "You're right. We need to spend more time outside of work together. We see each at meals, but we can't exactly get too personal with the whole staff staring at us."
Severus laughed. "You're right about that. I doubt the staring will stop anytime soon. It's been some time since there was a workplace romance here at Hogwarts."
"I can't even imagine what everyone will say." She sighed. "Severus, how are you feeling? We talk about how I'm feeling, but you haven't said much about how you're doing with a sudden pregnancy and now impending marriage."
Severus paused before answering. "I'm…terrified. But I've never been so exhilarated by anything in my life. I never thought I'd be a father. I thought I would die in the War. And then when I did survive, I never thought I'd find a woman willing to make me father. And I will be forever grateful to you for that." He looked down at her and saw tears welling in her eyes.
"Ugh, damn hormones," she said, wiping away an escaped tear. "But I'm glad you're scared, too. It makes me feel better." She laughed then sobered. "I'm so worried that I'll be a bad mother," she admitted in a half whisper.
Severus turned to face her and took her face in his hands. "Hermione, I have never seen you fail at anything. You will be an amazing mother. You should really be worried about me being a father."
"Why do you say that?" she asked, a sad expression on her face.
"My father was horrid. He beat my mother and me until the day he took a gun to himself. So I don't have a good example to follow. But I will never be that man. I will never hurt either of you," he said, looking her earnestly in the eyes, begging her to believe him.
"I know you won't," she said simply. Severus bent his head to kiss her again. She smiled against his lips.
After a moment, she sat up suddenly and said, "Oh! Um, we've been invited to Harry and Ginny's for dinner next week. Is that ok? Ginny wants to get to know you outside of school."
He sat for a moment before answering. He knew her friends came with her. He didn't like socializing, but for her, he would do it. "Of course. It might be a good time to get away from Hogwarts with the first week of school and all. Which day?"
"Oh! I'm not sure. She just said next week, and I didn't even ask which day. I have patrols Tuesday and Wednesday night. Do you have any this week?"
"Just Thursday this week," he said.
"So maybe Friday would be good?"
"If that is agreeable with them."
"Good. I'll let Ginny know." She sighed and drained her cup. "This has been wonderful, but I'm knackered. I should go back to my rooms."
Severus felt a pang of disappointment but didn't let it show. He stood up and held a hand out to Hermione. She took it and stood up facing him. She put her hands at his elbows and pulled him down to her level. She then kissed him, strong and slow. It left him breathless. When she pulled away, she was breathless herself.
"I really have to go. I'm going to fall asleep standing up," she said, but pulled him back into another kiss. He put his arms around her waist and kissed her back with just as much enthusiasm, but then broke it off to walk her to the door.
"You're sleeping for two," he murmured into her temple.
"I know," she said quietly, not releasing him. He kissed her on each cheek and then once more on the lips before gently removing his person from her gasp.
"Goodnight, Hermione," he said, opening the door.
"Goodnight, Severus," she responded, walking through the door.
Severus watched her walk away. Before she turned the corner, Hermione glanced back over her shoulder, giving him a magnificent smile. Severus melted.
As the weeks went on, Severus settled into a routine for the school year. On the third week of September, the Headmistress called both him and Hermione for a meeting. He then realized they hadn't had a conversation with Professor McGonagall about the pregnancy and what they planned to do.
The meeting was right after lunch on Wednesday, and Severus had a difficult time finding an appetite. Hermione, on the other hand, seemed to have completely regained her appetite since starting the Mummy's Illness Stopper. He was glad one of them could eat.
"Are you ready to go? You didn't eat much," he heard Hermione say, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"I'm not very hungry. Yes, I'm ready when you are," he responded, standing up and pulling her chair out for her. She smiled up at him. Gods, that smile was going to be the death of him.
They made it to the Headmistress' office and were greeted by a stern look. After sitting down, Severus started making amends.
"Minerva, I know we should have had this conversation weeks ago and I apologize."
"Yes, I'm so sorry we didn't come sooner. The year just sort of got ahead of me," Hermione added.
"Enough, you two. Just fill me in on the details of everything," McGonagall said, giving them both a no-nonsense look.
"Well, I am pregnant. About ten weeks now," Hermione said in a small voice. She looked to Severus as if asking him to tell the next part. He sighed.
"And we've started a romantic relationship with the intent to marry before the baby is born in March," he said. No sense in tiptoeing around the subject. Minerva would need to know their intentions.
"Ah. Well. Congratulations are in order. On the baby and an upcoming marriage. Now. I must ask. Do you intend to stay after having the baby? It took me long enough to find you as a replacement for Horace. I'll need lead time if I'm to find a permanent replacement."
Hermione straightened. "Oh no! I plan to stay. Will that be a problem with the baby? I guess I will need to figure out childcare. I hadn't thought that far yet." Her voice waned, almost as if she were overwhelmed by the thought of childcare.
"The house-elves will take care of the child while you're in class. Is that agreeable to you?" Professor McGonagall looked pointedly at Hermione. Severus didn't have any qualms about house-elves caring for the baby, but he knew Hermione's past obsession on Creature Rights.
"Oh, well, I guess as long as they are properly informed of the task and agree to it. I don't want to take advantage of them," Hermione said, trepidation in her voice.
"Good. That is settled then. When are you due? I will need a substitute professor while you are on maternity leave," McGonagall continued.
"Oh, Poppy said late March. Give or take. And please let me know if it costs extra. I can pay the difference."
"There's no need for that, Professor Granger. Hogwarts will cover your maternity leave. Now, we need to discuss the timeline of revealing your predicament. You know that it will be front cover news for a few weeks, given both of your notoriety. The Board of Governors will be very testy if they find out in the papers. It might behoove you both if you tell them before it's leaked to the papers. Which means, before you start showing and give the students something to gossip about."
"Oh," Hermione said quietly. Severus looked over at her. Was she starting to second guess bonding herself to him? It would cause scandal; a man his age impregnating a woman her age. Both professors at Hogwarts. The Board of Governors would have a field day, not to mention the papers. He reached for her hand.
"Hermione, we can do all of this on your terms. I will not allow anyone to bully you otherwise," he said, running his thumb along the back of her hand. She turned to face him, tears starting to well in eyes.
"Thank you, Severus," she said with a smile. She cleared her throat. "I think the Board of Governors can safely wait until I'm at least in my second trimester. We can tell them what they need to know then. I may not even start showing that soon."
"Very well," Minerva said. "I think you're both crackers for taking this on, but of course I believe you can do it."
"Yes, I think we can," Hermione said, looking at Severus with her heart-melting smile. She squeezed his hand before letting go. "Is that all, Headmistress? I have marking I need to complete before my next class."
"Yes, it is. For now." Minerva stood up, signaling Severus and Hermione to stand as well. "I expect to be the first to know when your engagement is official. Do be good to each other."
"Of course, Minerva. I will make sure of it," Severus said, turning towards the door. He opened it and allowed Hermione to walk out and then followed closely behind her.
At the bottom of the stairs, Hermione let out a huge sigh. "Well, that was terrifying."
"Minerva isn't that scary, is she?" Severus said, knowing that he had the same feeling just weeks ago when she'd cornered him in the Owlery.
"She can be. And I'm just not used to not being a student anymore." She laughed. "Surely you understand that. Didn't you start teaching at twenty-one?"
"Yes. It did take a few years before I felt like a part of staff instead of a student. You'll get used to it." He shifted. He wanted to ask her something, but was nervous of her answer. "I have something to ask you, but not here. Can we go to your office?"
"Of course," she said, turning toward the corridor to the right that led to her office. Once there, she shut the door behind him.
"I wanted to ask you something," Severus said, stalling for time to think of the right words.
"From the look on your face, I feel like I should sit down," Hermione said, with humor and slight apprehension in her voice.
"I was just wondering, given the conversation we just had with the Headmistress and our agreement to be married. We should discuss if we are going to be just engaged, or betrothed. It is completely up to you. There are pros and cons to both and I don't want you to feel the need to choose one over the other." His words fell out of his mouth. Hermione sighed in clear relief.
"Oh Severus. I thought you were going to break up with me or something. You can't scare a pregnant woman like that." She said it with a laugh. "I actually don't think I really know what the difference between engagement and betrothal. Which one do you want?"
"It matters little to me. I just think that when the Board of Governors finds out, a betrothal will go further in smoothing feelings about an unwed pregnancy. An engagement is simply a verbal agreement. Like a muggle engagement. A betrothal has bonding magic involved. It's not as easily dissolved. And a betrothal becomes a full marriage at six months after the bonds are completed."
"Oh." Hermione blinked. And then was silent for several seconds. Severus stood, hesitation clearly written on his face.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up now. You just took in a lot of information from Minerva. Don't feel like you need to make a decision right this minute," he said hurriedly.
"You think a betrothal will help us both keep our jobs?" she finally asked, looking up at him with a calmer demeanor than he had expected.
"I do. It's a very proper thing to do."
"Then, yes. Let's do a betrothal. What do we need for it?" She seemed determined to do the proper wizard thing. He felt elated.
"Rings. Traditionally, both parties receive a ring, but in recent years, it's become fashion to only give the woman a ring."
"Do you want a ring?" she asked, moving closer to him. His breath hitched.
"I will wear anything you give me," he replied, his voice getting husky with her nearing presence. She was now close enough to place her hands on his chest.
"I want everyone to know you are mine. You will have a ring."
Severus's knees were weak as he bent his head and kissed this incredible woman in front of him. No one had ever called him theirs before. And it was thrilling.