The next weeks were filled with new revelations for Hermione. She realized one day that she hadn't needed to go to Madam Pomfrey for a Mummy's Illness Stopper in over a week. And her nausea was all but gone. She was thrilled with this development.
Another development she wasn't as thrilled with was the thickening of her midsection. All of her trousers and skirts were too tight now to fasten without an Enlarging Charm. And she had learned the hard way she could not rely on those for more than a few hours. She was in the middle of lecturing second years on the proper stirring technique when she had felt the button on her trousers pop. Luckily, she had been close to her desk and was able to sit before they fell down. She was currently lamenting her situation to Severus while they sat on her sofa, both marking essays.
"It was horrible! I swear, they knew." Severus chuckled lightly and reached over his work to squeeze her hand gently.
"I'm sure your second years did not even notice something was amiss."
"Ugh, this is awful. I'm getting fat."
"You are not getting fat. You are growing a child."
"Well, I feel fat."
Severus set aside his current essay and carefully lifted the parchment off Hermione's lap and set it on the coffee table. He leaned over, kissing her on the lips and then traveling down her body until he hovered just over her belly.
"You are beautiful. You are giving me something that I would have never thought I would have. Don't talk about yourself like that." He planted a slow kiss on her belly, and Hermione ran her fingers through this hair.
"Come back up here and show me how beautiful I am." He looked up and found a sultry glint in her eyes. He complied to her request without hesitation and was soon kissing her avidly. Her hands still roamed his scalp and his hands found her hips, and then her bum. Gripping her firmly, he lifted her up onto his lap. She made a surprised squeak in response.
After several moments of passionate kissing, Severus let his head drop to her breasts. They had both shed their teaching robes before starting to work, so the only thing separating him was a thin shirt and bra. She quickly started unbuttoning her blouse and soon had her breasts free. Severus feasted on them, first taking one peak into his mouth while pinching the other. Hermione threw her head back in pleasure.
Hermione started fumbling with Severus's shirt, untucking it and starting to undo his buttons. Severus stopped his ministrations long enough to push his shirt off, but immediately reattached himself to her. She pulled his face back up to hers and kissed him while pulling at his trousers and attempting to push hers off.
Grinning at her excitement, Severus pushed his trousers down to reveal black cotton pants, barely containing his erection. Hermione rubbed her own recently exposed core against him and he groaned.
"Severus," she said in a raspy voice. "I need you now."
Her mind was nothing but need and she felt that if she didn't have him in the next ten seconds, she would perish. Quickly, Severus released his cock and pushed up into her with a grunt. Hermione felt so full. Complete.
Hermione bounced on his lap, taking him in over and over. Severus's hand fell between them, rubbing her nub just right. Hermione gasped as an orgasm rippled through her body. Severus pumped into her several more times before following her in pleasure.
They stayed in that position, Hermione clutching to his chest, until they both had caught their breath. Severus placed a lazy kiss on her lips before slipping from her and gently placing her next to him on the sofa.
Hermione grinned at him. "I've wanted to do that all day," she said in a contented sigh.
"Oh, really?" Severus answered while buttoning his shirt.
"Oh, yes," she replied, buttoning her own shirt. "I'm going to go clean up a little." She walked into her bedroom.
While she was gone, Severus pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and stared at it. Opening it, he stared at the ring, with its square sapphire surrounded by a halo of tiny diamonds, set in a platinum band. He took a deep breath. This was the moment. He'd been putting it off all week, but now seemed to be the time.
"What is that?" Hermione said, walking back into the living area. Severus snapped the box shut in surprise and then stood up.
"I have something for you, if you'll accept it," he said, in a tentative voice. He reopened the black velvet box to reveal the ring. Hermione gasped. Severus continued. "This is my mother's betrothal ring. She never got to wear it because she married a Muggle. But she gave it to me in hopes that one day I could use it. I never thought I would, but now…" His voice broke. He cleared his throat. "Now, I believe I have found someone with whom I want to share my life." He looked expectantly at Hermione. She had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Severus. It's beautiful. Of course I'll accept it. Hold on just a minute." She disappeared again into the bedroom. Feeling unsure of himself, Severus stood still until she returned.
"I have a ring for you as well." She held up a grey velvet box and opened it to reveal a black ring with a band of deep blue running through it that matched the sapphire of his mother's ring perfectly.
"Hermione, it's perfect. Do you want to do the betrothal now? Or do you want to wait?" He was ready to bind his life to her, but didn't want to rush Hermione into something that she wasn't sure of.
"Can we do the betrothal with just us? We don't need a minister or something?"
"No, we just say the binding words ourselves. No need for anyone else," he replied, taking a step closer to her.
"Then, yes. Let's do it now. I don't want to wait anymore." She smiled up at him with that knee-weakening smile of hers.
"I'll say the words as I'm placing your ring and you just do the same when I'm done. The spell is sealed with a kiss." She nodded her understanding and held out her left hand. He gently took it and slipped the ring on her slender finger. It immediately resized to fit her perfectly.
"I bind my soul to your soul, my body to your body, my magic to your magic," he recited, meaning every word with his entire being. A burst of light shot out over their hands and wound itself around them. Hermione shivered at the caress of magic. She took Severus' ring in her hand and placed it on his left hand while reciting the words.
"I bind my soul to your soul, my body to your body, my magic to your magic." Another burst of light shot out and joined the first around their joined hands. Severus looked at the threads of magic and then up to Hermione's face. She met his eyes and he leaned down to kiss her. With their kiss, the magic flared and then disappeared.
Hermione stared at the ring on her finger, a smile of satisfaction on her face. "I can't stop looking at it. It's so beautiful." She leaned into Severus as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Not as beautiful as you."
"Stop it, you'll make me cry again," she said with a giggle.
"It's late," Severus started. "And you should rest. The betrothal can really drain your magical energy." Hermione yawned in response.
"You're probably right. But please stay? We have an appointment with Madam Pomfrey in the morning anyway." She looked at him with pleading in her eyes. He sighed. He couldn't deny her.
"Of course I'll stay," he said, cupping her cheek and kissing her forehead then following her to the bedroom.
The next morning, Hermione woke early. She had always liked mornings. The calm before the rush of the day. She looked down at her new ring with a smile on her face. Knowing Severus wasn't a morning person, she slipped out of bed gently so as not to wake him just yet.
She went into the living area of her quarters and into the small kitchenette to prepare coffee. As she breathed in the heavenly scent of brewing coffee, she thought about the night before. The magic had felt so right. She had been nervous about the betrothal beforehand, wondering if she was making the right decision, but after the magic surrounded her, she knew she had made the right choice.
After pouring two mugs of coffee, she walked back to the bedroom and gently sat on the bed.
"Good morning," she cooed as she nudged Severus awake with the mug of coffee. He groaned in response, but smiled upon opening his eyes. He sat up and accepted the mug.
"Mm, I could get used to this," he said, inhaling a deep breath of the coffee aroma. He leaned over and kissed Hermione's cheek. They sat in content silence as they both drank their coffee. After finishing her mug, Hermione got up and went to the bathroom to shower. She came back out in a dressing gown.
"All yours, if you need it," she said, toweling her hair dry. Severus wanted to stay and watch her dress, but knew they had a schedule to keep. He quickly showered and dressed, then walked into the living area where Hermione was cleaning up the coffee pot.
"We should speak to Minerva after we are done with Poppy," he said.
"Yes. I don't want to wait weeks like we did last time. And we'll need to set a meeting to inform the Board of Governors." Hermione rolled her eyes. She just couldn't get over how informed she had to make a group of men she didn't know about her personal life.
Severus grunted in response. "Shall we go?" he said, reaching his hand toward her. She smiled as she took it and they walked out the door to the corridor.
Upon reaching the Hospital Wing, they were greeted by Madam Pomfrey and shuffled into her office. She once again had a bed set up in front of her desk and directed Hermione to lay down.
"How are you feeling? Has the nausea stopped?" the mediwitch asked.
"I'm feeling so much better than I was. The nausea has all but gone. I even feel more energetic now," Hermione said in response.
"Ah yes, you're in your second trimester now and should be feeling fairly well. Now, let's have a look at baby." The witch made the complicated wand movements over Hermione's belly as she chanted the incantation. Once again, the room was bathed in a pink glow. Only this time, the source of light actually looked more like a baby, with a head and body and arms and legs.
"Well, everything looks healthy! He or she is growing just as they should! I'm just going to jot a few measurements down here while you two enjoy the view," Poppy said. Hermione and Severus stared at the wiggling form above them. Severus reached for Hermione's hand and she took it gladly without taking her eyes away from the image.
After a few minutes, the mediwitch flicked her wand and the pink glow disappeared. "I know you could probably watch that little bundle for as long as I would allow you, but we all have things to do today," she said with a doting smile. Hermione sat up and wiped a few escaped tears from her eyes.
"Thank you for letting us see for as long as you did, Madam Pomfrey," she said, buttoning up her robes.
"You're sure everything is as is should be?" Severus asked, anxiety in his voice.
"Of course! Your baby is measuring right on schedule. I see nothing but a healthy baby and mother," she responded reassuringly. "Now, I assume you're taking your nutritional potion every day?" Hermione nodded. "Good. I want to see you again in three weeks, just to take some more measurements. You may start to have ligament pain in your hips, which is normal. You can have a basic Pain Reliever, but nothing stronger. Do you have any questions?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not that I can think of anyway. Severus?" She looked to her partner, who shook his head.
"Alright, I'll see you in three weeks, unless you need me before that. Congratulations, again!" With that, the Matron ushered them out of her office.
"We should be able to catch Minerva now before breakfast if we hurry," Severus said, catching Hermione's hand in his own.
"Okay," she answered, wrapping fingers around his.
As they got to the gargoyle that guarded the Head's office, the Headmistress was walking into the corridor. She stopped when she saw the couple approach. She sighed.
"Come on. You look as if you have news," she said, turning around and going back up the revolving stairs. As she entered her office, she gestured to the chairs in front of her desk and took a seat behind it.
"We just wanted to make sure you were the first to know this time," Severus started.
"An improvement on the last bit of news I received from you two," the Headmistress said with a bit of annoyance.
"We're truly sorry about that. It really wasn't on purpose," Hermione explained quickly. "Which is why we made sure to come to you as soon as possible this time."
"We are betrothed," Severus said. "We will be married before the baby comes."
"Well, congratulations are in order then. Now then, when will you be informing the Board? They cannot find out from any other source," Professor McGonagall said, eyeing both of them carefully.
"When is the next meeting planned?" Hermione asked.
"November 1."
"Then we will be at the that meeting. Do you think that soon enough?" Hermione said, nervously.
"As long as you agree to keep the information close to your chest," the Headmistress replied. "I assume everything is going well with the pregnancy? Have you been to Poppy?"
"Oh yes!" Hermione said with a grin. "We just came from Madam Pomfrey and she said all is well and growing perfectly."
"Good. Well, I'm ready for my breakfast if you two are." Severus and Hermione nodded their agreement and stood to exit the office. "I am happy for you two. Do be good to each other." The couple nodded and took each other's hand.