Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven –

Chopping the lavender for the Calming Draught, Hermione checked the bubbling brew and gained a new appreciation for the Potions master's position at Hogwarts. Other than the occasional fantasy of him swooping into her room and ravaging her, she had never given much thought to what he did during the summer. Now she knew.

She set the knife down and scooped the chopped lavender up. She really needed to stop thinking about Severus all together. If she managed that, she would not be reminded of the embarrassment of last night. Her cheeks flushed bright red just thinking about it. She had Vanished their clothes and had offered herself to him.

It was a bold, yet foolish move. She cringed in remembrance.

"Prove it." She shivered beneath him, feeling the heat of his flesh against hers.

She shifted beneath him, and he gave another strangled groan. With that groan, his weight settled upon hers.

It had taken her a full minute before realizing that he had passed out. It had taken her another five minutes to get out from underneath him.

She hoped he stayed away from her. After all, he had done a splendid job of doing that since her arrival. She was still trying to sort through the implications of what he'd said last night. Then there was the matter of trying to find Pansy. Yes, Dumbledore had pleaded with Hermione to leave Pansy alone, but her guilt would never allow such a luxury.

She was so confused. She didn't know what to do. On one hand, she wanted to track Severus down and force herself on him. On the other hand, she wanted to run away. Not a very Gryffindor thing to do, but it was her gut instinct. Somehow the idea of Severus Snape being in love with her seemed like a bad idea.

"You may want to remove the cauldron from the flame and let the Calming Draught cool before adding the lavender, lest you melt the cauldron."

Startled out of her reverie, she lost her grip on the lavender and dropped it all over the place, some of it landing in the boiling brew. His prediction rang true, and the potion started to hiss, melting the pewter cauldron and spilling its contents onto the table and floor.

Weaving his way across the room, Severus Vanished the mess and scowled. The scent of lavender and Hermione tickled his senses...senses that were hyperaware due to his unfortunate drinking binge last night.

"I'm s-sorry," she stuttered, brushing the remnants of lavender from her robe and avoiding his gaze.

Her unwillingness to look at him sealed his fate. He, unfortunately, wasn't blessed with the ability to forget a drunken stupor. Last night's events played in his mind with embarrassing clarity. His scowl deepened, and he turned to leave.

She had offered him paradise, and he had passed out. It wasn't so much that he cared what she thought of him. He'd never put much stock in others' opinions, but his pride was definitely wounded. He had confessed everything, and judging by the blush of her cheeks and inability to meet his gaze, she wished he hadn't.

"You're free to leave, Miss Granger," he stated softly and made for the door. "I am releasing you from the contract."

"Why?"

How should he respond? Should he use a cliché? Was he letting her go in the hopes that she came back? Did he dare to think that she could ever forgive him? "You have fulfilled your end of the bargain."

She unfurled the list of potions he had given her. "But the list... it isn't completed. What about your research?"

A façade. A convenient lie to lure you here. he wanted to reply. He turned. "Shall I send for a house-elf? Do you need help packing?"

Setting the list on the table, Hermione eyed him skeptically. "Is this some sort of trick?"

Indecision and mistrust watered her chocolate gaze. He closed the distance between them but stopped short of touching her. He shook his head, wondering how long Dumbledore and Weasley had been spiking his meals with Veritaserum. The stark truth was a bitter pill to swallow. He was in love with her and had treated her abysmally. He deserved to be lashed for his behavior. His guilt certainly wasn't enough recompense.

"I assure you," he murmured softly, unable to tear his gaze from hers. "It is no trick." He gathered her hands in his. "My... behavior was deplorable. I can make no excuses for it. I shall have Mr. Weasley contact Mr. Malfoy about your expenses and..."

"But I..."

There was a whoosh of air, a soft pop, and Dobby materialized between them. His bat-like ears trembled, and he squeaked. "Needs you, he does. The headmaster needs you." He glanced nervously at Hermione. "The babies..." He bit his lip to keep from saying anything else.

Severus stared down his nose at the shorter creature. "What are you talking about?"

"Is Pansy in labor?" asked Hermione.

Dobby squeaked again and hid behind Severus' robes, much to the Potion master's chagrin and frustration.

"It's okay, Dobby." She moved around Severus and tried to calm the house-elf's nerves. "I know about Pansy."

Severus turned and tried to dislodge the blasted creature. It probably looked like some deranged comic routine, for he kept turning in circles. In doing so, Hermione kept walking around him.

"Secret," Dobby mumbled. "No good at secrets. Dobby no good with secrets."

With a Herculean effort, Severus managed to grab Dobby's shirt and lift him. "What is it, Dobby? What's wrong?"

The house-elf squirmed. "The Malfoy heirs..."

"Where is she, Dobby?" Hermione asked. "It's okay. I know about Pansy," she repeated reassuringly.

"I'm glad somebody does," Severus groused softly, setting Dobby down in the hopes that the house-elf would calm down and be able to communicate effectively.

"Is she in the Hospital Wing?"

Dobby made a sound of distress, which confirmed the accuracy of Hermione's guess, and she ran out of the room. The house-elf disappeared, and Severus was left wondering what crisis would arise next.

--

Hermione ran toward the Hospital Wing and stumbled as the stone beneath her feet buckled and lurched. A woman wailed, and a vicious breeze swept down the hallway and knocked her backwards. The ceiling cracked above her, and she covered her head as dust rained down upon her.

"Take my hand!" Severus shouted over the howling wind. He pulled her to her feet and guided her through the corridor. As they neared the Hospital Wing, the wind died down, and a baby cried.

"I don't think the school can take much more, Albus!" Minerva declared. "It wasn't designed to withstand..."

"I'm well aware of what the school can and can't do, Minerva," the Headmaster returned, his voice calm as he cooed to the baby in his arms. He walked away from the scene and smiled at Severus.

Pansy whimpered behind a privacy screen. "My baby."

"Pansy," Madam Pomfrey murmured. "The baby is fine. Severus is on his way..."

An unearthly scream electrified the air around them. "No! Not him! He's a Death Eater! He'll take my baby!"

Hermione stepped in front of Severus, watching the shadows dance behind the privacy screen.

"Ther' now," Hagrid said. "Don't be ridiculous, Pansy. Professor Snape's a hero. 'E's a lot like that ther' character in yer romance book... What's 'is name? Sanderson? Professor Snape is a good man. 'E'll look after yer babe."

"You have to focus, Pansy," Poppy insisted. "Your other baby is on the way."

Pansy gave a strangled groan.

"Merlin preserve us!" Minerva prayed as the windows creaked and the floor buckled.

Dumbledore staggered toward Severus and Hermione, clasping the newborn to his chest. "They are a little early, Severus. Poppy feels that they could use a Strengthening Solution, but she wasn't sure if it was safe for newborns."

Stepping forward, Severus moved the blanket aside and touched the baby's head. Something twisted in Hermione's gut... a mixture of elation and grief. Elation over the birth of Draco's children. Grief over the likelihood that she would probably never have her own children, not that she was in a hurry to do so.

"The potion would need to be diluted in breast milk."

Pansy howled in pain as Poppy and Hagrid encouraged her to push. Hermione took a step toward the privacy curtain, but Dumbledore held the fussing first-born out to her. "I am afraid that I am not soft enough for this young man. Would you hold him, Miss Granger?"

She held her arms out and sighed as the tiny bundle was handed over to her. He had been cleaned and smelled of powder. There were fine tufts of white-blond hair on his head, a typical Malfoy trait. Instinctively, he burrowed against her chest to nurse. "Has she named him?"

Dumbledore grasped her elbow and walked her away from the privacy curtain. "Not yet. I was hoping that Mrs. Malfoy would be in a better frame of mind once she delivered. Only Hagrid seems to be able to calm her."

"But Dra..."

"Don't even think his name," he cautioned. "Her natural magic has manifested, and her hearing is very sensitive."

Voices increased into shouts of encouragement and pain, and Hermione winced. Guilt pierced her very soul. Draco should be here to witness the birth of his children. A howling wind whipped into the room, and Severus stepped in front of her to shield her and the babe.

"Push!" Poppy shouted.

"'Tha's the girl, Pansy!" declared Hagrid.

The wind died down as quickly as it had started, and another baby cried, announcing its arrival to the world.

--

Hogwarts castle groaned in protest as the army of house-elves hurled magic along the ceilings and halls nearest the Hospital Wing. Pansy and the twins had been moved to Hagrid's hut, and everyone else had been evacuated from the castle and relocated to the Three Broomsticks.

Two days had passed, and mother and twins were doing well thanks to the Strengthening Solution. Thankfully, she was recovering and had even agreed to allow Hermione to visit.

Hermione had been tempted to Owl Draco, but had decided against it due to the fragile nature of magical pregnancy hormones. The damage to Hogwarts was testament to the destructive nature of... nature, and she didn't want to exacerbate Pansy's condition. But now that she had delivered the twins, she had calmed down considerably and had even asked after Draco.

Apparently, even Hagrid was a fan of her books. He had encouraged Hermione to come for a visit and bring her new manuscript. She had stayed up the entire night, polishing the final draft and felt a sense of pride over the accomplishment. Her fans would probably be disappointed that the next installment was not about James and Virginia, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Besides, she had included a couple of scenes in the book that included lots of bickering between those two. She had even managed to include a scene near the end of the book between Cassandra and Simon.

Kicking the mud off her boots, she knocked on the door.

"I bet that's 'er," Hagrid's booming voice and footsteps sounded from inside.

Plastering a nervous smile on her face, Hermione grasped the manuscript tightly and hoped that this worked. The door opened, and the familiar earthy smell of Hagrid's abode greeted her senses.

"'Ello 'Mione," the half-giant greeted with a warm smile. "We've been waitin' fer you."

Entering the hut, her gaze clashed with Severus'. "What are you doing here?"

"Professor Snape was just telling me about Draco's heroics during the war," Pansy announced from across the room.

Draco? Heroic? If hiding was heroic...

Severus grasped her elbow and brushed a kiss against her cheek. "Just play along, my dear."

She didn't know which affected her more, his voice or the endearment. He guided her toward a seat next to Pansy. Before she could sit down, he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. Heat infused every cell of her body, and she squirmed, almost dropping the manuscript.

His arm wrapped around her waist and stilled her movements. "I was just telling her about Draco's deeds during the war. Is that the manuscript?" He laid his hand over hers and shifted beneath her.

"I do believe it is." Hagrid stomped toward her and reached for the package of papers. "Pansy's right anxious to read it. She adored yer last book."

The new mother giggled nervously, shifting one of her babies in her arms. "I just didn't realize you were the author, Hermione!" she whispered excitedly. "I've read the entire series."

Pansy looked down, intently studying a spec of lint on her lap. "I..." she sniffed, her voice trembling with emotion. "I miss Draco. I... don't know what I was thinking?"

"Where is he? I know he misses you. Has anyone Owled him?" Hermione asked quickly, needing resolution as much as her former classmate.

There was a loud, resounding crack outside, and the hut shuddered.

"It's okay, Pansy." Hagrid knelt next to the young Slytherin and patted her thigh. He gave Hermione a panicked glance. "We'll Owl Draco when yer ready. Not a moment sooner."

Severus' arm tightened around her, and he whispered against her ear. "Mrs. Malfoy is suffering from postpartum depression. The mood swings and hormones aren't as bad as her pregnancy, but they are still dangerous, nonetheless. You may want to censor any mention of contacting her husband while around her."

Hermione nodded, shivering as the back of his hand brushed the swell of her breast.

"I believe we have overstayed our welcome," Severus announced suddenly. "Why don't you leave the manuscript with Hagrid for Mrs. Malfoy to read later? I could escort you back to the inn."

Hermione handed the manuscript to Hagrid and stood. She felt strange, all hot and tingly, as if she'd been drinking. Feeling the way she did, she entertained the thought of dragging Severus into the Forbidden Forest and having her wicked way with him.

Grasping her elbow, Severus ushered her toward the door. "Enjoy the manuscript, Mrs. Malfoy."

Hermione gapped as she was ushered out of the hut and into the garden. "But, but... What have you done? What did you tell her? Draco hid during the war. He did nothing."

"Will you please keep your voice down," he admonished, still guiding her over the rocky terrain along the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. "I stopped by to give her the Strengthening Solution. Though she is no longer pregnant and at the mercy of unpredictable magical hormones, she is still a witch in the throes of postpartum depression.

"Unlike St. Mungo's, Hogwarts is not warded to endure the kind of magic that spike during labor and delivery. I was merely protecting the grounds and Hagrid's hut from certain destruction should Mrs. Malfoy become upset again." He came across the remnants of an old wall and hopped to the grass below. Turning, he held his arms out to help her down.

Hermione walked along the edge and glared at him. For every step she took forward, he took two. He smirked as she tried to refuse his help. She was angry with him, and it gave him hope. She knew the truth...a truth that he had barely accepted himself...and she was still angry with him. She was justified in her anger. Yes, he had apologized. Yes, he had confessed, but he had been pissed, and he owed her more than that.

Her reaction inspired his pursuit. He had been prepared to let her go two days ago, but he didn't possess the generosity of spirit to do the right thing. Irony twisted in his gut. Love was indeed, unpredictable.

"I wish you had said something sooner. Given me some clue that you were going to talk to Pansy about Draco. We both know Draco did nothing during the war."

"And in doing nothing, he was heroic," Severus stated. "He could have followed his father's teachings."

"But what I've written..."

"Is undoubtedly brilliant, entertaining, and a complete work of fiction. Mrs. Malfoy may be emotional, but she isn't daft." He kept stepping after her, intent on helping her down.

She stopped, hands on her hips and an incredulous look on her face. "From trashy to brilliant and entertaining," she said, her inflection dripping with acidic sarcasm. "I'd take that as a compliment, but I know how insincere it was, and I... I don't appreciate it."

"Locomotor Mortis," he murmured softly, quickly tucking his wand back into his sleeve and preparing to catch her. Her arms flailed as she tried to maintain her balance.

Realizing that her momentum forward was against her, she bent forward and clasped his shoulder. He clasped her waist, and she hopped down, but instead of releasing the Leg-Locker Curse, he helped her lean against the damp earth and pressed himself against her, capturing her lips.

The kiss was possessive and predatory. His skilled lips made demands of her novice ones, and someone groaned as the exploration deepened. His stance widened, and she felt the evidence of his arousal against her belly. A lecherous desire pierced her lustful fantasies, and she clutched his clothing and pulled him closer.

Breaking the kiss, Severus trailed his lips along her jaw and cupped the weight of her breasts in his hands. "Though I would normally shy away from the genre you write in, I have read the entire series and... found them to be entertaining works of fiction."

His thumbs moved over her nipples, coaxing the passionate response he knew he would receive. "Accept the compliment for what it is, a sincere attempt toward reconciliation.

"I...love you," he admitted, barely a whisper that threatened to be carried away on the soft summer breeze. "I was unable to 'prove it' the other night, but I certainly am capable of proving it now."

--

TBC

Author's Notes...Yes, I am an evil cliff-hanging wench! No matter how much I wanted Severus and Hermione to "get physical," I just couldn't do it. Drunken sex is not fun and is often disappointing. I needed to resolve Pansy and Draco's storyline before I could move forward with Severus and Hermione.

My wonderful beta-readers have had some real life issues and were unable to read over this, so please excuse any mistakes and typos.

Thanks to all who have reviewed. They are greatly appreciated.