XVIII

This is based on the Surrogate Mother Challenge on WIKTT. For full description of this challenge, please see the author's notes at the end of the first chapter.

Disclaimer: I looked in the mirror this morning and was stunned to discover that I am not JK Rowling. Shocking, I know.

Special thanks go out to both JuneW and SnarkyRoxy, both of whom are very quick and have splendid ideas. Thank you, gals!

The morning that Ginny and Ron were due to arrive, Hermione was anxious. She wasn't quite exactly sure what to tell them, or exactly how to go about telling them she planned to awaken Harry ... or at least attempt to awaken him. Her research into the spells and charms had gone well, and she felt that she had achieved all that she possibly could.

"You look like someone is threatening to break your wand in half," came the sardonic voice from across the breakfast table as she was sipping her morning coffee.

"I was just thinking about Ginny and her reaction to my plans for Harry. I'm not sure what to tell her when she gets here today," she hummed over her cup.

"You never told me that Miss Weasley would be coming to the castle today," Severus replied with veiled interest.

"I'm sorry, I thought you knew," Hermione replied as she set her cup back in its saucer. "Both Ginny and Ron will be here later this morning."

Severus' dark penetrating eyes stared at her for several long minutes as she continued with her breakfast, before he finally spoke what was on his mind. "Why, pray tell, am I to be graced with their presence this morning?"

"I want to tell them about Harry and the progress that we've made," she replied with a small smile, only hesitating slightly before plowing forward. "I think it's time that we set some sort of plan into motion to try to get into the Department of Mysteries and deliver the potion to him. I've been working with Filius on the charms, and I think that I've finally figured out how to effectively rebind Harry's soul. I am sure that if–"

Before she could finish her rehearsed speech, Severus interrupted with a resounding, "No."

"Pardon?"

"I said no, Hermione. I will not allow you to go traipsing off through the bowels of the Ministry of Magic in an attempt to save the Bloody-Boy-Who-Lived, one last time."

She openly stared at him, stunned into silence.

"It is not simply a matter of not permitting it, I simply cannot allow it. Not only do you have yourself to think of, but you also have a child to consider. It would be extremely childish and selfish for you to go running off to go rescue Harry Effing Potter again! Let the Weasleys do it by themselves this time; I'm quite certain they are more than capable. They do not require your know-it-all self to run the show and tell them what to do at every turn. I am positive that they can figure things out on their own for a change. They too have been in the Department of Mysteries before, you remember."

Hermione wasn't sure what was twisting her stomach more, the fact that he was once again putting his foot down and trying to control her life over something that she felt so strongly about and she knew ... she KNEW ... she had to be present for the attempt. Or if it was because he likely didn't realize how much he had just praised both Ron and Ginny in his small tirade. Gripping the handle of her fork, she speared a piece of fruit, but could not even force herself to bring it to her lips. She tossed the cutlery down and instead drank the remaining dregs from her cup before speaking her mind ... all the while refusing to meet his watchful gaze.

"You're doing it again, Severus," she said as calm a voice as she could manage. "I love you, but that does not give you permission to go around trying to run my life and tell me what to do at each and every turn. I don't know everything, but I do know this ... I need to be there. I helped Harry cast the initial spell. It's my fault he wound up where he is." Her tears began to flow as she finally brought her eyes up to meet his. "How would you feel knowing you had done that to your friend? Did you know that was the wedge that ultimately drove Ron and me apart? We had problems, we were likely doomed from the beginning, but Ron blamed me. Bloody hell, I blamed myself for what happened to Harry."

"Think, for a moment, about what you just said, Hermione. I know better than anyone what it is like to lose one's friend due to war. I know what it is like to take a friend's life. I should; seeing I've done it more than once."

Hermione's face grew suddenly pale as comprehension dawned. "I didn't think of that," she stammered.

"Obviously," he sneered as he stood from his chair. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I would rather not be here when your guests arrive." He walked swiftly towards the door to his office, pausing just before exiting the room. "Oh, and the next time you wish to make such an important profession of love, try doing so at a more appropriate moment." He swept out of the room, snapping the door shut behind him.

Calmly composing herself, Hermione wiped the moisture from her cheeks with her serviette. She reached for the chain that she kept securely around her neck and pulled out the jade butterfly Severus had given her for Christmas, which she wore tucked under her robes. She spoke softly to the small charm., "I didn't mean to hurt him. Please help me to find a way to show him how important this is to me. I need him to understand." Dropping the pendant back to its usual resting place, she said a silent prayer that maybe Minerva hadn't been wrong and that the butterfly really would carry her wishes up to God.

Pushing back from the table, Hermione rose and made her way to the bedroom door. Halfway there, the words Severus had left her with finally sunk into her mind and her stomach began to roil. "Oh, God! I can't believe I just blurted out that I love him!"

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Severus was unable to settle himself down after his earlier confrontation with Hermione over the Weasleys' visit and her plot to "rescue" Potter. He wasn't sure which had troubled him more. The fact that she was so determined about wanting to go and help Potter was annoying him now. Although he wasn't truly sure if it was her blatant disregard for the danger involved, or because she made a confession that he did not feel like he was ready to hear.

There were no essays or tests to mark, so he went about taking inventory of his potions stores, which was mindless work. Even with that, however, he had difficulty concentrating.

Severus spent the next two hours ensconced within his office and laboratory, trying to avoid thinking about Hermione and what she and her cohorts were planning. When he was no longer able to let the issue rest, he approached the door to their quarters and quietly turned the knob. Upon opening the door, he saw Hermione seated in the armchair by the fire holding their daughter, with Ginny seated across from her talking animatedly. Severus growled slightly when he looked at the settee and saw not only Mr. Ron Weasley sitting there, but also Professor Longbottom. Despite the fact that Hermione had definitely been by Severus' side these last few months, he could not help but feel twinges of jealousy whenever Neville Longbottom was around. Severus instantly began wondering, as he strode into the room to make his presence known, why Hermione had not mentioned that he would be visiting this morning along with the Weasleys.

Hermione looked up from her conversation with the youngest redhead as Severus neared the group.

Although she was not smiling, Severus noticed her face no longer held the look of hurt and anger that it had held earlier this morning when he'd left her. He felt a small amount of relief from this realization.

"Good morning, Severus."

Severus gave a quick glance to those present in the room and a curt nod before his eyes settled back on Hermione. "Is all of your plotting and scheming done for the morning?" he asked sarcastically.

"Nearly," she answered shortly.

Crossing his arms over his chest and towering over her, he retorted back, "And did you tell them exactly how you came up with this plan to save Potter?"

Hermione blushed furiously, and Severus felt a slight twinge of guilt, which he quickly squashed.

"No," she said softly.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," he said. "I didn't hear you."

"No," she said more firmly, her anger flaring. Turning to her friends she spat, "All right, fine. I had a dream. I brewed the potion all from a dream, and researched the charm because of the same dream." Next, bringing her pleading eyes back to Severus, she said, "But you can't deny that the potion was brewed correctly! I know I'm right about this!"

He searched her eyes and saw the desperation behind them. He began to remember what Filius had told him a few weeks before, about a conversation Filius'd had with Hermione when the dream had awoken her the first time. She'd finally admitted that she'd taken the abuse of the Wizengamot lying down out of guilt for Potter's condition. Severus felt his heart wrench for her and inwardly grimaced. He didn't want anyone to think that he was growing soft.

The others in the room knew enough of both Severus and Hermione's tempers to hold their tongues throughout this discussion, even with the surprising revelation that Hermione was acting through nothing more than Divination. Relaxing his stance only slightly, Severus inclined his head slightly briefly at Hermione. "I will admit that the potion was brewed correctly, but you must admit that this is all solely based on theory. There is nothing to say that it will work in application."

Holding his intense gaze, unwavering, Hermione's voice softened as she spoke her final words, "I have to try, Severus. Please try to understand."

Without responding to her last plea, he leant down and carefully plucked the baby out of her arms. "I will go put her to bed for you so you can finish with your guests."

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Hermione stared after Severus for a few minutes before the sound of a clearing throat caught her attention and brought her back to her friends. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"Was it really a dream that started all of this?" asked Ginny with clear skepticism.

Hermione told them of the visions that she'd had after the birth of Elina and again a few weeks later, and how that had led her to brew the potion that now sat bottled on a shelf in her wardrobe. She then went on to tell them how she'd worked with Filius on developing the charm to complete the soul-binding. When her story was completely retold, she waited for them to ridicule her.

They did not.

Instead, they all stared at her pensively. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting to Hermione, Ron broke the silence. "I'm in, Hermione."

Smiling, she looked to the other two, who were both nodding their heads in acquiescence. She sat back in the chair, relieved that she did not have to convince her friends... she only had to deal with the surly man in the other room.

The four friends finalized their plans and agreed to meet the following weekend for their rescue attempt; this would give them enough time to set their plans into motion.

After another half-hour of discussion, Hermione bid her friends goodbye and sought out Snape. She quickly found him in his Potions laboratory, leaning over a piece of freshly sanded wood. Severus had her father's carving tools laid out on the table before him. She watched him reach over, grab a V-shaped instrument, and begin etching the tablet laid out before him.

Hermione knew from experience not to sneak up on him when he was working like this, so she waited until he stopped his hand movement to speak. "I thought I'd find you in here," she finally said.

"Indeed, there are so many places that one would have to look to find me," he quipped back without looking up from his project.

Hermione smiled lightly and walked into the room. "Well, you never know, Severus. I have found you in Elina's rooms, talking to yourself."

"I was not talking to myself, Hermione. I was having a discussion with my daughter. A discussion implies two people, not just one."

Hermione continued to grin, pleased that he was at the very least speaking with her. Pulling out the stool and settling herself next to him, she sighed. "I'm sorry about my thoughtless comments this morning. Obviously you understand why I feel responsible. I never should've stated otherwise."

"Does that mean that you understand why I must insist that you stay home?" he asked, looking up from his project.

"Severus," Hermione huffed. "You don't understand. I NEED to go. They can't do this without me. Neither Ron nor Ginny can cast the charms."

"Then you damn well better teach them," he bit out.

"I can't, Severus," Hermione snapped. "It's well beyond their abilities. It would take another year or more for them to learn the complexities of the spellwork. I am the one who needs to go."

Severus growled as he went back to work on the carving. He gouged his yielding canvas carefully as he thought through the dilemma. After a pregnant pause, he responded. "How do you intend to get into the Department of Mysteries? When you all snuck in there as children, it was only because the Death Eaters had taken care of the nighttime security for you."

"We have a way around that, actually. We were going to use Harry's old cloak, although we don't all fit underneath it well anymore. However, today when Ron and Ginny were on their way down here, they ran into Neville. Ron invited him to come along. That's why you didn't know Neville was coming. I didn't invite him, Severus. But it was a stroke of luck that he came along."

Snape put down the tool he was wielding and looked at her, encouraging her to continue.

"Neville has started seeing a woman who just so happens to work in the Department of Mysteries, and he is pretty sure that he can get us in there without it appearing suspicious. Neville will make arrangements to pick her up from work on Friday afternoon around the time that everyone else is getting ready to leave for the day; we'll just happen to be tagging along, as if we were all going to dinner together. Once all the Ministry workers are gone, we'll go into the room where the Pensieve is and take it into the room where Harry is. We'll give him the potion, cast the spell, and then we can get out of there. It's that easy."

Severus fought the urge to roll his eyes. "That easy, eh? I do not think that I've ever heard of a more ill-begotten plan in all of my life, which just reiterates the idea that you really need to rethink this." Peering into her eyes and seeing that her mind was unwavering, he heaved a heavy sigh and conceded ... there was no way that Hermione was going to relent. "Fine," he bit out. "Go. On one stipulation."

"What's that?"

"That I accompany you."

Hermione leapt from her stool and tangled her arms around his neck, causing Severus to drop the wood and tools he was holding. She would've gone to the Ministry with or without his permission, of course, but to have him concede was a victory in and of itself. Running her fingers through his hair, she said, "I really do love you, you know. I want you to know that for certain, and not have you think that I said something by accident and never thought about it again. I mean, yes, it was an accident, but I..." She was unable to finish her statement as he hushed her with his mouth covering her own, a mess and tangle of lips, tongues, and teeth.

"You are loyal... brave... honest... intelligent... and daring. I admire... your... fortitude... and your... ability to... survive... at almost... any cost," Hermione gasped out as his mouth moved along her neck and up to her ear, where he slowly began suckling and licking the lobe.

"Shush," he whispered into her ear. "I know how you feel, Hermione. I have known for months."

Hermione sighed as he pulled her even tighter against him.

"I love you as well," he muttered softly as his lips began to devour hers again. His hands, which had been resting on the table on either side of her, slowly worked their way to her breasts and they kneaded them through her robes, causing a moan to erupt from her mouth.

Gracefully, Hermione untangled a hand from his hair and unbuttoned her robes, granting him easier access. She shrugged out of the garment , causing it to fall into a heap onto the floor beneath her.

Severus removed a hand from her body, causing her to grumble in protest, but before she could say much more he wielded his wand and with a quick spell cleared the work table next to them. In a swift movement, he lifted Hermione up onto the table, seating her at eye level. Grinning deviously, he continued with his ministrations, much to her delight and pleasure, and before she even realized what was occurring, her shirt and bra were gone. He plucked at her erect, rosy nipple, pinching it firmly between his fingers, before he brought his mouth down to greedily consume it.

Hermione squeaked and frantically began unbuttoning the thin white shirt that Severus was wearing. Her hands roamed over his newly exposed chest, raking her nails across his skin and eliciting equal sounds of pleasure from his throat.

As he let her nipple fall from his mouth, he kissed his way back up her chest and throat, eagerly making his way to her open mouth. Neither one remembered discarding the remainder of their clothing, only that it was quick and could hardly happen fast enough. With another swift movement, Severus lifted Hermione up and settled her entrance over his erect shaft. At his urging, she wrapped her legs around his waist and eased herself down until she was completely filled. Both groaned in pleasure as they began to move together.

"Oh, God," Hermione cried after they had been pleasing one another for several minutes. Her inner walls clamped down around his penis, causing Severus to come undone and follow her into orgasmic bliss.

Sated, Hermione rested her head against his shoulder and tried to catch her breath.

Severus ran his hands down her hair, cradling her head to him. "I love you, Hermione," he whispered into her hair.

Her breath caught in her chest when she heard him say those words to her. It wasn't what she had been expecting. She hadn't thought that she would ever hear those words cross his lips; she couldn't help but allow a contented smile to grow upon her face at the words.

Severus carefully set her back up on the table behind her. Grabbing his wand that he'd left there, he used it to Summon her discarded robes to cover her from the cool dungeon air. His mind quickly begin thinking about the next order of business ... their trip to the Department of Mysteries; however, they still had a few days to sort out the details, and right now he was more interested in taking Hermione to bed and continuing with their marital activities.

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Friday afternoon found the most unlikely group gathered together in front of the newly commissioned fountain in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Many had thought that since the old fountain had been destroyed in a battle against Voldemort in Harry's fifth year, that it would be replaced with one of Harry defeating Lord Voldemort. However, since the Ministry had tried to downplay Harry's crucial part in the war effort, that was not the case. The Ministry had done nothing more than recreate the fountain that stood in the Atrium the first time that Hermione had been there.

She was standing there with Severus, Ron, Ginny, and Neville. In Severus' pocket was the phial of the Soul Binding and Reviving Potion. Nervously, she looked to Neville. "Are you sure that your friend is going to be okay with this?" she whispered. "I mean, she knows what we're planning and she's not going to do anything, right?"

"Oh, no. Maddy is fine with everything, Hermione. Don't worry, I spoke with her a bit this morning, and I'll fill her in on the details when we go in to see her," replied Neville, a bit louder than Hermione was comfortable with.

Looking around uneasily, Hermione met Severus' gaze, who seemed to bear the look of a man saying, "I told you so." Inwardly growling, Hermione led the group towards the security check, where they had their wands inspected and were sent on their way with nary a cursory glance.

From there, they took the lift to level nine of the Ministry, encountering very few Ministry employees this time of day. The majority had left a half-hour earlier on this Friday afternoon to go home and enjoy the weekend with their families. Once on level nine, they went down the corridor and then down the stairs to level ten... again, down the long narrow corridor to the door at the end of the hall.

Neville knocked firmly when they reached the door, and Hermione nervously fingered her wand when it was opened by a young woman. Madeline Bagnold wore the typical black robes that denoted an Unspeakable; most notably, she had straight, long brown hair and wore glasses. When she saw Neville she smiled warmly. Madeline quickly acknowledged his guests with a nod, flicking her eyes twice over the figure of the dour Potions master, then quickly ushering them inside before they were seen by anyone who happened to be coming by.

"Perfect timing," Madeline said. "Mr. Abercrombe has just left for the day, and I was left to lock everything up." Looking back at Neville's guests, she eyed Severus intently. "Erm... Neville, you didn't tell me that you were bringing our old Potions professor," she whispered.

"Well, I didn't know until he showed up and refused to leave just a bit ago. Hermione didn't tell us," Neville muttered back.

"What is it that you need to do?"

"We... erm..." Neville stammered.

"You mean to tell me," Severus said as he stepped forward, "that Mr. Longbottom has not yet told you why we are here?"

"Well," Neville said, cowering from the towering figure. "I told her some. She knows that we were hoping to... erm... pay our respects to Harry..."

Severus growled. "Pay our respects?" he mocked. "I assure you, Professor Longbottom, that it will be a cold day in Hell before I ever 'pay my respects' to Harry Potter." He felt a calming hand on his arm and bit back his next retort, choosing instead to cross his arms in front of his chest and try to intimidate the young man.

The young woman appeared at a loss for words after Severus' sudden outburst, as if she wasn't sure how to respond to him. "You mean, you don't want to see Harry Potter?" Madeline asked hesitantly.

The look in her eyes showed clearly that she thought that she knew exactly who the former Death Eater would wish to see in lieu of Mr. Potter. Severus shuddered inwardly at the thought of seeing his former master.

Hermione stepped forward. "Yes, we want to see Harry. All of us need to see him," she said, looking meaningfully at Severus, daring him to contradict her.

The young Unspeakable glanced suspiciously at Snape before nodding her head.

"I'm only doing this because it just hurts to see him lying there like that. H-he was nice to me in school, not like we were friends or anything, but we spoke a few times. He doesn't deserve to be treated like that. I like my job," Madeline said quietly, "but I think that everyone should be allowed to have a proper burial and remembrance service. He should be laid to rest and left alone."

Hermione nodded her head and looked to Neville, silently pleading with him to fill Madeline in on the details while they were in with Harry and not a moment before. "We'd also like to have the Pensieve brought in," Hermione said.

Maddy's eyes narrowed.

"Well, after all, that is where Harry's soul is currently residing. His body is nothing more than a shell," Hermione supplied easily.

This seemed to satisfy the woman, and she nodded her head.

Maddy went directly to one of the identical doors in the circular room in which they were still standing, unlocked the door, and led them inside. There, in the center of the room lying on a table like he was sleeping, was Harry. Other than the fact that he was wearing what appeared to be nothing more than a white robe, he looked exactly as he had on the day that Voldemort fell.

Hermione's eyes wandered over to Ginny and Ron, who were barely managing to hold each other up. Tears were rolling down the youngest Weasley's face and Hermione's heart wrenched. For a brief moment she wondered where Voldemort's body was, until she realized that Madeline (or someone else) must have moved him to another room so they could see their friend. She looked to Maddy. "The Pensieve," she said softly.

"Yes, just a moment," Madeline replied, shuffling out of the room, Neville closely on her heels.

As soon as they left the room, Hermione moved to the body and remove the Stasis Charm that was preserving Harry's body. Next, Severus pulled out one of the phials of potion, uncorked it, and emptied the contents into Harry's mouth. He palmed the empty container just before Maddy and Neville returned. Taking a step back from the body, he gave Hermione a minute nod.

Maddy placed the Pensieve on the table closest to Harry and turned to the group. "I'll give you a few minutes alone. I wish it could be longer, but I'm not allowed to have people in here." She turned to leave the room, Neville again following closely behind her.

Hermione trusted that Neville would give them as much time as he possibly could. Turning to Ginny, she motioned to Harry and said, "Start massaging his arms and legs. Get the circulation moving. The potion will have restarted his heart and lungs by now." While Ginny worked on Harry, Hermione walked over to the Pensieve. Wielding her wand, she began a complex series of wand movements arcing forward and back, flicking, swishing, with broad strokes and short strokes. She began chanting the incantation to Summon out Harry's soul.

Her stomach began to tighten with excitement as she saw the pure soul of her friend rising from the Pensieve. It was shimmering silver and gold, but just as she thought that she had the entire soul out she saw the sickly green hand of another soul grab onto Harry's feet and try to pull him back in. Increasing her concentration and the volume at which she spoke the words, she tried to pull harder on the soul. Suddenly feeling a reassuring hand on her shoulders, she noticed that Severus had pulled his wand and he now had it pointed at the Pensieve as well. He may not have learned the spells and incantations with Hermione, but he certainly could add his magical strength to hers. Then, within moments, Ron's wand was also out and pointed at the Pensieve, aiding her magic.

After what seemed like an eternity to them, the greasy-looking hand finally released its grip on Harry's soul, allowing it to float across the room into its rightful place. Once out of the Rune-encrusted bowl, Severus began warding the Pensieve against Voldemort's escape. Next, Hermione began the next step in the spellwork to rebind Harry's soul permanently, with the added help of Ron's magical strength.

It took fifteen minutes for the Soul Binding to finalize. When it did, there was a soft cracking sound to notify them all that the rift was finally closed. Exhausted from the hard work that she'd done, Hermione found the nearest chair and collapsed into it.

"How long until we know if it works?"

"It's hard to say," answered Hermione honestly. "Truthfully, I don't know." Severus' hand slipped into hers for comfort as she spoke the words, but then Hermione jumped up from her seat as Harry let out a soft moan and opened his eyes.

A/N: Ahhhh, another evil cliffie. Don't you just love it? :) I know that I do. It encourages me to write. Seriously, the next chapter is almost completely written, so it should be up very soon. Thanks so much for your patience!