XII

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 am not JK Rowling. No money is being made from this.

Special thanks to my beta, Southern_Witch_69, who puts up with an amazing amount of garbage from me. She truly is priceless!

Hermione stood in the center of the room, unable to move. How could her life take such a drastic turn in one evening? Tonight she had learned that it had been Neville that had been sending her gifts and interested in a relationship with her. Not only that, but Neville had told her how deeply he cared for her. He even went so far as to say that he was in love with her. Hermione groaned. That had completely caught her off guard. She had expected the culprit to be Severus...an idea that Ginny had cultivated. Hermione had only begun having doubts to that fact after speaking with Minerva. When she learned that it was Neville, she had begun to doubt the feelings that she had thought Snape had for her.

To say the very least, it had been overwhelming. Her evening with Neville had quickly gone from two friends going to the pub together to an actual date. That was not what was supposed to have happened. He was just supposed to be my friend! Hermione thought angrily. They had talked about her plans after the baby was born. She had found it very uncomfortable to speak of Severus in Neville's presence. Instead of honestly telling Neville how much she wished to stay and be a part of Severus' and the baby's life, she told him that she was intending to stay at Hogwarts while Severus was planning on leaving. In hindsight, she thought that Neville had taken that as a point in his favor without noting the regret that Hermione had actually felt. Maybe love really is blind! She shuddered at the mere thought of the word love.

Neville's kiss had been sweet, but it reminded Hermione terribly of the one time she had kissed Harry. Just like kissing a brother. One of those occasions where the warning flags go up instantly and tells you that it's wrong. Whether it was from the sheer fact that Neville had taken her by surprise or that she had hoped it had been someone else that had kissed her, she didn't know.

Turning Neville down had been one of the hardest things that she had ever had to do. She cared for him; she truly did. He was sweet, caring, kind, compassionate, and brave...a Gryffindor through and through. The same slip of a boy that had actually stood up to his friends during their first year at Hogwarts. He had grown into a competent young wizard that had spent the better part of the evening telling Hermione how she shouldn't be putting up with Snape's attitude and that it was time she stood up to him. He went so far as to say that he would stand up to Snape for her since she was in the precarious position of having to live with the surly man. She had, naturally, told Neville no. She tried to explain that she and Severus had an amicable relationship, but she didn't think that Neville understood. Neville wanted to protect her. However, what he needed to realize was that Hermione didn't need or want to be protected.

After Neville had left her there in the corridor, she had entered Severus' living quarters to think over what had just occurred. When Severus came in shortly after her, she had suddenly felt relaxed. It had felt safe and right to be shrouded within his arms. Then to have him kiss her like that...to say that it had taken her by surprise would be an understatement. Hermione sat in the nearest chair and closed her eyes. She could still feel his breath on her neck, his lips against her skin.

Her shock and overall anguish evaporated soon after and was quickly replaced by anger. She wanted to scream at him! She had been on the cusp of tears, trying to tell him about her disastrous evening with Neville, and Severus' idea of comfort was to kiss her! What kind of a man thinks that he can make things better by confusing a woman even further?

Stupid question, she decided. Unsurprisingly, a Slytherin would attempt to take full advantage of such a situation.

She sat back and stared into the fire. Why did Severus have to storm out like that? She wanted to talk to him, find out what he was thinking before they wound up rushing into something that they weren't ready for. Bloody hell, she was quite certain that the man was already regretting that he even kissed her. Right, Hermione, she thought. Does he regret it because there is no way that he'd ever kiss you if he was in his right mind? Or because you pushed him away and rejected him? Hermione felt a twinge of guilt realizing that no matter the answer to that question, pushing him away had been precisely the wrong thing to do.

She stood up and began pacing the room. In her frustration, she kicked the leg of her chair and was surprised at how easily it caved, causing the corner of the chair to hit the floor. She had never taken less satisfaction in damaging anything before. She did not even have the desire to repair it. Hermione set herself on the settee and rested her head on the arm, deciding that she was going to wait up for Severus' return.

She did not remember falling asleep. She awoke hearing the mantle clock click, and she groggily opened her eyes. The fire had long since gone out, and there was only the faintest of red glowing embers visible in the hearth. She was cold. Hermione pulled out her wand and muttered, "Incendio!" The fire came back to life once again. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light. It was six o'clock in the morning according to the clock. She hadn't heard Severus return. She had a feeling that if she dared to open the door to his bedchambers that she would find a bed that had not been slept in. She felt another pang of guilt at her behavior the night before.

She really needed to find Severus and explain. Hermione sat up and stretched, feeling a shot of pain down the side of her belly. She hated that! Stretching led to the pulling of these ligaments that preferred not to do anything. She had come to the conclusion that it would be during the last week of pregnancy that she would remember not to do it. She pulled herself up and padded off to her room to freshen up before seeking out her roommate.

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Searching for Severus had been a fruitless effort. The man was nowhere to be found. As the day wore on, Hermione found herself becoming more and more frustrated, both with her response to him and with his subsequent reaction to her. Things definitely could've gone better, she found herself thinking again.

At midday, she had stormed back to her room and pulled out a quill and parchment to write Ginny a letter. She had always been a good friend, even if she felt that the girl had led her astray in more than one instance over the last few months. Do I really think that? No, Hermione had to admit that she didn't. She knew that Ginny had lied about Neville sending her the Owl back in October, but she didn't think that her friend lied about not knowing whom the gifts were from. Even Ginny wouldn't do that. Ginny seemed to be operating on the same assumption that Professor McGonagall had been...the assumption that Severus was having more than friendly feelings for Hermione, although Professor McGonagall didn't think that the gifts were from Severus.

This roundabout thinking was beginning to make her head hurt.

After last night, she was certain that they were both right, even after she had learned that the gifts weren't from him. She had asked Neville about the gifts. It was the emeralds in the quill and the journal that had truly perplexed her. What Gryffindor gives emeralds? she'd wondered. Neville had been all too happy to answer her questions, and she'd regretted her inquiry almost instantly.

Apparently, emeralds symbolize a deep sense of love, peace, fidelity, and patience. Also, their energetic properties are supposed to help with the process of labor and delivery. The quill, along with the matching journal, was given to her to help her remember the pregnancy that Neville knew would be nothing more than a memory for her in mere months.

The gesture was very sweet, but it had made her extremely uncomfortable. That had been both the high point and low point of her date. She had wanted nothing more than to hide her face from the sweet wizard and to forget about the entire evening.

Snape! I really need to find Snape! she reminded herself. No matter how much she continued to replay the events of that evening, it didn't change the outcome. Where is that man?

She had wandered through most of the school looking for him. He wasn't in all of the usual places, and she eventually gave up, deciding that he would turn up eventually. She avoided entering his bedchambers, but she had pounded on the door for a good hour before she decided that the chances of him being in there were very slim.

He did not return until Monday morning. The only reason that she knew that he had returned was because she peered into his Potions classroom just to ensure that he was teaching. Sure enough, there he was. She immediately pitied the students that were forced to suffer through the class. In the first five minutes, she heard him deduct no fewer than two hundred House points, and a good portion had come from his own House. She shuddered at the implications of his behavior, but she vowed that as soon as she could she would talk to him. Possibly they would be able to work everything out quickly.

Hermione had never been more wrong in her life.

That evening, Severus had returned to his...their...quarters, but he had not stayed. Hermione had attempted to talk to him, but he would have nothing to do with her. He simply waved her off and stormed out of the room, carefully warding the door to his office to prevent her from following him. Although she knew it would have been better to get everything out in the open sooner rather than later, she allowed him his space.

It was a mistake. It would only allow him to brood more. A knarl quill embedded in the skin and left unattended will fester and lead to infection. Whereas if it is removed and the affected area cleaned, it can heal. She felt that she had no choice in the matter. He would not even acknowledge her presence. As a result, Hermione's time in the castle became increasingly lonely. The only thing that she was able to do to occupy most of her time was to spend her evenings with Professor Flitwick. As she progressed in her pregnancy, he was insisting that she spend more time taking care of herself and less time assisting him. Filius maintained that Hermione already knew everything that she needed to be able to do his job. He thought that she should spend what little time she had left enjoying her freedom from teaching.

Hermione had not been able to peg Severus down. She searched the castle for him, and after two weeks, she came upon him working in his classroom. Where he had been hiding before then, she did not know because he certainly hadn't been spending all of his free time here.

She finally found him, much the way she had a few weeks past. He was sitting on one of the stools leaning over the high table with a long piece of dark wood laid out before him. His black hair was hanging down, partly covering his face, and he did not seem to notice Hermione entering the room and watching him. As soon she was in the confines of the classroom, the acrobat occupying part of her body began making its presence known. She rested her hand over the movements and absently began rubbing her hand in soothing motions. This is the most active you've been in days, Little One. She was curious if the baby sensed its father and was excited or was just sensing Hermione's rising stress level. Most likely it was the latter.

Just as before, she stood near the doorway and watched Severus for quite some time as he labored over the wood with the carving tools in hand. She wondered what it was he was so diligently working on. She watched as the skilled hands slowly worked intricate patterns over its canvas and thought about how those same hands had held her two weeks prior.

Her daughter chose that moment to make a sharp kick between one of her ribs causing Hermione to yelp. This, in turn, caused Severus to jump. "Damn!" he yelled as the tool slipped and placed a sizable scratch along the wood. Hermione observed his demeanor change from that of someone focused to a man on guard. She sighed as she resigned herself to the inevitable barrage of retorts and scathing remarks.

"I'm sorry," she muttered as she braved forward. Severus grabbed his wand and spoke a quick incantation over the scratch, leaving a fresh patch of unmarred wood, but he did not respond to Hermione. After several long minutes, she broke the silence again. "What are you making?" she asked, indicating the wood lying on the table before him.

Severus simply ignored her.

She only lasted a few moments before the silence was too unbearable for her. "I've been trying to talk to you for two weeks, Severus."

Snape merely growled in reply as he grabbed the v-shaped tool and began to work on the wood again. Hermione sat on the stool on the opposite side of the lab table from him. She was becoming irritated as he still would not look up at her. "We really need to discuss this."

Severus tossed the tool down on the table, gritted his teeth together, and raised his eyes to look at her through his curtain of black hair. "There is nothing to discuss, Hermione. Now, kindly get out," he hissed.

She stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at him.

He eyed her closely. How is it that in only two short weeks that she looked vastly more pregnant than she had before? It had only been two weeks! He couldn't peel his eyes away from the protruding belly, which was being accentuated by the placement of her arms. Her womanly figure was intoxicating to him. When had he become so enamored with pregnant women? It was killing him sitting this close to her and knowing that she did not reciprocate his feelings. He tore his eyes away from her bulge and met her piercing gaze.

"I take your current stance to mean that you are not leaving then? Well, don't just sit there all day wasting my time," he spat. "Either speak your peace or leave...now!"

She sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Severus."

Of all things she could have said, that was the most predictable. He scowled. "And what precisely are you sorry for? For making me look the fool? For toying with Longbottom? For turning him away that night? Or are you actually sorry for the way you treated me?" he asked her in deathly quiet tones. He did not stop in his torment. She deserves this, he thought. "Did it make you feel important for once to have more than one man show an interest in you in one evening? Did you gain great pleasure in turning us both down? Or are you actually sorry that you stopped the kiss...my kiss?" He had leant close to her and asked the last question whilst only a few millimeters away from her face.

Hermione was taken aback, and instantly, her brown eyes filled with tears. "No, I mean, yes!" she cried as she slouched back from him and vehemently shaking her head. "Severus, how could you think...you don't understand." The young witch continued to speak incoherently, apparently unable to form a complete thought. The more she rambled aimlessly, the more Severus' temper grew.

"You are trying my patience. Come back and talk to me when you've figured out what you want," he spat. "Now, leave so that I may get back to my work in peace."

He was still holding her gaze when he saw her eyes flash. She took a deep breath and stilled herself, brushing aside her tears, and sitting herself up straight on her stool. Apparently, stealing herself to do battle, he mused. As much as he loathed admitting it right now, he really admired her strength of character.

"I'm not leaving, Severus, we need to discuss this," she said as firm as possible with her hoarse voice.

Snape was infuriated. Strength of character or not, he did not wish to deal with the wench now. Perhaps after another two weeks has past. He arose from his stool and went around the worktable to her. He grabbed her gently but steadfastly about the wrist and pulled her from the stool. After he removed her from where she had been perched, she wrenched her hand out of his grip and glared at him defiantly. As his hand fell free to his side, his fingers brushed her belly, and once again, he ran his eyes along her ever-protruding midsection. This simple action seemed to calm him instantly to his core. He desired to place his hand firmly on her abdomen and feel his child squirming beneath the skin. He squelched the urge and turned away from her, deciding to distract himself with his project again.

Hermione looked at him with a puzzled expression. She was waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it were, and was surprised to see him simply go back to his work. "Well, don't just stand there like a gaping goldfish," he snapped. "Discuss away!"

"I am sorry..." She held up her hand and glared daggers at him to stop the sarcastic remark that was sitting on the tip of his tongue. "I am sorry for a lot of things, Severus. Most importantly, I'm sorry that I did not adequately explain why I stopped kissing you. It wasn't that I didn't want it."

He simply narrowed his eyes. Damn her! Bloody hell, damn me! She just proved that my affections were ill placed! Severus was so wrapped up in his own self-loathing that he missed what she said next.

"....overwhelmed," she ended, somewhat lamely.

Severus quirked an eyebrow at her. "Overwhelmed? That is your excuse?" He was silently hoping that she'd elaborate, so that he had some clue what she was talking about.

"Yes. I think that was reasonable. Don't you?" Hermione began pacing in front of the classroom. "I mean it's not every day that a friend professes their love for you. I didn't know what to do."

Bloody Hell! Since when was a kiss considered professing one's love? Severus began to feel angry at her presumptions. How dare she take such a thing and twist it around to love!

"Then, you kiss me, and it sent my head spinning," she continued.

He barely registered the slight wistful smile now playing upon her lips as he digested her words. Wait...then you kissed me?

"Severus, are you all right?" she asked as she sat back on the stool and leaned over the worktable towards him.

"Yes, fine. Continue," he clipped. Severus dropped his head allowing the curtain of hair to cover his face as he tried to focus his attention on his work. Somehow hoping that if it appeared that it didn't matter to him what she had to say, then he truly wouldn't care. Despite his attempt, he found himself hanging on her every word.

"I was confused," she said. At this, she noticed that Severus looked up from the cherry wood and watched her as she played with an errant curl, twisting it around her finger, and not able to look at him. "I don't feel that way about Neville, but I didn't wish to hurt his feelings either. That was the only reason that it was so hard to turn him down. It wasn't like when I was with Ron. Dumping him was easy, as a matter of fact. Not that I didn't care for him, mind..." Hermione stopped midstream and looked up at Severus, who was still watching her closely. "Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble when I'm anxious."

"Really? I never would have guessed that," he sneered, although Hermione was certain she saw the corner rise on one side of his mouth. He brushed the hair out of his face and studied her. "You also chew on your lower lip or the ends of your hair when you're nervous." This time, the corners of his mouth did quirk up as Hermione abruptly stopped worrying her bottom lip and smiled shyly.

In a soft voice, she said, "Severus, I only stopped because I needed to first sort out my disastrous evening with Neville. I wanted so much to talk to you, but you didn't give me a chance."

He narrowed his eyes and continued to listen, although just listening to her recount the events, his anger was again growing.

"Please, hear me out," she begged. She watched him for a moment, and when he didn't snap at her or attempt to leave, she continued. "I wanted nothing more than to fall into your arms, Severus. I just want to make sure that my feelings were genuine. I want to be sure that when we are together it is because of what we feel for each other and for no other reason."

Tears were welling up behind her eyes as she prepared for him to laugh or sneer at her openness. The remarks didn't come. Before she regained the strength to rise from her stool, Severus came down upon her. He pulled her from her seat and up into his arms where he wiped her eyes and kissed her forehead. "Hermione, you can rest assured that what I feel for you is genuine," he whispered into her hair.

"Really?" she asked.

He moved his hands to grasp the sides of her head and tilted her head up towards his. His black eyes were boring into her own. "Maybe I should show you rather than tell you," he said as he brought his mouth to hers. He pressed his lips gently to hers, and she felt a tremor spark through her soul.

After several lingering minutes, he pulled back, and Hermione gazed at his face to look for any clues to his emotions. Though his features were stern and masked, she could see something behind his eyes. Warmth, she finally decided. It might not be love, but it was feeling. To her, it was hope.

Severus brushed a thumb across her cheek and cupped her face. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," she whispered as his hands dropped back down to her sides.

Severus pulled her as close to him as he could, allowing her head to rest against his chest. She snuggled her head against him and sighed. She breathed in the aroma of the array of spices and potions ingredients that she had become accustomed to smelling around him. Another scent was accosting her this time. It reminded her of her father, the smell of the freshly shaved wood. She kept her head in its place and asked, "What is it that you're making, Severus?"

He stopped the comforting movements of his hands and pulled her away to watch her reaction to his reply. "I thought you would be pleased, Hermione, that I am using your gift."

She smiled. "I am. I just wondered what it is that you were working on. I've seen you work with two separate pieces of wood so far."

He looked down at the wood on the table and brushed one hand across the etchings he had made. "When I am finished, it will be a cradle," he finally answered.

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"Wow, Hermione!" exclaimed Ginny Weasley. "Snape is really making something with his hands? A cradle, no less?"

Hermione laughed and leaned back in her chair at the Three Broomsticks. "I was surprised, too. Trust me."

"How long ago was that?"

"A month."

"A month? What's happened since? Have you kissed him since?"

Ginny truly is her mother's daughter, mused Hermione. Always looking for the gossip. "Not much has happened actually," Hermione began. "Severus began spending more time back in our quarters. He spends most of his free time in my company. I think we are trying to become comfortable in an odd situation." She looked her friend directly in the eyes. "It's not like I planned this, so don't you go getting any ideas."

Ginny smirked. "No, you wouldn't do that. I know you well enough." Searching for a something else to discuss, she watched her friend as she had absently begun to rub her stomach. "How far along are you?" she asked.

"Oh, it was thirty-two weeks as of yesterday," Hermione replied proudly. "I can't believe that it has already been that long."

"What's it like?" asked Ginny curiously.

"Being pregnant?"

"Yeah, I've wondered. I really don't see it as something that I will do anytime in the near future." Ginny sighed as she set her drink back on the table.

"It's very different," replied Hermione noting her friend's smile at her vague response. "Don't misunderstand me; it truly is amazing. It's a whole new life that is growing in here, and I get to be a part of it. It is honestly the most amazing magic I've ever experienced, but there are things that I wish I could change." She stopped to think. There were many things that she wished she could change, but she was unsure exactly what she should voice to her confidant. "The backaches, the headaches, the pulling ligaments, the itchy skin. The list can definitely go on," she said with a smile. "Then, there is still the bath issue," she muttered, only half-hoping that her friend would hear.

"The bath issue?"

"Didn't I tell you about that? That man has read one too many books on pregnancy, I swear." Hermione smirked as she leaned over the table as much as her large midsection would allow her. "He read somewhere that it is hazardous to the fetus if the internal body temperature of the mother exceeds 37.8 degrees Celsius. So he put some Charm on the pipes to my shower and tub where it monitors my internal body temperature, and once I reach that temperature, the water turns ice cold." She shook her head. "Trust me when I say that the last thing that you want when you are taking a nice a relaxing bath is for all of the spouts to suddenly turn on and begin issuing copious amounts of icy water."

The redhead couldn't hold back her amusement at the story. "Oh, I can't believe that! That's just cruel!" she exclaimed while attempting to reign in her laughter. "Wait! Was that the bathing incident that disrupted an entire Potions class?" she asked.

Hermione joined her friend in laughter. "Yes, it was actually."

"And he still hasn't caved on it?" she asked in a much calmer manner.

After several minutes, Hermione calmed as well. "No, he hasn't. It's frustrating. I know that he didn't mean for it to be vindictive, but he should've told me about the charm. I got the impression that he enjoyed my confusion when I first questioned him about my hot shower water running out rather quickly." She heaved another heavy sigh. "It's all of those little things that like that are making this more uncomfortable than it should be. I would always expect Severus Snape to be a somewhat controlling, but I think it would be different if this was a marriage. For some reason, I always thought that if I had a husband with whom I chose to have a child, then he would be caring and supportive, not so...controlling."

Ginny raised a questioning eyebrow. "Controlling I can definitely see. He's not supportive though?" She did not look pleased when she asked this.

"Oh," Hermione rushed to answer. "Yes, of course he is, but it's different. I told you that we've become closer. We just haven't worked through the kinks yet. For some reason, I think if he caved on a few of these little things, like what I eat, how long I bathe, and so forth, that we could truly build a long-lasting relationship."

"But you said that his feelings for you are real! What do you think he is up to?" Before Hermione could even think to answer, Ginny continued her rant. "I'll tell you what! He is just trying to keep you calm through the remainder of this to make his life easier! He doesn't give a damn about you!" she shouted.

"Hush! Damn it, Gin! The entire pub can hear you hollering," Hermione hissed. "Now relax, will you?" She took another sip of her drink before she continued speaking, watching the redness of her friends cheeks continue to flare up to her ears. Exactly like her brother, she thought. "I believe his intentions are real. He said they were, and I believe him," she stated firmly. "I also think that we shouldn't rush into a relationship; things are too complicated right now."

"Yeah, I'll say they're complicated," muttered Ginny, who was obviously still seething.

"Oh, stop that," scolded Hermione. "I like him even though he's not always nice, but he is a good person."

"Not always nice? Well, congratulations, Mione, that is the understatement of the year."

"Ginny, stop it, please." She sat back and sighed, again placing her hand on her belly. "Come over here," she said.

"Why?"

"Just get up and move over to this chair next to me, Ginevra," Hermione said through gritted teeth.

Ginny slowly stood from her chair and took the seat next to Hermione. "What?" she asked in a tone that indicated she was becoming increasingly exasperated with her friend.

Without words, Hermione took the younger witch's hand and placed it on her stomach. "This child is good, and no matter what I, or Severus, intended at the beginning of this whole fiasco. She deserves a chance. I owe it to her to try, but I can't say that even if it weren't for this child that I wouldn't want to become involved with him. There are a lot of good things about him. Oh, don't give me that look, Gin. I already told you. It's not like I planned this. I really care for him. I know that you don't understand." Hermione shook her head and released her grip on the other girl's hand.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt, Hermione." The words were spoken with open sincerity.

"I know you don't. Just trust me on this," she pleaded.

"Don't forget that the stakes are high here. I know that despite my warnings you've become attached to that baby that you're carrying." Hermione flushed guiltily at Ginny's words. "I am afraid that you are getting your feelings for that baby confused with your feelings for Snape."

"I'm not confused. I know exactly what I'm doing and exactly what I'm getting myself into. Don't worry," reassured Hermione.

"I will stay out of it, Hermione, but I will not promise you that I won't worry," stated Ginny begrudgingly.

Hermione grabbed the other woman's hand again and squeezed it. "Thank you," she whispered.

Two hours later, Ginny escorted her back up to the castle entrance and said her good-byes. Hermione walked down to the dungeons and peered into the Potions classroom. Severus was there, as he had been every Saturday, working on the carvings. She watched from the doorway for several long minutes before she quietly walked back down the hallway to the portrait entrance to their living quarters.

Hermione thought constantly about her discussion with Ginny. Nothing like a sounding board to make you carefully analyze your feelings, she thought wryly. What were her feelings truthfully? He really was a good man. Although, she did worry that in her constant repeating of this mantra, she was actually trying to convince herself. She knew that wasn't true, but sometimes it felt like it. She had seen what he'd done for Minerva. Where others would condemn him for his actions, Hermione admired him for them. She knew that it had not been an act of murder, but an act of compassion and duty.

She knew what her feelings were. She was falling in love with him. She'd already realized that her feelings for him were not just related to her raging hormones or to the ever-growing attachment she had for her baby. She ultimately decided that she would confront Severus on some of the more minor issues that he was still maintaining control over and relay the importance of trust and understanding. She hoped that he would see the importance of a trusting relationship. She wanted to work past these issues before the baby was born. Even though she knew that after the pregnancy he would not control the temperature of her bath water, she knew that he was the sort of man to attempt to control other things about her if she didn't put her foot down. She wanted their relationship to grow and hopefully allow them to become a family.

This was easier said then done. Severus was busy the remainder of the weekend, both in his duties as Head of House and in overseeing various detentions that he had assigned during the past week. Monday evening came, and thankfully, he was no longer busy with work.

After supper in the Great Hall, Severus escorted Hermione back to their rooms where she steeled herself and prepared for the inevitable argument that was to ensue. She grabbed the book that she had been reading off of the end table near her chair in the sitting room and sat down once they had arrived back at their rooms. She watched Severus as he sat behind his desk in the corner and began working through his marking.

"Would you like any help with that?" she offered.

"That is...erm," he paused searching for the appropriate word. "Thoughtful," he finally responded. "Don't you have your own marking to be doing?" he countered.

"I wish. Filius wouldn't allow me to take any of it this afternoon when classes had finished. He was quite insistent that I not go back for a few days, as well," she said in frustrated tones.

"Why would he do that? He is a busy man. I would think that he would welcome any assistance. Especially assistance from the person he is expecting to take over teaching his classes next year." Severus put down his quill that he had been using to mark the papers on his desk and turned all of his attention to Hermione.

"I think it was because of my constant backache today. He seemed to think that I need to rest."

"Is there any validity to his concern?" asked Snape with narrowed eyes.

"Of course not! I've just been on my feet quite a bit as of late, and with the shift in gravity, it's becoming rather uncomfortable, which brings me to another issue." She began absently chewing on her lower lip. When she noticed him watching her, she remembered their discussion several weeks prior and stopped. "Severus, I'm uncomfortable, and I'm quite certain that it's only going to get worse. Will you please release the charm that you have on the pipes in my bathroom?"

He narrowed his gaze once again and looked back down at the offending parchment in front of him. "You know my position on that, Hermione. I will not alter my decision," he stated rigidly.

Hermione attempted to keep the sudden surge of anger that she felt forming as a result of his unwavering mindset. She tossed the book that was resting on her lap back onto the nearby table. "Severus, you told me that you cared for me. Over the last few weeks, you have told me that you wish to get past some of the peculiarities in this relationship and try to build it to something more substantial. How can you expect to allow things to move beyond the peculiarities if you are still insisting on controlling me because of that ruddy contract?" Hermione had not intended to raise her voice to him. However, she found herself not only yelling by the end of her question but also standing.

"Hermione, I have told you my feelings, though I loathe to discuss them unless I am forced to. Do you truly doubt me?" he countered in a deathly tone. Severus rose from his chair and walked towards her, stopping inches from her. "Just so we are clear on this issue, I will have you know that my concern is not only for you but also for this child that you are carrying. I made my decision based on research. It is not like I was viciously looking for a way to punish you."

"I've read the research. It's inconclusive. My back hurts, and I want a bath!"

"Then, by all means, go take a bath. I do not care. However, bear in mind that after a time, the charm will kick in," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone that bore weight that the discussion was off the table.

Hermione's temper flared. "You are insufferable!"

"That I am." He reached his hands up and unfastened the clip that was holding her outer cloak and removed it. "Now, sit down," he said indicating a spot on the chesterfield. He could see the conflict on her face as to whether she would acquiesce to his request or whether she was going to storm off to the room. He hid his relief when she, albeit begrudgingly, sat where he had specified. Severus sat down beside her and requested that she turn her back towards him. He placed his hands on her lower back and asked, "Here?"

"Yes," she was obviously still upset, though he could tell that she was now trying to relax.

He began rubbing the area that she was complaining about. After several minutes, he started to massage the tight muscles, kneading away the aches that had been plaguing her for days. Hermione soon found herself relaxing into his touch. She closed her eyes and let out a small moan as he hit a spot that had become increasingly bothersome.

Severus' hands moved as low as they could with her in a sitting position, and after a time, he slowly moved them up her back. He brushed the plait of hair over her shoulder to get it out of his way as he began to work the muscles in her shoulders and neck. His deft fingers were easing her discomfort and causing her to relax as they charted her body. He wanted to see the pale pink skin hiding beneath the flimsy fabric that was covering her. Her soft whimpers and moans were nearly his undoing. He had wanted nothing more than to devour her, than to claim her since the time he had made his professions to her. He had thought it best not to push her until she was ready. Let her make the first move, Severus, he reminded himself. He did not want to push her into an intimate relationship when her emotions were already in an uproar. If she came to him, then fine. Otherwise, he would wait.

Hermione completely relaxed into his careful ministrations on her body, and when he finally finished, she leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around to her stomach and softly rubbed her belly before his hands finally stilled when she brought her own hands to rest above his. They sat like that for nearly an hour. Severus thought that she had fallen asleep until he heard her softly say, "Thank you."

"You are welcome," he muttered.

She turned her head up to look at him. "I still think that you're incredibly stubborn."

He raised an eyebrow. "As are you."

She ignored his jibe. "I also still think that you're being unreasonable, Severus."

"I disagree. I am merely looking out for my interests." He kissed the top of her head, and she leaned her head back into his chest.

"I wish you could understand," she murmured. "If you understood, I think you would change your mind that an occasional bath would be beneficial."

"Perhaps, but seeing as how I can not be with child, the chance of me truly understanding is slim. Now, it is getting late, and I have duties that I must attend to."

He slid out from behind her and offered a hand to help her up from her seat. "It is only eight more weeks, Hermione. You will survive. I'm quite certain," he said softly as he kissed her forehead.

Hermione barely realized that she was nodding in reply. Only eight weeks? She walked into her room and shut the door. Tonight, instead of reading aloud to the growing baby, she pulled down all of the Charms books that she had either purchased or borrowed from Professor Flitwick and began researching. There was a charm that could help her. She knew it had to be in there. Though she was quite sure that she could not reverse the charm that Severus placed on the pipes, there was something else that she was looking for.

She searched well into the night and finally found what she was looking for. With a triumphant smile, she put the other books back away on the shelves and reviewed the steps that she needed to take to perform the proper spell. She was now positive that she would be victorious in this battle. She fell into a restless sleep. The backache that had been tormenting her for the last few days was once again growing worse, despite Severus' attentions that evening.

A/N: Sorry that chapter took so long, it wound up being much longer than I had anticipated. Not to mention that HBP was released last weekend. This story will not be abandoned, there are only a couple of chapters left, and I hope to have it all wrapped up soon. Thanks!

Southern's Notes: Dang right it won't be abandoned. LOL...You would be hunted. I'd lead the hunt of course, as I must know what happens to the stubborn arse next.