Breaking News

Big hugs of thanks must go to Madbrilliant and Alliean for the beta of this chapter!

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Chapter 18 - Breaking News

A gasp rung through the room, and then for a brief moment, the entire room was eerily silent, until the sound of heavy breathing once more filled the air.

Hermione had sat up in bed suddenly, first gasping, then unable to breathe, and finally, breathing once more except more roughly than she had been earlier when her sleep was peaceful. Every now and then she would be taunted by bad dreams of all the times when she was scared or hurt or alone. She hadn't really had any dreams like that since being with Severus, but they were coming back to her more and more in the past week or so. She glanced over at the clock on the nightstand beside Severus and her bed, which read as a quarter past three. It was early.

She slid out of the bed quickly and padded to the bathroom, using the loo and then standing at the sink, spending a lot longer than usual washing her hands. She washed her sweaty face, and toweled it off before walking back to the bedroom. Severus had shifted over to lie facing the bathroom door, and it was only then that she realised he had his eyes open, although still sleepy. Slipping back between then sheets, she snuggled back against him.

'You had another bad dream, didn't you?' he asked softly.

She nodded against his chest and sighed. 'No putting anything past you, is there?' she replied with a hint of teasing in her voice.

'Love, could it be that you are sleeping poorly because you are nervous about the revelation of our marriage and pregnancy to your friends later today?' he asked carefully, knowing how temperamental she could be with the hormones and all. 'Because I don't think you really need to worry all too much about that.'

'I'm a little worried about how the Weasleys are going to take it,' Hermione answered honestly. 'It's mostly Molly and Ron that I am worried about though.'

'Molly I think I can understand,' Severus replied, kissing the top of her head. 'She was like a mother to you, and loves you like her own daughter. However, I do not understand how this should affect their youngest son.'

'Ron has always been a little sore about my breaking things of with him after the war,' she replied softly.

'His jealousy is irrational. He has moved on and married already, so I do not see how he should have any claim over my wife,' Severus said, a hint of disdain in his voice. He really didn't like Ronald Weasley at all.

'I know, but you know he still has a lot of growing up to do,' Hermione reasoned, looping her arms around Severus' neck and pulling him down for a kiss.

When she pulled away, he was smiling at her slightly before he wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes again. 'Go back to sleep now, love,' he murmured softy. 'We have a big day ahead of us with the Weasleys and the Order, and you'll need all of the energy you can store.'

Hermione nodded, yawned, and stretched a little before settling back into Severus and closing her eyes. She fell asleep almost instantly, suddenly tired from the stress of the dream and the following short conversation with her husband. Later, when she woke up, she was alone in the bed, and the curtains were opened, which meant that Severus was already up and dressed. He tried to stay in with her most mornings, except for those on which he had hall duty himself. Even as Headmaster, he liked to delegate himself some menial tasks to take some of the stress off the other professors. Besides, Hermione knew how much he still liked to torment students.

She stretched fully before climbing out of bed and heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. When she came out, she dressed in charcoal grey trousers, a white blouse and a navy coloured sweater before slipping her black teaching robes over the top. She exited her and Severus' shared chambers into his office and then walked down the revolving staircase into the hall. It was just about time for breakfast, which meant that the majority of the student populace were already roaming the halls and heading towards the Great Hall to eat.

Hermione figured she'd just meet her husband there instead of going in search for him and joined the sea of people moving in that direction. The students were all still looking at her as though she had gone completely mad, or as if she was the coolest and bravest woman alive. It had only been two days since the announcement of their marriage, however, so she understood. Being a Saturday, the students were all in free dress and were chatting loudly and walking leisurely.

'Hello, Professor!' exclaimed a cheerful voice from near her, and she then saw the little Gryffindor girl – Megan Cabot – approach her.

'Hello, Megan,' she replied with a genuinely happy smile.

'Are you well this morning, Professor?' she asked brightly. 'And how is the other Professor Snape too?' she added, not seeming at all phased by the fact that her Head of House had married a Slytherin Headmaster.

'The Headmaster is very well, as am I,' Hermione answered kindly. 'Thank you very much for asking. And how have you been so far this term?'

'I have been super!' the girl said excitedly. 'I passed everything so far! I hear that there is going to be a big party around Valentine's Day too! Is that true?'

Hermione laughed softly and nodded as they walked into the Great Hall. 'Indeed, the other professors are planning for there to be a big feast and to have a slightly extended curfew so that there is a little dance held afterwards,' she said with a slight smile. 'It won't be anywhere near as big as the Yule Ball, and we won't be inviting anyone from the Ministry this time.'

'That sound like fun,' Megan said. 'Well, see you later, Professor Snape!'

And with that parting goodbye, she rushed off to join her fellow first years at the Gryffindor table. The young girl that she had gotten to know a little better over the Christmas holiday surprised Hermione once more. She had no idea how anyone who had lost all of their family could be so cheerful and carefree. Shaking her head, she went to the staff table and took her seat beside her husband.

'Have a nice sleep in?' he asked with a smirk.

'Yes, it was very nice,' she replied with a grin as she helped herself to a rather generous serving of fruit and toast.

'We'll leave straight after breakfast,' he murmured quietly. 'Filius and Poppy have agreed to keep an eye on things here for a few hours.'

Hermione nodded and dug straight into her food with enthusiasm that did not go unnoticed by the staff members. Once they were both finished, they stood from the table and nodded to Filius, who smiled and gestured for them to move along, and they left the hall arm in arm. Severus held her hand as they walked back up to his office, and he tossed some Floo Powder in. They Flooed to Grimmauld Place and were thankfully only greeted by Ginny Potter.

'Everyone is down in the kitchen waiting,' Ginny said in hushed tones. 'They were all really annoying and questioning everything – Mum was the worst.'

'I suppose we were expecting something like this,' Hermione replied with a sigh. 'I haven't been able to sleep well for days.'

'I think everyone will be okay with it, except... well, he would be the same about anyone else, but I think Severus is going to be his least favourite choice...'

'Ronald Weasley was already partially aware that I have feelings for Hermione, so therefore he should not have a problem,' Severus said firmly.

'Ron doesn't work that way,' Ginny explained. 'It takes a lot of time for things to sink in with him.'

Severus only nodded, and the three of them left the sitting room and moved into the hall before opening the kitchen door. They could hear conversations floating up the staircase as they walked down towards where the group was gathered. As soon as they reached the bottom and Ginny cleared her throat loudly, all conversation screeched to a halt, and the room was deathly silent. Hermione could feel her stomach doing back flips, and her palms became a little clammy in her nervousness.

'Hello, all, I am really glad you could come here today,' she started off, stammering a little as she did.

'Would you get to the point of this meeting, girl?' demanded Mad-Eye Moody rudely, making Severus take a step forward menacingly, but he was instantly stopped by Hermione with a hand on his forearm.

'I'm sorry if this is inconveniencing you in any way,' she said a little more steadily, glad to be able to touch Severus, even if it was to stop him from attacking someone. 'I just figured that asking everyone here would avoid upsetting people because I had forgotten to tell them,' she continued. 'I wanted everyone to know that I got married last Sunday... and I'm guessing that I won't need to tell you who I married.'

The room was silent once more, and there air was thick with contention. The first person to do anything was Tonks, who stood up and went straight to Hermione, giving her a hug and standing beside her in a fierce show of support.

'Congratulations, both of you,' she whispered.

Molly, who had looked extremely shocked to begin with, was now openly glaring at Severus, who was standing with a ramrod straight back and not favoring her with any sort of look. Hermione had not expected everyone to be so silent. Moody stood up from his seat and began walking towards the door.

'Good on you,' he said in a friendly, yet gruff way, before leaving.

Arthur was smiling at the pair of them while simultaneously looking apologetic for the way his wife was looking at them. Ron, who was standing up the back of the room with his wife Julia, was frowning in distaste, his arms folded across his chest. Hermione had expected no less from him. He still felt slighted by her, and marrying Severus was the worst person she could have replaced him with. While Hermione did not feel she had replaced him at all, she knew Ron's mind.

Molly then stood and walked briskly towards the stairs out of the kitchen, stopping only briefly before Severus. 'She is young enough to be your daughter,' she said coldly. 'She could have been...'

'What Molly? Married to your son? How unlikely,' Severus sneered. 'Might I remind you that you are doing a grave injustice to your daughter-in-law, Julia, by even thinking such?'

The Weasley matron huffed and then stormed off on her short legs, her shoes clicking angrily against the floor as she left. Arthur followed soon after, apologizing quickly as he did, and Ron soon dragged a rather sad Julia out after them. Oddly enough, the twins were of no such mind as Molly or Ron, and congratulated them heartily. Everyone else seemed to be rather thrilled about the prospect. And when the pregnancy was brought to life, all of the females crowded around asking questions.

The day had had a sad result, but all in all, if they truly loved Hermione, Molly and Ron would certainly change their minds.