Chapter 11

Before Hermione knew it, August had arrived, and she had hit her seventh month of pregnancy. She was feeling pretty well, although she was definitely moving slower than normal. Draco had made fun of her for waddling a bit. He had become the pesky brother she'd never had. They enjoyed pushing each other's buttons, and they were constantly being reprimanded by Severus, who couldn't seem to allow anyone to have too much fun in his presence these days.

His change in mood was due to school starting again soon. He'd had the best summer in recent memories thanks to his house guests, and he'd done some of the best work of his life. The fact that he'd fallen in love, couldn't tell her, and had to leave her to go back to work was weighing heavily. They hadn't discussed what would happen when he had to return to Hogwarts, but he only had two days to talk to her about it. The staff was due back, and he had to keep his position. He was back in Voldemort's good graces for some unknown reason and was in attendance at most of his gatherings. He had repeatedly told the Dark Lord that he would hand over Hermione as soon as the baby was born, but it was all a lie. There was no way he was going to allow her to be put in danger. He was just glad to be kept in the loop again.

"Hermione?" he called as he walked into the library. "Are you in here?"

"Down here," a soft voice called out. "Behind the sofa."

"Hermione!" Severus rushed behind the couch to find her lying on the floor, a pillow propped under her knees and head and a book balanced on her stomach. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. My back was aching, so I thought that if I were to lie on a hard surface it would help."

"Did it?"

"Yes, it did actually. I'm ready to get up. Can you help me?"

Severus chuckled as he helped her struggle to her feet. She was so petite that her large stomach seemed foreign on her body. She rubbed her back as she stood. "Now I'm just stiff." She waddled over to the sofa and sat down gently.

"Here, let's try what Poppy taught us." Severus leaned back against the side of the sofa and pulled Hermione's arm to get her to scoot back against him. She leaned back and sighed at the touch. He was always so gentle with her, and even though he refused to make love to her, his hands completely turned her on. He massaged her lower back and up through her shoulders. As his hands skimmed her hips, she grabbed them and pulled them over her stomach, linking her fingers with his.

"I can't take much more," Hermione whispered, her voice husky. "You have no idea what you do to me."

"I do know because you do the same to me." His voice was as husky as hers, and he slightly shifted his hips so she could feel the immediate erection he got as soon as she settled into his arms.

"Why aren't we acting on our feelings? I know I'm fat, but I'm still a woman."

"It has nothing to do with how you look, which is amazing by the way. You are more beautiful every day, and I find your body incredibly erotic, but it's just not safe for us."

"I'm safe with you. I feel safe with you."

"When I take you as mine, and I fully intend to, I won't be able to hide my feelings from anyone, let alone hide them from the Dark Lord. If he thinks I've betrayed him by falling in love with you, I won't be able to protect you because I will be dead."

Hermione froze at his words. She tried to turn to face him, but he held her steady. "You love me?" Her voice was shaky as she asked.

"Merlin help me, I do. I tried not to, but I do." Severus leaned forward and pressed his lips to her neck. "You mean the world to me and I can't lose you. I've shut my feelings off for so long, but I've never felt like this. I know you probably don't feel the same about a mean old man, and that's all right."

"Oh, Severus, I do feel the same. At least I think I do. I'm young, but I'm not immature. I've been trying to convince myself otherwise, but it's true. I'm completely in love with you." He allowed her to shift her body this time, and she looked deep into his eyes. "Promise me you will make me yours someday, like you said. Please, Severus."

"You will be mine." He angled his head toward hers and captured her lips in a heated kiss. Lips pressed, hands wandered, and tongues tangled as they showed each other how they felt.

"Oh! My eyes!" Draco stood in the open doorway. "It was bad enough to know you shagged but now snogging? In public? It's just so wrong!"

Hermione started laughing and seconds later, Severus joined her.

"This is hardly public, Draco, and you'd better get used to it." Hermione giggled.

"If you are going to continue to live in our home, you might want to invest in some blinders, son." Severus chuckled.

"Disgusting!" he called as he stomped up the stairs.

Severus didn't notice that Hermione was looking at him strangely until he turned away from the door. "What?"

"You said 'our' home."

"Yes, it's our home, Hermione. If you want it. I know it's isolated right now, but after Voldemort is gone, we'll tear down the front and open it to your friends and family. We'll make a proper home if you want it."

"And the baby?" she whispered, finally bringing up something she had purposely avoided talking about.

"What about her? She'll love growing up here. You'll be a fantastic mother."

"And you? What will you be?" she continued to whisper, her voice seeming too loud for such a delicate conversation.

"I never thought I would be a father, and I'm not sure how horribly I'll mess it up, but I will try. I'll be her father, Hermione. I already love her. If in time, Harry wants to take that role, I'll let him, but I'm going to be there for her, as long as I live."

"Oh, Severus!" Hermione threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. "Thank you." Tears were flowing freely, and she hiccupped a little as she sniffled.

"I came in here to find you for another reason, you know. I had no plans of confessing my feelings toward you or our baby."

"I like the way that sounds. 'Our baby.' So what was the real reason you came looking for me?"

"I think you should stay here when I leave. We haven't talked about where you would go, but I don't feel that Hogwarts is safe for you anymore. You can stay here with Draco, and he can come get me at any time. Poppy can come here to deliver Callie when the time comes. I'll be here too, of course."

"I was thinking the same thing. I'm comfortable here; I don't want to move again. I just hate to be away from you."

"I'll check on you every day through the Floo. I'll come home the weekends I'm not on duty, and after this is all over and Voldemort is dead, you and Callie can live with me at the school if you want to."

"If I'm staying here, I'm going to need a few more supplies. I need nappies for the baby, and I should probably get a bassinette or something. Some pretty pink clothes maybe. If you could get some money out of my vault, maybe Molly could go shopping for me?"

"I'm sure she'd be delighted. I do have a surprise for you though. Come upstairs." He took Hermione by the hand and helped her up the stairs. As they came to the beginning of the hallway, he pointed his wand at the doorway that had been locked for a couple of months. Hermione heard the lock click open, and Severus opened the door. As Hermione stepped through, she thought she had stepped into a fantasy. A pink fantasy.

Hermione looked around the room that had been transformed into a nursery. The walls were painted a very soft pink. A large white crib stood in the corner and was filled with dolls of all shapes and sizes. There was a rocking chair padded in pink and a changing table stocked with at least a month's supply of nappies. A bookshelf filled one wall, and in it she quickly recognized children's books that she had loved as a child. On top of the bookshelf was a child's size broom on a glass stand. The closet was open, and in it were rows of pink clothes.

"What . . . ? How . . . ? You did this?" She turned toward the open doorway where Severus had been joined by a grinning Draco.

"I had help from Draco here," Severus admitted. "Molly did the shopping for the clothes, bedding, and blankets. Minerva supplied the books. Draco and I painted and put the furniture together. Harry, Ron, and Ginny sent the little broom. Ginny wanted you to have a proper baby shower, but it just isn't safe. We'll have something after. I hope it's what you wanted."

"It's more than I ever knew I wanted. It's perfect! Everything a little girl could want or need is in this room, including her parents and her Uncle Draco. Thank you both so much. I--I don't know what to say."

"You've said enough." Draco smirked. Hermione punched him on the arm and grabbed him in a fierce hug. He was slightly uncomfortable with her display of affection and pulled back.

Hermione then turned her attention on Severus. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to meet her in another kiss, sweet and tender. As he wrapped himself around her, neither heard Draco's words of disgust or his slammed door.

**************

Hermione woke up in the middle of the night and looked at her clock. It was shortly after midnight. She hadn't been asleep that long and knew she was anxious about Severus going back to work. He was leaving in the morning, and she would be alone with Draco. That didn't worry her; she just knew she was going to miss him. Every time she thought of him and his kisses she had a physical reaction. There was a burn and an ache. She wanted him. She wanted sex. She climbed out of bed and walked to the window, opening it for some cool air to soothe her burning skin.

Realizing that no amount of cool air was going to soothe the ache she was feeling, she quietly left her room. She moved across the hall and opened the door to Severus' room looking at his sleeping form. He looked peaceful. She knew that she had to move now or it might forever be too late. Every separation felt like it could be the last time. She laughed to herself as she realized that she was apparently quite turned on by high risk situations. She pulled off her t-shirt and stood completely naked. She closed the door behind her with a click that woke the sleeping man.

"What? Hermione, are you all right?" He'd been able to recognize her, but he hadn't quite processed her lack of clothes.

"I want you," she told him. "I need you. Tonight."

"Hermione, are you sleepwalking?" It was then that his eyes adjusted enough to see her body. "Oh, shit," he muttered.

"I'm wide awake." She moved toward him, trying to look seductive at seven months pregnant. She got to the bed and pulled back the blankets. Looking at his tented pajama pants, she smirked. "You're awake too."

"What are you doing? We talked about this." Severus tried to protest but knew that it was futile; his body had reacted as soon as he recognized she was naked. She climbed onto the bed and straddled his thighs. Her movements were awkward, but she was determined to get what she wanted.

"You love me, right?" she asked as she started massaging his rigid cock.

"I do love you, but . . ." His words were stopped by a groan as he responded to her movements.

"And I love you. I want to be with you before you leave for school and I get too big for this. I know this is a bit odd, having our first time together with me seven months pregnant, but I'm going to miss you, and I want something to think about while you're gone." She continued her movements, feeling bolder than she ever had before. Molly was right; pregnancy caused modesty to go right out the window. "I'll leave if you really don't want this."

"Gods, Hermione, I want you so much." He groaned as he sat up to pull her in for a kiss. He ran his hands across her stomach and cupped her heavy breasts. She arched back as he moved his lips over one of her ultra-sensitive nipples. "You are so beautiful."

Hermione moaned in reply. She appreciated his tender caresses and kisses, but she didn't want to wait. "I need you. Now," she insisted as she positioned herself above his cock.

"You have me," he whispered as she lowered herself onto him. He moaned in pleasure as he felt himself slide into her. "You set the pace, love; you're in control."

Hermione barely registered his words as she rocked her hips over him. She felt awkward and clumsy, but completely full and satisfied. She continued to move, trying to take him as deep as she could. Her hands grasped at his shoulders while he held on to her hips.

Eventually, he couldn't stand it anymore and started to move with her. He thought he could be passive, allowing her to do what was comfortable, but he was shattered the moment she started moving. He'd never mixed sex and love before, and his mind was gone. It wasn't long before she went over the edge, arching her back and tightening around him. She screamed out his name as she came and brought him with her. He pumped into her quickly before emptying himself on a moan. She stayed straddling him while she caught her breath and finally dared to look him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know you wanted to wait."

"Never be sorry for this, my love. I could have protested a bit louder. Besides, it was amazing and perfect. Come. Lay down with me." He scooted over, allowing her to climb off and lay down next to him. He spooned into her back and reached an arm over to rest on her belly. With a bit of wandless magic, the blankets covered them, and he pulled her tight.

"No regrets?"

"None. I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too." They had just settled into each other's arms when the bedroom door burst open. With wide eyes, they looked at an extremely angry Draco Malfoy.

"Two words," he hissed. "Silencing charms!" The door closed once more, and they were engulfed in darkness. Both were silent for a few moments before they started to giggle, which turned into laughter and eventually just smiles as they fell asleep.