Chapter 12

Severus stepped out of his fireplace on a Saturday morning in the middle of September. He had the weekend free of duties and had come home to see Hermione and celebrate her birthday a little early. He had his arms full of gifts for his witch and sighed as he let them drop onto the table.

"Hermione? Draco?" He knew he was expected, and he had hoped for a better greeting.

"Severus? You're early!" Hermione came down the stairs as quickly as her body would let her. She envisioned herself jumping into his arms but, instead, could only waddle. "I thought you had to supervise detention this morning!"

Severus pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on her soft lips. "I got out of it. I couldn't wait to see you." He stepped back and looked at Hermione.

"What? What are you looking at?"

"You got bigger? A lot bigger. It's only been three weeks!"

"Hey, no picking on me. I'm very vulnerable at the moment." She pouted as she eased onto the sofa. "Blame it all on Callie; she's a growing girl."

"So are you, apparently." Severus chuckled as she threw a pillow at him.

"I get enough fat jokes from Draco; I don't need them from you. Mosey has decided that she likes me and has been feeding me very well. It's not permanent," she huffed.

"Mosey has decided she likes you because I informed her that you are the Lady of the house. You are no longer considered a house guest in her eyes. I'm sorry I made those comments. You look amazing, but I was just shocked at the changes."

"This should be it for belly growth. According to all the books, I shouldn't get any bigger. I'll just get more miserable."

Severus joined her on the sofa and pulled her to lean against him. "I am so happy to be here with you; I can't even describe it. Those idiot students get dumber every year. I need some intelligent conversation."

Draco joined the couple for lunch as they ate birthday cake and Hermione opened her gifts. It wasn't quite her birthday, but Severus wouldn't be home again until early October. They had a nice afternoon, content to be together and catch up on each other's lives.

***********

"How are things going with Voldemort?" Hermione asked, putting away her gifts before bed.

"The Dark Lord is getting restless. He's not going to wait much longer. He's focusing on Harry now. He hasn't mentioned you for a while. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm not saying you are safe because you aren't. Any opportunity the Death Eaters get to bring you to the Dark Lord, they will take. No doubt about that. I wish I knew how to better protect you." He sighed as he sat down on her bed.

"Better protect me? Severus, you've done everything you could, and I'm safe. You've given me a home, and you've given me love. Nobody would have, could have, done more. You've done your part."

"I feel like there is more I could do. I don't know what that might be, but I'm worried about you."

"Don't worry about me. Sleep in here with me tonight please? I'm not up for anything spectacular, but if you could just be close that would be a nice change."

"Spectacular will have to wait, but of course I'll stay with you. I love you, Hermione."

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

Sunday afternoon, Severus arrived back in McGonagall's office. She was sitting at her desk and appeared to be waiting for him.

"Sit down, Severus. We need to talk," she said, pointing toward a chair. As he sat, she cast a privacy charm. "I don't trust the portraits to hear what we are about to discuss."

"The prophecy?" Severus asked.

"That's part of it. How is Miss Granger?"

"Hermione is doing quite well. Physically she's tired, but she seems to be happy and healthy."

"That's good to hear. What is she doing with her time?"

"Reading, of course. She's read every book on pregnancy available, wizarding and Muggle. She's working on some research projects as well. I'm sure she's a bit bored, but she's been productive."

"And her plan after the baby is born? Your plans?" McGonagall lifted an eyebrow and glared.

"She'll stay at my home after Callina is born. She's safe there."

"You didn't really answer my question. What are your plans regarding the child?"

"I will raise her as my own. If Potter wants to be involved, he can be, but she will be my daughter."

"And your plans regarding Miss Granger?"

"Minerva, what are you getting at?" Severus was becoming frustrated. It was one thing to share his feelings with the woman that he loved; it was quite another to share them with his superior, even if he counted her as a friend.

"Your relationship with Hermione, of course! Severus, I'm not daft. I could see the sparkle in your eye when you returned from summer holiday. You came back to work a happy man."

"It's not any of your business, Minerva, but just to get you off my back, I'll answer. Yes, I plan to pursue a relationship with Hermione. We've grown close."

"Good. That's what I was hoping to hear. You deserve happiness. Now, onto other business. Have you told her about the prophecy?"

"No. I don't plan to either. She doesn't need to know about it."

"I'm not sure about that. If we have interpreted it correctly, you will be placing your life in direct danger. She'll want to know why."

"If I don't survive, you can tell her. If I do survive, I'll tell her. The point is we'll tell her after it's all over, one way or another. I don't want her knowing that Callina has anything to do with the Dark Lord. She'll put too much emotion into it. She needs to remain detached from the situation as much as possible."

"If you think that's best. I'll leave it to you." McGonagall sighed.

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

By the end of September, Hermione was grumpy and bored. "Talk to me, Draco! There's nothing to do!"

"Nothing to do? You can't tell me you've read all those books in the library."

"Of course I haven't, you idiot! It's too uncomfortable to read. My back is aching, and I can't sit still." Hermione was pacing the study while Draco attempted to read.

"Go for a walk then."

"If you haven't noticed, it's raining," Hermione snapped. She felt as if she could crawl out of her skin. Everything felt off.

"Oh, yes, I suppose it is. Go knit some booties or something, whatever it is that you pregnant birds do."

"Knit? You want me to knit? I haven't heard from Severus today, and you expect me to knit? You're an asshole, Draco Malfoy."

"You are a hormonal bitch, Hermione Granger."

Just as Hermione was about to retort to his insults, the fireplace lit up with a green light. Hermione expected Severus, but instead it was Harry's face in the flames. "Malfoy!" he called out.

Draco jumped to his feet and kneeled by the fire. "What's wrong, Potter?"

"It's time. Voldemort is advancing on the castle. If you are going to help me get the piece of the bastard out of me, we need you now."

"I'm on my way." He grabbed the photo from between two books on the mantle and looked at Hermione. "Will you be all right? I hate to leave you alone."

Hermione didn't answer, focusing on the fireplace. "Harry? Where's Severus?"

"I don't know, Hermione. Draco might have to do this alone. I've got to go. Come on, Malfoy." Harry's head disappeared.

"Stay here, Hermione," Draco ordered and then was gone in a flash of light.

Hermione had every intention of following orders. She was one month away from her due date and was not up to any heavy magic. She couldn't go traipsing the castle looking for Severus. She needed to just sit and wait. The men would be home soon. It could all be over tonight. Tomorrow she might be able to walk down the street, out of hiding. She had only been sitting for five seconds before the Gryffindor in her came out and she stepped into the fireplace.

The Headmistress' office was empty. She looked immediately for the sword of Gryffindor and saw that it wasn't in its place. She hoped that Harry had thought to take it with him after leaving the office. She went to the window and could see flashes of light from the windows below.

Wand in hand, she crept out of the office and down the stairs. About halfway down, she knew she was in trouble. Her backache and restlessness was explained as her water broke. Doing her best to ignore it for now, she continued on her way to find Severus and Harry, praying that they would be together and alive. She headed for the Room of Requirement first, thinking that might be a gathering place for the DA. It was empty. She tried to stop and listen for the sounds of battle, but it was eerily silent up on the seventh floor. Climbing slowly down the stairs, trying to ignore the contractions that she was now able to identify, she headed for the nearest classroom. The room was empty. She knew she needed to sit for a moment. Even the strongest woman couldn't completely ignore contractions.

It was there, sitting on a desk, that she realized what was really happening. Her baby was coming. It was early, but the baby should be healthy. She was alone, and she had no idea where anyone was. Reality smacked her, and she knew she was fooling herself if she thought she could fight like this. The pain was extreme, coming every few minutes, much faster than she expected. She knew it might be hours yet, but it didn't mean she was fit for battle. Taking a deep breath, she decided to go to the hospital wing. Even if she was alone in there, she could lay down if needed. Someone would eventually come to help her.

She headed for the door when she heard a voice that sent chills through her bones. The voice was coming from the hallway, so she made her way to the back of the room and tried to shrink behind the large teacher's chair.

"Miss Granger," called a voice. "I've been waiting ages to properly meet you." She peered around the chair and saw evil incarnate. Voldemort himself was gliding toward her, his eyes glowing red and his grotesque face forming a twisted smile.

Hermione tried to hold as still as she could as another contraction hit. She had her wand at the ready. Just as she was about to yell out the killing curse, her wand flew out of her hand and the chair sailed across the room.

"There you are! Pretty little thing for a Mudblood whore." His words were cruel, but the sing-song voice made them worse. "I can see why Severus was so anxious to get you into his bed. Only he hasn't, has he? You see, I've seen the truth, and that child you are carrying belongs to Harry Potter, doesn't it? That changes everything, really. Well, almost everything. You were going to die anyway; now your baby will die with you."

Hermione crawled backwards into a corner, trying to hide her eyes from his evil face. She was shaking from the effort it took to keep quiet during her pain. She knew she was going to die.

"Please, it's Severus' baby. Please, let my baby be born," she said through gritted teeth. Her body convulsed as another contraction hit; they were coming much too fast.

"I see that will be soon. It looks painful. Maybe I'll let you go through labor and let you watch me kill your child."

"No! Please! Kill me, but let my baby live."

Voldemort hissed at her words. That damn mothering instinct again. He'd heard those words before from that Potter woman. He wasn't going to let something as insignificant as love get in his way this time.

"They are all dead, you know. All those precious friends of yours are dead and bleeding all over the castle. Harry is dead. Severus is dead. Those simpleton Weasleys are all dead. Even that damn, young Malfoy is dead, even though I thought I killed him months ago."

Hermione heard his words but felt they weren't true. She somehow knew that Harry was still alive. So was Severus. She felt death in the castle, but she knew it wasn't her loved ones who were dead.

Voldemort sat on a desk appearing like he was trying to decide what to do. Hermione panted as she worked through the pain and yet couldn't give up, couldn't give in. Love wasn't insignificant like Voldemort thought. It was more powerful than anything in this world.

"I love my baby," she said quietly. "She's loved by so many. Severus loves her, Harry loves her, and Ron loves her. Professor McGonagall loves this baby. She's precious and innocent and very loved. Even Draco loves this baby. You should see the nursery he helped Severus put together. I can't wait to rock my little girl in the rocking chair. We'll have a party to welcome her to the world. I'm sure that all of my friends and family will be there to show us their love." Hermione continued to talk, telling Voldemort all the plans she had for her child. She had nothing to lose; she thought if she could keep him from killing her, there might be a chance. She watched as he cringed every time the word love was mentioned. It seemed to be actually painful for him to hear the word.

"I told you they are all dead," he hissed. "It's your turn now. You and your bastard child will die." Voldemort held his wand out and glared at the woman shaking in fear and pain.

Hermione was suddenly thrown backwards by a magical force. She tried to look through the mist and saw what looked like Harry and Severus running into the room. They circled around Voldemort who was laughing evilly.

"Here you go trying to ruin my fun." He turned to Harry. "I almost had her convinced that you were dead. Now, who's the real daddy? Who's going to try to protect the Mudblood?"

"We both will," Severus said through clenched teeth. "And you will be the one to die."

"I cannot die! You see, I've ensured that I will never die. I'll be restored every time. "

"Because of your Horcruxes?" Harry asked.

"What?" Voldemort actually looked surprised. "What do you know about Horcruxes?"

"I know what it's like to destroy them. Let's see, I destroyed your diary in my second year. Dumbledore took out the ring. We've managed to destroy the cup, diadem, and locket. Nagini was just killed in a spectacular move by Neville. That just leaves me."

"How did you. . ." Voldemort trailed off with an actual look of fear in his eyes.

"I'm free of you now too. Can't you tell? Snape and Draco provided some wonderful spell work, all thought up by Hermione. Now that part of you is gone too." Harry's voice was cold. From her place on the floor, Hermione could see the power in his eyes.

Voldemort spun back on Hermione and yelled the killing curse. Hermione heard Severus and Harry yell out at the same time as they moved in front of her. There was a flash of light that temporarily blinded her. She could feel extreme magic in the room, and the floor shook below her. She was sobbing and could hear noise in the room but couldn't see anything. It took a few moments before her vision returned, and during the darkness, she realized that Severus and Harry had sacrificed themselves for her.