Chapter 7

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Chapter 7 - Begetting an Heir

Summer was at its peak, and the sun shone brightly over the Hogwarts grounds, sending crystal reflections of light over the lake. Meanwhile, Hermione was in her chambers with a bag on her bed and her cupboards open all over the room. The day before, Severus had announced that they should go on holiday, and she had agreed happily. And so they had made plans to go to Milan, Italy for a couple of days before heading to Katerini on the coast of Greece for a week.

She had been delighted when she had discovered that he actually had a house there that overlooked the port and oceanfront. And to make the whole thing even more appealing, he had made reservations for them in a lovely hotel while in Milan, where they would be able to leave to briefly view both Muggle and Wizarding Italian culture. She had already packed the clothes she would be taking and only had to collect a few of her books for their longer stay in Greece.

She heard a knock on her bedroom door and turned to see her husband standing in the doorway with a small smile curving his lips. She went to him then, as she had become quite used to doing, and wrapped her arms around him, she kissed him tenderly. 'Hello, Severus. Are you ready?' she asked.

'Yes, are you?' he replied, releasing her from his hold.

She waved her wand and summoned her books to her and levitated them into the suitcase, closing the top before turning back to him. 'I am now,' she answered, shrinking the bag and depositing it into the pocket of her jeans like it was no more than a slip of paper.

'Do you want to leave then?' he asked with a smile, holding a hand out to her.

'I think that'll do,' she said, taking his hand and allowing him to lead them out of her rooms hand-in-hand. They walked down to the Entrance Hall and were quite surprised to find Minerva and Filius Flitwick standing by the Oak front doors, both dressed in comfortable summer clothes. A sight Hermione was not sure she wanted imprinted into her memory.

'Minerva, Filius, what are you doing here?' Hermione asked, taking her hand from Severus'.

'We are traveling to France with the rest of the staff for a couple of weeks, and by the looks of it, you two are off on holiday also,' Minerva commented.

Severus, who had remained quiet thus far, and was probably quite a surprising sight to his colleagues in simple black trousers and a partially unbuttoned white shirt tucked neatly into them with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, spoke up. 'We are going to Milan, and then OUR house in Katerini for a while,' he responded smoothly.

'Pardon, Severus, but did you just say OUR?' Filius squeaked, eyeing the two of them curiously.

'Why, yes, I did,' he answered, taking Hermione swiftly by the hand and whisking them out of the Great Hall.

He left behind an extremely stunned Flitwick and a chuckling Minerva. Hermione smiled at him as they walked along, holding his hand tightly and wondering why she had ever had objections to marrying this wonderful, wonderful man. And although they slept in the same bed most nights, they still had one last task to undertake until they would officially come together as husband and wife. That thought made her shiver with desire, but she had to contain herself until they were alone that night.

Once at the Apparation point, Severus wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled, but his eyes were asking her if she trusted him. Hermione could only nod and smile as she closed her eyes and pillowed her cheek in the juncture of his shoulder and neck. They Disapparated away, and when Hermione opened her eyes, they were standing in the middle of a dark, seemingly unused, cobbled alleyway.

Just beyond it, the light of the morning sun could be seen peeking through the not-yet-crowded streets. 'Severus, this place is entirely too amazing,' Hermione said, awed at the picture presented to her.

'I thought we could consider this as our belated honeymoon of sorts. What do you think?' he commented, slightly anxious to hear her answer.

'I think you are the most wonderful husband a girl could ask for,' she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hard on the mouth. When she pulled back, a lazy smile stole across his features, and he released his hold on her, gesturing for her to lead the way out. 'This is truly a dream come true. Who would have thought that the snarky Potions professor could be so romantic?'

'No-one would believe you, my dear,' he said with a chuckle as he followed her into the rays of that glorious sunlight.

'True that,' she teased, taking him by the hand once more.

Snape led the rest of the way to the hotel, and once they arrived, Hermione saw just how much of an expense Severus would go to just for her when they viewed their room. It was huge, with a sitting room, bedroom with all the furnishings and a king-size four-poster bed, and the deluxe bathroom. He had really not spared any expenditure in this area.

Come to think of it, Hermione had never believed he even cared too much about money at all and seemed to always provide more than well for them both. Somehow she felt guilty letting him buy her everything she ever dreamed of, but then again, he had never complained of being short of funds, so she let him indulge.

'This – I don't believe I have ever been in more beautiful a room in my entire life,' she said softly, looking up at him adoringly.

'It's all for you,' he replied, cupping her cheek in his hand and leaning his forehead against hers.

She smiled and felt the tears brimming in her eyes, one breaking free and sliding down her cheek only to drip onto one of Severus' hands. He leaned in and kissed her tears away before capturing her lips in a gentle kiss, letting her deepen it at her own leisure, lest he scare her off by taking it too far. She gently sucked on his bottom lip, tentatively begging for entrance with the insistent prodding of the tip of her tongue. Allowing her this liberty, he snapped and hungrily devoured her mouth, probing it and tasting her sweet, innocent lips.

When he broke away, they were flushed and panting, desperate for breath after the most intense kiss they had ever shared. Once she had caught her breath, Hermione gave him no more time to think before her lips met his again. This time, their hands wandered paths over their clothed bodies, mapping and memorizing, and Hermione only pulled away for a second.

'Severus, I want to continue this, but I need to know...' she said breathlessly.

'What is it you want to know, dearest heart?' he asked softly, stroking up and down her back gently and tracing small circles. 'Ask me anything.'

She worried her bottom lip for a second in decision before she took the plunge and took a deep breath to deliver the question. 'Do you love me?'

He smiled at that. A month ago, he would have had to think on that while he contemplated trying to figure out a way just to talk to Hermione. But right then and there, he knew only one thing. He loved her, more than he could have ever thought possible.

'Yes, Hermione, my lovely, wonderful wife. I love more than you will ever be able to comprehend,' he said silkily, and leaning to whisper, he added, 'And you comprehend quite a lot, I might add.'

She giggled at his humor and kissed him soundly on the lips. 'I do love you, Severus,' she said to him with adoration shining in her eyes. 'I don't believe I could have ever thought otherwise.'

He smiled at that and scooped her off her feet and into his arms, carrying her towards the bedroom. 'Well now, don't you think it's about time we think about completing the final clause in our marriage contract?' he asked.

'And what might that be, love?' Hermione asked with an impish grin.

'The reproductive act of course,' he said plainly, smiling at her with smug triumph. 'And I do believe we are just the perfect two for such a thing.'

'I couldn't agree more, love,' she murmured as he deposited her on the bed.

It was a good two hours before Hermione and Severus were finally exhausted by their activities and were slumped over each other beneath the silk sheets of the large hotel bed. Hermione's arm was draped across his naked chest, and one of her legs was thrown over him in the same fashion, and he had his arms wrapped around her possessively. A contented smiled played over his lips as they slumbered, witch and wizard, feeling better then than they ever had before.

'I love you, Severus,' she mumbled almost incoherently.

'And I you, my dearest heart, and I you...' he said as they joined each other in restful and dreamless sleep.