XXVI

AN: Huge thanks to both Keladry and Sun for their help with this chapter. All mistakes are my own, but without their help, there would be a whole mess more than there currently are.

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Monday morning came too quickly for both Hermione and Severus. They'd spent what felt like the majority of Sunday traipsing through brush and nettle in the Forbidden Forest looking for mooncalf droppings and lacewing colonies. They had ultimately been successful, but only after they'd each lost their temper once (Hermione) or twice (Severus). Hermione decided on the walk back to the castle that ingredient hunting was something Severus could do on his own from then on.

The rest of the day had been spent much more pleasantly, however. They'd stolen into one of the prefect's bathrooms and luxuriated in the water and each other's bodies. Afterwards, they retreated to Severus' rooms for a private dinner. That part of the day had been as wonderful and relaxing as Hermione had anticipated.

But Monday eventually came, and with it, the stress of reality. Hermione realized as she woke up to Severus' phone alarm that she needed a shower and a change of clothes before class. Severus was reluctant to let her go, but it didn't take long before she was through the Floo and on her way to class; the certain threat of public humiliation was a great motivator. Hurrying, she made it to Arithmancy with nearly a minute to spare.

She set her books down on the desk beside Teddy's and chirped out a good morning. She was somewhat concerned when his reply was monosyllabic and chilly, but she didn't get the chance to ask what was wrong before the bell rang and Vector hustled into the room, her arms full of rolls of parchments, which she immediately started handing out.

"Good morning, class! Here are last week's essays back to you, and I must congratulate you on the progress you are making. It's a pleasure to see you thoroughly integrating logic and magic into a seamless talent after all your years of hard work."

She dropped a roll of parchment onto Hermione's desk without a glance. Hermione eagerly unrolled the essay and nearly choked when she saw a large "D" at the top.

"Only one essay did not meet the requirements I set out, so brava to all of you! At this rate, I think most of you will be very well prepared for your NEWT come June."

Hermione listened in stunned silence as she watched Vector wind through the room, bestowing her normal smiles and winks to everyone but her. Even though she had determined that Vector's behavior wasn't worth wasting energy on, she couldn't help feeling like she'd been stabbed in the heart, nor could she stop the burning sensation from overtaking her eyes.

A nudge in the ribs broke her trance, and she looked over at Teddy.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, watching her with concern. Hermione unrolled the parchment enough to show her grade and was gratified when Teddy hissed with outrage.

"She's taken this too far," he whispered fiercely. "You need to report this."

Hermione shook her head. Although she was outraged, she didn't think it warranted reporting Vector. Yet. She would talk to Vector first. Find out what the reason was behind the grade. If the reason was unjust and Vector wasn't willing to remedy it, then she'd report her. Even with Vector's attitude shift, she couldn't help but feel that there must have been some mistake.

Class went by in blur of mixed emotions and note taking; she couldn't get the heartache to go away, nor could she quite come up with a reasonable explanation for Vector making such a mistake. The guidelines had been clear, and Hermione had put in at least 100% effort, if not quite her normal 150%. She knew the material. She knew she'd written at least an "E"s worth essay. Unless someone had switched her paper for theirs, she knew she didn't deserve a failing grade.

Not surprisingly, she was more than ready for class to end when the bell finally rang. She was hurriedly packing away her books and supplies when Teddy grabbed her by the wrist.

"Hermione, you know you don't deserve that grade, right? I read through your essay, and I can't think of a single reason to give it less than an "O." You need to report this."

Hermione shook her head. "I know it's an unfair grade, and I am not going to just let it pass, but I want to know her reasoning before I report her. She might be willing to concede she made a mistake."

"And will you do this for every paper you have to hand in for the rest of the year? Because you know it's just going to get worse."

"I am going to talk to her, Teddy. I am not going to just roll over and let her have her way with my grades, but before I report her, I need to know why she's doing this. Reporting her is the last resort."

Teddy shook his head in disapproval, but patted her shoulder in support. "Have it your way. Just be sure to let everyone know where you're going when you do talk to her, so if you go missing, we'll know who to question."

Hermione grinned. "Well, I was planning on talking with her now, actually," she said, looking around the empty classroom, frowning when she noticed that Vector was gone as well. "Assuming she isn't hiding from me, that is."

"If I were her, I would hide."

"Gee, thanks. But now you know. If I don't show up for lunch or any of my afternoon classes, alert the WWN."

Teddy grinned. "My lady's wish is my command."

Teddy then ran off to get to his next class on time, leaving Hermione looking around the bare room. Vector had tidied up particularly quickly.

Shrugging, she made her way to Vector's office and knocked on the door. After three minutes of knocking without an answer, Hermione assumed Vector either wasn't inside or was actively avoiding her. She would need to take the professor by surprise – after the last class of the day seemed as good a time as any. That way, she reasoned, she'd have time to quell her emotions a bit and look through her essay. It was always better to be prepared, after all.

Thus reassuring herself that she was not running away but was merely doing a strategic withdrawal, she headed for the library, prepared to write a convincing argument for a passing grade.

XXX

As she put her quill down, finally satisfied with what she'd written, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up, she was somewhat surprised to find Ginny standing there.

"How about we have lunch away from the others today?" Ginny asked.

Hermione looked at Ginny, concerned, but pleased. "Sure. Do you have a plan?"

"Meet you in the fifth-floor nook in ten minutes?"

"Sounds good."

Ginny hurried off, probably for the kitchens, and Hermione gathered all of her things, wondering what was wrong this time. It didn't take the requested ten minutes to get to the nook, but Ginny was already there, laying out a very nice looking spread.

"What's the occasion?" Hermione asked, dumping her bookbag on the floor and kneeling by the roasted chicken.

"The usual," Ginny replied curtly.

"Harry is being a pain in the arse and you don't want to talk to him?" Hermione guessed.

"Right in one."

"Do you need an ear or just company?"

"I think company just now, thanks."

Hermione shifted to sit down properly. "Not a problem, love."

They both filled their plates, though Hermione noticed after a few minutes that Ginny was only picking at her food. When her friend didn't eat her chocolate eclair, Hermione couldn't keep her concern to herself any longer.

"Okay, Gin, something's obviously wrong, and it has to be serious if you're spurning the eclairs. So talk."

Ginny looked down at the eclair she'd been mutilating and laughed weakly.

"Thing is, it's not serious. I guess all the little things are adding up and... What's bothering me the most is that I know it's not Harry's fault, not most of it, but I can't help but be mad at him. That and I just haven't felt like myself lately and it's driving me nuts." She put what used to be the eclair down on the plate and wiped her fingers off. "What's far more serious than any of that, though, is that I don't want to even think about eating that eclair."

Hermione laughed. "Maybe you're pregnant," she joked.

Ginny turned deathly white. "Oh Circe!"

"I was just joking. I mean, surely you've been using birth control of some sort, right?"

"Of course we have! I don't let Harry near me without a spell or three. But it would explain so many things and... Oh, Merlin, Hermione, what if I am?"

Hermione could see Ginny was working herself into a fit and thought it would be better to cut it off at the pass.

"If the thought scares you this much, why don't you go to Madam Pomfrey and find out? If you've been using birth control, the chances are slim that you are."

As she said that, she realized with a sinking feeling that she and Severus hadn't been using protection.

"Tell you what. I'll go with you and get tested as well."

"There's no need for you to embarrass yourself like that just for me. But you're right. That can't be what's wrong."

Ginny still looked frightened, though. Hermione waved her wand and packed up the picnic.

"Come on. Let's go."

Ginny agreed reluctantly. "Right."

They walked at a snail's pace to the infirmary and checked in with Poppy, who was busy with a herd of Hufflepuff boys.

"I'll be right with you, dears," she called after giving them a sharp-eyed once over.

The girls sat down on a nearby bed. Hermione looked around the familiar room while Ginny studied her shoes.

"Do you honestly think you're pregnant?" Ginny asked very quietly.

Hermione waved her wand to soundproof their conversation. She didn't need any more rumors following her around.

"I don't feel pregnant, but then, I don't know what I would feel like when pregnant. My mum didn't realize she was pregnant with me until she was three months gone and then only because she had to have a medical exam prior to going to Zaire. But well, I could be pregnant." She paused and admitted quietly, "It seems more of a possibility for me than for you as we haven't been careful at all."

She bit her lip, but Ginny just smirked. "Been having fun, have you?"

Hermione blushed. "A bit, yes."

"Good. It would be horrible to be married to someone like Snape only to find out he was shit in bed."

Hermione snorted, even as her blush darkened. "It would be. Fortunately..."

"Yes." Ginny grinned. "Fortunately..."

They giggled, though Hermione stopped short when she heard the bell.

"Oh no! Lunch is over!"

"You'd better run, then."

"What about you? I don't want to just leave you here all alone!"

Ginny smiled. "Don't worry about me. It looks like Madam Pomfrey is finishing up, and then it'll be a quick embarrassing tic before she tells me it's all a false alarm. Besides which, I'd rather you not be here for that, anyway."

"You sure?"

Ginny nodded. "You would just make me nervous being all twitchy about missing class."

Hermione smiled wryly. She hugged Ginny, then canceled the privacy spell.

"You'll find me after class?"

"Yes. Now go!"

So Hermione went. She ran to class and managed to be only one minute late. She was amused to see Teddy wilt with relief – she had thought he'd been joking. With a quick apology to Flitwick, she rushed to her seat next to a disgruntled looking Harry and tried to put all thoughts of pregnancy behind her.

After class, Hermione looked for Ginny, but she wasn't in any of her usual haunts. Deciding that it would probably be best to let Ginny come to her, she set off for her room to drop off her books before heading up to corner professor Vector. When she got to her room, however, she noticed the wards were down. Wand in hand, she slowly entered her room, on guard for any kind of attack. She wasn't expecting to see Ginny curled up on the settee, fast asleep.

Sheathing her wand, Hermione shut the door behind herself. As she neared her friend, she noticed signs that Ginny had been crying.

"Oh dear," she whispered, looking on with sympathy. All thoughts of confronting Vector fled as she tried to figure out how best to help her friend. She Accioed a blanket to spread over her friend and then dithered for a bit on whether to wake her up or not. She eventually decided against it. She'd always heard that pregnant women needed their rest. Picking a book from her bag, she settled down on the floor in front of the settee ready for several hours of work. It turned out, however, that Ginny's nap was almost over, as she started stirring only a few minutes later.

Hermione closed her book and moved to where she could see and touch Ginny. Stroking her hair, she whispered a faint "hey" as Ginny's eyes fluttered open. It took Ginny a moment to remember everything, but when she did, she immediately started crying.

"What do I do now, Hermione?" she wailed. "I don't want to be a mother yet! I don't want to have a baby!"

Hermione sat in the middle of Ginny's fetal curl and continued to stroke the red hair, making gentle shushing sounds as she did so in a futile attempt to calm Ginny down. But all the stress the younger girl had been feeling – not to mention all the grief she'd suppressed – was spilling out now, and there was little that Hermione could do to stop it. However, when she sensed that her friend was on the verge of hysterics, Hermione got up and reached for the Floo powder.

"Madam Pomfrey's office!" she called as soon as the flames turned green. She stuck her head through and called out for the matron before she even opened her eyes.

"Poppy!"

"No need to yell, child. I'm right here."

"Poppy," Hermione cried much less forcefully, "Ginny's in my room and she's becoming hysterical. What should I do?"

The mediwitch stood up and summoned a blue vial from her stores. "Stand aside."

Hermione immediately withdrew and blindly crawled to one side of the fireplace. Her eyes were still closed against the nausea of Floo connections when she heard the whoosh of Poppy coming through.

She cracked her eyes open a notch to see Poppy leaning over Ginny, forcing her mouth open even as the young witch sobbed frantically. With a firm hand on Ginny's jaw and a gentle hand stroking her forehead, the matron somehow got Ginny to swallow a dose of whatever was in the vial. Ginny's cries lessened in their intensity almost instantly. She was still crying, but it was more natural – less frightening.

"Calming draughts are safe for her?" Hermione asked quietly.

Poppy shot her a look that was both approving and caustic. "This one is," she replied, keeping the 'you ninny' silent. "It's a milder version than most and can only be a benefit to her when she's in this state."

"Of course. Sorry. I wasn't doubting you..."

Poppy's expression softened. "I know. You're just worried about your friend's condition."

Hermione nodded, marveling that they could converse in euphemisms so effectively.

Poppy nodded, then leaned over to talk with Ginny eye to eye.

"Mrs. Potter. Ginevra. I need you to sit up for me. I need to make sure you are all right."

Ginny nodded minutely that she understood, but was sluggish responding. On Poppy's cue, Hermione went over and helped Poppy maneuver Ginny to an upright position, though there was little they could do to keep her head from lolling disturbingly.

Poppy scanned Ginny with pursed lips. "I'm afraid I miscalculated the dosage, dear, but it won't cause any damage. It's just going to make it difficult to move independently for a few minutes until the brunt of it wears off. I suggest you take advantage of the effects and just relax, both in body and mind."

Ginny nodded infinitesimally again with tears streaming down her face. Poppy gently wiped them away with a conjured handkerchief and murmured, "I thought you had taken the news a bit too blithely. So cry now, child. It's good for you. Blow," she then ordered as she held the cloth to Ginny's nose.

Ginny complied and then let herself drift more toward Hermione, who wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

"It will be okay," she murmured. "As Poppy says, rest now, and we'll figure it all out when you're ready."

Ginny sniffed, but nodded her head again slightly as Hermione swayed them to and fro. In only a few moments, the younger girl was asleep.

Poppy looked on approvingly, but her brow was creased. "Does Mr. Potter know yet?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Do you think she will tell him?"

Hermione glanced down at Ginny before looking back up at Poppy. "I'll make sure she does."

Poppy snorted and shook her head before sighing. "I'm afraid I need to get back to the infirmary now. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?" Hermione shook her head, so Poppy wished her luck before disappearing through the green flames. As luck would have it, it was less than a minute later that there was a soft knock on the door.

Before Hermione could do more than look down at Ginny resting comfortably on her shoulder, the door opened.

"Hermione?" Severus' voice called out, making Ginny twitch.

"In here," she responded quietly.

Severus stepped forward to peek around the door, furrowing his brows at what he saw.

"If this is a bad time..."

"Actually, you have perfect timing... if you're willing to do me a favor?"

He raised a brow, but didn't object vocally.

"Would you go get Harry, please?"

The brow went down and joined the other in a furrow. "Is there something the matter with Mrs. Potter?"

"Um, yes, in a way. Poppy just gave her a calming draught, so she's not really able to fetch Harry herself."

He stared hard at the two of them before nodding and slipping back out the door, still frowning. As soon as the door closed with a gentle snick, Hermione was surprised to hear Ginny ask, "Is he gone?"

She nodded before remembering to say, "Yes."

Ginny tried to sit up on her own, but ended up needing Hermione's help.

"Thanks," she said, once she was sitting. The potion had already worn off enough so that she could hold her head up on her own.

"That's what I'm here for."

"Mm," Ginny said, looking troubled.

"It will be okay, Gin. It isn't the end of the world."

"I know," Ginny said with a sigh, "but I don't want to tell Harry. I know I have to, but... What is he going to think of me? I know he wants a family eventually, and I do too, but I don't want one now. We're too young! We've only just started!"

Ginny sniffled. "I don't want to end up like my mum. I love her, but that's not the life I want. I want a career. I want to finish school! I want to enjoy life, not change dirty nappies on too little sleep!"

Hermione reached over to rub her friend's shoulder. She didn't know what to say as that was exactly how she felt. Except...

"There are options, you know."

Ginny grimaced. "I know, but those aren't fabulous, either. I know I would always regret... Especially since Harry and I are married. We love each other. He, at least, would be out of school and would almost certainly have some sort of job before the baby was born, so..."

Hermione continued rubbing Ginny's shoulder, not willing to counsel her, but hoping she could find her own way to an acceptable answer soon. They sat there in silence until an urgent knock on the door disturbed them.

Hermione got up to answer it, finding a worried Harry on the other side.

"Snape said there's something wrong with Ginny?"

Hermione inwardly groaned. Of course Severus would take advantage of the opportunity to upset Harry. Ginny saved Hermione from having to answer, though.

"I'm fine, Harry."

Harry rushed into the room, barely giving Hermione a glance. She smiled sadly and decided to use the opportunity to slip out. They needed privacy more than they needed a mutual friend. Besides, she needed to talk to Severus – to thank him for the favor and to take him to task for preying on Harry.

Her journey to the dungeons went quickly, as it seemed only moments later that she stood in front of Severus' office door, still trying to think of what to say. Knocking, she heard his familiar, angry "Enter!" before she stepped into his lair. As she walked to his desk, she marveled at how different it felt to be in his office like a student as opposed to in his quarters as his wife. Fortunately, he seemed to feel just as awkward and conjured a chair for her beside his own.

"What brings you by, my dear?"

"I just wanted to thank you for fetching Harry, but also ask why you find it necessary to make his life more miserable than it has to be?"

Severus looked a bit taken aback by that. "What are you talking about?"

"Harry was obviously worried when he arrived. He said you told him Ginny was ill."

Severus glared at her. "I merely told him what I'd observed – that his wife was asleep in your room and that you were requesting his presence. If he took that to mean that she was dying, that's his own fault."

Hermione pursed her lips, knowing full well that Severus could imply something false without veering from the strict truth, but she backed down, not wanting to fight about it. "He does tend to overreact to everything."

Severus snorted but continued glaring at her, recognizing that she had not apologized. She raised her eyebrows questioning his complete innocence and, reluctantly, he backed down as well. He didn't stop scowling, though.

"Would you like some tea?" he asked at length. She agreed happily, and they settled into more comfortable poses.

"Just out of curiosity," Hermione asked as she added a lump of sugar to her tea, "why did you come to see me so early in the day?"

Severus' scowl became more thoughtful. "Mr. Nott mentioned that Professor Vector had been worrisomely unfair today?"

Hermione raised her brows again. "Did he?"

"Mm. He was under the impression that you were going to let it pass and thought it best to consult me."

"Humph. I hope you haven't gone to confront Vector for me?"

"Of course not. I was waiting to do that until after I'd heard the whole story, including whether you were planning on taking any action, from you," he said with a significant look.

She blushed slightly, but still refused to apologize. "Good. This is one battle I really don't need any help with at the moment. In fact, I was planning on confronting Vector this afternoon, but I was sidetracked when I found Ginny in my room."

"Is she all right?" Severus asked neutrally, taking a sip of his tea.

Hermione grimaced. "Yes and no. She's unexpectedly fallen pregnant."

"Oh, sweet Circe, no!" Severus exclaimed, looking horrified. "Not more Potters already?"

Hermione made a disapproving face at him, then shrugged. "If it's any consolation, she's not that thrilled with the timing, either."

Severus winced. "Not thrilled enough to need a calming draught?"

"Yeah."

"Will she be alright?"

Hermione shrugged. "Eventually. I don't know what she and Harry are going to do. I don't know what I would do." She paused, biting her lip. "What would you do if I were pregnant? What would you want?"

Severus' eyes snapped to hers before he leaned back in his chair and let his gaze drift to one of the jars of pickled body parts lining his office walls.

"Hypothetically speaking?"

Hermione's insides bunched up as she nodded. "Of course."

"Honestly, I don't know. I can't deny that I've dreamed of you having our children, but at the same time, I would hate for it to happen so soon. I would prefer you have a chance to enjoy adulthood, and our marriage, a bit before adding such a chaotic element into play." He smiled almost shyly at her and her heart melted. She was so touched by his admission that she went over and kissed him on the cheek before sitting down across his lap, snuggling into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and they sat like that for a quiet, happy moment until he added, "In the end, though, I would leave it up to you. You're the one who would be changing the nappies, after all."

She moved around so that she could smack him on the arm before snuggling back into his chest.

"Trust me, darling, I will not be the only one on nappy duty."

He chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest.

"Well, perhaps before we try to have children, you can convince me of the merits, if there are any."

She frowned and clutched his robes a little tighter.

"What if I were pregnant?" she whispered.

He stilled, then pushed her back till they were looking at each other. "Do you believe you are?"

Hermione simultaneously wanted to nod and shake her heat, so she ended up making a confused gesture, nibbling on her lip all the while.

Severus looked at her curiously. "Hadn't I told you that I am on an infertility potion? There is virtually no chance of you being pregnant." He quirked a brow at her with mock suspicion. "Unless Mr. Nott has been cuckolding me?"

Hermione shook her head, letting out a breath ragged with relieved laughter. "Hardly. Oh, I am so glad one of us was thinking about those possible consequences!"

He pulled her into his embrace. "I want to father your children, my dear, but I really would prefer to wait a few years before doing so."

Hermione smiled into his chest before tilting her head back to kiss him. He brought his hand up to her face, cradling her cheek as he kissed her back tenderly, lovingly. Just as things were starting to get a little heated, though, they were interrupted by a silver horse flying into the room.

"Hermione, may I stay in your room tonight?" Ginny's voice asked as the horse pawed the floor before evaporating. Hermione's heart sank. She climbed down from Severus' lap and smoothed out her robes. Taking a deep breath, she looked up and smiled ruefully at him.

"I have to go to her."

Severus nodded, smiling almost wistfully. "Of course you do."

She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Hopefully I'll see you at dinner."

He nodded again, though this time almost wryly. "Forgive me if I don't hold my breath."

She smiled and turned to leave when he said, "Perhaps the Floo would be faster?"

She blushed and nodded. "Of course. Thank you for the reminder."

He handed her the powder pot, and she grabbed a handful, offering a sincere, "Thank you, Severus," as she did.

He rolled his eyes sardonically. "You're right. Floo powder is far too precious a commodity to waste on helping your friends. Give it back."

She smiled, kissed him again and twirled through the flames into her room. As she blindly rolled into the room, she was momentarily disoriented by the sound of pounding and someone swearing from her bedroom.

She looked around just in time to see Ginny open up her front door.

"What are you doing here, Harry? I told you..."

"I'm sorry for how I reacted before, but I would like to talk to you now. Can we?"

"There isn't much to talk about. You know everything there is to tell."

"This isn't just going to just go away."

"It could if I chose."

"No!" Harry shouted, though he quickly restrained himself and said in a quieter tone, "It's my child, too, or don't I get a say?"

Ginny paused. Hermione could only imagine what her expression might be.

"What do you want, Harry?"

"I want this child!"

"And what about me? What about my schooling? What about my career? I am NOT going to be my mum, Harry, and if you think that I will, you can just leave right now!"

"I never said... I want you to be happy! If you want to finish school, then finish it! If you want a job, go for it! I'm not asking you to stay home!"

"Oh, and that'll be just so easy, won't it, what with feeding and changing a little, screaming, helpless being at all hours and still have time to commute to school, attend classes, study and all that? For fuck's sake, Harry..."

"So we'll hire a nanny or something. We'll get through this somehow."

Ginny was silent for a long moment, and Hermione could see her fingers go white from clutching the door. Harry's voice was very soft as he added, "Have you forgotten I'm rich? I certainly have enough to provide for the three of us and hire a nanny if that's what it takes to make this work."

Ginny let out a sob and allowed the door to swing open enough for Hermione to see her fall into Harry's arms, crying. Harry hugged Ginny to him as if he never wanted to let her go.

"I don't know if I can take eight months of you being the sensible one," Ginny muttered, sniffling into Harry's shoulder.

Harry laughed. "I know it's scary, but we've managed to survive this long, haven't we?"

"Only because Hermione, Dumbledore and Snape have always been there to save us."

"Yeah, well... We could always invite Hermione to stay over if things get too dangerous."

Ginny looked up at Harry. "And Snape, too?"

Harry shuddered, making Ginny giggle.

"Let's go home, Gin."

"I need to let Hermione know I've changed my mind. She'll worry otherwise."

Harry smirked. "This is Hermione we're talking about. She'll figure it out." His eyes flicked over to catch Hermione's. "Plus, she's just arrived, so you can tell her yourself."

Hermione coughed and sat up, smiling apologetically at her friends.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" she asked innocently.

Harry rolled his eyes while Ginny smiled wryly. "I'm sorry I bothered you, but I guess I won't be staying over after all."

Hermione got up and rushed over to her friend, enveloping her in a bear hug. In her best attempt at impersonating Ginny, she said, "Don't be an idiot, Gin. You can bother me whenever you need me."

Ginny chuckled, then pushed away, looking stern. "I'll hold you to that, you know. And who knows how often I'll need you now that I'm on this emotional rollercoaster from hell."

Hermione nodded seriously. "I'll warn Severus, then."

Ginny burst out laughing and hugged Hermione. "I'll see you at supper. If I feel like eating."

Hermione hugged her back and then snagged Harry for a quick hug as well. "Good luck," she whispered in his ear as he hugged her back. He snorted and muttered back a "Thanks."

Harry and Ginny left holding onto each other. Hermione closed her door and leaned against it, a small smile tugging at her lips. She could only barely imagine what Ginny was going through emotionally, and she couldn't help but think Harry was lucky Ginny loved him so much. If Severus had acted like Harry and put his foot down, demanding she keep his child...

She would have kept it.

She felt the air rush from her lungs with that realization. She would keep Severus' child if he asked her to. She would because she wouldn't want to hurt him. She didn't want to hurt him because she... she loved him. She loved him. She was in love with Severus Snape.

She'd known she was falling for him, but it hadn't occurred to her that she was already head over heels in love with the bastard.

A full smile blossomed on her face.

She was in love with Severus Snape, and it was a wonderful thing. She suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to hug him. She grabbed her pot of Floo powder and shouted, "Snape's office" into the fireplace.

Seconds later, she spun into his office only to find it empty. Disappointed, she tried to leave, but found the door warded shut. Shrugging, she took the Floo powder from his desk and shouted "Severus' quarters". Upon landing, however, she found herself not in the familiar sitting room, but in Dumbledore's office, looking at the bemused wizard himself.

"Can I help you, child?"

Hermione stood up somewhat awkwardly, brushing the soot from her robes. "Um, is Severus here?"

Dumbledore twinkled. "Not at this moment, no, but may I take a message? I'm sure I'll see him soon enough."

Hermione blushed. "Erm, no thanks. I..."

Dumbledore's mustache twitched. "You didn't happen to Floo from his locked office, did you?"

She nodded with an "ah," everything falling into place. "Crouch."

"Indeed. We implemented much more careful measures after that disastrous year."

"But... wouldn't it be more dangerous to Floo someone directly here?"

"I expect you'll find your wand missing, if you check," Dumbledore said, scratching his ear absently. Hermione did check, and sure enough, the wand was gone.

"Clever."

"Yes, it is, rather." He opened a desk drawer with a key and drew out her wand. "That was my doing, of course."

Hermione muffled her snort at the headmaster's typical egoism while he just twinkled at her even more.

"Well, I apologize for the interruption, sir. I'll just be on my way now."

Dumbledore smiled and stood up to see her to the door. "Then I shall let you out, though I must say your timing was rather excellent. I was just preparing to leave for dinner myself. May I escort you down?"

Hermione looked at her watch, amazed to see how late it was already. "Erm, yes, that would be lovely, thank you."

Dumbledore smiled benignly and offered his elbow. She placed her hand on his arm, he touched his wand to the door to unlock it, and they made their way down the spiral staircase.

"To be terribly nosy, I've noticed that it seems as though things are going well between you and Severus?"

Hermione barely kept herself from rolling her eyes and nodded. "Yes, I think so."

Dumbledore smiled down at her, obviously happy. "Splendid, splendid. I thought the two of you had been getting along quite nicely, recently."

Hermione couldn't restrain a mild snort. "Yes. I gather we're scaring the first years."

Dumbledore chuckled as the gargoyle opened to let them out. "I'd heard that. But I shouldn't be afraid of a few faint hearts here and there."

"I don't think either Severus or I could be accused of that, sir."

He beamed down at her. "Excellent." When he looked up again and said, "Oh look. There's the man of the hour as we speak!"

Hermione followed Dumbledore's gaze and saw Severus standing in the middle of the entrance hall looking at them, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. He looked mildly amused, although she could feel his unexpressed questions. Hermione's heart surged at the realization that she could read him. That this was the man she loved.

Hermione squeezed Dumbledore's arm before disengaging and running toward Severus. His other brow rose in alarm, but he still opened his arms to receive her, twirling her around once to dissipate the energy of her attack. She squeezed him tightly, and he chuckled happily despite all the curious onlookers.

"I thought you were with Mrs. Potter."

"I was. She and Harry reconciled and so I came to find you."

"You Flooed to my office?"

"Yes."

He chuckled again. "And what did the old man say to make you commit such a spectacle of yourself?"

"Nothing." She looked up at him, beaming. "I'm just happy to see you."

His head bent down, but a mild cough from behind them kept them from actually kissing. Severus looked around with an aggrieved expression masking his embarrassment. Hermione hid her face in his robe to muffle any stray giggles.

"As lovely as it is to see the two of you so very happy, I'm afraid I must do my duty and remind you that such acts are against school rules. I'd hate to have to deduct points from your respective houses," he said, twinkling at them over his half-moon glasses.

"Plus, we're scaring the firsties," Hermione whispered.

Both men's lips twitched, though on Dumbledore it looked like his mustache was alive while on Severus it was halfway between a smirk and a sneer.

Severus released her, and she reluctantly pulled away, though she grabbed his hand on impulse. His fingers wrapped around hers and squeezed. Dumbledore somehow noticed all of this while never looking down, but his twinkling increased alarmingly. She looked up to see how Severus reacted only to find him looking down at her, his expression mellowing into a tiny, private smile.

"Well, I believe it is time for dinner, if I'm translating what my stomach is saying correctly. And, Severus, may I take a few moments of your time this evening?"

Severus nodded warily. Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. "You aren't in trouble, dear boy, so no worrying."

Severus tensed up. "Headmaster, I am always amazed at your ability to ease any concerns I might have," he said dryly.

Dumbledore patted his shoulder and gave Hermione a significant glance. "Well, this time you have nothing to fear, I do believe."

"Your assurance is noted."

Dumbledore smiled and shook his head, departing for dinner with a friendly good evening.

"What was that about?"

Hermione looked up at Severus. "What?"

"He looked at you."

Hermione snickered at how that sounded and he narrowed his eyes. "You know what I meant."

"I do know what you meant, but I don't know what he meant. I guess you'll just have to wait until tonight to find out."

"Humph." Still, despite his displeasure, he squeezed her hand tenderly and placed it in the crook of his elbow, leading them into the Great Hall for dinner. Hermione could only smile.