Every Tomorrow A Vision Of Hope

A/N: Many thanks to astopperindeath for the beta and being so patient, and pointing out the cheese when it was needed! Thanks also to everyone who has read the story and left a review.

Hermione couldn't understand how she had got back into bed, but she turned over slowly and wrapped the covers around her more tightly before reaching her hand out to Severus. She didn't encounter his sleeping form, however, merely fresh, cold air, and she opened her eyes slowly. She knew immediately where she was and gasped. Something must have happened when she was brewing the potion. It would be ruined! She felt the tears welling inside her and snuggled her head below the blankets to hide her weeping face. This was probably the last chance they would have had. Severus was growing weaker by the day, and her period would be due in the next few days. If she didn't take the potion now, she would have to wait another month, and who knew how sick Severus would be by then?

Hermione snuffled sadly and didn't here the firm sound of dragon hide boots as they approached her bed.

'Hermione.' Severus' voice permeated the layers she was hiding under, and it didn't take a genius to work out that he was furious. She pulled the covers from her face slowly and looked up at him.

His face was stern, and he looked down at her dispassionately. 'How are you feeling?'

'Okay I think,' she said quietly. 'What happened exactly?'

'Good question. I definitely do not remember setting you that potion as research material.' He crossed his arms over his chest, and Hermione groaned inwardly. He was in one of those moods. She pushed herself up, plumping the pillow behind her so that she could sit and look at him properly. She was his wife, not just some student he could intimidate.

'Won't you sit down?' she smiled sadly. 'I know I did something very stupid, Severus, and I'm sorry,' she said sincerely.

She thought at first he would continue to stand, but he apparently thought better of it and sat on the chair beside her. It was an improvement, but he sat stiffly and glared at her until she spoke again.

'Does Madam Pomfrey think I will be ok?' she asked him.

'The instructions clearly state that a ventilation charm is necessary for brewing in enclosed spaces. Obviously you chose to ignore that part and inhaled the fumes. Poppy thinks I found you almost as soon as you collapsed. There will be no lasting effect.'

'You're very angry with me,' she stated.

'You nearly lost your life, Hermione. You think I should be grateful?' His eyes turned desperate.

'I'm so sorry,' she sobbed suddenly. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she rubbed them away with the edge of the blanket. 'I just didn't want to lose you, Severus. We've tried so hard to have our baby, and the longer it goes on, the weaker you become. I thought a fertility potion would be a good option, but I've just made things worse, haven't I?'

Hermione covered her face with her hands and cried even harder. She felt the bed dip, and then Severus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, stroking her hair gently. He kissed the top of her head, and she raised her wet eyes to his.

'I am sorry, Severus,' she said shakily.

'Silly witch,' he murmured, kissing her lightly.

'I suppose my potion is ruined,' she said sadly.

'No, actually. I put it in stasis while Poppy tended to you, and once you were asleep, I returned and finished it for you. It was almost complete.'

'You finished it?' She smiled widely. 'Oh Severus! Then it's not too late?'

Severus moved her away calmly. 'It is too late, Hermione,' he said softly, staring into her eyes.

'What? Why? Oh, gods... I can't have children now, can I? The fumes have made me infertile!' She started to weep again.

'For goodness sake, stop crying,' Severus snapped softly, passing her a handkerchief.

'How can you be so calm?' she moaned. 'I've ruined everything. Gods, Severus, I don't want to lose you!'

'Hermione!' Severus raised his voice, and she stared at him in shock. 'You are babbling, woman!'

'I am. You're right.' Hermione wiped away the remaining tears and shook herself. They would just have to reverse it; that was all. She still had her library pass. There were bound to be other spells.

'Hermione, it's too late because you are already with child,' he said quietly, taking her hand in his.

'I'm what?' She looked at him with wide eyes, and he smiled at her.

'You are pregnant,' he whispered.

'I am? How? I mean, I know how, obviously, but... I mean, when? I don't understand...'

Severus chuckled and pulled her in for a hug. 'As for how, I think that I was on top. As for when, I believe after my bath last night.'

'Oh, my...' Hermione started to laugh. 'Oh, thank gods, Severus!' She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him firmly on his lips. 'What about you? Are you well? Do you feel any different?'

Severus smirked. 'I feel completely normal, and once I get you back to the dungeons and you've rested for a few days, I'll show exactly what normal means,' he said meaningfully. Hermione felt her stomach flip at his words and immediately felt her desire for him as he looked at her meaningfully.

'Oh...' she whispered, as he bent his head to kiss her. He wrapped her slim frame in his arms and held her to him, and she sagged against him as he did wonderful things to her with his tongue. Moaning softly, she gripped the back of his robes with her hands and tried to pull him onto the bed, but he resisted, smiling against her mouth.

'Patience, Hermione,' he said deeply. 'We have all the time in the world.'

***

There was a large gathering in the Great Hall, and the enchanted ceiling reflected the joy in the room. Hermione wore an off-white, floor length gown, and Ginny had artfully curled her hair into sleek spirals and interwoven them with flowers. Severus wore the same smart jacket and robes he had worn on the night of their marriage, the only addition being a pale yellow iris in his buttonhole.

Albus held his wand aloft to signal the start of the ceremony, and Hermione turned and placed her baby boy into the arms of Ginny Weasley. Severus watched her and smiled as she reached to him and lifted her baby girl, handing her to Molly, who clucked over her like a mother hen and didn't see the smirk on Severus' face. He was only glad that there would be no shortage of babysitters.

'Friends,' Albus voice echoed around the room. 'We are here to bless the marriage of our own Hermione and Severus Snape, in the wish that the happiness they share today is the everlasting kind.'

There was a cheer and a round of applause as Severus took Hermione's hand and kissed it.

'Now to the most important part of the ceremony. We welcome two delightful babies to our world.' Dumbledore beamed and wiped his eyes with the corner of his robe as Severus and Hermione retrieved their children and turned to face Albus.

'Severus, what name do you give to your daughter?' Albus smiled warmly as Severus took a breath.

'Her name will be Evelyn Hermione Aspen Snape, to be known as Evie,' he said, his confident voice echoing around the hall.

'Hermione, what names will you bestow on your son?'

Hermione smiled and stroked the baby's cheek with a finger gently. 'His name is Samuel Nickolai Aspen Snape,' she said happily, turning to Severus and grinning. Only they knew the origin of Samuel's name, and it would remain a special secret between themselves.

***

Severus closed the door of the nursery with a smile and listened carefully at the door to make sure that his children really were asleep. Satisfied, he walked back to where he wife was waiting for him in their bedroom.

Moving to Hogsmeade had been Albus' idea, and Severus had to admit it had been a very good one. There was plenty of space, with room for an adequate lab and for all of their books.

'Are they sleeping?' she asked hopefully, reclining on the bed in a pale blue silk nightdress with a rather beguiling slit along the side.

'They are,' he said smoothly. 'You, however, will not be sleeping.'

'Good. Now come here,' she said softly.

Severus dropped his clothes as he walked slowly to the bed, and Hermione's tongue ran teasingly over her lips in anticipation. Lying beside her, he traced his fingers along her body and smirked as she shuddered at his tough, her nipples pert and eager.

'Severus,' she murmured, looking up at him.

'Mmm?' He was distracted by the intriguing way the fabric of her nightdress was folded between her legs, and his fingers started to explore.

'I've been thinking,' she said, letting her hands explore his chest and follow his happy trail downwards absently.

'There's a surprise,' he chuckled. 'About what?'

'About us. Well, about you, really. I've decided, anyway,' she said seriously.

'What have you decided, witch?' Severus lifted the edge of her nightdress and caressed her bum, slipping his fingers between her cheeks.

'I want to be Turned,' she said.

There was silence, and Severus stilled his movements as he stared at Hermione in disbelief.

'Why?' he said finally.

'Because I couldn't bear the thought of living on without you for another two hundred years, and I was rather hoping you felt the same about me,' she said softly, her eyes wide.

'I do. I have been thinking that very thing. I never for a moment thought you would choose this,' he said.

'Well, I have,' she smiled. 'So you had better get used to having me around, Severus Snape.'

Severus smirked at Hermione, who gasped as her nightdress vanished and he covered her body with his.

'There is plenty to get used to,' he joked, palming her full breasts and licking her nipples lightly.

'That's not fair! They'll go back to normal when I've finished breastfeeding!'

'I sincerely hope not,' he said with mock shock.

'Oh, shut up, Severus, and make love to me,' she said with exasperation.

'Bossy witch,' he murmured as he entered her.

The End.

Original Prompts

1. Marriage law twist. Snape is the one who has to get married (make up a reason why) and decides he absolutely must have Hermione. She is not entirely willing. Can be canon-compliant or AU from any point.

3. Twilight-similar scenario: Snape is a vampire, but is hiding it so that he can stay and teach at Hogwarts. When Hermione reaches the age of maturity, her scent becomes irresistible to him. How will he react?

I just want to add a final thank you to SwissMiss for the brilliantly inspiring prompts. I had a great time writing this :)