Choices: Chapters 47 to 54

Summary: He was a fool to hold Hermione to her original promise. It was time to rectify that mistake. But it seemed fate, and Hermione had other plans. Can Severus learn to live with the choices he’s made, even at the cost of his own happiness?

A/N: The story is written in drabble form, one hundred words per chapter. The brevity of the chapters forces the emotions to stand out sharply against the action. The first forty chapters were posted in the drabble collections – Round Nine through Fourteen. Since so many have asked me to post these as their own story, I’ve decided to compile them here.

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc., of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

Chapter 47 - As Far From All Right As You Can Get

Deep in thought as he walked up the path to the front door of Hogwarts from the Apparition Point, Severus failed to notice the figure standing in the doorway.

“Severus, are you all right, my boy?”

“Albus.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache threatening to add to his problems. “Define all right.”

“Did you see Hermione?”

“I saw my wife. Lucky me. I have a date with her tomorrow night. A bloody date,” he said sarcastically.

“Give it time, she’ll come round.”

“If there’s nothing more, Headmaster?”

Severus walked off in the direction of the dungeons, alone.

Chapter 48 – Mirror, Mirror On The Wall…

He stopped before the mirror to straighten his collar for the third time in the last ten minutes. He thought about adding a few enhancing charms, but Hermione had married him as is, so, as is would be how he remained.

Severus sneered at his reflection. “Maybe if you’d have used a few charms in the first place, she wouldn’t have left you.” Fortunately, the mirror had been spelled for silence. There was no acceptable response to that remark. “And if you’d listened, you might not be forced to date your own wife now.”

Sighing, he headed out the door.

Chapter 49 – Somebody’s Knockin’

Drawing a calming breath, he knocked sharply on the front door. He could hear Hermione moving inside just before the door opened.

“Hi, come on in.” Hermione gestured to a worn sofa that hadn’t been there when she moved in. “Have a seat. I’ll be right with you.”

He watched silently as she disappeared down the narrow hallway to the back bedroom. Severus snorted. Invited to sit and wait in his wife’s home. His life was unhinged and here he was sitting quietly hoping to convince the mother of his unborn child that she belonged back at Hogwarts with him.

Chapter 50 – Should I Let Him In?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. I was taking my daily potions when you knocked. I just didn’t want to forget them.”

“Are you all right?” Severus took the time to examine her face. While he thought she could do with more sleep, he couldn’t detect anything a miss.

Hermione nodded. “Other than I seem to be tired all the time, and still a bit nauseous, I’m fine. Shall we?”

“If you’re tired, we don’t have to go.”

“I’m fine.”

“You just said you were tired.”

“Pregnant women tire easily.”

Severus glared at her. “I wouldn’t know.”

Chapter 51 – Defense Mechanisms

Severus held up a hand to stop the complaint he was sure was coming. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. Dinner at the Three Broomsticks? It’s close and we can come right back here.”

“You want to go to the Three Broomsticks?”

“Unless you have somewhere else in mind?”

“No, it’s just that we’ll most likely run into people we know.”

Severus frowned. “And you rather not be seen with me?”

“It’s not a question of being seen with you, I married you, didn’t I?” she answered angrily.

“How kind of you to remember. I assumed you’d forgotten that fact.”

Chapter 52 – Regrets, I’ve Had A Few

Hermione sat heavily on the couch. “This isn’t going to work, is it?”

“We’re just out of…practice. It’ll be fine.”

“Out of practice? You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Hermione, I still love you. The more I think about it, the more I realize I want you and the baby, with me. Our quarters are too quiet. I never knew how lonely I could be, until you left.”

Hermione sat quietly weighing her words, afraid whatever she might say next would hinder the situation.

Severus smiled tiredly and extended his hand. “May I have the honor of escorting you to dinner?”

Chapter 53 - Open Mouth And Insert Foot

Bells chimed as Hermione pushed open the door to the Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta looked up with a smile. “Hermione, it’s good to see you. I was afraid you’d hide yourself away thinking about Sna…”

Severus stepped through the doorway and out of the shadows. He nodded to Rosmerta, thinking she was doing an excellent imitation of a fish: her mouth open and gapping. His hand at the small of Hermione’s back directed her to a quiet booth in the corner.

Rosmerta followed them to the table, her face slightly red with embarrassment. “Uh, what can I get you two?”

Chapter 54 – Words Fail Me

After taking their order, Rosmerta left the pair alone.

“What’ve you decided to do with your apprenticeship? I know how important it is to you. Did Filius say there’d be any harm to the baby if you continued?”

“He didn’t see a problem as long as I don’t push myself. It may take an extra semester to finish the apprenticeship, with the baby due late November, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to finish up my exams.”

For the second time in her life, Severus Snape rendered his wife speechless.

“I’ll help in anyway that I can,” he said quietly.

TBC