Choices: Chapters 55 to 61

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.

The Choices We Make

Chapter 55: A Child By Any Other Name…Would Still Annoy

Hermione stared blankly at her estranged husband. He would help her with the baby? “Severus, you don’t like children; you’ve never wanted any. Why would you help now?”

“No, I’ve never been…fond of children, but this would be my child. Our child. From what I can gather, your feelings change when the offspring in question, is yours,” he mumbled.

Despite the tension, Hermione started laughing. “Fond of children? More like hated the little blighters, I’d say. Sorry, maybe that should be the little offsprings.”

Severus smiled, at least he could still make her laugh, that had to count for something.

Chapter 56: How Do We Get From There To Here?

Hermione’s hand went to her stomach.

“The baby?”

“Yeah,” she said with a nod. “He’s more active than usual today.”

“Would you rather go home?”

“No, I’m fine.” Hermione sighed. “What are we going to do?”

“Do you mean now, or in general? I assumed we were here to eat dinner. Did you have something else in mind?” Light humor seemed to relax the witch, detracting her from the problem at hand. He hoped to show her they could still relate to each other, that they could still have a future together, regardless of the thoughtless sentiments he’d spouted previously.

Chapter 57: We Always Want What We Can’t Have

“Filius thinks I’m ready to take a few of the upper level class. I start Monday with fourth year Ravenclaws.”

“You know, you don’t have to leave the castle after classes. I promise I won’t accost you. I haven’t seen you so much as take lunch in the Great Hall, the last few weeks.” Severus gestured to her midsection. “With an increased work load and the baby on the way, you should be eating regularly.”

Odd, it had taken her leaving him, to get him to demonstrate this level of concern. It seems we always want what we can’t have.

Chapter 58: Dealing With The Here And Now

Hermione played with her fork, not meeting his eyes. “It didn’t feel right, attending meals in the Great Hall when we’re not together. Besides, that was only two mornings a week. With the added classes, I’ll be at Hogwarts all day Monday and Wednesday as well as Friday mornings now, starting next week.” She’d been running off, attempting to avoid him at all costs.

“Which is why you need to eat regularly. Three meals a day.”

Ah, Monday and Wednesday afternoons – fifth year Slytherins. Maybe he could engineer a few ‘chance’ encounters under the guise of concerns about a student.

Chapter 59: Is There An Us In Our Future?

“And what about us?” she asked quietly.

“Is there still an us?”

“Regardless of us getting back together, there’s still the baby to consider.”

Severus’s eyes shone with intensity. “I told you, I’ll do whatever you want, whatever it takes to make you happy again.”

“Even if that means we don’t get back together as husband and wife?” Hermione knew he wanted her back. He was contrite in his actions, but how long would this new attitude last? Would they revert back to form if they reconciled, Hermione still playing the victim, Severus, once again, the villain in their relationship?

Chapter 60: Divining The Future or Opinions Better Left Unsaid

“Why don’t we wait and see what develops?”

Hermione nodded as Rosmerta approached the table.

“Can I get you two anything else?”

“Our check, please.”

“Congratulations on the little one. Babies are always such a blessing.”

“Thank you, I can hardly wait.” Hermione’s smile was dazzling as she thought of her unborn child.

Severus settled the bill, stiffly acknowledging the witch’s comments and escorted Hermione out the door.

Rosmerta watched the couple leave. She’d thought Hermione had been a fool when she married Snape, war hero or not.

‘That’s one relationship,” she thought sadly, “that was doomed from the start.”

Chapter 61: Questions Without Answers

They walked side-by-side down the narrow lane, not quite touching. “Have you thought about names for the baby? Any special preferences, other than we don’t call him Harry?”

“I think I shall have to kill myself if you name him Harry.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think you’d like that name, but it should be a joint decision. It’s our baby.”

Severus was thankful for the cover of darkness. Just last week she’d been resigned to raising the child alone, now she willingly talked of their child. Could he accept the role of father if it didn’t include husband? He didn’t know.

TBC