Choices: Chapters 79 to 86

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 79: Monday, Monday

“Hasn’t she called yet, it’s almost eight o’clock?”

Severus glared at the man in the portrait. “I’m well aware of the time, Phineas. She should be calling any…”

“Severus?”

Hermione’s image appeared in the mirror he held.

“Good morning. Are you ready to come through?”

The image in the mirror smiled. “All set. Should I come through now?”

“Albus will open the Floo on three. Ready?” Severus nodded to the portrait leaning against the wall, watching intently as the late Headmaster left the frame. “One, two...”

Severus reached out. “…Three,” he said, and helped Hermione step out of the fireplace.

Chapter 80: If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home Already

“You cleaned the fireplace! Thank you.” Hermione brushed her robes; Floo travel would not be Floo travel without some soot.

“I’ll tell Albus he can close the connection.” Phineas said with a nod.

“Thank you, Phineas.” Severus turned to Hermione. “Breakfast is about to start. Shall we?”

They walked amicably through the dungeon corridor, Hermione yawning repeatedly.

“Are you all right?”

“Just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night,” she said through a yawn. “Actually, I’m still sleepy.”

“You should’ve called me.”

“It was hardly an emergency.”

Silently, Severus held the staff door to the Great Hall open for her.

Chapter 81: Time Passes

His hope for added time with Hermione at breakfast failed to materialize as the staff monopolized her attention.

She waved to him as she set off to teach her first class of the morning.

Annoyed, Severus headed for the dungeons, his robes billowing out behind him.

His mood did not improve when Potter showed up for lunch.

Frustrated, he managed to take more points off the students in one afternoon then all the other teachers combined.

Reaching the dinner table before Hermione, he sat quietly fuming.

What was the point in eating meals together if he couldn’t talk to her?

Chapter 82: The Power of Words

Hermione settled heavily into the seat next to him. “What a day.”

Severus smiled. “Does that mean you’re not enjoying the little darlings?”

With a resounding thud, she lowered a satchel brimming with books and parchments to the floor between them. “I don’t think ‘enjoying’ is the word I’d use. God, I’m a mess. I hope Junior lets me sleep tonight.” She managed to stifle a yawn while patting her stomach.

One brow shot up. “Junior?”

Hermione shrugged. “Well, we haven’t settled on a name yet. Junior’s just as good as anything else, for now.”

There was that word again…we.

Chapter 83: When Bookophiles Collide

“Is there some reason you’re carrying such a heavy bag? I would imagine that can’t be good for your back…or the baby.”

“No, it’s not, but with the additional classes, I need a few more books than before. Filius said I could leave them in his office, but I can’t keep going from the third floor classroom to his seventh floor office and back again.”

“A Levitation spell?”

“I tried that, but the baby is zapping my strength. It takes more effort to use magic than to just drag it around.”

“I see.”

Perhaps this could work to his advantage.

Chapter 84: Open Mouth And Insert Foot

“Leave the books you need for your afternoon classes in my office when you arrive in the morning. I’ll bring them to lunch and take back whatever you’re no longer using. You can retrieve what you need at the end of the day.”

“Thank you, that would really help.” Hermione’s expression turned thoughtful. “I seem to be thanking you a lot lately.”

“I just…”

“Severus, there you are.” Sprout called, the door shutting behind her. “I’m all done. Finally got the plants to settle in. You can show them to …”

Sprout stopped short. “Hermione, what are you doing here?”

Chapter 85: Evasive Tactics

“Plants?” Hermione looked questioningly between the two.

Severus glared at the diminutive woman.

“Uh, yes the plants for his, uhm, potions. They’re ready to go,” Sprout said, looking dismayed.

She moved to the far end of the table, as far away from the angry Potions master as she could get. “I hope I haven’t spoiled the surprise,” she said quietly.

“Severus, what plants? Would you care to explain?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. Care for a roll?” Severus asked, holding the breadbasket.

“No, I don’t want a roll. What’s this about? What plants? I doubt they’re for potions.”

“They might be. Eventually.”

Chapter 86: Defining Boundaries

Severus sighed. “Are you through with dinner? I wanted to surprise you, but I suppose you can see it now since the surprise is already ruined.”

He shot an angry glare in the general direction of the Herbology teacher. He’d remember to thank her for her time and efforts later. At the moment, he was too annoyed that she ruined his plans.

“What surprise?”

Severus took the heavy bag from her hand and gestured to the staff door. “It’s in our quarters.”

“Your quarters.” Hermione reminded him.

“No, Hermione, whether you’re there or not – they’re our quarters,” he said firmly.

TBC

A/N: A few people have commented that the story is not as angst driven as it started out. I’ve tried to maintain the intensity of feelings, and will continue to do so. But if the story is to resolve on a happy note, it has to move toward a lighter tone. After all, angst driven and happy ending are diametrically opposed phrases and I assume you would like to see the two reunite, maybe before the baby is born?

Pearle

-Who knows how the story is going to end, but refuses to say-