Choices: Chapters 111 to 124

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 111: Transfigurations of the Heart

He returned less than an hour later to find Hermione dozing on the sofa. It hadn't taken him long to pack and shrink her possessions. Confining Crookshanks was another story entirely.

Normally he and the beast ignored each other. However, Severus' attempt to cage him, without his mistress present, was another story. Finally, his patience worn thin, Severus managed to capture the animal, only to have it jump on Hermione's sleeping form the second he'd let it loose in his quarters.

Wistfully, Severus watched as Hermione hugged and cooed over the half-kneazle, wishing he and the beast could trade places.

Chapter 112: Welcome to Hogwarts – Seven Floors, One Hundred Forty-two Staircases, and a Suite of Unused Rooms

"Right through here." Severus lowered the wards on a painting a few yards from his office doorway.

Cautiously, Hermione stepped through to the sitting room, dreading what she would find. Surprise coloured her voice as she took in the cozy sitting room. "Severus, it's lovely. I expected decades of dust."

"Ah, Professors Snape, you is here. Dobby hopes this is to your liking." The house-elf emerged from what Hermione assumed was the bedroom.

"Dobby, did you clean the suite?"

"Yes, Mrs. Professor Snape. Professor Snape said to make it special for you."

"Severus, thank you."

Embarrassed, Severus just nodded stiffly.

Chapter 113: The Jury Will Disregard That Last Remark...

"It's lovely, Dobby, thank you."

"You is welcome, Mrs. Professor Snape. Should Dobby move Professor Snape's things in now?"

"Move Professor Snape's things?"

"So you can be together. So you can have your rooms ready for the baby."

"That's enough. You can go, Dobby," said Severus as he watched Hermione pale.

"Mrs. Professor Snape, why is not you and the baby with Professor Snape? Dobby keeps his secrets, but Dobby hears the professor cry out for you in his sleep."

Severus' tone was sharp. "You can go, Dobby."

A sob escaped before Hermione turned and fled into the bedroom.

"Hermione...

Chapter 114: A Sudden Change In The Weather

"I can't do this. I thought I could, but I can't." Hermione lay on her side, tears streaming down her face.

"He's a house-elf, Hermione, and it's an honest question: why is you not with Professor Snape?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the absurdity of his remark. "Severus."

Gently, he rubbed her back. "You know, I've never given you a sock in all the time we've been married."

Despite herself, Hermione smiled as she arched one brow questioningly. "Does that mean you haven't set me free?"

"Never. I'd be a fool to let you go."

Only silence met Severus' declaration.

Chapter 115: There's Something You Don't See Every Day: A Striped Leopard

"Severus, don't..."

"It's late. You need your rest." His tone was stilted, hurt and anger warring for control below his seemingly calm exterior. "Don't forget to take your potions. I'm next-door if you need me. Either use the two-way mirror, or I can open a passage if you like."

"Please, try to understand. I'm just not ready for things to go back the way they were."

"And you don't believe I've changed?"

"I believe you want to."

"Fine. Goodnight, Hermione," he said angrily.

"Oh no, you don't. Don't put this on me. You're the one who threw me out, remember?"

Chapter 116: Every Action Has An Equal And Opposite Reaction

"How can I forget? You won't let me." Severus closed his eyes. "Hermione, I love you, but I don't know what to do anymore. Why did you ever marry me in the first place?"

"You were...different. You cared. After a while, it was as if I wasn't even there. All you did was 'look through' me. It's like I was a ghost. At least until you found out I was pregnant."

Severus sighed; he had pushed her away. "I was distancing myself from you. Giving you the chance to leave me, to start over with someone...younger, more worthy of you."

Chapter 117: Three Can Be An Interesting Number

"And now?"

"Now? I don't want you to leave. I need you. I love you," he said softly.

Hermione could hear the pain in his voice. She didn't doubt the sincerity of his words. He cared, but for how long? "Severus..." She moved forward, propping herself up on one arm as she watched his face, her body curling around his side.

Severus could feel the swell of her stomach against his hip and arm, a silent reminder of the need to convince Hermione to come back to him. It was at that moment their son chose to 'join' the conversation.

Chapter 118: An 'Alien' Encounter

Severus felt a thump against his hip as the baby shifted positions. Hermione smiled, lying back so he could watch the movement.

The unmistakable shape of an elbow stretched her stomach before disappearing again.

"Does he do that often?" he asked in an awed whisper.

Hermione laughed. "Thank God it's not twins. Some nights I swear he's playing Quidditch in there with two Bludgers and a Quaffle. Here, feel." Without thinking, she reached for his hand, laying it low on her belly. A jolt of desire raced through her as the edge of his fingers brushed against her pelvic bone.

Chapter 119: Lost In The Moment

Severus felt Hermione shudder, his eyes locking with hers. There was no mistaking the desire burning within. Whatever problems their marriage may have had, attraction was not one of them.

He hardened with desire as he watched Hermione lick her bottom lip; her hand at his shoulder pulled him down. Her eyes drifted closed as Severus closed the space between them, his arms sliding around her, holding her tightly as he passionately kissed her. All reason disappeared in the heat of the moment.

"Severus," she moaned.

A sudden pounding at her doorway shattered the moment.

"Hermione, are you in there?"

Chapter 120: Am I Interrupting Something?

"What in the bloody hell?" Severus looked up, but Hermione was already moving, wriggling free of his embrace.

"I'll get it. That sounds like Harry."

"Hermione, are you all right?"

The muffled voice coming from the other side of the door was Potter.

Severus would've gladly cast every Unforgivable he knew to rid himself of the brat. Azkaban be damned!

He'd had her in his arms. She'd wanted him. There'd been no question where things would have led if Potter had not shown up. Severus took a deep breath, his temper barely contained. Quietly, he walked into the sitting room.

Chapter 121: Open Mouth And Insert Both Feet And An Arm For Good Measure

While Severus looked his usual self, Harry could see the man was trying to control his anger. He eyed Hermione's flushed cheeks and ruffled appearance. It was apparent what he'd interrupted.

He turned to Hermione, studiously avoiding Severus' glare. "I'm, uh, sorry to bother you, but I got worried when I found your house empty. You've been so tired lately. I thought something might've happened. I ran into Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall; he told me you were here." He finished lamely. "I could come back later, or tomorrow, or something. I just wanted to know you were all right."

Chapter 122: Slytherin Tactics

Perhaps this was for the best. He didn't want Hermione feeling rushed, despite the fact that she'd wanted him, too.

"It's fine, Potter. I've some things I must attend to. Hermione, you know where to find me if you need me. Don't forget your potions." The look on both their faces was almost worth the intrusion.

Potter watched Severus leave; sure the man was planning something.

Hermione was another matter. Feeling Severus' arms around her, the feel of his lips on hers, the heat between them...made her miss his touch even more.

"What do you want, Harry?" she snapped.

Chapter 123: Pleasant Dreams

She got rid of Harry; assuring him she was fine, that moving back to the castle was for the best. The house-elves would take care of things, and she wouldn't tire herself out coming and going any more.

And her husband was right next-door.

If she were being honest, she'd have to admit she had no complaints about their sex life. Severus may've had difficulty vocalizing his feelings, but he never failed to pleasure her before finding his own.

Despite the need thrumming through her body, Hermione fell into an exhausted sleep, erotic dreams of her husband filling her mind.

Chapter 124: Slytherin Subtlety Meets Gryffindor Bravado

He'd had all night to figure out how to turn the situation to his advantage. While charging in and shagging Hermione senseless would've made him happy, it was too 'Gryffindor' for his tastes; subtlety could be the only answer.

The next morning he waved off all discussion of the previous evening, merely reminding her to take her potion before escorting her to breakfast.

That night, in spite of her lustful gaze, he declined her offer of tea when he brought her a new batch of potion, saying she needed her rest.

It would be interesting to see who cracked first.

To Be Continued

A/N: Thank you for your patience. I know updates have been a long time coming. This story has never been abandoned, merely on hiatus while I resolved a few health problems. RealLife and, more specifically, my health tend to get in my way.

A grateful thank you to my beta, the wonderful Southern_Witch_69, who has a never ending supply of commas and kind words for me. The mistakes, however, are still mine.

Updates (through to the end) should be more frequent. More to come soon!

Pearle