Hold Me Close

In Diagon Alley

A/N: Sorry about the long time between. I really wanted to get Bloodbound finished up. I will have a lot more time to dedicate to this story now, and I hope that my old readers will come back to it, and perhaps it will attract some new readers. This chapter is pretty long, and I hope that everyone is satisfied with it. I also hope it clears up a few things about why Severus is being so “warm”. Something else you may find interesting is on my myspace page, in my blog, there is a blog about Severus in this story…along with some art I did for this story using photoshop. You can find a picture of Hermione confused and scared, and a Manip I did of the disheveled Severus, who needs a shave and some rest. There is also a picture of the Ring Severus gave to Hermione. You can find all of that at www(dot)myspace(dot)com/violet_snape


When Hermione entered the kitchen at The Burrow, she could hear the usual clatter of dishes, signaling it was breakfast time. Ron’s face lit up when she closed to door behind her.


“Hey, love. I was beginning to wonder if you weren’t seeing some other bloke behind me back,” he said cheerfully as he wrapped his arms around her, and then planted a kiss on her lips.


Hermione’s insides felt like ice. If only Ron knew.


“I’d like to get in a right good shag sometime soon,” he whispered into her ear.


Hermione’s face reddened.


“I know, I know, you don’t want to do it here, because of my mum,” he amended, noting the look on her face.


Hermione was glad she had already eaten and taken her vitamins. There was no way she could have forced down anything now.


“Oh, hello, Hermione Dear,” Mrs. Weasley said, still in her bathrobe. “Have you had anything to eat yet?”


“Yes, thank you. I ate at Hogwarts before I left,” she said.


“Hogwarts?”


Hermione’s cheeks flushed.


“What on earth were you doing there?” Ron asked her curiously.


“Oh, I uh---I went to see Ginny and Professor McGonagall,” Hermione said nervously.


“Oh, well you could have told, me,” Ron said, appearing slightly crestfallen. “I’d have wanted to come along too, you know.”


“Sorry. It was a last minute decision. I was at my parents’ and thought I should go and give McGonagall a proper goodbye,” Hermione said, hoping that the subject would be dropped.


“We have to go to Diagon Alley soon. Fred and George are expecting us. They said they would outfit us with whatever we need for our trip. Of course, it has to be Harry that says we need it, or you perhaps. Those two don’t trust me I suppose,” Ron said, rather glumly.


Hermione was glad the subject had changed. She did not want to have to answer any more awkward questions. Just then Harry came down the stairs.


“Hey, Mione. When did you get in?”


“Just a moment ago.”


“Well lets be off then. Ron and I already ate, and I suppose you have as well?”


“Yes, I did eat, actually.”


“Yeah, she at while she was at Hogwarts,” Ron said, clearly hoping to get some sort of reaction from his friend.


“Hogwarts? What were you doing there? Oh no, don’t tell me. Were you trying to do some homework? Or take some tests?”


Harry and Ron started to laugh at this, and Hermione suddenly became very irritated.


“For your information, Harry, I went to see Ginny,” Hermione said, cheeks ablaze. “You might like to try the same thing once in a while.”


The boys silenced.


“I-I’m sor--”


“I know,” Hermione said grumpily.


“Wow. Uh, Mione? Would you like me to get mum to make you some of the pink potion?”


“Don’t be thick,” Hermione snapped.


Ron threw up his hands in defeat.

“Perhaps we ought to be going,” Harry said, on edge, as though waiting for his friend to snap.


“That would be prudent, yes,” Hermione said, tone somewhat softer this time.


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Two hours later, the trio was laden with packages when they decided to stop for a bite to eat. Ron and Harry had entered a heated discussion about Quidditch, when Hermione saw a flash of black robes out of the corner of her eye. Squinting, she could make out Severus’ form in the alleyway beside the bookstore. He started to walk towards the back, behind the store. Hermione set down her lemonade.


“I just remembered a book I want to take along on the trip,” Hermione said, looking at the boys.


“You go on ahead, we’ll be out here,” Harry said. “As I was saying. If the Chudley Cannons had….”


Hermione made her way inside the bookstore. She knew there was a back exit she could use, and she slipped behind a bookcase and disillusioned herself. Heart pounding, she slipped out the back door. There was a large rubbish bin, and when Hermione crept around to the back of it, she saw there was a tiny space between the bin and a stone wall. Severus sat on an upturned bucket.


“You are going to get yourself killed,” Hermione hissed.


She was really beginning to worry about him. This was behaviour so unlike him, and she worried he was heading for a breakdown.


“Calm yourself. I am completely safe here. I was told to come here, to look for you,” he breathed.


Hermione walked over to him and let him envelop her.


“Did you tell him yet?”


“No, not yet. I will tell him tomorrow, before we go to the site,” She replied.


Severus’ face hardened.


“The dark lord is still keeping me in the dark about his plans. I am not comfortable not knowing what his next move is,” he said evenly.


“Are you ever comfortable anymore?” Hermione asked him, trying to break the tension that had formed.


“When I am holding you,” he replied.


Hermione’s heart skipped a beat.


“I have never seen you act so openly about your feelings to anyone, Severus. I am so used to the darker demeanor,” She said, hoping to subtly voice her concern without offending him.


“You are the only person in the world I am this unbridled with. Hard times can make a man infinitely aware of what he stands to lose,” he said quietly. “I must confess that you instill things in me I never thought I would feel, could feel, or even wanted to feel. My mother was the only person I had ever loved until now”


“I am scared for you,” Hermione said gently.


“I am scared for you. I am scared for our baby.”


“We’ll make it.”


“Did you not like my mother’s ring?”


“Oh! Yes, yes I did very much,” Hermione said, tapping her finger, so that the gem appeared.


“How clever.”


“Yes, I wanted to wear it, but didn’t think anyone else but the two of us should see it right now,” she said, looking at the ring. “Thank you so much for giving it to me, Severus. I must confess I feel a bit wrong about accepting such a precious family heirloom. It seems something like this should be passed down to your child.”


“You are my family too. You are the mother of my child, and whether you choose to have me or not, you are still my family,” He whispered.


“I wasn’t aware I had that option.”

“I don’t want it any other way. I assume because Weasley has not being hunting me down, it means you have not told him?”


“No. I haven’t had much chance to tell him anything. I will tell him soon,” she said.


He took her hand in his, and kissed it gently.


“You had better get back. They will start to wonder where you are. They may even come looking for you,” he told her, pulling her down gently to kiss her. “You may not want to be unfaithful to Weasley, but I do not believe you would begrudge me one kiss,” he said, covering her lips with his.


Hermione moaned softly under his touch. She nodded her head, and gave him one last squeeze as she disillusioned herself again.


When Hermione arrived back at the table, Ron and Harry were still discussing the game.


“I thought you were getting a book,” Ron said, as she sat down again.


“Oh, yes. They didn’t have it, so I decided not to get one this time,” Hermione said, not looking at him.


“All right Hermione. Who’s the bloke?” Ron asked her jokingly.


Hermione paled.


“I’m only joking, love. You never walk into a bookstore and leave with nothing,” He said, kissing her softly on the lips to reassure her.


After Hermione finished her sandwich, she ordered another.


“Wow, Mione. You sure are hungry,” Ron said, watching Hermione as she devoured her second sandwich. “Well you know what they say, ‘When a witch settles down she gains fifteen pounds,’” he said, playfully grabbing at Hermione’s swelling abdomen.


Hermione stopped mid-bite and looked at Ron, hurt and bewilderment in her eyes.


“You think I’m fat?” She asked him incredulously, as tears started to form.


“Good one, Ron,” Harry said from across the table. Ron kicked him in the shin.


“Oh, come on now, love. I only meant that your belly was starting to look a bit round. I never said you were fat,“ he told her sincerely.


“You really are thick aren’t you?” Hermione said, a tear rolling down her cheek .


She stood up and apparated back to the burrow.


Harry had made reservations for them at a muggle hotel near Godric’s Hollow that morning, thinking that muggle establishments would be their safest bet, as no one would think to look for them there, and if they did, there would be fifty aurors on them in no time. Hermione gathered her things and bid Mrs. Weasley farewell, letting her know she was going a little early to check in.

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“I know she went to The Burrow, Ron, but you can’t just go back there empty handed and empty headed after what you said to her,” Harry told Ron, exasperated


“Well what the bloody hell am I supposed to do, then?” Ron asked, just as frustrated.


“Well with a regular witch, it’s flowers, candy, I love you, please forgive me,” he said, “but with Hermione it won’t be so simple. What really makes her tick?”


“How should I know?”


“Ron, do you even know your girlfriend at all?”


“Don’t be daft, Harry, of course I do,” Ron snapped.


“Well what can’t she resist?”


“Books, I spose,” Ron shrugged.


“So let’s go and get her some books. Books about love or something,” Harry suggested.


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Hermione lay sprawled out on the double bed. Harry had gotten a single room for himself and a double room for she and Ron. She was frantic. What if he put two and two together? What if he figures it out? She wondered, heart pounding. She knew she ought to tell him, but, she just didn’t know how. Sure, he was cruel sometimes, and sure, he was not always terribly clever, but she still loved him…..he was one of her best friends, and the thought of breaking his heart literally tore her apart. Yes, she loved him….just not the way he wanted her to love him. She made up her mind. She would tell him tonight.


Hermione’s thought’s were interrupted when the door opened. A gigantic bouquet of lilies had come to call on her. Or rather, Ron came to call on her, but he was completely hidden by the flowers. They were starlight lilies too, Hermione’s absolute favorite flower. She felt herself getting giddy in spite of herself. Ron had never in all the time she had known him done something so sweet for her.


“This is not all,” he said, muffled by the beautiful flowers.


Harry entered the room carrying several books. Hermione’s eyes widened.


“These are all by famous muggle poets,” he grinned as he set them down on the side table, and quietly left the room. Ron set the bouquet down on the sideboard, and sat down next to Hermione on the bed. The witch was positively beaming.


“Look, I messed up. I messed up really badly. I am so sorry, and I hope you will forgive me for being a complete dunderhead,” he said, holding her hand.


“You are forgiven,” she told him.


Ron sighed with relief. He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her softly.


“Ron…I--I have something to tell you,” she said.


“Whatever it is, it can wait,” he told her, kissing her hungrily. “Until I have you I won’t be able to focus on anything,” he breathed as he began to cup her breast through her shirt.


Hermione was lost for words as he took her, not really knowing what to do or say, or even think.