Maternal Instinct

Hermione and Severus jumped apart. Looking up, Severus realized that not only Amy was staring at them, but also a very red Viktor Krum.

It would have been missed by anybody but a Slytherin, so Severus saw Amy's eyes flickered to Hermione and narrow, before she looked back to him and wailed, "I knew this was happening! Don't you love me any more? You stopped telling me you loved me, but I never thought you would do this!"

As a few tears rolled down Amy's cheeks Severus glanced at Hermione. She looked completely shocked and utterly guilty. Not for being caught, but for the fact that it had ever happened at all and that Amy was now crying.

But they were fake tears! Amy would have been a Slytherin if she hadn't schooled at Beauxbatons. She was only jealous that some one other than her was getting attention!

He stood up and said quietly, "I never told you I loved you, Amy. There was not a chance in hell of that happening!"

"NO!" She screamed, "You used to tell me every day! Now I know why you stopped! You got tired of me and found some one younger!"

"Yes, actually," Severus sneered, holding out the divorce papers, "So why don't you just sign these and leave?"

"You want me to leave!" She cried, "Why? We were so in love! We have a daughter! Don't you love her?"

Severus felt like she had slapped him. Of course he loved Corrin! He may not know how to show it much, but he did love her! How dare Amy even suggest that he didn't?

His fingers curled into fists and he was trying his hardest not to shout at Amy, when his attention was caught by the conversation going on between the other two people.

Krum's head looked like a tomato - he was so red - and he was shaking, "I came here to take you back! So that you would not have to suffer the humiliation of crawling back to me! I knew you would be at work, but I did not think that your work was sleeping with you employer!"

Hermione looked outraged, "How dare you! You lied to me! You used me! Why would I ever come back to you, let alone crawl? You really have a problem with insecurity, you know that! Why would I ever want to be with you again?"

"Because you want my fame!" Krum insisted, his voice growing louder, "You want to be recognized! Every one respects me, and so should you, but no! You used me! Do not accuse me of your crime!"

"I don't - and never did - want anything from you, especially your fame! All I asked for was you honesty!" Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself, "Leave me alone, Viktor. I never want to see you again."

She turned to go, but one of his huge, ape-like hands wrapped around her arm, spinning her round, while the other hand swung down across her face. She would have been thrown across the garden, but Krum held her arm tightly, jerking her upright before she fell over.

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Hermione gasped for breath, the metallic tasting blood bubbling up and seeping from her lip, as Viktor raised his hand again. But, before she could even flinch, his grasp was ripped from her arm and seconds later he hit the trunk of a tree a few feet away. He slipped down to the ground and, although he was looking around angrily, he seemed too dazed to get up.

Looking around, Hermione noticed Severus had his wand pointed at Viktor, before was hugged by a tear-stained Amy and the woman sobbed, "I don't blame you! He used to love me and I still love him, but I knew one day he would just cast me aside like a wet fish!"

Amy stepped back, leaving Hermione feeling so terrible that it actually hurt. Why hadn't she just stayed at home this morning? Carefully she touched her lip and winced. She knew Viktor had a temper, but she never thought he was actually hit her after she had left him!

Feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole situation, Hermione ignored the other three people and apparated back to Ron's house.

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With his wand already out, it was easy for Severus to track the place that Hermione had disappeared to. He ignored Amy’s screams and yells of displeasure, and apparated before she could grab him, or before he hexed her.

Well, Ronald Weasley had certainly moved up a few classes. It was a nasty thought - Molly and Arthur were nice people - but Severus just couldn't stand their youngest son. He was annoying, pushy, rude, immature, stroppy... there were so many words to describe how much Ronald Weasley irritated him.

Taking a deep breath - and wondering if he was mad by even being there - Severus knocked on the door of the huge house.

There was some rustling from inside, then he heard her tired, yet thoroughly annoyed voice, "Harry! If that's you, I’ll kill you for making me get up! How many times do I have to tell you that you can just come -" The door opened and she fell silent. Her lower lip was bleeding from what looked like a deep cut. "W-what are you doing here?" Before he could answer, she shook her head, "Actually, I don't want to know." She tried to shut the door, but he jammed his foot in the way; she looked down for a moment. She didn't look up, but she sighed and opened the door again, "Fine... But you'll have to go in minute. Ron will be home and... Well, it's not a good idea that your here when he gets back..."

She turned and he followed her down a hall, through a door to the left and into a huge, shinning, silver kitchen. He stopped just inside the door, but Hermione moved further into the room, putting space between them.

She turned to face him, and Severus could tell that she was trying hard not to bite her stinging lip. "Thank you," She said quietly, "Really, thank you, but I -"

"Didn't need my help?" Severus guessed, walking slowly closer, "Had it all under control?"

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Hermione blinked, nodded slightly and straightened her shoulders as he approached. She really was grateful that he had hex Viktor, but she couldn't stop thinking about Amy and her tears. She couldn't help feeling so utterly guilty.

It wasn't her problem though, she told herself firmly. Severus Snape had kissed her first, and she couldn't help the fact that she had liked it... or at least her body had. She did not want to be involved with a married man more than she already had been, and even that time she had sort of taken advantage of him. His daughter had been in hospital extremely ill; why had she ever slept with him when he was in such an emotional situation.

Well, he hadn't shown any emotion, but he must have been very upset to drink as much as he had that night. Hermione had never known him to show a proper emotion, except irritation and displeasure, but no father could watch their daughter be so ill - by the mother’s hand - and not be affected!

Now, he was so close that Hermione could feel the warmth radiating from him. She took half a step back, letting out a long breath, but he reached out for her arm. His grip was a lot lighter than Viktor’s as he carefully drew her closer.

Hermione's heart felt as if it was trying to force its way through her chest, as Severus gently lifted her chin. He frowned, looking at her lip critically.

His dark gaze flickered up to hers and he raised an eyebrow, "Everything under control, indeed?"

Hermione moved away, using the sleeve of her t-shirt to wipe her lip, "It'll be fine. You really should go in a minute... Amy was very upset."

"The tears weren't really." He said quietly, "She was just jealous because she wasn't getting attention."

"I don't care," She shook her head, leaning back against on of the counters, "I did a horrible thing... No. You did a horrible thing. You knew I wanted to avoid what happened just then!"

"Don't blame me for your unnecessary guilt!" He growled.

"It is your fault, though!" Hermione almost shouted, "Why shouldn't I blame you? What are you going to do? Take points from Gryffindor?"

He hissed, "I might..."

Hermione nodded and turned to look out of the window behind her, muttering acidly, "Yeah, I bet you would. I mean, it's not like a grudge ever stopped you taking points from Gryffindor, is it?" She sighed, "Just go home and make sure that Viktor hasn't eaten Amy, or something!"

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Severus said good-bye quietly and went home. Krum was gone, Corrin was in her bedroom and Amy was drinking wine straight out of the bottle.

As she finished the bottle, Severus had an idea and he asked, "Do you want another?"

She nodded, hiccoughing. Severus went to the kitchen and found another bottle of wine. Taking it with him, he unlocked a cupboard in the library and dug around until he found the potion her was looking for - an alcohol enhancer.

He poured it into the wine and then took it to Amy. She snatched it from Severus and started to gulp it down. When the bottle was finished, she had nearly passed out.

Severus placed a quill in her hand and pushed some papers into her lap, "Sign!"

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The sound of the doorbell woke Hermione the next morning. She turned onto her back and sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. She had never had a dream about a man before like the one she had had last night. And who was the man? Severus Snape.

She was going mad! It was the only explanation! She was back living with Ron, she had spilt up with Viktor, she couldn't have children and she was having dreams about Severus Snape that would have scarred her severely a few years ago.

But, then again, it was exactly that: a few years ago. She was older now and more experienced in the way of men - or so she had thought until Viktor completely took advantage of her! She had never been a person to do something on pure desire; she liked to think things through and she liked to choose men she thought she loved. But maybe this time she should just... let go.

Well, she had the last time she had slept with Severus, so why couldn't she now? The only thing she had ever been sure of having in her life, ever since she was little, was a child and now she couldn't have that, so what was the point in looking for marriage. What man would ever want to have a long-term relationship with a woman who couldn't have children?

Of course, there was adoption and fostering, but Hermione had heard how emotionally hard it could be and she wasn't sure she was up to it at the moment. Or if she ever would be.

Hermione rolled onto her stomach and was about to try and go back to sleep, when there was a knock on her door and Ron poked his head in.

"Get up, you've got a visitor..." He huffed.

Hermione sat up, "Go away and let me get dressed then!"

"That'll take ages!" He whined, "I don't want that man in my house any longer than he has to be! Just put on a dressing grown or something! And hurry up about it!"

As Ron shut the door, Hermione slammed her fist into a pillow. There was only one person - except Voldemort - that would inspire such hatred in Ron.

Why had he come back? Hadn't she made it clear that she didn't want to know? But her own mind seemed to be turning against her, as she realized that she was sorry about their argument yesterday and that she was, perhaps, glad he was here.

Shouting at herself mentally, Hermione rolled off of the bed, tied her hair up, put a dressing gown on and went slowly down stairs. Ron stalked out of the kitchen and pointed to the living room, mouthing, 'Hurry up and get him out!'

He left for work, and Hermione took a deep breath. She pushed open the living room door and was immediately handed a piece of parchment.

Without even acknowledging Severus, she read through the papers. He seemed to notice when she was finished, for he said quite simply, "She signed, as you can see, so now I’m divorced."

Hermione sighed, "It can't be that simple..."

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Severus was glad that the first word out of her mouth wasn't 'no'. He wished that he had opened his eyes the morning after their night together, as he looked at Hermione now. She looked human, like she had just got out of bed; Amy never looked like that, she always had styling spells on her hair, even at night.

"It is that simple," He told her, "Muggles fuss around a lot, but in the Wizarding World all you have to do to divorce is sign the papers."

Hermione shook her head, handing back the papers, "And Amy really signed them?"

"Yes."

"Willingly?" When he didn't answer, she shook her head again, "I don't even want to know. Where will she go?"

Severus shrugged, "I don't care. She's already left anyway."

"Where's Corrin?" She asked with wide eyes.

Severus frowned and growled, "Still playing with that blasted kitten!"

"You left her on her own!"

"For two seconds while I came to see you!"

Hermione sighed, "Then you should go home now and make sure she hasn't burned the house down."

"You're coming, too." he said, "You gave her he cat, so you can clean up the hair."

She ignored his last sentence and brushed a curl of hair away from her eyes, as she said quietly, "But Amy employed me. Now that she's gone, do I still have a job?"

Severus smirked, "I thought you had resigned."

"Maybe I have," She shrugged, "But if I was to reconsider quitting, would I still have a job?"

He nodded, "Certainly."

She let out a long breath, "Alright... I... ah, I should probably go and get dressed -"

Severus grabbed her arm before she could turn to the door, "You know this means that I’m not married any more."

She nodded and sighed, "Yes, but it's none of my business. Excuse me."

Hermione pulled her arm from his grip and left the room.