Chasing Destiny

A/n - thanks for he reviews folks!!! love em, keep it up!!









Hermione lay on her bed and put a hand on her stomach closing her eyes. She wondered what her baby would look like. She thought of the joy her child would bring her and how she would look after it. She pictured a small cottage in the woods somewhere where she would raise her child. She imagined playing in the sun and watching as her son or daughter took their first steps. Then a strange image came into her head. She imagined someone’s arms grabbing her and pulling her to face him, only to kiss her on the forehead and laugh with her. He then twirled her around and she was smiling. He picked the child up and they embraced. It was Severus. They were a family.



Hermione sat up on the bed and realised that she couldn’t raise their baby without him. She knew he loved her and she knew that he would tell her so tomorrow at The Three Broomsticks. She went to have a bath and relax before sleeping, knowing that she wouldn’t have time tomorrow before going to meet her parents. Trying not to think about them, Hermione pictured the little cottage once again and smiled at what she saw.



Severus was asleep at his desk. He had been for some time. He stirred as the owl pecked at the window and eventually got up to let it in. The message was dropped at his desk and the owl left without so much as a pause.



Severus looked down and grimaced as he recognised the Malfoy seal and tore open the letter.



……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..



Hermione walked down the path on her way into Hogsmeade and hoped that her robes were loose enough to hide her growing stomach. She had been having trouble getting into her muggle attire for a while now. Even the loop she had fixed around the button hole on her jeans was too small so she had opted for robes until she could buy some bigger garments. Approaching The Three Broomsticks, she took a deep breath and entered. Her parents stood immediately and hugged her. Carefull not to let them touch her stomach, she looked around for Severus but he was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps, she thought, he was hiding from her parents. Or her. Mr. And Mrs. Granger had already ordered drinks and were happily drinking butterbeer. They were now used to travelling into the magical world to visit their daughter. Since the death of Voldemort, the rules had loosened up on muggles. Hermione selected the safer beverage of orange juice and sat down opposite them. She was taking no chances after The Yule ball.



“Oh Hermione, how we missed you this Christmas.” Her mother chimed as soon as she had taken her seat. “Its wonderful to see you my darling.” Her mother reached over and hugged her again over the table.



“Mom, dad, I have something to tell you.” Her parents looked at her lovingly and Hermione thought that perhaps everything would be alright. She took a sip of her orange juice. “I have decided to abstain from the whole university experience and attend an apprenticeship instead.” She looked at their confused faces and smiled.



“An apprenticeship?” Her father asked.



“Don’t worry. I’ll still get a degree. It’s just that I want to become a mistress in potions and the best way to achieve this is to have an existing Potions Master or Mistress give you an apprenticeship. The thing is, you don’t get many who are willing to give up their time to teach someone their knowledge.” Her parents looked bewildered. “Its good news really. I found a Master who is more than willing to teach me. He says I have more potential than he thought possible in someone so young. It’s even going to cost less. I’ll still be at Hogwarts and you…”



“Hogwarts?” Her mother cut in.



“Well yes. That’s where the Potions Master teaches. He outlined the course for me and it takes less than half the time it would if I went to uni.” She tried to look excited rather than nervous.



“Well this is wonderful news darling.” Her father beamed.



“Yes.” Her mother agreed. “We’re so proud of you.” She raised her glass. “To our Hermione. The future Potions Mistress.”



“No. Wait. We need something stronger to really toast it.” Mr. Granger stood and walked around the table to the bar. Hermione grabbed his arm.



“Wait dad. I have some more news for you and I can’t drink alcohol at the moment anyway.” She was welling up already.



“What is it honey and why ever can’t you dr…” Her mother’s eyes dropped to the swollen stomach that hid underneath the table. “Oh Hermione.” She too, was now welling up. Her father, clueless to the exchange sat back at the table.



“What on earth is going on?” He was worried.



“Well… dad… I’m pregnant.”



“WHAT?” The normally very calm man shouted. “Who’s the father? Harry Potter? Or is it that Weasley boy? Tell me Hermione.”



Hermione had never seen her father this mad before. She had seen him relatively close when she dropped Mrs. Bristow’s false teeth in the fish tank when she was six but this was worse.



“None of them. It’s someone else. Someone you don’t know.” She whispered as tears streaked down her cheeks.



“Well tell me who. I demand to know the name of the man I am to call son. When’s the wedding?” He raged.



“Look, dad. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him about it yet. I’ve been arranging my apprenticeship and organising care for when the baby comes. We had an argument and have only recently made up. I promise I’ll tell you more when we’ve spoken. When the arrangements are made about what I’m going to do, you’ll be the first to know.” Hermione held her breath and waited for a reply. Her father slammed his fist on the table.



“How could you do this to us? You aren’t even going to marry him and I’m supposed to wait until you have made up your mind?” He stood up shaking his head and walked out of the pub.



“Oh mom. Please talk to him. Please make him see sense. He can’t expect me to get married at this age. In the Wizarding community. Once you marry someone, you have to spend your life with them. There’s no such thing as a divorce. You’re spiritually bound to them forever.” Hermione looked over at her mother who gave her a disappointed look.



“You don’t know if you want to marry him but you’re more than willing to have his child and at your age, you should have heard of a condom.” Her mother stood up and put on her coat. “I’ll talk to him Hermione but you need to be ready to tell us something soon. He won’t rest until he knows you’re going to be able to give this child a good home and a life it doesn’t have to be ashamed of.”



Hermione sat at the table and finished off her juice. She hadn’t known what to say. There was more to this than they understood. She looked around one last time for Severus and sighed. It was well past three and he had promised to be there all afternoon.



Where was he?



Snape sat in Lucius Malfoy’s living room and waited. He had meant to meet Hermione but this couldn’t wait. What did he want?



“Severus. Hello.”



“Lucius.” Snape nodded.



“I suppose you’re wondering what I want from you since I found out your true alliances in all of this?” He sneered.



“Well it would help.” Severus stared into the cold grey eyes before him and tried to figure out what they wanted.



“I just wanted to know how Hermione’s doing. After all, she probably can’t get over what you did to her and I’m wondering if she’s free yet? You know, Draco has had his eye on her for quite some time now. I’ll bet she’s simply gagging for it.” Lucius laughed and Severus drew his wand.



“You will stay away from Hermione and instruct your son to do the same. I’ll not tell you again and don’t expect me to come here again for your sick games and foolish baiting.” Severus went to leave.



“You think that’s why I called you here? That was just a little bit of fun before we got down to the real topic.”



Severus turned around “Which is?”



“Your child of course.”











A/n – Dun dun duuuuuuun!!! Review and I may let you have the next chapter soon, after all, I have finished this story, I’m just sooo evil!!