Maternal Instinct

Hermione went home that night feeling like a silly school girl with a crush. She got home before Ron, so she decided to have a shower, but as she stood under the water, she couldn't stop laughing. Actually, she was giggling. Giggling!

She was giggling over Severus Snape!

Hermione knew it was his house and he was entitled to be in which ever room he liked, but how was she supposed to look after his daughter when she could feel him watching from the door way? How was she supposed to concentrate on Corrin when he would reach out and touch her whenever she passed?

But, if she really let herself admit it, she loved the attention he gave her. Now that she looked back, Viktor had never been so affectionate. Viktor had never made her giggle! Not even when they had first met as teenagers.

Now, she was a fully-grown woman giggling over a fully-grown man! The thought just made Hermione laugh more. She got out of the shower, dried her hair, put her dressing gown on and went down stairs.

Ron was in the living room writing a letter, so Hermione got a cup of tea and sat in one of the chairs by him.

He looked up, "Where were you last night?"

Hermione blushed slightly and cleared her throat, "Corrin was feeling a sick and Severus had to go out..."

"Oh, it's Severus now, is it?" Ron made a face and scanned through his letter, mumbling, "You're mad, Hermione. Why don't you get a proper job again? You know, get away from that big bat and his spawn..."

Hermione frowned, "Ron! That's not nice! Corrin’s great; she can't help who her parents are! I don't want a proper job. Not after working with her. I don't want all the pressures that I had when I worked at the Ministry! I'm happy as I am now. Can't you just leave it?"

Ron sighed, "So what am I meant to tell Harry? He'll want to know why you don't leave Severus now that you're not with Viky!"

"Just tell him that I’m not ready for any more changes yet." Hermione said quietly.

He looked up from the letter, "Aw, Hermione... Look, I’m sorry. I didn't mean... I just meant that maybe you should get away from Snape. I know it's been tough for you... I didn't mean to push you..."

Hermione shrugged, "Don't worry. Just, let me make my own decisions about my life."

Ron nodded as he stood up, "I need to go and send this. Are you going to bed in a minute?"

She nodded, "Yeah."

"Alright, I’ll see you in the morning." Rolling the letter up, he left the room.

""""""""""""""""""""

Severus rolled over on to his back and stared into the darkness. Because he was at Hogwarts most of the year, he was used to sleeping on his own. Just not in this bed.

It was cold. He wanted Hermione’s warm skin so much. Now that she seemed to accept the thing that was going on between them - whatever it was - he wanted her even more; he couldn't stop thinking about her. He wanted her there, warm and soft beside him. He wasn't sure why, but suspected that it was purely because she was warm and soft.

The next morning, Severus woke up early, annoyed because he had hardly slept at all. Then he found a letter from Albus. The old man wanted to talk to him about something.

As soon as Hermione arrived, he told her. She smiled, nodded and told him to go. He checked that Corrin was not around, before he kissed Hermione quickly... well, not so quickly. Finally, she pushed him away and he left.

""""""""""""""""""""

Hermione and Corrin were in the back garden. Mr. Snuggles was curled up inside, getting some well-deserved sleep.

"Where do you go when you aren't here?" Corrin asked suddenly.

Hermione looked up, "I go home."

"Where's your home?"

"A long way from here. I live with my friend, Ron." She told the girl.

"Why don't you live here?" Corrin cocked her head to one side.

Hermione smiled, "I only work here. Like your dad; he works, but he comes home in the holidays, doesn't he?"

Corrin nodded and looked down at the grass under them, "I don't like it. I don't like it when it's just mummy and me... But she's gone now! What about me? Will you stay with me?"

"I... I'm not sure..." Hermione shrugged, "You'll have to ask your dad about that..."

The girl looked up at her with big black eyes, "Can you ask him for me?"

Smiling, Hermione nodded, "Yeah... of course I'll ask him for you-" Hermione stopped when she heard the faint sound of the doorbell. "Stay here. I'll go and get that."

Hermione left the back garden and went through the house to the front door. She opened it and frowned. There was no one there. Shaking her head, Hermione closed the door. Slowly, she went back through the house.

She stepped out of the back door and froze. Corrin was still sitting on the grass drawing a picture, but a man was standing behind her.

A very familiar man. Too familiar, for Hermione's liking.

Hermione cleared her throat, and the man and Corrin looked up. "Corrin, could you go inside, please."

The girl looked around, noticed the man and ran inside. Hermione slid the door shut behind Corrin. Lucius Malfoy smirked and strolled across the garden, swinging the snake headed cane in his gloved hand. Money, it seemed, couldn't buy happiness, but it could buy a ticket out of Azkaban.

"Ah, Miss Granger," He inclined his head in a smug manner that annoyed Hermione, "I had heard you were working here... Is Severus in?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, I’m afraid he's out at the moment."

On hearing this, the mans whole demeanor changed. His smirk changed into a sneer, his chin lifted and he stepped closer, looking down his nose at her. Hermione swallowed and stepped back, closer to the door.

"Well," He said coldly, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

She shook her head, "No... I-I don't think I can do that... If you want me to pass on a message, I will."

Malfoy chuckled cruelly, "It seems that the rumors are true then; Severus has decided to take on a mudblood whore."

Hermione frowned, "What...?"

"Didn't Viktor tell you that I know his parents extremely well?" he gloated, "Well, obviously not. Yes, everybody in our social circle knows about your infidelity. Most people were shocked, but I don't know what they expected, really, considering the fact that you're basically the same as a muggle."

Hermione glared at him, "I think you should leave. Now."

Malfoy tutted, "Now, now, Miss. Mudblood, don't get idea's above your station... I think you were about to invite me in, weren't you?"

"No, I was not." Hermione growled, "I was telling you to go away!"

One leather covered hand shot up like lightening, curling around her neck and holding her against the glass of the door; cold grey eyes glinted, as their owner hissed, "Think very carefully about your next move, Mudblood." Hermione’s hand felt the pocket of her jeans, trying to find her wand, but Malfoy noticed and looked like he was about to talk. But something else caught his eye. His thumb moved, pressing down on her lower lip and Hermione winced slightly; the cut that Viktor had given her had healed, but it still stung. Malfoy inspected it closely, smirking, "Hm, yes. Krum did mention something about this." His grey eyes flickered quickly up to hers, "That man has good sense; what use is a mudblood anyway? Let alone one that can't have children?"

Hermione went rigid, "He can't have children either, you know. Or did he forget to mention that?"

Malfoy laughed, "He can't have children? Well, it looks like he did forget to mention it. You mean he made you have sex with his every night under the pretence that you were trying for a baby? When he knew he couldn't have children? I shall have to congratulate him on that scheme; it's genius!" He took a deep breath, "But you can't have children anyway. Thank Merlin for that! Your lot shouldn't be allowed to reproduce!"

Hermione felt tears stinging in her eyes and tried breathing quickly to stop them leaking out. She wanted to shout at him, but she knew that, if she spoke, she would cry. And that was not happening.

Sneering maliciously, he tightened his fingers around her throat, as he said impatiently, "Now, are we going inside or will I have to -" There was the pop of apparation and Malfoy turned his head, "Ah, Severus! Just the person I wanted to see -"

Hermione sighed, relieved that she didn't have to be alone with the blonde man any more. Severus glared at Malfoy, until the grey-eyed man dropped his hand from her neck.

"What do you want?" He asked quietly.

Malfoy smirked, "No need to worry. I can talk to you another time." He looked down at Hermione, "When you're not busy, perhaps?"

Hermione rubbed her throat as Malfoy stepped back and disappeared. As soon as he was gone, Severus turned to her, "What did he want?"

She shrugged, "I... I'm not sure..."

Severus pulled her close to him and drew her hand away from her neck so he could inspect her skin, "Are you alright?"

"Fine," She said dismissively, "I'm fine..."

""""""""""""""""""""

Severus held her close and kissed the top of her head. There was a reason why other Death Eaters had never left their wives or daughters alone with Lucius Malfoy. It had been said that Narcissa had been found to have large bruises in odd places, and she was his wife! What chance did the five-year-old daughter of a traitor and a mudblood have?

The only woman that Lucius would never have touched was Bellatrix, but only because she was just as sadistic as him - if not more so! And the only reason the Dark Lord had never let Lucius torture people for information was because the older Malfoy never knew when to stop. He may act like a gentleman, but even when Severus had been a true Death Eater, he had always found Lucius to be sick. Very, very sick.

The thought of the blonde man anywhere near Corrin or Hermione made Severus nauseous. He put his arm around Hermione and they went inside. Corrin looked up from stroking her cat.

"Who was that?" She asked.

Severus shook his head, "Nobody,"

"Did you buy me anything when you were out?"

Severus was slightly shocked; Amy had always bought Corrin everything. Then, he felt an arm slide around his waist and a weight dropped into his pocket. Hermione withdrew her arm and Severus pulled out... a bar of some sot of chocolate. Corrin saw it, jumped up and ran over.

"Thank you, daddy." She took it from his hand and threw her arms around him.

Severus stood there, surprised. Finally Corrin let go and went back over to her cat. Then Severus realized that Hermione had gone. He found her in the kitchen; she had her back to him, looking out of the window. She must have heard her, as she sniffed and turned quickly to face him.

"Is Corrin alright?" She asked, "I think he scared her."

"She'll be alright now." Severus said, moving forwards and putting his arms around her, "But I don't think it's just her that he scared."

Hermione shook her head, looking away from him, "No... I wasn't scared. I just found out that he's friends with Viktor's family and that every person they socialize with knows that I can't have children and think that I’m your whore... I'd rather have been scared of him than finding out that..."

"You should be scared of him." Severus told her.

She still didn't look at him, but smiled humorlessly, "What's the worst he could do? Kill me? Death is not something I’m scared of."

Severus lifted her chin, making her look straight into his eyes, "But what would happen if he did kill you one day? Did you ever think of that?"

She shook her head, "Nothing would happen. Of course, Harry and Ron was be upset, but I’ve got no husband and I will never have any children... There is nothing for me to be scared of leaving, if I died."

"What about me?" He asked quietly, "What about Corrin?”