Hurt

All right, I've been on a mini-vacation that entailed college and chasing a toddler. Sorry for the lack of updates. I do have something to say to someone nicknamed ryuuko but that will be at the bottom of the page. I'm not even sure that this reviewer would even read this chapter. But hey, a review is a review! Keep 'em coming!

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“Severus, summon Mr. Malfoy for me, would you?” Albus inquires. The man nods and leaves the room. Remus watches as Hermione rubs her belly. “Kicking?” Albus asks. He chuckles when he sees the skin-tight shirt ripple with the babies’ movement. Hermione sighs and strokes her belly gently. They look up when the door opens. “It would appear that we have another guest,” Albus says.

Remus moves between Hermione and the door as the three men enter. “Honestly Dumbledore. Must your pet be here?” the older blonde man sneers. He glares at Remus until Albus clears his throat.

“Remus, sit down please,” he says. Remus nods and settles in the chair next to Hermione. “Lucius, I trust you remember Miss Granger?” Lucius looks to Hermione then his eyes widen. He flicks his gaze to Severus so the dark man nods minutely.

“Merlin! She’s huge!” Draco exclaims. Remus glares at the boy then looks at Hermione when she whimpers softly. The men frown at her so she bites her lip.

Albus stands from his chair and moves around to Hermione. “She is bearing triplets, Draco. Two boys and a girl,” he says. She looks up at him when he peers at her belly over the top of his glasses. “And they are very active,” he adds when the shirt visibly moves again. Hermione pokes her belly then giggles when one of the babies kicks back at her.

Lucius raises an eyebrow at Severus when he notices the slight smile tugging at the man’s lips. He glances at Draco to see the same smile visible on his. “How can you be sure they are mine or Severus’? She could have been pregnant before we even touched her,” he snaps. Everyone looks at him then Severus shakes his head.

“She was still in possession of her maidenhood when I took her,” Severus murmurs. He looks at Hermione again and smiles sadly. “Please accept my apology. It was a terrible mistake that shouldn’t have happened,” he whispers.

Hermione watches a single tear begin to roll down Severus’ cheek before he wipes it away under the pretense of scratching his temple. She bites her lip and looks at the floor in front of her. The sound of fabric rustling makes them look at her. Remus frowns as Hermione pads closer to Severus. “It hurt you know,” she whispers.

Severus nods. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I was just doing what I was ordered.”

“I’ll never be the same because of you. I-I’ll never be fully ‘normal’ again.” Hermione takes another step closer to him then rests her hand on her belly. The men jump when her hand lashes out lightning-quick. Severus staggers before his knees buckle and he sinks to the floor. “So you never forget,” Hermione hisses.

The dark man stares at her then touches his face. He draws his blood-stained hand away and gawks at it. Draco moves in front of Lucius as the older man takes an instinctive step back when Hermione looks at him. Severus extracts his handkerchief from his robe pocket and dabs at the bleeding wounds Hermione’s nails left. “I deserved that,” he says softly.

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The soft sound of Hermione’s humming reaches Remus’ ears when the man enters his chambers. “Remus, is that you?” Hermione calls.

“Yes love. Might I ask what you’re humming about?” he inquires. A short stroll across the room answers his question for him. Piles of infant clothing dot the area around the busy witch as she decorates a pale pink book. “Getting ready for a date that isn’t for another four months? It’s not even Christmas and we’re already running out of room for the baby stuff.”

Hermione giggles so Remus settles next to her on the floor. “I’ve decided to make the baby books myself. I still can’t decide on a theme though. Or names,” she says with a quick glance at him. He shrugs slightly and leans against the foot of the bed, an obvious bulge in his trousers catching her attention. “Remus.”

“Yes?”

“That was your cue to start thinking baby, not thinking baby-making,” she says. He looks at her with a raised eyebrow then leans closer to her. A shocked gasp escapes her lips when he runs the tip of his tongue along the shell of her ear.

“You know you want to,” he purrs. Shivers run along her spine as he nuzzles her neck. “Little help here?” he asks before pulling her into his lap.

Hermione snorts and pushes on Remus’ shoulder. “No Remus. I want to get this done before I change my mind. Sorry,” she whispers as she slips out of his lap. He sighs and nods.

Remus watches Hermione as she meticulously applies a strand of ribbon to the book in her ever disappearing lap. “Hermione? What prompted you to leave those scars on Severus’ face like that? All of the students have been talking the past week trying to figure out what happened to him. It wasn’t your emotions being out of control already, was it?” he asks fearfully.

The young witch silently finishes the cover of the pink book before she looks up at the man. “I was angry and I was hurting. The only thing I could think of was to smack him. To make him feel what he did to me… to us,” she says and rubs her belly when one of the babies stretches then somersaults. “I still can’t stomach the thought of being near enough to the elder Malfoy to even smell his shampoo. He makes my skin crawl. Ducks and frogs!” she exclaims suddenly.

“Erm… ducks and frogs?” Remus asks. Hermione nods and flashes him a huge grin.

“For the nursery! Ducks and frogs. Sounds cute to me. Doesn’t it to you?” she asks.

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“Ducks and frogs, Remus? Is she serious?” Sirius asks. The two friends sit in the Great Hall watching students file out after the noon meal. “Why can’t she have something normal? Quidditch, dragons, or unicorns. You know, normal?”

Remus chuckles. “To her ducks and frogs are normal. You must remember that she is a Muggleborn. Anyhow, that is what she is requesting for Christmas. Baby items with ducks and frogs on them. I’ve already informed Albus, Minerva, and Poppy. Albus thought it was cute,” he murmurs.

Both men look up when the chair next to Remus scrapes the floor and Severus sits in it. “Snape,” Sirius hisses. Remus nods to the dark man so Severus nods in return.

“What would she like for the holidays?” he asks. “For the babies, I mean.” Sirius glares at him and stands.

“Nothing from you, I’m sure. You’ve done enough, stay out of her life,” he snarls. A soft gasp makes the men turn around. Hermione stares at Sirius in horror then looks at Severus.

“I’ve decided on ducks and frogs for the nursery. If you’d like to get something for them, I’d appreciate the gesture…” she whispers. Severus nods in response then stands. “I-I didn’t mean to make the other students ask about you,” she says and motions to the healing scars on his cheek and nose.

Severus dismisses the comment with a snort. “I deserved it. I wear them with honor that a girl… no, a woman that I wronged had the backbone to stand up to me. It will give me something to tell the children when they are older. If you like me to stick around, that is.”

Hermione raises an eyebrow at him and glares. “You really think I’m going to let you run off while I’m pregnant with one, if not all three, of your children? Are you insane man? I expect you to care for them no matter what. And if you bring the Dark Lord into the picture at all, so help me Snape, you will wish for Cruciatus a hundred times over by the time I’m done with you!”

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A/N: Another chapter up, even though it took FOREVER!!! Don't ask what prompted the ducks and frogs, I just think they're cute.... Anyhooz, here is the response to that reviewer like I promised above:

ryuuko: I'm not angered by your review, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I did, however, state in the story: Poppy has never had to deliver a child. Meaning she may not know everything that comes with a multiple pregnancy. It is also possible for a woman to have a set of fraternal twins with different fathers. If the intercourse took place close enough together and the woman happened to ovulate two eggs, then one egg could be fertilized by each man. But the main thing I'm trying to say is: it's MY story... and it's FICTION.