Room of Requirement

Since they planned to delay their honeymoon until Easter Break, Severus and Hermione spent the period after Christmas moving her things from the Head Girl’s quarters to the dungeons. Far from being emotional, as she expected, she was surprised to find herself glad to be shot of Gryffindor Tower. She had lovely memories of the place, and still enjoyed time with her friends as much as ever, but she felt much more comfortable living with adults. Sweets that turned people into birds became ever so slightly less funny after the fortieth time.

Severus’ had changed his quarters considerably since she’d last been there. It seemed that while she was off shopping for lingerie and practicing her makeup, he’d been decorating, trying to make his quarters more welcoming to his young wife. He’d magicked the walls around a bit, and as a result they now had what would be a fairly decent sized house for a young family- except that it was hidden in the dungeons of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This didn’t bother Hermione one bit, however, and she was off exploring her first proper home as a married woman.

He sat back and took in Hermione’s wonderment at their house. He’d expanded his bedroom to be a master bedroom of sorts. It was decorated in a quaint, warm Scandinavian style. A wooden, four-poster bed stood in the middle, painted a vibrant red. The wide plank, oak floors were whitewashed, and there were two tall, red dressers, on opposite walls. A matching red vanity with a huge, heart shaped mirror stood by the door, and the windows, which were plentiful (in the dungeon, no less), were hung with red and white checked curtains. Fluffy red and white area rugs were strewn randomly about, the largest in front of a huge fireplace. A fire quietly crackled, and a spicy, apple and clove scent filled the room. It was incredibly cheery and comfortable.

Its cheeriness, however, was nothing compared to what he’d done to the nursery. He’d actually replicated the nursery that had heralded Hermione’s pregnancy. He’d also added two gliders and an alarming amount of teddy bears. In addition, Severus had added a playroom, a huge master bathroom with a sunken whirlpool tub, (he’d specifically had her impending discomfort in mind) and a spare bedroom. She looked at him quizzically when she showed her the spare room. “Just in case,” he laughed and placed a hand on her growing tummy.


Hermione was eager for classes to start again. She wanted to make sure she’d be ready to take her N.E.W.T.s early enough to give her a week-long break before the babies arrived. Hermione had been spending almost all over her free time at home studying.

Severus worried about her propensity to throw herself into her schoolwork. Briefly he’d considered asking her to postpone it until the babies arrived, but he hastily decided this would probably be the quickest route to divorce. He was terrified, however, that her Gryffindor foolhardiness might blind her to the strain she was going to undoubtedly endure.

January came, and the new term began. Although Hermione wasn’t the first student to become pregnant while at Hogwarts, it had become increasingly less common as the years wore on. By her first day back, she had to magic her uniform to fit her, and she felt very conspicuous, as she was beginning to walk less than gracefully.

To make matters much worse, she seemed to have attained socially untouchable status. With the exception of her close friends, everyone either ignored her or talked about her as if she wasn’t able to hear them. Malfoy was particularly vicious, saying awful things about her wher Snr Snape was out of earshot. Pansy Parkinson took to affecting an exaggerated waddle whenever Hermione walked by, pulling rude faces and miming. Although not funny or hurtful, it did make Hermione feel even more conspicuous.

She began to hide up in the Astronomy Tower between classes, not wanting to be home without Severus. While she was up there, looking down on the grounds, she’d think back to all of her memories of school, reflecting on the fact that she really was now a woman. In a little over a decade, if all went well, she’d be watching her children be sorted and starting their magical education.

And where would she be? Would she even finish her education? What if she became another washed out, emotionally drained, educationally bereft housewife? She forced these thoughts out of her mind- she would persevere, she would do everything expected of her prior to her pregnancy. A tear had traveled halfway down her cheek before she noticed it and wiped it away, sniffling.

The door from the stairs beside her gently creaked open.

\"Who\'s there?\" she asked timidly, suddenly feeling very alone.