A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 17 ~ The Talk


Aphrodite was no pushover and definitely knew how to create incentive. When Hermes entered her abode, he found everything in it adapted to his size, including the goddess. Aphrodite took him to the duvet, sat down and let him recline, the god’s head resting in her lap. She removed his helmet and stroked his temples as she told him the volatile situation the three mortals faced. Afterwards, Aphrodite proceeded to kiss, pet and stimulate Hermes, until he rose and took her down to the duvet, ready to consummate their agreement.

Suddenly he found Aphrodite and the room full-sized again.

“Aphrodite,” he groaned as his erection throbbed.

The goddess waggled a finger at him.

“When you have successfully changed the outcome of this conversation, Hermes, I promise to give you what you desire and more. I will be a slave for you for one night,” the goddess said, giving him a sultry, promising look.

Hermes hands dropped between his legs and he rubbed his hard-on fretfully.

”Aphrodite, they should have an alternate name for you. The Goddess of Blue Balls,” he said to her, a pained look on his face.

“Take care of this for me and they won’t be blue for long, Hermes,” the goddess replied with a wicked smile.

“But I already agreed to help you, Aphrodite. Why treat me this way?” the god asked, putting his helmet back on.

“Agreement is not success, Hermes. If I give it up to you now and you fail, then it would have all been for nothing,” Aphrodite replied.

“Not from where I’m sitting,” Hermes grumbled, then floated into the air, his winged shoes fluttering.

“All right. I’m on my way to earth to see what I can do. Do you want to come with me?” he asked the goddess, his brown eyes washing over her now huge, but still divine assets.

“I can’t. My presence there will be construed as ‘interfering.’ I have to wait until all plays out before I can appear. So you are going to be on your own, Hermes. Succeed, my god and your reward will be waiting for you,” Aphrodite said, drawing her hands down her body sensuously.

”Zeus,” Hermes breathed as he looked at her, “I’m gone, Aphrodite…but I warn you…expect quite a bit of action when I return.”

”Go get ‘em, tiger,” she grinned, raking a clawed hand at him and pretending to bite.

Hermes zoomed through the white tiled floor.

”Males,” Aphrodite said to herself with a smile, “They should be born with leashes attached to their cocks. It would make it even easier to lead them about.”

Yes, the goddess did know how to create incentive.

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The gods were no better than mortals when it came to understanding what true power is. Just because Hermes was small in stature, it didn’t mean his powers were less than any of their own. In fact, Hermes could have been the most influential god of all concerning mortals, but the gods were also as flawed as humans in that they underestimated themselves.

The truth was communication was the key to all interactions, increasing understanding and trust between human beings. Hermes could have greatly affected the course of human destiny, preventing wars, murders and other acts of violence that afflicted humanity. But he never saw his own worth and that was the shame of it all.

Still, if he could influence the outcome of this triangle, it would mean saving the lives of four mortals and as insignificant as that seems in the grand scheme of things, it had a bearing on the world.

Hermes appeared in Hermione’s rooms first, finding the witch asleep and looking inside her mind and then her heart. He tasked and shook his head.

”Not the right approach,” he said softly, touching a tiny finger to Hermione’s temple. The witch shifted and rolled to her side.

”There, that should help,” Hermes said, and then he took off to locate Ron, who was asleep in Lavender’s bed, the witch tangled around him. Both were nude.

Hermes studied Ron.

”Understanding and Empathy,” the god said, touching Ron’s temple. The wizard shifted and pulled Lavender against him tighter.

Hermes then returned to Hogwarts and entered Snape’s private rooms to find the wizard up and pacing back and forth.

”I don’t think I need to enhance anything with you, wizard,” Hermes said to the fretting wizard, “You already know what needs to be said and done. You just have to find it in you to do it.”

Hermes exited the wizard’s domain. He’d done what he could. Hopefully, it would be enough. Mortals were so unpredictable.

Snape paused and frowned, looking about the room. He felt…something. Then it was gone. He continued pacing again.

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The next morning, Hermione awoke with an abnormally clear head. For the past few weeks, she’d felt muddle-headed each morning. Of course, Severus’ presence the night before could have had a lot to do with that. He hadn’t stayed last night, so naturally the witch attributed her clear-headedness to getting a decent night’s sleep.

The first thing she did after showering and dressing was to write a message to Ron and go up to the owlery and send it off to the Ministry. She made it very plain that it was important that he meet her down by the lake at six o’clock and that they needed to have a talk.

On her way back to her rooms, she met Severus, who looked rather tired as he exited his office. She stopped.

”I am meeting Ron by the lake at six this evening,” she said to the wizard shortly, then quickly walked past him.

He looked after her, watching her enter her rooms. When the door closed, he turned and walked up the dungeon corridor.

Come six o’clock, he would be at the lake.

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A rather tired Ronald Weasley arrived at the Ministry and found Hermione’s message waiting for him on his desk. He opened it and read it, a cold feeling forming in his belly. He stared at the parchment, sighed and folded it up, sticking it in his robes pocket.

Yes, they did need to talk…but he wasn’t sure how well it would go. Hermione was pregnant with his child, but he didn’t think he should marry her…not when he was so drawn to Lavender. He couldn’t love Hermione as much as he thought if he wanted to be with another witch. But to back out of a marriage with a witch pregnant with his child was reprehensible. Yet, to marry someone he wasn’t sure he wanted to stay with for the rest of his life was even worse in his estimation. He could still give the child his name and support it, though Hermione might still have problems because her last name would still reflect her unmarried state, which was frowned on in Wizarding Society.

Perhaps, perhaps they could have an “open” marriage and live together like friends. That way he could still see Lavender…

Ron thought about this. More than likely, Lavender had hopes of marrying one day. She probably wouldn’t accept that, no matter how wild about him she was.

How had everything gone so wrong so quickly? Two days ago he was ready to commit completely to Hermione, but now…now he was involved with another witch. Ron thought it was good he wasn’t married already when he walked into the shop and saw Lavender. The way things happened, he doubted if being married would have stopped the tryst or lessened his attraction to her. Maybe it was a good thing the wedding was washed out. He’d found out something about himself he didn’t realize then.

Well, there was nothing for it. He and Hermione would have to talk and he’d have to confess to her. No matter what, someone was going to get hurt this evening.

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Six o’clock found Hermione waiting nervously at the edge of the lake. Ron knew this spot. She, he and Harry used to always come here together to unwind and talk. It was their quiet place. They would walk together around the lake then return to this spot and spend time with each other. It was a place of happiness…a place that meant something to them. A place where their friendship was strengthened and renewed.

She didn’t see robe or wand of Severus. Maybe he had decided to stay away and leave this moment to her and Ron. His being there wouldn’t make anything easier. Ron didn’t like the Potions Master, his presence would only irritate him.

But Severus was there, disillusioned and watching from the cover of the trees. Initially he had planned to let Ron see him, but at the last moment changed his mind. He would only make a move if he saw the wizard about to hurt Hermione. A part of the dark wizard hoped he would so he would permanently be removed from the situation. If he and Hermione somehow worked this out, the witch would be beyond him, and he had gotten used to her. Hermione was the closest thing to having a witch of his own. He was willing to continue an illicit relationship with her if she married Ron, but the oath she took effectively stopped that little plan.

His black eyes drank Hermione in as she scanned the grounds waiting for Ron. She looked nervous but determined. This had to be difficult for her. She had wronged the wizard on so many levels.

And he had wronged her.

Last night after he left Hermione, Severus found he couldn’t sleep and the reason he couldn’t sleep was because that long buried part of himself called Conscience had climbed out of the dank, dark hole he had relegated it to, with a club.

Now it was kicking his ass.

Not only was he responsible for his own life…but the life of his unborn child and the mother of that child. There was no way around this truth. He tried blaming Hermione’s own weakness for him for the situation, telling himself she should have been more careful, protected herself better. It was she who pursued him, so she should bear the repercussions of that decision and her success.

It sounded feasible, but morally…it wasn’t. The truth of the matter was he used Hermione for his personal sex toy, and would engage the witch on the spur of a moment, never giving her warning when he would appear, never giving her time to even catch her breath, much less slap on a contraceptive patch, and he was just as capable of casting a contraceptive spell as she was. But he never did. He just took what she had foolishly given him not treating her charms as a gift, but as a right. Only now did he realize that this could all come to an end. He didn’t love the witch. He wasn’t capable of loving anything…but he didn’t want their association to stop.

His eyes narrowed as he saw Ron walking quickly across the grounds toward Hermione. This was it, crunch time.

How would it play out?

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Hermione waited as a very nervous Ron walked up to her, his blue eyes clouded with worry. He kissed her cheek.

”I’m here, Hermione,” he said softly, “And I’m ready to talk.”

Hermione nodded.

”I am too Ron, but….”

The witch looked across the lake and sighed.

”Let’s take a walk around the lake like we used to,” she said to the wizard, “It always helped me think, get things in order.”

”All right,” Ron said, slipping his arm through hers.

They began to walk around the perimeter of the lake, Severus following at a discreet distance, his hearing amplified so he could hear what was being said. For a while, nothing was said, not a word. They were a quarter of the way around the lake when Hermione finally spoke.

“Ron, you’ve always been a good friend to me, strong, loyal, ready to stand by me no matter the situation,” she began slowly, “And I appreciated that. You made me feel safe, made me feel that no matter what, including when we would argue and fight over things, you would always be in my corner when I needed you. And when you developed stronger feelings for me, I couldn’t turn you away because I knew you were sincere and I loved you as a friend. I thought I could learn to love you as more than that over time…”

”You’re going to call off the wedding, aren’t you Hermione?” Ron interjected.

Hermione looked at him.

“We’re going to talk, Ron…and then make a decision together…if you can even look at me after we’re done,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Hermione, don’t cry,” Ron said, alarmed, “Of course I’ll be able to look at you. I care about you…”

”Yes, but you don’t love me, Ron. I mean, you love me but not enough to spend your life with me,” the witch said, “When you love someone, you don’t let someone else into your bed…”

Ron’s heart plummeted. Hermione knew.

”Oh gods, Hermione,” he cried, turning and catching both her hands in his, “I’m so sorry, so sorry! I didn’t mean for it to happen…but it did. I can’t tell you why it happened…it was so sudden, as if I was magically drawn to her…I…I don’t have any excuse…”

”Ron, Ron, stop. Stop it,” Hermione said, tears falling from her eyes, “You’re not the only one in the wrong…and not nearly as wrong as I am…I’m a terrible friend, a terrible witch. What I’ve done is so much worse than having an affair.”

”What? What do you mean, Hermione?” Ron asked her.

”I…I’ve been secretly seeing someone else too, Ron. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you because you would have been so hurt,” the witch confessed.

Ron blinked at her.

”Someone else? Who?” he asked her.

”I’d rather not tell you, Ron just as I’d rather not know who you are seeing, but it’s clear that we both aren’t ready for marriage, and I doubt we ever will be,” Hermione said, blinking back tears.

Instead of blowing up, Ron absorbed this and thought maybe it was better Hermione didn’t know he was shagging Lavender. She would find out eventually, but not now. He was shocked that Hermione cheated on him, but considering his own infidelity, he could empathize. What other choice did he have? He had done it too.

This was Hermes’ influence that made Ron think before he acted.

”But the baby,” Ron said, looking down at her belly, “My baby has to have a father. You have to have a husband, Hermione. You know how it is for unwed witches. I won’t let you go through that. We can work this out.”

Hermione shook her head.

“Ron, when I told you I was pregnant, you got all excited and begged me to marry you, told me you would take care of me and the baby, and I could go to school and work, and we’d be a happy family together. Ron, I said yes to you because I was afraid, I was afraid of being alone, without any support, without anyone to help me…” the witch said, her voice quavering.

“Of course you were scared Hermione, having a baby isn’t easy,” Ron said comfortingly.

“No Ron, it wasn’t that. I said yes because I knew you would do just what you said you would do for me and my child. You’re a good sort and dependable. You would have done your very best as a father,” Hermione said, “And I wanted the best…I did. But I made a mistake, Ron. A terrible, selfish mistake and almost trapped you into marriage based on a lie, and I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

”What are you talking about, Hermione?” Ron asked her, frowning slightly.

”The man I am involved with…doesn’t love me, Ron…but I’m hopelessly in love with him. This baby is his, and he doesn’t want it…and I was so scared, I accepted your proposal and let you think you were the father. But you couldn’t be, Ron. I was always careful to use protection with you…but I couldn’t always with him,” Hermione whispered, “I’m so, so sorry.”

Ron stared at Hermione speechless for over five minutes, his eyes resting on her slightly rounded belly. She was carrying another man’s child. He had believed it was his child, but that hadn’t been the only reason he proposed to her. He had proposed several times before. Now he understood why she hadn’t accepted. There had been someone else. If he had found out before his own involvement with Lavender, he would have been furious. Yes, she had to have been involved with the wizard for several months. He was only involved with Lavender for a couple of days, if that, but he was still involved with her and was considering keeping the tryst a secret and marrying Hermione anyway. He might not have ever told her about Lavender if he hadn’t gone back last night and she didn’t bring up putting someone else in the bed. Ron hadn’t meant to go see Lavender. It was as if he were pulled there by some force outside himself. Was it like that for Hermione? How could she love a man who didn’t love her back?

His gaze slowly settled on Hermione’s face, taking in the shame and pain in her eyes. This was terrible, but it would have been more terrible if she had let things remain as they were. By telling him the truth, Hermione had put herself up for ridicule and humiliation. Once others knew about it, she’d most likely be ostracized by everyone. Ron for once…understood why she did what she did. It was an act of desperation. He would have taken care of her and the baby. He did love Hermione, but not the way he thought. Now, she was going to have to face motherhood alone. He found he didn’t like that. She was still his friend, and now…now she needed him more than ever.

But whoever the wizard was, he needed to step up and be a man.

”Who is he?” the wizard suddenly demanded, “What kind of man would get you pregnant then turn away from you? Who is he, Hermione? Tell me!”

Hermione stared up at him, trying to decide whether or not to answer him.

Severus moved closer, misinterpreting the anger in Ron’s voice and drawing his wand…

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A/N: thanks for reading