Fire and the Dragon

Ch. 17 Planning



The end of January into early February saw Hermione locked, once again, in her rooms alone. She refused to come out or to be seen by anyone. The only time she emerged was to grab a new book from the library.



Severus was about to lose his mind with worry for the girl. Immediately following their night out, there had been a renewed closeness in the two. They had spent most of their free time together.



They would read or debate recent potions articles, sometimes they would just sit in front of the fireplace. Neither one was brave enough to discuss Hermione’s ‘discovery’ in the bathroom from that night.



Then, one chilly evening, Severus asked Hermione what she planned to do about the baby’s paternity? After that, she had leapt up and shooed Severus out. No one had been able to tear her from her room since.



One windy afternoon, he was convinced he’d been patient enough. He marched through the bathroom and knocked on the door. When no answer was heard, he pulled out his wand and warned, “Ms. Granger, I will be entering this domain, please remove yourself from the presence of the door.”



“Bombardo.” He shouted and the door burst into splinters. He replaced his wand and walked through the shards of wood. He glanced around and spotted Hermione near her bed, eyes wide in amazement.



“You blew up my door, Severus.” She said, humor laced into the irritation in her voice. “If you had not insisted on keeping yourself isolated from the rest of humanity for two weeks, I would not have had to resort to such, crude, measures.” He was happy to see she looked well, however snarky his voice.



“Oh my, has it really been two weeks?” she inquired. “I’m sorry, I was, um, busy.” She gestured to stacks of books and parchment on her desk. He walked over to the rubbish and picked up the parchment from the center.



‘Petition for the right to deny Paternity’ was neatly written across the top. The document was easily 10 pages thick. Severus turned to Hermione, question written all over his face, the document in hand.



Hermione looked at the ground and began to mumble, Severus had to lean closer to hear her. “I am petitioning the ministry to take away any of Ronald’s rights to this child.” Severus couldn’t help his arrogant reply, “I can see that Ms. Granger, what all does this entail?”



She lifted her eyes to him and continued. “If they accept it, then my baby will in no way be legally associated with the Weasley family on paper. It will be a Granger, the father will be listed as ‘unlisted to ministry’.”



Severus smirked, so that was what she had been in here doing. He made a low, barely audible, chuckle. “Molly Weasley is going to be highly distressed.” He said silkily. Hermione couldn’t help the tears that began to sting her eyes.



“I don’t mean to keep her away from her grandchild so long as she does not talk about Ronald. She can be in this child’s life as a family friend, I just do not want them to be able to do anything to interfere in this life. Is that, selfish, of me Severus? She sobbed.



Severus gathered her into his arms. “I am a selfish man, Hermione. I am not the most logical person to ask, however, you are the most selfless person I have ever met.” He soothingly rubbed her head.



She lifted her head. “I do not like calling my baby an ‘it’. I will be glad to find out the gender.” Severus groaned. He was growing to despise these sudden changes in attitude and topic.



“When is your next appointment? I still need to arrange with Minerva to be able to attend, that is, if you wish me to.” He had started to take for granted that she wanted him to be with her for every appointment at that damn muggle office that she insisted on seeing still.



She smiled big. “Of course I want you there. You have been so wonderful to me these past months.” Severus kept his dark façade barely covering his happiness. “The appointment date, Hermione?”



“OH, sorry” she exclaimed, “Monday at 11: 30. I tried to schedule it for a time when you did not have a class.” He nodded to her and accompanied her to the owlery to send her document to the ministry.



The following Monday, they were waiting in the exam room for the doctor. “I hope they do not use that ‘dildo’ cam again. That was horrible.” Hermione said distractedly. Severus snapped his head to her, “Must you use such slang, Hermione. Do try and be a lady?” his eyes contradicted his malicious undertone.



When Dr. Elder came in and picked up the handheld ultrasound device, both Severus and Hermione let out a sigh of relief. “Ok kids, lets see our baby.” The doctor said as the device began to glide across Hermione’s small bulge.



The first thing that they could see was an arm and a hand. Five tiny fingers were grasping and ungrasping. “Oh my goodness.” Hermione began to sob slightly. “It is really a little person in there, isn’t it?”



The doctor smiled at her and continued on, pointing out things such as kidneys, the lips, a nose. He said everything is looking good as he scanned the heart and brain. “Now, are we finding out the sex today?” he asked, eyes twinkling.



Hermione quickly answered ‘yes’ and waited. The doctor adjusted the device so that they were looking at what he explained to be the baby’s backside. After a couple of moments of anticipation, the doctor nodded his head and announced, “It looks like a little girl.”



Severus began to feel lightheaded, a girl? “And you are quite sure, doctor? Do your statistics confirm your guess?” Hermione rolled her eyes at Severus’ constant display of control.



The doctor merely smiled and said, “Of course nothing is certain until she is born, however, I have been accurate 98% with girls.” Severus waved his hand at the doctor while Hermione thanked him. He gave them some photos and told them he would see them in a month.



Walking through Hogsmeade, back towards the castle, both Severus and Hermione were lost in their own thoughts. Hermione was floating on a cloud, a baby girl, she was so thrilled. She was imagining pretty dresses and flowing curls.



On the other hand, Severus was busy plotting and building up the courage to do what he had been trying to do for days. He looked at Hermione, she looked to be in pleasant sort of mood. Maybe he should just do it now as she was probably less likely to reject him.



He cleared his throat and stopped by some old trees. “Hermione,” he began. “I understand that you have been through a lot, and will continue to grow and change with the new challenges destiny has decided to give you.”



Hermione was giving him her full attention. Never had she seen the man so nearly speechless, she didn’t dare interrupt him, but merely waved to bid him to please continue.



“Ah, yes, well, I do not know if this is too sudden a development, however, it would be my honor if you would allow me to escort you to dinner on the evening of the 14th.” Severus held his breath and waited the inevitable rejection.



Her mouth was hanging near the ground; did Severus just ask her on a Valentine’s date? She could see how nervous the man was, despite his cold exterior. Should she accept? She really wanted to; over the past few months she and Severus had become exceptionally close.



“Are you asking me to go to dinner, Severus? On a date?” she was trying to buy some time to think. Was she even ready for something like that?



“It is whatever you need it to be in order to be comfortable with the situation, Ms. Granger.” He replied carefully after a moment’s hesitation. Hermione looked at the man before her. If anyone could make her feel comfortable and safe, it was him.



She took his hand in hers and looked him in the eyes. “Then yes, of course. I would love go to dinner with you on the 14th.”