The Wrong Time

Making Preparations

Hermione closed Rose’s bedroom door softly behind her. She triumphed secretly inside by how they had received the news of their impending sibling. They were both utterly disgusted by the fact that their father would have an affair, and even more angered by the fact that he had gotten the witch pregnant.


“I have two brothers and that is all,” Rose had said, coldly.


“I’m with Rose, Dad. Rose and Joe are it,” Hugo had agreed.


Hermione had hid a smile. At least she knew her kids would stick by her.


She walked back into the living room. Both children were sound asleep.


“They’re out,” She told Ron, and sat on the couch across from him.


She felt a lump in her throat. This was how they spent their evenings before Lavender Brown. She would go and check on the kids, and then join him in the living room, where they would discuss each other’s day, and then cuddle up by the wireless for the nightly news before heading to bed together.


She looked at Ron. Their eyes met for a second before he looked away. She followed his gaze to the wireless. Whether his thoughts were where hers were or it was just plain coincidence, Hermione didn’t know.


The pair sat in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.


“When did you find out about Lavender?” Hermione asked him, voice wavering slightly.


“Just yesterday. She’s already almost four months along,” Ron replied sheepishly.


Hermione processed this information silently. In just five short months, her husband would be a father again, and she wouldn’t be the mother. Even though she knew she did not want to be with Ron anymore, it stung her like a thousand knives. She felt the tears burn her eyes.


“Well, I suppose I’ll head home, then,” Hermione said, hiding her face from him.


She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how much she was hurting.


“Oh, you’re not going to stay here?” Ron asked her, looking slightly crestfallen.


“Please tell me you are joking,” Hermione snapped, forcing back the tears and settling her gaze on him. “Your precious whore isn’t here tonight, so you want me to stay?”


Ron’s face burned.


“It’s not like that,” he seethed. “I just meant that perhaps it would be a little less difficult on the children for their mother to be here when they wake up.”


Hermione considered him.


“I’ll make sure I am here early. I’ll be here when they wake. Keep the floo open,” She said curtly and stepped through the now green flames.


Hermione collapsed on the couch in the cottage before she allowed herself to finally cry. She let the tears fall freely, sobbing loudly. She cried and cried until her sides ached and her eyes burned. When she was done crying, she walked to the loo and washed her face.


She was drying her face on a towel when she heard it.


Silvano was trying to contact her through the radio.


“Nancy?” He called.


“Yes?” She answered into the device.


She stretched out on her bed and held the device next to her lips.


“I haven’t heard from you in a few days, and I was wondering if everything was alright,” Severus said into the radio, feeling like a moron.


You’re not a woman, so stop acting like one, he commanded himself silently.


“Well, I’ve just found out that Josiah is going to be a big brother,” Hermione said softly.


“Oh? Are you---pregnant?” He asked her incredulously.


“No,” Hermione replied flatly.


Realization dawned on Severus.


“Oh. Oh, I’m so sorry, Nancy,” He said, aching for her.


“Add that to the constant hate mail I keep getting, and the dirty looks from everyone, and I feel just about ready to jump off a bridge,” Hermione said monotonously.


“My offer still stands,” Severus said into the speaker. “There’s plenty of room for you and all three of your children if you want to come stay here. We could work on the potion together, and no one would bother you about your divorce.”


Hermione felt her heart pound a little wildly in her chest. She felt oddly excited about the idea of finally meeting this mystery man face to face. She ruled the butterflies in her stomach as nerves about such a change, and ignored what they really meant.


“How soon could we come?” Hermione asked nervously.


“As soon as you are ready,” he told her.


“Well Rose and Hugo are leaving to return to Hogwarts tomorrow afternoon, and they will be at Hogwarts until Christmas holiday, presumably,” Hermione said, her voice falling slightly.


“Why presumably?”


“Rose said that she was planning to stay at Hogwarts through all of the holidays until Summer,” Hermione said, eyes tearing at the thought of her babies spending Christmas alone.


“I’m sure she was just angry, Nancy. I imagine these changes are a lot for a young girl to process. She will come around, and you can tell both of them if they choose to spend Christmas here, it will be one they never forget,” he said, voice cracking slightly.


What was happening to him? Where was the dour, surly potions professor of over twenty years ago. He never laughed. Severus Snape did not make lighthearted jokes. What was going on here?


He shook the thoughts away.


“I’m going to spend tomorrow with the children, but when they return to Hogwarts, I will pack my things and let you know when we are ready to come,” Hermione said, feeling a little giddy, something she had not felt in years.


“That will be great,” Severus replied, forcing his own excitement away.


He felt something he had not felt in years. Love.


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