Maternal Instinct

Hermione looked away, "Don't be ridiculous -"

Severus brushed her cheek gently with his fingertips, "It is not so ridiculous... considering everything."

She glanced up at him slowly, then rested her forehead against his chest, "I'm sorry. I'm just not really sure what... I mean, I’ve never..." She sighed, "Nobody's ever said... that. Not Ron or Viktor..."

"That would be because they are in love with themselves, while I," He kissed the top of her head, "find myself in love with you."

Something wriggled between him and Hermione and they both looked down as someone spoke, "And you love him too, don't you Hermione! Please! You love me, so you must love him!"

Hermione smiled and, shaking her head, ran a hand over Corrin's hair, "You're starting to sneak about already!"

Corrin blinked owlishly, "Daddy never loved mummy, and mummy never loved daddy; but daddy loves you, so you've got to love him. You do, don't you?"

"What would you think," Hermione asked slowly, "if I did?"

"It would be good." Corrin nodded, "Because mummy didn't love me and daddy, but you do, so that would make you my proper mummy."

""""""""""""""""""""

Hermione swallowed hard. Children saw things as black and white, and most of the time it funny to hear the things they came out with, but some times the stark truth of what they said was unsettling. And, although Hermione found Corrin's words flattering in a way, they only reminded her more of the fact that she would never have a child of her own.

She knew that it was petty to think like that, but she supposed there was a part in any woman - who wanted children - to want it to be of her own blood. And then Hermione realized that it wasn't the blood thing that was getting to her; it was the fact that Corrin was so... brilliant and Amy just hadn't seen that. She hadn't even bothered to try and look after her daughter, or love her, or do what was best for her.

Corrin stretched her arms up eagerly, wiggling her fingers. Being careful of her wrist, Hermione lifted the girl up so that she curled her little legs around Hermione's waist.

"Love you." Corrin whispered, burying her face in Hermione's neck, "Tell daddy you love him. Please. Mummy never told me and I was sad. He must be sad. Make him un-sad. Then he might come home more often when he works. Please."

"You think that'll make him un-sad?" Hermione asked. Corrin nodded and hugged her tightly. Sighing, Hermione put the girl back on the floor. Corrin gave her one last pleading look, before she ran from the room, shutting the door loudly behind her. Swallowing, Hermione pushed some hair over her shoulder, but she couldn't find the energy to voice her thoughts. One thought in particular.

Severus turned her face slowly so that she was looking at him, "I know what you're thinking, and I can promise you that it will never happen."

Hermione sighed and shook her head as he closed his arms around her and drew her near to the warmth of his body, "You can't say that. What if you... I don't know... hit you're head or something and suddenly decided-"

"I do not want any more children." He told her clearly, "Ever. And..." he smirked, "I will try not to hit my head."

Hermione smiled and rested her cheek on his chest. She took a deep breath and said quietly, "I... I love you..."

Severus sighed, his arms holding her tighter, "Does that mean that you'll stay tonight?"

"Oh... I... I'm not sure. I mean, Ron's already angry with me and I don't want to fight with him again." Hermione bit her lip, torn between staying and saving herself an argument with Ron.

"You mean you would rather spend the night with a sulking Weasley than with me?" Severus asked dryly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'm just trying to save myself some trouble. Surely you wouldn't wish a Weasley-induced ear ache on me!"

"I may love you," He paused to kiss the top of her head, "but emotional blackmail won't work. I want you here tonight. In fact, I demand it."

Hermione leaned back and looked up at him. "Demand?" She asked. He nodded. She smiled, "Then, of course, I will have to stay, won't I, Professor."

Severus kissed her thoroughly, pushing until her back hit the wall, his fingers tangling in her hair, while his other hand rested on the side of her neck, his thumb brushing slowly over her skin, sending tingles through her.

""""""""""""""""""""

Severus kissed his way down her throat, feeling her tremble and lean back against the wall, just to stay standing. He wanted her in bed, right that second, but it wasn't going to happen. He knew she would put a stop to that right away, reasoning that Corrin was in the house and awake.

It didn't matter, however, because he had the whole night with her; there was no way on earth that he was letting her go back to Weasley's house until tomorrow, when he had to go back to Hogwarts.

He had never told anyone that he loved them before - not even Corrin, he thought sadly - and he hadn't been sure of telling Hermione at first, but there was just something - perhaps that look in her eye - and it had pulled the words from him, almost literally. It had seemed that, yet again, she would have found some way to fight him, but Corrin had said something that made Hermione listen, and, quite honestly, Severus wasn't about to question that. Not when she was right here with him.