A Secret Worth Keeping
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
48
Views:
62,423
Reviews:
787
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
48
Views:
62,423
Reviews:
787
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Musing and a confrontation
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only those that I created myself. Please do not harm me in any way. I only do this for fun.
A/N’s: I am completely overwhelmed with the reviews from the last chapter. 23 from Aff.net and an amazing 45 at ff.net. The responses have been incredible. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support they mean sch tch to an amateur writer. Much love to you all.
Now…on to the next chapter. Not much in this one, but the next will be good.
~_~_~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter twenty-two: Musing and a confrontation
It was getting late. Hene sne sat in her rocker, holding Sebastian against her chest as they rocked. Outside, the sun was just starting to sink in the evening sky. Her son had just finished nursing but seemed to refuse to close his eyes to sleep. To Hermione, he seemed to want to see his father before sleeping for the night. She could relate to that. She wanted to seem him before she fell to sleep as well.
She was worried.
It was around four o’clock when the trio had left Diagon Alley via the floo at The Leaky Cauldron with all their purchases. However, Hermione was quite aware that Severus hadn’t accompanied them. She hadn’t heard or seen him since he took off after the Malfoys. To say that she was fretting was an understatement.
Harry and Ron had volunteered to go back and try to track them down, but she\'d vetoed that idea immediately. If something had happen to Severus, she didn’t want her best friends stepping into the same trap.
Sebastian flung up a small fist, which she took in her hand and gazed down at her tiny infant son. His eyes were as dark as his father\'s, and even in his tender years she could see the intelligence lurking there. This child, with the intelligence of both his father and his mother, had a future that wouldn’t leave him wanting. If he had any of Severus\' diligence and sense of stick-to-itness and her loyalty and bravery, then he could do anything he set his mind to. Yes, Her and Severus’s child would be great, brave, strong and loyal to the good side. She would make sure of that. Her son will not be led into the darkness. Severus himself would see to that.
She closed her eyes, leaning back into the cool wooden surface of the rocker, letting her thoughts go where they would. In her mind’s eye she could actually see she and Severus growing old together and watching their children growing up. Children that would only be sired by Severus, because she didn’t think that she could ever let anyone else touch her. It was scary enough just thinking about giving herself willingly to him. Her one and only experience, she was sure, had scarred her for life, and letting him have her again in that fashion scared her. She knew the fear was mainly in her mind. The memory of the pain, the realization that it was Snape raping her and the horrid humiliation of Malfoy watching the whole evil act was enough to terrify anyone. She had reason to fear sex. But would it be mere sex with Severus now? She had heard that sex and making love were two completely different acts.
If it had been just she and Severus at that time, with no Malfoy, perhaps it would have ended up differently. Severus did state that he had been going to tell her the truth that evening. Perhaps she would have given herself to him willingly then.
But fate did have a different agenda in mind that evening.
Would things have been different then? Would she have had Sebastian in her life if things had occurred differently?
She shivered and held Sebastian closer to her chest in a protective gesture. Her son meant the world to her now. No matter how he was conceived, she and Severus loved him. But, if she had let Severus make love to her, and she had conceived, would she have been brave enough to risk exposing Severus and her relationship to have the baby?
She didn’t think so.
She opened her eyes to see Sebastian staring up at her, seemingly knowing what his mother was thinking.
\"It was a good thing then, wasn’t it my Angel? If that night never had happened then I wouldn’t have you.\" Her words were barely a whisper and she leaned down to kiss the downy black fuzz that covered his head.
Sebastian kicked his tiny feet in delight.
Giggling, she stood up and walked to the window to watch the sun setting. The clock stated that it was almost seven thirty. Three hours past the last time she felt Severus’s presence, three hours that she had been dreading, worrying about his safety. With Sebastian clutched to her chest she watched the road winding out to the gates which divided the safety of Hogwart’s to that that which lay beyond, watching for a sign of Severus’s safe return.
Her fears were unfounded. She knew that. Malfoy senior was supposed to be Severus’s friend, but that didn’t stop her from worrying. Some friendships turned out volatile and ended up with savage consequences.
What if Malfoy senior discovered Snape’s alliance with the Order?
In her heart, she feared that she would never see him again and that feeling brought tears to her eyes. \"Please come home to me, Severus…\" She pleaded to him, knowing that he wasn’t anywhere nearby and couldn’t hear her plea. \"I’m not willing to give you up…. not now.\" Not when she thought that she was beginning to have such strong feelings towards him. Maybe it was love. She didn’t know. After all, she had never been in love before. If it was love…
\"Hermione?\"
She whirled around at the voice coming from the hearth. Automatically dismissing her train of thought, she quickly moved from the window and approached the fireplace in order to see Albus’s head floating in the flames.
\"Professor?\"
\"Can you come to my office? There is a matter of importance we need to discuss.\"
Hermione glanced down at Sebastian before meeting the Headmaster’s eyes n.
n.
\"I shall have to bring Sebastian. I don’t have anyone here to watch him. Ron and Harry have gone off somewhere…\"
\"They have both been contacted and are heading here as well. Bring Sebastian. I am sure we can find someone willing to watch him while we have this conference.\"
\"Yes sir.\" She nodded and turned from the flames. \"I just need to get him dressed first. Give us fifteen minutes.\"
\"That will do. We will see you soon then.\" Albus nodded solemnly as his head disappeared.
Hermione’s heart was fluttering. Why would Dumbledore be summoning her, Ron and Harry? Perhaps he had word about Severus. Perhaps something had happened.
She quickly dressed the wriggling baby and wrapped him securely into his familiar blue blanket. The same blanket she had originally bought at the thrift store after she had been released from the hospital. Funny how that seemed like years ago, when it was only a few short weeks. Her life had taken a dramatic change since then. Writing those letters to Dumbledore was the best idea she had ever had. Now, she had a life that was worth living. A life with both her son and the one man that she felt herself falling for. Severus Snape. The same Severus Snape she\'d hated for the longest time. The same Severus Snape that had ridiculed her and deemed her worthless for so long. And the same Severus Snape that loved her with every since of his being.
The same Severus Snape that was worrying her into tears fearing for his safety.
Slipping quickly into her shoes and tossing a robe over her shoulders, she exited the dungeon nursery and hurried up the winding stairs to Dumbledore’s office. Sebastian safely cradled in her arms within the folds of the warm cloak.
At the base of the stairwell leading up to his office, she couldn’t help but smile as the stone gargoyle gave one look at the baby in her arms and grinned toothily. It waggled its stone ears at the baby, eliciting a happy gurgling sound from Sebastian.
\"Baby Ruth.\" She stated the password and the gargoyle nodded slowly, wiggled his ear once more to the baby, and swung aside to allow the entrance to emerge.
Hermione said her thanks and ascended the stairs.
Loud angry voices caught her attention as she paused at the door to shuffle Sebastian into a more comfortable position before opening the door and stepping in. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyeughtught Severus’s standing next to Albus’s desk. So happy to see him, she immediately ran into his arms.
\"Severus! I was so worried. I…\"
His arms hugged her for only a moment before they released her and turned her around.
\"Not now, Miss Granger, we have business to attend to.\"
Her eyes grew wide as she stared at the group before her. Harry and Ron had their wands pulled and pointed to Draco and Zabini, who in turn had their wands drawn and pointed. All around the room there were Slytherins standing at the ready.
\"Oh shit.\" She whispered, holding her baby tighter.
~~~~~
Acknowledgments:
Ancient girl: what one more secret worth keeping, huh? I like your comment about the R.A.T. being a form of the DA’s. Good observation!!!
SandraM: I thought it would be nice to see the softer side of all the Slytherins. Hope it was good for you too.
Scifichick774: Aww…sorry about that. Here’s the next part, hope you didn’t wait tong! ng! :D
Michelline: Thanks hon. I appreciate all the words of encouragement. Makes me really want to write more.
Julie, z26, WizardingAngel, Silvana, Snapeaholic and Dizzi: Thanks a lot. I appreciate all your kind words.
Deb: You are most welcome, Hon. I would hate you to miss an update. I’m so glad that R.A.T. completely surprised you, means that I’ve done my job well. LOL. The rest of your questions will be answered soon, if not already.
Nesscafe: It’s wonderful that you had such a fantastic childhood. I am quite jealous. LOL…mine sucked being a welfare brat and not having a lot, but that only made me more grateful for everything that I have now. I appreciate your thoughts on the Christian angle and I really didn’t mean to say that all Christians are like that, I mean, I may not be called a Christian, but I am generally a good person. So believe me when I say that I wasn’t trying to generalize your religion, just using a bit of hypocrisy for the story line. Okay? Now, I’m glad that you liked the last chapter and I am equally glad that you are continuing to read it. I hope that you continue to enjoy it in the future. Blessed be!
Spaz141: Thanks hon. I am glad that you like the new twist. And I *heart* you too.
Tanya: Ah, me thinks you have caught onto my line of thinking. Hehe
Aprilgrey: winding down? No…not yet, but its getting there.
Ladydeathfaerie: Draco isn’t just good looking, sometimes he shows great brilliance, specifically where his skin comes into play. LOL. I am also glad that you like the name. R.A.T. Fits I think!
GeekGoddess: Thanks hon, and yeah, that makes it hard knowing where she took them in the books. But…hell…let this story redeem them.
M: LOL…Lust after Draco? Hum. I guess there are those that go gaga over blond god’s. And you are welcome. I am determined to see this one through.
Michele: I didn’t say that the Slytherin’s are ‘good’. I just stated that they are wanting a life without Voldemort.
MeganAnn0801: I try to respond to everyone, but I had to cut down a great deal with this chapter. I got such outstanding reviews that if I listed everyone, I’d have two extra pages just for thanks alone. Its with wonderful reviewers like you that make writing worth while.
PotionsMistressM: Like I said to Michele above, I didn’t say that the Slytherin’s became ‘good’. They are still the conniving sneaks we all love. They just want a less dangerous world to live it. LOL, and thanks about the author’s notes. I enjoy saying thanks to all you brilliant people. I don’t mind helping you to get out from under those damned doctors….hehe
MsPixie: I thank you. I was amazed myself with how the chapter turned out. Even I didn’t know where I was going with that one… almost. Hehe. There will be more Hermione/Snape interaction soon.
Bloode: Awww…I think he would be an adorable daddy. And…good guys? Slytherin? You think they are? Hummm…lol
Bless be to you all
Red
A/N’s: I am completely overwhelmed with the reviews from the last chapter. 23 from Aff.net and an amazing 45 at ff.net. The responses have been incredible. Thank you all so much for your kind words and support they mean sch tch to an amateur writer. Much love to you all.
Now…on to the next chapter. Not much in this one, but the next will be good.
~_~_~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter twenty-two: Musing and a confrontation
It was getting late. Hene sne sat in her rocker, holding Sebastian against her chest as they rocked. Outside, the sun was just starting to sink in the evening sky. Her son had just finished nursing but seemed to refuse to close his eyes to sleep. To Hermione, he seemed to want to see his father before sleeping for the night. She could relate to that. She wanted to seem him before she fell to sleep as well.
She was worried.
It was around four o’clock when the trio had left Diagon Alley via the floo at The Leaky Cauldron with all their purchases. However, Hermione was quite aware that Severus hadn’t accompanied them. She hadn’t heard or seen him since he took off after the Malfoys. To say that she was fretting was an understatement.
Harry and Ron had volunteered to go back and try to track them down, but she\'d vetoed that idea immediately. If something had happen to Severus, she didn’t want her best friends stepping into the same trap.
Sebastian flung up a small fist, which she took in her hand and gazed down at her tiny infant son. His eyes were as dark as his father\'s, and even in his tender years she could see the intelligence lurking there. This child, with the intelligence of both his father and his mother, had a future that wouldn’t leave him wanting. If he had any of Severus\' diligence and sense of stick-to-itness and her loyalty and bravery, then he could do anything he set his mind to. Yes, Her and Severus’s child would be great, brave, strong and loyal to the good side. She would make sure of that. Her son will not be led into the darkness. Severus himself would see to that.
She closed her eyes, leaning back into the cool wooden surface of the rocker, letting her thoughts go where they would. In her mind’s eye she could actually see she and Severus growing old together and watching their children growing up. Children that would only be sired by Severus, because she didn’t think that she could ever let anyone else touch her. It was scary enough just thinking about giving herself willingly to him. Her one and only experience, she was sure, had scarred her for life, and letting him have her again in that fashion scared her. She knew the fear was mainly in her mind. The memory of the pain, the realization that it was Snape raping her and the horrid humiliation of Malfoy watching the whole evil act was enough to terrify anyone. She had reason to fear sex. But would it be mere sex with Severus now? She had heard that sex and making love were two completely different acts.
If it had been just she and Severus at that time, with no Malfoy, perhaps it would have ended up differently. Severus did state that he had been going to tell her the truth that evening. Perhaps she would have given herself to him willingly then.
But fate did have a different agenda in mind that evening.
Would things have been different then? Would she have had Sebastian in her life if things had occurred differently?
She shivered and held Sebastian closer to her chest in a protective gesture. Her son meant the world to her now. No matter how he was conceived, she and Severus loved him. But, if she had let Severus make love to her, and she had conceived, would she have been brave enough to risk exposing Severus and her relationship to have the baby?
She didn’t think so.
She opened her eyes to see Sebastian staring up at her, seemingly knowing what his mother was thinking.
\"It was a good thing then, wasn’t it my Angel? If that night never had happened then I wouldn’t have you.\" Her words were barely a whisper and she leaned down to kiss the downy black fuzz that covered his head.
Sebastian kicked his tiny feet in delight.
Giggling, she stood up and walked to the window to watch the sun setting. The clock stated that it was almost seven thirty. Three hours past the last time she felt Severus’s presence, three hours that she had been dreading, worrying about his safety. With Sebastian clutched to her chest she watched the road winding out to the gates which divided the safety of Hogwart’s to that that which lay beyond, watching for a sign of Severus’s safe return.
Her fears were unfounded. She knew that. Malfoy senior was supposed to be Severus’s friend, but that didn’t stop her from worrying. Some friendships turned out volatile and ended up with savage consequences.
What if Malfoy senior discovered Snape’s alliance with the Order?
In her heart, she feared that she would never see him again and that feeling brought tears to her eyes. \"Please come home to me, Severus…\" She pleaded to him, knowing that he wasn’t anywhere nearby and couldn’t hear her plea. \"I’m not willing to give you up…. not now.\" Not when she thought that she was beginning to have such strong feelings towards him. Maybe it was love. She didn’t know. After all, she had never been in love before. If it was love…
\"Hermione?\"
She whirled around at the voice coming from the hearth. Automatically dismissing her train of thought, she quickly moved from the window and approached the fireplace in order to see Albus’s head floating in the flames.
\"Professor?\"
\"Can you come to my office? There is a matter of importance we need to discuss.\"
Hermione glanced down at Sebastian before meeting the Headmaster’s eyes n.
n.
\"I shall have to bring Sebastian. I don’t have anyone here to watch him. Ron and Harry have gone off somewhere…\"
\"They have both been contacted and are heading here as well. Bring Sebastian. I am sure we can find someone willing to watch him while we have this conference.\"
\"Yes sir.\" She nodded and turned from the flames. \"I just need to get him dressed first. Give us fifteen minutes.\"
\"That will do. We will see you soon then.\" Albus nodded solemnly as his head disappeared.
Hermione’s heart was fluttering. Why would Dumbledore be summoning her, Ron and Harry? Perhaps he had word about Severus. Perhaps something had happened.
She quickly dressed the wriggling baby and wrapped him securely into his familiar blue blanket. The same blanket she had originally bought at the thrift store after she had been released from the hospital. Funny how that seemed like years ago, when it was only a few short weeks. Her life had taken a dramatic change since then. Writing those letters to Dumbledore was the best idea she had ever had. Now, she had a life that was worth living. A life with both her son and the one man that she felt herself falling for. Severus Snape. The same Severus Snape she\'d hated for the longest time. The same Severus Snape that had ridiculed her and deemed her worthless for so long. And the same Severus Snape that loved her with every since of his being.
The same Severus Snape that was worrying her into tears fearing for his safety.
Slipping quickly into her shoes and tossing a robe over her shoulders, she exited the dungeon nursery and hurried up the winding stairs to Dumbledore’s office. Sebastian safely cradled in her arms within the folds of the warm cloak.
At the base of the stairwell leading up to his office, she couldn’t help but smile as the stone gargoyle gave one look at the baby in her arms and grinned toothily. It waggled its stone ears at the baby, eliciting a happy gurgling sound from Sebastian.
\"Baby Ruth.\" She stated the password and the gargoyle nodded slowly, wiggled his ear once more to the baby, and swung aside to allow the entrance to emerge.
Hermione said her thanks and ascended the stairs.
Loud angry voices caught her attention as she paused at the door to shuffle Sebastian into a more comfortable position before opening the door and stepping in. She stopped dead in her tracks as her eyeughtught Severus’s standing next to Albus’s desk. So happy to see him, she immediately ran into his arms.
\"Severus! I was so worried. I…\"
His arms hugged her for only a moment before they released her and turned her around.
\"Not now, Miss Granger, we have business to attend to.\"
Her eyes grew wide as she stared at the group before her. Harry and Ron had their wands pulled and pointed to Draco and Zabini, who in turn had their wands drawn and pointed. All around the room there were Slytherins standing at the ready.
\"Oh shit.\" She whispered, holding her baby tighter.
~~~~~
Acknowledgments:
Ancient girl: what one more secret worth keeping, huh? I like your comment about the R.A.T. being a form of the DA’s. Good observation!!!
SandraM: I thought it would be nice to see the softer side of all the Slytherins. Hope it was good for you too.
Scifichick774: Aww…sorry about that. Here’s the next part, hope you didn’t wait tong! ng! :D
Michelline: Thanks hon. I appreciate all the words of encouragement. Makes me really want to write more.
Julie, z26, WizardingAngel, Silvana, Snapeaholic and Dizzi: Thanks a lot. I appreciate all your kind words.
Deb: You are most welcome, Hon. I would hate you to miss an update. I’m so glad that R.A.T. completely surprised you, means that I’ve done my job well. LOL. The rest of your questions will be answered soon, if not already.
Nesscafe: It’s wonderful that you had such a fantastic childhood. I am quite jealous. LOL…mine sucked being a welfare brat and not having a lot, but that only made me more grateful for everything that I have now. I appreciate your thoughts on the Christian angle and I really didn’t mean to say that all Christians are like that, I mean, I may not be called a Christian, but I am generally a good person. So believe me when I say that I wasn’t trying to generalize your religion, just using a bit of hypocrisy for the story line. Okay? Now, I’m glad that you liked the last chapter and I am equally glad that you are continuing to read it. I hope that you continue to enjoy it in the future. Blessed be!
Spaz141: Thanks hon. I am glad that you like the new twist. And I *heart* you too.
Tanya: Ah, me thinks you have caught onto my line of thinking. Hehe
Aprilgrey: winding down? No…not yet, but its getting there.
Ladydeathfaerie: Draco isn’t just good looking, sometimes he shows great brilliance, specifically where his skin comes into play. LOL. I am also glad that you like the name. R.A.T. Fits I think!
GeekGoddess: Thanks hon, and yeah, that makes it hard knowing where she took them in the books. But…hell…let this story redeem them.
M: LOL…Lust after Draco? Hum. I guess there are those that go gaga over blond god’s. And you are welcome. I am determined to see this one through.
Michele: I didn’t say that the Slytherin’s are ‘good’. I just stated that they are wanting a life without Voldemort.
MeganAnn0801: I try to respond to everyone, but I had to cut down a great deal with this chapter. I got such outstanding reviews that if I listed everyone, I’d have two extra pages just for thanks alone. Its with wonderful reviewers like you that make writing worth while.
PotionsMistressM: Like I said to Michele above, I didn’t say that the Slytherin’s became ‘good’. They are still the conniving sneaks we all love. They just want a less dangerous world to live it. LOL, and thanks about the author’s notes. I enjoy saying thanks to all you brilliant people. I don’t mind helping you to get out from under those damned doctors….hehe
MsPixie: I thank you. I was amazed myself with how the chapter turned out. Even I didn’t know where I was going with that one… almost. Hehe. There will be more Hermione/Snape interaction soon.
Bloode: Awww…I think he would be an adorable daddy. And…good guys? Slytherin? You think they are? Hummm…lol
Bless be to you all
Red