A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 23 ~ Hermione Makes a Move

Severus followed Sybil at a distance when she exited the Great Hall using the teacher’s entrance. The dark wizard’s eyes were locked to her trailing scarves, thinking they would come in quite handy in the event of a strangulation. It was just a passing thought however.

The witch didn’t notice the Potions Master following as she entered the Great Hall and took the main stairwell. Severus made a left and took the dungeon corridor, heading for his office. Severus knew Albus was aware that Sybil had been identified by him for some reason, although not exactly why. No doubt he would inquire later. A direct response to her targeting of Hermione in such a cowardly, cruel manner was not in order here.

Severus knew it took several minutes to reach the North Tower by foot. Fortunately he didn’t have to rely on such a mundane form of travel. Once in his office, he locked and warded it, then cast a disillusionment spell on himself and disapparated, beating the witch to her classroom.

Still disillusioned, the wizard eyed the ladder that led to the trap door that opened on her classroom. Teacher and student had to climb to enter that domain. Severus pulled out his wand and aimed it at the top of the wooden structure.

“Talea Cado,” the wizard said, flicking his wand at the ladder. He then apparated back to his office.

At supper that evening, the staff and students were all a-buzz about the misfortune that befell Professor Trelawney. It seemed she was climbing up the ladder to enter the North Tower, lost her grip then slipped and fell, breaking her leg in three places. She was currently in the infirmary, being attended by Poppy.

”The splintered bone popped right through her skin,” Professor McGonagall said to Professor Flitwick, who shook his tiny head, “Poppy said it was the worst break she could ever remember. It was as if Sybil fell in the worst way possible. The injury is so bad, it is going to take at least three weeks to get her right again. A bit of bad luck to be sure.”

Hermione ate her salad quietly. At least Sybil’s injury took everyone’s attention off of her for a while. While she was in the subdungeons, Filch delivered two full sacks of hate mail to the witch’s door. Hermione didn’t even bother to look in them. She just blasted them into dust and continued on with her day, trying to appear as if she wasn’t bothered.

But she was. The whispers and the glances were taking their toll, not to mention all the parchments delivered to the Headmaster throughout the day. She had heard rumors that he was being called to face the Board of Governors about the situation.

Hermione knew that Albus would defend her tooth and nail, but the truth was he could face quite a bit of trouble if he refused to sack her. She knew what she had to do and it made no sense to linger.

Severus ate his meal with a slight smirk on his face. Sybil wouldn’t be creeping down to the dungeon and scrawling slurs on Hermione’s door any time soon. The Slip Fall hex he’d cast on the ladder worked quite well, his wand secreting an oily substance on the targeted area which immediately and cleanly disappeared without a trace once it claimed its victim. The substance was magicked to cause nasty falls.

It was quite effective.

After supper, Hermione went to Albus’ office and told him that she was going to take a leave of absence until after her child was born.

The Headmaster looked at her sadly.

”You don’t have to leave Hogwarts, Miss Granger. You can receive excellent prenatal care here,” the wizard said.

Hermione shook her head.

”No, Headmaster. It’s not worth all the disruption. I’ll just go,” she said.

”Will you be returning to your parents’ home?” Albus inquired.

”No. I’m going to find a small flat,” she replied, “I’ll be fine, sir.”

Albus looked at her worriedly. The wizarding world was quite severe on unwed mothers, and Rita Skeeter’s column had made Hermione a very public figure, even having a recent picture accompanying it. She might have a difficult time renting a flat.

”If you have a problem finding a residence, Miss Granger, you are welcome to return here,” Albus offered.

“I’ll be fine sir,” Hermione said again, rising, “But thank you.”

Albus looked at her hesitatingly.

”Does Severus know you intend to leave?” he asked the witch.

“No, he doesn’t. But I’ll tell him,” the witch said, “I’m sure he’ll be relieved.”

Albus scowled at this but said nothing but goodbye to Hermione. As the witch passed through the floo, the Headmaster leaned back in his chair, folding his hands against his chest.

”Severus, you’d better do right by that witch,” he said to himself, “If you don’t…you’ll regret it, my boy.”

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Severus didn’t visit Hermione for several days. Not that he was being considerate but felt the sex wouldn’t be as enjoyable with all that the witch was going through. He was still a hard case. He noticed she wasn’t showing up to meals however, and curiosity made him apparate to her rooms a week after Trelawney’s unfortunate accident. He immediately noticed most of her things were gone and Hermione wasn’t in her bedroom, though the bed had linen on it. All her books were gone and her open wardrobe only had a few things in it. The wizard strode into her study as saw the witch sitting at her table, poring over newspapers and magazines. She looked up.

”Oh. Hello Severus,” she said unenthusiastically.

The wizard walked behind her and looked over her shoulder. She was dressed in a blue housecoat and long white cotton nightgown. His black eyes drifted over all the parchments spread in front of her.

”I’m apartment hunting,” she said, not looking up, “I’m going to leave Hogwarts and return after I have the baby.”

Severus didn’t say anything. He noticed almost all of the rental ads had red lines drawn through them.

“What are these?” he asked the witch, one long finger touching a parchment.

”Flats I’ve been turned down for,” Hermione said tiredly.

”So many? Why?” the wizard asked her.

”Oh, I was given a number of reasons, but I’m sure it’s because of my ‘condition.’ Most of the landlords I approached already knew who I was before I introduced myself. One told me his flat was in a family-oriented area and I wouldn’t be a suitable tenant, despite the fact I was in ‘the family way,’ Hermione said, blinking a bit, “But I will be using the account you’ve set up for me after I’ve used up my own resources. I’m going to try and find some light work to supplement my income…so I won’t be ‘living off your generosity.’

”That’s fine,” the wizard said shortly.

Hermione continued to peruse the articles. Severus watched her quietly, then said, “You will contact me if I am needed.”

”Yes. But I should be fine,” Hermione replied.

”You’ll get lonely,” the Potions Master.

“I’ll have Ron and Harry for company. They’ll come if I need them,” the witch said.

Severus’ eyes glittered at the mention of Ron.

”It sounds like you have everything covered in that case,” he said, his voice rather strained, “Including your sleeping arrangements.”

Hermione didn’t say anything. Let him think what he wanted to think.

”You will let me know where you are staying,” the Potions Master said darkly, “It’s my right to know. I am supporting you after all.”

”Fine, I’ll let you know,” Hermione said rather flippantly.

Severus looked down at her in frustration. Normally he knew what to say and do in every situation he found himself in…but this…this was new. He never had to deal with a witch he’d impregnated.

“You be sure you do,” he snarked, turning and disapparating.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was tired. Everyplace she’d gone she’d been turned away from. Her parents wanted her to come back to London, but she didn’t want to listen to her mother lecture her for the next four months. Jane Granger could be quite a nag, and Hermione had enough to deal with. Neither of her parents was happy to find out the wedding had been called off, and her mother demanded to know what Hermione was going to do.

Hermione hadn’t told them Ron wasn’t the father of her baby yet. She wasn’t ready for her mother’s reaction or her father’s disappointment.

”I’ll let you know as soon as I know,” Hermione told her mother, who launched into another lecture.

No. She couldn’t stay there.

Hermione picked up a small ad and looked at it doubtfully.

”Flat to Let. One bedroom, living room, full kitchen, one and one half bath. Private Entrance. A Bargain. No references needed. Apply at Cedric’s Sex Symposium, Knockturn Alley. Ask for Cedric.”

Hermione’s amber eyes washed over the ad. Maybe Cedric wouldn’t be so picky about who he let the flat out to. She could only hope.

The witch put the parchment back down, stood up and stretched. Idly, she thought about Severus. He had been scarce these past few days. No doubt the rumors made him leery of being with her. So what? She didn’t need anything from the wizard but his galleons.

Then Hermione felt a little pulse between her legs as her body disagreed with her in no uncertain manner. Being pregnant made the witch quite randy. She frowned as she straightened up the table and capped the inkwell

”No. I’m not going to make the first move. I have other things to worry about than getting my cauldron scoured,” she said to herself as she walked into her bedroom, “He can stay away.”

Hermione flopped into the bed, determined not to think about the Potions Master. She failed miserably. Damn it, if only Severus had a harsher, grating voice, or his eyes weren’t so dark, or he was more approachable and not so deliciously snarky, or his tool was smaller and he didn’t know how to use it so well…then she could get some sleep.

”Then, you wouldn’t be pregnant in the first place,” a little voice whispered to her.

”Shut up,” Hermione muttered, rolling over and pulling a pillow over her head.

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”Come again. And again and again and again,” Cedric breathed in his Peter Lorre-type voice at his departing customer, caressing his knuckles obsessively with one pale hand, his filmy gray eyes half-lidded in pleasure.

The pale, greasy and rather twisted owner of Cedric’s Sex Symposium slunk from around the counter and began neatening up the pile of brightly colored discount rubber dildos prominently displayed on a table in the front of the store.

“All the colors of the rainbow,” Cedric purred as he sorted them by length. Some of the sex toys were eighteen inches long with pull grips and double-headed for twice the fun.

The door opened and a small hooded figure entered the store. Cedric turned as the little bell rang and smiled, his little green teeth flashing at his latest customer.

Ah, a woman. Maybe he could interest her in the “Wicked Wheezer” a hands-free self-operating and rather realistic dildo guaranteed to please. Maybe she’d even let him give her a demonstration. He didn’t care if it were on her or himself. The hooded woman paused as she looked at him, her features shadowed.

Cedric slunk over, bobbing in a slightly servile manner.

”Welcome to Cedric’s Sex Symposium where pleasure abounds,” he said to her, peering into her hood. He was short for a wizard, the same height as Hermione and his face was pockmarked. His oily black hair was cut short and plastered to his head with a part down the middle.

Hermione blanched as Cedric’s breath washed over her. It stunk to high heaven. Had he just eaten rotten fish? She stepped back a little and lowered her hood.

“Hello. I’m here about the flat to let. Are you Cedric?” she asked him.

“Every day all day,” he replied, his eyes narrowing a little as he looked the witch over, “You’re Hermione Granger…the pregnant witch.”

Hermione nodded. Apparently Cedric read Rita’s column.

”Yes, I am,” she replied.

Cedric nodded and walked back around the counter.

”Having a hard time finding a place are you?” the wizard asked her, placing a box on the top of the counter. He opened it and took out a large key.

“Yes, I am,” Hermione admitted.

”People are so…cruel,” Cedric purred.

Hermione thought he looked as if he enjoyed that fact as he held out the key in his palm. Hermione hesitated because that palm was covered in fine, black hair…almost like pubic hair.

“It’s the key. You can go have a look at it, then come back and tell me if you want it or not. I’ve got to mind the shop,” the wizard said, telling her the address. It was in Knockturn Alley and not far.

Hermione gingerly took the key from the wizard, holding it as if it had been dipped in dragon dung and headed for the door.

”Keep your wand handy. Some of the neighbors aren’t too friendly at first…but you’ll warm up to them, I’m sure,” Cedric said to her with a horrible green grin.

“Thanks,” Hermione said, putting the key in her pocket and drawing her wand before exiting the store.

Cedric watched her go.

”I wonder if she wants to make a few extra galleons,” he mused to himself, “I know a lot of wizards who’d pay good galleons to fuck a pregnant witch.”

The wizard walked back over to the dildos and continued straightening them

Cedric was almost sure he had a new tenant. The witch didn’t have a lot of choices. Rita’s article had made her an outcast. No decent landlord who knew about Hermione’s condition and situation would accept her, and they all talked to each other. No doubt they were all on the lookout.

Cedric finished stacking the dildos, his mind drifting to Hermione again. Yes, he was quite sure she’d take the place. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice the stains left behind by his last tenant.

He’d tried his best to scourgify up all the blood.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.