Maternal Instinct

"Alright, Miss Granger," The Healer said, trying to sound reassuring as she turned around and held out a small glass of black liquid, "You just have to drink this; it will destroy the fertilized egg. Like a Muggle abortion, some Healers might say."

Hermione took the glass and looked at it. Severus could see tears gathering in her eyes and reached out for her hand. As their skin touched, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then looked at the potion again.

The Healer smiled kindly, "Take your ti-" The words weren't even out properly, as Hermione drank down the black potion. The Healer sighed sympathetically, "There, that's the bad part over. Now, I’m going to go and chase up those blood tests; you just stay here. If the Potion worked then you should feel a slight burning in your stomach, in about a minute. If it hasn't worked, then I'll give you another dose. Will you be okay?"

Hermione nodded, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. The Healer left and Hermione slumped back into the white pillows, closing her eyes. Severus reached up with his free hand and tucked a curl behind her ear, then rested his hand on her forehead. They were still for a moment, before she frowned and moved her free hand to her stomach.

After a moment she opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "It's gone..." She breathed. She turned to look at him, "Who is it? Why can't I see him? Why is this happening?"

"I don't know." Severus shook his head, wishing he could give a better answer. He kissed her forehead.

"Severus, you know, I haven't... I wouldn't... Not to you..." She was too tired to try and make up proper sentences, but she didn't need to. Her eyes were cloudy with exhaustion and pain, both physically and mentally, though there was a great deal more of the latter. He expected that she could deal better with the physical pain than with the emotional.

"Ssh," He brushed his thumb across her cheek and shook his head, "I really don't know what... I probably shouldn't have..." Severus closed his eyes briefly and sighed. He wasn't used to apologizing to people, and especially not for making a mistake as big as he had earlier that day. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, "I'm sorry."

She smiled slightly - a smile that didn't light her eyes - and shook her head, her fingers stroking his arm tiredly, "Don't. If I don't know what's going on with my body, you're certainly not supposed to... But I’m glad you're here now... Because I’m scared..."

Severus knew she was trying to tell him that he was forgiven, but there was something in her weary eyes, tired touches and reserved voice that made him feel even worse.

Severus sat back, though still retained possession of Hermione hand; the door of the small room had swung open and the Healer was back, followed by a very important looking man.

They came to a stop by the side of the bed and the Healer spoke to Hermione slightly nervously, "We've got the results of the blood tests. You seem to have been given a rare potion that -"

But the man waved a hand and interrupted her, "Yes, yes, thank you. I can take over from there." He cleared his throat, "The results of the test show that you have been a rare potion; so rare, in fact, that it has only even been used on two other occasions, both of which are considerably different to this one. For this reason, it has never been given a proper name, although some people have been known to call it 'the Boggart potion'. It is given this nickname because it is used specifically to work its way into a person's dreams, with the purpose of turning them into nightmares. However, with this particular potion, the nightmare affects the person’s reality. In your case, the person that gave you the potion knew that having another miscarriage was your greatest fear, and subsequently gave you the potion with the knowledge that the dream you would experience would be you having sexual intercourse with a man. This would leave you pregnant and therefore cause a miscarriage. However, the individual that gave you the potion added an ingredient that would speed up the process of the miscarriage, causing you to lose the baby the day after the dream. Do you understand so far?"

Hermione nodded speechlessly.

The man sighed, "Good. Now, I need you to try and think. This potion cannot be ingested, because it is toxic and can sometimes be fatal. It can only be inhaled. It could have been put in a perfume, or a drink that somebody asked you to smell, or in some food that someone took away before you could eat it, or -"

"Or in flowers?" Hermione asked weakly.

The man nodded, "Certainly. Has anyone given you flowers lately? Do you know who might have given you this potion? It is not classed as Dark Magic, but there will certainly need to be an investigation and probably a stretch in Azkaban for the person who has done this to you. Do you have any idea who this person might be?"

There was silence for a moment while Hermione hesitated. Severus knew she did have an idea. But after a minute, she shook her head, "No, I'm sorry."

The man sighed, "Alright, but if anything comes to you, please get in touch with the Ministry. Be sure to take care of yourself."

As he left the Healer smiled hesitantly at Severus, "I'm sure you will be able to make up some Dreamless Sleep potions for her; they should block the dreams for now." She turned to Hermione, "I understand that Healer Angela has looked after you with your first two miscarriages; so, once the antidote to this rare potion is made, which should be in about three days, she will be sent to your house to administer it and explain the aftercare needed. Meanwhile, you should rest, sleep as much as you can, refrain from engaging in anything too strenuous and it is also advised that there isn't too much..." She looked back at Severus again, "emotional upheaval. So, you're free to leave whenever you feel ready. There's no rush, though; take your time."

When they got back to the house, Severus wrapped his arms around Hermione before she could go anywhere.

She rested her cheek on his chest, "I'm a medical miracle, you know - getting pregnant twice in one day with a man that isn't even real. I'll bet you anything that no ones ever done that before."

He could hear the tears in her voice and stoked a hand over her hair, "I heard of that potion. Once, a very long time ago. But I never considered it a real danger to anyone. I have always thought dreams were more a part of Divination - nonsense, unless you're Harry Potter, and even he should have ignored them to a certain extent... Now," He looked down into her eyes, "Flowers?"

Hermione sighed and tried to step back, "It was nothing. Ron just gave me some flowers the other day... but come on! Why would he do that?"

Severus wanted to press the subject, but she was tired and, however much she tried to hide it, fear was showing clearly in her eyes. Fear was not something he was familiar with. He could remember feeling it when he was young, but the Dark Lord had taught him to put aside that particular emotion; or rather, working for the Dark Lord had taught him to put aside that particular emotion because Death Eaters that showed too much fear were usually murdered in unpleasant ways.

The Dark Lord had liked everyone, even his followers, to be afraid of him, but he also liked him or her to be able to hide it well. Severus suspected that that was what kept the Dark Lord from killing him straight away.

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Hermione rolled onto her back and pushed the bed covers down around her waist. She had tried to go back to sleep, but it was evading her and she was getting hot from rolling around too much. The Dreamless Sleep potion had permitted her three hours of nothing but darkness. It could not really be called sleep, for it had not refreshed her and left her groggy and feeling slightly sick.

Groaning, Hermione got up slowly and tied her dressing gown - which she had forgotten to take off and had slept in - tighter around her waist. She made her way to the bedroom door and out onto the landing, then headed down the stairs. It was early in the evening, but, due to the time of year, it was nearly dark. She was cold and the wooden floor at the bottom of the stairs didn't help.

She found Severus reading The Daily Prophet in the living room. Shivering, she sat next to him, but he didn't seem to notice at first as he frowned at the paper. Then he put his arm around her and drew her closer, and Hermione rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

He kissed her temple, "You're meant to be asleep."

She gave an exasperated sigh and murmured, "Can't. Not tired enough."

"Hmm, it sounds like it." He said dismissively, then he turned to look at her, "Do you know where Weasley got the flowers from?"

Hermione rubbed a hand over her face, "No... They had a picture thing on the wrapping, but I didn't recognize it. Why?

He turned a few pages of the paper over, until he came to a page full of adverts; he pointed one out in the corner, "That picture?"

Looking down Hermione nodded, "Yes. Why?"

Severus moved the paper closer to her, "Read."

The advert was for a new shop in Diagon Alley, claiming to sell the best flowers and offering any arrangements thought of. Hermione really couldn't see what this had to do with anything - she had had a long day and she was tired - but then she noticed an address at the bottom. Above the address was a sentence:

Any queries should be owled to the location below and addressed to Mrs. A. Krum.

"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! They make me update as fast as i can because i love them so much! Thanks!

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