The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Back with another chapter, I hope this one’s satisfying... Kind of like a prologue to the ending – an ending that is a beginning, this... That made sense, didn’t it?

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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: SENSE PRESSURE


The 1st of September had come and gone, which basically meant school was in session and another nine months or so of hell was ready to make Severus’ life miserable once again.

Mind you, his life wouldn’t have looked as miserable (not at all, in fact) had he just had someone to share it with.

But he didn’t.

Hermione hadn’t made contact once since the incident with Lucius, and the only time he’d seen her after that faithful day had been at the hearing. She’d looked pale and miserable, and he’d so wanted to just pull her into his arms and tell her he was going to make it all okay, but he’d found he just couldn’t. She’d avoided his gaze all day – avoided him, in fact – and thus quite plainly stated that the relationship was undoubtedly over.

Perhaps the experience with Lucius had reminded her that Severus had indeed once been good friends with this sadistic lunatic of a man.

Or perhaps she’d just come to her senses.

And since it was blatantly obvious that Hermione didn’t want anything to do with Severus anymore, he certainly wasn’t going to force his company on her. It had been a fun month, but he could tell when it was over, and he wasn’t going to become some pathetic stalker who’d show up on her door and proclaim his undying devotions to her.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts of self pity.

Oh, gods.

Not even a week into the school year and students are already at his door, never giving him a moment’s peace.

Severus forced out the word “Enter” through clenched teeth.

He didn’t even bother to look up from his papers as the door creaked open and the sound of footsteps making their way up to his desk was heard.

“Er – Professor? I wondered if I could have a word?”

The grown-up male voice, quite unlike any teenager’s squeaky sounds, caught his attention. None of his colleagues had a voice like that, so who could it –

Oh, no.

It was Potter.

He groaned (openly) at the sight of the scar-faced boy who stood there, looking almost as out of place and uncomfortable as he had done whenever he’d been facing the Potions Master’s desk during his school years. The only difference was, now he was a grownup.

“Potter,” said Severus simply, his gaze returning to his papers. “My door as of late been quite run down by ‘students’ who have failed to realize that they indeed graduated two years ago. Tell me, what is your excuse?”

“I know perfectly well that I’m graduated, thanks,” replied Potter calmly. He sounded a lot more confident than he looked, which bothered Severus ever so slightly. “I’m here for a very different reason, one I think you should at least look away from your papers for more than seconds at a time to hear.”

Severus groaned and looked up again.

“Indeed?” he said nastily. “What wondrous reason might this be that I should be so craving to hear?”

“I want to talk to you about Hermione.”

It was as though someone had just thrown a bag of oranges in his face.

Potter’s simple and calmly spoken statement caught Severus completely by surprise, and he didn’t react quick enough to be able to hide his shocked expression from Potter, who looked rather satisfied with this obvious show of emotion.

“That’s right, I thought that might interest you,” said Potter.

Severus immediately wrapped his indifference and snarkiness around himself again.

“Why you would ever come into this office to discuss something as absurd as a matter involving Miss Granger is beyond me, Potter, and –”

“Oh, please,” interrupted Potter, “I know you were a couple.”

Were.

Even in his state of shock, Potter’s choice of wording didn’t pass Severus by unnoticed.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair and fighting to not show any signs of weakness at the mention of Hermione. Gods, how he missed her.

He really, really did.

“Very well, Mr. Potter,” said Severus finally. “What is it you wish to discuss?”

“Hermione told Ron and me about your relationship,” said Potter. “She said that you most likely had broken up, though.”

Severus quirked an eyebrow. “Your point, Potter, is still lost to me.”

“Well, are you saying that you are broken up?”

“It would appear so.” Severus’ gaze flickered down to his desk.

Then, to his great surprise, Potter turned angry. Really angry.

“Bloody hell, Snape!” he exclaimed. “I can’t believe you’d do a thing like that to her! She went on and on about how you cared about her, but how can you, when you just throw her away after something like this? What Malfoy did to her was horrible, and you’re not exactly helping with your –”

“Hold your tongue for one bloody second, Potter,” interrupted Severus, sitting up again. “What on earth are you saying, boy? I did not throw her away, as you so harshly state it.”

“Oh, sorry, what do you call it then?” said Potter angrily. “A dump? A break-up? A fling? A few quick shags with a young, beautiful witch just because you’re old and pathetic and then it’s over, and you can just leave her to face the music –”

“Potter!” snarled Severus, getting to his feet. “I will not be spoken to in that manner,” he warned in his most dangerous voice. “Now will you please stop your pointless blabbering and explain to me in proper words what you are trying to say before I lose my patience.”

Potter drew a large breath and seemed to struggle to calm himself. Then, after a serious amount of breathing, he said, “You broke up with Hermione. I want to know why, and also I’m here to criticize you for dumping her after what’s she’s been through.”

Severus frowned. What on earth was the boy saying?

“I never broke up with her,” he stated simply.

“You – you didn’t?”

“Did she say I did?”

Potter shook his head, hesitantly.

“No,” he said, “no, not directly... Well, come to think of it I don’t even know if she indicated that, exactly, but – but she did say you were broken up, and she seemed pretty sure you wouldn’t want anything to do with her after what... after what Lucius had done to her.”

Severus felt as though struck.

How could she think that? How could his beautiful, brilliant Hermione believe that he would ever push her away for something like that? (Or for anything, for that matter...)

No matter how bright she was, she still could be rather stupid.

Why would she ever think that of him?

“I can assure you, Potter,” said Severus, “that I have not broken up with her. Nor did I intend to. She, as she should have told you, has been avoiding me. I believe that quite qualifies for me to believe that indeed she broke up with me, and not the other way around.”

Potter’s finger was, as though nervous, tracing lightly across the edge of Severus’ desk.

“It’s not that simple, Snape,” he said quietly. Then he looked up and caught Severus’ gaze, his courage renewed. “Perhaps you don’t know Hermione at all. After an experience like that, of course she won’t come running to you! Do you have any idea what she must be feeling right now? And to top it all of, you make no effort to keep in touch when she needs it the most –”

“I believe, Mr. Potter,” interrupted Severus silkily, “that I know more about how she feels right now than you will ever understand. You might know Hermione better than most, but no one knows Lucius and how he treats his victims better than I do.”

Potter winced at the words.

“I have witnessed it before,” continued Severus. “More times than I care to remember. I have seen the consequences, Potter. I know the seriousness of this situation, so don’t you dare insinuate anything else.”

“Why aren’t you making contact, then?” said Potter angrily. “You claim you know so well what she needs right now; then it must be blatantly obvious that she needs you – as much as I hate to admit it,” he added darkly. “And yet here you are, not making so much as a move in her direction. Well done, Snape.”

Severus strode around his desk to face Potter, his eyes dark and face emotionless yet dangerous.

He would not be spoken to in this manner – who was Potter to poke his nose into other people’s business anyway? Yes, perhaps he did know Hermione and what she needed, but Severus himself knew when he wasn’t wanted.

Yet... She hadn’t wanted it to end? So in a way, she still needed him, didn’t she...

Even if she didn’t say so. Even if she’d avoided him all day at the hearing. What Severus could not understand was why.

Potter had said it had something to do with what had happened with Lucius. But after something like that, surely Hermione would want Severus around? And when she’d avoided him, that had been quite the clear hint to him. She had not wanted his company.

“Perhaps you are right, Potter,” whispered Severus dangerously. “Perhaps I have not acted as I should have. What fortune that I have the likes of you to barge into my office and throw it to my face.” He paused for effect. “In the future, you would do best to watch your mouth around me. I may not be your Professor any more, but that does not change my overall being, Potter. Tread carefully.”

Potter did not flinch. “Talk to Hermione,” he said.

And in the end, Severus knew that was what he had to do.

But he would never in his life admit that it was the Boy Who Lived who had made him realize it.

--

She’d never thought she’d be standing with one of these in her hands.

Yet here she was... Doing it the Muggle way, too. Undoubtedly Severus would not have approved.

But he wasn’t there to argue.

Hermione frowned, forcing her hands to stop shaking.

It should be changing colour right about now, shouldn’t it? She’d done everything by the book (what book?); surely something was supposed to be happening now...

And something did happen:

There was a knock on the door.

--

She replied almost at once, “Come in”, but her voice sounded distant. Deciding to just as well take her up on her offer, Severus opened the door and entered Hermione’s apartment.

She was standing in the living room, not too far off from the bathroom, staring at something which had to be a Muggle device of some idiocy or another. She would never quite learn, would she...

Severus had no idea what the little thing was, nor did he particularly care.

“Hermione,” he said to catch her attention.

She looked up and seemed genuinely shocked that it was him.

“Severus!” she spluttered. She looked so out of place, as though uncomfortable about something which had occurred before he entered. Her gaze drifted back down to the thing in her hands, and she added to her greeting, “I’m pregnant.”

Okay.

Okay.

Breathe, Severus.

Giving just as ridiculous a reply as she’d given a statement, he said, “You’re what?”

She looked up and caught his eye. “I’m pregnant.”

There was a nerve wracking long silence. Severus had never been as at a loss for words as he was now.

She was pregnant?

Where had that come from? How could she...? Why...? What...?

Lucius?

NO. It couldn’t be his.

“It’s not his,” Hermione suddenly whispered, as though reading Severus’ mind. “It’s too soon for that... It’s yours.”

Severus stepped into the room.

“When did you suspect this?” he asked, forcing his voice to stay calm. This wasn’t the moment to freak out – Hermione seemed so lost it was obvious he had to be the sensible half in this conversation.

“I – I didn’t get my period,” she replied. “It makes sense; it’s about a month since we got together, and I was supposed to get it last week, but you know... What with all that’s happened I didn’t consider it until today...”

Severus nodded, still not knowing quite what to say.

They had been careless; he was more than willing to admit that. Occasionally he would remember a contraceptive potion, but more times than not the possibility hadn’t even struck him. It had been so long since he last had had anything to do with a woman that thoughts like that had almost left him permanently.

Now they came rushing back, though.

“I’m sorry,” said Hermione then, dropping the Muggle device with shaking hands.

He rushed to her at once, all awkwardness forgotten, and pulled her into his embrace. She was shaking in his arms, grasping at his frock and he was afraid she was crying silently into his chest.

“Whatever for?” he asked her, stroking her hair gently.

She drew a deep breath. “For... for a lot of things. For me being such an idiot in the first place when it came to Lucius Malfoy. For... for ignoring you. For that,” she finished, a hand indicating the Muggle device that had declared a life was growing inside of her.

“Do not apologize for any of those things,” said Severus soothingly. In all truth, he wasn’t quite sure if he was going about this the right way – he’d never comforted anyone before. Yet he was desperate now to ease Hermione’s pain; desperate to show her that he cared and that what had happened with Lucius didn’t matter at all; desperate to express his caring and... well, and love, basically.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” she said, pulling away to look at him. To Severus’ great relief, there were no tears in her eyes. “Although I don’t really know why you’ve come – I know what I hope you’ve come for, obviously, but I don’t know if I should dare to believe it.”

“What do you hope?” he asked.

“I hope that you’ve come because you don’t care about what Lucius did; that we can still give it a try, because I really don’t want you leaving me now, and... And I hope that the news I just (rather clumsily) delivered to you won’t scare you away again.”

“How you could believe I would pull away because of what Lucius did I will never know,” said Severus, stroking her cheek. “It was not your fault, you know.”

“I know,” she whispered.

He wanted to continue. He wanted to answer her last inquiry as well; to say that he wasn’t scared about the news she’d just delivered; that he felt nothing but joy...

But of course he was scared. Terrified, in fact, and he didn’t quite know if there was room for any feeling of joy at all – all the others feelings sort of took up what space there was.

“It’s not as if I planned it, you know,” she said then, looking down. “And I still don’t know what I want to do.”

“You needn’t decide now,” said Severus quickly.

“I know that.” She released herself for his embrace and began pacing the floor. “I mean, it’s insane! We’ve been together for a month – that’s nothing! If I suddenly decided I was in the mood to become a mother, what would happen if we in another month’s time were to break up? There’s still so much we don’t know about each other, Severus.”

“Obviously,” he nodded. Truth to be told, he couldn’t imagine ever wanting to live his life without Hermione, but he knew all too well that things could change. Hell, she could come to her senses and realize what an awful match he was. A thousand things could break them up.

“But do not believe for a second that if we were to break up, I would not abandon you or relieve myself of any responsibility were you to have... to have our child,” he added, forcing the words out. It felt so foreign, talking about their child.

He might end up becoming a father.

Hermione looked up.

“I do care, you know,” Severus said, raising a mocking eyebrow at her surprised expression.

She smiled. “I know that.”


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A/N: What do you think? A bit of a turn point, ey? Mhm... Thanks so much to my beta, JessiokaFroka, for her work and encouraging thoughts! It would appear as though I end up commenting my fics a lot on my Live Journal... Feel free to check that one out (my username’s missgrill).

Thanks so much to all my reviewers!