Maternal Instinct

Slowly Hermione sat down on the sofa next to Severus, looking at him with expectant, yet nervous eyes.

He sighed, "It was hard for me to find out about that potion; it's old and almost forgotten about. I was young, a year away from leaving Hogwarts and I nearly gave up searching, but then someone approached me. He said that he knew about the potion I was looking for and that his family - an old and prominent blood line - had all the information I could ever want, and he was prepared to let me borrow what I needed." He smirked, "Naturally, I took full advantage of his offer - I didn't know him so well back then, you see - and, when I was finished, he said he knew other people who could help me, if I was ever looking into other potions or spells like the one he helped me with."

Hermione frowned, "Who was he?"

Severus shook his head slowly, "You haven't guessed yet?" he sighed dramatically, "Lucius Malfoy - who else?"

Her eyes were wide, "So that means the others were -"

"Death Eaters," He nodded, smiling sarcastically, "I didn't just accidentally walk in on one of their meetings, you know... But that's not what I’m meant to be talking about. So, Lucius knew how to make that potion."

"But I hadn't seen him for years before the other day, when you were out." She said, confused, "And he's dead."

"Well, he was in the same social circles as Amy and Viktor. If he invited them both to one of those dinner party things he used to hold, you can imagine what they would talk about. Viktor would moan about you not giving him the son he wants - not wanting everyone to know he can't have children - and Amy would tell Lucius how you're taking her daughter and husband away from her. Bearing in mind that Lucius was mentally unstable, he would have heard your name, remembered you for being the girl who was the same age as his son, but born to Muggles and a friend of Harry Potter." Severus paused for a moment, then carried on slowly, "I think he knew he was going to die soon. I don't think he expected Narcissa to be his murderer, but I’m sure he knew his life was ending. And I think he wanted to have one last stab at someone and, when Viktor told him that you couldn't have children, he used that."

Hermione sighed tiredly, "But the flowers were fresh and he was already dead. How did he do it?"

"He didn't. He left Amy and Viktor the instructions, knowing that they were going to get married and knowing that they both hated you. Considering their intelligence - or lack there of - I would say that they made the potion and didn't know how to give it to you until Weasley ordered flowers, with a message that included your name, from Amy's new shop. Weasley may not have known, but, then again, he might have."

There was silence. Hermione sunk back into the sofa and closed her eyes. "A dead man..." She sighed in disbelief. There was another pause before she spoke again, quietly, "Thank you for thinking about it... I'm sorry about this morning; I was a bit snappy." Hermione opened her eyes, "I'm really sorry. I just don't feel right at the moment..."

Severus put his arm around her and pulled her close, "Don't be sorry. Albus came to see me and told me to stay here this week."

Hermione shook her head, "No, you can't -"

"I have to. He's put up wards to keep me out of the castle. Besides, I don't want to leave you so soon; if I did, I think Ginny Weasley would have something to say about it. She sounds like she would carry out her threats," - his lips brush over her forehead - "and I wish to keep my body intact."

She smiled slightly and rested her head on his shoulder, "Thank you. I'll talk to Ron tomorrow; I really hope he doesn't know anything about this. He's stupid sometimes, but not spiteful. We've been friends for a long time. He wouldn't do this to me - I hope."

"If he did know about it, it just adds one more to my list of people to murder."

"Who else is on this list?" She asked quietly, tiredness clear in her voice.

"Anyone who hurts the woman I love." He kissed the top of her head, "And that would be you, incase there is any confusion."

"Those words sound so strange to me." She murmured.

"Mmm," He made a sound of agreement, "And to me."

She sighed, "I'm tired and I just feel so... cold. All the time. Last night, Corrin had a nightmare and she came and woke me up, so I took her back to bed. I had to put a cooling charm on her because she was so hot and when she finally fell asleep, I went back to bed. The covers were on the floor because you got too hot, I suppose. And I hadn't noticed before, but the window was open -"

Severus nodded, "I opened it."

"I thought so. Then I realized I was hot, or at least my skin was hot." There were tears in her voice, "But I was cold. Inside. And I’m scared because this isn't me... And it hurts..."

Tightening his arms around her, Severus kissed the top of her head, though he didn't trust himself to speak without making things worse. He had never felt empty or cold inside. As a child he had been interested in the dark arts and straight after leaving Hogwarts he had joined the Death Eaters - his head had been full of horrible thoughts. When he had become a spy he had been too preoccupied with trying to stay alive to feel anything else, including emptiness.

The silence was cut through sharply when there was a scream from upstairs.

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Despite her current frame of mind, Hermione found herself in hysterical laughter.

Corrin stamped her foot impatiently, not comprehending why Hermione was laughing so much, "Why is he trying to squash her? It's not funny! I don't think he likes her!"

"Don't worry, he likes her... a lot." Severus was only just managing to keep a straight face as he reassured his daughter.

The black cat in Corrin’s arms struggled, desperate to get to the fluffy white feline on the girls bed. Mr. and Mrs. Snuggles had been getting to know each other it seemed.