Maternal Instinct

Hermione rolled over pulling the covers up further around her ice cold shoulders, shivering. She stretched her legs out, but pulled them back quickly when she felt the cold sheets against her skin.

Immediately, warm arms curled around her waist, pulling her back against an even warmer chest. Sighing, she prayed that it wasn't too early so that she could get some more sleep, but she couldn't be bothered to open her eyes to see if it was still dark or not.

She really had to make an effort to get to bed before she fell asleep, instead of leaving it to Severus to carry her up and tuck her in. Her mind may be a bit fragmented at the moment with everything that was going on, but she wasn't physically helpless.

Severus' arm was curved over her waist, his hand splayed over her stomach. Under the covers, Hermione’s fingers entwined with his, her palm pressing against the back of his hand.

She could hardly believe how understanding he had been, how strong, how much he had looked after her when she was sure she would fall apart. Hermione wasn't sure she could ever thank him for the support he had given.

He hadn't spoken to her much, but she guessed that was because he didn't know what to say. Nothing he could have said would have helped her, anyway. But he had been there, holding her, with his masculine frame that was so much bigger than her own body and the smell that she now connected with safety, and that had been enough for her.

Now, almost a week after the most terrifying day of her life, Hermione's head was clearer and she realized just how much Severus really meant to her. In all honesty, she had doubted herself terribly when she had told him that she loved him, but now she could feel her heart reaching out and recognizing him as the person it truly belonged to.

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Severus kissed her shoulder, "It's very early. How are you feeling?"

Her hand squeezed his gently, "Better. A lot better. I wish that Ron wasn't involved, but he is and I just have to deal with that."

"You should have told that Healer -"

She sighed, sounding exasperated, "Ron may have done something unforgivable and he may be - in the words of Draco Malfoy - a prick, but he has a high position in the Ministry and if it got out, lots of people would use it against him. He earns a lot of money, more than most of the employees, more than I did when I was there; the people that work there are very jealous and competitive. They would destroy him -"

"Like he nearly destroyed you?" Severus asked dryly.

She turned onto her back and looked up at him, through the relative darkness of the room, with sadness in her eyes, "Yes. But the people that are jealous of him wouldn't try to get him fired because of what he did to me; they would do it so that one of them could get his very high powered job."

He frowned, puzzled, "And they're motive bothers you? Surely it doesn't matter why he loses his job, just that he does lose his job," He shrugged, "Or something similar."

She smiled at his obviously confusion, "Yes, it bothers me a lot. If anyone has the right to crush him, I do. But I don't want to. And I certainly don't want him to lose his job through blackmail or something equally as nasty. I never want to see or speak to him again, but that doesn't mean I want him to get fired by people who really don't care about what he did to me and only use it as an excuse to get rid of him."

Severus brushed the hair away from her face, "You really are a strange little thing, aren't you..."

Hermione smiled. Her arms curled around his neck, urging him down. It was the first advance she had made on him since that horrible day and Severus took full advantage of it, kissing her slowly, gently, but thoroughly.

Her hands moved lazily over his back and shoulders, but with purpose. The motions of both their hands and their lips became more urgent; Severus soon realized where it was going and was surprised when he almost protested. He wondered if it was perhaps too soon for her, but if she felt differently and wasn't uncomfortable then he had nothing to worry about, right?

Severus tried to convince himself of that.

He would just have to be careful with her; look for any sign of her distress or unease. He had never wanted to be more aware of her feelings in his life, but it was impossible when such pleasure was rising so fast.

Some time later, when Severus was satisfyingly sleepy, Hermione lifted her head from his chest. Curious, he opened his eyes to find that she had rolled onto her back. She stared at the ceiling, her eyes eerily blank, as if she was looking inwards, thinking deeply.

Turning on his side, Severus brushed the hair away from her warm forehead, "What's wrong?"

She shook her head as if trying to come back to reality, "Nothing's wrong. I was just... thinking."

"Mmm," he growled, "Sounds dangerous..."

She laughed and then there was silence. Severus rested his head on the pillow, watching her. Suddenly she turned her head to look at him, saying softly, "I would, you know. If I could."

Severus frowned, "What?"

Her eyes were clear, truthful; "I would have your child if I could."

For a moment, Severus found he couldn't breathe. Forcibly, he dragged air into his lungs. He reached out for Hermione and pulled her closer, tucking her as near as possible to his heart. No one - with the exception of Albus Dumbledore - had ever said something that touched him in such a personal way. Who on earth would ever want his children? The thought was, quite frankly, baffling.

Hermione rested her cheek on his chest, over his heartbeat. "I know you don't want any more, but if you did and if I could, I would."

Unable to speak around the unexpected and thoroughly frustrating lump in his throat, Severus closed his eyes and stroked her hair, holding her against him tightly.

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Hours later, Hermione opened the front door. A tall woman with greying hair smiled, "Miss Granger?" Hermione nodded. The woman held her hand out, "I'm Mrs. Barton. I work for the Ministry of Magic as a connection between St. Mungo's and the Ministry, especially for cases like yours."

Hermione shook her hand and stepped back, "Come in." She didn't know where Severus was, but he wasn't in the living room. Hermione gestured for the woman to sit on the sofa, as she lowered herself into an armchair. "What can I do for you?"

"Well," Mrs. Barton started, "first I need to tell you that the Healer treating you - Angela, I believe - wishes for you to go into hospital today so that she can check that the antidote work and that you are free of that dreadful potion. She wants you in as soon as possible and can fit you in at one o'clock today, if that's agreeable..."

Hermione nodded, "One's fine."

"You may want to bring somebody with you. The procedure they use to check that the potion is gone from your body can make you very sick and disorientated; it's best if there's someone to take you home." Hermione nodded in understanding. For the first time, the woman’s smile slipped. She regarded Hermione seriously, "Now, Miss Granger, something has come to light that may affect your choice to press charges on Mr. and Mrs. Krum. Or rather, something that may make you change you mind about pursuing the case..."

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Severus got to the bottom of the stairs as the living room door opened. A tall, troubled looking woman stepped out and headed for the door, Hermione trailing behind. She looked as if she was about to cry.

Severus glared at the other woman as she opened the front door as she said to Hermione, "Are you sure you want to drop the charges? You don't have to. Mrs. Krum could be order to wait until after -"

Hermione cut her off, "No. I just want it left alone. Let them get on with it - no charges, no sentences, no nothing."

The woman sighed, "If that is what you want then... I will inform the Ministry. Take care of yourself and remember your appointment at one." She nodded towards Severus, "Professor."

The front door shut quietly behind her. Severus turned to Hermione, waited for her to speak, to explain. But she didn't move. Seconds, minutes passed with only the sound of Corrin’s laughter form the rooms above. Moving closer, Severus realized she was shaking, tears streaming, unchecked, down her pale cheeks.

Wiping them away, he asked what was wrong. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, but remained silent. Worry welled up inside Severus when she was still silent and unmoving for another five minutes at least.

"What's wrong? Hermione, tell me..."

She remained as before, like a statue, tears crawling slowly out of her eyes. Deciding that there was no other option, Severus held her face gently, looking deep into her tortured eyes. Carefully, he eased into her mind. Legilimency didn't have to hurt the recipient; Severus had just never had a reason to be gently before.

He only touch the surface of her thoughts, but Severus pulled out of her mind sharply, almost moving back physically. He had the desperate urge to clamp his hands over his ears and take several steps back. Screams - sharp, piercing cries of pain and despair - echoed though her mind.

With a new determination, Severus stared down into her eyes. Pushing resolutely through the screams and cries of pain, Severus soon found her memory of the conversation with the woman. As soon as he realized what was wrong, he pulled out of her mind, not wanting to hear her distress any longer.

"Pregnant?" He hissed angrily, "Pregnant?" This shook Hermione out of her trance. Wiping her tears hastily, she turned and retreated to the living room. Severus followed, "And you're letting them get away with it?"

Whirling around, Hermione screamed at him, "SHE'S PREGNANT, SEVERUS! WHAT ELSE CAN I DO!" She collapsed onto the sofa and put her head in her hands, crying softly, "What else can I do..."