Maternal Instinct

Severus sat down beside Hermione, "It doesn't change anything. Why are you dropping the charges? It can't possibly be Viktor's baby."

She wiped her eyes and looked up at him, "Which means that it's yours." Severus started to speak, shaking his head in denial, but Hermione cut him off, "I can't let Amy get put in Azkaban, leaving a tiny baby alone with no mother."

"That doesn't explain why you're letting Viktor go free as well." He said angrily.

She sighed, "What if they really love each other? What if they could be a proper, happy family? I know it's unlikely, but if Amy and Viktor want this baby and they're going to look after it properly, then I would never, ever forgive myself it I split them up. Even though it can't be his child. It has to be yours, unless she was having an affair, which is possible, I suppose. And, if it is yours and Amy gets put in Azkaban, you'll have to look after it. Or, rather, I will have to look after it when you go back to Hogwarts. Corrin would be so upset if suddenly her mother had another baby that had to stay with us. Did you think of that?"

"If it's mine - which it probably isn't -"

"You can't just turn your back on it." Hermione said adamantly, "That's your possible son or daughter; you couldn't just leave it alone in the world if Amy went to Azkaban."

"Well I certainly wouldn't have it here." He told her sternly.

"You'd have to. There's no way I would let you just leave it to be adopted, when you're perfectly capable of being a parent." She looked away suddenly, "But, then again, it would be none of my business. It's your possible child, not mine." She shook her head, "Anyway, it's done now. I don't want to think about it any more."

Severus sighed, trying hard to keep his anger and frustration under control, "Fine. But why did that woman have to tell you about it? And what appointment was she talking about?"

Hermione rubbed her eyes, "She said that it was a legal requirement that they inform me of Amy's condition, because if she lost the baby due to stress it is well within her rights to sue me." Severus thought savagely that Amy deserved to lose the baby for what she had done, but stayed silent as Hermione went on, "Anyway, I have an appointment at St. Mungo's at one o'clock, just so that they can check that all of the potion is out of my system. She said it would be best if someone came with me but you don't have to. It must be a shock to know that you might have another baby soon."

Severus shook his head, wrapping his arms around her, "Of course I’m coming with you. I don't want any more children, but if I did, Amy would not be their mother." he kissed the top of her head, "You would."

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Hermione hardly remembered going to St. Mungo's. A young Healer took Corrin by the hand and started towards the door of the private ward, promising the girl a room where she could play with other children and lots of games.

Healer Angela smiled as she poured a pink potion into a glass and handed it to her patient. Hermione drank the potion quickly, lying back on the bed as the Healer took the glass away again.

Immediately, Hermione could feel drowsiness sweeping over her, taking away the painful emotions as she slipped into unconsciousness.

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Severus watched anxiously.

As Hermione began to glow pink, the Healer explained, "If the colour goes blue in the next few minutes then we know that that horrible potion is still in there. If so, we'll have to give her the antidote again, though perhaps a stronger dose. But, of course, you probably knew all that." The Healer turned and started to dig around in a cupboard. After a few minutes she turned back to Hermione and they both watched as the pink glow turned to green. The Healer gasped.

Severus looked up quickly, "What is it?"

The Healer drew her wand, waving it over Hermione urgently. Finally, she looked up, "There has been a chemical reaction in her blood and organs. Surely you of all people, Professor Snape, know what it means when an ordinary internal check-up potion goes green!"

"But... That's impossible!" He snarled.

The woman shook her head and did some more wand waving. A folded piece of parchment appeared in the air and the Healer took it, read it and then passed it to him.

Severus scanned the writing; it had everything from Hermione’s blood pressure to the exact amount of blood in her body. And there it was. The sentence that showed that the Healer was telling the truth.

The parchment crumpled as his fingers curled into a fist. The Healer slipped out of the room silently. Severus had a lot of thinking to do.

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Slowly, Hermione opened her heavy lashes. Glancing around, she found Severus in the chair next to the bed, looking unusually nervous.

"It didn't work, did it?" She said quietly, "It's still in me, isn't it? Oh my God -"

He shook his head and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, taking her hand carefully in his, "No. No, the potions gone. But there is something inside you." He took a deep breath, "The potion that Amy and Viktor made, mixed with the antidote that the Healer gave you, changed something..."

"Just tell me what's wrong." Hermione could feel tears gathering in her eyes, "Please. Surely life can't get any worse. Just tell me."

He closed his eyes briefly, then looked her steadily, "You're pregnant..." Tears slipped out of her eyes as she closed them, but he brushed them away, "Look at me, Hermione."

Slowly she lifted her lashes, "There's got to be some mistake..."

Severus kissed her forehead, "There is no mistake. No doubt. You are pregnant. Remember this morning; Healers can tell if a persons carrying a baby, even if it was conceived the same day."

Hermione shook her head, "Why didn't you just tell them to get rid of it? I really don't want to know. I wouldn't have minded if they had got it out of me while I was unconscious." More tears crawled down her cheeks.

Severus brushed them away, "You would have murdered me if I had let them give you a potion to kill it... The Healer thinks you have a big chance of being able to have this baby."

Hermione stared up at him, "What?"

He was almost smiling, "You heard. She thinks you can have this child."

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There was silence. Severus could see every emotion flitting through her eyes. When the Healer had come back and explained everything he had been speechless. This was a once in a lifetime chance for Hermione. If she wanted to have a baby, it would have to be the one she was carrying now. The Healer had said that if the harmless chemicals left over in her blood could last until it was safe to get the baby out - even though it would be premature - then there was every chance she would have the son or daughter she wanted.

The thought of Hermione being able to have his child made him feel strangely elated.

Amazement and hope settled in her eyes, but then she blinked and, to his confusion, the tears still continued to fall. "I'm sorry." She quietly, "I'm really, really sorry."

Frowning, Severus wiped them away, "Why are you sorry? I thought this was what you wanted."

"It is," She said it almost reluctantly, "but it's not what you wanted. I understand if you don't want anything to do with it, but I will not have an abortion if there is a chance that I can have this baby."

Severus sighed, understanding her tears suddenly, "It means so much to you; why would I want to take this chance away? I know I said I didn't want any more children, but..." The thought of his baby growing inside her made him feel warm, "I've had time to think and... changed my mind."

Hermione sat up and threw her arms around his neck, crying incoherent words of affection and love into his shoulder.

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"A brother or sister?"

Hermione nodded, "What do you think?"

Corrin frowned, "It would have to be a brother. A girl might be prettier than me."

Hermione brushed the hair away from the girls forehead as she tucked her into bed, "No one could be prettier than you, sweetie." She sat on the edge of the mattress, "Would you mind, though? If there was a baby around?"

Corrin shrugged, "Not if it was a boy." She frowned, "But... I thought you kept losing your babies. How do you lose a baby? Where do you put it? Why won't you lose my brother when he comes?"

Hermione smiled kindly, "You'll understand one day -"

"Is it because you're not married to daddy?" The girl went on, glancing at her father who was standing beside Hermione, "Mummy was married to daddy and she didn't lose me. She wanted to - she said so - but she didn't. What happens if you lose my brother 'coz you aren't married to daddy?"

"I won't -" Hermione tried to reassure her.

"But you might!" There was panic in Corrin's voice, then she said firmly, "You've got to marry daddy now!"

Hermione smiled, "I won't lose -"

"Now!" Corrin whined, "Else I won't have a brother!"

A hand came down on Hermione's shoulder, warm breath brushed passed her ear, "She's very persistent..."

"I am!" Corrin nodded, not looking like she really understood, "I'm what he said!" She looked at her father, "Please, daddy! Don't let her lose my brother!"

Severus sat down on the edge of the girl’s bed and wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist, whispering softly, "Now, how could I deny her anything?"

There was a pause, before Hermione looked over her shoulder, "Was that what I thought it was?"

Severus shrugged, "It depends what you thought it was, doesn't it."

She smiled slightly, "Was that an attempted proposal?"

Severus raised an eyebrow, "Attempted? Amy didn't even get asked; you should be grateful."

Hermione laughed, "I am grateful."

"Was that what I thought it was?" he smirked.

"Yes," Hermione sighed, "I don't play silly word games."

"I don't spell things out to people who ask stupid questions."

"I don't ask stupid questions -"

Someone tugged on Hermione's sleeve, "Ok, now you're getting married to daddy, right? So can we talk about my brother, now? Please!"

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A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! I think the next chapter will be an epilogue, where any loose ends will be tied up and it will be out as soon as possible! I'll miss writing this story, I think. Thanks again for all the reviews!

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