A Secret Worth Keeping

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.


A Secret Worth Keeping

Chapter Thirty-seven: Crisis in the House of Slytherin

“Professor!"

Severus’ head snapped up as a thumping on the outer door interrupted them followed by loud bellowing. Hermione’s body, very ready and nearly underneath him, jerked as she gasped in surprise. Her soft breasts rising in alarm. Cursing, he flung himself off of her and, almost as fast as he could cover Hermione up, the nanny elf appeared at the foot of their bed with an agitated look on her pinched and wrinkled face.

"I’s sorry to intrude, Master, Mistress. But he wants to see you. He says it very important." The house elf fluttered her hands in agitation.

"Who is it?" Severus demanded and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Whoever it was was going to get the full range of his anger.

It is Master Draco, Sir. He appears very upset." Her eyes flicked uncertainly between Severus and Hermione, feeling the tightly reigned in emotions coming from the two.

He groaned loudly as he looked down into Hermione’s eyes. They were so close to becoming one and there was no telling when he would ever get her into his bed again. Someone was going to pay for this interruption.

Hermione clutched the sheet to her naked breasts and slid over to him, wrapping her arms around his chest, holding him to her. Her voice when she spoke was deep and husky from their previous exertions. "We have to go see him, Severus." She whispered, knowing exactly the disappointment on his mind. "We can continue this later. I promise."

Hearing her words of promise helped. With a curt nod, he waved the nanny elf away while reaching for his bottoms. "Go tell him we will be right there."

The Nanny elf nodded and, with a pop, disappeared.

"I will kill Draco with my own two hands." Severus groused as he stood up and pulled on the sleeping pants. His erection still standing at attention.

Hermione giggled as she too slipped her legs over the side of the bed and into her slippers. The gown that she had worn was quickly slipped over her head and smoothed down. Once presentable, they made their way out into the outer room where they paused to see a very agitated Draco pacing furiously.

"Draco?" Severus’ voice brought the boy's attention and he stopped pacing and turned to face them. On his face, worry and concern were mixed with anger and confusion. He was barely dressed in a pair of light gray pajamas with the top unbuttoned, as if thrown on in a hurry. Once his eyes settled on the two people, his actions became even more frantic. The young man crossed the room, grabbed the Professor’s arm, and started tugging him towards the door.

"You have to come… Something’s wrong."

"What is it, Draco? Is someone hurt?" Hermione questioned as she stepped around Severus. The look in the man’s eyes had her more worried now. Draco’s eyes flashed between the two but didn’t stop tugging Severus forward.

"It’s… You have to come… Hurry!"

"Did you fetch Pomfrey?" Severus snapped as he raked a hand through his dark hair. He did not intend to leave this room until he had some answers and Draco’s tugging wasn’t helping his mood at all.

"I cant. It’s Pansy… It’s the baby. Something’s wrong. She’s in pain. Hurry, please hurry."

The worry in Draco’s eyes matching his voice had Hermione and Severus' attention.

Pansy and the baby.

Hermione took one look at Severus’ face before flying towards the door with the two men close at her heels. "WANDS!" They both cried out in unison and accio’d the pieces of wood. Their two wands came flying out of their room and into their hands as they were running out of the dungeons.

With Draco leading the way, the trio ran toward the Slytherin common room and, without breaking stride, Hermione and Severus followed Draco up the stairs and into the girls’ dormitory. The sounds of loud sobbing reached their ears before Draco slid to a stop in front of a wooden door. A scream of pain erupted from beyond and Severus barely paused to open the door before he barged in. Skidding to a halt just inside of at the doorway, he took a moment to take in the scene. Several girls surrounded the bed. Susan, Millicent and Dove Littlefoot kneeled around the head of the bed. Dove calmly wiped at the girl's brow and tried to keep her calm, uttering soothing little words.

Hermione pushed her way past Severus’ form and hurried towards the bed and the crying girl. She knelt down where Dove just vacated and brushed her hand over the girl’s sweat soaked brow.

"Pansy?"

"Her… Hermione? It hurts…" Pansy’s voice came out weak and tired sounding.

"I know. It will be fine." Hermione soothed as she brushed a hand over the girl’s hair. "Where does it hurt exactly, and how bad are the pains?"

"It hurts… here." The girl clutched at her abdomen and cried out. "It hurts a lot…"

Hermione turned to Severus with a look of alarm. "Get Pomfrey. Hurry."

Not saying a word to her direct order, Severus turned and rushed out of the door, heading for the infirmary. The horrifying sounds of Pansy’s crying hurried him out and followed him down the corridor. His chest tightened in his worry for her and her unborn child. Would she lose it?

He skidded to a brief halt outside of the infirmary before he blew inside, bellowing for the mediwitch. "Poppy!"

A few moments later, the healer hurried from her personal chambers and rushed up to him. As she tied the sash of her dowdy terrycloth bathrobe, her brows furrowed in a mixture of anger and concern. "Severus Snape, you know better than to erupt into my hospital using that loud tone of voice. I have patients trying to rest."

Severus’s eyes scanned the room, only to see one bed occupied by Darryn Ebonwood, a Ravenclaw second year. His deep blue eyes, wide in alarm at the sudden appearance of the dreaded Potions Master. Beside the child sat a glass, half-emptied of the red nourishment that would sustain him throughout the next day.

Severus frowned at the half vampire child before turning his attention back to the one he came to see. "Apologies, Poppy, but there is a problem in my house. I need you there. Immediately."

"Can’t you bring the child here?" Poppy chided, crossing her arms across her ample bosom. "I really shouldn’t leave Mr. Ebonwood alone…"

"She cant be moved, Poppy. It’s a…" He looked at the child who stared at them in rapt attention. "A delicate… nature."

Poppy harrumphed loudly but nodded. "Well, lets go then. I haven’t all night." She turned to the boy and shook a finger at him. "You stay here, young man. Finish your drink and don’t forget to apply the sunscreen in ten minutes. I don’t want you catching fire tomorrow during Quidditch practice."

She barely waited for the young boy’s nod before she turned back to Severus. Even in her apparent lack of concern, Severus knew the healer was worried. She understood that he never showed himself in the infirmary unless it was a dire emergency. He waited while she summoned her wand then, as one, they moved to the fireplace and called out their destination.

As soon as they stepped out of the common room hearth, Poppy went on alert. Her ears picked out the sobs and cries of Pansy and she turned in that direction. Poppy’s quickness belied her age as she rushed towards the sounds with Severus at her heels. Following the cries, Poppy quickly found the door in question and paused at the entryway, taking in the scene.

Pansy Parkinson laid curled on her side in a fetal position. Her face scrunched up with pain and her moans told the mediwitch all she needed to know.

"Out! All of you." She yelled authoritatively, sending the other girls scurrying from the room. Once she was alone with Pansy, she ran a hand over the girl’s forehead, feeling for temperature. She was hot and, from the feel of the heat from her skin, she was nearing 103 degrees Fahrenheit. To high for comfort, that was sure. "Where does it hurt child?" As if she couldn’t tell from the way the girl was wrapped around her stomach.

Pansy sobbed. "My baby…"

Poppy sucked in a breath at her words and frowned. "I see." She pulled her wand and ran it over the girl’s abdomen. Within moments, an image formed and she studied the figure. Pansy’s eyes were closed tight, not even realizing that the image of her baby hovered directly above her. The mediwitch flicked her wand and the image pulled back further, showing the amniotic sack that the child lay in. Pulling farther back, she saw the problem. "Oh dear…my poor child."


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It seemed like a lifetime until Poppy emerged from Pansy’s room. An hour ago, the sobs had ceased but, when Poppy didn’t emerge from her room, Severus didn’t worry. But then, after yet another half-hour had passed without the healer’s presence, he couldn’t keep his gaze from falling to Hermione. She looked as worried as he and he wanted nothing more than to go over and comfort her. But he couldn’t. Not with everyone standing morosely around. Besides, she looked a bit busy.

Hermione sat next to Millicent and Dove, trying to keep her voice light and worry free, but Severus could see the concern in her brown eyes as they kept darting to the closed door and the silence beyond. Worry that he knew echoed his.

Pansy may have asked for an abortant when she'd learned of the baby, but he had a feeling that she was starting to have some feelings for her unborn child. A baby did that to a person. It made them second-guess their every thought and move. Every concern for what they ate and drank and every thing they did was now focused on the health of their baby. Severus’ heart clenched as he thought of his own son. A son that he never thought he’d ever get a chance to have in his life. A son that he would easily die for if the need arose.

His eyes darted back to Hermione and saw her talking to Dove and now Draco and Susan. Millicent had wandered over to a window to look out at the darkened star speckled sky.

Hermione’s voice was low and soothing as she spoke. She was doing her best in her role of the DaRats therapist. Severus knew they had chosen well in placing her in that field of work for the club. She was a natural born listener and soother. He watched as the looks of worry slowly faded from Draco and Susan’s eyes. The boy’s hands were clenched tight but at least the pinched expression on his face slackened. Susan’s hand lessened her hold on his arm, as well. They both seemed to be feeling calmer.

Draco’s eyes found Severus’ and the young boy tried to smile. Severus simply nodded back and turned his attention back to Pansy’s door. The quietness beyond unsettled him.

"Severus?" Snape snapped his eyes around to see that Hermione had moved away from the group and was now gazing up at him.

"Yes?" He frowned down at her and cast a look around.

"Don’t worry. No one is paying us any attention." She whispered, casting a look around herself. "I was just thinking… Perhaps I should go and get Ron."

His eyes knitted together. "Weasley? Why in the world would you want to go and fetch him?"

Hermione sighed sadly and glanced at Pansy’s door. It was way too quiet in there. "I think… I think there is something developing between the two of them. I think that perhaps… Pansy would like him here."

Snape frowned down at the woman that he loved. Was she serious? Pansy and Weasley? "You can’t be serious. Pansy despises all Weasleys."

Hermione frowned up at him and spoke low. "I know it sounds ludicrous to you, but I swear its true. I think that the baby kind of brought them together."

Severus sighed and glanced back at the doorway. "The baby that she is now probably losing…"

"Exactly. I think… I think I need to get Ron. She may need him in case…"

Severus nodded and took a deep breath. "Go get him… and be quick."

Hermione chuckled a little at the order. "Yes Professor."

"Insolent brat." He muttered affectionately as she started to leave. Just as she crossed to the outer door, the door to Pansy’s room opened and a morose looking Poppy stood there.

Severus stood to his feet and quickly crossed to her. "Well?"

Poppy looked around the room at all the worried faces. "We need to talk to the Headmaster," was all she said and closed the door behind her. "No one is to enter this room until we get back." She ordered and warded the door closed and locked.

"How is she?" Severus asked.

Poppy gave him a sad look and a shake of her head. "Headmaster’s office, Severus. Now."

Severus and Hermione cast a dreaded look at the door, then at Poppy, but followed her out with Draco on their heels.

Something was wrong… dead wrong…