9 months

Crookshanks lay under the bed hissing slightly. Hermione was kneeling near the bed with a bowl of food trying to coax her cat out. He had been unwilling to come to her for a weeks.

"Come here," Hermione said in the nicest tone she could whisper. "Mommy has some food."

The cat didn't look like he enjoyed the thought too much. He kept on growling and punched himself into a tighter ball.

"Leave him be," Severus' voice came into her ears.

"I just don't get it," Hermione said climbing up from the floor. "Crookshanks used to be such a good pet. He hasn't wanted anything to do with me since I got pregnant."

"Some animals are like that," her husband explained. "They can sense the change. She might understand you are going to have babies and is jealous."

Hermione frowned. If it were any other cat she would believe that but not her cat. The last time Hermione had seen him so nervous he was chasing scabbers around Hogwarts.

"He's part kneazle," Hermione explained even though she knew Severus already knew it. "He is a great judge of people. Normally he only gets like this when someone he doesn't like is around."

"Well I don't know who could be upsetting him so much," He explained bending down and looking under the dresser.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Looking," Severus answered.

"I can see that," Hermione said as she watched her husband dart around the room. "What are you looking for?"

"Oh," he said chuckling slightly. "One of my shoes. My only good pair of sneakers."

Hermione knew where the shoes were. She had hidden them for the hundredth time. she couldn't stand the shoes. They were faded and falling apart. Severus refused to find another pair.

"I haven't seen that ugly pair of sneakers," Hermione lied giving up on her cat.

"I need to find them," he said opening the closet door. "They are the most comfortable thing I own and we're going to the Potter's house for a whole week."

Hermione rolled her eyes and she watched Severus dig around in the closet. After a long search he finally pulled out a pair of nearly dead shoes.

"Didn't know where they were huh?" he asked turning his attention to her. "It seems someone placed them in a box of your old clothes."

Hermione turned away her head and blushed before quickly running out of the room.

----

Ginny had been surprised when Severus and Hermione had turned down her invite to visit them. She had been even more surprised when a few hours later she got another letter that said they would be there the last week of August.

She loved the fact they were coming. Even though she would never admit it out loud she was having a little trouble. James was keeping her busy and Harry was busy at work. Ginny hated the fact she wouldn't be able to return to work for at least six months. After all Quidditch was a dangerous sport and the team wanted her in best form.

"I'll be home later tonight," Harry said as he kissed her goodbye. "Tell Severus and Hermione I'm looking forward to seeing them."

Ginny promised too and Harry hurried off to work. She was sitting in the kitchen waiting for James to wake up for lunch when she heard the knocking at the front door.

She smiled as she walked to the door and opened it. Severus and Hermione were waiting for her.

For the next few hours they spend time trading off James. Severus didn't like the idea of holding him for some reason. Hermione guessed he was still a little weary of babies.

By the time nine o'clock came Hermione was ready to sleep. Hanging out with Ginny and Harry always tuckered her out. Severus had started nagging for sex as soon as they were in their bedroom but she had told him 'no'.

Hermione told him that she was too tired but that was only a half truth. She had a lot on her mind. She crawled into bed next to Severus and bid him goodnight before she feel asleep.

Severus wanted to talk to his wife. He could tell something was bothering her. He knew for sure when she insisted on going to sleep right away. She always did that when something was bothering her. He was tempted to wake her up and demand to know what it was but in the end he had decided to let her sleep.

He knew she would come to him after all with her problem. She always did. Comforted by that he slipped off to sleep.

--

The word around Hermione was fuzzy. She didn't know where she was. Large dark trees were spinning around her. She could only guess she was wondering in a forest.

She could her someone talking and she could hear a hissing noise.

"Oh now," a male voice was saying. "She says it's true. Hum...this could work to my advantage."

Hermione approached a clearing. She could see a large bundle lying only a few feet away from her. The bundle shifted and Hermione saw it for what it was.

Nagini.

The large snake reared up and turned on Hermione. She heard a soft voice say something but she couldn't make out what it was.

"No!" the speaker said as if she wasn't even there. "Don't touch the muggle born. I want the girl when it's born."

The same small voice came again. This time it seemed to make the speaker even more angry.

"The boy?" he questioned. "No! I don't want the boy. He will be worthless. I don't foresee him living past birth."

The snake was paying more attention to her. It was starting to move in her general direction. The speaker was hissing.

"Well," the speaker said in a cold tone. "Something is upsetting my darling. We will continue this later. Keep an eye on the muggle born and the traitor. I want to know their every move."

Hermione knew that voice. It was him! Her fears were confirmed when he turned to look at his beloved pet. It was Voldemort! She began to scream.

--

"Hermione!" Severus was shaking the screaming witch. "Wake up!"

"No!" Hermione was screaming. "No! I won't let you!"

Severus become more alarmed at the more he shook her. She just wouldn't wake up. It was like she was in a trance.

"What's going on?" Harry asked as he ran into the bedroom.

"I don't know," He said still shaking her. "She is having a nightmare."

"That looks like more than a nightmare," Harry said joining Severus in shaking Hermione.

Out of no where Hermione snapped out of it. Her eyes shot open and she started to cry.

"Hermione!" Severus said pulling her into a hug. "Are you OK?"

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"I saw him," she whispered. "I saw him! He's back. Voldemort is back."

"It was just a dream," Harry urged but he couldn't stop the color from draining from his face.