Unwanted

Two hours later, Severus apparated the two of them to the front gate of the Weasley stronghold. They were met by Molly and Minerva, both of whom took custody of Hermione and led her into the ramshackle home. Severus gritted his teeth and followed slowly, heading into the kitchen where he knew the men of the Order would be gathered to discuss business before the festivities.

For Hermione only would be willingly enter the Weasley home and stay to 'chat and interact' with his Order associates. He planned on leaving her there and heading to Diagon Alley for a gift. Albus would let him leave for a short time, surely, if he knew it was for the girl. Steeling himself, he confronted the former headmaster and left immediately, arriving in a younger glamour in front of the magical bookshop where he'd watched her caress the spines and open the books reverently.

He chose a few generic books and a few biographies he thought she'd enjoy during the next few weeks of her confinement, then left for Madame Malkins, having noticed that she was outgrowing her robes and might want something more confortable. And he picked up some infant wear. When they went to the doctor's she showed no inclination to finding out the gender of their child, so he bought greens and yellows. Of course the green would look good on his child, a half Slytherin. But he worried about the lack of care Hermione still exhibited toward the baby.

Oh, she cared for herself now, bathed and ate as she should, but she never did the maternal things he'd read about; reading to the unborn baby, rubbing her stomach, talking to it, responding to it's movements. He wondered if the breakdown he'd foretold months ago was just being held off until the child was born. Reducing his bags, he apparated back to the Burrow...into the midst of a flurry of activity.

"Oh, good, Severus, you're back! Hermione's water just broke and she's in a lot of pain!" Minerva grabbed his arm and pulled him into the living room where his wife was sitting on the edge of a chair, holding her stomach, her face scrunched up in intense pain. She screamed when he entered the room, pushing away from him, out of the arms of Ron and Harry.

"NO!!!! Not him!! No!"

The breakdown was happening and there was nothing he could do, but leave, and let the others take care of her and his child. She wouldn't be able to handle the birth if he stayed around her;
she wouldn't be able to focus on the birth, and as early as it was, it was in danger. Steeling his resolve and not letting anyone see how affected he was by her outburst, he nodded his head to everyone and backed out of the room into the kitchen. Albus and Arthur sat sipping tea, concern written in their faces, but showing nothing but outward calm. Arthur having gone through this six times with his Molly and Albus, well, because Albus was Albus and didn't get rattled so easily. Hell, he even had the damn twinkle in his eyes!

"Molly will take her to St. Mungo's, Severus. Don't worry. She knows what she's doing." Arthur slid a teacup in front of the spy, and dropped some whiskey into it, after checking for his wife's presence of course! Sighing deeply, he listened to the women guide Hermione through the floo to the hospital, ignoring the spiked tea until the livingroom was quiet. He turned to Dumbledore, frowning intensely.

"I told you this was going to happen, Albus! Dammit! She needed more help than I could provide and you know it! Was saving her life worth it when she might end up lying next to the Longbottoms and Lockhart?"

"We did all we could, Severus. At the time you were the only one able to help her along her road to recovery. And everyone thinks you've helped her more than you might think. The upheaval of the birth might be temporary. No one knows, Severus. Ever the pessimist."

"Ever the realist, Albus." He drank his laced tea and closed his eyes. The child was early and that alone would be enough to put any mentally balanced pregnant woman over the edge.
Hermione's disassociation from her experiences already had her over that point. He hoped that her stay in the hospital might get her more help than he'd been able to provide. "I hope you're right."


A/N; Again thanks for the reviews, especially the more constructive ones. To the one who complained about the lack of sex..well, there are tons of other stories on here that goes directly to the wanton and pornographic. enjoy them. This is not a PWP, but a story with a plot and purpose even. Now, just so you know, I might not be able to upload anything for a few days as my son is going in the hospital. I'll be writing, but will have little change to add chapters. Please continue to read and review.
marti