The Greatest Gift

At least four weeks had past since the night Hermione had moved in. Hermione and Severus both behaved civilly, but the atmosphere was still quite uneasy, you could almost cut the tension with a knife. They spoke, but it was only small talk, they tried to avoid each other sometimes, but the fact that they lived in the same quarters made their attempts difficult.

Hermione had been feeling nauseous a lot lately, and was also very lethargic. She and Severus HADN’T used protection and she wondered if she might be pregnant. “Perish the thought,” she whispered to herself, “that wouldn’t happen to a girl like me.” She made her way to dinner to be with her friends, she didn’t get to be with them as much as she’d like recently.

She could smell what was for dinner before she even neared the great hall, and was disgusted by what she smelled. She felt the same way when she caught a whiff of the coffee that morning, it was most unpleasant.
Hermione retched, but she couldn’t just stand outside, she would have to deal to with it.

“Hermione, you look a bit under the weather.” Ginny declared as soon as Hermione took her seat.

“As a matter of fact, I haven’t been feeling to well. I’m just so tired I don’t want to do anything lately.” The whole group gave Hermione curious glances.

“Do you know what the problem could be Hermione?” Harry inquired half curiously and half amused.

“No, but it started recently. I don’t really know what it could be.”

“’Mione, do you think there’s a possibility that you’ve gone and gotten pregnant?” There was a hint of jealousy in Ron’s voice.

“RON!” Harry, Hermione, and Ginny yelled in tandem. “It was just a question.” Ron replied defensively.

“It’s okay you guys, I’m fine, everything will be alright.” The uncertainty dripped from Hermione’s voice.

“Hermione, will you come to the restroom with me please, I need to talk to you?” Ginny grabbed her by the hand and dragged Hermione along before she could respond. Ginny let go when they finally made it inside.

Hermione was satisfied to see that the bathroom wasn’t as much an assault on her senses as the great hall been. “Ginny, what’s this all about?” Hermione asked.

“Hermione I need to know about how you’ve been feeling lately, tell me what’s different.”

Hermione considered this for a moment. “Ummm…I’m nauseous for one, my breasts are tender, I’m always exhausted…” Hermione thought a little more “Almost everything seems to be an assault on all five of my senses… I’ve actually thrown up a couple times.”

“Hermione, what about your period, that’s an important factor in where I’m going with all of this.”

That’s when it dawned on her, she hadn’t even had her period, and by her calculations, it was about two weeks late. How could Hermione have been so blind, she had to be pregnant, and that was a startling revelation for someone her age. Pregnancy was hard pill for her to swallow. She felt like crying.

Ginny looked into Hermione’s glazed over eyes and knew exactly what she was thinking. “You didn’t have your period did you?” Hermione shook her head no. “Come on Hermione we’ve got to see Madame Pomfrey right away.”

It was the longest walk Hermione had ever taken. Ginny tried to calm Hermione down by making small talk about she and Harry’s latest trysts. Hermione was in and out of the conversation, it was so hard for her to concentrate right now.

The hospital wing seemed familiar yet different, and Hermione couldn’t tell why. “Hello ladies, what do you need this evening?” Madame Pomfrey inquired jovially.

Ginny nudged Hermione, encouraging her to speak up. “Madame Pomfrey, I need a pregnancy test.”

“Very well child.” She said, not at all bothered by Hermione’s request. Madame Pomfrey said a quick pregnancy analysis charm.

Hermione had never felt more anxious in her entire life. Soon after Madame Pomfrey muttered her charm, Hermione felt a tingling sensation throughout her body, then saw a baby blue mist surrounding her. She wasn’t sure what it meant.

“Congratulations Hermione! You and Severus are expecting. I’m going to need you to come in tomorrow for…”

No one saw Hermione’s eyes roll back, but she had fainted. Thankfully, Ginny was there to catch her. “Is she going to be okay?” Ginny asked nervously.

“Of course she is. It’s normal, the dear girl had just had the shock of her life. Should I tell Severus?”

“Somehow, I think Hermione would want to tell him herself.” They laid Hermione on one of the cots.

“That’s quite all right, but I’ll still call him up here to because I’m sure he’d love to know why his wife isn’t home at these hours of the night. I’m going to my office to send for him.” Ginny waited by Hermione’s side faithfully.

After a few moments, Severus strode gracefully into the room. “Poppy, come here!”

She treaded with a spring in her step as she always had. “Yes Severus?”

“What’s wrong with my wife?” He was clearly in a bad mood.

“Nothing, she just fainted. I’m sure she’ll share the details with you when she recovers.” Madame Pomfrey then went back to her office.

Ginny hated to leave Hermione like this but the situation was just too awkward for her. “I believe it’s getting dangerously close to curfew. I’ll just be off, good evening Professor Snape.”

Severus glared at Ginny frostily and she left them alone. He was somewhat relieved and fearful at the same time. He hadn’t been this close to Hermione in a month. What ever was wrong with her, he would see her through it. He held her hand and stroked the mass of auburn curls atop her head, she looked peaceful. He was grateful that tomorrow would be Sunday, for he intended on holding her hand all night to show her that being his wife didn’t have to be such a terrible thing.

Hermione woke around 6:30 in the morning to find Severus sleeping peacefully in a chair next to her and she smiled at this. She remember almost instantly what had taken place the night before, it bequeathed a splitting headache that was damn near unbearable. How was she going to explain this to him, not to mention Harry and Ron. She placed a hand on her stomach half expecting something to happen, but of course nothing did, Hermione wasn’t even showing yet.

Severus stirred and blinked, he was waking. “Good morning sunshine.” He said to Hermione sarcastically. Hermione looked into his eyes, his usual iciness wasn’t there, so she didn’t take offense to his cynicism.

“Severus, we need to discuss something very important.”

“Does it have anything to do with how you landed yourself here?”

“Yes, it has everything to do with why I’m here.”

“Well…”

Before Hermione could answer his inquiry, she was overcome with the sudden urge to vomit. Hermione raced to the bathroom and threw up, Severus followed. She could feel him gawking at her as she purged, she was embarrassed for him to see her this way. As soon as she mustered up enough strength, she turned to him and said to him some of the hardest words she would ever have to tell him, “Severus, I’m pregnant.” She said through sobs.

Severus stood there speechless as she cried harder, he had no idea what to say or do, but he vowed to himself that he would be there through her trial and tribulations and would make good on his word, so he said nothing, just sat next to Hermione on that cold tile floor and held her. He knew exactly what to say then, “Hermione, I’m here whether you want me or not. I’m your husband, and I’ll always be there to catch you when you fall.”

Hermione snuggled closer to Severus as he held her tighter. For once she felt safe and wanted. She knew it might take a while for she and Severus to get where they needed to be in their marriage, but she was content at this moment. Hermione fell asleep on the cool sallow bathroom floor, in Severus’s arms.

Severus was at ease, but still frightened by the thought of parenthood. He knew this was a problem he couldn’t solve by drowning himself in fire whiskey. The idea of Hermione mothering his child was a strange idea, but it wasn’t terrible. He knew she would be good at it by the way she mothered those two Weasley and Potter dunderheads. Perhaps this was indeed a case of serendipity, but still it seemed so unreal. Severus Snape was going to sire Hermione Granger’s child and vice versa.

He couldn’t let Hermione sleep in a cold bathroom in her condition, so Severus scooped up her sleeping form and took her back to the dungeons where she belonged. He nestled her Hermione in her bed, then kissed her clammy forehead and left to gather his thoughts.

Hermione awoke an hour later, starved, she was just in time for breakfast, but she would shower first, she needed it. While she showered, she thought of ways to explain her predicament to Harry and Ron… that is, if Ginny didn’t get to it first, She could have such a big mouth at times. Hermione decided that she would wait, but wasn’t sure for how long.

Hermione got dressed and headed towards the great hall, she could detect the fowl aroma of omelets and coffee, she gagged. “This is horrible” she thought to herself, but she was going to have to get use to it. She patted her stomach, braced herself, then moved forward both physically and mentally. Pregnancy wasn’t going to be easy, but Hermione loved this child unconditionally already, so she would make it work. It amazed that she could feel it in such a short amount of time, the wonders of motherhood.


Author's note: sorry if you think the chapter's too short or whatever. I had more ideas but i wanted to put it the next chapter. It should also have a lemon or two. Hermione and Severus are trying to get it together as you see but i wanted to throw some twists in the following chapters (just not sure what yet), so if there are no more conflicts with them, there will be others. Thier conflicts are almost over.to hermioneandseverusfan: no i don't intend to make them cheat, it would upset me as much as you.
Thanks for all the love and you all get all my love in return, u've been so kind. XOXO Max