Saved By Grace

Chapter Five

She decided to stay overnight at her folk's home. She needed some time to think about what she was going to do. Lying in the comfortable bed, surrounded by her childhood treasures, she thought of all the feelings, concerns, and the overwhelming love for her child that she'd experienced during her first pregnancy. Then…physical pain, loss and grief.

Her special Pooh Bear next to her and with the copy of Winnie the Pooh book in her hands, she opened the cover of the book and began to read, placing a hand over her abdomen.

"Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in their enchanted place on top of the forest, a little bear will always be waiting." A.A. Miln

After reading the book aloud Hermione felt peace fill her heart, and with her hand still on her abdomen, whispered an unbreakable bond with her child, to love and cherish her child no matter who fathered it. She knew that she'd have a long road ahead, trying to raise a newborn on her own, but she was at heart a Gryffindor, and that would have to be enough. Tomorrow she'd take the train back to the Leaky Cauldron and from there she'll visit Madam Pomfrey to see about how far along she was, and if the fetus was growing well. Having done this, she turned off the light and fell into a deep slumber, and began to dream.

(Nightmare)

She woke, among exquisitely soft sheets and pillows, and stretched. Feeling a strong kick in her abdomen, she gasped and put her hand over the spot, smiling gently. A warm hand reached around her and lay across hers, and deep voice chuckled in her ear, making her shiver in delight. "She's a feisty girl, isn't she?" the voice rumbled. Turning she met the black eyes of Severus and her heart leapt at the sight of his beloved face.

"A girl? My baby is a girl?" she smiled up at him.

Abruptly, as is often the case in dreams; the scene changes and a cold, cruel Professor Snape is grinding out hurtful words.

"Pregnant, pregnant!? Surely you are not claiming that it's mine, I know for a fact that you were fucking Weasel not two months past. I hope, Granger, you don't expect me to take care of you and your sniveling little red-headed brat."

With each heart wrenching word, he used his larger frame and literally pushed her and her infant out into the cold, biting winter day.

"Severus, please!" she cried. He gave her a nasty look.

"Pray, do not address me so informally, Miss Granger, you are only an apprentice and a poor one at that. Now, I have no use for you, please leave the premises immediately."

With that, he shut the door in her face.

Hermione woke with his name on her lips. "Severus!" she cried out, sitting up and reaching out for him. How could she tell him, what words should she use? She had no idea who the father of her child was and, while magic can find out several things about an unborn baby, parentage was something that still eluded the wizarding community.

Her mother called out to her that the Belgium waffles were ready. Knowing that her daughter was in trouble, Mrs. Granger made Hermione her favorite breakfast in the attempt to cheer her up. Hermione's parents accompanied her to the Leaky Cauldron and sent her back home with kisses, hugs, and the knowledge that she and her child would be welcome in their home.

Walking home from the portkey outside the Wizarding Hospital, she felt sick, exhausted and wanted to do nothing more than to crawl into her bed, hiding under the covers until the baby was grown and out the door. What she got, however, was a very pissed off Severus Snape who was waiting in her living room. She'd forgotten how intimidating he could be looming over her and giving her a blistering dressing down.

"How dare you just disappear without telling me! You were gone all night, do you have any idea how I felt when, not only did you not show up yesterday morning, but you stayed out all bloody night!" He grabbed her arms and gave her a gentle shake. "I was up all night flooing everyone I could think of, Harry's been out with Ginny trying to find you…we thought Ron had gotten to you again! Merlin be damned, when I thought he had his hands on the woman I love…"

Here her ears quit working altogether, his recriminations fading behind the words 'woman I love'.

"Are you even listening?!" he bellowed.

"You…you love me." She said softly. Those words, spoke in a baffled and awed tone, were all it took to take the wind from his sails. He pulled her into his chest, fisting her curls with one hand, holding her tight with the other, he curled his big body protectively around her.

Sobbing, she clung to him right back.

***Author's note: I know that someone will point out that parentage can be found out through a simple blood test. However, it's very expensive and time consuming. It's there for the sake of the story, I do know that such DNA tests are out there.