Hold Me Close

When Hermione awoke the next morning, Severus was gone, and she saw the charm on her desk. She drew the covers around her. She had actually cheated. Her! Don’t be so hard on yourself, she thought. He is the father of your child, and he had you before Ron did.


Hermione’s stomach dropped. Ron. This was going to be so much harder than she thought. She had to continue to pretend to be the girlfriend in the early stages of a promising relationship. He was undoubtedly going to want to touch her, and make love to her, especially once they got to Godric’s Hollow, away from the Burrow. They had agreed to meet in Diagon Alley before venturing forth, in order to get some supplies from the Weasley twins.


The idea of Ron touching her made Hermione queasy. This perplexed her. She was involved with Ron. She’d slept with him, several times in fact. Why did the idea of him touching her bother her so much?


Brushing aside the thought, she climbed out of bed and dressed. She would take today with her parents, and then tomorrow and the following day, she would spend at Hogwarts, looking for something to clear Severus. Hermione walked downstairs to the kitchen, where her mother was making breakfast.


“Good morning, Dear. How did you sleep?” her mother asked her.


“I slept really well, thank you,” Hermione said, suppressing a smile. “What’s for breakfast?”


“I thought I would make some pancakes and some ham,” her mother answered her warmly.


Hermione hoped that ham wouldn’t make her ill. She took a mug from the cupboard and poured some tea into it. Checking to make sure her mother wasn’t watching, Hermione slipped a few drops of the potion Severus had given her into the tea.


As Hermione drank her tea, she became increasingly hungry. Her mother was just finishing up the ham when Hermione loaded a plate with more food than she normally ate when she was feeling well. Her mother looked at her curiously.


“I am really hungry this morning,” Hermione said, with a small laugh. She hoped her mother wouldn’t press the issue. Hermione ravaged her food, and decided to take a short walk after breakfast.


As Hermione was turning the corner to walk back up her street, a Raven flew in front of her, with a small package tied to its leg. Hermione removed the package, and noted that familiar smell again. She looked around, to see if there was anyone watching and slipped into the alley next to her. She took a seat on the ground behind some boxes and proceeded to open the parcel.


Inside were a letter and five vials, three of which contained more of the potion he had given her, and two that contained what she immediately recognized to be memories. Hermione took the letter and read it.


H,

Here is some more of that potion, and two memories of mine that I thought might help you. They are the conversations between Dumbledore and I discussing the Vow, and his instructions regarding it. Be cautious, you do not want to draw attention to yourself as you look for evidence. People might become suspicious, something you do not want until you have what you seek.


Professor Dumbledore had a secret chamber. Something very few knew about, in fact I may have been the only one. He made it in your fifth year when Dolores Umbridge briefly took his post. He made it as a means to store valuable artifacts, information that could need protecting. I feel certain that if he kept any records they would be in there. I have to utter the password from my lips, so let me know when you are going to the castle, and we can meet somewhere, perhaps in the Shrieking Shack, or on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.

S.


Hermione held the letter to her, breathing in the scent of the man she was certain she was madly in love with. It was not that the idea of being with Ron made her ill; it was simply that she was in love with someone else, and wanted no one but him to touch her.


Hermione tucked everything into her pockets and made her way back to her parents’ home.


“Mum? Dad?” Hermione called. She walked into the sitting room where her parents were, her mother knitting and her father reading the newspaper. “I know I said I would have a few days, but something has happened, and I will need to leave tomorrow,” she told them. Her parents looked at her, both crestfallen. They could not pretend to understand what their daughter faced. They did know however that once she leaved this time, it could very well be the last time they ever saw her alive again. Howard broke the silence


“Well then. I guess we had better make tonight completely worthwhile,” he said with a forced smile. Hermione hugged both her mother and father. When they broke away, Hermione went upstairs to her desk to write a letter to Severus.


S,

Change of plans. I am leaving for Hogwarts in the morning. I will go and see Poppy first, but meet me at the Shrieking Shack at ten, if you can.

H.


After she had finished the letter, Hermione went back downstairs, to begin what would prove to be one of the best nights with her parents she had ever had.


The next morning, Hermione showered and had breakfast with her parents. After a tearful goodbye, she walked into the backyard and apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts; apprehension flooding her. She opened the gate and walked up the stairs to the front door. Taking a deep breath, she entered the hallowed halls that had been her home for the majority of the last six years.


Hermione followed the familiar path up to the hospital wing, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She quietly entered the hospital wing and walked back to Madam Pomfrey’s chambers. She paused, knocking softly on the door. After a few moments, Poppy Pomfrey’s astonished face appeared from behind the door.


“Miss Granger! Why, what brings you to the school dear?” She asked her curiously.


“Well, Madam, it’s actually a matter of a delicate, and confidential nature,” Hermione said softly. Madam Pomfrey moved past Hermione, leading her to a cot, and beckoning her to sit down.

“What can I help you with then?” she asked after Hermione had taken a seat on the cot.


“Well, I’m actually, um. Well I’m going to. This is hard, I haven’t said it out loud yet. Um, I’m pregnant, madam,” Hermione said, in a rush.


“Oh. I see,” the mediwitch said, looking at her concernedly. “Well, are you taking anything?”


“I have been taking this,” Hermione said, handing her one of the green vials. A look of shock washed over Poppy’s face. “What is it, Madam?” Poppy cleared her throat.


“Oh it’s nothing dear, I just feel like I have seen a vial like that someplace before, really, it’s not important,” She said, taking the vial and giving it a sniff. “Ah yes, this is a good supplement; excellent for morning sickness. You would do well to take this as well,” she continued walking over to her store cupboard, and removing several small vials. “This is a vitamin regimen, to ensure the baby develops properly,” she said, handing the vials to her. “How far along are you, now?”


“Um, two months,” Hermione said quietly. Madam Pomfrey nodded.


“You’re not going to be able to hide this for much longer, dear. You have another two months at the most before anyone who looks at you will be able to see it,” she said gently. “I will keep this in confidence, but you would do well to tell you who need to tell, and soon,” she finished, giving Hermione’s hand a soft squeeze. Hermione nodded, and turned to leave.


“Thank you Madam,” she said, as she turned to leave.


Hermione decided it was time to make her presence known, and treaded the path to the Headmaster’s office. She stood next to the stone gargoyle wondering how she was going to get inside without the password when the Professor McGonagall appeared from behind the statue.


“Hermione! What are you doing here? So lovely to see you dear!” McGonagall said, clearly surprised to see her best former student before her.


“Hello, Professor,” Hermione said. “Harry, Ron, and I are leaving for Godric’s Hollow soon, so I wanted to come and spend a day or two here at the castle before it was time for me to leave,” she finished in what she hoped was a very convincing voice.


“Yes, well of course,” McGonagall said. You can stay in Severus’ old quarters, if that’s alright. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher preferred a much warmer room, so those chambers have been untouched since Severus left them. I will send a house elf to clean the place up for you,” She continued.


“Oh, um no professor, that won’t be necessary. I can handle it myself,” Hermione said. The older witch looked at her and smiled.


“Yes of course. I remember your fervor in the House Elf Movement,” she chuckled in response. Hermione let out a breath. She had wanted to see the room exactly as Severus had left it. She silently commended herself for having been so strong in her efforts to liberate all house elves. Otherwise Professor McGonagall might have some very awkward questions. “All right then, allow me to show you to your rooms,” Minerva said, breaking the momentary silence.


Hermione did not need to be shown where Severus’ chambers were, having visited them several times less than two months ago. Minerva was unaware of such however, and so Hermione worked to appear as though she had no clue where to go. When they reached the familiar entrance to Severus’ chambers, Hermione already knew the password, but kept silent as her old professor uttered it


“Veritaserum,” she said softly, and the door opened. Hermione entered and thanked professor McGonagall again, as the she turned to leave.


Hermione closed the door behind her, and took in the familiar surroundings. She was in the sitting room. A deep green velour couch faced a fireplace, dark and cold. There were bookshelves on every wall, and the tea table beside the couch. Hermione pointed her wand at the fireplace, and a fire appeared there, crackling merrily. She walked into the bedroom; the room where she and Severus had shared a month of passion. The sight of the unmade bed overwhelmed her. She began to cry softly, and crawled onto the bed, wrapping the blankets around her. They still smelled of him, though it was beginning to fade. Hermione stayed in his bed for what seemed like hours before she realized it was time to go and meet him in the Shrieking Shack