Once

For the next couple of days Hermione and Severus stayed at the Potter's home. They needed all the help they could get. Severus and Harry moved furniture around. Hermione and Ginny took care of getting toys and clothes ready. By the time they left two days later everything was in order.

Hermione was started to get worried the potion hadn't worked by the time they apperated by to Hogwarts. She didn't feel pregnant. In fact, she didn't feel different at all.

Severus could tell something was bothering her as he watched her put her clothes away. She hadn't said much and she wasn't smiling at all.

"Hermione," he said in a soft voice. "What's wrong?"

"I don't think the potion worked," she confessed. "I don't feel different at all."

"These things take time," he said putting his arms around. "Just give it a few days."

"I will," she said giving him a little smile. "I've just got up my hopes up is all. I'm going to take a walk."

Without another word Hermione pushed herself away from her husband. She walked out of their rooms. She didn't even bother to check what direction she was walking. She just started walking.

She knew that walking off like that must have hurt Severus' feelings but she couldn't help herself. She was on the verge of tears and she didn't want Severus to see her cry.

Eventually she found her away out of the dungeons and into the main hallway. She was looking for a place to hide so she could cry alone. She didn't want anyone feeling sorry for her.

Despite the fact it was starting to sprinkle outside she ran out through the door. She was headed for the forest. She knew the forest could be very dangerous but she wouldn't go in deep. She would go in just deep enough to get away from the world around her.

She slipped inside the edge of the woods and found a rock to sit on. The tears started to fall out of her eyes right away. She hated herself for not being able to conceive a baby. She knew the doctor had said that it was Severus' body but he took the potion. It should have worked for it. It must be her.

The rain was staring to come down harder. Hermione quickly cast a warming charm on her body. She didn't want to get sick from being in the rain.

She debated what to do. She couldn't go to Ginny. Being there before had just depressed her even more. Going to see Mr and Mrs. Weasley for a few days was out question. They were babies machines.

She just needed to get away from Severus. She needed to get away from people who had babies. Even though she kept blaming herself deep down she blamed Severus. She hated the fact he was having trouble getting her pregnant. She hated the fact his self abuse to his body had caused his infertility.

"What am I saying?" she asked herself out.

Was she really thinking about leaving Severus just because he couldn't give her a baby? She was!

"No," she said shaking her head. "I love him."

She found self curling up and crying even harder.

"Hermione?" came Minerva's voice.

Hermione looked up and was shocked to see her walking towards her.

"How did know where I was?" she questioned.

"I saw you walking out here," Minerva said sitting on a rock next to her. "What are you doing out here?"

"Nothing," Hermione whispered.

"I can see that," she said putting an arm around her. "Still depressed about the baby thing?"

"Yes," the young witch said nodding. "We even tried a potion the other day and I don't feel any different."

"Have you seen Poppy about this and had a test done?" Minerva asked.

"No," Hermione answered. "What's the point? I don't feel pregnant."

"It can take five weeks for you to feel pregnant," her former teacher explained. "It isn't something you feel in days but a magical test can shove positive twenty four hours after conception. Why don't I take you up to see Poppy."

"I couldn't take the disappoint if I wasn't," Hermione confessed. "I've been disappointed too many times. Every month I hope and nothing happens."

"Come on," Minerva said standing up. "I'll take you up. Please. I can't bare to see you like this. What if you are pregnant and you are out here crying for no reason?"

"It would be great to be pregnant," she said smiling.

"Come on," she said offering her a hand. "Let's go talk to Poppy."

----

Hermione didn't know why she had agreed to go up and see Poppy. She was so scared the test would be negative. She didn't know what she would do if it was negative. It would be just too much for her.

Since it was still summer vacation the hospital wing was empty. Poppy was in her storage room re-arranging things.

"Poppy," Minerva said as they entered. "Hermione is here to talk to you about something."

"How can I help you?" Poppy asked emerging from the closet.

"I need a pregnancy test," she explained.

"Oh really?" the med-witch asked smiling at her. "Are you feeling sick?"

"Not really," Hermione confessed. "It's just Severus and I used a potion a few days ago and I wanted to see if it had worked."

"Alright," Poppy said waving her hands toward a bed. "Sit down. I'll be right with you."

Hermione walked over the bed nearest to her and sat down. She looked up at Minerva with a worried face.

"It'll be ok," Minerva said patting her hand.

A minute later Poppy started walking towards them. Minerva got out of the way but didn't leave the room.

"Lie down," Poppy instructed pulling out her wand.

For the longest time Poppy just waved her wand around above her stomach. Finally she muttered something Hermione couldn't make out and there was a small puff of green smoke. Hermione looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

"Well Hermione I have good new and bad news," Poppy said putting away her wand.

"What's the good news?" Hermione questioned.

"You're pregnant," she said in a unusually cheerful voice.

"What's the bad news?" the young witch asked.

"You're very early in your pregnancy," she said. "But magic is very useful. The bad news is you are carrying twins."

At this Hermione abruptly fainted.