Maternal Instinct

Severus knew the moment she woke up. She whispered something that sounded suspiciously like 'oh shit' and the mattress shifted as she got up.

"Oh shit..." She repeated quietly and she kept repeating it as she moved around the room.

Severus didn't open his eyes, but listened to the rustle of clothes as she dressed quickly. He couldn't honestly say that he would be able to find any item of clothing that he had worn last night, for he couldn't remember exactly where - or when - they had undressed.

Apart from the fact that he had actually enjoyed himself last night, Severus was grateful that Hermione had reminded him what it was like to be with a woman who hadn't practiced her every sound and choreographed her every movement - as Amy did. He, however, found himself unexpectedly disappointed that she had woken up and was leaving so soon; he had been awake for at least two hours and he found that he preferred a warm body next to him, instead of his wife’s freezing cold form.

He thought briefly about pretending to wake up while she was still here, but then realized that he would have no idea what to say. He had hoped his plan would happen quickly, but because it had happened this quickly, he hadn't had time to think everything through properly.

The room went silent, and Severus wondered if, perhaps, she was reconsidering her decision to leave so early...

But she sighed and put something on the bed, before he heard the door open and close. Severus opened his eyes, frowning and trying to rid himself of the loneliness that he had not expected to feel, when he realized that she must have been able to find his clothes, for they were folded at the end of the bed.

Severus felt like screaming - Was she purposely trying to be everything that Amy was not and show him everything he didn't have? - when he heard voices from down the hall.

“- she's just attention seeking! There was no reason to take her to St. Mungo's!"

"Personally, Mrs. Snape, I think you need to talk to your husband. I've just arrived and he doesn't seem to be up, so I’ll go and get Corrin while you go and see him."

"Oh thank you, Herms, darling!"

There was the unmistakable sound of his wife’s expensive heels coming towards the room and Severus had just managed to heavily ward the bathroom door, before he heard Amy enter the bedroom.

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Hermione couldn't believe it. She had slept with Professor Severus Snape! She really couldn't understand why she had done it now; last night it had probably seemed like a good idea, but this morning...

There were so many people involved. Just because Amy acted like a spoiled brat, it didn't mean that she didn't have feelings. If she really thought her marriage was going well, what would she do if she found out that her husband had cheated on her with a woman that she employed?

And what would Corrin think? Hermione really liked Corrin and she didn't want her to get more hurt than she already had been in her five years of life.

And what about Viktor? He had looked after her and been reasonably nice to her, but if he found out then it might really push him and he might get violent.

And what if Severus really had just used her to get back at Amy? What if he did love Amy deep down? Or, what if he really hated his wife and told her about them, and then Amy told Viktor?

Hermione bought Corrin back to her house and took her out into the back garden, hoping that Amy would keep her husband occupied until she had managed to sort her thoughts out.

Periodically, shouting could be heard, followed by over zealous crying. Hermione tried to distract Corrin, but the girl was obviously aware of what was happening.

Corrin looked up, "Did mummy really do a bad thing?"

Hermione sighed, "Corrin, your mum gave you a potion to make you more beautiful, didn't she?" Corrin nodded. "Do you think you needed a potion like that?"

The girl watched Hermiones face, as though trying to work out the answer that Hermione wanted to hear. In the end she shrugged, "I dunno."

Hermione shook her head, "You don't need any potion, because you're already beautiful. A person doesn't need to look pretty for somebody to love them. And your daddy loves you the way you are."

"Then why doesn't mummy love me the way I am?"

"I... I'm not sure. Maybe she's just encouraging you to make the best of yourself..." She said slowly, not wanting to put Amy down in front of her daughter, even if she did deserve it.

"Why doesn't daddy do that as well?" Corrin asked.

"Because he loves you the way you are." She repeated.

"So why does mummy do it?" The girl persisted.

Hermione shrugged, "I don't know, sweetie."

"Why? Why? Why don't you know?" Corrin asked. Hermione started to laugh as the child turned to the back door, "Why doesn't she know, daddy?"

He was standing in the door way. Taking a deep calming breath, Hermione stood up from the grass and moved to the door as he stepped out of the house.

"Talk to her." She said quietly, before leaving father and daughter alone.

She found Amy in the kitchen; the woman looked up, "Oh Herms, dear! Don't worry about me! I'll be fine! No, don't even try to insist on staying! I want you to go home!"

Hermione didn't even question Amy and left the house. Viktor came out of the kitchen and she felt guilt bubble up inside of her.

"Look, Viktor, I’m sorry -"

"Do not worry," He shook his head moving over and wrapping his arms around her, "My parents were not too insulted, but I think you can make it up to me quite easily."

He leaned down to kiss her, but she moved away, "I need a shower."

"And then will you try to make a baby with me?"

Hermione sighed, "Y-yes... of course... if you want..."

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Corrin looked all over the house, but she couldn't find Hermione. She wished the lady was with her, because her mum and dad were shouting again and she didn't like it.

Up in her room, she pulled the covers over her head. Her daddy had told her that it wasn't her fault that they were arguing, but Corrin knew that it was her fault for getting too ill. Her mummy had told her not to get too ill.

She hadn't liked being in hospital, but Healer Sarah was really nice and the girl in the bed next to her was funny and told jokes, so it wasn't too bad. She hadn't missed her mummy, but she had missed her daddy and Hermione.

She didn't understand why Hermione had to go away sometimes. What else did she possibly have to do except be in their house?

""""""""""""""""""""

She could hear Viktor in the bathroom. Hermione stared at the ceiling. She could help comparing; last night made her realize exactly how... boring her encounters with Viktor were. He seemed to enjoy himself, but Hermione wasn't sure if what she felt could even be called an orgasm. She just felt like a machine that Viktor was using to try and make a baby, but she was too scared to tell him that he would never be a father.

Thinking about last night made her feel so guilty, but it had been fun and exciting and everything that sex with Viktor was not - And with Severus Snape of all people! If she had ever thought about it, she would never have expected her cold Potions Professor to be so... she could really think of a word to describe the night she had had!

It made her realize how self-centered Viktor really was in bed.

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Severus was very, very frustrated. Amy refused to leave and they were arguing every time they were in the same room, but his thoughts were centered on something else and he couldn't be bothered to throw Amy out when his mind was in such a mess.

For three weeks he had tried to get Hermione on her own, but she seemed to have glued Corrin to her side to get out of being alone with him. She hadn't spoken to him at all - not that they had talked much before Corrin went into hospital - and it was annoying him. She was still with Krum and that just served to irritate him more.

There was only one flaw in his 'get her on her own' plan: he didn't have a clue what he would say if Corrin became unstuck and the plan worked. He never wanted to see Amy unless he had to talk to her, so why was he frustrated because Hermione Granger wouldn't even look at him?

However, he could still use the power of the shadows to watch her. Honestly, she must have cast some kind of spell, because now he was creeping around his own house like he was still at Hogwarts!

Corrin seemed happy enough, though, and that gave him a strange - but positive - feeling.

Severus was looking out of the window, when the woman looked up. Corrin carried on playing with something. He watched them all day; it gave him an excuse to ignore Amy.

At four o'clock, there was a knock on the door and Severus sat down before telling the person to come in.

Hermione took a step into the room, fiddling with a curl of hair, "I...um... I-I just thought I should tell you... that I’ve resigned... I'm working the two weeks notice that Amy wants... but after that... well, I just thought you might want to know -" She stopped, sucking in a breath through clenched teeth and pressing her hand to her stomach. "I'm sorry... I’m not feeling great today..." She dug in her bag until she found a bottle of what looked like a pain killing potion. Severus watched absent-mindedly as she took the potion and put the empty bottle back in her bag. She turned to go, "Good night."

The door shut, but Severus remained still. Two weeks was not long. Why would she want to resign? Surely she wasn't still feeling guilty about cheating on Krum? Had she even thought about how her leaving would affect Corrin? Had Amy just let her quit?

Was it because of him? No, she wasn't that much of a coward as to resign just because he watched her every once in a while.

He would just have to find a way to make her stay. In only two weeks.