Time as a Healer

Ginny knocked tentatively on Hermione’s door and opened it slowly.



‘Hermione?’ She called softly.



‘I’m awake, Ginny. You can come in…’ Hermione smiled at her friend as she walked into the room.



‘Are you feeling any better?’ She smiled at her.



Hermione was positively glowing but the morning sickness had turned into all day sickness and after a particularly vicious bout, she had gone for a lie down. She looked up at Ginny ruefully.



‘A bit… were you this bad with James?’



Ginny laughed.



‘No…sorry! Maybe it means you’re having a girl?’ She said hopefully.



Hermione laughed. ‘A ready-made girlfriend for James later on!’



‘Yes! Great idea!’ she grinned at her. ‘It’s meant to get better after the fifth month and you’re almost there. At least you have a nice little bump. I was the size of a house!’



Ginny was in awe of Hermione. After the first day, when Hermione had been inconsolable, she had hardly shed a tear about losing Sam and seemed determined to help the Order with as much as she could, despite her pregnancy.



Explaining her condition to Molly hadn’t been easy but Hermione had told her that she was engaged to the father of her child but he had been called away unexpectedly for work. Tactfully, Hermione asked if Molly wouldn’t ask her about the father because it upset her too much and she wanted to think about the baby. Molly had nodded understandingly and Hermione felt a pang of guilt at not telling her the whole truth. On the upside though, Molly clucked around her like a Mother Hen and she had found it surprisingly comforting.



Ginny sat down beside Hermione on the bed and stroked her bump softly.



‘He’s here, Hermione.’ She said softly.



Hermione went pale and looked at her. ‘I thought he was, actually. You will think I have gone crazy, but I felt him the moment he arrived.’



Ginny shook her head. ‘Not crazy, no. I always know when Harry is about to come home. They’re waiting for us.’



Hermione bit her lip and nodded. ‘Let’s do it, then…’ she murmured.



They stood and Ginny took her hand and squeezed it tightly.



They walked down the stairs and paused briefly at the kitchen door. Hermione could feel her chest tighten slightly and closed her eyes, trying to control her breathing. She nodded at Ginny and they opened the door and walked into the crowded room together.



‘There you are, Hermione, dear!’ Molly exclaimed warmly. ‘Feeling any better?’ She gave her a small hug and ushered into a chair.



Ginny was staring wide-eyed at her Mother and Hermione looked up at her quizzically. Ginny shrugged and mouthed ‘Sorry’ as she sat in the only other available chair at the far end of the table.



Hermione felt a shiver and looked to her left. She was sitting next to Severus and he was staring at her intently. Their eyes met and Hermione felt a bolt of desire rush through her.



‘Miss Granger.’ Severus murmured and nodded his head slightly. He was slightly disconcerted as he looked at her. She had grown into a very beautiful young woman and his cock twitched slightly. It hadn’t passed his attention, however, that she was with child. She was glowing.



‘Professor.’ Hermione nodded and bit her lip, forcing herself to look away from him. He was sitting so close to her she could feel his body heat and she wanted to reach out and touch him.



Severus could feel her close proximity to him and shifted a little in his seat. Being away for so long without female company, he knew he was vulnerable to flights of fantasy. He turned to Harry. Best get to the point and depart as soon as possible.



‘It would seem that we are all here, Potter. Perhaps you would care to explain why my presence was required at this Gryffindor reunion?’ He curled his lip in a sneer and glanced around the table. He was correct, he noticed. The majority were old Gryffindor students.



Harry glanced briefly at Hermione. He could tell she was only just holding it together so he ploughed on quickly.



‘Severus, the Dark Lord has returned…. ‘ He stated.



Severus blanched and gripped his wand tightly. ‘What?’ he hissed.



Harry watched his face carefully and it told him what he needed to know. The dark mark wasn’t being invoked, otherwise Severus would know about it.



‘I apologise, Severus. I meant to say, there is an imposter, posing as the Dark Lord, fully ensconced in Malfoy Manor. And he has all of your old playmates convinced he’s the real thing.’ Harry stared at him.



Severus snorted. ‘Ridiculous! No one could be that powerful…present company accepted, naturally.’ he murmured smoothly and bowed his head to Harry in acknowledgement.



‘That’s what we thought. But we can’t get through their protection, they are obviously using Voldermort’s own magic. We need someone who can get closer to Draco, we think he can help us. We were hoping…’ he left it hanging.



Harry wasn’t stupid enough to think that Severus would acquiesce so easily.



‘I bet you were.’ He snapped. ‘I think I did my bit, Potter, don’t you?’ His eyes were glittering darkly.



Harry opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted.



Hermione had turned to face Severus and unconsciously placed her hand on his forearm. Severus was staring at her. He could feel her warmth on his arm. He hadn’t been touched like that in…well, he couldn’t remember when.



‘Professor…’ she started, then closed her eyes briefly. ‘Severus…’



There was sharp intake of breath around the table. What was she doing?



‘We know what you did for the Order, Severus. For everyone. We know you’re not a murderer and that you have always been Dumbledore’s man… you really have been a hero…’ she looked at him, her eyes soft. ‘We wouldn’t be asking if we really didn’t need your help…. Sir.’



The silence was palpable and all eyes were on Severus as he glanced down at her hand. Softly and without malice, he lifted her hand from him and placed it back on her own lap, not answering her but turning to look at Harry.



‘Very well. You had better tell me everything.’



Hermione sobbed gently and her hand covered her mouth. She was about to vomit. She pushed her chair away quickly and ran from the room.



Molly shook her head. ‘Never known such terrible morning sickness…’ she murmured.



Severus glanced after her as the door closed. He could still feel her hand on his arm.





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