Hope

A/N: This is a longer chapter to make up for all the time i didn\'t post...:( Anywho READ AND REVIEW
Here are my thanks on this one
Thanks to Corazon my beta...do you know Corazon means heart in Spanish....hehe
Lynn: Hehe, thanks hon...and yes i\'ll tell you Ginny is not evil, i love Ginny so much, i couldn\'t do that. Oh yes, you will find out whos child it is in this chapter...read and review hon
Janie: no not everyone...but you know men.....uhhh...read the rest and tell me how u go:P
Mariana: Hey it hapens to the best of us, did u get me email? Good good, well read and tell me what ui think:P
BTW the song used in this chapter is Sheryl Crow: Diamond Road

Hermione spent the next few hours in Ginny’s company. They talked about old times, and some of the experiences they had. Ginny, at one point, confided in Hermione that she was now at a loss with this new information. Ginny had been in love with Harry for as long as Hermione could remember. That first day on platform nine and three quarters was still fresh in both their minds. Hermione understood, she too, had loved Harry, not in the same way as Ginny, but they were the best of friends for six years. She couldn’t pretend that this didn’t shock her. In fact, she would have thought something terribly wrong with her had she not found this quite disconcerting. Ginny was also worried about what would happen when her mother, the ever-present voice in Hermione’s head, Mrs. Weasly, found out. Ginny was feeling quite sick just thinking about the fact that her brother almost killed her best friend. “Ginny, don’t worry about Harry and Ron. I don’t think they’re themselves at the moment. I had been wondering about it for several months before this happened. They have been acting so strangely. I wish I knew what was wrong.”

And Hermione truly did wish she knew why they had done it. Maybe then she would be able to truly stop blaming herself for what happened. Even though she knew it wasn’t her fault she still heard that little victim voice asking her why she didn’t stop them, why she let them get away with it, and why she wasn’t doing anything now. It was a never-ending battle, and one within her. If she didn’t fix it soon, it would kill her.

Hermione and Ginny soon moved on to the baby Hermione was carrying. The subject was very painful to discuss, but Ginny felt the discussion was one that was needed before Hermione decided to do something stupid and have a Muggle abortion. Ginny had always admired Hermione and thought of her as a big sister. They always helped each other. When Hermione was having guy troubles a few years back, Ginny helped her. After Ginny was taken and almost killed by Tom Riddle, Hermione comforted her. The two were inseparable. Everybody knew it. There had even been rumours circulating at the beginning that they were lesbian lovers. Ginny hitting on Harry publicly soon cleared that one up.

Ginny, not wanting to ‘beat around the bush’ as Hermione called it, came strait out with her plan. “Hermione, you cannot give this child up. I know you can’t. You’ve wanted it for so long. As long as it’s not Voldemorts, you can keep it. Here is what I propose to you. If Snape does not fall to your charm by the time you have this child. I will be a second mother to it. For as long as it needs me and until you find a husband.”

Hermione was shocked. She knew Ginny didn’t know exactly how much that meant to her. Being able to keep her child. It was more than she could have ever hoped for, except for of course Severus. There was still the problem of whose it was. Hermione decided to go see Madam Pomfrey at the infirmary as soon as possible. Hermione stopped. She and Ginny would still have some school left. Not much, but it would be the part of school that mattered most to them. The NEWT’s would be coming up soon after that. Hermione felt dizzy. Ginny saw this in her eyes and said softly, “Don’t worry Hermione, my mom will help us.” Hermione knew that Mrs. Weasly would be thrilled to help them out.

With that bout of reassurance firmly in her mind, Hermione set off to see Madam Pomfrey. She travelled the halls, as silently as she could; not wanting to attract unwanted attention. She decided that she wasn’t exactly safe in the halls of Hogwarts, so she moved faster.

On arriving at the infirmary, Hermione stopped. Did she really want to know whose baby it was? Could she even find out? Hermione told herself she must know before she could go on with her life, so she must get it over with quickly. She walked in, head held high. She walked further into the Infirmary, and stoped short of a bed. Her archenemy, Draco Malfoy was lying in the bed.

“Draco.” Hermione whispered. Not wanting to attract too much attention while she spoke to the wounded Slytherin. “Draco, what happened to you?”

“Hey Granger.” Draco said, nicer than usual, “I was walking down the stairs to the great hall when your dear friends attacked me, completely unprovoked. Potter and Weasly it was, not quite sure why. Broke my ribs they did, and my arm.”

Hermione sighed. “They are no friends of mine, Draco. They…” She stoped. Was she just about to spill her guts to her enemy? No, he wasn’t her enemy; they were on a level playing field now. Draco looked up; he had always thought of Hermione as a know-it-all brat, but now he knew she was ok. He had heard from his dad, whom he hated, what Ron and Harry had been ordered to do to her. He didn’t know how she did it, surviving all this time. He wanted to die every time his father started a conversation about how he should join the ranks of Voldemort. He hated the life his father lived, and how he always wanted Draco to live his life the way he did, to walk in his fathers’ shoes.

“What did they do to you…Hermione?” Hermione was surprised at how nice he was being. She was extremely suspicious of Draco’s motives. In the end she decided that she wouldn’t press the issue, she would just be discrete. “They, well, they raped me.” Draco looked quite disgusted. But he said nothing because he saw madam Pomfrey coming.

“Hermione, dear, how can I help you? Are you ill?” She fussed over Hermione for a couple of minutes, straitening her uniform and pulling her hair back out of her face. Hermione smiled weakly before motioning her over to the other side of the room where Malfoy wouldn’t here them.

“I’m pregnant,” Hermione said, cutting to the chase, “and I want to know whose it is.”

Madam Pomfrey looked at her, care apparent in her old eyes. “Hermione dear, that may be difficult, but it can be done. Come over here.”

Meanwhile Snape was pacing the halls of Hogwarts, giving detentions to anyone unfortunate enough to come across him. Hermione wasn’t in her room; he didn’t know where she was. This fortunately did not last long when she came out of the Infirmary, her expression was hard to read, but he tried. He gave up.

“Miss. Granger, there you are. I was worried.”

Hermione, being in the company of other students, addressed him as such. “Professor Snape, good-evening.” She smiled. “I believe it’s almost time for my detention.”

Snape smiled back, good, she was, at least in a pleasant mood. He would talk to her in detention, but first, dinner.

Dinner was extremely pleasant. And Hermione was in an okay mood. This surprised Ginny, but she took advantage of it anyway.

When it ended, Hermione started the journey from the great hall to the dungeons. She had conjured up another CD player and was now listening to her other favourite artist. Sheryl Crow.

“Walk with me the diamond road,
Tell me every story told.
Give me something of your soul,
That I can hold onto.
I want to wake up to the sound of waves,
Crashing on a brand new day.
Keep the memory of your face,
But wipe the pain away.”

Hermione continued walking, singing as she went. The news she received from Pomfrey was encouraging; in fact, it was the best outcome she could have hoped for. Now, to tell Severus.

“When your lonely,
When your heartache’s.
It’s gonna take a little time,
It’s gonna take a little time.
When the night falls,
When your stumbling,
Its gonna take a little time,
To make it to the other side.
So don’t miss the diamonds along the way,
Every road has led us here today.”

Severus knew she was pregnant, but he didn’t know she now planed to keep the child. She would have no other to look after it with her. Hermione stopped. Voldemort put a damper on her happiness. He was still at large, and she was still in danger.

“Little bird whats troubling you,
You know what you have to do.
Coz what is yours you’ll never loose,
And whats ahead may shine.
Beneath the promise of blue sky’s,
With broken wings well learn to fly.
Pull yourself out of the tide,
And being to dream again.”

Yes, Hermione knew what she had to do. She had to recover, and she couldn’t do that without letting go of the past, it would be tough, but with Severus and Ginny by her side she would survive. She was going to be a good mother. She was going to live. What was hers’ she’d never loose. Nope, she was not going to loose this child. Never.

“Won’t you shine on, morning light,
Burn the darkness away.
Walk with me the diamond road,
Tell me everything is gold.
Give me something of your soul,
So you don’t fade away.
Don’t miss the diamonds along the way,
Every road has led us here today.
Life is what happens while you’re making plans,
All that you need is right here in your hands.”

Hermione stopped outside of Snape’s office. She was very happy indeed. She was going to recover; she was going to have a child. All she had to do now was get Severus and help defeat Voldemort once and for all. She knocked on the door and pushed it open. Snape was sitting at his desk, his quill scratching on parchment. He looked up as she end. d.

“Hello Hermione.”

Hermione smiled. “Hello Severus. I have some good news I wish to share with you.” Severus smiled and motioned to the chair in front of his desk.

“Sit down and tell me then girl.” Hermione giggled as she sat down and began her story. She told him all about her meeting with Ginny, and how Ginny would be a second mother for the child. Severus frowned at this but was not worried. She also explained to him that she would be keeping the child now that she was aware that it was Harry’s and not Voldemorts. Severus had to smile at this. Poor dear was worried about having the child of the most evil wizard of the time. Severus waited patiently for Hermione to finish. He was dying to stop her and tell her everything but he waited. She was actually quite beautiful. Severus found her quite attractive. When Hermione finished Severus sighed. It was now or never.

“Hermione, it is only just past eight. Would you like to apparate to Hogsmead and have something to eat?” He took a sharp intake of breath. “Of course, Severus, but we’ve already eaten, lets get some ice-cream. I have a certain craving. Cookies and Cream” Severus smiled, muggle flavoured ice cream. Cravings, oh dear. They were both aware that they would have to walk down to the gate of Hogwarts before they could apparate. You couldn’t apparate inside the castle walls.

Once outside Hermione looked up at Severus. “Hermione, you’ll need to hold on to me, uh, somehow.” He blushed. But Hermione wasn’t worried. She wrapped her arms around his middle and waited for him to apparate. Once in Hogsmead, Severus took the younger girl’s hand and led her towards a small cafe in the centre of Hogsmead. They sat down, Hermione ordering a cappuccino, and Severus ordering a strait black coffee. Typical, Hermione thought. Severus looked deep into Hermione’s eyes, looking for signs of fear, but he found none. Hermione was truly happy tonight.

“Hermione,” Severus began, “I am very glad that you have decided what you are going to do, but if you will allow me, I would like to try to persuade you to take an alternate path. Nothing too drastic, but just a little parental reversal.” Hermione was not sure she understood him, parental rsalrsal? Severus sensed her confusion. “Come here Hermione, I will show you.” Hermione moved around to where Severus was sitting and sat next to him, facing him. Without any hesitation, Severus placed a small kiss on Hermione’s lips. She let out a small cry. “What, Severus I don’t understand.” The world was moving a tad fast for Hermione. She was getting confused. “Hermione,” Severus mused, “I love you.”

Hermione didn’t know what to say. In fact, she had to shut her mouth, to stop any iprehprehensible sounds from escaping. She didn’t know how long she had wanted this. She didn’t know wether or not to trust herself that this was indeed real. Was the man she loved really sitting before her telling her that he loved her? Severus’ voice brought her back to reality.

“Hermione, if you would allow me, I would like to help you raise this child. As my own.” Hermione was stunned, completely perplexed. She truly didn’t trust herself to speak, but she feared that if she didn’t she would wake up and find it all a dream. She spoke quickly. “Severus, I would love nothing more. And Severus, I love you to.”

--A/N: I hope you don’t think I’m rushing into the love too much but this is something like twenty pages into the story. —

Severus and Hermione enjoyed their coffee, talking about Hermione’s fears of Voldemort and her knowledge that she was still in danger. Severus reassured her that he would do everything in his power to keep her safe, no matter what the consequence. Hermione confided that she was terrible scared. She afeltfelt the need to tell Severus that she thought this was all a dream, and that he would indeed need to tell her tomorrow that it wasn’t. Severus laughed slightly at this accusation presented before him that it was a dream, or a false reality. Severus did, for a fleeting moment, wonder about the reality as well, but this soon past.

While they sat, drinking, Hermione eating her ice cream, and talking, Hermione thought that the moment had come, to ask Severus about her diary that he took from her room that day. She decided to tell him strait out what she had seen. “Severus, that day that you healed my stomach, you took my diary from my room. Did you read it?”

Severus looked completely perplexed and utterly perturbed, but soon realised that he should not feel this due to the fact that it had been him who stole from her, not vice versa. He began to explain. “I am very sorry Hermione, you were not opening up to me and I needed to know what was wrong with you, however, instead of reading about your problem, I read about your longing for a child and your love for me. I do beg for your forgiveness Hermione.”

Hermione could tell from the tone of voice Severus carried that he was indeed serious. She sighed. “Yes, Severus, I forgive you, but do me one favour.” Severus nodded slightly. “Tell me what you thought, what you felt, reading my private words, thoughts and feeling?”

Severus was shocked. Dear Merlin. He could not express things like this. It was weak. To express anything was considered weak. He pushed the thought aside. He didn’t care. All he wanted was to make Hermione happy, and if that involved baring his soul, then, to a certain extent, he would bare his soul. “Well, truthfully Hermione, I only read an entry and a half, it was too painful for me to continue. Reading how you felt, so helpless and alone, and with a child on the way. I knew you would ask Ginny, you are predictable my dear, but by the end I felt so much pain, I felt your pain. I knew I must do something about it. I was shocked to discover your, well…rant about me. I never knew you felt that way about me Hermione. I mean, I noticed that you acted rather oddly around me after I saved you, and Gods Hermione, I do apologise for walking out on you like that. I felt such a pain at facing you, you had just been raped, and I was no sooner going to walk in and kiss you as I was going to give myself over to Voldemort. I couldn’t do that to you. I felt the deepest rage watching you those days in the infirmary, wanting desperately to kill the fools who would uch uch terrible things to you. But alas, it was, until now, out of my hands.”

Hermione smiled, for the first time in days she felt completely happy, happier than she felt this morning. She layed her head on Severus’ chest and listened to his steady heartbeat, while Severus placed a protective hand over her stomach, rubbing slightly.

Soon after Severus suggested that they return to Hogwarts, as it was getting late and they would both need to get up early in the morning. They went home. Both of them were happier than they had ever been.