Chapter Text
Severus watched the last student board the Hogwarts express, another year done another year of teaching idiots. Severus had planned on this year being better then any other but as always the world did not allow him happiness. Not allowing his mask to drop he made his way back to the castle, tomorrow he would be heading home to his run down home that he did not care to fix. The memories it held were horrid but he could not bring himself to fix something that he so rarely used. His dragonhide boots clicked loudly as he made his way towards the infirmary, having told Poppy he would check over the remaining stock of potions from that year and decide whether or not they should be kept or destroyed. Poppy watched him walk in cloak billowing behind him as he waved his hand and the large cabinet opened allowing him access to those potions he created. An hour is all it took for him to log and mark those potions which could still be used and those that Poppy needed to dispose of. A nod in acknowledgement he made his way back out knowing he would say a terse goodbye tomorrow when the professors had their final year end meeting.
He stalked the hallways passing Professor Granger’s room his scowl turning into an angry snarl as he walked past not giving her a second thought. Throwing open his office minutes later he sat quickly at his large oak desk planning on going through the drawers one last time before he packed up but instead he was distracted by a letter with Minerva’s distinctive scrawl. Sighing he picked it up, having expected her to want a private meeting between them as he was deputy headmaster. Many things had changed in the five years since the final battle, he had survived the attack but laid in a coma for a year before his body fought off the venom fully. He had returned much to Minerva’s delight as potions master but agreed to taking over as deputy headmaster as Filius only took it until he awoke. Two years after the batter the interim defense against the dark arts professor retired as Hermione Granger, now Master Granger having received her mastery in two years instead of four joined the school. Shaking his head he unfolded the letter and quickly read.
Severus
I wish to have you for tea at one pm. There is matters we must discuss.
Minerva
Crumpling the letter he threw it into the unlit fire, he wondered what she would want from him the day before they all left. Looking at the clock it was only eleven thirty so he had time to spare. Pulling open his drawers he began pulling bits of parchment and broken quills before tossing them into the trash. That had only taken him twenty minutes much to his annoyance, he hated leaving the school and packing was the worst thing possible to him but he knew it must be done. Standing he made his way into his quarters before beginning the hated task of packing. He looked at the bags that sat on his bed almost an hour later, he hated that his whole life could fit into these two bags. Checking the time again he saw it was ten minutes before he was due, looking once more around his room he began his quick walk through the deserted halls towards the headmistress’s office.
He hated the ridiculous passwords that Minerva always came up with as he mumbled catnip through gritted teeth. The gargoyles sprang to life as he stepped on the moving stairs and was brought to the old oak door. Raising his hand he knocked, the door swinging open moments later Severus took a step inside looking around he found that he and Minerva were not alone. Hermione sat in one of Minerva’s high backed chairs a cushion against her stomach. He looked at her trying to keep his anger under control as she looked at him with the same look she had given him the night he last saw her.
“Severus, come sit” Minerva said ushering him in
“I thought we were having tea” Severus snarled emphasizing the we
“Yes, well I had to lie if I were to get you here” Minerva stated
“I do not wish to be here, there is nothing I wish to say to her” Severus snarled
“Severus do not speak to her like that” Minerva snapped
“Minerva it is alright. I understand why he is being like that. Hello Severus you look well” Hermione said softly looking at him with the eyes he could never say no to
“What do you want?” Severus snapped
“To speak to you. Will you please talk?” Hermione asked calmly
“Ten minutes that is all you get” Severus snapped sitting across from her watching
“Thank you. How have you been?” Hermione asked gently
“Fine” Severus snapped again
“Severus why are you being like this?” Hermione asked hurt in her voice
“Why am I being like this?! Why are you being like this?” Severus snapped
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked confused
“Your time off turn you dumb. You decided to leave, no note. No letters. How should I feel? After that night” Severus snarled
“What do you mean no note? I left you a note you fucking idiot. Did you even look?” Hermione snapped
“What do you mean you left a note. I awoke and you were gone from your own room and no note no nothing. And I ask Minerva and she just said you had to leave and she could tell me no more” Severus snapped
“Severus I wrote you a note. I placed it under your wand on the nightstand” Hermione said softly
“My wand was on the floor when I awoke. There was no note” Severus stated his anger slowly going down
"Damnit crookshanks. He must have knocked it off the night stand" Hermione said angrily
"Of course use the cat as a scapegoat" Severus taunted
“I promise you I wrote a note. Please just check” Hermione said tears coming to her eyes
“Winky!” Severus yelled
“Yes sir” Winky said appearing with a bow
“Go into professor Granger’s room. Check under the bedside table, beside it and under the bed for a letter” Severus snarled
“Of course” Winky said before with a pop she was gone
“Even if you wrote a note for me, why did you not write again?” Severus asked anger in his voice
“I did. But you told me long ago you hated getting letters by owl at the school. So I wrote to you at your home in Cokesworth as you told me the Christmas before that you had it set up so any letters you received were sent to you here and were placed on your desk” Hermione said trying to keep her voice level
“Oh. I actually do not think I have even received my muggle mail since December here. Did you really write me?” Severus asked trying to calm his voice
“Yes, every day. Every day I wrote you. I thought you did not want to speak with me and that is why you did not answer but I still had to write you. Almost six months Severus, I thought you hated me” Hermione said tears now running down her cheeks
“I did hate you. You left after our night together on Christmas Eve, I thought you regretted it and ran away because of it” Severus said handing her his handkerchief
“I never regretted it” Hermione said trying to calm herself
“Then why did you leave? Do you wish for a calming potion?” Severus asked
“No potion. And because they were found” Hermione said looking at him clearly
“They were?” Severus stammered out
“Yes. I received a owl on Christmas Eve that I had ignored because well us deciding to finally act upon our feelings. I woke before you and opened it, the portkey was scheduled for an hour from the moment I read it. I packed in a hurry, writing two letters. One to you and one to Minerva. Then I had to go, there was no time for kisses and goodbyes. I wish I had time but I did not. It broke me to be away from you after what we did and confessed that night but I had to they are my parents” Hermione explained
“Did they, are they?” Severus asked softly
“That is why I have been gone almost six months, they were found. And were healed, it took so much time and so much work. I was only now able to leave safely. They are staying there, they have a new dental practice and everything. They are happy and healthy. So I returned” Hermione said calmly
“Master Snape sir. Winky found the letter, It was under Mistress Granger’s bed sir” Winky said with a bow and a pop she was gone
“See I did write to you. I would never lie to you” Hermione said still clutching the pillow to her stomach
“I fuck. I am sorry Hermione. I thought you hated me. I am an idiot” Severus said his head in his hands
“Yes you are an idiot, a bloody idiot. But I was to, I thought you hated me as well. I feared coming back and speaking with you. Minerva could Severus and I have a moment?” Hermione asked as Minerva stood watching the display
“Of course dear. Yell for me when you wish for me to return” Minerva said turning and heading into her bedroom
“Severus, there are many things we need to speak about” Hermione said gently
“I am an idiot, I am an idiot” Severus recited over and over the unopened letter in his hands
Hermione sighed watching the normally stoic man come undone in front of her. Removing the pillow from her stomach Hermione stood slowly, a hand on her lower back and a hand on her stomach as she took the few steps towards him. Slowly she raised her hand from her back and placed it on his head, he did not look up but continued to holding his face in his hands.
“Severus, I am back. I am not going anywhere again. What I told you Christmas Eve was and is still true. I care deeply for you and then as well as now wish for a relationship and to grow together. But Severus I need you to not freak out, but I need you to look at me please” Hermione said trying to keep herself level
“Why would I freak out?” Severus mumbled into his hands
“Please look at me” Hermione asked again
Severus sighed rubbing his eyes before he looked in front of him, what he saw was not what he had expected. Instead of the skinny Hermione he knew, was a Hermione who had filled out her stomach round with child. Looking farther up he saw her watching him, her face a mask of worry.
“Severus I am pregnant as you can see” Hermione said trying to keep her voice light
“Whose is it?” Severus asked jealousy flaring
“Whose do you think it is?” Hermione retorted hurt
“I do not know, you could have slept with someone in Australia” Severus said trying not to sound hurt
“Oh you idiotic man. Yours, the baby is yours. Before we fucked like rabbits that night I had not been intimate with someone in over a year. I have not been intimate with anyone since you. The baby is yours. We forgot the charm” Hermione said blushing
“Mine?” Severus said looking at her dumbfounded
“Yes yours. Cast the charm for conception date” Hermione demanded
Severus nodded, a wave of his wand and the numbers hovered in front of his face. The baby was his.
“Do you believe me now?” Hermione asked
“Yes. What do we do?” Severus asked confused
“We take it as it comes. I am almost six months Severus, I will be having this baby end of September or beginning of October. We will take each day as it comes” Hermione said chuckling
“I missed six months....” Severus said looking at her with a pain expression
“I know, I wish I had known you were not getting the letters. You leave tomorrow yes?” Hermione asked watching his face
“Yes” Severus answered quickly
“Come to my home tomorrow instead of your home after your meeting. I think we need to have a very long conversation about the last six months” Hermione stated
“Yes I do agree” Severus agreed quickly
“But Severus what I wish to know right now. You asked me Christmas Eve to be your girlfriend. Do you still wish that?” Hermione asked nervously
“Yes yes I do. I hated you so much for leaving but I never stopped caring. I am sorry for being so stupid and blind” Severus said softly
“It is alright. You had every reason to be angry. I am happy to have my boyfriend again. Actually Severus I want you to go home tomorrow and come to my home in the evening” Hermione stated
“Why is that?” Severus asked confused
“Because I want you to read each and every letter I sent you before you come and we talk” Hermione instructed
“That I can do. Hermione is it, could I?” Severus said his hands hovering but not able to form the sentence
“Yes” Hermione said softly smiling
Severus raised his hands, as he watched Hermione raise her shirt allowing him to place his hands directly onto her skin feeling their child within for the first time.