Already?

Drea left not long after Severus had explained about the Dark One. She claimed that she had a previous engagement that slipped her mind. Personally, Hermione thought that she was feeling sick from the idea of the Dark One. Hermione didn't really blame her either. It was rather frightening. However, Hermione wasn't thinking about it much. She had bought a book from Florish and Blotts about baby names. She wanted to figure out names for their child. Although, it would be several months before the baby would be born.

"Severus, what do you think of Arleen?" Hermione asked, stretching out on the couch. Severus was making a rather odd dinner for the two of them. Hermione was having Salmon and noodle casserole. Severus hated salmon, so he was having a simple pork dinner. Not wanting to upset Hermione when she was already high strung from the pregnancy and what he had said about the Dark One, he'd personally cooked everything without a single speck of help from Flynn. He was very happy with himself.

He'd poked his head out from the kitchen where he was supervising the food. "Areleen? Girl name, right?" He asked. He wiped his hand off in a towel and walked towards her.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "Yes, girl name, because it's a girl," She said in an obvious voice. He grinned slyly at her. He leaned over the back of the couch, so close to her neck. The want to kiss it was high. However she wouldn't allow it. Not while pregnant. He knew because he already asked her. Alright begged her. He almost didn't get to keep his balls.

"Miss Granger," he started in his smooth, seductive voice, breath tickling her ear. Being all over the place with emotions, she shivered, which made him grin wider. "I will not allow my son to be named Areleen."

She wanted to slap him so much. Yet, wanted to love him to the ends of the earth. She did love him to the ends of the earth. Yet, she couldn't tell him. "Its a girl," she said stubbornly.

He could be just as stubborn as she could. "Not a girl, my love, a boy. To carry on the name," he hissed in her ear. She could feel his lips making contact with her ear, sliding down to the crook of her neck and biting down, then kissing it.

Hermione took in a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "Severus," she warned as he got lower on her shoulder, trying to move her shirt out of the way. He knew he had reached the limit. Groaning slightly, Severus stood up straight. "Areleen is a fine name for a girl," he simply said before heading back to the kitchen to check on their food.

The only reason they were eating in their Chambers tonight was because Hermione didn't feel like seeing anyone besides Severus. She felt crappy after hearing about the Dark One, though she didn't know why. Could be the baby, could be something else. She didn't care, though. Severus would take care of her. She knew that he was frustrated at the thought of not having sex for several months. After all, they only had sex once, and she knew he was getting, can we say excited. She felt for him, really. Hermione wanted him too, however, she thought it was awkward to be intimate while a child grows inside you. It felt like exhibitionism to her.

"Hermione, dinner is ready," Severus called from the kitchen.

She couldn't wait to eat. The baby was hungry. At least that was the story she had lined up in her mind when she would start eating like a pig. Perhaps it was true, perhaps not. Who knew and who here would care? Severus sure wouldn't. Or she hoped. Her dinner was Salmon Noodle Casserole while Severus had a plain pork dinner. To be honest, his pork dinner looked more appetizing to Hermione at the moment. Although the baby was craving the Salmon Noodle. So, she had to eat the Salmon Noodle. Otherwise she would go mad from the craving. Imagine nine months of this, Hermione told herself quietly as she sat down to eat.

Severus got pumpkin juice for Hermione, since she was pregnant and could drink wine, and Gillywater for himself. He wouldn't drink wine while Hermione didn't. That was suicide for a man. Imagine five months of this, Severus told himself as he watched Hermione dig into her plate. (AUTHOR'S NOTE: I DON'T KNOW IF JK ROWLING HAS STATED ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF PREGNANCY OR NOT, HOWEVER IN THIS STORY, WITCHES ARE PREGNANT FOR ONLY FIVE MONTHS AS IT WILL EXPLAIN SOON. THE REASON IS SIMPLY BECAUSE I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE BABY GETS HERE. SO, JUST AN FYI. SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. NOW BACK TO THE STORY)

"Hermione, you want a girl?" Severus asked, chewing his pork slowly.

"I'd like a girl, but I'll take whatever gender it is. After all, girl or boy, it will be ours. Although, the baby room had better be Lavender," she said.

"Yeah, but we have five months for that. The first thing we need to do is figure out some names of each gender. Might change when the baby is born, but just as a guide," Severus responded, taking a drink.

Hermione looked up from her plate. "Five months? Its takes nine months before a baby is ready," Hermione countered, very confused.

Severus shook his head, "No, that's for Muggles, Wizard and Witches babies can be born at five months and be considered full term. Although, some Medi-Witches think that the longer witches keep a baby to Muggle term, the better off the baby will be. However, it has never been proven."

"What about Muggle-Borns?"

"Muggle-borns are just decedents of squibs whose magic has popped back into linage after a long while. Remember Slughorn asking you if you were kin to the famous Granger? You are, however, someone is his line became a squib and left the Wizarding World," Severus explained.

"Wow, so all the muggle-borns are really not muggle-born at all? This baby will be pureblood?" She asked, trying to grasp every inch of the situation.

Severus smiled a little. He knew all too well that he would be over explaining this. Not that he minded. "Depending if your squib parent married another squib or a muggle. You could be half-blood, just like Potter. Most likely the child will be ¾ blood. Which is the second best to pure blood. I, myself am only Half-blood. However, really, blood doesn't matter anymore. If you want, you can figure out exactly how much blood our children will have, though."

Hermione, who had gone back to eating, had halted when she heard that last sentence. 'Children'? Plural? They hadn't even talked about children. How many did they want? She knew she wanted at least two. Being an only child for her entire life really got her to thinking that any child she had would have to have a sibling simply because being an only child is very lonely. However, she didn't really think about asking or talking about how many they would want. Perhaps he wanted more. Or even this was all he wanted. What would happen to them then?

"Children?" Hermione asked, trying to sound casual. Severus, knowing her since she was eleven, knew otherwise though. She was scared. Although she was trying to sound as if she wasn't. It really wasn't that hard to spot her fear. She seemed to flare her nostrils out when she was fearful or angry. Something he'd become quite used to and rather fond of.

"Yes, children, I'd like a large family. At least two, however, I would prefer four," he responded calmly, studying her face. A look of relief came across it momentarily. He'd hit her number. Between two and four kids.

"Really, I'd like at least two, also, but I think my number would have to be seven," Hermione said thoughtfully. Really she'd love just four. She really just wanted to make him fume and sweat for a while.

His eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. Hermione suppressed a grin as she casually ate. Seven kids? What was he to her, her own personal sperm bank? Seven was way too many kids. Not to mention an odd number. Family team game nights, one would be left out alone. On days that there were buy two get four free sales on snow cones, yes, he's seen some of those sales, they'd have to buy an extra one for the seventh. No, seven was way too many kids for him. He loved Hermione, but....wait...did he just say he loved her? He did didn't he?

Looking at Hermione casually eat her food, oblivious to Severus staring at her. The way she licked her lips when cleaning the sauce off got him aroused, definitely. He was attracted to her, obviously. If he wasn't she wouldn't be in his chamber eating a diner that he'd made himself. And she surely wouldn't be pregnant with his child. So, yes, it seemed obvious. He did. He did love Hermione Granger. The only problem was, telling her. He was never one to express his feelings. For so long he had to suppress them to survive around Voldemort. Hermione should be happy that he even cared enough for her to be in a relationship with her.

Severus cleared his throat, suddenly getting dry. "Seven seems a bit much," he replied delicately.

Hermione shrugged. "I don't think so," she answered back. Brown eyes met soft black. Hermione almost wondered if they were the same black eyes that used to look at her in an almost evil way. They now looked at her with soft eyes that reminded her of her father. The way she saw him look at her mother. It flattered her. Thinking that her Potions Professor thought of her the way her father thought of her mother.

"Uh-huh, well, thankfully we don't have to worry about our two through seven children for a while." Severus grinned at her. Hermione frowned at him in a fake attempt to make a scene. However, he knew her well, and didn't fall for it.

The rest of dinner went in peace. They didn't have dessert. Hermione had a paper of Severus' to get done for tomorrow's lesson. And Severus had a lesson to actually plan for tomorrow. He thought of doing a free lesson just for the hell of it. Enjoy watching the seventh years make a potion themselves and try to impress him. Firstly he'd enjoy his class having a heart attack. He almost laughed out loud. That would draw attention to his plans, though. Even his Hermione would be surprised. Though, she'd probably get angry with him once they get back to the chambers for not telling her. Oh, well.

Just then, Fawkes had materialized out of fire. Something that Hermione had never seen before. He swooped down and dropped a letter on Severus' lap. He went over to Hermione and landed on her leg that was thrown over the back of the couch. "Hello, Fawkes, how are you?" She asked him, happily.

The bird hooted in response to her question.

"Good, I'm doing great now that I've been fed," she answered back, glancing sideways at Severus. He only smirked at her as he opened the letter that was no doubt from Dumbledore himself.

Dear Severus,

Come to my office early tomorrow. Before breakfast, and Hermione with you. This involves both of you.

Albus

Severus rolled his eyes at the note. He almost wanted to write back, NO, in big bold letters. However, out of respect for the man, he didn't.

"Albus, are you certain this will work?" Minerva asked, pacing the room. Albus watched her go around the room, worried, in a calm manor.

"Yes, Minerva, I am. However, I have to say, I don't think this is the right way to go about it. There are lives at stake here. Hearts at steak," Albus said, watching her pace still, thinking.

Minerva scoffed. "Hearts that shouldn't be melded into one, Albus. Its wrong!"

He was getting tired of her thinking it was wrong. It was love. There was no love that was wrong. No, it was perfectly right and fine. Even If they didn't think it was. His own heart was breaking because of what he was about to do. He only hoped that they would eventually forgive him.

o0o0o0o0o0

Short, yes. Cliffhanger, yes. Sorry about both. However, what do you think of it?

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