The Mentor

A/N – Well, that was about as subtle as a heart attack! I have been recovering from a fall down the stairs at our house. My oldest is doing much better, but we have had 4 deaths in the family within the past 6 weeks. Yikes! Thanks to all that have waited patiently for an update.

Thanks to all who took the time to review The Mentor. I am getting really close to breaking the 100 review milestone, so please do not stop now!
In particular, thanks to...

Quarter-Blooded Witch: Thanks for the review. Part of me was tempted to change the ending just to throw a wrench into the story, but I knew from the beginning how I wanted this to play out. That is exactly where I was going with Hermione’s response to the potion.

HarryGinny4eva: Thanks for the kind review. After really thinking about it, I don’t know if there was a way to be subtle about Hermione’s symptoms. If she were to pass out suddenly, with nothing apparently leading up to it, I do not think that it would work, if you know what I mean.

sweet-sev: Thanks, and I was happy to be your ‘first” – hahaha. I needed that reminder to not rush the story. You are absolutely right about that, and I have pulled out my chapter outline notes to make sure that I was not wrapping it up too quickly. Of course, I was so you can look forward to a few more chapters until the end.

Rei: I guess that you will have to wait and see. Is that not part of the fun?

Voracious Reader: When I read your ‘sank the quaffle’ line, I almost peed my pants I was laughing so hard! With your permission, I would like to use that in another story. Thanks for the review!

morganbythesea: I am a sucker for the happy endings, especially with this pairing as Severus has had so many miserable experiences in his life. My take on karma demands that he finally start getting some good things happening for him.

HermioneSnape: We can’t have Hermione react too predictably, now can we!


Chapter 19 – I Never Thought That I Could Love You More Than I Do At This Moment!

Hermione woke and instinctively turned to her side, seeking out the warmth of Severus where he normally lay curled beside her. Confused when she did not find him there, she turned to lie on her back. As the grip of deep sleep slowly started to weaken, Hermione became aware that she was not sleeping in her own bed, or in the potion master’s bed. The smell of sterile sheets and healing potions were a clear give away. She was in the infirmary.

Suddenly, everything came flooding back. The breakdown in her office; running to see Severus; falling apart in his arms; and then…blackness. It had swallowed her, and Hermione had no memory from the time that her world went blank.

Turning her head, she noticed Severus. He had tried to find a comfortable position in one of the waiting room chairs, and now looked like a contortionist as his tall, lanky from was twisted in the too small seat.

The clock above his head caught Hermione’s eye. 4:00am! She had slept a little shy of twelve hours straight, and with a strangled gasp, tried to sit up. There was a ridiculous amount of marking waiting on her desk, and snoozing in the infirmary was not going to get it done.

Although she tried to be quiet, Severus was barely asleep. When the blankets rustled softly, he was wide awake. “And just where do you think you might be going?” he asked the startled witch in front of him. Even in her plain, pale blue hospital gown with her hair curling wildly against her face, over her shoulders and down her back, Hermione was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. It stole his breath for a moment. “Madam Andrews wants you to stay in bed until at least some time this evening.” Severus shifted the chair so that he was closer to her cot and could grasp her hand again. “And I am inclined to agree. Watching the witch I love fall in a dead faint right in front of my eyes is an image I never want to see again. Lay back”, he said, tenderly pushing the curls back from her face and pulling the blankets higher. “You need to rest, and I will take care of you”.
Uncharacteristically, Hermione let Severus do as he wished. She simply lay there, looking up at him wide-eyed and suddenly very worried about what might be wrong with her.

“Severus”, she began tentatively. “You are scaring me. What is wrong with me? Why did I pass out like that? Does the mediwitch know what is going on?” She paused for a moment, tears filling her eyes again. “It is something very bad, isn’t it?”

He paused for a moment, looking away, unable to keep eye contact as he steeled himself to give Hermione the news. There was nothing he could do to shield her from this, and if he waited even a moment longer both Minerva and Madam Andrews would be there, as both had set charms to wake them when Hermione regained consciousness. He wanted to be the one to tell her. He wanted to be the one that let her know her life would be irrevocably changed forever.

“There is nothing wrong with you sweetness. In fact, some might think that it is something very good”. Severus paused, placing his palm over Hermione’s flat stomach. “You are pregnant. Our child grows inside you”. He waited, breathing suspended, to see what would happen.

To think Hermione was stunned might be a vast understatement. Every time that she opened her mouth to say something, the thought was gone just as quickly. She was ended up gaping like a landed fish. Hermione closed her eyes and consciously drew in several deep breaths, filling her chest deeply with calming air.

She opened her eyes and they met Severus’ as he stood beside her with her hand still clasped tightly in his. Without processing her feelings, Hermione wanted to get a sense for how her wizard might feel about this. It was one thing to say that you wanted a baby when you knew that having one was not eminent; it was quite another when you were facing the reality head on.

And yet again, all of the years spying for the Order enabled Severus to keep his face totally devoid of expression. She had no clue as to how he might really be feeling, and waited on tender hooks to see what he might say.

“How do you feel about this Hermione? And please, be honest with me. I can take whatever it is you need to say.”

To his shock and dismay, Hermione pulled her hand from his grasp. But she did not turn away, which was something Severus began to anticipate given her abrupt withdrawal. Instead, she brought both hands to rest on her abdomen, and smiled softly to herself. “I feel relief”, she responded quietly.

“What?!” Severus was confused; this was not at all the answer he was expecting.

“Now I know that there is nothing seriously wrong with me. I do not have cancer. I do not have some obscure magical disease. I am well”.

“How else do you feel”, Severus asked quietly, knowing that the prenatal potions administered by the mediwitch should be helping with the physical symptoms of her pregnancy.

“Only happy to the core of my being!” Hermione responded with some of her characteristic enthusiasm. “And a little overwhelmed but better now that I have had some rest”.

It took Severus a moment to absorb everything his witch had just said. With a genuine smile, Severus sat on the side of her cot and pulled her in to his arms. “Thank Merlin!” he stated forcefully. “I was ready to brew you an abortant if that is what you wanted. I would do anything to keep you happy, no matter how it made me feel”.

“Oh Severus, sweetheart”, Hermione responded as she pulled him even closer to her. “Do you not remember the conversation that we had after I returned? This child may not be planned, but after so much death and destruction, how could I be unhappy with this? Love made this baby; and she will help build the future of our world”.

“Truer words have never been spoken”, Minerva McGonagall stated as she silently glided in to the room. Albus would have been proud at her quiet, almost skulking entrance. She moved to Hermione’s side, lightly placing her hand on the young witch’s shoulder. With her other hand, she covered Severus’ and Hermione’s hands as they rested over her still flat stomach.

Muttering a few words in the ancient language, Minerva sealed the bond between the wizard and witch. Severus and Hermione felt a wave of heat rush through their bodies, followed by the sensation of ropes snaking out to wrap around their arms, then up their bodies, pulling tautly to bring them together so that the lined up perfectly. A glow started where their palms were intertwined, and gradually expanded until the three people in the room were surrounded by it. Minerva continued to chant as the bubble of magic dissipated. Even with the loss of the warm orb of light, both Hermione and Severus felt perfectly content and complete.

“Minerva”, Severus asked with a touch of wonder, “what did you just do to us?”

“I cast a spell, a very old spell”, she replied with a happy smile, thrilled at the results. “A binding spell; but one that would only work if your feelings for each other were strong and true, and apparently they are”.

“Are you saying that you just bound us, without our consent or knowledge?” Hermione asked; incredulous at Minerva’s actions. However, it was difficult for Hermione to be too angry with the older witch. She was filled with such a strong feeling of love, contentment and rightness with everything that was happening.

“Oh”, replied Minerva, “just a simple, ancient, unbreakable soul binding spell, nothing to be too concerned about.”

“What!” Hermione and Severus shouted in perfect unison. Severus gripped Hermione’s hind to his heart. “Why would you do something so powerful, and so permanent without our consent?”

“I have known for several years that you both were soul mates. In fact, Dumbledore was convinced that this was the case. I only used a spell that would hold true if you were, indeed, perfectly matched mates. If you did not have true, heartfelt affection for one another, nothing would have happened. In your case, the bond is particularly strong. Next to a full blood bond, this is the next strongest joining in the wizarding world. In fact, this is the strongest binding that I have ever witnessed, including my own.” Her expression turned wistful at this disclosure. “I suspect that this is a bonding of the permanent type, although we cannot be certain of that until one of you try to break it.”

Although Severus absolutely bristled at the thought of someone else take such an important decision out of his hands, there was no way that he was prepared to give up Hermione now. She was his! Not only was she carrying his child, but now they were soul-bonded. She was his; and he was hers.

Before Severus or Hermione had a chance to question Minerva further about the nature of the bond, Mediwitch Adams stepped into the room. Severus stiffened at her entrance, waiting for her seemingly typical ‘holier than thou’ attitude. He was in for a long wait. The Headmistress had taken the time to give the new mediwitch a stern talking too about her favourite student and her chosen love. Although stoic, it was a much politer caregiver that entered the room.

Minerva had made a point to remind Helen Adams that although her authority for medical treatment and care giving extended to all of the Hogwart’s students, it did not extend to the faculty. Helen recognized in that if she challenged Minerva on this, she would be quickly out of a job. Madam Adam’s first choice was to push back, but after further thought, she realized that her determination to maintain total control over the infirmary would probably cost her this job, one of the most coveted in the wizarding world. Wisely, Helen silently agreed to these terms and proceeded to do what she did best: care for her patient.

“Professor Granger, Professor Snape”, mediwitch Adams began in a soft voice. “I am very sorry for my behaviour earlier. I was a little shocked, and only wanted to protect the privacy of my patient. If you will allow, I would be honoured to care for Professor Granger and her child.”

Helen was amazed at the capacity for forgiveness carried within the young teacher. “I would be honoured if you would care for us both”, Hermione began. “But my correct title is Madam Snape.”

If Helen was shocked, she hid it particularly well. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this. I did several training sessions in the maternity ward at St. Mungo’s. I love babies”, she added with a soft smile to the new family.

Minerva was smiling at the vignette playing out before her when an owl screeched into the room, dropping a large scroll at her feet. “I would say that this is my cue to leave”, Minerva stated with a soft smile, clearly thrilled at how the events between two of her favourite students had unfolded. “I will check with both of you later”.

As Minerva left the private room in the infirmary, Helen turned to her patient. “There are a few diagnostic charms that I would like to perform, if it is permissible to you both”. She was being very careful now of the potions master. With a flick of her wand, Mediwitch Adams updated her chart to reflect the new surname of her patient, and then began to chant the diagnostic charms.

“Your pregnancy explains some of the symptoms from earlier; the lowered body temperature, exhaustion, fainting, and the elevated magic levels. Your baby is already starting to show her magic, and with no where for it to go until she is born, it will only add to your ability. But, you will need to be cautious. Your own levels are higher than normal. The added strained coupled with the fatigue can be particularly troublesome. I will have Professor Snape brew you a couple of potions that will help.” She took a deep breath before giving her patient the next part of her instructions. Hermione’s reputation for over achievement was legendary. After look at the loving way Severus was cradling his witch, Helen decided that a change of tactics was in order.

“Professor Snape”, the mediwitch began, “your wife does not need to stay in the infirmary, but I would recommend a couple of day’s bed rest. This will give the potions a chance to work, and will allow Madam Snape some of the rest that she certainly requires. She also needs some wholesome food, and I would hazard to guess, some time for the two of you to talk about the new life that you will be bringing into the world.”

Severus gazed lovingly at his wife. By Merlin, but he loved to be able to think of her that way, and to call her thus. Looking at Hermione, he could see the battle that she was currently waging between her need to do her best and the need to care for herself and the child she was carrying.

“Thank you, Madam Adams”, Severus began. “I will take Hermione to our quarters, and if you need to do any further examination in the next few days, you may come there.” He loved being able to say ‘their quarters’!

**********

Later that evening found Hermione and Severus cuddled on the soft leather sofa facing the fire in his…no…their quarters. She was seated on his lap while her husband delighted in resting his hands over her stomach. He could not wait until the world could see his child growing inside her. For now, however, it was not enough and Severus was thinking about the wedding ring that he was going to surprise her with the next day.

The flames in the hearth suddenly turned green, and Headmistress McGonagall stepped through at the potion master's nod of welcome. With a graceful movement that belied her advancing age, Minerva sat on the chair flanking the sofa.

“How are you feeling, Hermione?” she asked with concern. “Have you had something to eat? Have you been able to rest?”

“Yes and yes”, Hermione answered laughing. “Severus is taking excellent care of me.

“And of the little one”, Severus added with a proud grin. He had known from the moment that he knew of the baby that he would love telling anyone and everyone who would listen about baby Snape.
“Excellent”, Minerva replied, with a proud grin. “I just wanted you to know that the owl I received while we were in the infirmary was from the Ministry of Magic. It was the confirmation that the Registry of Magical Births, Deaths and Marriages had received notice of your bonding. Everything is now filed, probably in quadruplicate, and is 100% official and unbreakable.”

Hermione cuddled into her husband’s chest at this news. She had never felt more cherished or more safe in her entire life. Severus wrapped his arms around her even tighter. This was a near perfect moment.

“Hermione”, Minerva continued, “it is almost time for the Christmas holidays. I have spoken with the mediwitch, and she agrees that we need to relieve your course load. There is no doubt that your baby will begin to show some exceptionally strong magic, and your body will need the rest to handle this. I am proposing that I take over your classes until the beginning of the new term”.

Severus could feel Hermione’s body clench in anxiety at Minerva’s words. Silently, he rubbed her back and hoped that she would wait to hear what the Headmistress needed to say before reacting.

“I would like to promote Severus to the position of Deputy Headmaster in time for the new term”, she continued. “After the holiday, I would teach your upper years, and I would bring in an associate professor to handle year’s one through four. Once the baby was born, you could take over your classes again. But, we need to extend these living quarters, plan a nursery, find a nanny,…”

Both Hermione and Severus quickly realized that Minerva was lost in her own thoughts. Although her plans for dividing Hermione’s work load were clearly well thought out, once her thoughts went to planning for the baby, she was like a first time grandmother plotting and planning.

Severus decided to step in before his new wife could react. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Minerva. I know that it will be difficult for my wife to take a step back from teaching, but with both know that she needs to do it for the baby. Maybe she could continue to develop some of the lesson plans and mark some of the assignments. Hermione will go crazy if she cannot do something”. Hermione clutched his hand, communicating without words her gratitude at his ability to understand her feelings so completely.

“Certainly”, began the older witch, “we can speak of this before I leave for the holiday. Everything can be planned out well before the start of the new term. But, that is enough from me; I am for bed. I will see you both in the morning”. With a kiss to the top of Hermione’s head and a grip of Severus’ shoulder, Minerva stepped into the fire. With a flash of emerald green, the very newlyweds were alone.
Severus stood, holding Hermione in his arms like the new bride she was. He walked into their bedroom and gently placed her on the bed. A quick look around showed that the House Elves had already made short work of moving Hermione’s belongings to his quarters.

Gently and without any expectations, he removed her robes and undergarments, replacing them with the night gown that he found in his chest of drawers. After wrapping her in the thick and soft down blankets, he quickly shed his own clothes and joined her under the covers. He wrapped his body around hers and they both drifted to sleep, more content than either of them ever imagined possible.