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Marriage Vows	By : selened Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 23720 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Marriage Vows

Disclaimer: This
story was inspired by the Marriage Law Challenge on WIKTT. All Harry Potter characters belong to JK
Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.

Chapter Twenty-Three Revelations

Hermione stood before the doorway of her parent�s North
London home. She and Severus had
Apparated from Hogsmeade. Asn>As the house
was occupied she rang the doorbell.
Severus wrapped his arm around her as they waited. It wasn�t long before Hermione�s mother came
to the door. She squealed with delight
when she saw her daughter and Severus was forced to relinquish his hold to his
mother-in-law.

After a few moments they were able to make their way into
the house. Michael was standing in the
doorway. He shook Severus� hand as
Hermione and her mother made their way into the kitchen. �Hermione looks well,� he said, �I can�t say
the same for you though. Are you ill?�

�No,� said Severus quickly, �Can we speak man to man?�

�Certainly, come through into the study. I�ve got some decent whisky.�

The two men went into the small room. Severus sat while Mike poured.

�So what�s your problem?�

�I�ve been in prison for the last two weeks. I was tried this morning and discharged. I look rough because my captors felt that
extraordinary measures are needed to contain a wizard of my abilities. I looked a great deal worse this morning
before Hermione was able to heal the worst of it. I can�t stand harsh light because I�ve been blindfolded
throughout the whole thing.�

�Why were you in prison?�

However when the law came into question I was the only man to
have taken advantage of it. This put me
in a difficult position. Added to that
Ron and Percy Weasley alleged that I had interfered with Hermione�s mind to
make her acquiescent in our marriage.�

�And your past would lend credence to that.�

�Playing the role of a Death-Eater for so long will always
make people wonder about me. Added to
that I have a relationship with Lucius Malfoy which goes back to
childhood. It is possible that there
will be a report on the trial tomorrow so I will be candid with you and tell
you that I had a sexual relationship with him when we were both at school.�

�Ah!�

�I assure you that this was an isolated experience. I do not make a habit of hankering after
men.�

�It�s not unusual in Mugg Lots of friendships get out of hand in a boarding school or in
prisons come to that. Many Muggles have
a capacity to be bi-sexual even though most of them will live quite happily
with a member of the opposite sex and never explore it.�

�That is a relief. I
am in love with your daughter.�

�So you should be.
She�s amazing.�

�She taught my classes when I was detained. She gave the Wizengamot a piece of her mind
this morning. I wish I hadn�t been
drugged when she did it.�

�Drugged?�

�Veritaserum. A
truth potion. Ironically I brew it for
them.�

�Hermione wasn�t drugged though?�

�No. Actually that�s
the other thing. She had to refuse
because she is going to have a baby.�

�That�s quick. I
must say I thought you would have waited until she finished school.�

�We were surprised ourselves. We were taking precautions but the magicks of the binding
interfered with them. I don�t think
anyone has had the nerve to suggest to her that she has a choice about whether
or not to have it. She is very keen.�

�Are you?�

�I was overjoyed when she suggested starting a family next
year. Make no mistake I am delighted to
have her as the mother of my child but I worry tha�s t�s too soon now. She dozed off this afternoon and she looks
like a child when she sleeps. I watched
her and it was hard to believe that she has a child, my child, growing within
her.�

�I don�t think you can be accused of stealing her
childhood. You were trying to do the
best for her. God only knows what might
have happened to her if she�d had to go with the other fellow.�

�Hermione and I looked into that. We think we know what Lucius was going to do with her. We founrituritual that would have allowed
him to drain her powers and transfer them to himself with the consent of her
husband. It would have killed her and
made Lucius the most powerful wizard alive.�

�She has always been powerful but she�s had a surge since
the wedding. I can feel it, even now,
when she�s in another room. She has
more raw power now than I do. Possibly
more than Dumbledore or even Flamel.
She has great intelligence also.
With time she will become more in control and more able to channel it. She brewed the Wolfsbane potion the other
week. No other witch in Europe is
capable of that. I sbefobefore she may
have abilities she hasn�t even touched yet and that is still something she
needs to explore.�

�What are your plans?�

�October is probably going to be takenwithwith Malfoy�s
trial. She�s fixed it with Minerva that
she can do her NEWTs in London in December.
Then hopefully she can work a little to keep her occupied until the baby
comes.After that I have no idea. I think Albus and Minerva might give her
some Apprentice work but other than that I�m not sure.�

�How did Hermione come to have such powers?�

�I don�t know. It�s
unusual for a Muggle-born to be honest.
They aren�t usually outstanding in themselves. It tends to be their children who are extraordinary when you have
old magic blending with the new.�

�So what are your children going to be like?�

�A handful I would say.
We both manifested our powers in the cradle.�

Mr Granger hesitated for a moment before asking, �If
Hermione were to have a sibling would it be magical too?�

�In theory they say a sibling has a fifty fifty chance. From families I have known I would say the
chances are rather higher than that so in all likelihood I would say yes. It may uch uch less powl thl though. Is there a reason you are asking?�

�Actually Liz and I � well we may be � we�re not sure. Liz has done a home test and it was positive
but she�ll need a doctor to confirm it.�

�I could do it for you.
There is an incantation.�

�Let�s join the ladies then. We�ll see what Liz says.
Go to the sitting room I think you�ll find the lights in there a bit
more sympathetic. I�ll bring them
through.�

Hermione had obviously broken the news to her mother in the
kitchen. They came through hand in
hand.

�Daddy, I�ve got something to tell you. Please don�t get too cross, just hear us
out��

�Darling he�s beaten you to it. Has your mother broken our news?�

�Michael, I thought we were going to wait for the doctor�s
test?� scolded Liz.

�Severus can test you.�

�Test for what? Mum
are you ill.�

�I think I might be pregnant as well.�

�What, but when � how?�

�Sometimes, Hermione, when mummies and daddies love each
other very much they��began her father.

�Oh, spare me.
That�s not what I meant and you know it.�

�Sorry, wedding, castle, scenery, four poster bed, unicorns�
It was romantic, and you are in no position to criticise.�

�Sorry Dad. Mum are
you going to let Severus do the test?�

�I suppose so. What
do I have to do?�

�Just lie down.
That�s it. It takes seconds.�

Liz Granger lay down on the couch and Hermione and her
father watched Severus perform the same spell Healer Binns and Madam Pomfrey
had used on her. The blue glow
confirmed that she was indeed pregnant.

�I can�t really tell how far along you are with this,� said
Severus. �If I�own own I was going to
examine you I could have reminded myself about a more comprehensive
method. I knew we�d have a post war
baby boom but I hadn�t realised I�d be in the middle of it. Did Hermione tell you Molly and Arthur are having
another?�

�Excepting Melissa all the Weasley daughters in law are
pregnant now,� said Hermione. �That�s
going to be an exceptional year at Hogwarts.
Four Weasley cousins plus aunt or uncle and our two. Gryffindor will be full.�

�For the sake of domestic harmony I think our child should
be placed in Ravenclaw.�

�Perhaps you�re right.
Maybe one Slytherin and one Gryffindor per household is enough.�

�Well I think we should have a small celebration,� said
Michael. �I�d suggest we went out but
you two aren�t dressed for round here.
I�ll pop out and see what nibbles I can pick up for supper.�

�That�s a good idea,� said Hermione. �We can�t stay too late though. Severus needs his rest at the moment and we
need to keep an eye on the children.�

The rest of the evening was spent in pleasant chatter and
perusal of family photographs. Hermione
and Severus were back in Hogsmeade at a reasonable hour and went to collect
their broomsticks from Melissa�s house.
The Weasley party was in full swing.
They had hoped to sneak in quietly and escape unnoticed but were foiled
by the fact that Ron was sitting on the stairs in the Hallway. He looked up as they entered and it was
obvious he had been crying. Hermione�s
heart melted.

�Ron, what�s the matter?� she asked.

�I can�t talk about it.
It�s just � everything�s wrong��

�Don�t cry � Let�s talk about it. We can go upstairs. Come
on. We can�t leave you like this.�

�Okay. Does he have
to come?�

�Yes Ron, he does.
Last time he allowed us to go off alone I ended up with bruises and he
was accused of causing them.�

�All right. Fair
enough.�

The three of them made their way up to a spare bedroom
upstairs. Ron sat in an armchair and
Hermione sat with Severus on the bed.

�Come on Ron, spill.�

�I�m sorry about what I did to you two. I was wrong. Dad told me about what happened in court today and about how you
were kept Professor��

�Call me Severus.
We�re not in class and Hermione regards you as family.�

�Even now?�

�Yes Weasley, even now.
Families fall out but with reasonable behaviour on all sides breaches
are easily repaired. I would be lying
if I said I were not extremely angry about the trouble you have caused but at
the same time I recognise that it was partly caused by your devotion to my
wife. I have no objection to you having
a friendship with my wife as long as you remember that she is �my wife.� I value her and I will never abuse her.

�Susan thinks she might be pregnant and it�s mine.�

�I didn�t think things had gone that far with the two of
you,� said Hermione.

�We only did it the once.
We had a bit too much to drink at your Wedding Feast. I really like her but she doesn�t really
know how she feels and she�s really upset now.
She was on the potion though so I don�t know how. I don�t know what to do. Everybody in there was celebrating their
babies. Mum and Dad and Melissa and
Charlie made announcements tonight and I don�t know what Susan wants to
do. It was all a bit much.�

�Melissa as well,� said Severus, �I thought she was resolved
to delay her family.�

�She was. She says
she can�t blame anyone else because she brews her own potion. Mum�s been under a charm since just after
she finally managed a girl.�

�We�ve just come back from Hermione�s parents. Hermione is expecting a sibling, conceived
during her parent�s trip to Hogwarts. I
wonder how many sexually active wedding guests have found themselves in this
situation?�

�Severus, surely you don�t think��

�The evidence seems to be mounting my dear. We have four unlikely pregnancies here, with
a possibility of a fifth if Miss Bones is correct. Right Ron, go and tell your mother we have come to an
understanding but you�re a bit emotional so you�re coming back with us. Tell her we accept her invitation for
tomorrow while you�re in there. When we
get back we will get Miss Bones out of bed and I will examine her. Once we know for sure we can decide what to
do.�

On arriving at Hogwarts Hermione went straight to Hufflepuff
to find Susan whilst Ron and Severus went down to the dungeons.

�Severus,� said Ron nervously. �I wanted to say thank-you� for being decent about things. I had no idea you�d be taken away like that�
or kept like that.�

�Well now you know.
If Hermione had not been present you would not have escaped so
lightly. I cannot bring myself to rage
in front of her even though I had permission to do so. You�re practically a man
now. You played an important role in
the war. You come from a distinguished
family.yes"> She wants to work at the Ministry. She�s not very academic though so she�d probably start quite low
down.�

�Your father did that.
He worked hard enough to raise you lot.
You are all important to him. If
more wizards were like your father then our world would be better for it. If my father had been like yours I would not
be the man I am and I would not have done some of the things I�ve done. If you knew the details of things I have
done you might understand the regrets I have.�

�But you do have Hermione.�

�Indeed I do. By
whatever combination of fates drove her find me acceptable I have her, and our
child. Believe me I intend to see I�m
a better father than my own ever was.
No one sees better the effects of incompetent parenting than a teacher. Ah here is the young lady in question. Miss Bones, we have been waiting for you.�

�I�m sorry Susan. I
told him. I had to tell someone.�

�Ron, how could you?
I can�t really be pregnant I�m on the potion�

�Miss Bones, Ron was right to come to us. I can test you for pregnancy and it need not
be recorded anywhere. If you are not
pregnant then this conversation can be forgotten and you may abuse him in any
way you see fit. I may even lend a
hand. If on the other hand you are
pregnant the sooner you know the sooner you can work out your plan of action.�

�You can test me?�

�In a matter of seconds.
You won�t even be the first person I�ve done it for today.�

�All right then.�

�Just lie down on the sofa.�

She moved over and lay down. Severus stood over her and performed the incantation. Again the result was positive.

�Susahe she said gently.
�You are pregnant.�

She pushed herself into a sitting position. Tears were rolling down her face. �But I was careful. s"> I�ve taken the potion from Madam Pomfrey
ever since I turned sixteen.�

�Susan I�m sure you�ve been sensible. The thing is that you are now the fifth
person to conceive a child at Hogwarts that weekend. All of them have come as a shock to the people concerned. I managed to get my own wife pregnant so I can
hardly be cross with you. Now I am
going to fetch Madam Pomfrey. She will
give you a proper examination and some advice.
I�m also going to tell the Headmaster because five surprise pregnancies
suggest magical interference and there may be other girls affected who haven�t
noticed yet.�

�I�ll be expelled.�

�No you won�t.
Professor Dumbledore is a reasonable man. We can work around this.
Ron come and comfort your girlfriend while I run my errands.�

As Severus headed for the door he whispered to Hermione,
�Don�t let him say anything stupid.� And then he was gone.

Severus went up to the Headmaster first. Albus was sitting at his desk in his office
toying with his model of the Solar System.

�Ah Severus, pleasant trip?�

�Very, as it happens.
I expected some hostility when they found out their daughter was
pregnant but we got sidetracked somewhat when I was able to confirm my
mother-in-law�s own pregnancy. When we
got back to Hogsmeade I ended up comforting Ron Weasley who was in a distressed
state because Molly and Melissa wcelecelebrating their pregnancies whilst Susan
Bones was in a state of denial about carrying his baby. I have examined Miss Bones and confirmed
it.�

�Were all these women taking precautions?�

�Hermione and Susan took the 100 day potion from the
Infirmary. Molly was under a
semi-permanent charm. Melissa uses her
own brew according to Ron. I don�t know
about my mother-in-law but I think she�s rather old for childbearing by Muggle
standards.�

�It would seem that your binding magic was more powerful
we we could have guessed.�

�I think so. We�re
going to have to have Poppy examine all the senior girls aren�t we?�

�I think so.
Normally the magic wouldn�t stray outside the circle but you kicked out
a lot of power and both times you cast your circles they were inside the castle
wards. Let�s break it to Poppy and see
to Miss Bones and then we�ll leave things be until the morning.�

A/N

Kishkitten36- You must be grinning all over your face right
now. I tried so hard to be subtle.

Thanks to Sabrina, Firestarter, Hazel, innogen, GEmory,
Alanfan, Raija, redsugg and mother for recent reviews. They are very much appreciated.
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Marriage Vows