By Chance(4)

When he appeared at Grimmauld Place, it wasn't entirely by accident. He just wanted to ask Harry for the story of how she ended up pregnant during a war, risking herself as magic became faulty during pregnancy.

He walked up to the door this time and knocked knowing the inhabitants would answer without a worry that death waters would be at their doors.

"Professor Snape! It's so good to see you, but I thought you'd be with Hermione, right?" Ginny asked wearily leading him to believe that she knew of Hermione's condition.

"She's the topic of my impromptu visit, I'm afraid to say."

Ginny led him as they silently concurred on the mutual topic of Hermione and her pregnancy.

"Harry, darling, we have a visitor," Ginny called upstairs also unspoken that he needed to be present for the conversation.

When everyone was gathered into one of the sitting rooms, Snape brought up the dreadfully uncomfortable topic.

"Hermione's pregnant?"

"Four months," Ginny muttered earning a surprised glance from Severus and a deep breath.

"Sir, I mean no disrespect, but I was with Hermione for almost every moment of that first month, and she would never do something like that to you," Harry started, but Ginny cut in to add to Hermione's honor.

"She loves you, sir, and she only slept with you, she told me so."

Snape paled as only that morning he had accused her of cheating on him as it was the only way she could have conceived. Apparently, he wasn't as despicable as his father had made him believe. That thought scared him, but what scared him even more was that the child she was carrying was his. There was no way he would be anywhere near a good father. He had been a Death Eater for Merlin's sake. Of course, he was also a part of the Order of the Phoenix and Order of Merlin, but what child would see all that when he had the mark? That was all a child would ever see.

"Regardless, the child is better off without me, and so is Hermione. She can handle herself well, and she deserves someone her age. What could I do for her besides grow old and cause her more problems? She needs a stronger man."

Harry nearly threw himself at the Potions Master. He'd had this conversation with one Remus John Lupin but months ago. Were all men their age that daft as to think the women that loved them didn't?

"Hermione would hex you if she heard you say that, I'm pretty close myself," Ginny decided for Harry as he looked irate.

"I've had this exact conversation with Professor Lupin! You're both outrageous, you know? Just because you were a Death Eater, doesn't mean your child will hate you if you explain it to them correctly! Just because he was a werewolf it didn't mean Tonks hated him! If she can look past that and still have a child risking that as they did, than you can do the same, because I know Hermione will," Harry defended her superbly. There was a need to release her from the pain he knew she was in.

He just didn't know if Hermione would take him in like Nymphadora had Remus. She was a Gryffindor, and far more head-strong than Tonks was when it came to men. Then again, Hermione really did love Snape, so he wouldn't be surprised if this turned out for the better. If he went back of course.

Snape seemed to be mulling it over in his mind deeply when Harry returned to the conversation that wasn't occurring. Ginny seemingly had her wand glued to her palm as Snape looked un-surely about the room.

"I can't go back now, she'll hate me."

"I wouldn't count on that."

"If you don't go back I swear on my brother's grave I'll hex you into the next century," Ginny cursed him, staring at the man intensely.

Amusement flickered in the man's eyes, but she missed it as he stood and straightened out his robes.

"I'll be heading back then," he said, holding out his hand to Harry.

He shook it after he stood tall, happy at the decision the man had made. Ginny was smiling as if nothing at all had happened.

"Good luck," Ginny said pointedly, "I'll know if you actually go or not!"

Snape nearly laughed and with a flick of his wand vacated the Potter residence with a pop. He landed outside of Hermione's flat and cursed himself. She was still crying.

He didn't know if he should knock or just walk in... There was a lot of hesitation when he went into the flat and found her curled up in the couch, a tight shirt on now, exhibiting a small, yet noticeable, enlargement to her abdomen.

"Hermione-" but he didn't have to say anything else when she looked up and smiled. With quick feet, she was in his arms in no time.

"You came back!"

"I did," he said and pressed his lips into her hair, "I had to. I wanted to, Hermione."

"What changed your mind?"

"Potter."

"You went to Harry's?" She sniffed.

"I did, apparently he had the same talk with Lupin."

"He did, but that was more of a screaming match," Hermione muttered and wiped away remaining tears, "So, you wouldn't want to move in, would you? Or is that too soon?"

His eyes were visibly amused as he looking into her beautiful brown eyes, watching him carefully.

"Never too soon, come here," he said and pulled her in for a kiss, a much-needed kiss.

She moaned into the kiss and tied her fingers in his hair, softer than you'd think it would be. It hadn't that feeling it's appearance tricked you into thinking it did.

"You want to see a sonogram?"

"Sorry?" He replied with his eyebrows scrunched up and revealing more lines on his forehead than usual.

"A photograph of the baby in the womb, it's a muggle thing, so the photograph doesn't move."

He gulped quickly, a nervous look covering his features. He wasn't too sure what would come of this, but he led her forward and watched her take out the small book of photographs.

"Here," she said and pointed to a small form, one hidden in her at that very moment.

"Do you know the gender?"

Hermione shrugged, "There's a spell, but without you, I was going to wait... Now that you're here I kind of want to know... Do you?"

"If that's what you want, but I wouldn't mind knowing at all," he said sternly, trying not to sound giddy.

"Here," she handed him the incantation, "I'm too nervous."

"How do you think I feel?" He muttered under his breath, grabbing his wand and memorizing the incantation.

With a quick flick of his wand, Severus did the incantation and awaited whatever it was that was supposed to happen.

"The tip of your wand will glow white for a girl and blue for a boy," Hermione explained, "Just wait a few seconds."

He laughed a little at her anxiety, the biting of her lip making him only want to bend over and kiss her lips, healing them.

They waited a little bit and soon enough the tip of his wand glowed a pristine white. A girl. Their child was going to be a girl.

"Molly Weasley wrote that down for me, but she said that for the twins it didn't work at all even though they were both boys," Hermione giggled.

"We're having a daughter."

"Exactly, we," Hermione said with a smile. She took his hand and rested it on her stomach.

"I'm so glad I don't have to do this alone, Severus. I mean, I was prepared, I had a lot of people who knew and were willing to help, but it's just not the same," Hermione admitted quickly.

"I'm glad I'm here too, when do you want to think of names?" He asked her very out-of-character. Hermione figured she'd be choosing them after she was born, something that he would just agree to.

"I'm not sure, but I really like Rose."

"Rose Snape."

"Rose Granger," Hermione mended, as she wasn't giving the child her father's name unless they were married.

"No, Hermione, in pretty sure her name shall be Rose Snape."

"So you agree with Rose then? What about a middle name?" Hermione changed the subject quickly.

"Rose Hermione Snape."

Apparently he hadn't dropped the subject.

"Wait, that's my name," she realized after a minute or so.

"Yes, good job Hermione, I know it's hard to recognize."

She nearly bit his head off at that comment, "Shove off."

"No, I left once, I shan't a second time."

Hermione smiled, "I guess we'll be starting a trend, huh? My middle name is my mother's."

"I'm aware," he drawled.

Hermione looked at her lover happily and just bit her lip. She hadn't ever expected her life to turn out like this on such short notice, but to say she wasn't glad would be a lie. She was elated, truly, and would never have it any other way.

Eleven years later...

"Mum, I don't want to go away for school!" Rose complained to Hermione as her father pushed her on her cart heading for the infamous platform nine and three-quarters.

"You'll love it, I promise!"

"But James isn't going yet!"

"He's a lot younger than you are, Teddy is going to Hogwarts this year too, Hun," Hermione tried to tell the small child.

"And then the sorting!" She exclaimed far too dramatically for her father's taste.

"Rose!" He snapped, but his wife threw him a simple glare and he rolled his eyes, "You'll enjoy it, darling, I used to work there and many of the first-years were just as nervous as you are."

"I'm not nervous!"

"Rose Hermione Snape, you're nervous you just don't want to say so," Hermione said with amusement.

"Well, what if I don't get into Gryffindor?"

"I'll be pleased," her father said bluntly yet earned a swift smack on his arm from his wife. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Miss Granger."

"Why do you call mum that?"

"She hates it," he replied to his daughter simply.

"Oh, don't forget to send Professor Longbottom my love."

"Mum!" Rose whined, pushing black curls behind her ears.

"Rose-" Hermione answered causing the girl to huff and hop off her cart, grabbing the handles as her father came behind her and began to instruct her. She nodded, and with his hand, pushed the cart through the barrier and left Hermione following them in.

When she boarded the train, Hermione was surely crying. She held onto Severus and nearly pushed him over with her sobs, but Rose had already found friends. Teddy drew a crowd, so she ended up with them.

"It's fine, love, she's just the first one anyways," he said with a kiss to her head.

"Mhm, but that doesn't make it easier!" She cried.

"Well let's go pick up Toby then, you can cry over him in a few years. He'll be in James' year, and that is a misfortune," Severus said with disdain.

"James is a wonderful boy and nothing like his grandfather."

"No, you're right," Snape agreed to his wife who looked at her Husband.

"Bye mum! Bye Dad!" Their daughter shouted as she leaned out of the window and waved to her parents, quite happy to leave now.

Hermione waved and so did Severus, both their eyes a little watery, one less ready to admit it than the other.

"Well, let's go get Toby, alright? Lest he thinks we're not coming back," he joked trying to get Hermione to stop blubbering over their daughter.

"Let's go," she said and took his hand, a wonderful feeling taking her over knowing her daughter was safe in a world that happened to be safe by some miracle of chance. A daughter who'd been created in their one chance to be together when they hadn't any idea they were destined to end together.

{4/4}

Hi, author here. I really hate this, but I'm gonna leave it here. I'm super new to HP fanfiction. I'm also much better at one-shots than longer stories. So, hopefully you'll see those coming soon enough. Hope you enjoyed!

I have a new story out, guys. It updates Thursday's and Sunday's. It's called Professor, and so far so good! Please go check it out if you're feeling ambitious!