Hello again. Getting back into it. 

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Severus stared at the nurse with shock. The older woman tsked to herself before rushing to get a potion. She handed Hermione a small vial and told her to down it. "It's a potion to help with the baby's early development."

Hermione swished the vial once before tipping her head back and downing it. She shuddered at the taste before handing it back to Madam Pomfrey. "You are good to go, just be careful, Miss Granger. These are dark times to bring a baby into the world."

She waved them both off with a lighthearted grin. Severus thanked her before taking her back to his chambers. How could she be pregnant? There was a charm on the school to make sure no student became pregnant while here. Who will raise the baby? They couldn't, with her helping Potter and Weasley and he would have to run the school with the Dark Lord hovering over him.

"You okay?" Hermione asked once they were back in his chambers. She went over to his closet to get a shirt to wear. She didn't want to leave him. 

He took off his frock and shirt to change also, thinking about what to say. "I'm just scared what will happen," he stated, laying on the bed. Hermione nodded, placing her hand on her stomach. It was hard to imagine that there was a baby in there. Her stomach was still so flat. "Come here," Severus said in a whisper. 

She looked at him, smiled, and walked over to him. She crawled on the bed beside him and curled herself into his side. His hand wrapped around her back and they fell asleep. Severus dreams consisted of their baby being raised by the Dark Lord, Hermione watching as their child became a dangerous death eater. 

The next morning Hermione was up and gone by the time Severus was awake. It was fine with him, but he missed her presence. He got ready and headed down to breakfast. She was there talking to Miss Weasley. He hoped she wasn't telling her about the baby. They hadn't even fully discussed it yet. 

"Severus," Dumbledore called out. Severus shook his head to get rid of his thoughts. Dumbledore was looking at him and then looked towards the Slytherin table. Severus followed his eyes. Malfoy wasn't there. 

Classes seemed to drag on. All Severus wanted to do was to go to Dumbledore and talk with him one last time. Malfoy was absent the entire day, which further fueled Severus' fear that today was Dumbledore's last day. Hermione could tell that something was going to happen by Severus' foul mood throughout the day, so decided to stay away from him for the moment. She didn't like it, but thought it best. 

Right now, she was called to the Headmaster's office by Dobby. He seemed to be giddy of something, but she didn't bother asking why. He'd most likely just avoid her question. When she entered Dumbledore's office, Severus was there, looking both worried and solomn. Dumbledore was in his chair, seemingly happy. 

"Miss Granger, come in," he greeted, waving her in with his good hand. 

"Headmaster, what's going on?" Hermione asked, going to stand beside Severus. 

"As Severus has told you, finally, that he will be killing me. As Mr. Malfoy has not shown up today for any classes nor meals, it's easy to assume that today will be my last day. As my last day, I would like to make one last order of protection for you and Severus. I would like to perform the conferratio spell on you two so you can perform at your best." Dumbledore stated calmly. Severus took in a breath and started to pace. 

Hermione watched him for a moment. "Okay, lets do it," Hermione said, raising her chin proudly. 

Dumbledore stood and walked around his desk, wand in his blackened hand at the ready. "Severus, stand to my left, Miss Granger, my right." They did as they were told. Hermione felt extremely giddy. "Intertwine your left hand. This will look much like an unbreakable vow, Severus, but not to worry, its not." With a quick wave of his wand, green strands shot out of his wand and twisted around their arms. 

Severus stared down at it closing tighter around their arm. He watched as the strand snaked tighter until it felt like his circulation had been cut off. Hermione winced but didn't say anything. "Severus, will you promise to love and honor Hermione for however long you both shall live?" Dumbledore asked. 

"I will," he said calmly. Much more calmly than he felt. His mind was still racing from finding out he had a baby on the way. 

"Hermione, will you promise to love and honor Severus for however long you both shall live?" 

Hermione cleared her throat. "I will," she stated with a smile. 

The strand disappeared into their skin, like hot lava. Severus knew it wouldn't last long, though. Hermione winced again as the strand burned as they dropped their hands. "Well," Dumbledore started happily, "this is a nice turn of events." 

Severus scoffed. "Yes, now that we are bonded we can avoid each other and our child will be born in wedlock." 

Dumbledore looked shocked. Hermione was dumbfounded at the thought of shocking the great Albus Dumbledore. "You are pregnant?" Hermione nodded, absentmindedly placing a hand over her stomach. "That troubles things." He said it more to himself than anyone else. 

Severus leaned on the back of one of the chairs facing Dumbledore's desk while Dumbledore himself walked around to his chair and placing a hand on it, deep in thought. "Albus what are we to do?" 

"Surely you're asking what I think you're asking Severus," Dumbledore stated with the glint back in his eye. Severus scoffed and held his hand out for Hermione to take. She took it and he lead her to sit in the other chair. 

Severus watched her for a few moments, deep in thought herself. "All I know, Albus, is we can't take care of a baby right now."

"My parents," Hermione whispered. 

"Love?" 

Hermione looked from Albus to Severus. "Once I have the baby, my parents can take the baby until the war is over, however long that is."

Severus thought about it for a moment. They would be in the muggle world, away from the war for the most part. He nodded, mostly to himself. "Okay," Severus said. 

"Now that that is settled, Severus, Mrs. Snape, I'm expecting Harry here in a little while. We're going on an adventure." Dumbledore stated, ushering them out. Severus walked slowly beside the headmaster. "Spend the last few moments with her," the old man whispered to him before waving at them. 

They spent several hours together in Severus' chambers, reading and talking about what was going to happen. Severus didn't want to delve into the entire situation. He wanted to pretend he wouldn't have to kill his headmaster. Severus started getting an odd feeling around midnight and sent Hermione away. "It's better for you to be with your friends right now." He gave her a vial of what looked like liquid gold. "Drink this, for my own peace of mind." She quickly drank it and gave him one last kiss before they would be separated for however long. 

About half an hour later, Flitwick came knocking on his door, shouting about death eaters in the castle. Severus' heart started beating fast, and he stunned the little man. Rushing out to the Great Hall, he saw Bellatrix with her nephew and Greyback with them. He sneered to himself. He hated that dog more than Lupin. At least Lupin wanted to be a normal person. Greyback didn't care about anything except his urges as a werewolf. 

He stepped out of the shadows when Bellatrix started asking where he was. "Bellatrix," he greeted with a sneer. She grinned a maddened grin at him. 

"The old man is in the Astronamy Tower," she said in a cheery tune. 

They rushed to the tower. Draco had unarmed Dumbledore, which was exactly what he wanted. The the boy froze. Draco, obviously, couldn't do it. Severus pushed the boy out of the way and pointed his wand at Dumbledore. The old man looked at Severus expectantly. "Severus," he said weakly, "Please."

Only he knew at that moment what Dumbledore meant by that. He was begging for death. However, to everyone else, it sounded like the man was begging to live. "Avada Kadavra," Severus chanted, with a blank look on his face. 

Dumbledore seemed to fall off the tower in slow motion. Severus didn't wait before rushing away, Draco, Greyback, and Bellatrix right behind him. Behind him he could hear none other than Potter calling him. " HE TRUSTED YOU!"

Several spells rushed passed the small group. Bellatrix turned to fight him, but Severus stopped her. "No, he belongs to the Dark Lord," he reminded. She looked upset at the missed opportunity, but didn't object. 

Severus was about to go also when he heard his spell. He quickly threw it to the side. The spell he knew that Potter used on Malfoy halfway through the year. He slowly turned around. The protective spell had knocked Potter on his back. "You dare use my own spells against me?" Potter was panting, eyes growing wide in disbelief. "Yes, I'm the half blood prince."

He left after that, leaving Potter on the ground thinking about what had happened. Hermione had heard what was happening and rushed to help her friends. Harry had given what was left of his liquid luck potion to everyone, and with Severus giving her a whole vial, no spells could stick to them. 

Harry was furious at Severus for killing Dumbledore. Hermione wanted to tell her friend the truth about the whole exchange, but she kept silent. It was bad enough that soon she would have to tell them about her baby. She was dreading that day. The school had a special ceremony for the late headmaster, as he was buried on the Hogwarts grounds, the only professor to do so. 

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I'm cutting it off here for now. Hope you like it.