Headmaster's Secret

Conversations

Hi I'm gonna try to get this finished before I have to go to work. Update: day two of trying to get this going before work.

0o0o

Severus woke the next day to a cat patronus hovering around the room. It looked strict, meaning it was from Minerva. He sighed as he listened. "Severus, I went to your office and you weren't there this morning. I checked your room and you hadn't even slept in the bed. Where are you? Is Miss Granger with you? We need to talk about the June twins punishment. We just received an owl from their parents."

The patronus faded to nothing after it finished. He groaned and shook Hermione who had slept though the entire thing. He was surprised she did. "Minerva is looking for me." He kissed her forehead and got up to gather his clothes. 

He didn't expect for last night to happen, although he was happy it did. Hermione left before him. Watching her go, he wished he could walk with her. Someday soon. He just hoped she wasn't still upset by what Weasley did. He walked to the castle at a determined pace, stopping only to scold a fifth year for using magic in the corridor. The girl was only doing a transfiguration spell to practice for her OWL, however it could be dangerous if it went wrong. 

Minerva was pacing the room with her arms crossed and lips pursed in a thin line. Severus rolled his eyes. "Hello, Minerva," he greeted with a sneer to his tone. 

She turned to him, eyes full of anger. "Severus," she hissed. "Where were you?" 

He shrugged, crossing his own arms. "I took a long walk and fell asleep," he stated vaguely. 

Narrowing her eyes in confusion, she opened her mouth to ask, but then decided she didn't need to know. She sighed before walking to him. "Severus, I wish you would break it off with her," she begged. 

Severus raised his eyebrows in shock. "End it?" He dropped his arms and went to sit in his chair, picking up the letter the June's parents sent. "Why in the world would I end it?"

She shrugged, "Because this isn't a good idea. The whole notion of a Headmaster having an affair with a student is mad. What would the ministry say if they got word of it?"

"So, you're only worried about the school's reputation?" He asked slowly. 

She didn't answer. Severus took that as a yes. He sighed in defeat. "I loved Lily for well over twenty years. I've loved her from afar, up close. I gave everything to protect her son, even nearly my own life. I never expected to find someone I loved. Now, I find out that I will have a family of my own," he explained, summoning his book. 

Severus caught the book easily and opened it swiftly to get the picture. He stared at it for a long moment, caught in love with the beautiful being that was growing inside Hermione. He turned it around to show Minerva. She tilted her head in confusion. "What is that?"

"It's called an ultrasound. During the holidays, Hermione went to get one. It shows the baby growing in her stomach," Severus explained lightly.  He couldn't help but smile at the picture. 

"Oh," she exclaimed, eyes widening as she put together what Severus was saying. "Just confirming, you are saying Hermione Granger is pregnant with your baby?" 

He nodded. 

Minerva bit her nails nervously. "Severus," she sighed heavily with disappointment. "When will Hermione break up with Mr. Weasley?"

Severus shrugged. "The fool refuses to speak to her," he snarled at the thought of Weasley. 

Snorting, Minerva shook her head and turned her back to Severus. She obviously hated the idea of Severus and Hermione not only being together, but having an affair. He rolled his eyes as Minerva took a deep breath. "Now, the June twins, their parents have said they don't mind using suspension if needed. However, I think that should be the last resort. Possibly we could have them pickle rat brains for a month."

He got his quill out and a spare piece of parchment to write down the suggestions of possible punishments for the girls. "They might actually enjoy it," Severus murmured sarcastically. However, Minerva grunted with agreement. 

They kept throwing ideas around for different punishments that the June twins might hate for the rest of the morning. They didn't have a whole lot on the list. Only three things above suspension that their parents agreed on. Pickling rat brains, cleaning the potion cauldrons, and cleaning bedpans in the hospital wing.

As someone knocked on the door, Minerva looked to see who it was. It was Hermione with a stack of papers. She had an annoyed look on her face. "Those fourth years are so annoying!"

She had her first lesson of the term this morning after breakfast and had been in there since they parted earlier. Minerva exclaimed in shock when Hermione entered without Severus telling her she could. She looked at him, expecting him to get angry, but Severus glanced up at her momentarily. 

He watched her go over to her chair that was under Professor Dippet and dropped her papers on the table next to it. She brushed her hair out of her face and sighed in annoyance. Severus snorted humorously, "What's wrong?"

She turned with her hands on her hips. "Harvey Toll put pulverized frog brain in his potion and it blew up. Four students had to be rushed to the hospital with burns, Brandon Howards tipped over his cauldron on purpose to avoid getting a grade, which I granted him a weeks worth of detention." She took out a few pieces of parchment and walked over to hand it to Severus, who took it and started reading. 

He raised an eyebrow. "A week of cleaning cauldrons by hand?" He looked at Hermione in surprise. "Isn't that a little harsh?" 

Hermione scoffed. "You weren't there. He first tried to go to Madam Pomfrey with a head cold, then he tried to sneak out, third he simply refused. When I threatened with detention, thats when he turned his cauldron over. It caused a giant mess and melted through his partner's shoes." She huffed in anger, thought for a moment, then furrowed her brow. "Severus, were we that bad when were were younger?"

Minerva laughed lightly while Severus chuckled heartily. "No, not at all. You only exploded a cauldron in class, stole from my stores to make an illegal polyjuice potion in a girls bathroom, constantly help Longbottom even when I stated not too, cause disruptions in my class, and just constantly irritate me," he said sarcastically with a smile. 

Hermione crossed her arms indignantly and looked away. "Harry exploded the cauldron, and it was Harry, Ron, and Draco that constantly disrupted class. I always wanted to learn." 

"Was everyone else okay?" Severus asked after approving the detention for Brandon Howards. 

"Yeah, the rest of class went good," Hermione shrugged. 

0o0o

This chapter has been in the works for three days. I hope you like it.