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.
