My Gift To You

Chapter 13

Hermione woke with difficulty the next morning. 

She was tired, sore and just plain irritated.

She turned to see Severus still asleep. He snored softly. It was more of a whistle really.

She smiled as she got up and ran a bath. It should help her. The fact that her back was aching didn't help her mood much.

After the water had finished, Hermione got in slowly. Her flesh raised as goosebumps formed. It was warm. It felt...good. She couldn't imagine any other way.

As she relaxed, she felt her body go limp. She shrugged it off.

Probably just being lazy, she thought to herself. It was early after all. She reached for the shampoo and massaged it into her hair. As the fragrance of lavender fields filled the room, she frowned.

She moved her legs. Well, tried to anyway. It seemed as if her body wasn't responding.

She sighed. Exhaustion still hung heavily over her.

Hermione let her head rest against the rim of the bath. Her arms started feeling prickly. Like pins and needles. She shook her head.

What the hell was with her today?

She sighed deeply as she lay in the water. Severus would probably be up soon.

He can take the shower. I'm not rushing my bath, she thought as her breathing felt constricted.

Suddenly it was. She grabbed at her throat. Her hands were going numb. Her legs were numb.

"Severus!" She screamed as loud as she could, though it came out as a whisper.

She groaned in frustration.

Hermione steadied her breathing as best she could.

She gave it another try.

"Severus!" She screamed, wincing at how it echoed in her ears.

She heard a thud and then footsteps. Severus rushed into the bathroom, his face white with worry.

He ran to her and knelt down.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked in a hoarse voice.

He had clearly been sleeping deeply.

"I--I can't move,"she said as she wheezed.

"What?" Severus asked, confusion clear on his face.

Hermione glared at him. His eyes widened.

He looked around frantically.

"I--er--clothes--" he stuttered as he looked back at her.

"Severus," she hissed,"just. Get. Me. Out."

"Er, yes," he said as he knelt down to pick her up.

She tried helping, but her limbs still didn't respond.

Hermione felt her eyes tearing up. She felt so helpless! So useless!

Severus realised her arms weren't going around his neck as they usually did. He gave her a quick look and took her arm, wrapping it around his neck.

He was seriously getting worried about her. He hid his concern, so as to keep her calm. He would find out what was wrong. Without stressing her out.

From the way she looked, he guessed she was stressed as it was. He lay her down on the bed, averting his gaze as her breasts reacted to the cool air.

He looked around for a blanket, something. Anything to cover her with.

He grabbed a small quilt thrown over the sofa. Severus covered her.

She smiled as her eyes rolled back in her head, then closed as she sighed.

Severus panicked as he shook her gently. Surely she couldn't be having side effects from her supplements? She hadn't worked herself up...

Perhaps it had to do with the pregnancy. If so, what had caused it? Why was she going through this?

Severus found warm clothes and charmed it onto her. At least this way, he could call for help.

Who to call though? He doubted Albus and Minerva could help. Poppy might be able to...though the two professors would probably kill him if he didn't call for them.

He sighed as he sat next to her. Maybe she would wake up. Then everything would be okay. He pondered at that. True...

But if something was wrong then he would blame himself forever because he didn't call for help.

Severus ran his hands through his hair. He shouted in frustration as he thought what he should do.

***

"Is she okay?" Asked McGonagall as she entered the chambers.

"I'm not sure," said Severus as he waited for the nurse to finish her examination.

Dumbledore already stood at the girl's side. He frowned as Poppy did what she could to figure it out.

Severus paced up and down, deep in thought. He muttered under his breath only stopping to look at Hermione, then started from the top.

"Severus," said McGonagall as she placed a hand on his arm.

He shrugged it off. The last thing he needed was for Minerva telling him to calm down.

"They'll be okay," he muttered continuously as he paced.

McGonagall wasn't sure whether to persist he listen to her or to drop it.

She knew him though. Very well. He wouldn't want to listen. He'd just brush her off again.

"They'll be okay," she heard him mutter as he passed her.

She really worried about him.

He had his hand to his face, biting his thumb nail every now and again.

Severus stopped. He looked at Hermione, who was still being examined.

He started packing again. He threw his hands up with a growl and left in a flash of black cloak.

McGonagall stared after him. She went over to stand by Poppy as she finished up.

"Will she be okay?" Asked McGonagall as Poppy looked up.

Poppy sighed.

"I can't tell what's wrong. Leave her to rest. No one moves her until she wakes," said Poppy in her sternest voice.

"Thank you, Poppy," said Dumbledore as he escorted the nurse out.

He turned to McGonagall.

"Leave her to rest, Minerva. I'm going to find Severus," he said as he headed out the door.

McGonagall sighed as she sat next to Hermione. This girl had them all so worried. The sooner it was over, the better. She had it tough. McGonagall hadn't seen any other pregnancy with so much difficulties.

***

Dumbledore turned around the corner when he saw him.

Severus. He sat in a heap on the ground, sticking to the shadows. His shoulders jerked as if he were crying.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked as he neared him.

The Potions master lifted his head. Dumbledore faltered at the sight he saw. 

Severus just sat, holding his chest. He rocked himself on his heels. His eyes were rimmed with the red swelling that only came with tears. And his gaze held all the hate imaginable...