A Chance of Breath. A Severus Snape Fanfiction (Stopped)

Chapter 10: Tears Shall Fall and Heat Will Rise

Just a side note, though I normally don't add Authors Notes. But please read this. 

I am not happy with this chapter. And am thinking about changing it completely. But please let me know what you think. If people like this, though it was strange for me to write, then I shall leave it up. 

I thank every single one of you for your patience. And for reading.

 I am terrible at uploading. I know. And I am not going to promise weekly updates or anything similar. I won't set a deadline I know I can't keep. But I will promise this. I haven't forgotten about any stories. And I will write when ever I can, and update my books in due course. 

Thank you, again. I appreciate every single read. And every single reader. 

Enjoy. 

Elsie.

***

Hermione sat eating dinner in the Great Hall just the day before the results were to arrive, when a letter dropped in front of her, startling both her and Ginny. Picking it up, she looked at her name printed across the front in cursive lettering and frowned.

"What's that?" Asked Ginny. Hermione glared at her slightly.
"Let me open it." She said, causing Ginny to look sheepish. Hermione chuckled slightly, before snapping the deep red wax seal, embossed with the Hogwarts crest.

Miss Granger.
Please meet me in my office when you get this. Do not be alarmed. I would just like to talk to you.
Prof. McGonagall.
P.S. Albus was a fantastic headmaster was he not?

"Just Professor McGonagall. She wants to talk to me apparently." Hermione said to her friend.
"Oh. Maybe it's about tomorrow. When does she want to see you?"
"Now." Hermione replied, leaning across the table to give Ginny a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah."
Hermione stood up and walked towards the doors, her head playing through the numerous things McGonagall could possibly want to talk to her about. And as she reached the stone gargoyles, she smiled sadly as she said the password.
"Albus." And the elegant statues moved apart, allowing Hermione access to the rising staircase, which she quickly stepped onto. Upon reaching the door, she knocked gently, the calm voice of her Headmistress and former Head of House sounding clear through the dark, heavy wood.
"Come in."
Hermione stepped inside, and McGonagall smiled at her, standing up as the younger Witch closed the door behind her.
"Ah Hermione dear, thank you for coming, please sit down. I've been putting this off​ and should really have spoken to you sooner. But at least you are here now. Would you like a cup of tea?" She spoke quickly, pouring herself a cup from the teapot upon her desk. Hermione frowned slightly, but sat down regardless as she replied.
"No thank you Professor. What is it you would like to speak to me about?"
"Well my dear, you probably have a good idea. But it is about tomorrow​. And about the, well, situation you will be forced to be in. Now, I always knew there was nothing I could do to free you of a marriage. But a baby... I did everything I could Hermione. But the Ministry would not budge. Saying you are not allowed, Special Treatment as they put it. Not even the fact you are a student was enough to persuade them." The older Witch leaned over at this point, and rested a reassuring hand over Hermione's. "I'm sorry." Hermione smiled softly in return.
"Oh Professor, you don't need to apologise. Thank you for trying at least. I think I'm accepting it now anyway. There's nothing I can do, I just hope I don't get some Pure-Blood mad idiot." McGonagall nodded in response.
"I hope for your sake they have paired you with someone who has at least half a brain." Hermione smiled at this.
"Well, we'll see." She frowned though as her brain turned to children. "Professor, how is it going to work though? My having children. How am I going to be able to be a student and a Mother at the same time?" She bit her lip anxiously as McGonagall smiled at her.
"Oh dear child, it is possible. You will not be the first." She said with a sheepish sort of grin. Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"Wait, what?"
"We are a mixed gender boarding school. And as hard as we try to stop any frivolity, we can't catch everyone. There have been several young Mothers in Hogwarts walls. The dear Bloody Baron does enjoy having smaller children here. Even if he acts like a royal arse. He likes to make them laugh when no-one is looking." McGonagall said with a chuckle as she sipped her tea, and Hermione also found a snippet of laughter escape her lips. But even to her own ears, it sounded empty, and McGonagall's​ face turned grave. "There is one more matter I need to talk to you about though my dear." She said softly, causing Hermione to frown and look at the teacher inquisitively.
"Oh?"
"Well..." Hermione watched in fascination as McGonagall's hands fussed in her lap, like a child who has broken a window and doesn't quite want to tell anyone. "I am sorry for what I asked Severus to do. Making him stop the friendship you two had." She said sheepishly, looking up at Hermione with large eyes.
"Well, I do understand why you did it. He is my teacher after all." The young Witch replied quietly. A small lump forming in her throat, which she quickly swallowed down.
"Yes my dear but you two could have been so amazing together." Hermione frowned at this.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, with a slight hint of ice to her voice that made the Headmistress wince ever so little.
"Just, you're both of you so clever, so amazing, but with such different characters. You just would have been a very powerful pair is all." She replied. And Hermione felt a small flicker of anger that she quickly squashed down. Or tried to at least.
"Well I'm not sure what good saying that will do now."
"No of course. I'm sorry dear. Come, you need to be getting to bed now." The Headmistress said as she stood, allowing Hermione room to do the same as she walked towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow​ dear." She said softly, as she held the door open.
Hermione smiled sadly as she left.
"Yes, see you tomorrow Professor. Thank you."
Hermione walked down the corridor, wringing her hands together nervously. Tomorrow's the day, she thought. She sighed and sped up her pace, straightening her back. 'Beat life at its own game and make everyone wonder how you did it.' she thought with a smile.
"I will try Professor." She whispered to herself in the corridor. Just as she reached the common room, and headed to bed.