Let It Be Forever

To Understand Her Pain

Severus entered the infirmary quietly with Harry following closely. They could see Hermione sleeping peacefully, Alexis snuggled up on her chest. Ryan was sitting in a chair at her bedside, his head resting on the mattress as he slept. Severus fought down the fury that suddenly rose up in him.

"I hate that bloody git being here," Harry growled quietly. Severus nodded, relieved not to be the only one that was angry about Ryan's continued presence. Harry continued. "We made floo calls to that idiot for hours and he still barely made it here for the birth. When I asked him about it, he would only say that he was out with some friends. I don't trust him. Hermione could do so much better."

Severus nodded again, approaching the bed silently. Harry watched with interest as Severus reached down and lifted the baby from Hermione's chest and cradled her in his arms. "Hello Lexie," Severus whispered as the tiny baby girl blinked sleepily at him. "Go back to sleep." He gently placed the baby in the small white bassinet that he had brought down from Hermione's room earlier in the day. Harry stepped up to the bassinet, smiling down at the sleeping baby. He looked up to watch Severus touch Hermione's shoulder hesitantly. Her eyes flew open and she clutched fearfully at her chest where the baby had been. "She's in her bassinet," Severus told her gently, relieved that her frightened movements hadn't disturbed Ryan.

Hermione sighed and relaxed again. She eyed the potion that Severus held out to her. "It's a healing potion," Severus said quietly. "It will repair any tears or bruising you experienced during the birth. Poppy told me that it was a bit traumatic for your body."

Hermione nodded and quickly drank the potion, grateful that Severus was such a talented potion maker. "Lexie is fine," Severus whispered. "Go back to sleep."

"I like that," Hermione murmured, closing her eyes.

"What?" Severus asked in confusion.

"Lexie," she replied, opening her eyes with a little smile. "It's a cute nickname for her."

Severus looked very embarrassed, but he offered her a small smile in return. He moved away, waiting as Harry kissed Hermione's forehead and bid her a good night. The two men left the hospital wing together, in a thoughtful silence. Harry was about to head out to the grounds to apparate home when he turned to look at Severus. "Thank you for taking such good care of her," he told the potions master.

"It is my job," Severus replied stiffly.

Harry let out a huff of breath, and gave Severus an incredulous look. "I'm not stupid you know," Harry said. "I saw the way you kissed her under the mistletoe. You hardly left her side at all at the New Year's party. Ginny told me about how you acted when she was in pain."

Severus stood rigidly, unsure of what to say. He couldn't really argue against these observations. He wondered briefly if he should hex Potter. "Is there a point to this?" Severus growled impatiently.

"You have good taste in women," Harry said with an impish grin. Severus paled, knowing that Harry was referring to his love for Lily Evans. The scowl returned quickly, but Harry cut off his angry retort. "I don't mean any offense," Harry said, holding his hands up. "Ryan has been terrible to Hermione. You have been more attentive to her than he has, and you have no obligation to her. You've taken care of her when it should have been Ryan's job. At this point, I can't help but wonder if she'd be better off with you," he added with a smirk.

"And yet," Severus said with a sneer, "she's still married to that idiot." He stalked away from Harry, his robes billowing behind him. Harry grinned and hurried out of the school.

Severus went to his private chambers and immediately went to his cabinet to pour himself a glass of firewhiskey. He dropped into a chair gracelessly, spilling a bit of his drink as he went. Ryan's presence in the hospital wing infuriated him. And then Potter had to make inane comments. At this thought, Severus took a thoughtful sip of his firewhiskey. Harry Potter hadn't seemed angry about his interest in Hermione. In fact, he had preferred it to her marriage to Ryan. "That's not saying much," Severus said to himself. He thought back to earlier that day when Hermione had been in labor. He didn't want to think about how much her pain had unsettled him. He had acted on instinct and commanded her attention. Her eyes had stared desperately into his, making his heart ache slightly at her trust in him and her dependence on him in that moment.