Throughout Spring term, they were impossibly happy. Severus was attentive and loving towards his wife, constantly summoning house elves or even going to the kitchens himself to satisfy her cravings. He massaged her feet and back daily, enjoyed caressing and speaking to her growing belly, and they talked frequently about their nursery plans and ideas.

"I like the idea of owls." Hermione said decidedly, stroking her belly and looking through a catalog. Severus twisted his face in distaste.

"Like the creatures that bring the mail and leave their droppings everywhere they go?" Hermione giggled.

"Alright, well what's your idea then?" She turned to look at him. Shrugging, he ran his hand over the well-worn book he was holding.

"Books." He said simply. Hermione smiled and considered this.

"I like it. We could decorate the room with all sorts of characters from books, have stacks of them on shelves, the fabrics could have a pattern of books on them…" She trailed off and looked at him once again.

"That seems acceptable." He said, returning to his reading. Hermione stifled a giggle and shook her head at him. Though she could tell he was excited and happy, he was still the grumpy, hard-to-read man she had known as a student.

Hermione had been helping him as much as she could throughout the year with his potions research and through much trial and error, they finally had a breakthrough. On the night of the farewell feast, he stepped back from his cauldron and announced he thought it was ready. Hermione clapped excitedly and together they filled several vials for tests and trials.

In June, they distributed vials to St Mungos and other wizarding hospitals who expressed interest. It received rave reviews as not only did it immediately replenish the patient's blood supply upon entering the vein, but it also strengthened the patient and removed any toxins found in the blood.

"Severus! St Mungos wants a huge order! Can you fill this?" She handed him the newly-arrived letter. He took it and scanned it quickly.

"Yes, this shouldn't be a problem. Tell them it'll be ready in two weeks." He handed the letter back to her, turning once again towards his potion.

"They also want to know the price." She said. Severus paused a moment, considering this. After a long moment he said, "We'll distribute it at no cost."

"What?" Hermione asked, a small smile on her lips. He turned back towards her with a thoughtful expression.

"This potion could help so many people. It'll be a contribution to the wizarding world after my time working for the Dark Lord. A repayment of sorts." He said slowly. Hermione rewarded him with a bright smile and a tight hug.

"You surprised me." She said. His brow furrowed.

"Are you upset with me?"

"Quite the contrary." She smiled and kissed him deeply. "I think you are wonderful."

The potion was in high demand, and Severus even hired some former students that he considered 'less terrible than the others' to help him keep up with the demand. He had a lot of savings in Gringotts and many patients or families of patients he helped gave him large donations to continue his work. In no time, he was famous for his generosity – something he found hard to get used to.

Late in July, he was asked to give a speech and demonstration of his potion making to students at Durmstrang. He almost refused, as it was right around Hermione's due date. She, however, told him that was incredibly foolish and she'd be very disappointed if he didn't go.

"I don't want to miss it, Hermione. Something about going feels wrong." He said, stroking her hair as they sat on the sofa. She looked up at him.

"Severus. This is important. The baby can wait until you get back. It'll be fine." He looked unsure, but nodded once.

Finally it was the morning he had to leave. He'd be speaking all day and staying overnight, so Hermione had packed his suitcase for him, and had breakfast on the table by the time he woke up. After dressing he found her downstairs at the table and shook his head.

"You need to be taking it easier, love." He scolded. She smiled back at him, raising her chin.

"I'm fine, Severus. Stop worrying so much!"

They ate and talked about what his day would hold. He once again asked if he should cancel. She rolled her eyes and said for the millionth time, no. Trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach, he rose from the table, cleaned the dishes, put them away, and picked up his suitcase. Walking over to Hermione, he kissed her long and hard.

"I love you." He breathed.

"I love you too, Severus." She smiled. He sighed heavily as he looked at her.

"Tell that child not to move until I get back." He said grumpily. Hermione laughed.

"Alright, that'll work. Now go! You'll be late!"

With a final look back at her, he apparated to King's Cross station and caught the train at the last moment. Hermione continued nibbling on her toast, buried in her book. After she had cleaned her plate and drained the last of her tea, she sighed, thinking she ought to go upstairs and dress for the day. Leaning heavily on the table, she slowly stood and felt a sharp pain shoot through her stomach and her water broke. She gasped, took a few steps, and was hit by another sharp pain. She doubled over, just managing to send out a patronus before she fell to floor and everything went black.

Severus spent the train ride reading the Prophet and forcing himself to relax. He was still worried about Hermione but tried to tell himself that she'd be okay. He arrived at Durmstrang later that afternoon and was warmly welcomed by their potions master. The day flew by, giving lecture after lecture to rooms full of students and other professors. He was surprised to find a few competent students in the groups.

After a long day, he was invited out for drinks and accepted after only a moment of hesitation. He nursed one glass of Firewhiskey that night, having told himself he'd never again have more than one glass of anything. The conversation was enlightening but it soon was very late at night, and he returned to his rooms, exhausted.

He had only just laid down when Ginny's Patronus galloped in, and alerted him that he was needed at home. Panicked, his body shook as he threw his things in his bag and sent a message back to Ginny that he'd be there momentarily. He rushed through the castle and out to the apparition point, spinning into his sitting room, breathing heavily.

Looking around, he didn't see a sign of anyone. He moved into the kitchen and his heart lurched when he saw Hermione's plate and teacup from that morning lying broken on the floor. He heard a cry from upstairs and flew as fast as he could up to their bedroom.

Lying on the bed was a pale Hermione, beads of sweat on her face and eyes barely open. Harry was sitting behind her, rubbing her shoulders and murmuring to her. Ginny was pacing by the bed until she caught sight of Severus and rushed over, pulling him aside. His eyes were glued to the sight of his sickly wife as she started talking quickly and quietly.

"Thank the Gods you're here. We had thought it was just taking a long time and she refused to let us send for you but now…" Ginny trailed off and looked at her friend, grim faced. "Something's really wrong, Severus. She's been like this for nearly an hour now. She hasn't been talking, nothing is progressing and she keeps getting whiter and whiter. I don't know what to do anymore. I just sent for Poppy a moment ago."

Severus heard her words, but couldn't respond. He still couldn't take his eyes off of Hermione, bile rising in his throat and fear rendering him useless. Ginny stared at him worriedly for a few moments before returning to Hermione, holding her hand and shushing her as Hermione cried out.

Within moments Poppy had arrived and immediately got to work. After a few moments of checking the girl, she announced that she thought the problem was that the baby needed to be turned. Hermione couldn't be moved to the hospital in her condition, so they'd have to do everything there. Placing her hands on Hermione's belly, she pushed hard and Hermione screamed.

Severus dropped to the floor, squeezing his eyes shut and pulled at his hair. He knew he shouldn't have gone. Why did he leave her? His mind was racing. The possibility of losing her was always present in his mind but he now had flashbacks of his past. He saw Lily lying on the floor, eyes unseeing, her flesh pale and cold to his touch. He remembered cradling her in his arms, sobbing. He remembered sitting at Hermione's bedside, waiting anxiously for her to awaken, terrified she would not.

And now, seeing her face white as a sheet, twisted in pain and covered in sweat was tearing him apart. He only ever remembered cowering like this when his father would come home in a drunken rage. But the terror he felt then was nothing compared to now. His heart was being ripped apart.

"Okay, I think that should do it." Poppy said, out of breath. "She's lost a lot of blood, though, we're going to have to take her to St Mungo's immediately once the baby is born."

"Severus! Do you have any of your potion here?" Ginny asked urgently. Severus's head snapped up. Finally he had something he could do. He fled out the door and down the stairs to the basement, shoving things out of his way as he went. He finally reached the cabinet where the vials were kept and wrenched it open to find a single vial left. He grabbed it and kissed it, rushing back upstairs to give it to Poppy. She took it with a relieved sigh and said the baby was almost there.

It didn't take long at all before a baby's cry rang through the thick air. Ginny quickly snatched it up to be cleaned as Poppy administered the potion. Hermione was unconscious, so pale she looked almost translucent. Severus sank down on the floor beside her, clutching her hand, holding his breath and staring into her face. After a few moments, her color started changing rapidly. Poppy announced they could move her and they all rushed to the hospital.

Severus wore a relieved smile when they arrived, as her coloring was almost completely back to normal. He focused on breathing evenly as the doctors checked her out and healed her. After an hour, they emerged and delivered the news. The potion had worked wonders but hadn't been administered soon enough. Her brain had been deprived of blood for a while and they weren't sure what the extent of the damage could be. They'd have to monitor her over the next few days and see if she'd wake up on her own.

Four days later, Severus was beginning to lose hope. The only thing that helped was finally having met their beautiful daughter. She was perfect, with curly black hair and rosy cheeks. She was a calm, happy baby and he was completely taken with her.

Hermione's hospital room had been filled every day. Harry and Ginny kept a constant vigil by her bedside, both often caressing Ginny's own small baby bump and whispering to each other. Minerva sat rigidly across from the bed, unwilling to show emotion but inside was praying for Hermione's recovery. She thought of her as a daughter and was exceedingly fond of the girl.

Luna and Neville arrived, often sitting by the window. Luna would jabber on about all manners of things. Neville responded occasionally, but Severus noticed once or twice with slight amusement that the boy still often shot nervous looks his way. After a while, he approached him and said "No longer my student, no longer any reason to torture you. Calm down, boy, I'm just a man outside the classroom." Neville's eyes had practically popped out of his head, but he relaxed considerably afterwards. Hagrid stood in the corner, almost constantly blubbering, and other visitors came and went throughout the days they were there.

Finally, that afternoon, in walked Ronald Weasley. All eyes moved back and forth between him and Severus. After handing his daughter to Ginny, he slowly crossed to the room to Ron. Everyone held their breath and Ron warily looked up at Severus as they stood facing each other a long moment. With a sigh, Severus leaned forward and shocked everyone by pulling him into a long hug. Ron looked startled for a moment but soon recovered and clapped him on the back a few times.

Everyone relaxed as they pulled away and nodded at each other. Severus gestured for Ron to sit and sat beside him, taking back the baby. Ron leaned over and looked at the wriggling girl.

"Oh wow, that's your daughter?" Ron asked in awe. Severus nodded softly.

"Her name is Rose. It's what Hermione wanted." Ron reached over and let the baby girl grasp his finger. He smiled fondly at the little bundle.

"She's absolutely beautiful, Severus." Ron said.

"Just like her mother." Severus said softly. He felt a tear run down his cheek, but lacked the care to wipe it away. It no longer mattered to him how others saw him. Ron gripped his shoulder tightly.

"Would you like to hold her?" Severus asked him, turning and offering her to him. Ron gave him a look of surprise, but nodded. Carefully taking the baby, his face lit up and he smiled, rocking her gently. Severus leaned over him, smiling down at his daughter over Ron's shoulder.

"I never thought I'd see the day." A scratchy voice sounded from across the room. All heads snapped to the bed. Hermione's eyes were open halfway, full of tears and looking happily at the men with the baby. Severus gasped and ran to her, taking her hand and kissing her all over.

"Hermione, I love you. I love you so much. I'm so sorry I left that day, I shouldn't have gone. I was so scared." His voice was choked with emotion as he looked her over, caressing her face and sniffling.

Everyone took a turn speaking to Hermione and giving her kisses, until it was just Ron, Severus and Rose by her bedside. She held the baby and looked lovingly down at her. Ron smiled fondly at the two of them and started to leave the room.

"Mr. Weas – Ronald." Severus began. "If it's alright with Hermione… we are in need of a Godfather for the child." Ron's mouth dropped open. Hermione smiled up and Severus and Ron. She nodded. Ron ran his hand through his hair and broke out into one of his trademark goofy grins.

"I'd be honored." He said. The three of them all smiled at each other and down at Rose.

Finally, Hermione thought, everything is perfect.

A few years later, Severus stood in the kitchen, cutting up an apple. He heard Rose's squealing outside and smiled. Every day with that girl was an adventure. He had quit teaching a year ago, now exclusively making potions. Hermione had quit as well, taking up a post as a researcher for the Ministry – something she could do from home. They spent a lot of time with each other every day and it couldn't be more wonderful.

Ron and Libby were doing well, Libby had recently announced her pregnancy and they moved back to London. Hermione and Severus often invited them over, along with Harry and Ginny and their kids James, Albus and Lily. Minerva, Hagrid, Neville and Luna stopped by often as well. Hermione was always happy to see Neville more confident around her husband.

"Daddy!" Rose squealed. Severus chuckled to himself and turned, walking out the back door with a slice of apple for his daughter. She took it happily and began crunching away on it as she skipped through the garden. Hermione came up beside him and put her arm around his waist.

"When did life get so perfect?" She asked, smiling up at him. He looked fondly down at her, rubbing his hand over her large belly, swollen with their second child.

"I think it started around the time that you came to visit me in the hospital." He said. She giggled and leaned her head against him.

"I think you're right." She agreed.

**A/N: Well, that's all I've got for ya! I hope you enjoyed it, I don't like it as much as my original draft but alas, it is lost to computer virus land - that'll teach me to back up my files better.

Please leave a review - I'd love to know what you think. Thank you so much for reading! :)