Good day, I hope you will enjoy this story that I have been working on for about a month and a half now. I have four chapters written so far (I'm only uploading two tonight). It is loosely based off of the adoption act challenge. Please, sit back, relax, and read on.
This is AU: Severus Snape is alive, it is set during Hermione's seventh year at Hogwarts, the war is over, Dumbledore is alive, Ron and Hermione are NOT dating. If you don't like non-canon pairings you're lucky Draco and Harry aren't together.
CHAPTER ONE
Hermione Granger, member of the Golden Trio and famous know-it-all Gryffindor, rushed into the ministry adoption center.
"Miss Granger, you are very late." The attendant sneered at her. She huffed and tried to flatten her hair. She pulled her cloak tighter around her body.
"I didn't know I was part of the adoption act." She said.
"Well, because of your illegal acts with the time turner you've aged about half a year." He informed her.
"But I'm a student! I'm in my seventh year!" She stomped her foot.
"Students are not exempt, just because you are the first of the students to age in does not mean you will be the only one. Now, come on back, there are only two children left until next week; both are six months old, which would you like? A boy or a girl?" He asked leading her to the back room.
"A girl I guess." She replied. He brought her to a white crib, and she looked down at the sleeping child. She had curly black hair and a tiny hook nose, that Hermione thought looked kind of cute. When the child was lifted out of the crib she blinked open her eyes to reveal chocolate brown orbs.
"She's beautiful." Hermione smiled.
"She has a twin." He informed her. She paled.
"What? I can't take two children. No way, can I juggle school and two babies." She sounded desperate.
"Alright Miss Granger, what would you like to name her?" The attendant asked handing the child over.
"She doesn't have a name?" Hermione asked.
"Well, with babies, it's custom for the adopting parent to name the child, in order for them to become more attached." He answered.
"Okay, um, Lily. Lily Rowen Granger." She replied looking down at the baby in her arms. The attendant nodded and waved his wand over the adoption certificate. He placed it in a bag and handed it to her.
"In that bag there are things any new parent needs for a baby girl of this age. A crib, clothes, formula, diapers and other assorted things. You and Lily have a good day now." He said.
"Yes, I have to get back to school now." She replied.
Severus Snape, Potions Master, ex-spy, and Potions Professor at Hogwarts, strode into the adoption center.
"Professor Snape? I wouldn't have thought that you of all people would be tardy." The attendant, a former student of Snape, snickered.
"Shut it Gordoff." Snape snapped."
"Well let's get to it then Severus. You don't even have to choose. There's only one left. A boy." He brought Snape to a mahogany crib and handed the baby to him.
"Pick a name Professor." Gordoff said, as he pulled out the bag of supplies for a six month old boy.
"I don't give a bloody damn." Snape hissed.
"Might I suggest Luke Thomas Snape?" He suggested.
"Fine." Snape grunted in response. He was given the bag and certificate and he left the building as fast as he could.
Snape had been the unlucky one. He had figured this out when he arrived at the Great Hall to find he was the only member of the staff that had an infant. Most professors simply adopted a child that was of eleven years or older. Only Dumbledore and Poppy had younger children, and they were both six years of age. The staff's children were either sitting with their sorted tables, if they were old enough or sitting in chairs provided for them at the staff table. Beside Professor Snape's chair was a black highchair. He grumbled as he carried Luke, who had been completely silent since he was adopted, to the front of the Great Hall.
"Severus, your boy seems very well behaved." McGonagall said holding a finger out to Luke who smiled a gummy smile and grabbed onto her finger.
"Yes." Snape nodded curtly.
Meanwhile, Hermione sat down beside Ron and his girlfriend, Suzie Slughorn.
"Are you babysitting one of the Professor's kids?" Suzie asked. Hermione looked down at Lily who was staring up at the ceiling that was enchanted to look like it was snowing like it was outside.
"Um, no, I had to adopt too…" She murmured as a red and gold highchair appeared next to her. She smiles when she sees it and places Lily in it.
"But you're a student." Ron said.
"When students age in they will have to adopt also." She informed them.
"I don't want to have to take care of a kid!" Ron said.
"How are you going to take care of her and be in school?" Harry asked.
"Well, once more students age in a daycare will be set up."
"How old is she?" Suzie questioned.
"Six months." Hermione warmed a bottle of formula and handed it to Lily.
"She's a very pretty baby." She admired.
"Yes." Hermione smiled in response watching Lily eat. Half an hour later Hermione took the bottle out of Lily's hands and put it in her diaper bag.
"Well, if you'll all excuse me I have to be getting Lily to bed." She stood up and lifted her from the highchair.
"You named her Lily?" Harry asked quietly as his eyes shifted to the baby in her arms.
"Well see you in the common rooms." Ron smiled.
"Actually you guys, I have my own quarters. As the students age in they are given their own rooms and access to a house elf." She switched which hip Lily sat on.
"Oh, well, goodnight then Hermione." Ron said.
"See you guys in Potions tomorrow." She nodded to her friends before leaving the Great Hall.
Severus left the Great Hall shortly after he finished feeding Luke. He bid McGonagall goodnight, lifted a sleeping Luke from his highchair and carried him out of the room. The dungeons were freezing cold, Severus liked it this way. However, Luke did not. As soon as he entered his quarters Luke woke up, opened his mouth for the first time, and screamed. Severus was so startled he almost dropped the infant. And at that exact moment Severus realized he had no idea what he was doing with this child. He turned around and rushed up the stairs. Wherewasheevengoing? He made his way to the main corridor and found Hermione Granger walking along the darkened hall. Luke screamed again and she spun around.
"Professor Snape?" She glanced the wailing baby.
"Here, let me help." She started to reach for Luke. Severus would have stopped her. He wanted to refuse. But he didn't' know what to do, so he allowed her to take the infant form his arms. He watched her as she rocked Luke and finally bounced him when he stopped crying. She looked at Luke's face and suppressed a gasp.
"Twins." She breathed.
"What did you say?" Severus asked, shaking his head to clear it. He was captivated by the image of Miss Granger holding his boy.
"Nothing." She shook her head also and held Luke out.
"Here is your charge Sir." She muttered. Severus took hold of the infant. A thought struck him.
"Miss Granger, why are you out of the Gryffindor Tower?" He asked sternly.
"I-uh-have my own quarter's professor," she mumbled "I have to go to Madam Pomfrey to pick up Lily." She finished and looked to the ground. It occurred to him that she wasn't seen cavorting around the building with Potter or Weasel. Private quarters were given to students who age in while in their seventh year and have to adopt.
"You have adopted? That is foolish; you're just under the legal age." He said. Hermione looked to the ground again and mumbled her answer.
"Do not mumble you stupid girl!" He said loudly.
"I said!" She paused. "I spent quite a lot of time using a time turner my third year." She finished defiantly glaring at him. Luke started to whimper and she looked away.
"With all due respect Professor, I need to pick up my daughter." She stated. Severus nodded his head in response.
"Oh, and Miss Granger?" Severus called lightly.
"Yes Professor?" She turned.
"Detention, with me next week five to ten." He sneered.
"For what!" She cried out.
"Disrespecting your teacher." He said. "Have a good night Miss Granger." He smirked, turned around and left.
Hermione grumbled the entire way to the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey had volunteered to baby-sit Lily while she got her quarters baby proofed.
"Hi sweetheart." Hermione smiled at the infant in Poppy's arms. Lily giggled and reached out for Hermione.
"Thanks for watching her." She pulled her daughter into her own arms.
"Not a problem," she smiled, "oh and here, Lily is teething, you will want to give her these." She handed her a pack of teething rings. "They have a teething salve on them and will reduce her pain and speed up the teething process." Hermione thanked her and left to go to her room. After bathing and putting Lily to bed Hermione fell into bed exhausted.
"Mistress Hermione! Mistress Hermione!" A squeak of a voice called as tiny hands shook Hermione awake.
"Hmmm what?" She sat up groggily.
"Master Severus needs your help." A small house elf pulled on her tank top.
"Alright give me a second to get changed and grab my wand." She answered.
"No time, Master says hurry!" The house elf grabbed onto her hair and the apparated out of the room.
Severus was struggling to keep hold of a flailing screaming baby when Hermione and Bippy fell in front of him. Severus sneered at her; she was sprawled out on the floor only wearing a tank green tank top, and grey and green shorts. Across her chest was the word Slytherin.
"Slytherin, Miss Granger?" He smirked.
"Ugh, Lily." She grumbled. "My daughter keeps changing my Gryffindor things to Slytherin."
"Why aren't you presentable?" He questioned his voice steely.
"Your house elf wouldn't let me change, and I couldn't do anything about it because I don't even have my wand. It's the middle of the night! I should be in my room, what if something happens to Lily! GIVE ME THAT CHILD!" Her voice was steadily getting louder, until she was yelling to be heard over the baby. She pulled Luke into her arms.
"What are you doing to him to make him cry like this?" She hissed holding the sniffling baby close to her chest.
"And it's freezing down here. Let me borrow your wand." She held out her hand.
"I will do no such thing." He looked at her shocked partially because she had gotten Luke to calm down but mostly because she was being so fearless and ordering him around.
"I have a theory." She clarified. He hesitantly handed her his wand, she casts a warming spell over Luke and whispers an accio spell. Several minutes later the bag of Lily's teething rings came in through the door.
"What is that?" Severus asked as Hermione put the now whining baby in his crib.
"Teething rings, I think Luke and Lily are about the same age." She looked glanced at the whimpering child who looked almost exactly like her daughter.
"Lily is teething right now; when she gets fussy I just give her one of these." She handed a green one to Luke who grasped in his tiny fist and bit down on it with his gums.
"So this is the entire reason for his outburst?" Severus asked as he snatched his wand back.
"Well, no not completely, it's freezing down here," she stated crossing her arms across her chest, "that along with his pain, causes a lot of discomfort. Babies can't talk and tell you they are uncomfortable, so they cry." Hermione shivered. She yawned.
"Could you have your house elf take me back to my quarters? I need to get some sleep." She asked. Severus looked at the shivering girl.
"No you can walk." He sneered. Her jaw dropped.
"But Professor! You pulled me out of bed! You made me help you with your son! I had no choice in the matter. I don't even know where in the school your quarters are, do you even want me to know?" She asked coyly. He sighed.
"Fine, just shut up you silly girl!" He called for Bippy. After Bippy took her away he whispered.
"Thank you silly girl." He said goodnight to Luke and dimmed the candle.