Chapter 3

Minerva sat at her desk in her classroom after dinner waiting for her guest. She had sent a message to Albus Dumbledore, by a house elf, which requested his presence. He had agreed to meet her; however, he was late. Sighing in frustration, she continued to mark essays. She hoped that Albus would eventually show up because she needed to speak with him.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Albus Dumbledore stumbled through the door panting and holding his side. Minerva gave him a concerned look and quickly rose from her seat; however, Albus waved his hand in dismiss. "Delores Umbridge has taken to following me so I had to run to lose her," he panted before walking further into the room.

Minerva laughed before motioning him to follow her. She walked to the tapestry hanging on the wall behind her desk, pointed her wand at it and muttered a spell. The tapestry revealed a hidden door which Minerva disappeared through and Albus followed. He was surprised when he ended up in Minerva's private rooms but smiled when she sealed the hidden entrance. "I do not want Delores to overhear this conversation," she explained before sitting down on the loveseat.

Albus joined her before asking, "What's this all about?"

"I have a favor to ask of you," she started then added, "It will require the utmost privacy of course and it is not exactly legal but I feel it is a necessity."

Albus was shocked by her words; however, the intenseness in her emerald eyes told him that she desperately needed this favor. He knew Minerva better than he knew himself sometimes, for her to ask a favor of him he knew he would do it, legal or not made no difference. "Minerva if you feel the need to partake in something illegal then I know it must be of grave importance. I will support you in anything and help you where I can," he said in his solemn tone.

Minerva let out a breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding and offered her best friend a small smile. She stood up from her place beside him and said, "I want to show you something but it has to remain a secret as well."

He nodded his understanding and waited patiently as she hurried to her bedroom. A few minutes later he heard her call his name from the doorway and quickly looked up. She was leaning against the doorframe in a pair of red satin pajamas but his attention was drawn to her swollen belly. She made her way back to the loveseat and sat next to him. "You're pregnant," he said more to himself than to her.

She merely nodded and laid her hand on her large stomach then rubbed circles to sooth the active child within. "Is this," Albus said pointing to her rounded belly, "the reason you are willing to do something illegal?"

"Yes," she said with a sigh then said, "I need you to perform a Scottish binding ceremony."

Albus' eyes widened then he said, "Minerva I'm sure you realize how dangerous that ceremony is so I will not lecture you on it. However, if you still feel it is the only way to protect your child then I will gladly perform the ceremony."

"Thank you so much Albus," she said relieved as she hugged him.

"I am curious as to why you feel this is your only choice," he said minutes later.

"Do you know why I gave up my chance to be an Auror and came to Hogwarts to teach," she asked softly.

"No," he said suddenly confused.

"When I was a student at Hogwarts, Tom Riddle took a liking to me and in no uncertain terms told me I belonged to him. For years he stalked me, harassed me and threatened me. He was determined to keep me from all other men except for him. When the opportunity to run back to Hogwarts came available I jumped at it. He has not bothered to come to Hogwarts for me and I seriously doubt he will as long as you are here; however, it is when I'm not at Hogwarts that bothers me," she explained.

"He has forced himself on you, hasn't he?" he asked, his tone saddened.

"Yes," she admitted then added, "I'm not afraid for myself anymore. I worry for the safety of my child and lover."

"I understand," he said honestly then asked, "Who is the father of your child?"

She smiled before admitting, "Severus Snape."

Albus laughed then said, "I never expected you two to fall in love."

Minerva lay contently wrapped up in her lover's embrace after a passionate bout of lovemaking. They had officially joined as man and wife a few hours previously and had completed the binding ceremony by making love as demanded. Minerva snuggled up closer to her husband as he tightened his hold even in his sleep. "Sleep well my husband," she whispered softly and closed her eyes.

Her mind repeated Albus' words during the Scottish binding ceremony. You are no longer separate persons but a complete one. You two will no longer have the same magical abilities but stronger united powers. Magical powers that you will be able to share in your times of need and powers capable of healing the most extreme cases. Your combine powers will also keep your child safe and will provide him or her with powers to protect its self from a young age. This binding is permanent and will never be able to be broken.

Minerva lifted her left hand up so she could see the angry red mark on her palm. The binding ceremony had required her and Severus to share their magic with each other through a fresh wound. As Albus had dragged the ancient ceremonial dagger across her palm, the pain had been tremendous then when Severus took her hand in his, the pain had disappeared. She had briefly wondered if it meant that she and Severus were destined to be together; however, she was not one to leave things up to fate so she quickly pushed that notion out of her mind.

She could still feel the magic flowing throughout her veins like liquid fire from the Scottish binding ceremony. A few hours ago the magic had been strong and overwhelming yet comforting. She knew without a doubt that her magic was more powerful than it had been and mentally made a note to test her new abilities as the first available moment. She shifted closer to her lover, took a deep breath and sighed contently as he tightened his hold on her once again. Minerva drifted off to sleep knowing her family was protected from Voldemort.

Several hours later a scream echoed through the room as another contraction hit Minerva. She had woken nearly thirty minutes ago by a painfully contraction. She had immediately woken Severus and informed him of what was going on. He had summoned a quill and parchment to write a simple note to Poppy to come quick in Minerva's writing of course. Minerva's owl had delivered the letter while Severus had hidden. They had decided it would be best if Poppy found Minerva alone.

A quick knock at the door alerted Minerva that Poppy had arrived and she granted her entrance. A disheveled Poppy entered to find Minerva breathing heavily and clutching to the bedcovers. The med witch stared at the witch before her with amazement before stuttering, "You're pregnant."

Minerva smiled and nodded her head before screaming through another contraction. The med witch in Poppy surfaced, she rushed over to her and immediately started casting spells to help Minerva have an easier time with the delivery. "Poppy I need you to promise me that you will not tell anyone about this or the baby," Minerva panted.

Poppy looked Minerva in the eye and saw her determination. She knew Minerva McGonagall well enough to know that she was stubborn and always did what she thought was right. Sighing, Poppy promised but only after she demanded Minerva come to regular checkups and would bring the baby. Minerva agreed then clutched the sheets once again as another contraction hit, far worse than the other contractions. "It shouldn't be much longer dear," Poppy said sweetly.

"I should hope not," Minerva said sarcastically then cried out from pain.

Minerva lay in bed on her side resting from her exhausting night. First she married her lover, had a very passionate lovemaking session and then gave birth to her first child. Her child was currently nestled in her arm sleeping peacefully. "What are we going to call her," Minerva asked her husband.

Severus, who was spooned up against his wife, studied his daughter contently. Her dark hair curled, her skin pale like his, but what really caught his attention was her tiny red lips. He had never seen lips that shade on anyone unless it had been painted on and it was a bit strange. He focused his mind on finding his daughter a name when it suddenly came to him. "Minerva since she's our hope for a better future," he said studiously then suggested, "Why don't we name her Hope?"

Minerva smiled then declared, "Hope Athena Snape."

"It's perfect," he said before kissing his wife lovingly.

A loud cry alerted the two that their daughter had woken and was hungry. Minerva passed the pouting infant to her father while she sat up and unbuttoned her top. She settled her daughter back in her arms and coaxed her into taking the proffered breast. The baby finally latched on to her breast and suck greedily causing her mother to scrunch her nose up in discomfort. After a few minutes, Minerva's discomfort left and she smiled as she watched her daughter feed for the very first time. "She's perfect," Minerva whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Just like you," he said in an uncharacteristic, emotional tone.

Severus stood in front of the Grand Hall entrance yelling at Harry Potter once again, he couldn't recall what Potter had done but it did not matter at this moment. He just wanted to yell at someone and make them as miserable as him. That toad of a woman, Delores Umbridge, and her ministry goons had attacked his beloved Minerva with four stunners to the chest for no apparent reason. Minerva had been sent to St. Mungo's for treatment and he had been forced to stay at the castle in order to care for their daughter. Not that he disliked spending time with Hope he just wanted to be at his wife's side.

"Add some more?" said a feminine voice he knew so well.

He turned quickly to see his beloved carrying a tartan carpetbag and leaning heavily on a walking stick. His mood instantly improved although he worked extremely hard to conceal it from all others except his love. He watched as she effectively sent the troublesome students away with little effort. The corner of his lips upturned slightly before he offered her his arm and accompanied her to the privacy of her office.

As soon as the door shut closed behind them, Severus muttered several spells to ensure they would not be interrupted or overheard and then carefully drew his lover to him. Gently he took her walking stick and laid it on her desk before drawing her to him for a tender kiss. When the kiss ended, he wrapped his arms around her more securely then guided her head to rest in the crook of his neck. They held each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity.

Minerva relaxed her aching body against her husband reveling in the comfort of his loving arms. She was content to stay there for countless hours and probably would have attempted to if she had not felt a drop of water drip on her cheek. Startled, she lifted her hand and looked up at her lover. Silent tears were streaming down her face and he did nothing to hide them. "Severus," she questioned in her thick Scottish accent.

"I thought I had lost you," he whispered brokenly. "I do not think I could survive without you Minerva. You and Hope mean everything to me, I hope you know that. Please do not ever scare me like this again."

Her emerald eyes searched his dark ones and found so much love radiating from them that she shivered in delight. "I promise," she whispered then drew his lips down to hers from a loving kiss.

"Would you like to go see your daughter Mrs. Snape," he asked playfully, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I would be delighted Mr. Snape," she said mimicking his tone perfectly.

He chuckled before lifting her up in his arms and going through the secret passageway to Minerva's chambers. He gently deposited her on their bed and kissed her once again before heading to the nursery. He came back a few minutes later with their daughter securely in his arms. He sat down next to Minerva with Hope resting on his lap. The baby looked around her new surroundings before her eyes landed on her mother. She laughed before reaching out for her mother to pick her up. Minerva smiled before picking her daughter up and hugging her tightly. "Mama has missed you," she cooed then pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

Hope wiggled out of her mother's embrace and rested her back against the mattress between her parents. Hope happily tried to put her entire foot in her mouth as her parents watched her contently. Minerva gently patted her daughter's bottom until the baby yawned and fell asleep sucking her thumb. Minerva bent down to kiss her daughter once again then scooted closer to her little one and wrapped her arms around her babe. Severus scooted closer to his girls and wrapped an arm around Minerva. "Sleep well love," he whispered softly.

Minerva woke up several hours later to the feeling of someone watching her. Opening her eyes, she found her husband watching her intently. She smiled before asking, "How long have you been watching me sleep?"

"The entire time," he smirked in his characteristic tone.

He stood up from the bed and gently picked up his sleeping daughter. He settled her against his chest and slowly took her to her crib in the nursery. He came back moments later, stood at the side of the bed, and beckoned Minerva to stand up. She did so and immediately kissed him passionately. Severus had a different idea and ended the kiss. Minerva gave him a questioning gaze which he replied, "I need to see what damaged they did."

Her eyes widened at the unexpected confession and she feverishly shook her head no. She had realized that he would eventually see the scars on her chest but she expected it to be when they were making love and the lights were off. She was a bit unnerved by his want to see her scars and immediately crossed her arms so he would not be able to remove her robes. He moved a bit closer to her as he detected her discomfort then pleaded, "Please Minerva."

Tears welled in her emerald eyes and ran down her tinted cheeks as she looked at his considerate and desperate eyes. She uncrossed her arms and opened her arms in a welcome gesture but she didn't utter a single word. Severus slowly removed her robes and underclothing leaving her completely naked. He studied the ugly red scars on her chest before delicately tracing each one of them. Minerva shuddered involuntarily and gasped as he lovingly kissed the marks covering her chest. "I love everything about you Minerva," he said honestly then lifted her up and carried her to their bed.

Minerva watched as he stripped his clothes off and lay down next to her in bed. He scooted up next to her and wrapped his arms around her gently. A quick spell draped the covers over their naked forms. He pressed a quick kiss to her temple and then closed his eyes preparing to go to sleep. Minerva was confused by the turn of events and asked, "Are you not going to make love to me?"

"Not tonight love," he said gently then explained, "You need your rest to recuperate. However, I plan on holding you securely in my embrace tonight."

"I love you," she whispered emotionally.

"And I you," he replied then held true to his words.