Disclaimer : All recognized characters and situations belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., etc
They were reading in the library a couple nights later. Hermione was curled up on the couch and Severus was in the armchair with his feet propped up on the ottoman. She told him earlier that maybe he needed a break from trying to create the correct potion so he could start with a fresh mind the next day, and he let her convince him. He had relaxed considerably over the last two weeks and the close but quiet atmosphere in the library was comfortable for him. Small conversations would pop up when Hermione felt the need to talk or found something interesting in the book she was reading, and he found that he enjoyed the sound of her voice sweeping through the room.
She was vastly different from the girl he remembered, and it was easy for him to compare them since the girl was fresh in his mind as well as the woman. She was content to sit in silence instead of trying to show off her knowledge, for which he was most grateful. Rather than a mass of untamed curls, her hair now hung down her back in gentle waves and curls. She had grown taller, of course still much shorter than he was. Her face had lost the slightly chubby child-like quality and was sharp and slim. Her body had matured along with the rest of her, but Severus was not ready to go there yet. He might be friendly towards her, but she was still a student in his mind.
While Severus was lost in his thoughts, Hermione closed her book and sat it in her lap. She watched him with a soft smile on her face. He was handsome. Hermione loved her Severus, but this one… it was obvious he hadn't yet gone through the more painful parts of the war. It was nice to see. Her eyes widened slightly. What if Severus coming here had ruined the future? What if he saw or heard something he shouldn't and decided not to do it?
Hermione sat up in an instant. She had to do something.
"Severus," she said anxiously, "I need you to do something for me."
Severus arched his eyebrow questioningly.
Hermione took a deep breath before blurting out, "I need you to promise me you will do everything you have to, everything Dumbledore tells you, no matter how crazy the old coot sounds."
At the look of pure suspicion on his face, she looked down shyly and mumbled her explanation. "I just need to believe that you and I will end up where we are now. I couldn't bear if you chose to ignore something and our future changed. I love you, you know, and I love this child I carry more than I can explain… It will be your choices when you return that determine where we end up. I understand if this is not the life you want, but it is the one I want and I just need to believe that this will happen…"
Severus looked down and Hermione's heart broke a little. He was going to tell her no, she just knew it. Tears began to form in her eyes, but before they could fall, he spoke.
"I will not make a promise I cannot keep, but I will promise you that I will do whatever I can to keep you and your friends safe," he said solemnly. He met her eyes briefly before returning his attention to his book. Hermione allowed a tiny smile to break across her face. He did care for her, maybe not as much as she did for him, but that was to be expected and she was happy with whatever she could get. She stood, smile firmly in place, and approached him.
Severus was waging an internal war. How could he promise her something like that? Obviously, they were going to be at full out war at some point and there was no way he would be able to protect her, let alone her two dunderheaded friends.
His internal war quickly declared a truce and was forgotten when he felt thin arms wrap around him and a head of soft brown hair rest on his shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispered, relieved. She kissed him on the cheek before practically running from the room.
Dinner that night was somewhat tense. Severus could not stop stressing over the promise he made earlier. It was a stupid thing to do, he knew it, but as he ate dinner with Hermione he couldn't find it in himself to care much. He was… at peace with the way things were. He almost wished he could stay rather than have to go back and live through hell, but wishes were nothing but childish dreams. He would have to work to get what he wanted. He couldn't make one stupid wish and expect everything to turn out alright. Life simply didn't work that way.
His brooding was cut short by the clatter of Hermione's fork hitting the tiled floor. He quickly focused on her to see her eyes wide, one hand on her belly and the other clutching the table. Not being able to find the words needed, he arched an eyebrow.
"Severus, I do believe the baby is coming," she said, her voice sounding small and frightened. "We need to get to St. Mungo's."
He was on her in seconds. His arm wrapped around her waist as he helped her to her feet and they hobbled to the fireplace.
They arrived in a flash of green and Severus led them to the receptionist as quickly as he could. Hermione was losing her strength and he was supporting most of her weight by the time they made it to the counter. He wasn't an expert at childbirth by any means, but things seemed to be progressing quicker than was normal.
He could see a woman with bubblegum pink hair snapping her equally pink gum and inspecting her nails, pointedly ignoring him. He never thought the day would come that Severus Snape would be tapping the little bell on the counter, repeatedly, trying to get someone's attention, but he did. Frenchy ignored him still. He gritted his teeth and slammed his fist against the counter and snarled, "My wife is in labor. I suggest that you get a doctor out here now before I find new uses in potions for human body parts, yours specifically."
Frenchy rolled her eyes. "She's just having a baby, dude. Chill," she muttered as she waved her wand at the set of double doors across the lobby.
A healer emerged a minute later with a wheelchair and made her way to Severus and Hermione.
"I am Healer Whitten and I understand there is a baby on the way," she asked as she helped Hermione into the wheelchair. Severus glared at her and she turned her attention to Hermione. "How long have you been having contractions, hun?"
"Um, about ten minutes," Hermione answered, panting through the pain.
"OK then, let's get you to a room and see how close you are." The healer patted her shoulder and pushed her towards the doors. Hermione grabbed Severus' hand before she could get too far away and held on tightly. He felt a little weird about it, but Hermione was in a lot of pain and he figured the least he could do was let her take comfort in holding his hand.
Once in the room, Healer Whitten transformed Hermione's clothes into a lilac hospital gown. She turned to Severus. "I need you to help me get her into the bed. Magic in not safe to use around them at this stage," she said quickly.
With Severus on one side, hand still held firmly in Hermione's grasp, and the healer on the other, they gently but quickly lifted Hermione in to the bed. Hermione groaned in pain and squeezed Severus' hand. He winced as he felt his bones creaking.
The healer seated herself between Hermione's legs. "So far, so good, hun, but I need you to push on the count of three. Yell as loud as you want and squeeze his hand as hard as you need to."
"One." Severus had a small panic attack. He looked around, manically searching for a way to escape.
"Two." Seeing no viable option, he braced himself, fully expecting his hand to be mangled when it was over.
"Three, push!" Hermione screamed and squeezed his hand with all her tiny might.
This was repeated for an hour or so until a sharp cry joined Hermione's whimpers. She dropped Severus' hands and fell back against the pillow, eyes closed. He quickly backed away until he was against the wall. He didn't know if he was ready for this, didn't know if he could handle it. Was he worthy of a family? Would he be a good father?
"Severus," Hermione called, "stop worrying. Ten fingers, ten toes, two ears, two eyes, a nose, and a mouth?"
"Just a moment, Mrs. Snape, and you can see for yourself," Healer Whitten said happily, "but just so you know, he's beautiful."
Severus nearly snorted. He knew he was not considered an attractive man by any standards, so how could this baby he created be beautiful. Hermione giggled and he looked at her. He wasn't attractive at all, but her… he understood now why the healer said the baby was beautiful. He must have taken after his mother.
Healer Whitten passed the bundle to Hermione before excusing herself to give them some time together. Severus got a glimpse of the tiny face snuggled in the blanket and Severus immediately knew that if he wasn't worthy, he would work to become so, and he would make absolutely certain he was a good father.
"Beautiful," Hermione whispered. Severus returned to her side and leaned over her shoulder to see the tiny face. "Isn't he lovely, Severus? Absolutely perfect." Her face was glowing with love as she looked from her son to Severus. She held the bundle out for Severus to hold and carefully he wrapped his hand around the tiny being and pulled it close to his chest. He gazed down into the little face and was relieved to find a small nose.
"Amazing," he muttered, lifting a hand to gently touch the baby's nose.
"So what do you think? What's his name?" Hermione asked. He carefully laid the baby back in her arms.
"Gabriel," he said decisively after a moment, leaning over Hermione to watch the boy.
"Gabriel Mathias Snape. Our beautiful baby boy." Hermione smiled up at him and kissed him gently on the lips. "I know you aren't my Severus, but I'm glad you're here."
Gabriel cooed and snuggled closed to Hermione as she looked back down at him. A very small smile lit Severus' face as he watched Hermione and their son. He was glad he'd gotten stuck here, with her. That was the last thought that passed through his mind before his world went dark.
Severus groaned and pushed himself up to sit. He bent his legs, put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.
What. The hell. Was that.
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