The much-anticipated baby took longer then expected much to the growing frustration of its mother. "When ARE you coming out?" She demanded of her belly very early the next morning.

Severus chuckled. "When it is good and ready, Aralyn, and not before. Hush and rest while you can, we can not even guess how long it will be, since your contractions have ceased."

"I hate it when you act the know-it-all-older-brother," Aralyn grumbled.

"I know you do; however, I do it so well."

Hermione, sitting beside Severus, laughed softly. "Shall I call you Mr. Know-It-All now Severus?"

The dark haired potion's master turned his head quickly to face the laughing woman beside him, an eyebrow quirking. "I think not."

Hermione continued to laugh and Severus merely rolled his eyes. "Well really, where did you learn all these things?"

"For your information, not that I feel the need to justify my knowledge in any way, I read several books on the subject of child birth as well as midwifery in case Aralyn's baby came faster then the midwife could arrive. Did you honestly expect me to show up to care for my pregnant sister without some knowledge?" He looked as though he were giving a lecture: his narrowed eyes and expressionless face making Hermione laugh once more.

"So sorry Professor!" she teased cheekily. "Now what is this about a midwife? Aren't babies born in a wizard hospital, such as St. Mungo's?"

"In the wizarding world, most children are born at home," Aralyn answered. "With the assistance of a midwife, though it is recommended that husbands or caregivers learn the necessities of acting as midwife should they be needed. There are few midwives, and any number of children born on the same day."

A deeply felt sadness came over Aralyn's face and she sighed longingly. "Adam delivered Hailey. She came far too quickly. By the time the midwife arrived, Hailey was already weighed and measured and ready to be cleaned."

Hermione reached across Severus and took Aralyn's hand in hers, squeezing it gently in an act of support. "I think you are very brave," Hermione told her. "And I think you are a wonderful mother and will continue to be for your new little one."

Aralyn squeezed Hermione's hand back before bursting into tears. "That's so sweet of you!" she sobbed.

Severus groaned under his breath. He was really getting sick of all the crying that went on around this mad house!

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Hermione sat down with the girls at the table for lunch. Each of the little ones, and Hermione as well, were anxious for the baby to arrive.

"Is mum going to eat?" Maisie asked.

"A little later dear, she was sleeping when I was last upstairs," Hermione answered patiently.

"Are we going to have lessons today?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not today Lynessa. Whenever the baby is born we will work on lessons the day after."

"Can we go to the park?"

"No Hailey, we need to stay here today."

"Cuz of the baby?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes, because of the baby."

Hailey frowned. "Silly baby, it better hurry up, I wanna go to the park and learn more letters. Hmph."

Almost as if answering Hailey's complaint, Severus shouted from upstairs. "Hermione! I need you up here please!"

Hermione smiled reassuringly at the girls before getting up and hurrying towards Aralyn's room.

Aralyn was sitting up in the bed, slowly drinking a vial of dark liquid.

"It's time Hermione; her contractions are coming closer together and are much stronger. I need you to fire-call Mrs. Weasley-"

"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione interrupted, surprise coloring her face.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Can you think of any one else who would be better suited to be a midwife? By the time she had her youngest she could have delivered Ginny herself! Now get moving, no more questions!" He ordered.

She blinked and stood there for a second, before turning and running downstairs to the living room fireplace. Hermione threw a handful of floo powder in the fireplace. "The Burrow!"

A moment later, her face appeared in the Weasley's fireplace. "Mrs. Weasley!" she called anxiously.

"Yes?" Molly Weasley entered her living room. "Oh Hermione, how lovely to hear from you! How are you dear?"

"Um, just fine Mrs. Weasley. Severus told me to call you, because Aralyn Laurent is in labor…" Hermione told her quickly.

"Oh heavens! I'll be right there dear, thank you!"

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True to her word, Molly Weasley disapparated into the Laurent living room a mere four minutes later. "Who is with her dear?" she asked Hermione.

"Severus is, he gave her a potion already but I am not sure what potion it was," Hermione said, leading Molly towards Aralyn's room.

Severus? Severus Snape? She calls him Severus? My goodness, when did that start? Hmmm Molly thought. She quickly pushed that aside, as there were more important matters to worry about at the present time.

"You're just in time Mrs. Weasley," Severus commented as the two women entered. He sounded extremely pleased to see her!

Molly turned back to Hermione. "Dear, perhaps you best not be in here, it might frighten you. Why don't you go be with the little ones, hmm?"

Hermione had actually wanted to stay, but knew she was needed with the little girls, who might be upset if left to their own devices; not to mention discover far too many ways to cause mischief!

"Of course," she answered Molly. "I'll be downstairs if anyone needs me." Hermione hoped to catch Severus' eye, but he was busy whispering something over the bed and holding his wand out. She left quietly, shutting the door behind her.

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Three eager yet anxious faces were waiting downstairs for Hermione.

"Is mummy hurting?" Lynessa asked.

Hailey sucked on her thumb. "The baby coming yet?"

"Is mum going to die?"

The last one caused Hermione to stop in her tracks and pull the girls close in a warm embrace. "Of course your mother isn't going to die Maisie! Your mother is very strong and your uncle would never let her die. She and the baby will be just fine."

"Promise?" Their eyes all seemed to start shining with tears at the same time.

"I promise," Hermione said forcefully. She grabbed each child in turn and hugged them tightly, kissing each forehead and tickling each side.

"If mummy dies," Maisie whispered in Hermione's ear. "Can we live with you?"

Hermione hugged Maisie extra tight. "Your mum will not die, but if you ever need a place to come and be or need anything, you can always come to me, alright?"

The dark haired girl nodded, now looking much happier, and rewarded Hermione with a very big hug.

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Six sets of eyes peered into the white bassinet.

"He's tiny."

"Lookie, he's bald!" Hailey giggled.

Maisie rolled her eyes at Hailey. "He has daddy's eyes. What's his name mummy?"

Aralyn smiled at her small, beautiful family. "Adam Severus Laurent."

"Can't we name him something different?"

"Why would we want to name him something else?"

Lynessa shrugged. "I think it'd be funny if we named him Bam-Bam like on the muggle cartoon Hermy has."

Hermione laughed softly. "I don't think he'd like that name very much, sweetums. We better stick with Adam."

As she spoke his name, the baby's eyes opened, allowing him to look at girls surrounding him.

"He knows his name!" Maisie exclaimed.

Hailey gasped, incredibly impressed. "Wow, he's real real smart. When's he gonna talk mummy?"

Aralyn picked up her newborn son, named for both his father and his uncle. "Not for a long time, love. He has a lot of growing to do."

Lynessa nodded. "Look at him, he's puny. He'll have to grow a whole lot!"

"That's what babies do best," Hermione explained. "Grow bigger and bigger and learn all about the world around them."

"Can he come to lessons, Hermy?"

The governess shook her head. "No Hailey, he won't come to lessons until he is a big boy, just like you are a big girl."

Aralyn laughed softly, cradling the tiny new life in her arms. "I think it's time for a family photograph. Hermione, would you mind taking a photo of us? Girls, come sit around me."

Surprisingly the girls were very careful as they climbed onto the bed to sit around their mother.

"Severus," Aralyn called. "You have to come join us; you are part of the family you know."

The dark figure in the doorway of the bedroom shook his head. "I'm not overly fond of photographs."

"Why not?" Hailey wondered. "You're not ugly."

"Oh go sit with your family," Hermione scolded with a laugh. "Nobody but us will see the photograph if you don't like it, so what's the harm?"

Sighing heavily, Severus went over and sat beside his sister, pulling Lynessa to sit on his lap. "I am not smiling…"

"Aww!" Lynessa pouted. "You'll make it icky then! You have to smile Uncle Severus!"

"I do not have to do anything," Severus retorted.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Severus! Will you please stop acting like a petulant child and just smile for a few seconds so I can get this photograph? Really, it's not that much to ask! Considering your sister has given birth to a healthy eight-pound baby, surely you can manage a smile!"

Aralyn laughed long and hard. "She has you there Severus! She really does! Good job Hermione. Now, be a nice big brother and smile."

Severus' narrowed his eyes at the two rather bossy women, but quickly concluded this was one argument he had no chance of winning. He coughed, then smiled- slowly and tentatively until finally a true smile graced his pale face.

As Hermione snapped the photograph, and two more, she couldn't help but wonder if he smiled because he was thinking of her…

If only they knew the real reason why I'm smiling is because of the woman behind the camera, Severus mused. "Are we quite finished yet, Hermione?"

Hailey laughed. "Can I call you uncle crabby, because you're crabby?"

Severus shook his head and tickled her side. "No, you may not call me uncle crabby, little monkey."

Hermione took one last picture, as Severus smiled without even realizing it and Hailey squealed with giggles as he tickled her…

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A/N: I am SO sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter out. A whole month, I feel terrible! However, the crazy holiday business is over and on the plus side, I've already started the next chapter and promise to have it up by this weekend! Again, I'm really sorry. I love all you readers and reviewers though, thank you so very much!