Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter. I did not want to dwell too much on Elizabeth in this chapter. They will discuss her more in another chapter.


Surprisingly, the only thing that appeared in the papers the next morning was a small article declaring that a student had been taken from Hogwarts the night before, due to a nervous breakdown. The article didn't give a name, but stated that the student was being treated at St. Mungos.

Snape released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and set the paper next to his plate as he stared towards the Gryffindor table and sought out his wife. She had just set her paper aside and looked up at him with a huge grin. He smiled back at her and tucked into his breakfast, feeling happier than he had in a long time.

The night of the Halloween ball, Snape was pleased that his thoughts were filled with his loving wife and not focused on the past. During previous years, he had been so fixated on it being the anniversary of Lily's death. However, tonight his thoughts were with his wife who had insisted that he don an outfit that made him look more like a pirate than a professor, while she dressed like a very pregnant wench. The top of her gown was white, hung off her shoulders and accentuated her bosom. The bottom of the gown was a long green skirt that flowed over her protruding stomach and fell to her ankles. Her hair hung down in soft curls that framed her lovely face. She looked liked a woman you would see on the front of a romance novel.

Snape's heart swelled with pride when he observed her moving about with her friends, laughing and enjoying the food. He was returning from one of his patrols when he spotted Sanguine in the corner staring at Hermione with a barely disguised leer. Snape fixed his old friend with a glare. Sanguine turned to see Snape's heated glare and retreated quickly to conduct his patrol. Snape had visited Sanguine's classroom, after classes the day before and had a quiet little talk with him. Snape smirked to himself when he remembered it was actually a threatening little talk that had his old friend quaking in his boots.

Snape swiftly crossed the great hall, which had been transformed for the party and wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist when he reached her side. She looked up at him with a gasp of surprise that quickly turned into a huge smile and leaned into him.

"Nice costume," Harry said with a small grin. "I think this is the first time I've ever seen you wear something other than teaching robes to this event."

"Well, Potter, my wife insisted, so I reluctantly obliged." He said in his silky voice before leaning down and placing a small chaste kiss on his wife's upturned lips. She smiled up at him and Snape thought his heart would burst with pride.

"Awww, you guys make such a cute couple," Ginny said before stuffing a pastry in her mouth. She was standing next to her husband and inhaling a plate of desserts she held in her hand. Ginny was dressed as a queen, in a long flowing gown. The tiara sitting upon her red hair sparkled whenever she moved. Harry was dressed as a King, crown and all. Snape smirked at the couple when he saw them constantly readjusting their headgear. At least his wife had allowed him to forgo a hat.

"Geez, Ginny, save some for the rest of us," Ron Weasley said as he appeared next to Hermione. Ron was wearing a cape and what Snape assumed were fangs from his joke shop.

"Ron!" Hermione squealed as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, without removing her arm from around her husband. "When did you get here?"

"Just now," Ron beamed. "Lavender is grabbing us some food...that is if there is any left." He said with a smile at his sister. Ginny just rolled her eyes and continued eating her desserts.

"I'm surprised you are not currently stuffing your face with food, Weasley," Snape drawled, earning him a slight pinch from his wife.

"Nah, Lavender knows what I like. She'll bring me something good. I saw you guys over here and wanted to say, hi. Damn, you look good Hermione." He whispered in awe, looking her up and down. Feeling Snape's glare on him he quickly added, "and healthy...good and healthy."

Hermione laughed and punched him playfully on the arm. Lavender appeared with a large tray of food. Ron took it from her and began stuffing his mouth as if he were afraid it would disappear. Lavender laughed at him and playfully tousled his hair.

"You look good, Lavender," Hermione said sweetly, "I'm glad you guys could make it."

"Thanks, Hermione," Lavender said graciously, eyeing Hermione's fetching outfit. She adjusted the cape around her shoulders and smiled to show off her fake fangs. "I wouldn't want to miss this for the world, and can I say marriage suits you, Hermione and you too Professor."

"Thank you," Hermione replied before turning to accept another small kiss from her besotted husband. Snape turned to see Lavender Weasley looking him up and down. He suddenly felt uncomfortable as if she were undressing him with her eyes. He pulled Hermione closer to him to block the young woman's view of his black, leather pants. Lavender sighed and turned her attention back to Ron.

"They're bringing out more desserts," Ginny squealed excitedly as she noticed the tables magically refilling themselves.

"That's my cue," Harry said with a mock grimace. He nodded towards the table and Snape extracted his arm from around Hermione, reluctantly, and accompanied him.

"I just wanted you to know that Miss Stewart is crazier than a beg bug, so to speak." Snape's eyebrows rose at Harry's muggle expression. "She has been obliterated and sent to live with her Aunt, where she'll finish her schooling at Beauxbaton's. The Ministry will be keeping a close eye on her to assure that she doesn't suffer a relapse. I was present while they gave her some false memories of wanting to attend there instead of Hogwarts, where she found it to be completely boring."

"What of her Fiancé?" Snape asked, suddenly remembering she was engaged to a local businessman.

"He was matched to a wealthy widow, and is quite pleased. She will be matched to someone in France. The Ministry has a couple of young men in mind and will let her choose."

"It's more than she deserves," Snape said as he looked back at Hermione and saw she was helping Ginny secure her tiara with some pins Hermione pulled from her hair.

"I agree," Harry added, "it's a shame that she was willing to throw her future away, just to extract revenge." Snape looked into the younger man's eyes and nodded.

"Thanks, again, Potter. I owe you my life."

Harry patted him on the back, like they were old comrades, "we'll call it even, Professor, Merlin knows I certainly owed you, after what you did for me." He stared at Potter as the young man moved away and started piling a plate for Ginny. Shaking his head, he also took a plate and began piling small sandwiches and little desserts for Hermione. When they returned to the small group, Hermione quickly took the plate from him.

"Thanks...I'm starving." She tucked into the sandwiches as she felt her husband's surprised gaze upon her. "What?" she mumbled after she swallowed.

"Why are you starving? Haven't you eaten anything?" He asked, trying to keep from using his Professor voice.

"No, I was waiting for you," she said looking up at him sweetly and holding out the plate indicating that he should take a sandwich. He took the proffered sandwich and fixed her with a small scowl.

"Woman, what did I tell you about starving my babies?" he whispered and was dismayed to hear the small group break out in laughter around them.

His wife beamed up at him and replied, "Severus, sweetheart, our babies are not going to starve just because I wanted to wait for you."

Snape couldn't hide the smile that he reserved only for his wife as he tucked into his sandwich and ignored the grins aimed in his direction. She just called him Sweetheart, let them all eat their hearts out...she was his.

Harry saw McGonagall sitting alone at a large table in the corner and suggested they all join her. McGonagall beamed up at them as they approached the table. Snape gently lowered Hermione into a chair, taking the one next to her. Once they were all seated, Snape listened quietly as her friends discussed their time at Hogwarts and how surreal it seemed to be back here. He excused himself, along with Harry, to procure another plate of food and returned to hear their laughter over something Ron had told them regarding a new product they had at the joke shop. Ron had started Auror training with Harry, but having decided it was not for him, resigned and had begun working with George at the joke shop.

"How is George holding up?" Ginny asked softly, causing all the laughter around the table to cease.

"He's doing okay, Gin. He was thinking about closing the shop, but changed his mind after he had a dream about Fred. He said Fred came to him in a dream and gave him a swift kick in the seat of his pants." Hermione could see Ginny's bottom lip tremble and reached across Severus to squeeze her hand.

"He still has the occasional sad day, but he says he has to live his life to the fullest or it would bring dishonor to Fred. He says Fred is still with him, in spirit, and he knows he is on the other side, giving them a run for their money."

Ginny laughed and Hermione released her hand, and placed it on her husband's thigh.

Snape moaned inwardly at the feeling of her hand on his thigh and wondered how much longer they would have to stay, before he could whisk his wife back to their quarters and shag her senseless. Her dress was causing him to think about those pirate romance novels and how the pirates seduced their wenches. He felt his face begin to redden at the naughty thoughts flitting across his mind and had to force them away before he became as randy as a schoolboy. Shit, even at six-months pregnant, his wife was smoking hot. He ran his hand along the inside of his collar and noticed the grin Potter was throwing his way. If he didn't know better, he'd think Potter had grasped the concept of Legilimency and was seeing his thoughts. He summoned two glasses of pumpkin juice and slid one towards his wife as he drank the other and attempted to clear his mind. Hermione sipped her juice as she smiled at him gratefully.

He saw Hermione yawn out of the corner of his eye and remarked that he would do one more sweep of the grounds before coming back to escort her back to their chambers. Hermione leaned towards him, and kissed him on the cheek before whispering for him to hurry back. He saw the smoldering look in her eyes and had to fight the urge to sod it all and take her back to their rooms immediately.

During his rounds, he deducted house points from two snogging couples, causing them to break apart and run back inside the castle. Feeling secure that he had done his duty, he hurried in and claimed his beautiful wife. He gripped her gently under her forearms and helped her stand to her feet. She rubbed her huge belly and bid everyone goodnight, as she took his arm to depart. His gaze landed on Harry. The young man was gaping in amazement at Ginny, who was currently on her third plate of food and didn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Snape smirked as he turned away. Welcome to the club, Potter, he thought as he slowly guided Hermione out of the Great Hall.

As soon as they entered their quarters, Snape warded the door. He had plans for his wife tonight and didn't want to be disturbed. He stepped behind her and gripped her hips gently as he leaned down to nip at her exposed shoulders. She moaned and tilted her head as he slid his lips from her shoulder to her warm neck. Hermione clutched her stomach and hissed for her babies to behave. Snape placed his hands over the spot she was clutching and began rubbing small circles on her protruding stomach.

"Do you have any idea what that dress of yours did to me tonight? It took all my control not to ravage you in one of the alcoves." He breathed against her neck as he continued placing small kisses on her neck and bare shoulders. She kicked her shoes off and leaned back against him, enjoying the attention he was paying to her neck and shoulders.

"Unzip me, love." She whispered as his hands slid up from her stomach to cup her large breasts.

"I'm going to do more than unzip you, Mrs. Snape," Severus purred as he took her hand and guided her into their bedroom.

Hermione shuddered in anticipation as her husband reached into the bedside table and withdrew the bottle of her favorite lotion. He unzipped her dress and hissed in pleasure as it dropped and pooled around her feet.

Hermione removed her strapless bra and slid her panties off before climbing onto the bed and finding a comfortable position on her side. Snape hurriedly shed his pirate costume and cast a warming charm on the bottle before climbing onto the bed. He balanced on his knees as he began gently rubbing the lotion into her skin.

He finished massaging her back and was working on her stomach when she rolled over and lay on her back. He watched her as she propped pillows behind her back and shoulders before summoning him to move closer. Crawling closer to her, he was surprised when she reached out and began stroking his hardened cock. His erection was painfully hard due to his ministrations over her delicious body.

"Straddle my shoulders," she whispered her voice hoarse with desire. "I want to taste you, Severus. You looked good enough to eat tonight...let me prove it."

"Hermione, you don't have to," Snape whispered, even as he threw his leg over her shoulder and hovered above her. His eager cock bounced against her chin. She opened her mouth and captured the head of his cock between her lips and began sucking hungrily. Snape cried out in pleasure as he reached over her and held onto the headboard with both hands. The bottle of lotion was long forgotten as he clung to the headboard and moaned. Hermione wrapped her hand around his cock and began stroking it as she continued alternating between licking and sucking on the head of his engorged member. She reached out with her other hand and grasped his hip, indicating that she wanted him to pump his hips towards her. Snape hissed as he began pumping his hips and driving his cock deeper and deeper into her warm, welcoming mouth. Even with her hand wrapped around the base, he felt his cock hitting the back of her throat. She repositioned her head slightly and he gasped as it felt as if she were swallowing him down her throat. Damn, she was good. It felt so good and he was close...

"Oh fuck, I'm going to come, Hermione," he whispered hoarsely as she took him down her throat again.

She pulled his cock out with an audible pop and whispered, "come down my throat, Severus, I want to swallow your cum."

Snape's vision began to cloud as she took him back into her mouth and began milking him. He closed his eyes so hard he saw stars as he cried out and emptied himself at the back of her throat, feeling her throat constricting as she swallowed his seed. She continued sucking on him until he began to soften.

"Oh gods, that was incredible Hermione. Don't you have a gag reflex, girl?" He gasped. She giggled and reached around to slap him on his bare ass as he moved off of her with trembling legs. He lay down next to her and fought to regain his composure.

"I need you hard again, Severus. I'm aching between my legs and I will need your help with that, Sir." Hermione said as she licked her lips seductively at him.

"I've got your, 'Sir,' right here sweetheart," he whispered as he moved to hover over her and kiss her on her swollen lips. "I'm going to need a little help getting hard again. Just lay still and let me show you how skilled I am." She sighed in pleasure as he began kissing his way down over her swollen belly. He ignored the small foot that ran across her stomach as he continued down towards his goal. He moaned when his lips reached the small patch of curls between her legs and felt her wetness. "Damn, you are so wet for me, my little wench. I'm going to lick you dry." He attacked her clit with fervor and basked in the sounds of her gasps and moans and he brought her to her first orgasm of the night. She spread her legs further apart as he slid his fingers inside her and began working her towards her second orgasm. Hermione shrieked in pleasure and her legs shook uncontrollably as she came again. His erection pressed into the bed as he continued lapping at her juices-he knew he could never lick her dry. Snape positioned himself above her and grasped his painfully hard cock and guided the head inside her waiting heat. He placed his other hand next to her to support his weight and slammed himself inside her with one thrust. She cried out in pleasure and begged for more. He gasped for air as he continued to pummel in and out of her. Being careful not to put his weight on her, he continued to thrust himself in and out of her as fast and hard as he could. He felt his balls tighten and knew he was going to come soon. He attempted to hold off a little longer prolonging her pleasure and almost succeeded when she cried out.

"Oh shit, Severus, you feel so damn good. Come in me baby, come really hard."

Snape roared his pleasure as he slammed himself inside her to the hilt and emptied his seed deep inside her.

"Fuck, woman, are you trying to kill me?" He barked when he could catch his breath. She laughed and held her hands out to him. He climbed up next to her and laid his head on her shoulder as she stroked his hair off of his sweaty forehead. He brushed the hair away from her face, and kissed her on the lips. She slowly turned over so she was facing away from him. He could see how exhausted she was as he brushed her hair off of her shoulder and reached for his wand to clean them of the evidence of their lovemaking. After summoning the blankets, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his chest against her back. He chuckled when he heard her gentle snore. His fingers drew circles on her stomach absentmindedly after he extinguished the lights and was rewarded with a small movement under his hand. Hermione moaned in her sleep. His babies would move restlessly if he continued rubbing her stomach, but she needed her sleep, so he stilled his hand and snuggled closer to her. He drifted off to sleep thinking how blessed he was to have this wonderful woman in his life.