A/N: I've been doing some me-stuff recently, so my stories have been taking a while. Plus, I'm getting close to a climax moment in 'Fire and Ice', so I'm a little more inspired by that, but I wanted to make sure that I keep updating.
And so I give you a shorter chapter, but one with quite a bit in it. I finally reveal the name of 'Baby Snape'. The first name was the most-picked by a number of votes, the middle the second pick. Please don't take it as I didn't like your name if it didn't get the votes. I loved them all, but I had to knock a few down in the story. I thank everyone who voted, and esp those who submitted names. Thank you so much, I would have never thought up this name on my own!
Enjoy, and please leave me a review. It might make me get back to this quicker!
He shifted in the uncomfortable seat, glancing around the room. There were two other witches sitting around. One did not look pregnant, the other looked ready to have the child on the floor. The second witch had two children running around that she had no energy to corral, though maybe she was one of those parents who thought she didn't need to control her rug rats. There's no way my son will be like that, he thought to himself. My child will not be running around like an ill-raised burden to everyone else around him.
Next to him Hermione sighed as she turned the page of a maternity magazine. He glanced at the title of the article she was reading; 'What to expect during your magical labor and delivery'.
"You shouldn't read that," he muttered so only she could hear.
"Why not?" she asked, looking up at him. "I should study up on what is coming so I'll know how to best approach it."
"No, you should let your body do what women's bodies have done throughout human history instead of 'studying'. You study, you get worked up, and when you get worked up you tend to do yourself a disservice."
"Are you telling me that I stress myself out unnecessarily to the point of doing harm to myself?" she hissed.
"Precisely," he nodded, snatching the magazine from her.
She shot him an angry look before snatching up another magazine about 'Baby's First Months', which he thought was jumping from the frying pan into the fire, but before he could point this out she muttered, "Probably not the best time to mention I've signed us up for a Lamaze class."
"A what kind of class?" he asked.
"A childbirth class. Techniques, relaxation, what to expect..."
"And did I hear correctly when you said you signed 'us' up?"
"Well, a lot of it has to do with your partner. You'll learn how to be supportive and help me through the process..."
"Is it really that difficult to be supportive?" he sighed.
"There's a proper way to do it, Severus. You need..."
"Hermione?" a healer's assistant called from the door, saving Snape from what would most likely be a long speech about why a class was necessary to learn how to give birth. There was a good chance that the assistant just delayed the speech, Hermione was not one to drop things easily.
They stood, and followed the assistant to the back.
"How are you feeling, Ms. Granger?" the woman asked with a smile, stopping by a scale. Hermione had obviously gone through the routine before, she handed Snape her jacket and purse.
"Don't look," she said, stepping onto the scale. He respected her wishes and gazed away until the assistant scribbled something on a piece of paper and Hermione stepped down. The walked further down the hallway until the assistant opened the door and stepped aside for Hermione to walk in first.
"A seat on the table, if you would, Ms. Granger," the woman smiled.
Hermione put her things on a shelf and sat on the padded table covered in white paper. Snape gazed around the room. It looked like a small hotel room that had been converted into a medical exam room. There was the traditional table Hermione was sitting on, a plastic chair next to it that he could sit on, with a television facing both. On the other side of the table was a large machine with more knobs and buttons than he could ever imagine necessary. The walls were a faded pastel blue with a watercolor of a mother holding a baby on one wall. A bathroom sat to one side, and there was another stool for whoever was joining them to sit on. The whole thing made him uneasy, but Hermione didn't seem bothered.
"How is everything going?" the assistant asked with a smile as she started pressing buttons on the machine.
"It's going well," she nodded.
"Any indigestion? Swelling? Anything of that nature?"
"No. A little ache in my back, but that's pretty much it."
"It's to be expected, isn't it?" she smiled, then held up a plastic cup.
"Oh, boy," Hermione groaned, sliding off the table.
"You know the drill."
"I could give the directions now," she replied, taking the cup and disappearing into the bathroom. Snape turned slightly pink as he realized what was going on, and looked away when he heard Hermione emerging.
"Sharon will be with you shortly," the assistant smiled, leaving.
"There isn't a diagnostic spell that can do that?" he asked as she sat back down on the table.
"Nothing as reliable as the good old fashioned Muggle method," she sighed. "Just like there's nothing quite like a Muggle sonogram. That's why I chose this Healer, because she mixes Muggle methods with magical ones, a balance between the two. From my research..."
"Why is it so many of our arguments start with that phrase?" he sneered.
"Because you're so bloody stubborn."
"I relented and came here today," he pointed out.
"Forgive me for thinking you would want to see your child," she rolled her eyes.
"I will see him. In a few months time."
"I'm not keeping you here," she snapped, but he didn't leave.
"Hermione?" another woman asked, walking into the room and shutting the door behind her. "I'm Sharon, I'm the ultrasound tech here. First off do you have any questions?"
"Does that machine work well with all the magic going on around here?" Hermione asked.
"We've fortified this room, and made it a no-magic zone, so yes, it works just well," Sharon smiled.
"How much will we be able to see?"
"Depends on how much he's willing to show us," she smiled. "Sometimes they're a little shy."
Hermione opened her mouth, probably to protest that an infant couldn't be 'shy', but he squeezed her hand and she didn't say anything.
"Are we ready?" Sharon gave a wide smile, and Snape immediately disliked her overly sunny disposition.
"Yes," Hermione nodded.
"Then have a lie back and we'll get started," she said, dimming the lights in the room. With a deep breath Hermione laid on the table. She lifted her shirt up when Sharon prompted her, and closed her eyes as the gel was applied to her stomach. Snape watched the monitor set up for him and Hermione to look at, rather than what was going on with Hermione, since it was much more comfortable to watch the static on the screen than thinking what was going on right next to him.
But he wasn't prepared for what he saw next. After a few seconds of adjusting the baby's profile came into view, and he felt himself inhaling in surprise. The sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room, but is was distant, as if underwater. All he could focus on was the tiny profile on the screen next to him. It wasn't very clear, but he could tell that his son had not inherited his infamous hooked nose, thank Merlin. A tiny hand was resting by the face, balling into a small fist, then relaxing so he could see each of the tiny fingers.
"Severus," Hermione whispered, shaking her hand that was clutched in his. He then realized that he had been squeezing it tightly, much tighter than would be comfortable for her. He slackened his grip and looked at her face. A couple tears had escaped as she stared at the screen.
"Are you okay?" he muttered, reaching up and wiping a tear away.
"That's our son," she said quietly, unable to look away from the screen.
"Yes, it is," he replied softly, stroking her hair gently.
"Our son," she muttered unthinkingly. He didn't respond as he returned his gaze to the screen. He was having the same feelings. It had never been more real to him, no amount of talking about it would make it any more tangible than seeing that small profile.
The tech chatted happily as she pointed out various body parts- arms, legs, spine, but it was the face that captivated Snape the most. He would be seeing that face in a few months time. He already knew the nose wasn't his, but how much would it look like him?
Too quickly it was over, the tech turning the lights back up and shutting the monitors off. She handed Hermione a few printed images, and Hermione clutched them like her lifeline. They were led to another exam room, where Hermione was poked, prodded, measured, and talked to. He didn't take in a word that was said. The image of his son's profile swam in front of his eyes, and it wasn't until Hermione took his hand to lead him out that he even realized her exam was over.
"Are you okay?" she asked after they got to a restaurant for dinner.
"Yes," he replied. "Just thinking."
"About our son," she smiled.
"It is certainly a shock to see him," he nodded.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that you were right. That we need to give him a proper name and not just call him 'the baby' or 'our son' anymore."
"Really?" she looked excited.
"How is it I feel like you're about to pull out a list?" he sighed.
"Well, I have been thinking about it for a while. But if you still want to go with James..."
"No," he said forcefully. "Let's hear some suggestions."
She bit her lip. "Well, I should tell you that these names are more Muggle-based, because I don't want to do much explaining about our choices to my family. Is that okay?"
"It makes sense," he replied.
"First, I think Aiden would be a good name. It means 'little fire'."
"His mother does have quite a bit of a fire in her," he smirked.
"His father does as well," she smiled.
"I've been told I have more of an icy personality."
She chuckled. "That you do, but we don't want him to go follow completely in your footsteps, do we?"
"True," he smiled. "Next?"
"Ethan. It means..."
"Strong, firm, and impetuous, " he said.
She raised an impressed eyebrow.
"I came across the name in a few pieces of literature, and I did a little background studying," he shrugged.
"Do you like it?"
"I do, but then you run the risk of him living up to his own name," he smirked.
"How about Julian? You were named for an emperor..."
"And I have no desire to continue that tradition. Reminds me too much of that man," he added the emphasis to make it clear he was talking about his father.
"Okay. One more, then. Brendan. It means little raven or little prince. I thought it would be fitting," she finished quietly.
His lips upturned for a moment. He liked the name as well. He closed his eyes as he thought about the names.
"Any suggestions?" she asked.
"I like Aiden and Brendan," he said, looking into her eyes.
"Aiden Brendan Snape?" she smiled.
"He will have my last name?" he sounded surprised.
"Of course. Why wouldn't he?" she asked.
"I thought that he would have your last name, or at the very least a hyphen."
"I'm not a fan of the hyphens. And I would be proud to be the mother of a Snape," she said, reaching across the table to take his hand.
"I'm honored you would consider it," he replied, rubbing her hand.
"You can pay me back next weekend in France," she smirked.
"That I will," he promised before pulling her across the table for a kiss.