Hinata: LOLOLOLOL . . . ummmmm yes, she is -- are you psychic? It's the beginning of May and she's due midmay ---- as you can see just a bit below, however, the baby has other plans.
AN: I have no idea how goblins would talk, so please forgive if their grammer here sounds too . . . human. : )
Everyone: Thanks so for the wonderful reviews, questions, and concerns. You've made my day. Most of the questions that came up will be answered, some sooner than others. WARNING: Graphic description of child birth in this chapter.
SEE additional AN at the end of chapter. : )

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Chapter Fifty Two
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Hermione was up early Saturday, down in the kitchen's kipping a small breakfast. Today, Professor Snape was taking her to Gringotts to make the trust fund more complicated. No way was the ministry going to steal her child's future! She blinked, dropping her fork onto her plate with a clatter. 'Her' child? She gulped. When had he gone from 'the parasite' to 'her child'? Hadn't it been less than a week ago that she was panicking because she'd realized she'd have contact with him on a fairly regular basis? She shook her head, not able to understand her sudden switch; though, she supposed it was good enough that she wouldn't be the one responsible for his well being. Even if the thought of even seeing the child no longer sent shudders of revulsion through her, she still didn't think she'd be capable of actually caring for him properly.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione smiled. Maybe she hadn't made a terrible mistake making friends with the person who was going to adopt him, then. It was with a far lighter heart than she'd had of late that she rose, thanked the house elves, and headed for the front entrance. She still had half an hour until the professor was due to meet her there, but these days, slow and slower were the only speeds she had and she wanted to give herself plenty of time.

By the time she reached the entrance hall, Hermione was out of breath and fed up. She just really wanted this over with. She shook her head as she sat down on the bench closest to the front doors. At least, she told herself silently, I don't have to do that ridiculous rocking any more. Just yesterday, Madam Pomfrey had told her, not only had her son turned over into the proper position, he had also dropped. She had to admit, that last was definitely a mixed blessing. It was far easier to breathe, now that the baby was so pressed up against her diaphragm, but now, walking at all was a chore. It didn't help that the backache that had plagued her off and on for the last two months was back 'on' with a vengeance.

She was saved from further ruminations by Professor Snape's timely arrival. He was carrying the bag he'd 'given' her three days ago. She'd left it in his office, as a safer location than her room. As he neared, she struggled to her feet, wincing as she did so, her back protesting the renewed movement. She made it to her feet by the time he reached her, frown firmly etched on his face.

"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" he asked.

She nodded. "Just a backache, Professor, not unusual, or so I'm told."

The professor nodded, but his frown deepened. "Perhaps this should be put off until you are . . . feeling better."

Hermione huffed a soft laugh. "I'm due in two weeks, Sir. My back is only going to get worse, not better."

"Very well," Professor Snape replied shortly, nodding once. "Get moving, then."

Clamping down on the corner of her mouth that wanted to twitch up into a smile, Hermione nodded as she turned toward the doors. "Yes, Sir," she replied, continuing as she began moving. "I feel I should warn you that I won't be able to move quickly. Tortoise slow is my best speed these days."

"Wonderful," Snape drawled, sarcasm rich in his tone. "Wait here," he ordered bruskly, the moment they were out on the grounds.

Hermione blinked in surprise as she watched him stride off toward Hagrid's hut.

Ten minutes into her wait, Hermione began looking for somewhere she could sit that wouldn't require magic, or a large crane, to get her back up. Both her feet and her back were loudly making it clear that they did not appreciate her standing for any length of time. Before she could do much of anything about it, however, Professor Snape returned. To her surprise, he didn't return alone. Hagrid followed with a thestral drawn carriage.

Utterly bemused at the thoughtfulness, Hermione allowed herself to be assisted into the carriage. Allowed, of course, was something of an exaggeration. She wasn't entirely certain she could have climbed inside without the help. Once they were settled, however, Hermione altered her thoughts on 'thoughfulness', to expediency.

"Using the carriage will prevent the need to spend all day on this errand," Professor Snape said shortly, settling himself on the bench across from her.

Oh! Well, that made more sense, she thought to herself. Snape and thoughtfulness didn't really go hand in hand in her mind; though, she supposed she could be selling him a bit short. After all, it wasn't the 'Slytherin way' to appear to solicitous of anyone. The expediency could simply be his reason for doing what he wanted to do anyway. Shrugging mentally, she figured she would probably never know. At least she benefited from it, and, at the moment, that was good enough for her. She really hadn't been looking forward to walking all the way to Hogsmeade so they could floo near Gringotts. She wouldn't get out of walking from where ever they floo'd to Gringotts, as Gringotts didn't allow direct flooing -- for obvious security reasons. Side-along apparation was out, because that really wasn't advisable during pregnancy. She sighed and allowed her attention to focus on the passing scenery.

x-x-x

Hermione shook her head as they walked up the steps to Gringotts bank, wanting to rub her lower back. Professor Snape had remained mostly silent for the trip, the only exceptions being to give her directions into the shop they were flooing from, and the destination name for the floo itself.

Once inside, however, Professor Snape took over, and they were seated inside a private office within minutes, the holding bag sitting on the floor between them. It was only by the barest thread that Hermione didn't let out a sigh of relief upon sitting. It eased the stress on her back considerably. Unfortunately, the pain did not go away entirely.

"What business can the goblins do with you today?"

Professor Snape cocked an eyebrow at her and smirked. Apparently, the ball was in her court. She took a deep breath to steady herself and leaned forward.

"Mr. Griddlorn, there are a couple of things I need to accomplish today," she began. "I need to make some adjustments to the trust fund I've set up for my baby to avoid any possibility of Ministry . . . interference."

Griddlorn stiffened. "The ministry has no control over the funds stored in Gringotts, Madam. Goblins control Gringotts."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said immediately. "I meant no offense. I was given to understand that Gringotts and the Ministry had some sort of agreement that under certain circumstances, assets of individuals could be frozen, essentially taken from the owners."

"The only circumstances under which such an occurence could happen would be if the owner of the vault or vaults under investigation were to be convicted of crimes deserving of a life sentence in Azkaban or the dementor's kiss."

Hermione frowned. "Then how--" She cut herself off. "Never mind, it's not really important." She thought a moment about how to phrase her request that would not insult the goblin further. That was the last thing she wanted. She knew from her studies that goblins, once truly insulted, would become very difficult to deal with; not that she blamed them really. Goblins, along with most other nonhumans, had gotten the short shift for the most part; though goblins had come out better than most over the years, thanks to their financial genius -- and their firm control on the wizarding world's banking system. An idea hit her rather suddenly.

"I don't fully trust the ministry in these uncertain times not to . . . manufacture evidence against . . . certain families they have . . . problems with," she said carefully.

Griddlorn nodded. "It has been tried before," he said. "Gringotts is most aggressive in making sure that evidence presented to us is accurrate before we act in accordance with our agreement with the ministry."

The goblin's tone left Hermione in doubt about the fact that the goblins -- at least this goblin -- didn't trust the ministry either. Unfortunately, after what had happened to Draco, she wasn't about to fully trust the goblin's 'aggresive' policies completely, either.

She nodded. "Understandable," she replied, thinking quickly, "I simply wish to make sure the bank won't have to go to those lengths. I want to make the principal money in comprising the trust fund is completely untouchable. I don't want it to 'belong' to anyone until . . . my son inherits it at 30 years of age. That way, the ministry won't be able to activate the agreement they have with Gringotts even if they do make up convincing evidence."

God, she hoped this worked! She felt like she was talking out her arse.

"The money won't be his until he is well old enough to defend himself against scurrious claims."

The goblin grinned then and Hermione wasn't entirely certain whether she wanted to grin back . . . or run. It was a scary sight with all those sharp teeth. "I understand, Madam, and Gringotts will be happy to assist you with this endeavor.

Hermione did grin then. "I will, of course, wish to make provisions for monthly sums to be given to his guardians for his care until he comes of age, and that money to be provided to him once he does."

For nearly an hour, Hermione and Griddlorn negotiated exactly what she wanted; though Griddlorn did suggest a couple of ideas that Hermione accepted quickly. They certainly secured the account even better than her ideas alone. There had only been a moment of concern when Hermione had begun detailing the amounts she had wanted paid to first guardians and subsequently her son.

Hermione blushed. "Sorry, I forgot to mention that I will be making a rather large deposit today as well."

"How much?"

Smiling sheepishly, she indicated the bag next to her. "I'm not exactly certain how much is in here, but I want to deposit the entire amount."

When the goblin's smile grew appreciably at that, Hermione blinked in surprise.

"Forgive my possible impertinance, Madam, but is that one of the bags that Mr. Dumbledore removed from the main Malfoy vault?"

Hermione's eyes widened and she cast a worried glance to Professor Snape. She supposed she should have realized Griddlorn might have picked up on that, given the extreme rarity of true holding bags. Thankfully, the professor intervened for the first time since they'd sat down.

"That is something that we would much rather not be known by anyone," he replied.

Hermione almost laughed. The professor had answered the goblin's question without actually saying it outright, and at the same time indicated the secrecy with which they wanted the knowledge kept.

The goblin picked up on it immediately, of course, and hastily assured them both that clients privacy was of utmost concern to the bank, and they would never breech that trust, and after calling in three junior goblins to count and catalogue the contents of the bag returned to the contract sitting in front of him.

"Now," Griddlorn said, sounding very satisfied with the transaction thus far, and pushing the contract across the desk, and handing her a small, sharp looking knife. "A simple drop of blood on the bottom of this parchment will be all that's needed to complete the paperwork and bind the money for 30 years."

Hermione nodded, wincing at a sharp spike through her lower back as she leaned forward. Accepting the knife, she placed a small cut on her left index finger and let a single drop of blood drop onto the bottom of the parchment. She watched in amazement as the blood magically swirled, forming her full name, looking as if she had signed it by her own hand.

By the time the niceties had been exchanged and they were outside the office, the three junior goblins had finished with the holding bag, impressing her with their speed -- and Professor Snape as well, if she was any judge. When she looked at the small parchment they handed her, her eyes widened in shock. That was just a bit more than Professor Snape had indicated. Wow!

"If you will follow me, Madam, I will take you to the vault that was set up to accomodate your child's trust fund."

Hermione's eyes widened, picturing her 8 1/2 month pregnant from on one of those ridiculously fast trolleys, and balked. "If he is willing," she began, casting a questioning glance at the professor, "I would much prefer that Professor Snape deliver it." She shrugged, and vaguely waved to indicate her rather obvious belly. "I wouldn't be comfortable on the trolley at the moment." She didn't even want to be standing, let alone take a ride on zooming roller coaster! She really didn't think it would do her back -- which was once again vehemently protesting her upright position -- any good at all.

Even before Professor Snape could respond, the goblin was shaking his head. "Due to the way you wished the account to be set up, you are the only witch or wizard with access to the vault. You only have access to it until your child is born. Afterward, no witch or wizard may enter for 30 years, and then, until recognized by the vault, only your child will have access. In fact, until he is recognized after his 30th birthday, not even a key is enough to gain access. He must come personally and prove his identity."

Professor Snape stepped forward, frowning. "I will not allow her to go alone."

The goblin nodded. "You may go with her, you merely cannot enter the vault itself. The protections will prevent it."

Hermione was glad he was going with her. At least with him along, she might not tense up quite so much. She could only hope, anyway. She really didn't like roller coasters!

x-x-x

Severus released a sigh of relief when the trolly slowed to a stop. He never had liked these damn things, and right now, they seemed downright dangerous. After the first turn, he'd been surprised to find his arm wrapped tightly around the Gryffindor's shoulders, keeping her from sliding around. Even more surprising was the fact that she hadn't protested in the slightest. She had, in fact, grabbed on to him as fearing for her life. It had felt uncomfortably good.

The goblin clerk accompanying them was already out of the cart, ready and waiting.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he quickly removed himself from the trolley, taking the holding bag with him. The moment his feet were on solid ground, he turned around and assisted Miss Granger out as well. He frowned when she winced. She was also trembling noticibly, something that couldn't be good for a stressed back.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I hate those things almost as much as I hate brooms!"

"Your vault is right this way, Madam," the goblin said and walked away, clearly expecting them to follow.

They did so, Severus picking the bag back up.

"Place your hand right here," the goblin instructed, pointing to a smoothly worn spot on the stone door that was about the size of a palm. "You will feel a slight prick when you do. After that the vault will recognize you."

Miss Granger nodded and stepped forward, doing as instructed. He smirked when she jumped the moment she had.

It didn't take long after that to get the contents of the holding bag into the vault. He carried it as far as the door and then handed it to Miss Granger. He almost laughed as she merely walked to the back center of the vault and upended the bag, slowly stepping backward as more and more 'treasure' spilled out. By the time the bag ceased dropping coins and other valuables, she was standing 2/3 of the way back toward the entrance. It truly was impressive to see the amount that had been contained in the deceptively small, light bag. Miss Granger echoed his thoughts quite adequately.

"Wow!"

He snorted, making certain no one present believed he might actually agree. Miss Granger cast him a dark look, but didn't say anything. She simply shook her head and exited the vault. She slumped when the came within sight of the cart.

"Is there anyway out of here besides the cart?" she asked, not sounding like she held out much hope.

"No, Madam," the goblin replied, already climbing on board the cart. "For security reasons, the carts are the only way in and out of the vault areas."

She had only taken one more step toward the cart when she doubled over, crying out.

Severus was there in an instant, supporting her as she sank down to the cold stone floor. He didn't think it was a good idea, but she was on her knees before he could form his protest that the cart would surely be a better place to rest -- cleaner, certainly.

"Owww!" she whimpered, clutching her abdomen.

"What is wrong, Miss Granger?" he asked sharply.

Her eyes widened suddenly and filled with a look he could only interpret as panic.

Even as she spoke next, he figured out the problem as his knees felt fluid soaking through his robes.

"The baby's coming," she whispered.

"It can't!" he exclaimed, then snapped his mouth shut, hopefully cutting off any further idiotic statements. Even he knew it was useless to protest. Babies came when they wanted to, not to anyone else's convenient time table. He bent forward, fully intending on physically lifting the witch to the cart. They needed to get to Poppy.

Miss Granger cried out again, the sound followed rather abruptly by a fresh flood of fluid. He winced and aborted his attempt to pick her up.

"Oh, God! I need to push."

Absolute horror filled Severus as it hit him. She hadn't just meant she was in labor, she meant the baby was coming this very minute! He whipped his head to the side to stare at the Goblin. "We need a mediwitch," he snapped shortly. "Please send someone to Hogwarts to get Poppy Pomfrey here right away." He'd have . . . suggested the goblin do it himself to save the wasted time to find a gobetween, but he knew damn well it wouldn't do any good, and they would waste more time arguing than to just do it this way in the first place.

Miss Granger cried out again and began panting oddly, regaining his instant, worried attention. He barely noticed when the cart departed, the goblin aboard. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his worry making him even sharper than he intended to be.

She didn't answer, merely glared at him as she continued panting. A full minute or so later, her breathing evened out and her entire body relaxed against his arm. "Read about it. Lamaaz book. Helps to keep from pushing."

He nodded sagely, as if he knew just what she was talking about. Inside, however, he was panicking. Was she supposed to push or not? He had less than no clue. He wasn't a bloody mediwizard!

"I'm scared, Professor."

Severus blinked in surprise. It was the first time he'd ever heard a Gryffindor admit to such a thing. Why did it have to happen when he was already scared out of his mind? The feeling made him defensive and he sneered in response. "Such a Gryffindor."

"Please, don't," Hermione whimpered, making him wince, crying out as she tensed again.

"I'm sorry," he whispered fiercely. Where the bloody hell is that mediwitch!? he thought frantically.

Hermione started panting again, only this time she didn't continue. She seemingly convulsed once, then curled up away from his supporting arm.

"Don't push!" he shouted, the moment he figured out what was happening. Pushing would make it come faster. It couldn't come until Poppy arrived!

"Can't . . . Not."

Which Severus interpreted as meaning she couldn't not push.

"Pant, Hermione," he urged, rubbing her back. Please! "You said it helped."

I have to calm down! he told himself sternly. I can bloody well lie to the Dark Lord's face, but I panic in the face of child birth!?

Hermione suddenly relaxed against his arm. "Baby doesn't care anymore," she breathed. "Can feel it."

"Feel it?" he yelped, clearing his throat immediately after, hoping that Hermione was too . . . involved to notice his loss of dignity.

She nodded. "Yes," she replied. "Part way out," she huffed as she shifted onto her bum, bending her legs until her knees were almost pressed to her chest.

She growled then, twisting oddly.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

She growled again, beginning to pant. "Can't . . . get . . . knickers . . . off!" she gasped in between her rapid, nearly panicked breaths.

Severus froze. "What?!"

She didn't respond, curling up like she had before, her entire body trembling with effort. The moment she relaxed, however, was a different matter entirely.

"WELL!" she screeched at him. "Are you just going to sit there like a bump on a log or are you going to HELP?"

"I don't know what to do except try to keep you calm," he replied, trying to sound patient, not something he'd exactly had a great deal of experience with.

"Get my blasted knickers off!" she snapped, apparently beyond anything remotely resembling embarrassment. She reached down and hiked her robes up to hip level and delved under them, but didn't seem to be able to do what she wanted.

"I can't believe this is happening," Severus muttered, mostly to himself, as he reached down and . . . assisted, looking only enough to make sure he didn't touch anywhere more intimately than absolutely necessary. There shouldn't be that much blood, should there?

"YOU DON"T?" she screamed at him. "I was supposed to have this baby in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey right there!" She mumbled something he couldn't hear under her breath.

"What?" he asked, absently, too worried about the blood to pay close attention. He briefly considered asking her, but didn't want to panic her more than she already was.

"I said," she replied tightly, "if Lucius Malfoy were here right now, I would rip his bollucks and dick off and shove them up his arse so far they'd stick out his mouth!"

Ouch! Severus thought, wincing the moment what she said fully registered.

She curled up again, this time her hands wrapped around her bent legs, pulling them back up to her chest. "Play catch," she growled through clenched teeth, saying nothing more until she finally relaxed back against his arm.

Play catch?

"Damn it all, Severus!" she snapped angrily. "Get your arse down there and bloody well catch the baby!"

He could feel his face heat even as he tried to remember the last time he'd come even close to blushing. Numbly, he shifted her so her upper back was inches from the wall and moved. He was truly going to have to talk to the girl about her language . . . later . . . sometime."

You'll pay for this Poppy Pomfrey! he vowed silently.

"Merlin!" he breathed in shock. Hermione was stretched incredibly wide, the baby's blood covered head plainly visible, pushing its way out. That bloody well has to be painful! he thought in horror, suddenly rather profoundly grateful he'd been born male. He felt himself grow light headed and nearly growled, himself. Now was not the time to pass out!

The moment she recurled and began pushing again, the baby's head slipped out and Severus hurriedly reached forward, supporting it. He wasn't entirely certain what to do, though, now that he had hold of the slippery thing. Was he supposed to actually pull a bit? The way things were now, Hermione had closed around the baby's neck. That couldn't be good. Frowning in concentration, he pulled very gently, and between the two of them -- her pushing and him pulling -- the shoulders slowly emerged.

Severus almost yelped when the moment the shoulders fully cleared Hermione's body, the rest of the baby slipped out and into his waiting hands. He stared in absolute shock at the screaming infant for several seconds. He held a brand new life in his hands and for a moment he was at a complete loss -- again. He was actually getting used to the feeling; it had happened so often in the last twenty minutes or so.

Shaking himself suddenly, he lay the baby on Hermione's chest and shrugged out of his robes and covered both Hermione and the baby with them. He was startled as Hermione tensed again and began pushing. She's having twins!? Severus thought indignantly. She never told me that! Then wondered if the cord from the baby that still reached inside her would get in the way. Desperately hoping he was doing the right thing, he reached forward again and gently pulled on the cord.

It pulled easily, but what came out after, nearly had Severus leaning to the side and separating himself from his breakast. That is not a baby, he thought, even as he frowned deeply at the gush of blood that followed the mass of soft, bloody flesh. He wished he dared cast the healing spells he knew, minor or not, they would do at least a little good. Unfortunately, it wasn't allowed, and Gringotts had sufficient protection spells in place to make sure magic didn't get used. He would do Hermione no good at all unconscious -- or worse.

"Oooo," Hermione moaned softly, "dizzy."

Severus snapped his head up at her words, his worry deepening. He met her eyes and saw knowing there. His chest tightened painfully, fully realizing there wasn't a damn thing he could do.

"I'm bleeding, aren't I?" she asked; though, it was as much statement as query.

He hesitated briefly, then nodded once sharply.

"Tear in uterus," she said, her eyes tearing up.

Severus heart clenched. He'd forgotten about that. If he'd remembered, he would have deposited her in the cart regardless of her reaction.

"Make sure that everyone knows I wanted Draco to have him," she choked out.

"Don't!" Severus snapped, unreasonably angry at her. "Don't you give up! Madam Pomfrey will be here soon."

Hermione shook her head, the glint in her eyes hard despite her tears. "This child belongs to Draco Malfoy, by right of adoption!" she declared firmly. "Make sure the world knows that is my wish!"

"Are you a Gryffindor or not?" Severus sneered, outwardly disdainful. Inwardly, however, he was fighting tears of his own. Where the hell was Madam Pomfrey? "I thought Gryffindors never gave up!"

"So tired," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"Don't you dare go to sleep, Hermione!" he shouted, shaking her shoulder, lightly so as not to dislodge the now quiet infant. She didn't respond. She was breathing, though.

The cart sounded behind him and Severus launched himself to his feet, only to bend back down and scoop the unconscious girl into his arms. He strode swiftly over to right beside where the cart should stop and set Hermione down again.

The moment the cart came into view, he began informing Poppy what had happened, shouting to be heard.

The very instant the cart stopped, Poppy was out of it and kneeling next to Hermione.

"Take the baby, Severus," Poppy said shortly, pulling potions out of her bag. "I've got to get the bleeding stopped."

Severus did so automatically, his eyes never moving from Hermione. "Don't you dare die, Hermione Granger!" he whispered fiercely, holding the baby to his chest. Don't leave before I get the chance to tell you how I feel, damn you!

Never before had Severus so wished to have just a tiny portion of the famed Gryffindor style bravery. If he had, he would have already told her.

TBC
Kiristeen ke Alaya
Feedback: It's like air to my muses! Please give them what they crave. : )
AN: I won't make you wait a week for the next update, I promise!
AN2: There are only two more chapters after this one. It won't completely tie everything up in nice tidy package, but then, is life like that . . . ever? : ) I am thinking a sequel will be a good thing at some point, but it will be a while before that happens. I've got several (read a couple dozen) other stories in the works, that I'd like to get at least a few of posted before I take this back up again.