They arrived at the gates of Hogwarts and began the journey to their quarters in the dungeon. It was a long walk and when they arrived Hermione sat ungracefully on the couch in front of the fire to rest. Her feet were throbbing, and her back was tender and she was hungry enough to eat a nargle. Severus came to her and began to rub her feet. "What would you like for dinner love?"
Hermione yawned and stretched. "Oh, nothing much. How about roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy... Oooh, and glazed carrots and green beans, with a salad on the side. And for desert, vanilla ice cream with crisps and chocolate syrup."
Severus grinned and shook his head. His wife had asked for some odd things to eat during her pregnancy, and he never stopped marveling at its quantities and variety. It was a good thing the house elves kept themselves prepared for anything. After the elf Paula blinked out with her order Hermione decided to get to the truth. "So what were you and Harry really talking about?"
He plastered a 'who me?' look on his face in retaliation as he rubbed her foot. Hermione wasn't buying it. "Come on. I know you think you can lie to me, but you can't. If Voldemort had lived with you 24-7, you couldn't have lied to him either, now give."
He knew she was not going to let this go and he might as well tell her so she didn't work herself into a hormone induced storm. "It was nothing. He was still stewing over his mother's message and not being told about it." Hermione moaned as he switched to rubbing the other foot. "He want's my help to contact her. I told him no. She said her peace to me and I've no intention of opening up a new dialog with her."
Hermione jumped slightly and grabbed Severus' hand. She placed it on her belly as the baby kicked and pushed a foot against her insides. "It seems your son agrees with you." She smiled at the look of astonishment on his face. The footprint, complete with toes, clearly visible on the skin of her belly.
Severus bent to kiss the baby's foot and place his cheek on the spot. "Our son. Our son agrees with me." He sighed in contentment as she stroked his hair. He had everything he could ever want. A home with a beautiful and kind woman, A job he enjoyed, no matter how much he groused about it. Friends he can confide in, and now a family of his own to protect and cherish. His arm circled her in a hug of gratitude. "I love you Hermione."
She smiled at the tender and caring man he had become. "I love you too Severus."
It wasn't so long ago that she had to fight him to even acknowledge her presence. After the stress of the war was gone, Ron and Hermione found they didn't have much in common. She was studying 24-7, as usual, for her degree and he was offered a position with a minor league quidditch team. They saw very little of each other, and the inevitable happened. Ron had found someone new, and Hermione was offered a teaching position at Hogwarts. They both acknowledged it was for the best, and their friendship survived.
When she came to Hogwarts to teach, the potions master completely ignored her. She had hoped that after the war he had mellowed, but old habits are hard to break, and he was just as taciturn as ever. After months of pursuit, small gifts, Hogsmeade weekends together, dinners in the great hall and late night lengthy potions conversations, she had finally broken down his walls enough to kiss him goodnight. It was like the muggle fairytales she'd read as a kid …And with that kiss, sleeping beauty Snape, turned into a handsome prince. They were married two months later, and lived happily ever after… well sort of.
Hermione had contacted Lydia and they were set to try in two weeks, after the semester was done. The arrangements had to be postponed when 10 days later Hermione went into labor. It was a long and difficult birth. Severus paced the halls like a crazed bowtruckle, demanding updates constantly and putting the staff on general notice that if his wife and son were injured in any way he would… Well lets just say it was something awful as I don't care to repeat such language.
Mother and child both came out of it just fine, if not the worse for wear. There was only one problem. They were both under the impression that it would be a boy as Bella had declared. They hadn't even bothered to check the sex of the child themselves. A fine baby girl was born to the Professors Snape. Elizabeth Serenity Snape, to be known as Beth. A porcelain doll, the apple of her father's eye. 7 pounds 2 oz, 21 inches long, straight black hair with her mother's nose, (thank heaven), and honey brown eyes.
Hemione woke the next morning to find Severus holding the baby close and speaking gently to her. "Daddy is just a little surprised you are a girl, but you will be the most spoiled little girl to ever live." He looked over to see Hermione smiling at the two of them. The baby began to fuss. She was hungry. He gave her to his beautiful wife. Hermione held the child to a breast and Beth took over from there.
Severus' eyes flickered with tears. "She's so beautiful Hermione. You, are so beautiful." He sat at her bedside. "Thank you for this. I love her so much already." He put a finger to Beth's little hand and she grabbed it tight causing his breath to hitch in wonderment.
Hermione had something on her mind. "I'm sorry the baby's not a boy as we thought. I know you had dreams of teaching him potions, bossing the students around and learning how to scowl correctly. I wanted him to be the image of his father." Beth was making little noises as she suckled and Hermione turned her attention away from him a moment. It was a good thing, as the stern disappointed look on Severus' face would have been hard to reconcile. Not that he was angry about the baby not being a boy, but that Hermione could ever believe him capable of anything so reprehensible.
"No such apology is necessary Madam Snape. The jewel in your arms is worth ten times all my dreams. Our child, no matter what sex, is the most precious gift I've ever been given." He put his hands on her cheeks and turned her to look at him. "I love you Hermione, now and forever, and I love my daughter more than I can ever say." Kissing her slowly, he bent close to the child. "Besides, she'll scare more students than any boy. Especially with me standing behind her every second of the day." He smiled and rubbed the plump soft cheeks gently, speaking in baby talk. "Yes, you will, won't you my angel."