A/N: see early chapters for disclaimer.
Adoring and exceptionally embarrassing thanks to my muse. Thanks, Tempesta! J Speaking of Tempesta, she's posted some new poetry in her section. If poetry is your bag, you may want to check it out.
Notes and roll of honor at the bottom…
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The next two weeks were rather silent at the school. Most of the students had gone home for the holidays, leaving the Great Hall to be so very empty that the teachers and the four remaining students ate at one table. Of course, the four students were Harry Potter, who never went home for the holidays; Ron Weasley, who would never leave Harry alone at Hogwarts for vacation; and Jonathon and Matthew Carter, who weren't about to go home since their only surviving parent and their stepfather were professors.
Harry, of course, spent all of his time with Ron, roaming the school hallways or playing with Fang, Hagrid's boarhound, in the foyer.
The Carters and Snapes, however, spent most of their time as a family unit. Severus and Jonathon played team chess against Antonia and Matthew. Often times, Antonia and Severus would accompany the boys outside for a family snowball fight.
Christmas Eve, the foursome sat inside the empty Slytherin common room together, enjoying some pleasant family time together in front of the roaring fire doing absolutely nothing. The boys were playing exploding snap together, while Antonia read some Terry Pratchett novel and Severus scribbled out ideas for a potion on a long piece of parchment.
"Professor Snape?" little Matthew asked, looking up at his stepfather.
"Yes?" Severus replied, looking up from his notes.
"May I… May I call you 'Papa'?" the first year asked hesitantly.
Antonia was still, looking up from her book, waiting for her husband's reaction.
Severus's face spread into a warm smile. "I would be most honored."
From that time onward, Matthew and Jonathon Carter referred to Severus Snape as their papa.
* * *
Christmas morning
Severus woke up and reached out for his wife. Her space in the bed was still warm, but Antonia was no where to be found. He bolted upright to a sitting position. "Antonia?" he called out, slightly concerned.
He heard retching sounds from the 'loo, and heard the unmistakable gasping and wheezing of Antonia.
Severus kicked his legs over the side of the bed and rushed off to the washroom. She was on her knees, clutching the toilet bowl, weak and pale and shaking.
"What's
wrong, darling?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. She seemed fine last night…
"I…" She broke off and clutched her abdomen before leaning back over the toilet bowl. She'd just emptied out the contents of last night's dinner, he was certain. He'd never seen a woman throw up so much in his entire life.
He held her hair away from her face and stroked her back, hating the feel of her spine seizing up under his hand.
Once she'd finished, he gave her a glass of water to rinse her mouth out with and wiped her face with a damp cloth. "Feel better?" he asked, putting a hand against her forehead. Her flesh was clammy to the touch.
His wife nodded weakly. "Much, thanks."
"Should I get Pomfrey down here?" he pressed, concern etched in his face.
She shook her head. "That won't be necessary, darling. I know what it is, and I know how long it should take to be over it."
He looked at her quizzically. "How long should this last?"
"Oh, about seven and a half more months…"
He closed his eyes and hugged her close. "There has to be a cure," he whispered. "I won't sit back and let you waste away to your death."
She pushed herself back from him and looked up at him. Antonia smiled and shook her head. "Death? Oh, darling, I'm not dying…" She laughed gently, a light and tinkly sound. "I'm pregnant."
His face went through a myriad of expressions, as did his thoughts. Shock, disbelief, terror, and, finally, excitement. "We're going to have our own baby?" he said slowly, his voice awestricken. He seemed to realize the magnitude of this announcement and threw his arms around her and held her tight. "We're going to have a baby!" he cried joyously.
She laughed, thrilled that he was so excited. "Merry Christmas, darling," she whispered. "Now, would you like to help me up so that I may brush my teeth? I feel as though I'd just eaten a vomit-flavored Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean."
Gently, he lifted his wife from the floor and lightly set her on her feet. He looked ready to dance a jig or something equally ridiculous. Of course, he didn't. Her husband was far too dignified for that.
He resisted the urge to put the paste on her toothbrush for her, although he really was worried about her straining herself… He wasn't going to make an ass out of himself first thing in the morning.
"Severus, do you want to bring the boys in, so we can tell them the good news?" she asked, rinsing out her toothbrush. She reached for the green face cloth beside the sink and wiped the toothpaste residue from her mouth.
"Gladly, darling… Just don't do anything strenuous or anything… Let the fae move things around for you…"
She laughed. "Severus, I promise that I won't break. Besides that, I have my trusty wand. I'll be just fine."
"Okay," he said reluctantly. He pulled her close, gently wrapping his arms around her midsection and kissing her temple.
Fifteen minutes later, Antonia had gotten herself dressed in comfortable green robes. Her hair was cascading down her back, long and loose. She refused to do anything high maintenance with her hair if she didn't have to. Make-up? Why bother? She hated the stuff, anyway.
She settled herself back in bed, pillows cushioning her back as she sat up to read. Antonia picked up her wand and pointed it at the candles. "Cremare," she yawned, not even paying attention to the suddenness of the candles flashing to life.
Antonia had just opened her book when the door flew open. Startled, she checked to make sure her tiny bottle was in her pocket. It was, much to her relief.
"Mum!" the boys cried, rushing over to their mother's bed. While they were eleven and twelve, neither one of them had ever outgrown the need to pounce on her for Christmas morning.
The towheaded boys plopped into bed with her, one on each side. Severus stood back and watched, amazed at how the two boys resembled their mother.
She laughed softly and wrapped her arms around both of her boys. "Merry Christmas, my boys," she greeted, kissing them both.
"Can we open presents, Mum?" Jonathon asked, resting his head on her shoulder.
"First things first, love. I have a bit of news for you… Your Papa Severus and I are very excited… You're going to get a new brother or sister."
"Really, Mum?" Matthew asked.
"No, dimwit, she's joshing us," Jonathon replied sarcastically, glaring at his brother.
"Jonathon, don't call your brother names," she scolded.
"But, Mum, honestly, if he would think…"
She silenced him with a glare.
"Yes, Mum."
She ruffled Jonathon's hair. "Okay, up with you both. I'd like to get out of bed today."
The boys scrambled out of bed. Severus rushed over to help his wife get up.
"Really, Severus, I'm not going to break, I promise," she scolded, pushing his helpful hands away. Once she was on her feet, she gave her attention back to her children. "So, how do you two feel about a little brother or a sister?"
"I think it's pretty cool," Jonathon remarked. "Of course, I'll be so much older than the baby that I won't really be around much… I mean, when it starts Hogwarts, I'll already be finished with school and an Auror…"
"Yes, Jonathon, I'm aware that you'll be a much older brother… That just happens to be how things worked out," Antonia shrugged. "What of you, Matthew?"
He smiled. "I've always wanted a little sister…"
Severus spoke up. "Your mother and I can't guarantee which one you'll get…"
Matthew nodded. "I know, Papa. Can we open presents, now?"
"I suppose…" Severus sighed, leading his family into the Slytherin Commons Room. There was a myriad of gifts heaped under the tree for the Snapes and Delaneys. Antonia sat closest to the tree and handed out gifts, while Severus sat beside her. Matthew and Jonathon sat on the rug, as well, facing their parents and the tree.
"First gift… To Papa, from Matthew," Antonia read.
Severus
looked surprised, but accepted the package. He ripped open the green paper and found a jar of porcupine quills. He laughed. "How did you know that I needed these, Matthew?" He ruffled his stepson's blond hair and
thought of going back to making the Severus Challenge once all this rot with
the Dark Lord was over with. Ah,
well, some day, perhaps.
"Do you like them, Papa?" Matthew asked, looking concerned.
"Very much," he promised.
Matthew was all smiles as Antonia dug out the next present. "Oh! This one is for me, from Severus…" She opened her gift and was thrilled to find a ladies pocket watch. "Oh, Severus," she breathed, holding the antique watch up to the light with two fingers pinching the chain.
"Now I won't have you asking me a hundred times a day for the time," he smiled, kissing his wife's forehead.
By the end of the present unwrapping, Matthew had gotten a new book on potions, with a promise from Papa Severus to help him with the barking dog potion, a box of chocolate frogs, three sets of new school robes, a new cloak, and a set of wizard chessmen. Jonathon had gotten a book on Quidditch, a box of treacle fudge, three sets of new school robes, and a new cauldron (since he'd melted the last one in Potions class, much to Snape's chagrin), and a set of wizard chessmen of his own. The last two boxes were held for the end.
"There's one for each of you, from Papa Severus and Mum," Antonia said, handing the parcels out to the boys.
She looked
at Severus quizzically, her eyes saying, What did you do?
His
own eyes answered, Just wait and see, darling.
Antonia turned her eyes back to her children and watched them rip open their broomsticks. Inside the box was not the Nimbus 2000 that she'd purchased. It had been upgraded to a Nimbus 2002, a broom that was second only to the Firebolt.
"I thought you'd do better for them if you'd been working at the Ministry," he whispered. "I didn't think it fair that your reduction in pay should equal a reduction in gifts for the boys."
She smiled. "I think they made out okay. Did you like your gifts, darling?"
Jonathon had gotten Papa Severus a jar of dragon livers; Antonia had given him a platinum cauldron and some crystal vials, as well as a new raincloak. Her big surprise gift for him was a picture for the inside of the pocket watch that Antonia and the boys had given him. It was a picture of Antonia and the boys, all together, grinning and waving whenever he opened it.
Severus looked at the outside of the pocket watch. Silver, with green accents, it had the Slytherin House emblem engraved on the front cover. "I love it," he whispered, kissing her fingertips.
Her face glowed. "Shall we go to the Great Hall for breakfast?" she suggested.
Severus put his hands under her arms and gently lifted her to her feet. "Let's go, boys," he said to the children, who were oohing and aahing over their new broomsticks. Severus casually put an arm around his wife's shoulder and escorted his family to the Great Hall.
Professor Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were already at the table. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were settling into their seats when Professors Snape and the boys came in.
"Good morning, Antonia, Severus," Dumbledore greeted. "You look particularly happy this morning, Antonia." Dumbledore shifted his gaze to the potions master and couldn't believe what was before his eyes. "Severus, good God, man, you're practically smiling!"
Antonia sat down beside Severus and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to tell them, darling, or should I?" she asked, peering up at him with a silly grin on her face.
"You can tell him," Severus replied.
Antonia turned and gave Dumbledore a ten-thousand watt smile. "I'm pregnant."
Dumbledore smiled broadly. "Congratulations to you both." He sighed wistfully. "It's been so long since Hogwarts has heard the pitter patter of tiny feet." The ancient headmaster snapped back to merriment as he added, "However, the old castle is certainly very familiar with the thud-thud of very big feet." He smiled warmly at the remaining boys at that statement.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley just looked at each other, both of them looking rather nauseated.
Shocked that I actually have sex with my husband, I suppose, Antonia thought nastily. She felt no sympathy for the two little rug rats over that.
Minerva McGonagall was flabbergasted. "Congratulations to the both of you," she offered, a weak smile on her face.
"You are planning on staying on at Hogwarts?" the headmaster inquired, looking at the Professors Snape as he buttered his toast.
Antonia nodded weakly, fighting the waves of nausea that swept over her. "I think that's the game plan… We haven't really discussed anything, yet."
The feast before them was amazing. Belgian waffles, sausages, bacon, eggs, toast, every jam and jelly known to mankind, as well as different toppings for the waffles. Antonia marveled at the fact that the old table was still standing under the weight of all that food.
She also marveled at how ill the smell of it made her. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go back to my room and lay down for a little while…"
His black eyes examined her, scrutinized her… "You don't look well," he agreed, rising to escort her back to their chamber.
She smiled faintly. "I'm fine… Just the smell of food this early doesn't agree with me at all."
She stood up and went back to the dungeons. Antonia had to admit, even though she felt queasy, life was pretty damned good.
* * *
Harry and Ron lost their appetite rather early on in breakfast after Professor Snape made her announcement. In fact, they left only a few minutes after she did, and headed up to the empty Gryffindor commons.
"Ugh. A pregnant Professor Snape," Ron groaned, making artificial gagging sounds.
Harry's face was an interesting shade of green as he trudged up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. "I know. I think I'm going to be sick. How could she do… do that with Snape? I mean, she's so pretty that she could have anyone she wanted. Why would she stick herself with Snape?"
Ron Weasley and Harry Potter spent the better part of their morning in disgust over the prospect of Snape being a father.
* * *
By lunchtime, Antonia felt much more up to snuff. She spent the afternoon bundled up on the sidelines of the quidditch pitch and watched Papa Severus play with the boys on their new brooms.
Antonia was smiling as she watched her husband cling unsteadily to his broomstick as her two children zoomed around him on their Christmas presents. She couldn't wait to see Severus tying ribbons in a little girl's hair or taking a little boy off to go searching for herbs in the Forbidden Forrest.
You, my love, will be an excellent father… My boys and I are so lucky to have found you, she thought, looking adoringly at her family.
Around dusk, Severus swooped down on his broom and landed beside her. "I think the boys want to stay out a bit longer. Why don't you go back inside and have a cup of hot tea?" He stroked her cheek with two fingers and kissed her forehead gently. "I don't want you getting a chill," he added, pulling her hood more tightly around her.
She smiled and nodded. "I'll be waiting for you in our bedchamber, darling. Perhaps you'll be ready to come in and put me to bed very soon?"
A half smile stretched across his face. "You and me, curled up in bed in front of a nice, roaring fire? I wouldn't miss that for the world."
"I love you," she said warmly, looking over her shoulder at her husband as he rose up on his broom. She then began the walk up to the castle.
Antonia floated back into the castle and glided down the stairs to their dungeon chambers. The Bloody Baron floated past her, the silver bloodstains gleaming on his robes. "Good evening to you, Mrs. Snape," he said in his somber, hoarse voice.
Antonia smiled at the ghost. He rarely spoke to anyone, but, then again, her husband was the head of his house. "Good evening to you, my Lord," she replied pleasantly, bowing her head to the long-dead nobleman. She'd grown accustomed to the ghost's voice long ago… After all, she supposed, how clear would your voice be if your throat had been slit?
The Bloody Baron glided through a wall, leaving Antonia to continue her thoughts as she moved though the castle.
She opened the door to their bedchamber and was greeted by a wave of icy air. Damned elves, she thought, shivering profusely. The house elves seldom made it down into the dungeons, and the bedchamber always felt like bloody death. Idly, she wondered if they gave the Slytherin commons room better treatment.
"Cremare," she ordered. The candles flickered to life and the fireplace came to a nice, roaring blaze. Antonia draped her cloak over the back of a chair to dry and curled up in bed with a stack of papers to grade. One of the house elves… Creaky, perhaps?… brought her a cup of tea as she read over a third year student's paper on Cornish Pixies.
Nearly four papers later, Severus and the boys came back indoors and joined her in the bedchamber.
"Jonathon, Matthew, perhaps you two would like to pull out your papers and rework them? They were abysmally below your capabilities," Antonia admonished.
Her children sighed. "Yes, Mum," they both groaned.
Antonia smiled welcomingly as Severus settled down in bed beside her, both of them propped up against the pillows, lying atop the bedclothes. Severus began reading one of those infernal Terry Pratchett muggle works that his wife insisted that he needed to read.
Nearly two hours later, Matthew and Jonathon had revised their papers into something that they could each be proud of. The boys then decided that they'd rather wander about the castle and be on their own, rather than watch their parents do paperwork and read.
Severus turned a page in his book and began sniggering as he read.
"What's so funny, darling?" Antonia asked, delighted to see that her husband seemed to be enjoying some of the books that she loved… books that he'd also deemed as "muggle trash."
"This," he remarked. He began to read out loud.
Examine Rincewind, as he peers around the sullen shelves. There are eight levels of wizardry on the Disc; after sixteen years Rincewind has failed to achieve even level one. In fact, it is the considered opinion of some of his tutors that he is incapable even of achieving level zero, which most normal people are born at; to put it another way, it has been suggested that when Rincewind dies the average occult ability of the human race will actually go up a fraction.
"Sounds like Rincewind is based on Neville Longbottom," Snape sniggered.
"Severus," Antonia remarked reproachfully. "The boy isn't that terrible… He's just terrified of you."
"If, perhaps, he could manage to go one bloody class without melting a cauldron or blowing something up, then he may not find me so terrifying," he replied coldly, a sneer across his face.
Antonia put her paperwork on the nightstand and rolled on her side to face her husband. "You know what I find terrifying?" she whispered.
He closed the book and set it aside. "What's that?"
"When you just look at me and you don't even kiss me," she answered, her voice teasing.
"Then we'll just have to do something about that, won't we?" Severus rolled over on his side and gently stroked her cheek with two fingers.
She closed her eyes, savoring his touch. She felt his lips gently brush hers and his arms wrap around her.
"I love you, Antonia Snape," he murmured, pulling her closer. "And I love our baby."
She wrapped her arms around him, as well. "We love you, too." They fell asleep, still in their clothes, entangled in each other's arms.
The tiny child in her womb remained, peacefully swimming about in its blissful sea of ignorance.
Prue: Probably. I never can get those two right. They're a lot like Rosencrantz and Gildenstern in Hamlet (and in the play Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are dead.) They play the same function, and are therefore easily interchangeable. (For me, anyway)
Michelle: I never said otherwise. In fact, every bruise that Antonia has acquired from Severus has been related to sex. Sirius is just being an ass.
Gryffindor: Oh, how you flatter me!
Sphinx: Done. Challenge met. As for Cymbeline, Shakespeare has been dead for so long that he's beyond copyright. Enjoy. Oh, and if you live around a Barnes and Noble, you may want to check out their collected works of Shakespeare. Leather bound, includes all sonnets and plays, as well as his other poetry, for the low price of $20. There's something similar to it on Amazon.com, too.
Special thanks to you guys for reviewing: w&m_law, Prue Halliwell, Michelle, Amanita Lestrange, Bob spelled backwards, Gryffindor, Katie Weasley, …, Tessie, Jaidon, Sphinx, Fiona, Rushumble, T'Res, and Cassie