Disclaimer: I own the plot, the rest belongs to JKR.
The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celferon wohsi"
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Chapter Seventeen: Easter Break, and Severus's Birthday
The first morning of the break, Severus went to the train station with Hagrid to meet Solenne Snape as she was arriving on the Hogwarts Express before the train left again for London. He smiled and hugged his mother hello, introducing her to Hagrid before realizing that his mother had not come alone. His sister Elaina and Elaina's three children were with her. Severus blinked but greeted them as well before introducing them to Hagrid and leading the small group back to Hogwarts.
On the way back Severus mentally warned Harry that his mother had brought along his sister, nieces and nephew. Harry had just smiled, chuckled and let Severus know that he really didn't care whom she'd brought along and that he'd simply turn down some more beds. Harry was in the castle putting the finishing touches on the nursery so that Solenne would be able to see it.
They had it decorated in both Slytherin and Gryffindor colors, both of the cribs decorated with Dragons and Phoenixes, along with Griffins and Serpents. There were two wardrobes filled with baby clothes that either sex could wear, along with two matching toy chests, filled over the brim of baby toys. There was a bookcase of children's stories, and the room had been decorated into that of every magical child's dreams.
Harry had set up one of Severus's guest rooms for Solenne, but had moved on to setting up one for Elaina, one for Dante and one for Arianna and Oriana to share. Severus didn't show it to anyone outside of family, but he always had a soft spot for his nieces and nephew and their guest rooms looked very much like their own bedrooms back at their house, filled with children's toys and children's books.
Harry was just setting down the last bed when the small group arrived. Harry walked into the sitting room and smiled, but before he could get out anything, Elaina smothered him in an almost bone crushing hug and said, "Harry it's so wonderful to see you doing so well! How have things been going with the pregnancy?"
Harry chuckled and said, "Oh, you know. Like any pregnancy I suspect, mood swings are god-awful and I have a completely new respect for my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother now."
Elaina just chuckled and said, "Don't worry dear, soon you'll have two screaming babies and mood swings will be the leaser of the two evils. Wouldn't you agree Mother?"
Solenne chuckled right along with her, smiled broadly and said, "Oh I don't know about that Elaina, sometimes the mood swings are still worse. Harry, dear you look wonderful. I'm glad to see my grandchildren aren't causing too much stress on you."
Harry just smiled and said, "They aren't so bad most days."
Solenne gave him a warm hug and whispered in his ear, "Were you able to get something for Severus for his birthday, dear? I can always run out for you if you'd like."
Harry whispered right back, "I found the perfect gift for him piled up in one of my inheritances. I'd never use it, but he'll get more use out of it than the person who made it I suspect."
Solenne chuckled and said, "Well, just thought I'd check."
Harry nodded and turned to see Dante, Arianna and Oriana all looking at him with curious gazes. Harry smiled, sat down on a chair and said, "Feel free to come over here and feel the babies kick if you like."
All three of them rushed over and put their hands on Harry's stomach causing everyone else to chuckle while the babies kicked and poked their cousins' hands through Harry's stomach. Oriana looked up at Harry and asked, "Uncwe Hawwie, is the bay-bies in der?"
Harry smiled and nodded before saying, "Yes Oriana, can you feel them kicking hello to you?"
Oriana smiled and nodded, giggling as one of the twins pressed their hand right up against hers. Harry smiled back and said, "You know the only other person they usually do this for is your Uncle Severus."
Elaina nodded, "My three did that when Antonio put his hands on my stomach. It's like they knew their Daddy was there. I suspect most babies do that at some point or another."
Severus came in from the small kitchen giving Solenne and Elaina tea, while giving Dante, Arianna and Oriana hot chocolate. Severus sat down next to Harry and motioned for everyone else to sit as well. Oriana sat on Severus's lap drinking her hot chocolate and checking Harry's stomach for baby kicks every few minutes.
The small group spent the day catching up on news, Elaina and Antonio had decided to open up a new store in Diagon Alley, leaving their store chain in Italy and moving back to England to take an active position against Lord Voldemort this time. Harry insisted that Elaina, Antonio and the children stay at Hogwarts if they were going to do that as they could very well be captured and used to lure Harry or Severus out of the castle and into Voldemort's clutches.
Solenne had scoffed at the mention of Voldemort and said, "He's nothing but a little boy that needs his Mummy. And a right good spanking if you ask me."
Harry had just smiled at Solenne and said, "You know, you're probably right. Who knows, if someone had stepped in and not allowed him to be placed in that orphanage perhaps he never would have become Voldemort at all. But we'll never know now."
Severus had seen the wheels turning in Harry's head however and said loudly and firmly, but mentally to Harry, 'Forget it Harry. We're not adopting every orphan of this war that has no family to turn to, we'll be broke and out of room faster then a snitch.'
Harry just mentally retorted, 'I'm not thinking every orphan, perhaps just one or two?'
The small group of Snapes sat talking and enjoying the company of one another and the theatrical performances that the twins seemed to be putting on for Oriana. At lunchtime they all waltzed into the Great Hall together to join the remaining students and faculty. Harry was carrying Oriana and Arianna was latched onto Severus's hand telling her Uncle Severus all about her new classes, and her brand new pink ballerina costume.
Dante was holding onto Solenne's hand telling his grandmother about his studies, and asking her questions about the castle as they walked through. Elaina and Harry were talking about baby things while watching amusedly as Oriana kept patting Harry's stomach. Harry, still carrying Oriana, stepped aside slightly to say hello to some of the Gryffindors, while Severus re- introduced the staff to the other visiting Snapes.
Harry smiled and walked up to the small group of Gryffindors and said, "Hello everyone, having fun without me are you?"
Hermione smiled at Harry and said, "Are you daft Harry? Ron Weasley have fun without his best friend in the entire world? Of course we're not! Now who is this little princess you've got with you?"
Harry was about to answer when Oriana answered herself, "I is Ori, and dis is my Unwe Hawwie."
Harry smiled as Ginny picked right up where Hermione left of and said, "Well hello there Ori, we're your Uncle Harry's friends. I'm Ginny, this is Neville, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Katie."
Oriana smiled and said, "Hello."
Katie smiled back at Oriana and said, "Hi Ori. Are you having fun with your Uncle Harry?"
Oriana nodded grinning widely, "Da Bay-bies ikes me!"
Harry chuckled and explained a little further, "They've been kicking, poking and prodding every time she goes near my stomach. I just thought I'd say hello before going back up there to sit with Severus and everyone else. His mum brought with his sister and her children, so I'll likely be very busy while they're here. Not to mention, though don't you dare tell anyone I told you, but Severus's birthday is in two days."
Everyone laughed and promised not to say a thing; Harry and Oriana said their goodbyes before walking up to sit with Severus and the rest of the staff. Almost no one had gone home over the Easter Break, Harry privately thought they were expecting Harry to have the babies early and didn't want to miss it, or they simply didn't want to risk the danger Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were causing.
The next two days went by quickly between the small group of Snapes congregating in Harry and Severus's rooms. Several of the students kept commenting that they were under attack by Snapes, which every time Severus heard resulted in points being taken off. The day of Severus's birthday none of the Snapes left Harry and Severus's rooms. Harry woke Severus up to a birthday morning shag, which they hadn't done in at least a month because of Harry's overly hormonal mood swings.
After which, Solenne and Elaina made everyone an incredible morning breakfast that showed just how much time each woman spent in kitchens regardless of how many house elves there were around. Oriana and Arianna gave Severus big hugs and kisses along with singing 'Happy Birthday' at the top of their lungs. Dante merely sang along with them, giving his Uncle a hug once they were done.
Oriana presented Severus with her birthday present, a picture she had drawn of Severus and Harry. Arianna drew a picture of her Unicorn, but had gotten Elaina to enchant it so that it was as if it were like any other Wizarding Portrait, it moved. Elaina, Antonio and Dante had picked out a new set of robes for Severus, a dark navy blue instead of his traditional black.
Solenne gave Severus a pensieve, telling him to start unburdening himself before he starts taking it out on his little ones. Aramis, like the usual custom, ignored his son's birthday completely. Harry was slightly frustrated with Severus's father and decided he'd talk with him about it. Then Severus opened up Harry's gift, a Potions book filled with several Potions that had been lost for centuries, written by Merlin himself.
Severus was flabbergasted to say the least; Harry merely smirked and said, "Well, what else would Merlin's heir give to a Potions Master for his birthday?"
They spent the rest of the break listening to Severus go on and on about the new Potions he was brewing. Harry thought he was rather reminded of Hermione when she was in the library making a new discovery, he told Hermione and Ron about this but didn't dare tell his husband, knowing that being compared to a Gryffindor and a Know-It-All on top of that would be something Severus would take as an insult rather than the joking manner Harry meant it. Severus, Harry, Albus, Minerva and Hagrid went with Solenne, Elaina, Dante, Arianna and Oriana to the train station when they left, and helped get the students back to the castle.
The next few weeks went by quickly, Severus and Harry were both starting to get anxious for the babies to arrive, and it seemed the entire castle wasn't far behind in wanting to meet the little ones. Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup, and Harry joined in the party afterwards, crying like a baby himself with the sheer overwhelming hormones that went along with winning that year. Then on the night of May 17th, Harry woke up to his first contraction, just at the stroke of midnight.
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The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celferon wohsi"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Seventeen: Easter Break, and Severus's Birthday
The first morning of the break, Severus went to the train station with Hagrid to meet Solenne Snape as she was arriving on the Hogwarts Express before the train left again for London. He smiled and hugged his mother hello, introducing her to Hagrid before realizing that his mother had not come alone. His sister Elaina and Elaina's three children were with her. Severus blinked but greeted them as well before introducing them to Hagrid and leading the small group back to Hogwarts.
On the way back Severus mentally warned Harry that his mother had brought along his sister, nieces and nephew. Harry had just smiled, chuckled and let Severus know that he really didn't care whom she'd brought along and that he'd simply turn down some more beds. Harry was in the castle putting the finishing touches on the nursery so that Solenne would be able to see it.
They had it decorated in both Slytherin and Gryffindor colors, both of the cribs decorated with Dragons and Phoenixes, along with Griffins and Serpents. There were two wardrobes filled with baby clothes that either sex could wear, along with two matching toy chests, filled over the brim of baby toys. There was a bookcase of children's stories, and the room had been decorated into that of every magical child's dreams.
Harry had set up one of Severus's guest rooms for Solenne, but had moved on to setting up one for Elaina, one for Dante and one for Arianna and Oriana to share. Severus didn't show it to anyone outside of family, but he always had a soft spot for his nieces and nephew and their guest rooms looked very much like their own bedrooms back at their house, filled with children's toys and children's books.
Harry was just setting down the last bed when the small group arrived. Harry walked into the sitting room and smiled, but before he could get out anything, Elaina smothered him in an almost bone crushing hug and said, "Harry it's so wonderful to see you doing so well! How have things been going with the pregnancy?"
Harry chuckled and said, "Oh, you know. Like any pregnancy I suspect, mood swings are god-awful and I have a completely new respect for my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother now."
Elaina just chuckled and said, "Don't worry dear, soon you'll have two screaming babies and mood swings will be the leaser of the two evils. Wouldn't you agree Mother?"
Solenne chuckled right along with her, smiled broadly and said, "Oh I don't know about that Elaina, sometimes the mood swings are still worse. Harry, dear you look wonderful. I'm glad to see my grandchildren aren't causing too much stress on you."
Harry just smiled and said, "They aren't so bad most days."
Solenne gave him a warm hug and whispered in his ear, "Were you able to get something for Severus for his birthday, dear? I can always run out for you if you'd like."
Harry whispered right back, "I found the perfect gift for him piled up in one of my inheritances. I'd never use it, but he'll get more use out of it than the person who made it I suspect."
Solenne chuckled and said, "Well, just thought I'd check."
Harry nodded and turned to see Dante, Arianna and Oriana all looking at him with curious gazes. Harry smiled, sat down on a chair and said, "Feel free to come over here and feel the babies kick if you like."
All three of them rushed over and put their hands on Harry's stomach causing everyone else to chuckle while the babies kicked and poked their cousins' hands through Harry's stomach. Oriana looked up at Harry and asked, "Uncwe Hawwie, is the bay-bies in der?"
Harry smiled and nodded before saying, "Yes Oriana, can you feel them kicking hello to you?"
Oriana smiled and nodded, giggling as one of the twins pressed their hand right up against hers. Harry smiled back and said, "You know the only other person they usually do this for is your Uncle Severus."
Elaina nodded, "My three did that when Antonio put his hands on my stomach. It's like they knew their Daddy was there. I suspect most babies do that at some point or another."
Severus came in from the small kitchen giving Solenne and Elaina tea, while giving Dante, Arianna and Oriana hot chocolate. Severus sat down next to Harry and motioned for everyone else to sit as well. Oriana sat on Severus's lap drinking her hot chocolate and checking Harry's stomach for baby kicks every few minutes.
The small group spent the day catching up on news, Elaina and Antonio had decided to open up a new store in Diagon Alley, leaving their store chain in Italy and moving back to England to take an active position against Lord Voldemort this time. Harry insisted that Elaina, Antonio and the children stay at Hogwarts if they were going to do that as they could very well be captured and used to lure Harry or Severus out of the castle and into Voldemort's clutches.
Solenne had scoffed at the mention of Voldemort and said, "He's nothing but a little boy that needs his Mummy. And a right good spanking if you ask me."
Harry had just smiled at Solenne and said, "You know, you're probably right. Who knows, if someone had stepped in and not allowed him to be placed in that orphanage perhaps he never would have become Voldemort at all. But we'll never know now."
Severus had seen the wheels turning in Harry's head however and said loudly and firmly, but mentally to Harry, 'Forget it Harry. We're not adopting every orphan of this war that has no family to turn to, we'll be broke and out of room faster then a snitch.'
Harry just mentally retorted, 'I'm not thinking every orphan, perhaps just one or two?'
The small group of Snapes sat talking and enjoying the company of one another and the theatrical performances that the twins seemed to be putting on for Oriana. At lunchtime they all waltzed into the Great Hall together to join the remaining students and faculty. Harry was carrying Oriana and Arianna was latched onto Severus's hand telling her Uncle Severus all about her new classes, and her brand new pink ballerina costume.
Dante was holding onto Solenne's hand telling his grandmother about his studies, and asking her questions about the castle as they walked through. Elaina and Harry were talking about baby things while watching amusedly as Oriana kept patting Harry's stomach. Harry, still carrying Oriana, stepped aside slightly to say hello to some of the Gryffindors, while Severus re- introduced the staff to the other visiting Snapes.
Harry smiled and walked up to the small group of Gryffindors and said, "Hello everyone, having fun without me are you?"
Hermione smiled at Harry and said, "Are you daft Harry? Ron Weasley have fun without his best friend in the entire world? Of course we're not! Now who is this little princess you've got with you?"
Harry was about to answer when Oriana answered herself, "I is Ori, and dis is my Unwe Hawwie."
Harry smiled as Ginny picked right up where Hermione left of and said, "Well hello there Ori, we're your Uncle Harry's friends. I'm Ginny, this is Neville, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Katie."
Oriana smiled and said, "Hello."
Katie smiled back at Oriana and said, "Hi Ori. Are you having fun with your Uncle Harry?"
Oriana nodded grinning widely, "Da Bay-bies ikes me!"
Harry chuckled and explained a little further, "They've been kicking, poking and prodding every time she goes near my stomach. I just thought I'd say hello before going back up there to sit with Severus and everyone else. His mum brought with his sister and her children, so I'll likely be very busy while they're here. Not to mention, though don't you dare tell anyone I told you, but Severus's birthday is in two days."
Everyone laughed and promised not to say a thing; Harry and Oriana said their goodbyes before walking up to sit with Severus and the rest of the staff. Almost no one had gone home over the Easter Break, Harry privately thought they were expecting Harry to have the babies early and didn't want to miss it, or they simply didn't want to risk the danger Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were causing.
The next two days went by quickly between the small group of Snapes congregating in Harry and Severus's rooms. Several of the students kept commenting that they were under attack by Snapes, which every time Severus heard resulted in points being taken off. The day of Severus's birthday none of the Snapes left Harry and Severus's rooms. Harry woke Severus up to a birthday morning shag, which they hadn't done in at least a month because of Harry's overly hormonal mood swings.
After which, Solenne and Elaina made everyone an incredible morning breakfast that showed just how much time each woman spent in kitchens regardless of how many house elves there were around. Oriana and Arianna gave Severus big hugs and kisses along with singing 'Happy Birthday' at the top of their lungs. Dante merely sang along with them, giving his Uncle a hug once they were done.
Oriana presented Severus with her birthday present, a picture she had drawn of Severus and Harry. Arianna drew a picture of her Unicorn, but had gotten Elaina to enchant it so that it was as if it were like any other Wizarding Portrait, it moved. Elaina, Antonio and Dante had picked out a new set of robes for Severus, a dark navy blue instead of his traditional black.
Solenne gave Severus a pensieve, telling him to start unburdening himself before he starts taking it out on his little ones. Aramis, like the usual custom, ignored his son's birthday completely. Harry was slightly frustrated with Severus's father and decided he'd talk with him about it. Then Severus opened up Harry's gift, a Potions book filled with several Potions that had been lost for centuries, written by Merlin himself.
Severus was flabbergasted to say the least; Harry merely smirked and said, "Well, what else would Merlin's heir give to a Potions Master for his birthday?"
They spent the rest of the break listening to Severus go on and on about the new Potions he was brewing. Harry thought he was rather reminded of Hermione when she was in the library making a new discovery, he told Hermione and Ron about this but didn't dare tell his husband, knowing that being compared to a Gryffindor and a Know-It-All on top of that would be something Severus would take as an insult rather than the joking manner Harry meant it. Severus, Harry, Albus, Minerva and Hagrid went with Solenne, Elaina, Dante, Arianna and Oriana to the train station when they left, and helped get the students back to the castle.
The next few weeks went by quickly, Severus and Harry were both starting to get anxious for the babies to arrive, and it seemed the entire castle wasn't far behind in wanting to meet the little ones. Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup, and Harry joined in the party afterwards, crying like a baby himself with the sheer overwhelming hormones that went along with winning that year. Then on the night of May 17th, Harry woke up to his first contraction, just at the stroke of midnight.
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