The next morning, Hermione got up early and began to bustle around their
bathroom. She looked in the mirror and instead of seeing a tired, angry
face - she saw an excited one. For, despite the fight that she and Snape
had the night before, today was going to be a good day. Today she would see
her baby for the first time.
'The Muggle world should figure out how to mimic the magical sonogram,' she mused as she brushed her hair. 'Gods, I can't believe how excited I am.'
She descended the stairs of their home, humming lightly to herself, and settled in the dining area with a bowl of cereal. Snape looked over the back of the sofa blearily and noted her good humor with astonishment. He struggled to his feet and stumbled over to join her at the table.
"Am I still in trouble?" he said simply after a few moments.
She quirked an eyebrow at him and took in his disheveled appearance with amusement.
"Yes. I don't agree with what you are doing, but I see now that there is nothing either of us can do about it," she said. "And considering that I get to see our daughter for the first time today, I've decided not to let anything destroy the experience or my mood. Not even your apparent death wish."
"That's right, today's the sonogram," said Snape, perking up. "I'd better run up and get changed before I get in trouble again. I'll be right down."
Less than half an hour later they were in the Hospital Wing. Hermione had asked Ginny to accompany them. They hadn't told the young red head, but they were considering asking her to be the baby's godmother. Hermione didn't want her to miss out on this experience - even if she hadn't officially been asked yet. Besides, Ginny looked as excited as they did.
"Are you ready?" asked Madam Pomfrey, as she swept in from breakfast in the Great Hall. The grins the three of them shot her answered her question.
"Lie down, Hermione, and let's see that little girl!" she said.
Hermione laid down on a bed, clutching Snape's hand - which she was amused to note was sweaty and trembling a bit. Ginny took up position on the opposite side of the bed and smiled encouragingly at the couple, catching Snape's eye as he studied their child's future godmother.
Moments later, Pomfrey had brandished her wand over Hermione's swollen belly and begun the incantation. A misty cloud floated above Hermione which slowly coalesced into what was unmistakably a uterus and fetus. As Snape and Hermione looked on in awe, Pomfrey efficiently took measurements and readings. Snape squeezed Hermione's hand as the image rotated and their little girl's face turned in his direction. She looked, he thought analytically, a lot like the alien newborns of his cousins - scrawny in some places, with an oversized head and long fingers. As he watched, his daughter drew one hand to her mouth and began to suck her thumb. The three observers sighed in unison.
"Merlin, Hermione," he breathed. "She's beautiful."
He looked at Hermione, feeling a rush of emotion he wasn't sure he was capable of after the trauma of the last Death Eater's meeting.
"She's perfect like her mother. Thank you, Hermione."
The parents smiled at each other for a moment before turning their gaze back to their developing daughter. Snape glanced up at Ginny briefly and was startled to see the tears streaming down her cheeks while she clutched Hermione's other hand. She grinned ruefully under his scrutiny.
"It's just that there is so much death," she stammered. He nodded in acknowledgement and they both looked back at the image of life before them.
"Hermione, I'm afraid I have bad news."
Pomfrey's voice brought them out of their reveries.
"Excuse me? What is wrong, Poppy? Is it the baby or Hermione? What do we need to do?" said Snape, in a panic.
"Calm down, Severus," said Pomfrey. "It's really just bad news for Hermione. Do you remember when you conceived, dear?"
"Yes, after the Sorting Feast - around midnight," Hermione blushed. "But why -"
"And what date did you leave in the past?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "October 16."
"And what date did you arrive here?"
The light began to dawn. "December 15."
"My dear, you have an extra two months of this. I thought perhaps the baby was underdeveloped, but it appears in the excitement surrounding your return we forgot to figure in the two months you 'lost,'" said Pomfrey, apology resounding in her voice.
"You mean, I'm not due until - July?" said Hermione, incredulously. Snape and Ginny caught each others eye and attempted not to laugh at Hermione's devastation. "I have nearly five more months of this instead of three?"
Hermione looked down at her growing stomach in dismay.
"Gods, Poppy! I'll be huge!" she wailed.
At that, Snape and Ginny could restrain themselves no longer, and they burst out laughing. Hermione glared at them both as they wiped tears from their eyes.
"Snape, I'll deal with you later," she said. She turned to Ginny and poked her trim abdomen with a rather accusing finger. "And Ginny, I thought you would be more supportive. You just wait until you're pregnant and I can make fun of you. Don't think I won't, either. Your time is coming someday."
Ginny grinned at Hermione. "You may tease me all you want, Hermione, when my time comes. I promise."
Pomfrey set about transferring the image of the baby to wizard's film, so the parents could take a few copies with them. The three turned their gaze back to the baby and watched her small movements until the charm wore off and she faded in a puff of smoke. They turned in unison to the mediwitch, who was busy with the pictures.
"Can you make an extra one for Ginny?" Hermione asked, grinning at Ginny. "I think her godmother should have a copy, don't you, Severus?"
The couple looked expectantly at Ginny, who unexpectedly began to cry. She leaned down and hugged Hermione tight, then walked around the bed and hugged a shocked and uncomfortable looking Snape.
"Gods, I never thought in a million years that I would ever hug you," she said, wiping her nose on her robes. "But I couldn't resist."
Snape still looked uneasy at her affection, but he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"I promise not to tell the rest of the school that you hugged 'vile Professor Snape,'" he said. "Are we to take your enthusiasm and teary eyes as a 'yes?'"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ginny said, smiling and hugging Hermione once again.
Pomfrey handed all three of them their photos and walked Hermione and Snape to the door. She hugged Hermione briefly.
"I'm sorry, I know it seems like you'll be pregnant forever. But you'll be holding your baby soon enough," Pomfrey said. "Then you'll be asking me to take it back, because it won't stop crying and your breasts hurt from nursing."
Snape laughed, Hermione groaned and then looked around for Ginny who had apparently disappeared.
"Ginny wanted to talk to me, probably about one of her healing arts classes, so she's staying for a bit," said Pomfrey. "You know, I think she may become a mediwitch herself, someday."
"If her mother is any indication, than the daughter should have a knack for it," said Snape. "Molly Weasley is a wonder. And Ginny will be an excellent godmother."
The pair walked out the doors of the Hospital Wing. As soon as they closed Snape drew Hermione into his arms, caressing their child with one hand while crushing her mother to him with the other. He startled her by claiming her mouth passionately and roughly. After a few moments, he broke the kiss and looked at his wife. Her lips were swollen and her eyes were glazed over with desire. He bent down to nip her earlobe and whisper in her ear.
"I don't like sleeping on the couch, Mrs. Snape."
She looked at him for a moment before understanding. A seductive gleam came to her eyes as she replied: "Then perhaps we should go to bed, Professor Snape."
They began the trek to their dungeon home, when Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"Severus?"
"What is it, Angel?"
"You don't happen to have any almond-stuffed, pickled green olives in our kitchen, do you?"
"Uh-no."
"Do you think the House Elves do?"
Snape sighed as they arrived at the door to their rooms. He kissed her on the forehead and opened the door.
"You go rest. I'll apparate to London and find you some."
"Thank you, Severus. Hurry back." She tried to cover her embarrassment with a semi-seductive glance. "We have unfinished business."
"Yes, we do, love. I'll hurry. Why don't you find something green and silver and lacy to slip into for me while I'm gone?"
"Deal."
He kissed her hand with a flourish, and with robes billowing, set off down the corridor.
'Olives!' he thought to himself as he stormed through the snow moments later. 'Almond-stuffed, pickled green olives. She couldn't have craved chocolate today. It had to be gods-awful, specialty, weird olives. Merlin!'
'The Muggle world should figure out how to mimic the magical sonogram,' she mused as she brushed her hair. 'Gods, I can't believe how excited I am.'
She descended the stairs of their home, humming lightly to herself, and settled in the dining area with a bowl of cereal. Snape looked over the back of the sofa blearily and noted her good humor with astonishment. He struggled to his feet and stumbled over to join her at the table.
"Am I still in trouble?" he said simply after a few moments.
She quirked an eyebrow at him and took in his disheveled appearance with amusement.
"Yes. I don't agree with what you are doing, but I see now that there is nothing either of us can do about it," she said. "And considering that I get to see our daughter for the first time today, I've decided not to let anything destroy the experience or my mood. Not even your apparent death wish."
"That's right, today's the sonogram," said Snape, perking up. "I'd better run up and get changed before I get in trouble again. I'll be right down."
Less than half an hour later they were in the Hospital Wing. Hermione had asked Ginny to accompany them. They hadn't told the young red head, but they were considering asking her to be the baby's godmother. Hermione didn't want her to miss out on this experience - even if she hadn't officially been asked yet. Besides, Ginny looked as excited as they did.
"Are you ready?" asked Madam Pomfrey, as she swept in from breakfast in the Great Hall. The grins the three of them shot her answered her question.
"Lie down, Hermione, and let's see that little girl!" she said.
Hermione laid down on a bed, clutching Snape's hand - which she was amused to note was sweaty and trembling a bit. Ginny took up position on the opposite side of the bed and smiled encouragingly at the couple, catching Snape's eye as he studied their child's future godmother.
Moments later, Pomfrey had brandished her wand over Hermione's swollen belly and begun the incantation. A misty cloud floated above Hermione which slowly coalesced into what was unmistakably a uterus and fetus. As Snape and Hermione looked on in awe, Pomfrey efficiently took measurements and readings. Snape squeezed Hermione's hand as the image rotated and their little girl's face turned in his direction. She looked, he thought analytically, a lot like the alien newborns of his cousins - scrawny in some places, with an oversized head and long fingers. As he watched, his daughter drew one hand to her mouth and began to suck her thumb. The three observers sighed in unison.
"Merlin, Hermione," he breathed. "She's beautiful."
He looked at Hermione, feeling a rush of emotion he wasn't sure he was capable of after the trauma of the last Death Eater's meeting.
"She's perfect like her mother. Thank you, Hermione."
The parents smiled at each other for a moment before turning their gaze back to their developing daughter. Snape glanced up at Ginny briefly and was startled to see the tears streaming down her cheeks while she clutched Hermione's other hand. She grinned ruefully under his scrutiny.
"It's just that there is so much death," she stammered. He nodded in acknowledgement and they both looked back at the image of life before them.
"Hermione, I'm afraid I have bad news."
Pomfrey's voice brought them out of their reveries.
"Excuse me? What is wrong, Poppy? Is it the baby or Hermione? What do we need to do?" said Snape, in a panic.
"Calm down, Severus," said Pomfrey. "It's really just bad news for Hermione. Do you remember when you conceived, dear?"
"Yes, after the Sorting Feast - around midnight," Hermione blushed. "But why -"
"And what date did you leave in the past?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "October 16."
"And what date did you arrive here?"
The light began to dawn. "December 15."
"My dear, you have an extra two months of this. I thought perhaps the baby was underdeveloped, but it appears in the excitement surrounding your return we forgot to figure in the two months you 'lost,'" said Pomfrey, apology resounding in her voice.
"You mean, I'm not due until - July?" said Hermione, incredulously. Snape and Ginny caught each others eye and attempted not to laugh at Hermione's devastation. "I have nearly five more months of this instead of three?"
Hermione looked down at her growing stomach in dismay.
"Gods, Poppy! I'll be huge!" she wailed.
At that, Snape and Ginny could restrain themselves no longer, and they burst out laughing. Hermione glared at them both as they wiped tears from their eyes.
"Snape, I'll deal with you later," she said. She turned to Ginny and poked her trim abdomen with a rather accusing finger. "And Ginny, I thought you would be more supportive. You just wait until you're pregnant and I can make fun of you. Don't think I won't, either. Your time is coming someday."
Ginny grinned at Hermione. "You may tease me all you want, Hermione, when my time comes. I promise."
Pomfrey set about transferring the image of the baby to wizard's film, so the parents could take a few copies with them. The three turned their gaze back to the baby and watched her small movements until the charm wore off and she faded in a puff of smoke. They turned in unison to the mediwitch, who was busy with the pictures.
"Can you make an extra one for Ginny?" Hermione asked, grinning at Ginny. "I think her godmother should have a copy, don't you, Severus?"
The couple looked expectantly at Ginny, who unexpectedly began to cry. She leaned down and hugged Hermione tight, then walked around the bed and hugged a shocked and uncomfortable looking Snape.
"Gods, I never thought in a million years that I would ever hug you," she said, wiping her nose on her robes. "But I couldn't resist."
Snape still looked uneasy at her affection, but he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"I promise not to tell the rest of the school that you hugged 'vile Professor Snape,'" he said. "Are we to take your enthusiasm and teary eyes as a 'yes?'"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ginny said, smiling and hugging Hermione once again.
Pomfrey handed all three of them their photos and walked Hermione and Snape to the door. She hugged Hermione briefly.
"I'm sorry, I know it seems like you'll be pregnant forever. But you'll be holding your baby soon enough," Pomfrey said. "Then you'll be asking me to take it back, because it won't stop crying and your breasts hurt from nursing."
Snape laughed, Hermione groaned and then looked around for Ginny who had apparently disappeared.
"Ginny wanted to talk to me, probably about one of her healing arts classes, so she's staying for a bit," said Pomfrey. "You know, I think she may become a mediwitch herself, someday."
"If her mother is any indication, than the daughter should have a knack for it," said Snape. "Molly Weasley is a wonder. And Ginny will be an excellent godmother."
The pair walked out the doors of the Hospital Wing. As soon as they closed Snape drew Hermione into his arms, caressing their child with one hand while crushing her mother to him with the other. He startled her by claiming her mouth passionately and roughly. After a few moments, he broke the kiss and looked at his wife. Her lips were swollen and her eyes were glazed over with desire. He bent down to nip her earlobe and whisper in her ear.
"I don't like sleeping on the couch, Mrs. Snape."
She looked at him for a moment before understanding. A seductive gleam came to her eyes as she replied: "Then perhaps we should go to bed, Professor Snape."
They began the trek to their dungeon home, when Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"Severus?"
"What is it, Angel?"
"You don't happen to have any almond-stuffed, pickled green olives in our kitchen, do you?"
"Uh-no."
"Do you think the House Elves do?"
Snape sighed as they arrived at the door to their rooms. He kissed her on the forehead and opened the door.
"You go rest. I'll apparate to London and find you some."
"Thank you, Severus. Hurry back." She tried to cover her embarrassment with a semi-seductive glance. "We have unfinished business."
"Yes, we do, love. I'll hurry. Why don't you find something green and silver and lacy to slip into for me while I'm gone?"
"Deal."
He kissed her hand with a flourish, and with robes billowing, set off down the corridor.
'Olives!' he thought to himself as he stormed through the snow moments later. 'Almond-stuffed, pickled green olives. She couldn't have craved chocolate today. It had to be gods-awful, specialty, weird olives. Merlin!'