Severus Snape sat down in his favorite armchair with a satisfied 'thuwmp.'
He sighed and took a long swig of his eggnog and began to nibble on the
plate of cookies he had just sat on the end table beside him. He had
planned to share the bounty from his raid on the kitchens with Hermione,
however, she had fallen asleep with Faith in front of the fire.
Just like he had dreamed. Hermione lay on her side, still in her beautiful crimson and gold dress robes after the formal dinner they had attended with Harry, Ginny and the Weasley clan that evening. Well, as formal as you can get in the Burrow, with children and grandchildren swarming everywhere. Harry and Ginny had their new little girl, Catherine, with them and Draco was a surprise guest with his new American girlfriend - a Muggle girl named Maggie. Hermione had come home exhausted after helping Molly clean up, she had dropped her robes by the door and flopped down on the rug by the fire. Sliding one strap off her shoulder and exposing a breast, she had laid down and pulled Faith close - nursing her to sleep. Hermione was sleeping, herself, one arm under her head as a pillow and the other gently lying on Faith's round tummy. Faith was snoozing snuggled as close to her mother as she could get, one fist clenching Hermione's dress and her pouty lips just about to lose their grip on the nipple.
This holiday was just as he had planned, he mused. Maybe even better. He sighed happily and scanned the formerly neat and orderly living space. Now, aside from the Dumbledorian Christmas decorations that he had so joyfully put up at the beginning of the month, it was home to a stroller, an extra bassinet, a pile of snuggly blankets in a huge basket by the sofa, a Muggle bouncy-walker thing that someone had sent them and more toys than one six- month old girl could need. He smiled to himself - their daughter was fast on her way to becoming spoiled.
"Daughter," he murmured to himself, still smiling. He loved to say that word. He was almost positive that the rest of the Hogwarts staff was getting tired of hearing that word come out of his mouth, too. He had never figured himself to be the type to gush and brag nonstop about his offspring - but he was. So, he whispered it again to himself, "daughter."
Perhaps the next child would be the son his father wanted to carry on the Snape family name. Not that his parents were unhappy with their granddaughter, he thought. They practically worshipped the ground she walked on. But, a son would make everything that was so perfect - also feel complete. Hopefully, this time next year Hermione would be pregnant with their next child. They had decided to try to have two children, at least, and hoped to have them close together. As two only children, they wanted their own children to have a playmate close in age. So, after the first of the year, they were going to start trying yet again. Snape just hoped that it didn't take quite as long to get pregnant this time as the last - then again, he mused, a few months of 'trying'wouldn't be *too* bad.
The fire crackled and popped and it brought Hermione out of her light doze. She adjusted her dress and eased Faith into her arms and carried her to the bassinet, placing her in it with a soft kiss. She came to Snape and sat on his lap, grabbing a cookie and stealing his glass of eggnog for a sip. She cuddled close and laid her head on his chest with a contented sigh of her own.
"Happy, love?" she asked, smiling up at him.
"Happier than I deserve to be," he replied, smiling back.
"Happy Christmas, Severus," she said, toasting him with his eggnog.
He didn't answer, just swept her up in his arms and gently laid her down on the rug before the fire. He took in the picture she made lying underneath him, her beautiful eyes reflecting the light of the fire, her silky gown hiding none of her curves and her curly hair fanning out around her. He smiled softly at her.
"So, Mrs. Snape, what do you think about getting started on Baby Snape Number Two, this fine Christmas Eve?" he said, mischievously. He teasingly ground his hips into her and leaned down to nip at a particularly tasty looking earlobe.
Hermione raised one eyebrow in a very Snapelike gesture. She reached up to slide her arms around his neck and pull his ear to her lips.
"We could do that, Mr. Snape, if I weren't already pregnant," she whispered. "Happy Christmas."
He pulled back in shock, he had been teasing. They hadn't actually been trying since Hermione was still nursing, the chances were fairly low. Apparently, not as low as he had thought. He decided in an instant to be thrilled instead of shocked. He pulled her into a tight hug and possessive, deep kiss.
"That's all right, Hermione," he said, grinning evilly. "That doesn't mean we can't keep trying."
"Good Gods, we'll have twins!" she joked, grabbing him and yanking him down to her demanding lips. He chuckled and let her take control of the encounter, which left the two parents sated and happy in front of the blazing fire of their home. It was indeed a Happy Christmas. The first of many, they hoped. And with that thought, the Snape family fell asleep.
Just like he had dreamed. Hermione lay on her side, still in her beautiful crimson and gold dress robes after the formal dinner they had attended with Harry, Ginny and the Weasley clan that evening. Well, as formal as you can get in the Burrow, with children and grandchildren swarming everywhere. Harry and Ginny had their new little girl, Catherine, with them and Draco was a surprise guest with his new American girlfriend - a Muggle girl named Maggie. Hermione had come home exhausted after helping Molly clean up, she had dropped her robes by the door and flopped down on the rug by the fire. Sliding one strap off her shoulder and exposing a breast, she had laid down and pulled Faith close - nursing her to sleep. Hermione was sleeping, herself, one arm under her head as a pillow and the other gently lying on Faith's round tummy. Faith was snoozing snuggled as close to her mother as she could get, one fist clenching Hermione's dress and her pouty lips just about to lose their grip on the nipple.
This holiday was just as he had planned, he mused. Maybe even better. He sighed happily and scanned the formerly neat and orderly living space. Now, aside from the Dumbledorian Christmas decorations that he had so joyfully put up at the beginning of the month, it was home to a stroller, an extra bassinet, a pile of snuggly blankets in a huge basket by the sofa, a Muggle bouncy-walker thing that someone had sent them and more toys than one six- month old girl could need. He smiled to himself - their daughter was fast on her way to becoming spoiled.
"Daughter," he murmured to himself, still smiling. He loved to say that word. He was almost positive that the rest of the Hogwarts staff was getting tired of hearing that word come out of his mouth, too. He had never figured himself to be the type to gush and brag nonstop about his offspring - but he was. So, he whispered it again to himself, "daughter."
Perhaps the next child would be the son his father wanted to carry on the Snape family name. Not that his parents were unhappy with their granddaughter, he thought. They practically worshipped the ground she walked on. But, a son would make everything that was so perfect - also feel complete. Hopefully, this time next year Hermione would be pregnant with their next child. They had decided to try to have two children, at least, and hoped to have them close together. As two only children, they wanted their own children to have a playmate close in age. So, after the first of the year, they were going to start trying yet again. Snape just hoped that it didn't take quite as long to get pregnant this time as the last - then again, he mused, a few months of 'trying'wouldn't be *too* bad.
The fire crackled and popped and it brought Hermione out of her light doze. She adjusted her dress and eased Faith into her arms and carried her to the bassinet, placing her in it with a soft kiss. She came to Snape and sat on his lap, grabbing a cookie and stealing his glass of eggnog for a sip. She cuddled close and laid her head on his chest with a contented sigh of her own.
"Happy, love?" she asked, smiling up at him.
"Happier than I deserve to be," he replied, smiling back.
"Happy Christmas, Severus," she said, toasting him with his eggnog.
He didn't answer, just swept her up in his arms and gently laid her down on the rug before the fire. He took in the picture she made lying underneath him, her beautiful eyes reflecting the light of the fire, her silky gown hiding none of her curves and her curly hair fanning out around her. He smiled softly at her.
"So, Mrs. Snape, what do you think about getting started on Baby Snape Number Two, this fine Christmas Eve?" he said, mischievously. He teasingly ground his hips into her and leaned down to nip at a particularly tasty looking earlobe.
Hermione raised one eyebrow in a very Snapelike gesture. She reached up to slide her arms around his neck and pull his ear to her lips.
"We could do that, Mr. Snape, if I weren't already pregnant," she whispered. "Happy Christmas."
He pulled back in shock, he had been teasing. They hadn't actually been trying since Hermione was still nursing, the chances were fairly low. Apparently, not as low as he had thought. He decided in an instant to be thrilled instead of shocked. He pulled her into a tight hug and possessive, deep kiss.
"That's all right, Hermione," he said, grinning evilly. "That doesn't mean we can't keep trying."
"Good Gods, we'll have twins!" she joked, grabbing him and yanking him down to her demanding lips. He chuckled and let her take control of the encounter, which left the two parents sated and happy in front of the blazing fire of their home. It was indeed a Happy Christmas. The first of many, they hoped. And with that thought, the Snape family fell asleep.