[color=red]Well, here it is. An hour's work. It's lame, but it was needed.
I have actually started on another chapter just to be sure to get it right.
If you think Chapter Seven was bad (and yes, a few did) then watch out for
that one. I'll say it again before you read it, I promise.[/color]
[u]Chapter Nine[/u]
We ended up going to the game together. Slytherin barely won, 160 to 150. I was dragged to the celebration party in their Common Room by some of the girls we sat with. No one really noticed I wasn't in my Common Room. School continued, as school does.
November was colder than October and December colder than both. Around the twelfth of December I noticed Christmas decorations starting to appear, bit by bit. Snow fell from the ceiling in the Great Room. Everyone got into the spirit and started wearing pins and hats in festive colors. The Common Room was decorated haphazardly.
Severus and I met each other in the room in the dungeons several more times. We have since added a rather large fireplace to burn the chill and dampness away. This was probably one of the very few rooms that went undecorated in the whole of Hogwarts.
Christmas break came quickly. He and I both went home. Plans were made to meet up with each other over the break. His place to meet his family. Mine to meet mine. London to kill time.
~*~
Home smelled of cookies and pies and gingerbread. Dad made the sheets of gingerbread so we could make our traditional house. Mom made the desserts for after dinner. Some of their friends were helping us stick with tradition and coming to our place for dinner. Everyone was bringing something to eat and presents for the kids. I had invited Severus over but he wasn't sure if he would be able to join us. Dinner at my place is an informal affair sometime between normal lunch and dinner times, so it wouldn't matter when he arrived.
I went to bed Christmas Eve very late. Mom had me helping with last minute details until way after 10pm. I removed my shoes and crawled into bed. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
The next morning dawned as expected. Breakfast was hearty, but simple. Dad scrambled some eggs and I made some toast. We let mom sleep in a bit.
Around two friends and neighbors started showing up. Festive music was playing. The kids were shown the playroom filled with cool toys. The adults were standing around with drinks in their hands chatting. The teens, few that showed, were taking turns playing vide games on the telly. By four, all had arrived and dinner was announced. Just as the blessing was ended, the doorbell rang. I went to get it, knowing who it was.
"Severus!! You made it," I said as I hugged him and pulled him inside. "Dinner is just starting, c'mon, we'll squeeze you in between me and Mrs. Perry from next door." Introductions were made around the table. Bowls of this and plates of that circled the table as people stuffed themselves overfull.
Mom convinced the ladies that it was Dad's turn to do the dishes and to not worry about the kitchen. Actually Mom will just snap her fingers later and the kitchen will clean itself. Presents were dispersed after dinner. I had knitted Severus a scarf in silver and green with matching winter gloves. He gave me a pair of elbow-length black kidskin gloves to replace Aunt Bev's outdated and worn ones.
Guests started leaving soon after the presents were opened. Mom sent everyone home with plenty of leftovers. When it was just the four of us, Mom set the kitchen to cleaning and went to check on the guest bedroom upstairs. Soon after we all went to sleep.
~*~
The next morning, Severus and I went to London to spend time together alone between parents. Over lunch we talked. "Severus," I started. He looked up from his dessert and waited, fork poised mid-way to his mouth. "Um, well, it's difficult." He reached out with his hand and held my gloved one, squeezing once in reassurance. I took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "I'm pregnant." His fork fell to his plate with a loud clatter. He closed his mouth slowly and stood up. He dropped some cash on the table to cover the bill and helped me to my feet. We walked arm in arm outside into the blistering wind before he said anything.
"Seriously?" he whispered. I just nodded my head. "Wow." I could hear the awe in his voice. "How far along are you?"
"Five, six weeks." I stopped and turned towards him. "I figured it out the other day. I mean, I haven't been holding back on you or anything." Tears started falling from my eyes. He wiped them away and smiled. "I still love you," he whispered and kissed me gently on my forehead. "Let's get you inside where it's warm." He hailed a taxi and told the driver to go to my house. We stayed long enough to tell my parents bye and to grab my bag and we headed to his place.
~*~
We went back to Hogwarts after only two days at the Snape manor. His mother is an unbearable and controlling witch. His father wasn't much better, verbally destroying the integrity of all non-purebloods. Hogwarts felt deserted with most of the students gone. We spent time talking about the baby and our future plans. We decided not to tell anyone that didn't need to know. Together we wrote letters to our parents and sent them by owls. My parents were upset but thrilled while his never responded.
January third found all of the students back, excited from the holiday. Everyone was showing off their new toys and talking about their breaks. I spent most of the evening brooding in a chair in front of the fire.
"Ya know, Foster, you look better when you smile," James said, squatting in front of me.
"Go away, James. Obviously I don't want to smile." I pulled a throw pillow off the floor and curled up with it in my lap.
A look of concern came over his face. "What happened? Did Snivillus break up with you over [i]Christmas[/i]?! How despicable, even for him." I looked up into his eyes and told him plainly, "James, we did not break up. Go away." He sat there another second or two and then sighed heavily. "When you are ready to talk, your friends are here," he said, standing up. He patted my arm in reassurance as he walked away. Zada came down from my dorm room and jumped in my lap. I removed my glove and petted her, talking to her through my touch. She purred and snuggled in for a nap.
~*~
[u]Chapter Nine[/u]
We ended up going to the game together. Slytherin barely won, 160 to 150. I was dragged to the celebration party in their Common Room by some of the girls we sat with. No one really noticed I wasn't in my Common Room. School continued, as school does.
November was colder than October and December colder than both. Around the twelfth of December I noticed Christmas decorations starting to appear, bit by bit. Snow fell from the ceiling in the Great Room. Everyone got into the spirit and started wearing pins and hats in festive colors. The Common Room was decorated haphazardly.
Severus and I met each other in the room in the dungeons several more times. We have since added a rather large fireplace to burn the chill and dampness away. This was probably one of the very few rooms that went undecorated in the whole of Hogwarts.
Christmas break came quickly. He and I both went home. Plans were made to meet up with each other over the break. His place to meet his family. Mine to meet mine. London to kill time.
~*~
Home smelled of cookies and pies and gingerbread. Dad made the sheets of gingerbread so we could make our traditional house. Mom made the desserts for after dinner. Some of their friends were helping us stick with tradition and coming to our place for dinner. Everyone was bringing something to eat and presents for the kids. I had invited Severus over but he wasn't sure if he would be able to join us. Dinner at my place is an informal affair sometime between normal lunch and dinner times, so it wouldn't matter when he arrived.
I went to bed Christmas Eve very late. Mom had me helping with last minute details until way after 10pm. I removed my shoes and crawled into bed. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
The next morning dawned as expected. Breakfast was hearty, but simple. Dad scrambled some eggs and I made some toast. We let mom sleep in a bit.
Around two friends and neighbors started showing up. Festive music was playing. The kids were shown the playroom filled with cool toys. The adults were standing around with drinks in their hands chatting. The teens, few that showed, were taking turns playing vide games on the telly. By four, all had arrived and dinner was announced. Just as the blessing was ended, the doorbell rang. I went to get it, knowing who it was.
"Severus!! You made it," I said as I hugged him and pulled him inside. "Dinner is just starting, c'mon, we'll squeeze you in between me and Mrs. Perry from next door." Introductions were made around the table. Bowls of this and plates of that circled the table as people stuffed themselves overfull.
Mom convinced the ladies that it was Dad's turn to do the dishes and to not worry about the kitchen. Actually Mom will just snap her fingers later and the kitchen will clean itself. Presents were dispersed after dinner. I had knitted Severus a scarf in silver and green with matching winter gloves. He gave me a pair of elbow-length black kidskin gloves to replace Aunt Bev's outdated and worn ones.
Guests started leaving soon after the presents were opened. Mom sent everyone home with plenty of leftovers. When it was just the four of us, Mom set the kitchen to cleaning and went to check on the guest bedroom upstairs. Soon after we all went to sleep.
~*~
The next morning, Severus and I went to London to spend time together alone between parents. Over lunch we talked. "Severus," I started. He looked up from his dessert and waited, fork poised mid-way to his mouth. "Um, well, it's difficult." He reached out with his hand and held my gloved one, squeezing once in reassurance. I took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "I'm pregnant." His fork fell to his plate with a loud clatter. He closed his mouth slowly and stood up. He dropped some cash on the table to cover the bill and helped me to my feet. We walked arm in arm outside into the blistering wind before he said anything.
"Seriously?" he whispered. I just nodded my head. "Wow." I could hear the awe in his voice. "How far along are you?"
"Five, six weeks." I stopped and turned towards him. "I figured it out the other day. I mean, I haven't been holding back on you or anything." Tears started falling from my eyes. He wiped them away and smiled. "I still love you," he whispered and kissed me gently on my forehead. "Let's get you inside where it's warm." He hailed a taxi and told the driver to go to my house. We stayed long enough to tell my parents bye and to grab my bag and we headed to his place.
~*~
We went back to Hogwarts after only two days at the Snape manor. His mother is an unbearable and controlling witch. His father wasn't much better, verbally destroying the integrity of all non-purebloods. Hogwarts felt deserted with most of the students gone. We spent time talking about the baby and our future plans. We decided not to tell anyone that didn't need to know. Together we wrote letters to our parents and sent them by owls. My parents were upset but thrilled while his never responded.
January third found all of the students back, excited from the holiday. Everyone was showing off their new toys and talking about their breaks. I spent most of the evening brooding in a chair in front of the fire.
"Ya know, Foster, you look better when you smile," James said, squatting in front of me.
"Go away, James. Obviously I don't want to smile." I pulled a throw pillow off the floor and curled up with it in my lap.
A look of concern came over his face. "What happened? Did Snivillus break up with you over [i]Christmas[/i]?! How despicable, even for him." I looked up into his eyes and told him plainly, "James, we did not break up. Go away." He sat there another second or two and then sighed heavily. "When you are ready to talk, your friends are here," he said, standing up. He patted my arm in reassurance as he walked away. Zada came down from my dorm room and jumped in my lap. I removed my glove and petted her, talking to her through my touch. She purred and snuggled in for a nap.
~*~