LP HP: Second Dose- A Story in Twenty-Eight Snippets

by Tavalya Ra

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J. K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Rowling is a goddess; may she have mercy on my soul for writing this.

Author's Notes: Thank you to Mawkish for putting me up to the challenge of writing this and to everyone who read and commented upon the story in April- especially Skip, who never failed to make me laugh.

Thank you vita brevis, zeynel, Exwhyzed, CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur, and Wyrm for reviewing.

If anyone wishes to archive this story on his or her site, please contact me at clearbluedelphia@yahoo.com.

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Snippet #20: Sudden Enigma

Pomfrey's approved due date arrived a few days after the wedding. Severus refused breakfast.

"How do you feel?" Sirius asked, his own stomach tangled in nerves.

"Terrified," Severus confessed, placing his hand on his belly. "I'm going to start labor in less than two hours. How am I supposed to feel?"

Sirius escorted him to the grounds near the Quidditch pitch. Dumbledore, Remus, Harry, Chimera, and several other teachers were waiting for them, including Pomfrey with a levitating stretcher. Severus passed his wand to Sirius; he would not need it for the incantation. With a nod from the headmaster, he turned to face the castle. Everyone stepped away from him, arranging themselves in a semicircle behind him.

Severus raised his arms into the air. He turned his face towards the welkin and chanted, "By the ageless, timeless, deathless goddesses, I invoke the spirits of the earth! By Hera, by Demeter, I invoke the essence of Gaia! Grant your protection upon this place!"

The patch of earth upon which Severus stood began to glow. Two tails of light streamed out of the ground. Together, they twined about Severus's body, eerily illuminating his pregnant form, then separated to spiral around his arms. They shot into the sky, far over Hogwarts, then collided in a burst of brilliant magic that seemed to dull the sun. From the explosion, a sheet of blue and green sparks showered down around the school, creating a shimmering bubble of power.

Severus lowered his arms and stumbled. Chimera rushed forward and caught him. He gasped and shrieked in alarm, "Sirius!"

Dumbledore seized the Potions Master's arm and motioned for Pomfrey. "Hurry! It's time!"

* * *

Two hours later, Sirius's anxiety had peaked to an all-time high and the screaming wasn't helping.

"I HATE YOU!" Severus roared, agonized tears streaming down his face. "If I live through this, I'm going to KILL YOU!"

With his right hand, Sirius gently pressed a cool, damp washcloth against Severus's forehead. His left was caught in the Potions Master's vise-like grip. At any moment, Sirius expected to hear his own bones crack, but he honestly did not care if Severus broke his hand. Let him if that made him feel better; Pomfrey could mend it with a quick spell later.

"This is worse than the bloody Cruciatus!" he screamed. "This is worse than anything VOLDEMORT EVER DID TO ME!"

This time, even Dumbledore flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. Chimera, who was in the room along with Remus- Harry having long been screamed out of sight- seemed particularly distressed by the utterance.

"You're doing fine, Severus," she tried to assure him.

"FINE!" he exclaimed. "How can you possibly UNDERSTAND-"

"Of course, I understand!" she snapped. "How do you think you got into this world!"

"Chimera, perhaps now is not the time," Dumbledore suggested gently.

Severus looked ready attempt a wandless curse.

"I HATE YOU, TOO!" he screamed at the headmaster. "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY!"

"I do not think this is funny," Dumbledore assured him soothingly.

"THEN STOP TWINKLING AT ME!"

* * *

Eleven hours later, Severus screamed, "ACCIO WAND!"

The resulting chaos prompted Pomfrey to screech, "There will be no more Priori Incantatems in the delivery room!"

* * *

Five hours later, it was over, and Severus collapsed into exhausted oblivion.

* * *

"Hey. Hey, wake up," a voice prompted gently.

Wearily, Severus opened his eyes and moaned feebly, "Go away. I hate you."

Sirius, not dissuaded in the least, smiled softly and whispered, "Someone wants to say hello."

Severus was confronted by a tiny pink face with a little mouth, a small and somewhat crooked nose, and two deep, wide black eyes that stared at him with utter fascination.

Faced by this sudden enigma, he did not know how to react. He selected the least logical and most uncharacteristic course of action.

He began sobbing hysterically.

"Goddamn hormones!" he cursed.

He had never felt so happy in his entire life.