A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned. I also have this story listed on Whispers, Adult Fan Fiction
and Lord and Lady Snape websites.. In case it gets deleted here.
Chapter Twenty-two
"Oh, Severus!" Hermione sobbed as she suddenly opened her eyes and tried to control her breathing as her heart rate accelerated rapidly in her chest. "I'm so sorry! I can't even begin to apologise to you enough." Severus was overwhelmed and tears suddenly sprang from his eyes, cascading down both of his cheeks in torrents. He sat on the bed and hugged her tightly to his chest as he kissed her all over her face. He loved her so much.
"My, love, I'm so elated. so overjoyed you are back with us! I've been miserable this past month without you." He exclaimed as her hands came up around his back and she embraced him as if hanging on for dear life, despite the pain she was in from her very recent childbirth and chest injury.
"I can't. believe everything I've. done to you. everything I've put you. through. Are you alright, my husband?" She implored pulling away slightly and gazing deeply into his tear-filled black eyes as he leaned over her on the bed and Albus and Poppy looked on, thankful that she was back in control of her own mind again.
"Perfectly alright. now." He replied as he pulled her into another tight embrace, crushing her to his chest and breathing her scent in deeply. He had missed this. missed her so much. He hadn't realised that he breathed for his love of the woman he held and that she was his entire world, universe and existence all rolled into one.
"Your face? I slapped you so hard." She said pulling back again and moving her hand to where she had hit him, caressing his cheek gently and looking for any lasting blemishes. Her abdominal muscles had just about had enough and she lowered herself to lie down on the bad again.
"I know. It is fine now though." He comforted her and captured her hand, kissing her fingers tenderly as he breathed in deeply and grinned warmly.
"I can't believe I called our baby those names." She said shaking her head in disbelief as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks and she sniffed loudly and gulped.
"It's okay, in the past." He assured her soothingly and ran a hand through her hair as he gazed deeply and lovingly into her eyes.
"Our chambers." She began but choked on a sob, her emotions finally getting the better of her.
"What about them?" He asked wondering what was wrong since he'd not been in them for over four weeks. She shook her head and couldn't speak for a few moments.
"I-I completely trashed them. and moved back into my old chambers." She replied with a few deep breaths. "He. he told me to do it. said there were too. too many memories there. of y-you."
"We'll rebuild them, along with our lives." He soothed after a pause and kissed her again.
"Hermione, can you tell us in more detail how you got the injuries now?" Poppy asked and she nodded her head solemnly as Severus finally moved to help her sit up a bit on the bed.
"It was Layton Frontera." Poppy gasped at hearing his name.
"He was a patient here last night after a Quidditch accident!" Poppy told them and couldn't believe she had let him stay in the hospital wing when Hermione was so close by, even if Hermione's brother was spending the night with her.
"He came into my room very early this. morning and told me he would summon me to him in the holidays. He demanded I move over. so he could get into bed with me. and I refused him. He punched. me in the chest. and I lost consciousness. only waking up a few hours later." Hermione told them through a few sobs and with Severus rubbing her arms to show his support. "He told me never to tell that he assaulted me and that I should go home to my parents over the holidays and tell Severus to stay away from me. He said he would summon me to him in the holidays and that he would expect me to go to him."
"I will kill him!" Severus growled from behind Hermione and hugged her possessively to his chest again; her back to him and his arms crossed round her shoulders pulling her into him.
"I understand, Severus but we must deal with this a different way, after all, he still has the book." Albus told them.
"Albus, he has been manipulating my wife, assaulting her, brainwashing her. He tried to kill our baby for Merlin's sake! Sitting on this whole situation is not an option anymore." Severus growled at the Headmaster; enough was quite enough.
"Severus, you have no idea how much power that boy now has at his mere fingertips." Albus replied just as pointedly.
"The Headmaster is right Severus, he was able to command the Hogwarts staircase with a wave of his hand." Hermione said and Severus gasped slightly behind her. "I could get it though, Headmaster." Hermione told them out of the blue.
"No, you've done enough already. I will not have you anywhere near him again." Severus said stopping her thought from manifesting. "He should know right now he's lost control over you as well."
"He wants to see me in the holidays though, what if I lure him here instead of me going to him? I'll say I can't floo or apparate as I'm pregnant, he doesn't need to know I've had the baby, and he should agree if he wants to get me back under his control again. I think he will assume he's brainwashed me by now, whether I'm under his control or not." Hermione explained. "How is my baby by the way? I fell asleep through exhaustion." She asked Poppy, looking up with concern and still looking nowhere near rested.
"He's just fine, my dear. Perhaps we should have this discussion in a few days and let the new family get reacquainted?" Poppy said looking to Albus.
"Yes, that is a good idea. It will give us a chance to plan a course of action at least." Albus agreed. "We will chat soon. For now though, you have a son to meet properly. Congratulations to both of you and I hope you are well again soon, Hermione."
"Thank you, Albus." Hermione said as he left the infirmary and Poppy said she'd be in her office but would check on them regularly.
Severus hugged Hermione again and she pulled his arms tighter around her, sighing deeply into his chest as his arms cradled her protectively.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. This was never supposed to happen." Hermione started as the tears came to her eyes again.
"Now, come on, my love. Stop that. We have a son to meet and first impressions are always lasting ones. or so I'm led to believe." Severus told her softly and drying her eyes with his thumbs. She laughed very lightly and took a deep breath.
"Thankfully my first impression of you was able to be changed, Severus. You frightened the life out of me in my first Potions class and infuriated me beyond reason every lesson there after. I hated you for such a long time." Hermione told him smiling lightly.
"Yes, well I wanted and needed to frighten you all." Severus replied, smiling mischievously.
"I chose the name without your consent, Severus." Hermione looked up at him worriedly. "I've grown attached to it but I hope you like it, if not I don't mind changing it."
"I love the name but I do want him to be a Snape." Severus intoned gravely.
"No question about that, he most definitely will be a Snape. I was still being controlled when I said otherwise. I'm truly sorry. I love you so much, Severus." Hermione said as she ran her hands through his hair when he moved round to her front and kissed him tenderly.
Severus propped Hermione up with pillows so that she was comfortable before moving over to the incubator and looking in to see his son squirming about on the blanket. Callum's eyes were tight shut and would not open for a few weeks at least. His skin was a very red colour and he had a small tuft of black hair on his head. Severus opened the top of the incubator and gently lifted his son out with two hands. He wrapped Callum in a blanket and carefully carried him over to Hermione.
"Oh, Severus, he's absolutely tiny!" Hermione exclaimed as she saw Callum for the first time and had to stifle a cry so as not to wake him up too much.
"He was four pounds and three ounces according to Dr. O'Hare." Severus told her as he handed Callum over into Hermione's awaiting arms and sat down beside her on the bed. "He has to remain in the hospital wing for a few weeks I believe. Oh, and I gave him his first feed when you were asleep, and Poppy showed me how to wind him as well. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I'd ever do that." He told her as Callum squirmed in Hermione's arms. Hermione looked up at Severus' smiling face and she grinned back as a few tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. This was just about the best day of her life so far and one she would never forget.
"I will breast feed him if I can, Severus. My milk should be alright I think." She told him, positioning Callum so she had a better hold on her son.
"It's wise, love. It will help to build his immune system and help him to grow." Severus said quietly.
"Oh, my word. What if he had been injured, Severus? What kind of a person would assault a pregnant woman?" She asked him as tears of sadness came to her eyes again and she sighed tiredly.
"Sshh, don't think about that, love. We have him. a lot sooner than expected but Poppy and Dr. O'Hare said he will be fine and his magic should not be affected by what has happened." Severus told her as Callum began to settle down.
"If he has the gift at all, Severus." Hermione said as she remembered their discussion earlier in the year as to what would happen if he was a Squib. "What's the date, Severus?" Hermione enquired suddenly aware she had lost track of time.
"It's March the first, and he was born at two fifteen this morning." Severus replied in a hushed voice as Callum stopped squirming around completely and fell asleep in Hermione's arms. Severus reached over and stroked his head with a finger before kissing Hermione tenderly on the lips and grinning proudly. "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too, Severus."
"I won't ever let anything happen to you again, my wife, or Callum. You are my family and I will protect you with everything I have." Severus told her. "And as for casting any more spells to make yourself hate me, you can think again. I want to never have to hide our wedding bands ever again." He warned seriously.
"Never, my husband, never again. I promise," she agreed as she snuggled into his chest again and they sat watching their son sleep in silence.
After about twenty minutes Poppy came back into the hospital wing and instructed Hermione on how to breast feed Callum, Hermione gave it a go and her first time went surprisingly well- most of it coming on pure instinct. When he fell asleep after being winded again Poppy whisked him away and back into the incubator. She told Severus that both Hermione and he needed to get some sleep and that she would be back for the next few feeds until Hermione was awake again.
Severus moved to sit in the chair as Poppy left for her office again but Hermione reached out to him. "Severus, don't leave me."
"I won't, my love. I'll be right here in the chair." Severus said quietly as he moved to pull the chair closer to the bed.
"No, Severus. Come here. I've missed you. I want to feel you next to me."
"Hermione, you need to sleep and I think I will probably just keep you awake."
"No, what I need is for my husband to hold me. I've missed you this last month, Severus." Hermione implored and Severus relented taking off his cloak, shoes, socks and jacket before climbing into bed beside his wife. He had missed this so much and she moved her back closer to him as he wrapped her lovingly in his arms.
"I love you, Hermione." Severus said as he kissed her on the head.
"Love you too, Severus." Hermione said before she fell into a deep sleep and Severus joined her a few moments later.
~~*~~
Poppy Pomfrey had put Callum onto a three hourly feeding regime and had managed to fit in three bottles of milk as his parents both remained firmly in the land of slumber. As she was giving him his third bottle she heard a movement behind her and turned to see a dishevelled Severus Snape approaching.
"You slept well, Severus," Poppy commented as he stretched and rubbed his eyes. Poppy smiled warmly as she held the bottle to Callum's mouth and he suckled with gusto.
"I did indeed, Poppy. Hermione seems to have slept well also or she didn't disturb me at least." Severus replied as he watched his son feed and a smile emerged on his usually sallow face. "How has he been?"
"In the nine hours you have been asleep Callum has had two bottles of milk, this is his third." She replied and Severus raised his eyebrows in wonderment.
"Nine hours? I've never slept so long without the use of a potion before," he commented.
"Well, you must have needed it, Severus." Poppy replied as she cleaned the dripped milk off Callum's chin and passed him into his father's arms. "He sleeps well, wakes every three hours for his bottle. I've changed his nappy once and I do believe he needs another change about now. You should wind him as well, Severus." Poppy told him as he moved over to the chair and started to pat his son's back. "I will check on Hermione while you do that."
"Poppy, I feel I should warn you that I've never changed a nappy before." Severus said disconcerted. He heard a very distinctive laugh from the other side of the room and looked up to find Hermione watching him gleefully. "Morning, love. Sleep well?"
"Yes, I certainly did, Severus, thank you." Hermione replied still looking on quite amused at what she was seeing. "I'll show you how to change the nappy, Severus it's not too difficult to do." Severus nodded as he continued to wind Callum.
"Now, Hermione, I just need to examine you and then I'll let you help Severus with Callum before you can go off and have a nice hot bath. How does that sound?"
"Sounds fine, Poppy. Thank you." Hermione replied, feeling better than she had in quite a while.
Poppy began to examine Hermione with her wand. "Now, as you can probably see your womb has reduced in size and you have your lovely figure back," Poppy smiled as Hermione looked down with shock on her face and two raised eyebrows.
"So soon, Poppy?" She asked quite astonished.
"Yes, dear. I could have let you heal by yourself but decided to help you along a little." Poppy explained. "Also, all internal swelling and bleeding has stopped and you should only feel a bit stiff, which will leave you once you've had a hot bath."
"Wow, and here I was thinking it would take at least three months to get my body back into shape." Hermione replied in awe.
"Yes, well I assume that this is brought about by your experience of friends in the Muggle World?" Poppy asked.
"Yes, my cousin is about ten years older than me and I remember she had a baby in the last summer I spent at home."
"Well, you are fit and well, Hermione. Able to engage in all activities." Poppy left off raising her eyebrows to Hermione who nodded in understanding and smiled a little. "Of course that's only if you are not still too tired."
"Of course," Hermione replied slightly embarrassed.
"You may leave the infirmary when you are ready but your son will have to stay for the next three weeks I'm afraid."
"How has he been? We've both been asleep for a while." Hermione asked referring to both herself and Severus.
"Oh, he has slept well, waking every three hours for a bottle. He's just finished his third bottle now." Poppy explained, "and as you know he now needs a nappy change."
"Yes." Poppy nodded and left heading off in the direction of her office.
Hermione moved to help Severus with Callum, who had both been waiting patiently for Poppy to finish. After changing the nappy and bathing the tiny baby he was placed back in his incubator and Hermione and Severus were both left to get themselves sorted out for the day.
Hermione told Severus she was able to leave and so they arranged times to feed Callum throughout the day and night and left to sort their marital chambers out after he had been breast fed.
~~*~~
"Hello, Hermione," Lucretia and Marcus both said quite brightly as they saw her approaching their portrait with her husband at her side and both arm in arm.
"Hello you two. Long time no see, eh?" Hermione said smiling brightly.
"Certainly. I see you have brought him with you." Lucretia said less than kindly and Severus just sighed.
"Yes. erm. about what I told you," Hermione sighed. "It was all a terrible mistake. Severus is completely innocent."
"There's no smoke without fire, Hermione," Marcus told her tentatively.
"I agree but I was put under a spell to make me think that Severus had done those things. He did not and I am no longer under the spell." Hermione told them in no uncertain terms.
"Oh," they both said together and looked at her tentatively before Lucretia covered her mouth in surprise and gasped.
"Hermione, you are no longer pregnant. or is it a glamour charm to hide your pregnancy?" Lucretia asked suspiciously.
"Oh, no. I had the baby earlier this morning. He is almost three months premature and so tiny but is fine otherwise." Hermione told them both proudly.
"Well, many congratulation my dear. to the both of you." Marcus said happily.
"Oh, yes. We can't wait to see him. In fact we may visit one of the portraits in the hospital wing to take a peak a bit later." Lucretia told them excitedly. Hermione smiled and nodded at the couple before she heard Severus clearing his throat beside her.
"I understand you changed the password, my love." He prompted; he didn't much like standing in the corridor conversing with a portrait.
"Yes. erm. could you perhaps just let us in without my giving the password?" Hermione pleaded as she glanced from Severus to the portrait in front of them a little nervously, "and can I change the password immediately as well?"
"Well, we cannot do that as you know, Hermione, and we need to have the original password in order for you to change it to a new one." Marcus said putting his foot down, although Lucretia had been willing to let her off just this once.
"What's the problem, love?" Severus asked frowning at his wife.
"Well, it's not a very nice password.sentence." Hermione told him sadly and not meeting his gaze.
"Well, just say it so we can get in, love." Severus said; they didn't have that much time since they would need to be back in the infirmary for Callum's next feed in less than three hours.
Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Severus," she said and he looked at her puzzled as she said the password. "Severus Snape is a lying, cheating, deceitful pig of a bastard."
"Hmm," Severus said slightly hurt.
"I was telling them what you'd allegedly done when I decided on the new password," she told him. "Please pick a new one now, Severus. I don't ever want to have to say those words again."
"Alright," Severus looked at the couple in the painting as he thought for a second. "The new password will be 'vivamus atque amemus'. let us live and let us love."
"I'll remember that, Severus," Hermione told him with a loving smile as the couple bowed and curtsied before swinging open to allow them entrance. Severus and Hermione entered the chambers and stopped when they emerged into the living room.
Hermione had not been wrong or exaggerated in the slightest when she had told him that she had trashed their chambers. Severus looked completely gobsmacked as he gazed around the room slowly. Hermione was shocked at what she saw, she of course remembered doing it but it still had a major impact on her now that she was not over emotional and didn't have an abundance of adrenaline rushing round her body. Severus closed his eyes and shook his head, sighing heavily. Hermione pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. I don't know what to say," she whispered into his ear as she rested her head on his shoulder and sniffed as tears came all too easily once again.
"We can fix it, love. Let me start, I don't think your magical ability is anywhere near able to make a dent in this right now." Severus told her comfortingly and she nodded. Moving away from him she kissed him tenderly before he got to work and she dried her eyes.
Hermione moved off into their bedroom and found that the bed was still in tact although the mattress was thrown on the floor still covered in its sheets and the curtains were all shredded. She stood for a few minutes looking at the carnage before turning around and watching Severus from the doorway. He had made a lot of progress already with cleaning spells and copious use of the 'repairo' charm. He had stripped down to his shirt and trousers as he worked and Hermione couldn't help but become aroused as she watched, it had been so long since they had been intimate with one another. She removed her own robe and tossed it over the back of the chair in the bedroom and moved back out into the livingroom in her Muggle maternity dress, which had been magically altered into a more form fitting design just that morning. She approached Severus from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist running her hands up to his chest as she kissed the back of his neck lightly. He stopped work and stood up straighter.
"Hermione," he started to say as his voice immediately took on a very thick and deep tone. "My love, I must continue on with this."
"Sshh, Severus," she whispered as she continued to kiss his neck and started to undo his shirt buttons running her hands over his bare chest when she gained access.
"Hermione, we can't. You can't after last night," Severus protested.
"Severus, I want you." She growled seductively into his ear and flicked her tongue out to caress his lobe.
"Hermione. I want you too but."
"No buts. Poppy said it was perfectly alright as she has healed me completely." Severus sighed heavily as Hermione began to remove his shirt and moved her light fingers down to the button on his trousers as she started to kiss down his back. She managed to get his top button open before Severus dropped his wand and stilled her hands taking them in his own.
Severus turned around to face her and gazed deeply into her eyes as he held her hands down at her sides. "Are you sure, Hermione?"
"Yes. I've missed you so much," she told him breathlessly as she took half a step closer to him and kissed his jaw lightly.
"Very well, but not here." Severus said as he led her into their bedroom. He stopped to look at the bed frame and then gazed around looking for the mattress. He found it on the floor and moved to replace it, straightening the bed linen as much as he could. Hermione came back over to him and started to kiss his Adams apple as she ran her hands around his back and caressed his buttocks drawing his hips towards her own. "Hermione, the bed needs."
"Nothing, Severus. We will keep each other warm."
"We need a pillow," Severus protested as he quickly retrieved one that was near him on the floor. Hermione removed her dress as he did this and stood in front of him in just her underwear. Severus gawped as he took his wife's appearance in, she did indeed have her figure back but her breasts were much fuller than usual as they carried nourishment for their son. He moved to her and captured her lips with his own as she pulled him into her body and ground her hips up against his own feeling a hard bulge in his pants. "I've missed you so much, my wife," Severus breathed out as he lifted her and placed her in the middle of the bed. He climbed onto it beside her and kissed her deeply again, their tongues meeting again in a familiar age-old duel as they explored one another's mouths for the first time in weeks.
"Severus, I need you." Hermione groaned as she removed her underwear and lay on her back again. Severus removed his bottom half and Hermione pulled him into position. He supported himself between her legs and gazed into her eyes waiting for permission.
"I don't want to hurt you, are you sure you are up to this, love?"
"More than ever, Severus." Hermione said determinedly as she took his erect penis in her hand and guided him into her opening. He slowly slid in and they both groaned at the feel of him inside of her for the first time in about seven weeks. Severus stopped so that she could get used to the feel once more but Hermione was having none of it, she wanted her husband right now and the need was just too great to ignore. She lifted both of her legs to hook around Severus back and drew him in so that he was as close as he was able to get, all the time maintaining eye contact. "Now, Severus," she prompted urgently.
Severus started to move in and out slowly as he caressed her breasts with his hands and kissed her chest, neck and jaw letting his tongue slip out to taste her skin as he went.
"Harder and faster, Severus," Hermione commanded but he didn't speed up. "Severus, please I need you to move," she pleaded longingly and becoming quite frustrated.
"Hermione." He started to protest.
"Dammit, Severus I won't break. Fuck me! Now!" Hermione told him in no uncertain tones.
"Whatever my lady wishes then," Severus conceded as he pulled his chest away from her and braced himself on his hands before he started to pound into her like there was no tomorrow.
"Ah.yes. just like that. Severus. Yes!" Hermione moaned finally feeling what she wanted. She started to reach a climax and they both shouted out each other's names as their bodies became sweaty and writhed up against each other. Suddenly Hermione flipped Severus over onto his back and straddled him so that she was now in control. Wanting to prolong their orgasms she rotated her hips and started to ride him as amorously as was possible. Severus fondled her breasts as she tossed back her head in ecstasy and then felt Severus release inside of her as she orgasmed a second time and felt Severus' throbbing erection against her inner walls. She collapsed down onto his chest exhausted and they held each other tightly as they regained control of their breathing and remained intimately joined.
A few moments later Severus broke the silence. "I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No, Severus. I needed that so much. Next time we will take it slowly though, I'm quite worn out," she chuckled lightly as she moved her weight off to the side slightly and lay her head on the same pillow as her husband. He turned to face her.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Thank you for giving me my son, Hermione." Severus told her seriously as she reached up and caressed his cheek.
"You are welcome, my love. He is adorable isn't he?" She asked delighted.
"Yes, just like his mother," Severus agreed kissing the end of her nose lightly.
"I wonder what colour his eyes will be," Hermione commented as he was still unable to open them.
"I guess we will see in a few weeks when he can start to open them and begin to look around."
"We should tell both our parents that they now have a grandson, Severus."
"Yes, I need to inform your parents as to how you are as well. After our hasty exit last night they will surely be very worried about you."
"I know," Hermione said quietly and looking down as her eyes began to fill with tears and she sniffed. Severus pulled her into an embrace.
"Hey, why the tears?" Severus asked concerned.
"I. it's. everything that's happened, Severus. It's just. all been too much. I almost lost you. I tried to kill you. I don't know how you can still love me after everything I've done to you." She said as the tears once again fell quite freely wetting his shoulder as she lay her head next to it.
"Sshh," Severus calmed as he stroked her hair. "I forgive you for it all, Hermione and I will always love you no matter what. None of this is your fault and you mustn't think that it is."
"The same goes for me too, Severus. All the time I was being seduced by Frontera there was something in my subconscious telling me it was all wrong and that I was married and I loved my husband very much." She said calming down again slowly. "That's how I was able to break through on a number of occasions."
"We have so much to deal with right now, my love, and it is going to take time. Thankfully it is the holidays and we don't have teaching on top of everything else."
"I must return to my teaching as well, Severus. Though I do not know how I will manage with a baby. I was after all not expecting him until after the exams." Hermione told him as she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind his ear.
"We will sort something out, love. You will not have to give up teaching. I promise you," Severus told her. "In the mean time however, it has been two and a half hours and we should really be getting back up to the infirmary."
"Agreed, Callum will be wanting his dinner I should imagine." Hermione said smiling fondly at the thought of her son waking up and squirming around crying softly for his milk.
Severus and Hermione both got out of bed and dressed after Severus cleaned them both up once he had found his wand again. They headed off to the infirmary intending to tidy up their chambers later in the day.
Chapter Twenty-two
"Oh, Severus!" Hermione sobbed as she suddenly opened her eyes and tried to control her breathing as her heart rate accelerated rapidly in her chest. "I'm so sorry! I can't even begin to apologise to you enough." Severus was overwhelmed and tears suddenly sprang from his eyes, cascading down both of his cheeks in torrents. He sat on the bed and hugged her tightly to his chest as he kissed her all over her face. He loved her so much.
"My, love, I'm so elated. so overjoyed you are back with us! I've been miserable this past month without you." He exclaimed as her hands came up around his back and she embraced him as if hanging on for dear life, despite the pain she was in from her very recent childbirth and chest injury.
"I can't. believe everything I've. done to you. everything I've put you. through. Are you alright, my husband?" She implored pulling away slightly and gazing deeply into his tear-filled black eyes as he leaned over her on the bed and Albus and Poppy looked on, thankful that she was back in control of her own mind again.
"Perfectly alright. now." He replied as he pulled her into another tight embrace, crushing her to his chest and breathing her scent in deeply. He had missed this. missed her so much. He hadn't realised that he breathed for his love of the woman he held and that she was his entire world, universe and existence all rolled into one.
"Your face? I slapped you so hard." She said pulling back again and moving her hand to where she had hit him, caressing his cheek gently and looking for any lasting blemishes. Her abdominal muscles had just about had enough and she lowered herself to lie down on the bad again.
"I know. It is fine now though." He comforted her and captured her hand, kissing her fingers tenderly as he breathed in deeply and grinned warmly.
"I can't believe I called our baby those names." She said shaking her head in disbelief as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks and she sniffed loudly and gulped.
"It's okay, in the past." He assured her soothingly and ran a hand through her hair as he gazed deeply and lovingly into her eyes.
"Our chambers." She began but choked on a sob, her emotions finally getting the better of her.
"What about them?" He asked wondering what was wrong since he'd not been in them for over four weeks. She shook her head and couldn't speak for a few moments.
"I-I completely trashed them. and moved back into my old chambers." She replied with a few deep breaths. "He. he told me to do it. said there were too. too many memories there. of y-you."
"We'll rebuild them, along with our lives." He soothed after a pause and kissed her again.
"Hermione, can you tell us in more detail how you got the injuries now?" Poppy asked and she nodded her head solemnly as Severus finally moved to help her sit up a bit on the bed.
"It was Layton Frontera." Poppy gasped at hearing his name.
"He was a patient here last night after a Quidditch accident!" Poppy told them and couldn't believe she had let him stay in the hospital wing when Hermione was so close by, even if Hermione's brother was spending the night with her.
"He came into my room very early this. morning and told me he would summon me to him in the holidays. He demanded I move over. so he could get into bed with me. and I refused him. He punched. me in the chest. and I lost consciousness. only waking up a few hours later." Hermione told them through a few sobs and with Severus rubbing her arms to show his support. "He told me never to tell that he assaulted me and that I should go home to my parents over the holidays and tell Severus to stay away from me. He said he would summon me to him in the holidays and that he would expect me to go to him."
"I will kill him!" Severus growled from behind Hermione and hugged her possessively to his chest again; her back to him and his arms crossed round her shoulders pulling her into him.
"I understand, Severus but we must deal with this a different way, after all, he still has the book." Albus told them.
"Albus, he has been manipulating my wife, assaulting her, brainwashing her. He tried to kill our baby for Merlin's sake! Sitting on this whole situation is not an option anymore." Severus growled at the Headmaster; enough was quite enough.
"Severus, you have no idea how much power that boy now has at his mere fingertips." Albus replied just as pointedly.
"The Headmaster is right Severus, he was able to command the Hogwarts staircase with a wave of his hand." Hermione said and Severus gasped slightly behind her. "I could get it though, Headmaster." Hermione told them out of the blue.
"No, you've done enough already. I will not have you anywhere near him again." Severus said stopping her thought from manifesting. "He should know right now he's lost control over you as well."
"He wants to see me in the holidays though, what if I lure him here instead of me going to him? I'll say I can't floo or apparate as I'm pregnant, he doesn't need to know I've had the baby, and he should agree if he wants to get me back under his control again. I think he will assume he's brainwashed me by now, whether I'm under his control or not." Hermione explained. "How is my baby by the way? I fell asleep through exhaustion." She asked Poppy, looking up with concern and still looking nowhere near rested.
"He's just fine, my dear. Perhaps we should have this discussion in a few days and let the new family get reacquainted?" Poppy said looking to Albus.
"Yes, that is a good idea. It will give us a chance to plan a course of action at least." Albus agreed. "We will chat soon. For now though, you have a son to meet properly. Congratulations to both of you and I hope you are well again soon, Hermione."
"Thank you, Albus." Hermione said as he left the infirmary and Poppy said she'd be in her office but would check on them regularly.
Severus hugged Hermione again and she pulled his arms tighter around her, sighing deeply into his chest as his arms cradled her protectively.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. This was never supposed to happen." Hermione started as the tears came to her eyes again.
"Now, come on, my love. Stop that. We have a son to meet and first impressions are always lasting ones. or so I'm led to believe." Severus told her softly and drying her eyes with his thumbs. She laughed very lightly and took a deep breath.
"Thankfully my first impression of you was able to be changed, Severus. You frightened the life out of me in my first Potions class and infuriated me beyond reason every lesson there after. I hated you for such a long time." Hermione told him smiling lightly.
"Yes, well I wanted and needed to frighten you all." Severus replied, smiling mischievously.
"I chose the name without your consent, Severus." Hermione looked up at him worriedly. "I've grown attached to it but I hope you like it, if not I don't mind changing it."
"I love the name but I do want him to be a Snape." Severus intoned gravely.
"No question about that, he most definitely will be a Snape. I was still being controlled when I said otherwise. I'm truly sorry. I love you so much, Severus." Hermione said as she ran her hands through his hair when he moved round to her front and kissed him tenderly.
Severus propped Hermione up with pillows so that she was comfortable before moving over to the incubator and looking in to see his son squirming about on the blanket. Callum's eyes were tight shut and would not open for a few weeks at least. His skin was a very red colour and he had a small tuft of black hair on his head. Severus opened the top of the incubator and gently lifted his son out with two hands. He wrapped Callum in a blanket and carefully carried him over to Hermione.
"Oh, Severus, he's absolutely tiny!" Hermione exclaimed as she saw Callum for the first time and had to stifle a cry so as not to wake him up too much.
"He was four pounds and three ounces according to Dr. O'Hare." Severus told her as he handed Callum over into Hermione's awaiting arms and sat down beside her on the bed. "He has to remain in the hospital wing for a few weeks I believe. Oh, and I gave him his first feed when you were asleep, and Poppy showed me how to wind him as well. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I'd ever do that." He told her as Callum squirmed in Hermione's arms. Hermione looked up at Severus' smiling face and she grinned back as a few tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. This was just about the best day of her life so far and one she would never forget.
"I will breast feed him if I can, Severus. My milk should be alright I think." She told him, positioning Callum so she had a better hold on her son.
"It's wise, love. It will help to build his immune system and help him to grow." Severus said quietly.
"Oh, my word. What if he had been injured, Severus? What kind of a person would assault a pregnant woman?" She asked him as tears of sadness came to her eyes again and she sighed tiredly.
"Sshh, don't think about that, love. We have him. a lot sooner than expected but Poppy and Dr. O'Hare said he will be fine and his magic should not be affected by what has happened." Severus told her as Callum began to settle down.
"If he has the gift at all, Severus." Hermione said as she remembered their discussion earlier in the year as to what would happen if he was a Squib. "What's the date, Severus?" Hermione enquired suddenly aware she had lost track of time.
"It's March the first, and he was born at two fifteen this morning." Severus replied in a hushed voice as Callum stopped squirming around completely and fell asleep in Hermione's arms. Severus reached over and stroked his head with a finger before kissing Hermione tenderly on the lips and grinning proudly. "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too, Severus."
"I won't ever let anything happen to you again, my wife, or Callum. You are my family and I will protect you with everything I have." Severus told her. "And as for casting any more spells to make yourself hate me, you can think again. I want to never have to hide our wedding bands ever again." He warned seriously.
"Never, my husband, never again. I promise," she agreed as she snuggled into his chest again and they sat watching their son sleep in silence.
After about twenty minutes Poppy came back into the hospital wing and instructed Hermione on how to breast feed Callum, Hermione gave it a go and her first time went surprisingly well- most of it coming on pure instinct. When he fell asleep after being winded again Poppy whisked him away and back into the incubator. She told Severus that both Hermione and he needed to get some sleep and that she would be back for the next few feeds until Hermione was awake again.
Severus moved to sit in the chair as Poppy left for her office again but Hermione reached out to him. "Severus, don't leave me."
"I won't, my love. I'll be right here in the chair." Severus said quietly as he moved to pull the chair closer to the bed.
"No, Severus. Come here. I've missed you. I want to feel you next to me."
"Hermione, you need to sleep and I think I will probably just keep you awake."
"No, what I need is for my husband to hold me. I've missed you this last month, Severus." Hermione implored and Severus relented taking off his cloak, shoes, socks and jacket before climbing into bed beside his wife. He had missed this so much and she moved her back closer to him as he wrapped her lovingly in his arms.
"I love you, Hermione." Severus said as he kissed her on the head.
"Love you too, Severus." Hermione said before she fell into a deep sleep and Severus joined her a few moments later.
~~*~~
Poppy Pomfrey had put Callum onto a three hourly feeding regime and had managed to fit in three bottles of milk as his parents both remained firmly in the land of slumber. As she was giving him his third bottle she heard a movement behind her and turned to see a dishevelled Severus Snape approaching.
"You slept well, Severus," Poppy commented as he stretched and rubbed his eyes. Poppy smiled warmly as she held the bottle to Callum's mouth and he suckled with gusto.
"I did indeed, Poppy. Hermione seems to have slept well also or she didn't disturb me at least." Severus replied as he watched his son feed and a smile emerged on his usually sallow face. "How has he been?"
"In the nine hours you have been asleep Callum has had two bottles of milk, this is his third." She replied and Severus raised his eyebrows in wonderment.
"Nine hours? I've never slept so long without the use of a potion before," he commented.
"Well, you must have needed it, Severus." Poppy replied as she cleaned the dripped milk off Callum's chin and passed him into his father's arms. "He sleeps well, wakes every three hours for his bottle. I've changed his nappy once and I do believe he needs another change about now. You should wind him as well, Severus." Poppy told him as he moved over to the chair and started to pat his son's back. "I will check on Hermione while you do that."
"Poppy, I feel I should warn you that I've never changed a nappy before." Severus said disconcerted. He heard a very distinctive laugh from the other side of the room and looked up to find Hermione watching him gleefully. "Morning, love. Sleep well?"
"Yes, I certainly did, Severus, thank you." Hermione replied still looking on quite amused at what she was seeing. "I'll show you how to change the nappy, Severus it's not too difficult to do." Severus nodded as he continued to wind Callum.
"Now, Hermione, I just need to examine you and then I'll let you help Severus with Callum before you can go off and have a nice hot bath. How does that sound?"
"Sounds fine, Poppy. Thank you." Hermione replied, feeling better than she had in quite a while.
Poppy began to examine Hermione with her wand. "Now, as you can probably see your womb has reduced in size and you have your lovely figure back," Poppy smiled as Hermione looked down with shock on her face and two raised eyebrows.
"So soon, Poppy?" She asked quite astonished.
"Yes, dear. I could have let you heal by yourself but decided to help you along a little." Poppy explained. "Also, all internal swelling and bleeding has stopped and you should only feel a bit stiff, which will leave you once you've had a hot bath."
"Wow, and here I was thinking it would take at least three months to get my body back into shape." Hermione replied in awe.
"Yes, well I assume that this is brought about by your experience of friends in the Muggle World?" Poppy asked.
"Yes, my cousin is about ten years older than me and I remember she had a baby in the last summer I spent at home."
"Well, you are fit and well, Hermione. Able to engage in all activities." Poppy left off raising her eyebrows to Hermione who nodded in understanding and smiled a little. "Of course that's only if you are not still too tired."
"Of course," Hermione replied slightly embarrassed.
"You may leave the infirmary when you are ready but your son will have to stay for the next three weeks I'm afraid."
"How has he been? We've both been asleep for a while." Hermione asked referring to both herself and Severus.
"Oh, he has slept well, waking every three hours for a bottle. He's just finished his third bottle now." Poppy explained, "and as you know he now needs a nappy change."
"Yes." Poppy nodded and left heading off in the direction of her office.
Hermione moved to help Severus with Callum, who had both been waiting patiently for Poppy to finish. After changing the nappy and bathing the tiny baby he was placed back in his incubator and Hermione and Severus were both left to get themselves sorted out for the day.
Hermione told Severus she was able to leave and so they arranged times to feed Callum throughout the day and night and left to sort their marital chambers out after he had been breast fed.
~~*~~
"Hello, Hermione," Lucretia and Marcus both said quite brightly as they saw her approaching their portrait with her husband at her side and both arm in arm.
"Hello you two. Long time no see, eh?" Hermione said smiling brightly.
"Certainly. I see you have brought him with you." Lucretia said less than kindly and Severus just sighed.
"Yes. erm. about what I told you," Hermione sighed. "It was all a terrible mistake. Severus is completely innocent."
"There's no smoke without fire, Hermione," Marcus told her tentatively.
"I agree but I was put under a spell to make me think that Severus had done those things. He did not and I am no longer under the spell." Hermione told them in no uncertain terms.
"Oh," they both said together and looked at her tentatively before Lucretia covered her mouth in surprise and gasped.
"Hermione, you are no longer pregnant. or is it a glamour charm to hide your pregnancy?" Lucretia asked suspiciously.
"Oh, no. I had the baby earlier this morning. He is almost three months premature and so tiny but is fine otherwise." Hermione told them both proudly.
"Well, many congratulation my dear. to the both of you." Marcus said happily.
"Oh, yes. We can't wait to see him. In fact we may visit one of the portraits in the hospital wing to take a peak a bit later." Lucretia told them excitedly. Hermione smiled and nodded at the couple before she heard Severus clearing his throat beside her.
"I understand you changed the password, my love." He prompted; he didn't much like standing in the corridor conversing with a portrait.
"Yes. erm. could you perhaps just let us in without my giving the password?" Hermione pleaded as she glanced from Severus to the portrait in front of them a little nervously, "and can I change the password immediately as well?"
"Well, we cannot do that as you know, Hermione, and we need to have the original password in order for you to change it to a new one." Marcus said putting his foot down, although Lucretia had been willing to let her off just this once.
"What's the problem, love?" Severus asked frowning at his wife.
"Well, it's not a very nice password.sentence." Hermione told him sadly and not meeting his gaze.
"Well, just say it so we can get in, love." Severus said; they didn't have that much time since they would need to be back in the infirmary for Callum's next feed in less than three hours.
Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Severus," she said and he looked at her puzzled as she said the password. "Severus Snape is a lying, cheating, deceitful pig of a bastard."
"Hmm," Severus said slightly hurt.
"I was telling them what you'd allegedly done when I decided on the new password," she told him. "Please pick a new one now, Severus. I don't ever want to have to say those words again."
"Alright," Severus looked at the couple in the painting as he thought for a second. "The new password will be 'vivamus atque amemus'. let us live and let us love."
"I'll remember that, Severus," Hermione told him with a loving smile as the couple bowed and curtsied before swinging open to allow them entrance. Severus and Hermione entered the chambers and stopped when they emerged into the living room.
Hermione had not been wrong or exaggerated in the slightest when she had told him that she had trashed their chambers. Severus looked completely gobsmacked as he gazed around the room slowly. Hermione was shocked at what she saw, she of course remembered doing it but it still had a major impact on her now that she was not over emotional and didn't have an abundance of adrenaline rushing round her body. Severus closed his eyes and shook his head, sighing heavily. Hermione pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. I don't know what to say," she whispered into his ear as she rested her head on his shoulder and sniffed as tears came all too easily once again.
"We can fix it, love. Let me start, I don't think your magical ability is anywhere near able to make a dent in this right now." Severus told her comfortingly and she nodded. Moving away from him she kissed him tenderly before he got to work and she dried her eyes.
Hermione moved off into their bedroom and found that the bed was still in tact although the mattress was thrown on the floor still covered in its sheets and the curtains were all shredded. She stood for a few minutes looking at the carnage before turning around and watching Severus from the doorway. He had made a lot of progress already with cleaning spells and copious use of the 'repairo' charm. He had stripped down to his shirt and trousers as he worked and Hermione couldn't help but become aroused as she watched, it had been so long since they had been intimate with one another. She removed her own robe and tossed it over the back of the chair in the bedroom and moved back out into the livingroom in her Muggle maternity dress, which had been magically altered into a more form fitting design just that morning. She approached Severus from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist running her hands up to his chest as she kissed the back of his neck lightly. He stopped work and stood up straighter.
"Hermione," he started to say as his voice immediately took on a very thick and deep tone. "My love, I must continue on with this."
"Sshh, Severus," she whispered as she continued to kiss his neck and started to undo his shirt buttons running her hands over his bare chest when she gained access.
"Hermione, we can't. You can't after last night," Severus protested.
"Severus, I want you." She growled seductively into his ear and flicked her tongue out to caress his lobe.
"Hermione. I want you too but."
"No buts. Poppy said it was perfectly alright as she has healed me completely." Severus sighed heavily as Hermione began to remove his shirt and moved her light fingers down to the button on his trousers as she started to kiss down his back. She managed to get his top button open before Severus dropped his wand and stilled her hands taking them in his own.
Severus turned around to face her and gazed deeply into her eyes as he held her hands down at her sides. "Are you sure, Hermione?"
"Yes. I've missed you so much," she told him breathlessly as she took half a step closer to him and kissed his jaw lightly.
"Very well, but not here." Severus said as he led her into their bedroom. He stopped to look at the bed frame and then gazed around looking for the mattress. He found it on the floor and moved to replace it, straightening the bed linen as much as he could. Hermione came back over to him and started to kiss his Adams apple as she ran her hands around his back and caressed his buttocks drawing his hips towards her own. "Hermione, the bed needs."
"Nothing, Severus. We will keep each other warm."
"We need a pillow," Severus protested as he quickly retrieved one that was near him on the floor. Hermione removed her dress as he did this and stood in front of him in just her underwear. Severus gawped as he took his wife's appearance in, she did indeed have her figure back but her breasts were much fuller than usual as they carried nourishment for their son. He moved to her and captured her lips with his own as she pulled him into her body and ground her hips up against his own feeling a hard bulge in his pants. "I've missed you so much, my wife," Severus breathed out as he lifted her and placed her in the middle of the bed. He climbed onto it beside her and kissed her deeply again, their tongues meeting again in a familiar age-old duel as they explored one another's mouths for the first time in weeks.
"Severus, I need you." Hermione groaned as she removed her underwear and lay on her back again. Severus removed his bottom half and Hermione pulled him into position. He supported himself between her legs and gazed into her eyes waiting for permission.
"I don't want to hurt you, are you sure you are up to this, love?"
"More than ever, Severus." Hermione said determinedly as she took his erect penis in her hand and guided him into her opening. He slowly slid in and they both groaned at the feel of him inside of her for the first time in about seven weeks. Severus stopped so that she could get used to the feel once more but Hermione was having none of it, she wanted her husband right now and the need was just too great to ignore. She lifted both of her legs to hook around Severus back and drew him in so that he was as close as he was able to get, all the time maintaining eye contact. "Now, Severus," she prompted urgently.
Severus started to move in and out slowly as he caressed her breasts with his hands and kissed her chest, neck and jaw letting his tongue slip out to taste her skin as he went.
"Harder and faster, Severus," Hermione commanded but he didn't speed up. "Severus, please I need you to move," she pleaded longingly and becoming quite frustrated.
"Hermione." He started to protest.
"Dammit, Severus I won't break. Fuck me! Now!" Hermione told him in no uncertain tones.
"Whatever my lady wishes then," Severus conceded as he pulled his chest away from her and braced himself on his hands before he started to pound into her like there was no tomorrow.
"Ah.yes. just like that. Severus. Yes!" Hermione moaned finally feeling what she wanted. She started to reach a climax and they both shouted out each other's names as their bodies became sweaty and writhed up against each other. Suddenly Hermione flipped Severus over onto his back and straddled him so that she was now in control. Wanting to prolong their orgasms she rotated her hips and started to ride him as amorously as was possible. Severus fondled her breasts as she tossed back her head in ecstasy and then felt Severus release inside of her as she orgasmed a second time and felt Severus' throbbing erection against her inner walls. She collapsed down onto his chest exhausted and they held each other tightly as they regained control of their breathing and remained intimately joined.
A few moments later Severus broke the silence. "I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No, Severus. I needed that so much. Next time we will take it slowly though, I'm quite worn out," she chuckled lightly as she moved her weight off to the side slightly and lay her head on the same pillow as her husband. He turned to face her.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Thank you for giving me my son, Hermione." Severus told her seriously as she reached up and caressed his cheek.
"You are welcome, my love. He is adorable isn't he?" She asked delighted.
"Yes, just like his mother," Severus agreed kissing the end of her nose lightly.
"I wonder what colour his eyes will be," Hermione commented as he was still unable to open them.
"I guess we will see in a few weeks when he can start to open them and begin to look around."
"We should tell both our parents that they now have a grandson, Severus."
"Yes, I need to inform your parents as to how you are as well. After our hasty exit last night they will surely be very worried about you."
"I know," Hermione said quietly and looking down as her eyes began to fill with tears and she sniffed. Severus pulled her into an embrace.
"Hey, why the tears?" Severus asked concerned.
"I. it's. everything that's happened, Severus. It's just. all been too much. I almost lost you. I tried to kill you. I don't know how you can still love me after everything I've done to you." She said as the tears once again fell quite freely wetting his shoulder as she lay her head next to it.
"Sshh," Severus calmed as he stroked her hair. "I forgive you for it all, Hermione and I will always love you no matter what. None of this is your fault and you mustn't think that it is."
"The same goes for me too, Severus. All the time I was being seduced by Frontera there was something in my subconscious telling me it was all wrong and that I was married and I loved my husband very much." She said calming down again slowly. "That's how I was able to break through on a number of occasions."
"We have so much to deal with right now, my love, and it is going to take time. Thankfully it is the holidays and we don't have teaching on top of everything else."
"I must return to my teaching as well, Severus. Though I do not know how I will manage with a baby. I was after all not expecting him until after the exams." Hermione told him as she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind his ear.
"We will sort something out, love. You will not have to give up teaching. I promise you," Severus told her. "In the mean time however, it has been two and a half hours and we should really be getting back up to the infirmary."
"Agreed, Callum will be wanting his dinner I should imagine." Hermione said smiling fondly at the thought of her son waking up and squirming around crying softly for his milk.
Severus and Hermione both got out of bed and dressed after Severus cleaned them both up once he had found his wand again. They headed off to the infirmary intending to tidy up their chambers later in the day.