Chapter 14
Taran Swann
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Severus and Harry turned toward the Headmaster as he began his welcoming speech. Severus could feel the stares of the friends and family who sat behind them and squeezed Harry's hand lightly. All of Harry's friends had made him feel so welcomed that he no longer thought of them as just Harry's friends. They were his friends and family now as much as Harry's.
He became so lost in thought, that he hardly heard a word his oldest friend said as he began the wedding ceremony. Suddenly, Severus closed his eyes tightly and clenched Harry's hand as a wave of agony flooded his senses. He was determined not to let everyone know he was in distress, but he felt Sirius shift closer to him as Harry gasped quietly.
Severus let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding and relaxed his grip on Harry's hand. He saw the worry in Harry's eyes and whispered that he was fine. He said the same to Sirius, who was hovering at his side as though waiting for Severus to faint. Several minutes passed and Severus had just begun to relax again, when another wave, stronger than the first, nearly caused him to cry out.
Harry cringed at the pain in his hand and worried in the back of his mind about Severus breaking the delicate bones in his agony. Harry was now certain that Severus was in labour.
Severus felt Sirius take his hand as the wave crashed over him. If not for the support on either side of him, Severus was sure he'd be on his knees, doubled over in pain. He began panting as the pain lessened. He looked up into the twinkling eyes of Albus, who had continued talking as though nothing had happened, but was watching him like a hawk.
"Hurry up, old man," Severus whispered. Albus smiled and gave a quick nod of acceptance. He quickly skipped over much and went straight into the vows. Sirius let go his hand so he could turn to face Harry, but stayed close, just in case. Harry looked scared and worried, but relaxed visibly when Severus smiled at him.
Harry said his vows first, smiling with unshed tears sparkling in his eyes. Severus was only part way through his when he was hit with another contraction. He gasped loudly, drawing everyone's attention. He vaguely heard Ron call out for Madame Pomfrey. He shook his head and forced himself to look into Harry's scared eyes. He was shaking violently and had to force his breathing to even out to prevent hyperventilating, but continued to stare into the emerald eyes of the man he loved so much and continued his vows.
Albus wrapped up the ceremony, introducing Professor and Mr. Potter, and bade them kiss. Harry just barely pressed his lips to Severus' and whispered, "I love you, Severus Potter."
"I love you, too, Harry Potter," Severus whispered before collapsing into Harry's arms. Sirius helped Harry lower Severus to the floor as Poppy rushed up to them.
"Albus, a little privacy if you please?" the medi-witch said sternly as she knelt at Severus' feet. A blanket floated down out of the air and covered Severus' lower body and a screen came up around them. Ron gave Harry a quick congratulations and disappeared around the screen to quiet the audience's fears.
Sirius congratulated Harry as well with a kiss on the cheek and started to rise to leave as well. Severus caught his robe and pulled, getting Sirius' attention.
"Don't go," he pleaded breathlessly as another contraction over took him.
Sirius looked at Harry questioningly, not sure if he should stay during such an intimate moment as child birth. Harry just nodded, looking back at Severus' pained face.
"You have to stay, Sirius. You're part of the bond. Rest his head in your lap," Poppy directed him.
Sirius' eyebrows raised at her words. He was part of the bond? He didn't stop to contemplate it now, he just followed her orders and sat at Severus' head, cradling it in his lap.
He looked down into Severus' shining eyes and smiled. "Thank you, for letting me be a part of this," he said as he felt tears welling up in his own eyes.
Severus reached a shaking hand up and caught Sirius behind his neck and pulled down. He kissed Sirius lightly on his cheek. "Thank you for being a part of it."
"All right, Severus, start pushing with the next contraction," he was told. He nodded at the medi-witch as he gripped Harry's hand and panted the way Poppy had taught him. It had seemed so foolish when she made him practice, now he was understanding the power of such controlled breathing.
As he began pushing, Severus screamed in agony, squeezing Harry's hand in a vice like grip. He fell back into Sirius' arms in a daze. It was several moments before he was ready to push again and Poppy was beginning to seriously worry about his lack of strength. She could do a caesarian if she must, but that was extremely dangerous for Severus. If he didn't give birth naturally, he may never regain his magic.
The three of them encouraged him as he began to push again. He could feel the baby shifting into the correct position, but not fast enough. He collapsed unconscious back into Sirius' arms. Harry cried out in fear when Severus stopped moving and nearly fainted as well when Severus' obsidian eyes opened again.
"One more good push, Severus," Poppy said with concern. "I can see the baby's head. One more push should do it."
Severus nodded weakly as Sirius helped him back into a pushing position. As the next contraction started, Severus closed his eyes tightly and squeezed Harry's hand. He nearly stopped as he felt the baby begin to exit his exhausted body. He fell back when it slipped out completely in a wet rush.
"Oh, my God!" Poppy exclaimed, gaining terrified looks from both Harry and Sirius. Severus was too exhausted to even acknowledge her startled words.
"What's wrong??" Harry asked, his heart gripped in fear.
"Nothing," she said, staring at the child in her arms. Minerva, who had been watching from a distance in case Poppy required assistance, gasped as well as she looked over the medi-witch's shoulder.
"WHAT??" Sirius growled as he saw the smile on Minerva's face.
"It… it's a girl," Poppy said in wonder and awe.
"A… girl?" Harry asked incredulously even as he smiled crookedly. He laughed nervously and leaned over to kiss Severus tenderly. "We have a girl, love!" Severus just moaned painfully as the placenta was expelled.
Minerva held out a soft blanket and accepted the baby from Poppy to clean it up before handing the child to her parents. Poppy raised her wand and looked at Severus happily.
"Severus, I'm just going to clean you up and close the birth canal. It might be a little uncomfortable, but you'll heal much quicker."
"No," he whispered weakly.
"It's all right, Severus. It'll only take a moment," she said raising her wand again.
"No!" Severus cried as pain wracked his body. Poppy's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped. Harry and Sirius looked at each other in confusion then looked back at Severus as he seemed to start pushing again.
Poppy was dumbfounded as she looked back down at Severus' body. "Twins?!" she said in astonishment. She snapped back to herself as Severus cried out louder than before.
Harry returned to coaching and whispering to Severus as Sirius supported Severus' head and back, his arms wrapping around the man's heaving chest. He leaned in and kissed a sweaty, red cheek as Severus stopped pushing and dropped back against his chest.
"A boy," Poppy happily announced.
Harry's head dropped to Severus' chest as he rested against Sirius. He could feel Severus' heart beating weakly and he seemed to struggle for air. Their children were safe, but Severus was still in danger. He had no strength left in him.
Harry started at the feel of a warm hand gently grasping his wrist. He looked up into Poppy's worried eyes. She placed Harry's hand on Severus' chest, then covered it with her own. She closed her eyes, whispering, "Enervate." Harry could feel his magic pouring into his new husband, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Severus' heart was still much slower than it should be. Harry looked at the medi-witch with pleading eyes.
Poppy took Sirius' hand and placed it over Harry's. "You've been with Severus since the start. The children have already accepted you as Godfather, and so has he," she said, indicating Severus' weak form. "There is a bond between you and you must use it now. Add you're strength to his, Sirius."
Sirius closed his eyes and, just like Harry, he felt his magic flow into Severus. His heart leaped with joy as he felt Severus' chest rise in a deep breath.
Harry pressed his lips softly to his husband's as he felt Severus' heart speed up. His own heart sped up as Severus' mouth opened and a warm wet tongue slipped out and caressed his lips lazily. He held Severus' face gently as he pulled back and looked into the most beautiful, obsidian eyes he had ever seen. Severus was positively radiant, even after giving birth to twins.
"I love you," they whispered in unison. Severus gave Sirius' arm a grateful squeeze as Poppy and Minerva presented him with his babies. With Sirius' support, Severus was able to hold his daughter, while Harry held their son. Severus snuggled his face happily against hers.
"Feeling all right, Severus?" Poppy asked cautiously.
"Yes," he said softly as he smiled at the perfect little face of his unexpected little angel. "Although," he whispered to her in a conspiring tone and a sparkle in his eye, "I'll feel much better once your father has a vasectomy!"
Everyone laughed and Harry shook his head as he leaned in and kissed his husband with all the love he felt. Harry looked down at their beautiful, black haired babies with wonder. He smiled at Severus in amusement and said, "And you thought it was the flu."
~Finis~
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