Okay, just a moment to gloat: My evil outranks your evil! Hehehehe!

Now, onto business. I wanted to thank a couple of people who reviewed, and say it's thanks to that hurricane that I'm updating now, or else I would have waited until tomorrow. To Lyra and Ezmerelda (btw, thanks for that compliment on the soap opera bit), this earlier update is for you two. To Mouse and Lover not a Fighter, am I really? Thanks a bunch, I try ever so hard. Well, here it is, what you've all been waiting for . . .

Just the plot, I promise.

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Chapter 12 Pt 2- Screams and Squalls

"Percy Weasley. He's a Death Eater."

Dumbledore stepped back, a great sadness in his eyes. "I will take care of it, my dear. You just bring those children of yours into the world."

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Everyone in the makeshift waiting room was concerned. Why was Dumbledore there? Was something wrong? Was Hermione all right?

Dumbledore reassured them but didn't stay to wait with them. He went up to his office and threw some Floo Powder into the fire. Stepping in, he called out the name of one of the places he had someone hidden in and the password. "What do we owe the pleasure, Albus?" Sturgis Podmore asked from his seat at the kitchen table next to his wife.

"A favor, Sturgis. We've found out who Hermione's attacker is, and also the person responsible for leaking information on the Order. I would like you to fetch him, secure him, and bring him to my office to be dealt with," Dumbledore requested.

Sturgis stood up, eyes hard. "Who and where," he demanded. Hermione had proved herself to him, and in the process had made a place in his heart such as his own children had. He wanted the bastard that had hurt her.

"Percy Weasley. He'll be in his office at the Ministry."

"Consider it done."

Dumbledore started back to the fireplace but turned around at the last minute. "Stick around after he's secured. Hermione's babies should be with us shortly."

"I look forward to it."

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Back at the castle . . .

With one last mighty scream, Hermione brought the first of her two children into the world. Madam Pomphrey held the baby and cleared its airways and cut the umbilical cord. It gave out an all-mighty squall. "It's a boy," Poppy told her. "A big, healthy boy."

Hermione couldn't respond because she was already busy pushing the other baby out. It only took another minute or so before her daughter was born. The girl was a lot smaller than her brother, but seemed to be healthy. "A girl, Hermione. Just like you thought," Severus said, voice full of awe.

Molly handed Severus the boy and went to clean Hermione up. He looked with wonder upon the child, so new and so perfect. The boy had tufts of dark hair on his head and dark blue eyes, though Severus knew enough about babies to know that that would change.

His heart swelled with love for this small being and the other one now resting in her mother's arms. And then there was the mother herself. Hermione looked exhausted, her hair plastered to her cheeks, but was radiating joy. She held out her hand to him.

Severus moved and sat on the bed next to her, still holding her son. He peered down at the girl. She had orangey red hair and the palest blue eyes. "You remembered, didn't you?" Severus questioned softly. "That's why you asked for Dumbledore."

"Yes. He's taking care of it." She gently stroked her little girl's hair. Making sure that Molly was out of earshot, she said, "It was Percy." She didn't like thinking about it, knowing that the full impact of the memory still hadn't hit her.

"Bastard."

"It's okay, Severus. It will be dealt with."

Severus couldn't understand how she could be so calm and collected about it, but decided to let it go. He lowered her son into her other arm, not willing to argue right now. "What are their names?" he inquired.

"Keefe and Kalila. Both names mean beloved," she answered.

"They're perfect. I love them, and I love you." He kissed her softly and ran a finger down each baby's cheek.

Madam Pomphrey interrupted them. "Are you feeling up to some visitors? Everyone outside is desperate to see you and the babies."

"Let in the flood," Hermione said.

The two babies weren't asleep, but they were no longer crying. Their friends came in quietly so not to disturb them. The older people stood near the back of the room, willing to wait their turns, and the younger crowded near the bed.

"Everyone, meet Keefe and Kalila Snape," Hermione said proudly. Severus was stunned, but no one else seemed surprised.

Ginny and Kori crooned at the babies. The boys refrained from doing so, but didn't seem far from it. "Come, Harry, meet your godchildren."

Severus helped her to hand Kalila to him. Harry cradled her close, looking scared to death of dropping her. "Hullo, Kalila," he whispered. She looked up at him, wide-eyed. When Harry raised his head, his eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "Thank you, Hermione."

"No problem." A movement at the door caught her eye. "Mr. Podmore, what are you doing here?"

"It's Sturgis. I thought you would like to know . . ." he paused, intent on picking the right words. "That your problem is all tied up, so to speak."

Everyone seemed confused but Hermione understood. "Thank you, Sturgis. Come meet Keefe and Kalila."

After a short time, Madam Pomphrey kicked everyone but Severus out of the room. Hermione managed to stay awake long enough to breast feed her children but fell asleep very quickly after that. Severus stayed to settle the children in their bassinets and to kiss his sleeping Hermione and then joined the people who were still outside.

He couldn't seem to stop smiling until Ron walked up to him. "What did Mr. Podmore mean, problem tied up? You found who hurt her, didn't you?"

Severus hesitated so Dumbledore spoke up. "Yes. The pain of childbirth broke through the Memory Charm, despite its strength."

"Well, who was it?" Ron demanded. When no one answered, he sighed, pain in his eyes. "Let me guess. It was one of my brothers, wasn't it?"

Dumbledore nodded reluctantly. Arthur and Molly looked stricken but resigned. "How did you figure, Ron?" Severus asked.

Ron swallowed but answered. "I've seen pictures of my sister when she was a baby, sir, and Kalila looks an awful lot like her. It was Percy, right?" He couldn't imagine any of his other brothers doing such a thing, but Percy had been acting oddly for several years now.

"Right."

"The great pompous evil prat. I'll kill him," Harry, Ron and Draco all said at the same time.

"He is being dealt with," Dumbledore stated firmly. "He will be put in a high security prison," The dementors of Azkaban had abandoned the prison shortly after the Ministry had admitted to Voldemort's return, "Guarded with both Muggle and Wizarding means. I'm sorry, Arthur, Molly, Ron, Ginny."

"Yes, well, Hermione is a better sister than Percy was a brother," Ginny declared, sounding choked but not yet crying. Harry went over to her and pulled her close.

"I second that," Ron said.

"This isn't a time to grieve, it's a time to celebrate. I have my first grandchildren, Ron is an uncle, Ginny is an aunt, Harry is a godfather, Severus is a father and Hermione is a mother. We have much to rejoice in," Molly said, wiping her eyes.

Severus felt a thrill at being called a father. That was true he realized, it finally hitting him. I'm a father.

The smile came back and stayed firmly in place the remainder of the evening.

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It's not all over yet, but thank you for bearing with me. To Lyra and Ezmerelda, I hope that you and your loved ones and belongings make it safely through the storm. Be safe. Please review, everyone!