Disclaimer: Santa baby slip a Snape under the tree for me. I've been an awfully good girl. But I still don't own anything.
AN: I have over 10,000 hits on my story! I don't really know if that is good or not, but it sounds good to me. Thanks to everyone who is reading the story and special thanks to those who take the time to review.
AN2: JennSmith when I wrote Chapter 45 I was thinking about you!
AN3: Thank you Midnight Lily for the Chapter Title (the one I had picked frankly sucked lemons).
Chapter 47 Having A Party
Having a party
Everybody's swinging
Dancing to the music
On the radio
Rod Stewart "Having A Party"
"Absolutely not: there is no way I am going to allow you to do that," Remus stated flatly.
"Why not?" Amber questioned reasonably.
"It's too risky," Remus replied.
"In what way? Are you planning on taking the potion?"
"Of course I am," Remus replied impatiently.
"Is it no longer true that werewolves only attack people not other animals?"
Remus sighed tiredly, he could see where she was going with this and did not like it one little bit, "You have made your point. If we are going to do this we will have some ground rules," Remus gave in with a heavy sigh.
"Of course," Amber was gracious in victory, keeping her face carefully blank.
"You will remain in wolf form the entire time you're with me," Remus waited for her nod of agreement before continuing, "We will not leave the confines of the room, no running through the forest," again Amber nodded, "and if you ever feel in the slightest bit uneasy or afraid you will leave at once. Amber I must have your word that you will be careful. If anything were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself."
Amber embraced Remus, "Darling, I am a trained healer and I want to observe you so that maybe, just maybe I can find a way to help you. If I can't help the one I love, what use is all the years of training and sacrifice?"
Remus tightened his hold on her wondering what he had done to deserve someone so special.
Amber showed up for her potions lesson with Snape. She wondered at the cold look he gave her. During previous lessons he had treated her with distant reserve in the classroom. Now he was treating her with cold disdain, as if she was any other student. Amber had treated him with respect, not wanting to undermine his authority in front on the students. She had found the lessons on the wolfsbane potion as well as the lessons she overheard fascinating. Her potions professor at Beauxbatons had been adequate; but, no where near the level of expertise that Snape displayed.
"Ms. Doff, your assignment is at your station. If you have any questions, just raise your hand," Snape sneered condescendingly.
"Yes professor," Amber replied flatly.
Amber worked quietly on her potion. She became caught up in the complexity of the ingredients and how they interacted with each other. She had learned early on in healer training to block any extraneous noise and distractions out so that she could totally concentrate on the task at hand.
"The class ended five minutes ago Miss. Doff," Snape hissed startling Amber.
Looking up at Snape, Amber let her aggravation show, "What is wrong with you Severus? You're acting as if I kicked your pet puffskein."
"Don't play innocent with me," Snape sniped.
"Severus, I doubt if I could play innocent wearing braids and carrying a lollipop, now spill, what's wrong?"
Snape looked uncertain for a moment before masking his expression, "When was the last time you spoke with Lupin?"
"We spent last night together and I spoke with him this morning before coming to class. Why?"
"And he didn't say anything about our," Snape paused for a moment, "conversation last Saturday?"
"You mean that thing with the parchment and Harry Potter?" Amber asked casually.
"Yes," Snape replied shortly.
"As I told him, what happened between the two of you concerns the two of you. I also told him I hoped he had a very good reason for undermining your authority, but not to get me in the middle. You and Alexis are my friends, Remus is the man I love, and with something this stupid, well Alexis and I agreed we are not taking sides."
Snape stared at her in shock, "You and Alexis have discussed this?"
"All we discussed was the fact that you and Remus had a falling out. We agreed that what went on between the two of you stayed between the two of you and we would try not to let it affect our friendship. Now, Alexis is planning on remaining friendly with Remus," Snape looked as if he had swallowed a lemon whole, "and I am planning on remaining friendly with you. Any questions?"
"None," was Snape's sullen reply.
"Good. Now I'm trying to understand why the silver nitrate has to be added before the fennel?"
Snape gave her a long considering look before beginning to explain the process.
The Easter holidays were fast approaching. Alexis and Amber had gotten together to discuss planning a wedding reception. After careful consideration, they both agreed it would be less trouble to allow the Malfoys to arrange the affair. Alexis made arrangements to meet Narcissa for lunch in Diagon Alley. Amber was to meet them both at The Cat and Mouse Tearoom.
Alexis and Amber arrived at the same time and entered the restaurant to find that Narcissa had already obtained a table. Narcissa greeted them coolly as they all settled into their seats and ordered a light lunch.
"Draco's letters home have been liberally laced with mention of your name, Alexis," Narcissa gave the younger witch an appraising look.
"Draco is a wonderful student. Since he is Severus' godson, I have taken an interest in him and find him to be a delightful young man," Alexis exaggerated. While she was genuinely fond of Draco, she also knew that he could be a conceited ass on most occasions.
Narcissa thawed perceptibly, "Yes, I couldn't agree more. Now, Lucius and I would like to handle everything for you concerning your wedding reception. We will have it over the Easter Holidays and I don't want you to worry about anything. If you will just send me a list of anyone special you would like to invite I will cross reference them against our usual guest list and then add them if need be."
"You and Lucius are being entirely too generous," Alexis' smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Nonsense, I have entertaining down to a fine art," Narcissa said with no false modesty, "I could throw one of these affairs together in my sleep."
"Both Severus and Lucius have mentioned your talent for entertaining," Alexis complimented.
Amber joined the conversation, "Yes my father always talks about your parties for days."
Narcissa was still sitting as if she had an iron rod welded to her spine, but she no longer looked as if she smelled something foul, merely as if the smell were unpleasant, "One can but try."
When Amber and Alexis bid Narcissa farewell at the end of lunch, they headed to Madame Coutrea's robe shop.
Amber was snickering, "Do you think she keeps the stick up her bum when she and Lucius do the dirty?"
"Please, she has the stick so far up Lucius get splinters in his tongue when he kisses her," Alexis replied as she opened the door to the shop.
Madame Coutrea took one look at Alexis' distended belly and threw her hands in the air, "I will get my sketches and modify your robes again. But this is the last time, no more surprises."
Alexis and Amber exchanged looks and then burst into laughter. Amber held Alexis' hands and helped her lower herself onto the low cushiony chair, "We are going to need a levitation spell to get you up," Amber complained.
"I probably should have asked for a regular chair, but this one is so comfortable," Alexis wiggled further into the deep cushions and looked around for something to put her feet up on. If she didn't elevate her feet her ankles swelled.
Cindy hurried up with a small footstool, "Here you go, Mrs. Snape, is that more comfortable?"
"Thank you Cindy," Alexis sighed as she slipped off her shoes and wiggled her toes. It had been a while since she had seen her feet and it looked like she needed a pedicure. Luckily Rolanda had long ago taught her a shaving charm. Although if she kept getting bigger she was going to have to get someone to help her with that, you had to be able to at least see part of your legs to properly perform the charm. She had propped her feet up in the staff room the other day and had noticed that she had only done the charm on one leg. Being alone she had decided to go ahead and do the other leg and had accidentally hit Mrs. Norris with the charm shaving off all the fur on one half of her body. Unfortunately it had been the back half, nothing as unattractive as bare cat butt. Mr. Filch had been furious and had tried to find out who had done it. Alexis had put her Gryffindor courage in her pocket and kept quiet.
Madame Coutrea came out with her sketches and sat down looking from the page to Alexis for a few minutes. Suddenly her pencil started flying across the page. After about fifteen minutes, she handed the finished drawing to Alexis. Amber came to look over her shoulder, both women gasped in amazed delight.
The gown was ivory brocade over a satin underdress in deep green. The high empire waist was caught under the breasts, allowing the fabric to drape over her stomach. The neckline was heart shaped and came to a deep v.' The dress had circle sleeves over pointed sleeves. The pointed sleeves came to a point over the hand. The circle oversleeves were narrow to the elbow, where they are attached to a wide oval, falling to the wrist in front and slightly longer in the back. Both sleeves had green trim around the cuffs that matched the underdress. Alexis held out her arm and showed Madame the asp that she wore as a bracelet, "Do you think you can match this green?"
Madame Coutrea sniffed, "With magic anything is possible, Cindy bring me the base satin."
Cindy returned with a large bolt of cloth. The color of the cloth seemed to shift and merge so that it was a constant kaleidoscope of colors. Alexis had to look away quickly because she was becoming ill and dizzy.
Madame Coutrea sighed, "Yes, the gowns I could make with this cloth, but, alas, it makes everyone ill if they look at it to long. Hold out your bracelet please."
Alexis held up her arm but kept her face averted.
She heard a swish and the mutter of a quickly spoken spell.
"You can look now."
Alexis turned back and was amazed. Slipping Aniya off her wrist she placed her on the fabric. The color was such an exact match that you can only tell where Aniya was by the red of her eyes, "Wonderful, please make up the robes as designed using this for the underdress and trim. My husband will also need new dress robes suitable for the occasion. Do you still have his measurements from when you made up the robes for our wedding?"
"Of course," Madame Coutrea huffed, "I will make his robes in this green as well so that you will match."
"Perfect. Now what do you have in mind for Amber? And we will need gentlemen's robes made up to match hers as well from the other set of measurements I sent you."
Madame gave Amber an appraising look, "How daring are you?"
"I'm as daring as Alexis is; I loved the gown you made for the New Years Eve Ball."
Madame Coutrea flipped several pages in her sketch book before handing it to Amber.
"Remus will swallow his tongue when he sees me in this," Amber smirked.
Alexis took the pad from her, "Oh my yes. Make it up for her in a deep burgundy. Not that you will need much fabric."
The halter top had a plunging neckline that fastened behind the neck. The cups of the halter were fastened in the front in the middle by a jeweled clip. The left side of the dress from under the breast to the top of the hip bone was cut out. The skirt clung to the hips before flaring slightly at the thighs allowing a slit on the left side. There was about six inches of fabric on the left side of the dress from the hip to the top of the slit. The only way a woman could keep that gown on was with magic.
Amber saw the look of longing on Alexis' face, "I'll let you borrow it next year for your fist anniversary party."
"You can borrow the one I wore to the Malfoy's New Year's Eve ball. We will just change the colors and modify the trim and no one will know the difference," Alexis grinned at her friend.
Alexis and Snape arrived early at Malfoy manor the night of the reception. They needed to be there to greet the guests with Lucius and Narcissa. The mansion looked even grander than it had for the New Years Eve ball; the Malfoys had gone all out to impress everyone. Lucius wanted a close relationship implied in an attempt to keep the other pureblood families from trying to form betrothal agreements.
"My dear you're positively glowing," Lucius complimented. He kept a careful distance as he noticed that Alexis was wearing Aniya as a collar instead of a bracelet, "I see you still have that pest. I'm surprised Severus that you would allow something so dangerous so close to your heirs."
"Aniya is bound to my bloodline and would do nothing to harm either Alexis or my children," Snape replied coolly.
Alexis smiled at Draco, "Are you enjoying your holiday?"
"I will once I finish all my homework," Draco groused. Catching the disapproving look from his father, Draco straightened his posture and assumed his trademark smirk, "Mrs. Snape may I escort you to a seat until the guests arrive?"
Lucius gave a short nod of approval before offering refreshments. The couples sat around making desultory conversation until a house elf announced that the first carriages were arriving at the gates. Alexis signed as she got into her position in the receiving line; it was going to be a long night.
Alexis was surprised and dismayed by the number of people who arrived bearing wedding gifts and baby gifts. Narcissa had anticipated this and assigned an elf to Snape and Alexis. Dixie would take the packages, make sure a card with the name of the giver on it was attached and then place it on a table in the next room.
During a lull in the arrivals, Alexis asked Snape, "Just what are we supposed to do with all that stuff?"
"Remember who gave it to us and estimate how much they spent so that when they have an occasion calling for gifts, we can remember them appropriately. Realizing since we are wealthier than they, that our gift to them should be proportionately more expensive," Snape explained cynically.
"That makes sense. In a twisted, weird way," Alexis leaned on Snape briefly and rotated each ankle trying to get some feeling back into her feet. Snape massaged the small of her back for her.
"Just another half hour, do you think you can handle it?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, if you promise that I can sit down the minute we finish here," Alexis straightened up and plastered a polite social smile on her face, "Here comes Fudge," she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
"Be nice," Snape muttered back.
"Ahh, Miss. Draluck, how nice to see you again," Cornelius took her hand in both of his and gave it a hearty squeeze.
"Mrs. Snape," Severus corrected him flatly.
"Oh yes, yes, that is right. You two are married now. Must remember that. Your donation to St. Mungos came in through the Draluck accountants and was so generous I totally forgot about your wedding. Congratulations by the way," Fudge dithered.
"Thank you Minister, and please, to avoid any further confusion, why don't you just call me Alexis?" she offered unctuously.
"Of course Alexis and you must call me Cornelius," Fudge offered in return as he shook hands with Snape before heading off into the ballroom.
Snape was giving her a questioning look, "I'll explain later," she murmured before turning to greet the next guests.
Amber and Remus arrived and Alexis could feel Snape stiffen as he saw them. Lucius and Narcissa greeted Amber and ignored Remus. Draco wasn't quite brave enough to give a teacher the cut direct but his greeting was brief and cold.
Amber gave Alexis a hug and Snape a kiss on the cheek in greeting. Alexis kissed Remus briefly on the cheek before sending him on to Snape.
Snape refused to shake hands and just glared at the other wizard. Remus gave a small nod and escorted Amber onto the dance floor.
Alexis looked up at Snape. He could tell she was disappointed, but he knew that she would not say anything. Another guest came in with a large, ostentatious package that he had to levitate, causing the couple to return their attention to their social duties.
Finally Lucius called an end to the receiving line, "Anyone else who arrives can just find us."
Snape led Alexis into the ballroom and immediately to one of the small spindly chairs that had been set around the edge of the dance floor. Alexis looked from the chair to Snape and couldn't help but grin, "How the heck am I supposed to sit on that thing?"
He indicated another group of chairs that were across the room, "If they will hold Goyle senior, they will hold you."
"Help me down then," Alexis smirked.
Snape discreetly waved his wand and the chair rose until all Alexis had to do was bend her knees and slide back a bit. When she was settled, the chair lowered itself until it all four feet were once more on the floor.
"You're handy to have around," Alexis said, the gleam in her eyes belying the cool social smile on her lips, "I think I might just keep you."
As soon as the guests noticed that Alexis had settled into a chair, they quickly swarmed the couple. The first time someone asked her to dance, Alexis barely stopped herself from giving the poor guy a death glare. Instead she politely declined with just a hint of you have got to be kidding' implied in her tone, citing her pregnancy as the reason she would not be dancing tonight.
Rita Skeeter jumped on her comment, "So it is true that you're pregnant? When is the baby due?"
Alexis managed to keep from rolling her eyes and pointing at her obviously pregnant stomach. Instead she smiled coldly, "Ms. Skeeter I didn't see you arrive."
"I got here after the receiving line had ended. So are you pregnant and if so when is the baby due?"
"Ms. Skeeter, I believe you yourself reported on my pregnancy not to long ago," Alexis sidestepped the question.
"True, but I would like to verify all the facts for my readers," her eyes gleamed.
"So you do not verify your facts before you print them?" Alexis asked idly.
"Of course I verify my facts," Rita sputtered indignantly.
"Than why would you need to do so again? Severus, I feel the need for some fresh air," as Snape helped her from the chair, "Good evening Ms. Skeeter, I'll look for your article in tomorrow's paper. Now, if you will excuse us."
Alexis was tired. Dixie showed her to a small parlor, "Mrs. Snape can rest here. Dixie will tell Professor Snape where to find his lady."
Alexis thanked the tiny creature and leaned her head back on the cushy chair. Hearing the door open again, she didn't open her eyes thinking it was Snape.
"I brought you these," and a plate was placed on her lap.
Alexis opened her eyes in surprise and looked from the plate full of chocolate goodies to Narcissa Malfoy standing in front of her chair.
"Thank you."
"Draco wrote in one of his letters home that it is a bit of a joke about how much you like chocolate. If Severus is anything like Lucius was when I was pregnant with Draco," a genuine smile graced Narcissa's face for the first time since Alexis had known her, "you have to hide and sneak anything you crave if it is not on that blasted diet."
Alexis shared a smile with Narcissa before confessing, "I have transfigured chocolate candy bars into curlers and left them in the bathroom."
"I had a secret stash of chocolate covered cherries in every room in the house. In fact I was in the library the other day and moved a book and found a box of them still hidden there," Narcissa's look was cautious, "I enjoyed our lunch the other day. Perhaps we could do it again sometime?"
Alexis gave her a considering look before replying, "How about this Saturday?"
"I will check my calendar and get back with you," she nodded at the plate, "you better hurry and eat those, I don't know how long Draco will be able to distract Severus."
Since Aniya gave no objection to the food, Alexis ate a bite sized chocolate éclair and closed her eyes at the taste of the rich dessert. Keeping an ear and eye on the door, Alexis ate every ooey, gooey, chocolately morsel. As she was finishing the last bite of a chocolate covered strawberry, they heard Snape's voice in the hallway.
Narcissa grabbed the plate and shoved it under a cushion on the couch. Snape opened the door, surprised to see Narcissa waiting with Alexis.
Narcissa turned back to Alexis and was horrified to see a trace of chocolate smudged on Alexis' left cheek. She tried to move to block Severus' view of Alexis and give Alexis the time to wipe her face, but Snape was too quick for her and moved to stand directly in front of Alexis.
"So what have you two ladies been up to?" Snape's eyes fastened on the telltale smudge.
"We were talking about when Narcissa was pregnant with Draco," Alexis answered truthfully.
"Was that all?" Snape asked.
"We discussed other things," Alexis conceded.
"Nothing else? All you did was talk?" Snape pressed.
"Severus, what is it with all these questions?" Alexis went on the offensive.
Snape knew that Alexis would never lie to him: evade, distract and divert, but never actually lie.
Snape took another step closer and leaned down close to Alexis, "All you and Narcissa did was talk?" he persisted.
Alexis allowed her eye lids to droop and pretended to yawn; Snape could smell the chocolate on her breath.
"Severus I am very tired, do you know when we may politely leave the party?"
Snape leaned even closer and Alexis thought he was going to kiss her, until he licked her cheek, "Hmmm, chocolate. How did chocolate get on your face, if all you and Narcissa did was talk?"
"It was an accident," Alexis alleged.
"You accidentally ate chocolate?" Snape queried.
"Nope, I accidentally got it on my face when I deliberately ate it," Alexis smirked up at him.
"Alexis, you know that chocolate is not on the diet that Madame Pomfrey gave us," Snape's voice was stern.
"Yes, Severus," Alexis tried a meek look to see if she could escape a lecture.
A cool voice broke in, "Severus I really must apologize. I insisted that Alexis try a few delicacies that the elves prepared specially for the ball. I did not even give her the chance to refuse," Narcissa's expression was one of polite disinterest, as though she was simply trying to prevent a nasty scene from happening at her party.
Snape looked suspiciously at the two witches. But there was no way he could call Narcissa a liar and he really couldn't believe that she would lie to cover up for Alexis. He could see no benefit in it for her, so he slowly nodded his acceptance, "This is a special occasion, so a small," he stressed, "amount of chocolate shouldn't hurt anything."
"Alexis, if you're feeling better, we should rejoin the party," Narcissa stated smoothly.
"Yes, thank you Narcissa," Alexis returned her cool look with a cool smile and since Snape was behind her, a quick wink.
It was after two in the morning when Snape and Alexis finally managed to crawl into their bed back at Hogwarts.
Narcissa had Dixie deliver the mountain of gifts to Slinky so they were there taking up a large portion of the sitting room when the tired couple returned from the party.
Giving the pile a suspicious look, "Do you think there is anything in there we should be concerned about?"
Snape smirked at her, "You're thinking more like a Slytherin every day."
"Just don't tell Minerva that, she might just hex us both," Alexis teased.
"No, Slinky tested them before bringing them into our rooms. The suspicious packages are being contained in a special room that is magically sealed and reinforced."
"Exactly how many suspicious gifts are there?"
"Only about a dozen, which is not bad considering that there are over fifty gifts in that pile," Snape gave a nod at the heap of presents, "I'll look at the others in the morning while you sort through and send thank you notes on that lot," Snape had a wicked gleam in his eye.
"I'm going to need an auto-quill to get through that mound," she complained.
The next morning found Alexis and Slinky going through the pile of presents. Snape had provided her stationery with the Snape family crest on it and an auto-quill. Alexis and Slinky set up an assembly line. Slinky would unwrap the gift and tell who it was from and what it was, Alexis would dictate a thank you note and the Slinky would sort the gifts into piles.
When Snape came back at lunch time he had eight of the twelve suspicious gifts with him. The other four he had destroyed and Alexis was to tired to even ask what they had been. "How many more do you have to write?" he asked as he rubbed her neck and shoulders.
"Just the eight you brought back and those five over there," Alexis indicated some presents that had been set to one side, "Neither Slinky nor I can figure out what they are," Alexis explained, "I hate to write a note that says thank you for the lovely it."
Snape looked at the first item. At first look, it appeared as if it were a skinny, oblong silver tray with unusually large openings for the handles. Snape turned to Alexis holding one of the handles between his thumb and forefinger, "Who had the unmitigated gall to give us this?"
Alexis looked at her notes, "Mr. and Mrs. Alphonso Gates. What is that thing?"
"It is a chastity tray," Snape continued at her puzzled look, "you legs would go through each of these openings and the tray part would magically conform to you to prevent any type of penetration."
Alexis' eyes widened in horror and then she started to laugh.
"Exactly what do you find so amusing about this insult?"
"Gates, he is the short wizard who is almost as wide as he is tall?" at Snape's nod, "and his wife is the tall, willowy, beautiful blonde who is about a third his age who was flirting with all the males between birth and death?" again Snape nodded in affirmation, "I would say that is a very revealing gift then."
Snape reconsidered the gift and he smirked as he told Slinky to destroy it.
The next thing Snape picked up was what appeared to be a clock with no hands and a blank face, "Who gave us Family Time?"
"That came from the Hogwarts staff, what does it do?"
"After the boys are born we will take it into the clock shop and have hands made with everyone's photos on them and then we will have the face customized so that we will always know where the family is all the time," Snape explained as he carefully set the clock to one side.
Picking up a round globe, "These are really very rare."
"Slinky and I couldn't agree on what it is so we set it aside for you to look at. I thought it was a crystal ball and he said it was a giant paper weight."
"You're both incorrect. It is a Tuit."
"A Tuit?"
"Yes, and a very rare round one."
"So it is a Round Tuit?" Alexis was trying not to laugh.
"Yes, you use it when you have a task that is so mundane and repetitive that you keep putting it off. With this you get a Round Tuit and the task gets done."
Alexis looked at him to see if he was pulling her leg. Shrugging philosophically she decided that anything was possible with magic, and dictated a nice thank you note to the older couple who had given it to them.
Snape was looking at a strange double seated contraption with myriad straps and buckles and gizmos. "I have heard about these but I have never seen a double seated one before," he was tugging on one of the straps.
"I give up, what is it?" Alexis asked impatiently.
"It is a baby broom seat," Snape replied as he adjusted one of the buckles.
"What?"
"It is a baby broom seat. You attach it to your broom, put the children in it and take off. Much more convenient than using sticking charms," Snape explained, "Rolanda was telling me about them the other day."
Alexis decided not to ask about what sticking charms had to do with riding a broom with a baby.
Snape picked up the last item Alexis had been unable to identify. It looked kind of like a goat dressed up in an apron with a bell around its neck, "This will come in handy," looking over at Alexis, "it is a Nanny Goat," at her continue please look, "you set it up in the room the baby is in and take the bell with you. If the baby starts crying or fussing the bell will ring and then transmit the sound in the room the baby is in to you."
"Like a baby monitor," Alexis said.
"That is exactly what it is, it monitors the baby and reports back to you," Snape was examining it closely. "What else did we get?"
"Four silver tea sets, two silver coffee urns, two sets of crystal goblets in totally different patterns. China dinnerware, five piece place settings, service for twenty with the completer set: several of the families got together on that one. Two silver salt cellars, some really beautiful Irish lace table linen, numerous sets of baby clothes, blankets, silver rattles, and sundry other items," Alexis sighed as she slumped back on the couch.
Slinky popped out with the finished thank you notes to take them to the owlery for delivery.
Alexis looked over at Snape, "Have you thought about names?"
"Names?" Snape was looking at the baby clothes which were predominantly pink and lacey.
"Names for the babies," Alexis elaborated, "If we are going to put their names down for Hogwarts; they have to have names."
"Actually no I haven't even considered names," Snape confessed, "Do you have any thoughts on the subject?" Snape was holding up a tiny pink T-shirt with unicorns dancing across the front of it.
"Yes, I have, Nathair Wulfric Snape and Aleser Richard Snape."
"Where did you come up with those names?" Snape had put down the t-shirt and picked up a pair of footie pajamas that were yellow with daisies embroidered on them.
"Well, Nathair is Scottish for snake; Wulfric is one of Albus' middle names. Aleser is Arabic for lion and Richard is the masculine form of Richelle. I figured that would cover all our bases. One is Slytherin and after a father figure. The other is Gryffindor and after your mother," Alexis was looking intently at Snape to try a gauge his reaction to the names she had spent hours researching.
"What about your family names?" Snape was examining a bassinet set.
"I really cannot see saddling some poor child with Draluck as a first name," Alexis teased.
"But Nathair and Aleser are acceptable?"
"They can always go by Nat and Al," Alexis smirked.
"If you're sure?" at her nod, Snape continued, "Than that is what we will name them and I will ask Minerva tomorrow to put them down for Hogwarts."
