A/N: Hello, random chapter here, which is slightly strange. Thanks for all the name suggestions, there were a few I liked and had already thought about. I mean not that I'd ever call my children something like what they do; my children will be called Peregrine, Kestrel and Merlin… Anyway
Thank you:
Innogen: No, No-one knew Hermione was pregnant, unless they were physic.
Trev: Uh huh
DemonofDoom: Yeah dark is good, but I've gone for a bit of a double-meaning if you know what I mean.
YourGaurdianAngel: Conner is too Irish, Snape is not Irish ;)
Kissmesweetly: I thought those names were really good, and the whole 'gift' idea I researched, but it didn't quite fit.
PinkAphid: Of course I've planned that aspect of my life, but somehow I can see Snape naming his children like that.
Latinachikita: She remembers…for now ;)
Lady Lupin: Nice mythological names, but I can't have a Romulus if we've already got a Remus, but Samuel is cool.
DarkSarcasm: I think I just decided to let it happen, cos it was getting kind of boring with her not knowing who anyone was.
SilentRaven987: random is good, very good. And generally when reading a fic it's good to want to know what happens next, if you didn't I guess you'd probably give up reading ;)
Meandmysharpie: hello, I'm glad you like my story :)
Natsuyori: Wow! Thank you, you really got into that! Yes Alexander is a good name, but I think Silius might sound too like Sirius, or even Silly for those people who don't understand Latin ;)
Resurrected Angel: Hello, hey the whole point of the mystery lady is that she is mysterious, i.e. it would be silly if I told you ;) those names aren't dorky, but maybe a bit too modern for poor old Severus :)
SerenityEmrys: Like I said to Natsuyori, Alexander is good, and it means 'defender of people' so possibly some meaningful plot line there.
Us and Them
"But Severus, you know how much I like Alexander!"
"I know, but I think we should go for something more traditional,"
"Traditional? Severus, Alexander the Great was around long before you were born."
They were sitting on his bed at the flat; they were leaning up against the bed head, watching the baby sleeping at the side of the room. They had come home the previous evening, and were just resting before they ventured back to Hermione's house tomorrow. Hermione was wrought with anxiety at this, but Severus had insisted her parents should be the first to know.
"I know, but what about something Latin based, like my name –"
"Your name means severe, personally I don't think it's that great,"
"Excuse me Miss Granger, you have no right to be discriminating against my name, and Alexander had it too!" he swung his arm at her; she giggled and grabbed it, snuggling up against him.
"Well, I still think Alexander is a lovely name,"
"Yes, it is very nice, but we want something that means something…"
"OK, you suggest, I've already chosen,"
"What about something like Quirinus, or Caelius, or what about Spiritus, my grandfather was called Spiritus, probably the best person in my family,"
"Why?"
"He was involved in a deadly duel when he was young, it left him dumb. So he used to just sit in the corner and wave at everyone. Nicest man I ever knew. My grandmother only married him because he was the only son of a very rich pure-blood. She didn't love him; she just made him get her pregnant, had my father, and then just left him back in the corner."
"Oh, it is a nice name, and if it means something to you…"
"It's OK, it's just a suggestion. My father never knew him; my grandmother wouldn't let them see each other."
"What?" Hermione looked up at him shocked "she wouldn't let them see each other?"
"No, my father saw him for the first time at her funeral." Hermione's mouth hung open, "but they didn't get on anyway, my father had enough troubles of his own. So he would leave me with my grandfather, I would just sit on his knee. I wasn't a very verbal child; we just smiled and understood each other. But then he died too, and my mother and father brought me up in a way that I never wish they had…"
"Severus, you'd never told me any of that before, why couldn't you tell me?" she stroked his arm.
"I don't know, it just felt like talking," he turned away, "so, what are we going to call him then?"
"Alexander Spiritus? I think it sounds good."
"What about Spiritus Alexander?"
"Times have changed Severus; Latin names sound strange as first names."
"I know, but every first son in my family has always had a name beginning with S, it's a tradition, so that the initials will be SS."
"Like Salazar Slytherin?"
"No, well yes, but my surname is Snape."
"How do we know his will be?"
"What?" he looked at her, "Hermione what else do you intend to give him as a surname?"
"Granger," she stared at him, "why not? He's my son, and I'm not a Snape, I gave birth to him."
"But he's my son too,"
"I know, but it would be hard for him when he's older, people would say that he was your son."
"But he is my son, and hopefully by then most people would know about us."
There was a gurgle from across the room, and then a small cry. Hermione sighed and got up. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle from the cupboard; she warmed with a little spell and brought it into the bedroom. She gently lifted the baby out of his crib and held him in her arms, she offered him the bottle and within seconds he had locked the teat in his mouth. She didn't want to breast-feed him, and the wizarding formula milk was supposed to be three times as good as human milk.
The flat was pretty much as she'd expected; dark and gloomy. It was well equipped and had some beautiful pieces of furniture, the walls were all painted a dark green, and a few lights illuminated the rooms eerily. There were no portraits on the walls, and not much detailed decoration. The lounge was probably the nicest room, with lovely dark oak book shelves and a rich burgundy sofa. The bedroom was very dark, with black satin sheets, and only one dim light. But she had conjured hundreds of little stars on the ceiling that morning, not only as comfort for the baby, but for her.
She rocked the baby in her arms a few times until he drifted back to sleep. She put the bottle in the kitchen and climbed back into bed, where Severus was reading a book. He put his arm around her.
"Spiritus Alexander Snape, but we can call him Alexander if we want." He nodded at her, "how does that sound,"
"OK," she said, "we can try it,"
"See what your parents say tomorrow,"
"Please don't remind me," she closed her eyes, "us and them, we're so different,"
"It'll be fine," he kissed her cheek, "I promise." He rolled over and turned the light off, then gazed up into the starry ceiling she had created.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Hermione went into the phone box and dialled her home number. "Mum, hello, it's me. I need to come and see you today. There's something I have to tell you. I'll be over in a few minutes; we'll come through the fireplace. Bye, see you."
She went back into the house where Severus was standing holding the baby in his arms, beside the fireplace. She held his hand and they stepped into the fire together.
There was a gasp from the side of the room. "Well you did say the fireplace." Mrs Granger stood leaning against the wall. "Your father's out darling. Oh, I say. Who are you?" she pointed at Severus who looked sheepish and tried to hide the baby.
"Mrs Granger I am Severus Snape, I am currently seeing your daughter romantically."
Mrs Granger stared at him, "how old are you?"
"Forty-one,"
"What! Hermione he's nearly as old as your father!"
"I know, mum, but I love him."
Mrs Granger face was paling, "what's that? What are you holding?"
"Mum, this is our new son, Spiritus Alexander…"
Mrs Granger screamed, "I'm a grandmother and you didn't tell me! For nine months you've kept it a secret! Hermione you're only seventeen! You're still at school!"
"It hasn't been nine months…he was premature. We would have come sooner, but we weren't very well."
"I can see that, unwell in the head. Hermione you were here at the beginning of the holidays, and pregnant! Why didn't we see, why didn't you tell us?"
"It's so hard mum, how do you think I felt, I was confused." She looked away, "I'm sorry,"
"Well you're not keeping it are you?"
"Of course we are," Snape stepped in, "we love each other."
"Excuse me, but you are old enough to be her father and you knocked her up, I don't want to think about it." She turned away disgusted.
"But mum, look at him," she placed the baby in her mother's arms, "how can we let him go?"
"He has your nose Hermione, and his little hands, just like yours when you were his age," she looked at him wistfully. "How did you meet?"
"I'm a –"
"He was staying in Hogsmead, the village near school, I met him there." She batted away Severus's annoyed glances.
"So Severus, what do you do for a living?"
"I am part of the reconnaissance team that fights the Dark Lord,"
"Doesn't sound very stable to me,"
"It's not, I could die just going out of my front door, but I can prevent things like that happening to other people, I can pass information on."
"So you're a spy then?"
"In a form I suppose,"
"So my teenage daughter bore the child of a wizard spy more than twice her age. Exactly what good comes out of this?"
"It's in your arms mum, and I've found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with," she turned to smile at Severus, but he was facing the other way.
"What about your future Hermione? You could have done so much with your life,"
"I still will, I'll just have two other people to share it with."
"That's why you moved out isn't it? Now I understand, I and your father thought there must be someone."
"Yes, Severus has a flat in London."
"What about at school where will he go then?"
"They can…live in Hogsmead; I'll visit them every day."
"Hermione, I love you darling, but sometimes, I wonder why I ever had you."
"I'm just growing up, mum. You have to let go sometime."
She sighed and passed the baby back to Hermione, "Spiritus Alexander; a nice strong name. Good luck Hermione. I'll try and explain everything to your father."
Hermione nodded, "I'll come back soon, I promise. She kissed her and walked to the fire place. Severus put his hand inside his pocket.
"I'll be watching you Severus Snape, don't you ever hurt my daughter."
He nodded, and turned to Hermione. "Grimmauld Place next then?"
A/N: OK so I'm saying that Harry's parents were 24 when they had him, which makes Severus now 41 and I'm guessing Hermione's parents are a bit older (always seemed the more career first, children later type to me). I think that's probably realistic. I'm not sure whether he'll be Alexander or Spiritus, I 'm quite warming to Spiritus now actually. Anyway Reviews!