Getting back into the swing of lessons had been odd. There were no new pupils this year, so there had been no sorting ceremony and the teacher's thought it best to let them settle in without the usual pomp and ceremony. The eleven year olds who would have started this year had started at another school which had a greater capacity to take in extra students. Whether or not any of them would transfer next year would remain to be seen.
So, none of the seventh year students had seen Professor Snape before they walked into the Potions classroom. They couldn't see much for the moment though because his desk was no longer shoved into the corner and he was sitting behind it. Most of them thought that he was hiding; Hermione more kindly considered that he was probably concerned about their reactions. Dumbledore had been back for nearly seven months, so he was at least that far along – he must be huge.
"Take your seats quietly and quickly, we have a lot to cover." His usually watchful eyes barely glanced up from his papers. "Take out your textbooks and turn to section five. Read the essay on anti-depression potions. We will be concentrating on anti-depression potions for the next two lessons, this WILL be covered in the medical section of your Potions NEWT – so make sure you pay attention." He peered at Harry and Ron as he said this because Ron was trying to whisper to Harry already. "Mr. Weasley, would you care to share your knowledge with the rest of the class."
Ron started and quickly shook his head.
"No? Then kindly SHUT UP when I am talking." He really didn't have the energy to fight for their attention. Other students were whispering too, he didn't have to think hard to work out why.
"RIGHT" All eyes fixed on Snape instantly, the tone recognisable. He didn't explode though. He put his hands on the arms of his chair and made to stand up. "Let's get this over with shall we."
He smirked imperceptibly at the open mouths as he stood up and walked in front of the class, sweeping his cloak behind him so that they could all see exactly how large he now was. No point in delaying the inevitable. At least after this he would be able to shout at them unreservedly again.
Hermione smiled, Ron goggled, Harry raised an eyebrow and no-one giggled or whispered.
"I do not expect to hear you twittering amongst yourselves. Read the essay and I shall be back in a moment."
He waited until all heads bent towards the text books and then swept out as gracefully as he could manage, hoping that they didn't realise that he was rushing for the toilet. He would have to make sure he drank less before lessons; it wouldn't do to keep rushing out.
He stood outside the door for a moment when he returned to the classroom, to check whether they were doing as he had instructed. There was a little chatter, but not as much as he had expected. He prepared to sweep in and silence them when Hermione responded loudly to something.
"You know Goyle, even Draco wouldn't have let you say something like that – and if you think you can get away with it because he isn't then you are sorely mistaken. Professor Snape is your head of house and you should have more respect. Do you have any idea what he has been through? Do you have any idea what he did for us, for the cause, for DUMBLEDORE? You're a moron Goyle, and if you continue to talk like that then we'll assume that you really were on Voldemort's side. You may have gotten away with your involvement with Draco, but that is only because you are stupid – they can review your case again you know and I for one would be perfectly happy to give testimony against you. Why not try to be supportive of your head of house? You loathsome little worm."
Severus was astonished but couldn't hold back the smirk that broke across his face. He swept in.
"Mr. Goyle. As you are looking over to the other side of the classroom, I assume that you have finished reading the essay. Perhaps you could tell us the basics of an anti-depression potion?"
Goyle gulped at him like a nearly comatose fish. Hermione's hand was already waving in the air. Normally he would have ignored her but...
"Alright Miss Granger, go ahead."
She looked flummoxed for a moment, but quickly launched into an accurate and well formed analysis of the potion genre.
"Very well presented Miss Granger. 5 points to Gryffindor."
The whole class looked as though they had been hit by lightening. It was easier though than if he had given her the points for defending him with such compassion, that he would not have lived down. He was amused by this new form of shocking his students, he would have to be careful he didn't wear it out too soon though.
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"So how was your first day back?" Remus was leaning against the doorway of their quarters. Severus was relaxing in an armchair reading a book as he looked up and laughed.
"Your eyebrows are purple" he observed.
Remus waved a hand in jovial dismissal. "Oh, it's nothing. We tried duelling and Neville got distracted and sent a curse that he was practising off in my direction. I thought I might keep them purple."
Snape put his book on the table and reached for his wand,
"You can't remember how to remove it can you?"
Remus sighed and sat down, "No"
Severus flicked his wand at his lover with a chuckle, "Ostendum Neville"
Remus eyebrows turned back to their normal sandy colour and rose halfway up his forehead.
"Ostendum Neville?" he laughed, "What the hell is that?"
Severus sighed. "Well he messed up so often that it was easier to come up with a general reversal spell based on his magical resonance than to specifically reverse everything that he did. He seems to have learnt to control himself a little better, but I guess it's still useful. Don't tell anyone that I spent time creating a spell about Neville."
"Okay, but you have to come to dinner in the Great Hall."
Severus sighed even deeper and held out a hand for Remus to help him up. This would be fun, his scowl deepened to it's legendary put upon depth.
The Great Hall was filling rapidly as Remus and Severus made their way up to the Staff table. Dumbledore beamed at them both, the other staff were as wide eyed as the students had been. Severus had kept very much to himself since returning to school. He was still concerned about his appearance, but after today he felt a lot more confident about appearing in public. He was beginning to feel less embarrassed about his pregnancy and he met the eyes of all the staff as he approached the table. "Good evening Severus, Remus" Minerva nodded. Severus shocked everyone by responding pleasantly, "Good evening Minerva". He chuckled to himself; at least he had two camps to play this game in.
General chatter rose as the staff and students tucked into their meals. Severus sat back and took in the scene. Voldemort was gone, as was his dark mark. There would be no more calls, no more spying, no more danger. He could teach without feeling that it was a cover story. There would be no more missions. There was just here. Hogwarts and its ever changing residents, the staff – some of them friends, Remus and himself and their baby. He rested a hand absently on his stomach, the baby kicked and he cradled the familiar feeling with his hand to better feel it. He was most definitely home, it was a new feeling but one that was entirely welcome.
"Is it kicking Severus?"
Severus came back to reality and turned to Minerva.
"Uh, yes, it's quite active these days," he smiled at her and she smiled back at him and at the cradled bulge,
"May I?" she asked, her eyes darting towards his own hand.
He was more than surprised; it hadn't occurred to him that anyone would want to feel the baby kicking inside him. But he nodded and moved his hand away. Minerva placed her palm gently on her colleague's stomach and gasped as the baby kicked directly where she touched.
"Severus, that's wonderful. Does it move a lot?"
"Yes, most of the time really. I can tell when it's asleep anyway."
"Which is not when we are trying to sleep unfortunately," added Remus with a wry smile.
Poppy Pomfrey passed a plate of food down towards Severus, "Eat that – carbohydrate in the evening will help the baby to sleep when you do."
"Thank-you Poppy" both men intoned at exactly the same time, Remus laughed. Severus ate – a lot.
Dumbledore chuckled at all the whispers and furtive glances up to the top table.
"I think gentlemen that it might be time to say something publically. I hope you don't disapprove?"
Remus shrugged in a go ahead kind of way. Severus froze for a moment and then remembered how necessary it had seemed in the two potions classes that he had taken today. He nodded to Dumbledore's question and steeled himself for whatever response the collected students were going to have to the blunt confirmation of the Daily Prophet's claims and the general gossip.
Dumbledore stood up and held out his hands for silence, he got it immediately.
"Ladies and Gentlemen if I may have your attention." He twinkled at them all, making each and every one of them feel that he was speaking personally to them. "There has been a lot of speculation following certain articles published in the Daily Prophet recently." All eyes snapped to Snape, he remained rigid.
"As I am standing here addressing you, you can have no doubt about certain aspects of these articles. I was indeed restored from death. You may thank your Potions Professor for that, as I have already. I have no doubt that you have read about Professor Snape's involvement in the war against Voldemort – these tributes to your Professor's bravery were also well deserved."
Severus felt uncomfortable again and resisted the ridiculous urge to crawl under the table; he remained stiff and immobile except for accepting the hand that Remus offered him under the table, knowing how uncomfortable his lover would be right now.
"However," continued the headmaster, "I believe the tales that are most interesting you all right now are those about Professor Snape's pregnancy." He smiled warmly at them all, making them feel that their interest was perfectly understandable, which of course it was.
"Now, I do not wish to make Professor Snape any more uncomfortable than he may already feel. But I would like you all to stand (everyone rose), raise a glass (glasses were raised) and join me in congratulating Professor Snape and Professor Lupin on the impending birth of their child."
There was a huge chorus of "Congratulations" and "Snape and Lupin", shortly followed by a round of applause and the odd whoop from the Slytherin table. Severus gripped Remus' hand and gritted his teeth against the onslaught, not the one he had expected at all – but one he was emotionally unprepared for nonetheless.
Remus made their excuses after a polite amount of time and they left before Severus burst into tears or fits of rage. He expected the latter but thought the former might be a possibility too.