"Class dismissed." Hermione turned to clear away her notes as the students headed out for lunch.
"Excuse me Professor Weasley, but could we ask you a question?"
Hermione spun around to find herself facing a small group of third year Slytherins, concern was etched across their small faces. She recognised the boy who spoke as Michael Munroe, a favourite of Severus'.
"A question about the lesson?"
"No Professor. We were wondering when Professor Snape would be coming back. We were worried, what with Professor Lupin being gone and all. I mean, it's not that we don't like you, we do. You're Mirari's Godmother after all, Professor Snape must think highly of you and it's fantastic to have Professor Potter for the week. But we ... well ... we wondered if he is alright ... I mean ... if he was ill or something ... and well, we just wanted to know." The boy trailed off, running out of steam and courage and not knowing exactly what he wanted to ask, just that he wanted to know why Professor Snape wasn't there.
Severus was in no fit state to tell his students what was going on and it wasn't really fair to make him. The Headmaster had already stated that he didn't feel that it would be appropriate for him to make an announcement in the Great Hall until Severus felt comfortable with it and was actually there, but Remus had told them in no uncertain terms at the last staff meeting that it would be better for Severus if everyone knew by the time they got back. With that he had whisked his family away for a week's rest in the country to get used to the idea that there were three little Snape-Lupins on the way and that this would be a difficult pregnancy. The Professors had grumbled about it being unfair to give them the job of informing the students and so far, none of them had said a word.
It was Friday now; there was only the weekend before Severus would be back in the classroom and then there would be questions about why Professor Granger was staying on at the school and why she was taking over some of Snape's lessons. This was all getting way too complicated to keep secret and Hermione completely understood why Remus thought that it would be best for the students to find out whilst they were absent. Who could they ask for help if not their friends and colleagues? Hermione sighed and indicated that they should sit.
"Professor Lupin took Professor Snape home for the week."
She took a deep breath and knew that she was going to do this badly, "Okay, Professor Lupin thought that the students should be told why they were going away, but so far it would appear that none of your usual Professors have enlightened you."
The teenagers all shook their heads to confirm this and stared at her with a combination of worry and hunger. They now knew that there really was something to know.
"You all know that Professor Lupin and Professor Snape have a daughter, Mirari. Well, they decided that it was about time that she had a little brother or sister."
She tried to ignore the widening eyes and continued.
"Professor Snape used a Maternity Potion and he became pregnant, but something unexpected happened and they found out that there are three babies – triplets."
"Triplets? Wow, that's amazing." The students all knew that Professor Snape had been pregnant before, so it didn't seem so odd that he was pregnant now. Hermione smiled, that would make it a little easier.
"Amazing – yes, but also difficult. Professor Snape is going to have to rest a lot, so I will be here to help with lessons and eventually I take over for a little while. You have to understand that this will be hard for your Head of House. Multiple pregnancies are very uncomfortable."
"We understand. We'll look out for him. We won't tell anyone either."
Munroe found himself kicked in the shins under the desk for such a stupid promise, but Professor Granger hadn't finished.
"Actually, in this case, I think it would be better if you didn't keep it a secret. There are no plans to make an announcement and I know that Professor Lupin thinks that it will be better if everyone knows. So for this time only – feel free to spread the gossip."
Five identical grins cracked across the faces in front of her.
"Just make sure that you mention how difficult this will be for your Professor, as members of his House I am relying on you to watch out for him. Okay? Good, then get to dinner before you miss it entirely."
Ten feet scampered out the door; whether for food or the kudos of bringing the most amazing gossip since Peeves locked Professor Sprout in the larder in her nightgown, she had no idea. At least she had done what Remus had asked, they would just have to wait and see how the students responded.
Severus awoke with a start as his alarm squawked shrilly next to his head. God, he just couldn't get enough sleep, even if he slept all the hours that he wasn't working.
He rubbed the crick in his neck, he would have to just accept his limitations and transfigure a cot in the office. He could sleep properly during his free periods.
The door to the Potion's classroom closed gently.
"Right, that's it. I'm taking over all the marking. You can check the NEWTS essays, but other than that..."
"I'm not incapable Hermione, I can ..."
She had her hands on her hips, one eyebrow rising in an unconscious imitation of her mentor.
"I didn't say you were incapable Severus. You need to rest and the marking is the easiest way to free up time. I promise to be suitably scathing for you."
Severus sighed. Wondering briefly when he had become such a complete nancy. He was just too tired to argue anymore. There was power in snarkiness, maybe he had mellowed too much, he seemed to have given away all his power.
Hermione smirked at him.
"It's the price you pay for friendship Severus. If you have friends, you have to listen and concede your stubborn gittishness when those who know you, treat you as you are and not as you pretend to be."
Severus tried hard not to laugh. There was still part of him that didn't want to concede that much, but a bigger part that just really didn't want to wet himself when his muscles couldn't do two things at once.
"You have to use red ink."
"Okay, but I'm not doing spiky script."
"It's part of the impact."
"I know."
Severus growled, turned it into a groan and headed for the bathroom.
When he came back into the office, Hermione had seated herself at their now communal desk. She peered over the clutter on the desk and watched as Severus tried to adjust his clothing for greater comfort.
"Are you alright?"
"No"
"What's wrong?"
The answer was something like a grunt, somewhat muffled by the continued fumbling with clothes.
"I can't help if you won't tell me what's wrong."
"I feel unbalanced. My stomach seems to be drawn to the ground by gravity, I just want to lie down."
"Take your robe off."
The eyebrow made a brief re-appearance. "I beg your pardon?"
Hermione made her way around the desk and came up behind Severus, tugging his robe off his shoulders. He was already back in the light linen clothing from his previous pregnancy, no buttons and varieties of clothing lengths to deal with. Good, that would make it easier. She took a sheaf of parchment from the desk and transfigured it into a long woollen scarf. She folded and twisted the scarf between her hands.
"This is a trick that I saw Molly teaching to Fleur last summer."
She threaded the wide portion of the folded scarf around the Potion Master's wide girth, cradling the swell in the hammock of fabric and lifted. She tightly secured the scarf in the small of his back and spelled it to stay in position.
"There. Better?"
Severus ran his hands over the stretch of fabric with an awe that would have seemed rather over the top for someone not in the same discomfort. When he spoke, it was a whisper.
"Thank you. That's... ...better."
Hermione smiled, helped him back into his robe and returned to her marking. The noise of a full and unsupervised classroom tumbled through the closed door, Severus pulled his robes around himself and practiced a few calming breaths.
"Sounds like your class is ready for some snarking, Professor."
"Hmm."
He managed to sweep for the first time in weeks and felt uncommonly grateful for it.