Chapter 15
"I don't know what I despise more." Severus sneered as the nib of his fourth quill snapped. "The first week of school, or the week before the first week of school."
"Its not that bad is it?" Hermione asked as she passed him a new quill. Severus was completing the staff timetable. Since Albus' 'death', Severus had been acting as deputy headmaster. With that title he got the joy of doing all the work that Minerva McGonagall didn't want to do herself, such as, writing to all new students, dealing with parent's letters and organizing the time tables for each member of staff and student.
"From sitting crouched over these parchments for so long, I dare say I've developed a hunchback." Severus stretched his neck and sighed as he felt his bones popping back in to place.
"I hate it when you do that." Hermione cringed as the noise of his action filled the air. "I could rub your shoulders for you."
"At what price?" Severus asked, his eyebrow rising into a questioning motion.
"There isn't a price."
"There is always a price; you will hold it against me one day." Severus chuckled moving from the couch to sit on the floor before Hermione, so her fingers can work the magic he desired on his aching muscles. He didn't have to wait long before her fingers touch the bare skin of his neck.
The last few days had been hard on him. From dealing with Hermione during the summer, Severus got distracted from his work and had left it all until the last minute. It was the first time he had done it and from all the mess he had had to sort out, all the chasing and time wasting he had done, he was quite sure that when he vowed never to do it again, he would keep to it. So in three days time he would have to welcome the beginning of a new month and the beginning of another school year.
Severus was beginning to hate the 1st of September.
"I could do it better with your shirt off." Hermione's voice brought him back from his thoughts and back to the pile of work in front of him.
"And here I thought you were here just for my money." Severus smirked. He was trying to change the subject, being half naked in front of her was not something he looked forward to. Well not any more.
"The money is just a bonus. Come on, I promise to keep my hands off you…well sort of." Hermione giggled, pulling at the collar of his shirt. "I got to watch my blood pressure anyway, can't let it get too high."
"Yes, you mustn't get all hot and bothered." Severus replied silky, he stilled her hand on his shoulder with his and he could fell her hand shaking softly. He knew he shouldn't be flirting with her, but she was to him like a drug was to an addict.
"Well I…" Hermione stumbled over her words and pulled her hand from underneath Severus' hand.
He didn't need to look at her to know that her cheeks were flushed and her breath was coming in a little bit faster. He was treading on a thin line and the conversation needed to be changed to a different subject before he was in too deep. "How is the baby doing?"
"He's doing fine. I-" Hermione stopped her self before she finished what she was saying. At the feel of her fingers working his muscles again he knew she wasn't going to volunteer in completing the sentence.
"What is it?" Severus asked.
"I- it doesn't matter, it was a stupid idea. Just forget it." Hermione mumbled pressing a little too hard on to his shoulders. At his flinch when she pressed harder on to a very sore muscle she sighed and continued. "I was thinking that maybe I could, when the baby is born, look after him while you were in lessons?"
"That won't be necessary." Severus replied, aware of the fact that the time when he would have to tell her the truth was coming closer.
"Oh, I see." Hermione sighed. It was clear she had set her heart on the idea.
Trying to easy of the rejection Severus said. "You will be teaching at the same time. So it won't be possible."
It wasn't a total lie; it was true that she would be teaching, just not in England and not with him.
"Of course. That makes sense. Who will be looking after him then?"
"I'm hiring a full time child minder." Severus replied, he hadn't planned on telling her this much.
"The rooms will be abit cramped then. Would you be turning the study into a temporary bedroom?" Hermione asked.
"That is the plan." It killed him to lie to her so but it wasn't time to tell her yet. Severus sighed and closed his eyes, when would be the right time to tell her?
The newspaper on the table read that it was the 18th of September. Tomorrow was Hermione's birthday, from the amount of letters she received this morning, Severus could tell that she would have a lot of cards arranged around his living room. It had now been over a year since Hermione first returned back to Hogwarts. He couldn't remember her having so many letters last year, if her remember she hardly had any. And as the 12th owl flew through his rooms he felt his anger rising.
"Why are there so many blasted birds?" Severus cried as he slammed his coffee mug down.
"Well I'm quite well known from the war and being Harry Potter's best friend, so I do normal get a lot of cards." Hermione answered taking the post of the owl. "The post office now sends the owls with bulk mail, instead of one owl for each letter sent. Saves owl power I guess."
"There wasn't this many last year!" Severus snapped, as his breakfast was officially ruined.
"That's because I was still having it delivered to Ron's house." Hermione answered matter-of-factly. "Didn't you wonder what was in the big box he sent me afterwards?"
"You don't need to be so smug about it." Severus sneered. As he left the room in a huff.
Hermione laughed and finished eating her toast. Her check-ups with Poppy were now every two weeks and at each one her blood pressure still was a bit too high. There was a potion she could take to lower it but the side-effects included that it many induced birth, or it would be reduced way too low. Which was something she didn't want, but at the moment it was still low enough not to cause any risk to her or the baby. If it went higher then she would seek Poppy but until then she was quite happy sitting on the couch reading her books.
"Harry, Ron and Ginny are popping over tomorrow to celebrate my birthday." Hermione said as Severus walked through the door. It was now the end of the school day and the evening was just beginning. Hermione was glad that he was back; she had been suffering from indigestion and a bad back since breakfast. An anti-acid potion and a hot bath was what she needed.
"I shall wear my Sunday best then." Severus answered, heading straight to the drinks cabinet.
"Bad day?" Hermione asked. As much as she didn't like Severus drinking she wasn't exactly the one who could tell him not too.
"12 batches ruined, 8 students setting themselves on fire, 6 mice set loose and 3 toads killed." Severus replied downing his drink in one. "You could describe it as bad day."
"Oh, you wouldn't have any anti-acids would you?" Hermione asked.
"No, why?" Severus replied.
"Indigestion." Hermione replied rubbing her chest as the burning sensation returned. "And some pain killers would help as well."
"You're in pain?" Severus asked, moving to her side. Hermione was touched by his concern.
"Just a little back pain, must of slept funny last night." Hermione replied trying to stand up. It was only when Severus offered his hand did she manage to right-en herself. "A bath will sort it out."
"I think you should see Poppy." Severus replied. When he tried to guild Hermione towards the door and saw that she struggled with walking, he soon picked her up off her feet and carried her in his bedroom and placed her on his bed. It was harder to navigate around the room with the extra weight of Hermione and baby.
"What—" Hermione tried to question but Severus left the room before she could finish.
When he returned it was with a flustered Poppy. Who soon hurried to Hermione and waved her wand about her stomach. "Oh dear." Was all Hermione heard her mutter before she and Severus left the room again.
Confused and frustrated Hermione tried to get off the bed to demand some answers from them. She had only managed to get her leg off the bed when Severus came back in looking worried. With such a strong emotion being played on his face, when he normally kept his face impassive, Hermione began to panic. "What is it?"
"Your blood pressure has rocketed and the baby's heart beat isn't as strong as it should be." Severus answered solemnly.
"What's going to happen? I'm not due until another two weeks!" Hermione cried.
"Poppy's going to give you an herbal remedy to try and lower your blood pressure and hopefully the baby's heart beat will go back to normal. If not the baby will have to be born now." Severus answered walking to Hermione's side to soothe her.
"I'm not ready, I can't have him now. It's not time." Panic stricken Hermione reached out to hold on to Severus robes.
"You need to calm down! You will only make it worst if you carry on in this silly manner. Every thing will be ok. You will be ok, Hermione." Severus assured trying to convince himself more than her. "Poppy knows what she is doing."
"I hope so."
"Right then Hermione, here we are." Poppy said as she walked into the room, she stopped mid-step as she looked from the distressed Hermione to the frowning Severus. "I told you to keep her calm, Severus, really now."
"I am!" He claimed.
"Here Hermione, swallow this." Poppy handed her a small tablet and a glass of water. "There's a little bit of calming draught in the water, yes that's it, drink it all."
Hermione did as she told and fell back on to the pillows as she felt the draught working. She felt weird, she knew that the baby and her self was in danger but she wasn't worried about it anymore.
"You too Severus, drink up." Poppy said handing him a glass too.
"I'm fine." Severus sneered but drank it anyway.
"Now, it will take a few seconds for it to get into you system. Let's have a look see." Poppy forced a smile as she casting her wand upon Hermione once again. "That's better, his heart beat has gotten stronger, but you blood pressure still is abit high. It is just a game of wait and see now. I'll make us all some tea."
"Is that it? 'I'll make a cup of tea and everything will be fine'? Can you not do anything else?" Severus asked, unsure of the whole situation.
"I have done what I can. If her blood pressure rises again then I will have no other chose but to induce her." Poppy sighed and then left the room to go to the kitchen.
"Severus!" Hermione pleaded from her place on the bed. "I can't have the baby tonight."
"You won't. It will be ok. Just relax." Severus answered and sat on the bed beside her.
Poppy and Severus were sat on the edge of their seat for the three hours that passed with Hermione's blood pressure not changing since taking the herbal remedy. It was near to 10pm when Poppy scanned Hermione again. "Its risen again I'm afraid. If it keeps on rising, I will have to induce you."
"Great." Hermione replied sarcastically as she rubbed her face with her hands.
"Now there, it still might go down." Poppy said reassuringly patting her hand. They stayed like that for the next 20 minutes, Poppy would try to reassure Hermione, as Hermione would worry about having the baby and Severus sat in the corner of the room silently, deep in thought. After Hermione's blood pressure had risen for the third time Poppy announced she had no other option but to induce her now.
This is when Severus finally spoke up. "I need to make a floo call."
"What?" Hermione called after his retreating figure. Giving up she turned to Poppy and cried. "I'm about to have his child and he's nipped off to make a quick social call?"
"Come now, there is still the labour to go before the baby is born and that will take awhile." Poppy smiled. "He won't miss it. Now let's get you on track."
What Poppy did next was one of the most mortifying and embarrassing moments of Hermione's life. She just hoped that Severus didn't return in time to see Poppy's wand (sterilized she hoped) prodding around in places they shouldn't. "Do you have to use your wand?"
"It's not a proper wand. It's a disposable anti-natal wand." Poppy said as she poked abit more. "See now, they have magic in them that can only be used on pregnant witches. And with a quick spell your water's will brake."
"What spell?"
"Aqua-dummetum" Poppy replied and Hermione felt a gush of wetness. "See look, just like that."
"Now how long will it take?" Hermione asked.
Severus had returned back to the room at 12am, an hour after Hermione had been induced. When he had walked in Hermione had been half way through a contraction. Poppy had spoke about them being less than two minutes away now, and that it had been quick so far. If an hour of grunting was quick, Severus hated to see what it would be like if it was long.
He had left to contact Professor Fitzwilliam to change the arrangements. Seeing Hermione now with the glow of motherhood around her, his heart sank. It was the best decision. It was what was needed to be done. With the baby being earlier and it still being the beginning of school term, there was no need to wait until Christmas for Hermione to leave. She could catch up on the work missed. She would be gone at the end of the week. She would be out of his life in four days.
Watching as Hermione pushed his son into the world, Severus knew he should be proud and happy. Albus was saved. He had a son. But at what cost? With the cries of his son filling the room Severus pulled himself out of his thoughts and regarded the bundle that was now wrapped up in a blanket in Hermione's arms.
Poppy quickly checked both mother and son before clearing up and leaving the new family to spend some quality time together.
"Some birthday present." Hermione said as she smoothed the black hair on the baby's head. Damn, he had forgot that it was now offically her birthday, that meant Potter and co would be arriving today too.
"Indeed." Severus answered peering at the content baby, Alex was lucky, he didn't have Severus' nose. Apart from his nose, everything else was a Snape trait, well almost everything; Severus couldn't see his eyes as they were closed.
"Take him." Hermione said holding the infant out to him. "He is yours."
"Mine." Severus voice broke as he spoke. His chest felt constricted and he couldn't help the smile from forming as he held his son for the first time. He wouldn't make the same mistakes his parents made. He would be a great dad. Finally he had something in this life that he couldn't taint. "Thank you."
The cry of his son, brought Severus' attention back down to Alex. It was now that he could see his eyes. He felt his heart rip when he looked into the eyes that was the spit of the infants mothers. Her eyes would haunt him forever.
Hey guys and that was chapter 15, did you enjoy? please review!