Walk away and I stumble

Chapter twelve

Harry was thirty four weeks pregnant and that meant that there was only half of a week left until he reached the nine month mark, Poppy had begun to get slightly concerned that Kayla was going to be one of those difficult baby's that didn't want to come out.

However when Poppy came to visit them she couldn't help but smile at Harry who was having an early sign of labour called the ''Nesting Urge' which meant that he was cleaning absolutely everything in sight. Of course this was nothing official but in most cases that Poppy had come across this was a very good sign.

Severus seemed delighted at this new side of Harry and was overjoyed at the fact that his normally slob like fiancé was actually cleaning up after himself and tidying their rooms with exaggeration.

Poppy said nothing; she enjoyed watching the two of them continue their banter too much to do a thing like that, both Harry and Severus seemed to be getting on alright up until now, the younger wizard's huge stomach was getting in the way a little bit but that didn't seem to matter, Harry was still as quick on his feet as ever which greatly worried Severus who thought that he should slow down a little bit.

Poppy knew however that the turning point in their relationship was going to be the birth of Kayla, if Severus lost all of his courage and ran then that was it, Harry would never forgive him, but it was something that she had no control over. It was Snape's choice, and she would bet her life that both wizards knew this fact was very real and approaching at a fast pace.

Severus had been sent to check on everything at the cottage to make sure that was already and also to by another crib to be placed in their rooms at Hogwarts for the duration of Harry and Kayla's stay there.

Dumbledore had been to visit them a couple of times now as well, to see how the pregnancy was progressing and even to apologise for his past behaviour when it came to their daughter who he had come to realise was very precious to the two of them.

Ron and Hermione had even found the time to drop by and say hello, the lost contact had not been intentional but almost necessary, their friendship had been tested a lot and it had been proven that it just wasn't going to last, especially after Ron and Hermione had coupled and then multiplied.

The two of them now had two children with two more on the way, they brought Cana, their two year old daughter and Brent their ten month old baby with them when they came to see their old friend. Hermione was barely showing with the twins as of yet, they had only just found out but they seemed happy about it.

The golden trio seemed to talk for hours although they did steer clear of topics of discussion that was likely to cause an eruption of emotion, thinks like Severus and Voldemort. Harry casually mentioned that their was going to be a wedding after Kayla was born but said nothing further, partly due to the look of utter disgust on Ron's face and partly because they were not actually invited.

"So have you thought up a name for your baby yet Harry?" Hermione asked, Harry had completely forgotten that he hadn't told his friends that they had planned this out months ago.

"Oh yes, her name is Kayla Sophia Potter."

"Such a pretty name, but does Severus not wish his surname to be added on to the end?" Hermione asked conversationally when really she was being nosey.

"We made a mutual decision that it wouldn't be necessary for her to be a Snape, although it was considered by us for a while." Harry said, feeling very much as if he was answering an interviewer rather than two old school friends.

"You must be so happy right now, a daughter on the way a husband who, erm, loves you and I assume that you have somewhere other than Hogwarts to live."

"Oh yes, we have a number of properties, there is a cottage all ready for us to move into when Kayla is born and if we decide to expand our family more we can move into Snape Manor, that has plenty of space, how about you guys?"

"Ronald works in the ministry in the magical games and sports department and between children I am training to become a medi-witch."

"Wow, congratulations, does it pay well?" Harry asked very much wanting to rub it in how well off he was whereas they were struggling.

"It isn't bad pay, we survive, we own a nice little house in a muggle village, we aren't as well of as you Harry but we aren't poor."

"You certainly seem happy enough, that is the main thing I guess." Harry said smiling, however it was then that Ron, who had not spoken for most of the duration of their reunion, ruined everything.

The small amount of tension that had filled the room since Ron and Hermione's arrival seemed to triple as Ron said, "We'd be much happier of you'd hurry up and destroy Voldemort."

He received a sharp elbow in the ribs from Hermione and a glare from Harry before he spoke, "What do you suggest Ron, that I waddle out, baby and all and challenge Voldemort to a duel, would you ask Hermione to do such a thing if she were in my position." Neither said anything, "No, I did not think so, your problem Ron is that you don't really care about me and more, to you I'm expendable as id my daughter."

"I resent that, I never said …"

"But it was implied, I think the three of us have been friends long enough for me to know that much, I'm not an idiot Ronald." Harry said, "It wasn't my choice to get pregnant but I am so glad that I did because now I have a fiancé who I love, a daughter who is due to be born any day now and I have more of a life than you can ever dream of having."

"So you won't do what the wizarding world expects of you, how selfish can you be?"

"Selfish? How can I ever be described as selfish, I never asked for any of this I never wanted to be the boy who lived and once you knew that, you understood me, a lot has evidently changed because instead of you begging me not to endanger myself your practically pushing me out the door wand in hand and saying 'Voldemort that way!'"

"You know full well that I don't want you hurt and that I would never intentionally hurt you or your daughter, even if she is Snape's."

"I don't care why you still have a problem with Severus, Ron, I just hoped you would have got over this childish hatred of him, so what if he didn't like us as his students, he loves me now as his husband to be."

"I can't believe this Harry, you disappear with him for a year and now you're a changed man, I don't know you, you're not the Harry that was my best friend."

"I'm sorry Ron but I grew up, this is who I was supposed to be and you, you can't even see past the conceited views from childhood, I thought that you would possibly grow up when you married Hermione, but your still the same close minded idiot you've always been, I just hope your children have her brains."

"How dare you!" Ron growled, Hermione also seemed to be thinking something along the same lines, however she didn't express her anger in words, instead she slapped him.

"You don't deserve the respect and admiration that you get Harry, you don't deserve your title and your bastard daughter will forever suffer because of who her parents are, she's going to wish that you'd had her terminated before when was born."

"Get the hell out of my home!" Harry yelled.

"No, you need to hear this, you are here on this earth for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to kill Voldemort, your destiny is to die and take him with you, not to have children, that abomination growing inside of you has no right to be born!" Hermione shouted losing her temper completely.

"At least I can provide for my children, at least I'm not in a dead end job with barely any money coming in, once a Weasley always a Weasley, I hope you both rot in hell."

"Drop dead!" Ron bellowed, "Hermione's right, you're a disgrace, why don't you just go and do what here for so we can be rid of you."

Severus, who had heard the shouting from his class room had immediately rushed to see what the matter was halting the teaching process. He had set odd at full speed towards his rooms where the shouts were as clear as day.

He burst in and saw that Ron and Hermione had ganged up on Harry who was close to tears, two children were sat on the sofa watching the argument escalate.

"I want you both out, NOW!" Severus bellowed, "You had no right to come here today and upset Harry, if I ever and I mean ever see you anywhere me or mine again I will gladly serve a life time in Azkaban for what I will do to you and your brats."

Ron and Hermione stalked off in a huff taking their children with them, as soon as they had gone Harry broke down into noisy sobs falling limply into Severus' arms.

"It's okay Harry, it's alright, they're gone."

"They said the most hurtful things about Kayla and about me."

"You don't have to worry about them anymore, they aren't coming back, I can promise you that much at least, they won't be allowed near you again."

"Thank you Severus, thank you for dealing with them but I have one more favour to ask of you."

"What is it, I'll do anything."

"Take me up to the hospital wing, I've been having contractions for the past two and a half hours and I think my waters may have just broken."

At first Severus just froze, taking in what had been said, it was Harry's damp trousers that seemed to snap him out of it in the end, he came to his senses and picked Harry up bridal style.

He was going to murder Weasley and Granger, they must have known that stress was not exactly healthy for people as pregnant as Harry was currently, it was as Severus ran with Harry in his arms that the realisation hit him.

In a few hours time he would be father!

He burst into the infirmary so abruptly that Poppy almost had a heart attack from the shock, "Oh my goodness!" The medi-witch exclaimed at the sight which met her eyes.

Severus lay Harry down on the closest bed while Poppy abandoned the student who had sprouted whiskers and rushed over to help.

"How long has been in labour?" She asked casting cleansing charms all around and summoning various other instruments such as pillows and a crib, not to mention blankets. She transfigured Harry's outfit into a white hospital gown and tried to relax Harry.

"He said two and a half hours." Severus said anxiously as Poppy got out her gel like potion and smeared it on, "What are you doing?"

"There was a slight complication I noticed earlier, I am checking to see whether or not it has corrected itself." Poppy replied, not really noticing or caring about the identical concerned looks on the expecting parents faces.

"What do you mean complication?" Harry asked, "And why were we not informed any sooner?"

"Because in most cases it is unnecessary to worry the carrier of the child as the problem will occasionally correct itself however in your case it has not."

"Please say Kayla is going to be okay" Harry begged although he didn't know what use it would do, it did however make him feel a little better.

"Oh your daughter will be fine Harry; however the umbilical cord that links Kayla to you is currently wrapped around her neck so unfortunately we will have to perform a c-section on you so we can remove the baby safely."

"You're going to cut me open?" Harry said slightly panicked.

"I am afraid that I have no choice, if you try to have a natural birth then Kayla will most likely not make it, she will suffocate before she even leaves your body and we don't want that do we?"

Harry shook his head, he flung his hand out and found Severus' and gripped it hard, "Stay with me, please Sev, don't make me go through this alone."

Severus cast Poppy a questioning glance, she nodded, "That is fine but you will have to help me and if you get in my way then you will be kicked out at once."

Severus nodded his understanding and began to gather and pass Poppy the potions that she needed, all the ones that he had brewed himself ready for this moment.

"Oh dear Merlin!" Harry screamed as another contraction hit him, he threw his head back in agony and for a moment Severus' mind drifted back to when he could make Harry throw his head back in ecstasy, he promised himself then that he would do that again if it was the last thing that he did.

"It's okay Harry, here drink this" Poppy said force feeding Harry a vile green coloured potion before erecting a screen at the point where Harry's huge stomach started to expand so that the pregnant wizard couldn't see what was going on.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Harry screamed moments later as another contraction hit him, now Harry had always wanted a big family but this was ridiculous, he never wanted to go through this hell again. "Severus if you so much with look at me with lust in your eyes again you won't have any testicles left, is that understood?" Harry growled.

Severus gulped and looked to Poppy in a panic stricken way; he was not used to his sweet and not so innocent Harry making sure comments and threats to him at least.

"Most partners prefer to wait until after the birthing process to see their loved one and I wouldn't stand so close, one patient of mine grabbed her partner's testicles, they were both in hospital that night." Severus at once took a very large step backwards out of reach of Harry's arms.

Severus watched as Poppy made the careful skin incision horizontally across Harry's stomach, "Prepare yourself Severus, your daughter is about to make her first appearance in the world." Poppy warned as she began to pull the baby free of Harry's body.

Small cries were heard as Kayla entered the world, she was briefly shown to Harry before taken to be towelled off, foot printed, weighed, measured, tagged and wrapped in a pink blanket and hat to keep her warm by Severus of all people while Poppy healed him.

"Congratulations Harry you have a healthy baby girl, would you like to hold her for a little while?" Harry nodded, it was about all he could manage, the argument with Ron and Hermione seemed like a dim and distant daydream already.

Severus placed the little bundle in Harry's arms, he smiled down at her, stroking her perfect cheeks, "Hello there Kayla, you're a very pretty little girl aren't you, yes you are." Harry said cooing at her.

"I think Harry that is time that you got some rest, but don't worry she will still be here when you awake, I am sure Severus will watch over her for you."

Harry passed his daughter to Severus who placed her lovingly into her hospital crib, he then sat beside Harry, stroking his raven hair until the young boy allowed his exhaustion to take him.

When he awoke Kayla was sleeping in her crib still and Severus was curled up in an arm chair fast asleep, as soon as Poppy noticed that he had woken she bustled over with a couple of potions.

"Here, this will help with the pain" She said handing Harry a yellowish coloured potion which he drank, "And this will help you get some of your energy back," She handed him another potion, this one red in colour. "Now I imagine that you might have difficulty walking so in a few hours we'll see how you get on with that, would you like to hold your daughter?"

"I would love to" Harry replied, Poppy picked up Kayla and handed her to Harry, and then gave him a bottle to feed her with.

"Support her head like that, there you go." Harry did as he was told and pressed the bottle lightly to her lips, she took it eagerly and began to feed. "Now you'll need to feed her every hour or so, you will learn to depict one cry from another, she will sleep on average about sixteen to eighteen hours a day and you will need to change her at least eight, maybe ten times a day. Bathing isn't necessary to do daily until she starts being extremely messy, weekly should be enough until then. I know this is a lot to take in and if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask me okay and one more thing, to be comfortable she will need to be wearing one more layer than you need to keep warm okay."

"Right, I think I got all of that, she's so adorable isn't she?"

"She certainly is a Potter; I can say that much I believe she is going to have your eyes." Poppy said smiling at them; she then noticed that Severus was beginning to stir from his sleep. "I'll leave you two alone."

Harry looked over and saw onyx orbs watching him, Severus stood up, stretched and then sat at the edge of the bed where he could look over at Harry and Kayla.

"She's beautiful" Severus commented, "Just like her mother."

"Hey, I resent that, just because I gave birth to her does not mean that I am a mother, that makes me sound like a girl."

"And you most certainly not one of them."

"Thank Merlin for that," Harry said in relief, they both laughed. Kayla finished her bottle and Harry burped her before rocking her gently in his arms until she went back off to sleep.

This was the moment that Severus had been dreading for so long now, his time with Harry was numbered, within the next few days he would begin to train himself and then in only a couple of weeks he would leave them, possibly forever.

The only thing that he had left to have faith in was Kayla and the bond she and Harry would share, if he could not leave her then he would be safe but that was a very slim chance as Harry was determined to do what he had been born to do and destroy Voldemort.

However it was at that moment as Severus sat beside Harry, holding him close and watching as their daughter slept soundly in his fiancés arms that a thought stuck him. Why Harry? No one had ever figured out the answer to that question, yes they knew why Voldemort had chosen him in the first place but no one had ever asked why it had to be him to kill Voldemort in the end.

As he thought this through a plan formed in his mind, an ingenious plan if he did think so himself, however it was one that Harry would never go along with, well, he would just have to solve that problem as well.

I hope you liked this chapter, I know it wasn't exactly interesting but it had to be done, Kayla had to be born at some point, but now Harry can concentrate on good old Voldie and Severus can work on his plan. Don't forget to leave a review.