Chapter 15

Saturday December 1st

The Snapes had finally gotten all their things moved into their new house. Hermione was pleased; it was much bigger than the flat and she would be with Severus everyday, as she should be. Severus was pleased as well that he would finally be living away from Hogwarts with Hermione everyday, as he should be.

"Mione, I need to run an errand," Severus said. "I'll be back soon," he said kissing Hermione's cheek. She smiled and watched him walk out the door. When she was sure he was completely gone, she ran to the bathroom and vomited the entire contents of her stomach. She had been feeling nausea most of the morning.

Is this morning sickness? Yuck, you can take it back! Hermione thought. I should tell Severus, but I want to make sure that I am pregnant first. We are both tired of getting our hopes up to get them dashed.

She decided to take a trip to Hogwarts and pay Poppy a visit. She left Severus a note.

Sev-

I need to run an errand, I'll be back soon! Love, Mione

Hermione walked through Hogsmeade towards Hogwarts. She looked fondly on the village she was now living in. She waved hello to various students of Hogwarts that were milling about the streets. She walked up the path to Hogwarts quickly making her way to the infirmary. Upon entering, she was greeted by Poppy.

"Hermione! Lovely to see you, what brings you here?" Poppy asked.

"Well, it's something that needs to stay between us," Hermione said.

"Of course Hermione, it's standard medical practice," Poppy replied.

"I need you to perform a pregnancy test," Hermione said.

"A preg- oh Hermione, that's wonderful! Before I perform a test, what are some symptoms that lead you to believe this?" Poppy asked.

"Tiredness, hunger, lightheadedness and finally some awful nausea this past week every morning without fail," Hermione said.

"Very well, now lay down, this won't take ten seconds," Poppy said going to get her medi-wand.

This is it, I know it! Hermione thought.

Poppy returned and told her to lay still. She waved the wand over Hermione and nodded her head. She smiled and looked to Hermione and said,

"Congratulations Hermione, you seem to be about 3 weeks along," Poppy told her.

Hermione bolted up. "Am I really? Can you do that again just to make sure?" Hermione asked laughing.

Poppy laughed as well. "Of course, here goes."

Then Poppy frowned. "Hermione! I've never seen such a high level of hormones! You really should be evaluated at St. Mungo's dear," Poppy said.

"I'm alright. I've been taking fertility treatments for the past month," Hermione said.

"I see," Poppy said. "All said though, you will need to go to St. Mungo's for proper prenatal care," Poppy said.

Hermione hopped out of bed. "I will go first thing Monday morning. I cannot tell you how happy I am about this. Severus and I have been trying for months, I can't wait to surprise him with this!" Hermione said happily.

"Congratulations again, dear," Poppy said.

Hermione hurried back home, she wanted to be there when Severus returned. She decided to make his favorite meal then tell him the good news. She felt like she could fly back home without her broom.

She stopped walking suddenly. It all hit her at once.

I'm pregnant. I'm going to be a mother. We made a baby. Are you a boy or girl?

She put her hands to her stomach and sighed, looked down to her stomach and said softly,

"Hi there, we've been waiting for you." This felt so right.

Later Severus returned with a box of odds and ends and a bag from the market. He smelled Beef Wellington, his favorite. Hermione was putting the meal on plates.

"Hmm, smells good," he called out hanging his cloak by the door. Hermione swept into the room and gave him a huge hug and smoldering kiss.

"What do I owe this honor?" Severus asked continuing the embrace, then pulled out a chair for her.

"Oh, just celebrating the new house," Hermione said forcefully spearing a bean then flipping through a booklet from work.

Severus noticed how she eagerly ate her food. "You must have worked up quite a hunger today," he said.

This is going to be fun! "Well Sev, I am eating for two," Hermione said without missing a bite while turning a page.

"Eating for, huh? You're what?" Severus said his voice an octave higher. He jumped from the chair, turned her to face him and sat his hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure?" Severus asked exitedly.

"Yes love, Poppy performed a test on me today. I'm about three weeks along," Hermione said smiling.

Severus pulled her from the chair and enveloped her in another hug. He buried his face in her neck and hair and said,

"You naughty vixen, you should have told me the second I walked in! Hermione, I don't know what I've done to deserve this," Severus said. "I love you."

"I know what you did, what we did. We saw through all the crap and took a chance on each other," Hermione said standing on her toes to kiss his neck.

"As direct as ever," Severus quipped running his hands through her hair. He loved the gentle moans she made as he did it.

"Let me more direct. I think of this baby we made and I find myself quite aroused. Combine that with my hormones, and I can say with confidence that we are going to shag each other senseless," Hermione said. "And I love you."

Then it happened; she felt herself flush and became weak in the knees, she barely heard Severus say, "Mione?" then she fainted. Severus caught her before she hit the floor.

She woke up some time later to the concerned eyes of Severus and Poppy.

"Oh no," Hermione groaned.

"Welcome back," Poppy said. "Severus summoned me here when you fainted dear."

"You didn't have…" Hermione started.

"We are going to St. Mungo's immediately, hell, we should have when she fainted," Severus said.

"Believe it or not, Severus, this is a normal occurrence," Poppy said. (author's note: I passed out waiting in line at the bank with my first!)

"I would hardly consider her talking to me one minute then passing out the next normal," Severus exclaimed.

"Sever-" Poppy said.

"Ahem. I'm here you know," Hermione said.

"Of course, dear, what is it?" Poppy said.

"Is St. Mungo's necessary?" Hermione asked.

"Yes.When I did my scan earlier, I found that you were fine, except that you were run down a bit and that combined with pregnancy hormones, caused the fainting spell," Poppy said. "It would be advisable to start your prenatal care as soon as possible."

"You talk as if you were instructing her how to water a garden," Severus muttered. Poppy rolled her eyes. How many anxious fathers-to-be had she seen?

"Please Mione, let's go to St. Mungo's now," Severus pleaded.

Hermione sat up, slid her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, wavering a bit. Severus steadied her. She sighed.

"Let's get this over with," Hermione grumbled.

"I know that you have had your fill of hospitals and doctors, sweet, but this time it will for a good reason," Severus comforted her.

She nodded as the two held hands and disapparated with a loud pop.

An hour later the Snapes were talking with a medi-wizard. He flipped through clipboard and scribbled on some parchment.

"Ahh yes. Now then, the baby is due somewhere the second week of August. Madame Snape, you seem to be in good health and I see no problems for your pregnancy. You will see me once a month until your sixth month, then at that time your visits will be twice monthly. I understand that you are competent at potions," Severus' laugh turned into a choke," so here are instructions for a prenatal vitamin potion." He finished and handed the parchment to Hermione. After a few more minutes of instructions, they apparated back to their house.

"See Sev, nothing to worry about," Hermione assured him. "Women get pregnant every day."

She looked at the potion parchment. "Hmm, it's simple enough, but I don't have a lot of this stuff at home. Let's go to the apothecary," Hermione said.