Chapter 19

August 5, 2003!

Severus waved his wand at the house to get through the wards before he even got to the door. He walked in to hear urgent words of encouragement from Molly, and a painful wail from Hermione. He went to the bathroom to find Hermione laying on the floor, head and shoulders being cradled by Molly.

"Why isn't she at St. Mungo's?" Severus exclaimed, dropping down beside Hermione.

"Severus, it hurts," Hermione said, scrunching her eyes shut as another contraction hit.

Severus didn't know what to do, so he did the same thing as Molly, comforted her the best he could.

"Severus, there was no time. Her water broke and then contractions started in a manner of minutes. Ginny ran to Hogwarts to get Poppy and contact St. Mungo's," Molly said.

Hermione screamed and writhed in pain as another wave of contractions hit. She was panting and crying.

As if on cue, Ginny rushed in breathlessly with Poppy, who calmly took over.

"Molly, gather some more towels if you would. Severus, get behind your wife and support her, not quite sitting her up. Ginerva, please floo to St. Mungo's and urge them to get here quicker," Poppy said.

Severus was cradling Hermione's head and shoulders as Molly had been doing and was patting the sweat from her forehead. He was kissing her forehead and saying soothing words to her.

"Oh God..." she cried and brought her knees to her chest and screamed again. Severus felt the first pands of panic. Poppy waved a medi-wand over Hermione and nodded.

"Hmm, she seems to be at three centimeters..." Poppy started.

"Pleeese, something for the pain..." Hermione was groaning and panting.

"I'm sorry, I don't have that kind of potion with me," Poppy said. "Hermione, I need you to listen to me. You need to slow down your breathing and try not to bear down, do you hear me?"

There was a lull in the contractions. Hermione was panting and shaking, gripping Severus hands.

"Severus, you're never touching me again," Hermione growled. Severus was taken aback.

"Pay no mind Severus, it's completely normal," Poppy said softly.

The floo sounded and Hermione's doctor appeared behind Ginny in the bathroom doorway.

"Well, well Hermione. It appears your baby is rushing to make her appearance," he said. He reached into his pocket and produced a vial. "Calming potion."

"Doctor, this is worse than being hit with a crucio,don't joke, just give me something for it," Hermione pleaded.

"Poppy? What is the situation?"

"From what Molly told me, her water broke twenty minutes ago and she has dialated to three centimeters," Poppy said.

"We can move her now. I'll need you Mrs. Weasley and Severus to piggy-back apparate Hermione to the community apparation point at St. Mungo's two minutes from now. I'll be waiting there," the doctor poured the vial of potion into Hermione's mouth, stood up and disappeared with a pop.

"Ginny, I know you have been running around, but I need you to do one more thing. Floo to the Grangers and get them, Hermione needs her mother, now go," Molly said. Ginny ran off again.

"Ready love?" Severus asked stroking the top of her head and kissed her forehead. It was hard for him to keep calm. His sweetheart was in alot of pain and there was nothing he could do for her.

"Yes, just hurry, I'm not havingEmma in the loo," Hermione whimpered. They disappeard with a loud pop.

Seconds later, a stretcher, the doctor and a nurse was awaiting the three. Upon arrival, Hermione was lifted to the stretcher and rushed to a delivery room. She was changed into a hospital gown and given some pain medication. Severus was in the delivery room holding her hand and soothing her. The doctor had her legs in the stirrups and was examining her.

"Okay Hermione, I need you to listen to me. Soon I will need you to bear down and start pushing. I gave you some potion for the pain, but you will still feel pressure. Do you understand? It will be hard, but you must do what I say," the doctor said.

Hermione nodded and looked wearily to Severus.

"I'm so tired Sev, I feel like I'm being torn in half," Hermione said.

"You're doing so good, my brave little Gryffindor," Severus said kissing her forehead.

The nurse came into the room. "Doctor, the mother is here and is wondering if she can come in," the nurse asked.

"It's up to Hermione," the doctor said.

"Yes, she can come in," Hermione gasped. "Are you sure you gave me enough fucking pain potion?"

"It will take the edge off the contractions," the doctor said with calm amusement. Even the most mild-mannered, sweetest of women could become screeching foul-mouthed banshees when giving birth. Hermione was no exception. He was used to irate women giving birth. He imagined how irate he would be if he had to push something the size of a watermelon out of an opening that was the size of a lemon.

"Oh no, not again," Hermione winced as she tried to curl up, but her feet were in the stirrups.

The doors opened and Mrs. Granger rushed in to Hermione's side.

"Hermione honey, Mum's here," she cooed. "Dad's outside."

"Mum, it hurts so bad," she said to Diane with sad eyes as a tear fell.

"I know, I know, but when you are holding Emma, you won't even remember the pain," Diane assured.

Hermione arched her back and grimaced in pain as another contraction hit.

"Now Hermione, I need you to bear down and push while I count to ten, ready?"

"I don't know," Hermione whimpered then groaned as another pain hit.

"Hermione you must, we will help you," Severus encouraged.

Severus held her hand and put the other hand between her shoulders to help her push as the doctor counted.

"Okay, relax Hermione," the doctor instructed. She was breathing heavily and was crying.

"Let's push again, now Hermione."

She grunted and screamed when the doctor announced that the head was crowning. Severus leaned forward to see.

"Hermione, don't stop, her head is coming out, just a bit more," Severus encouraged.

"Good Hermione, keep going, the shoulders are out!" the doctor announced.

Severus was breathing just as hard as Hermione when he leaned forward again to see the rest of the birth. He wanted to see his daughter born.

"Almost there, keep pushing Hermione, her hips are out, okay relax she's out."

Severus was breathless as he first laid eyes on their daughter. The baby kicked in the air then wailed loudly. There was a cheer from outside. At the wail, Severus cried happily for the first time in his life. Mrs. Granger was crying and hugging and congratulating Hermione who was smiling and shivering. The doctor held the baby up so Hermione could see her.

"May I present Emma Diane Snape," the doctor stated.

"She's perfect," Hermione whispered.

"She's beautiful," Mrs. Granger declared.

"Severus, would you care to cut the cord?"

After Emma was cleaned off, given a check of her vitals and wrapped in a pale pink blanket, she was presented to Severus. She opened her eyes and looked at Severus. His heart stopped. She had eyes just like Hermione.

Severus brought Emma to Hermione, who was sitting up. She reached for her and cradled her, nuzzling her nose to nose. Hermione looked up to Severus and said softly,

"Look what we made."

Severus knew that he would remember that moment, the vision of the two, until the day he died. The nurse came back into the room.

"There is a crowd of people outside waiting for some news," the nurse said smiling.

"Severus, go tell them. Ginny has probably peed in her pants already, and I need to feed Emma," Hermione said.

Severus kissed Hermione then Emma on the top of her head. He and the doctor strode through the doors to a waiting crowd while Severus wiped his eyes. Severus took a deep breath and said,

"I'm proud to announce the birth of Emma Diane Snape, August fifth, ten pounds three ounces at 12:03 pm. Mother and baby are doing fine."

The crowd cheered. "Mr. Granger, you may go in." Henry wasted no time and they heard Hermione say, "Dad, I did it!"

Severus went back in as Hermione was nursing Emma. Mr. And Mrs. Granger left the room to give the little family some privacy. Severus' heart melted once more at the sight of Hermione nursing Emma. Hermione looked up at him with shining eyes.

"Look Sev, I'm feeding her," Hermione said gently, running her fingertips over Emma's soft hair.

"I see," Severus said.

Hermione held out her hand and he took it. "I love you Severus, thank you for this."

The doctor appeared and held out two vials for Hermione to take. "One is for pain and to help you sleep, you need it. The other one is a blood-replenishment potion that I would like you to take."

Hermione drank the vials and handed the baby to Severus.

"Damn, these work quick," Hermione said as she closed her eyes. In another minute, she was snoring softly. The nurse opened the doors, the crowd parted and the sleeping Hermione was wheeled past them towards the maternity suites.

"A ten pound baby, that must have been hard on her," Molly said looking on Hermione as she rolled by.

Severus followed cradling Emma. The crowd "oohed" and "ahhed" at the sight of her as they gathered around a proudly grinning Severus.

"Hey! She looks just like Mione!" Ron exclaimed.