Chapter 28

Severus awoke to Albus and Harry standing over him. He bolted upright in bed and looked at them questioningly.

"She's right here," Albus said stepping away to reveal Hermione asleep in the bed next to his.

"She's been out for three hours now, but we are assured she will be fine. Her left leg is burned and she was hit with three stunning spells simultaneously. It's a miracle she didn't lose the baby," Albus said.

"What? A baby? Hermione?" Severus exclaimed.

"Oh dear, you didn't know," Albus said. "Apparently neither did Hermione."

"Take a breath professor," Harry said chuckling.

Tonks came running into the infirmary and shouted,

"Harry! Get to St. Mungo's quick! Your wife is in labor!"

Harry ran for the nearest floo.

"It figures that a Potter baby would be born on this day," Severus remarked.

At St. Mungo's, a breathless Harry rushed into the delivery room, startling the occupants. He was a startling sight with cuts on face, hair messier than usual, cracked glasses with tattered and scorched robes that oddly enough smelled of lavender.

"Harry? What the hell?" Connie exclaimed as a contraction overtook her.

"Never mind, I'll tell you later," Harry said kissing her cheek. Harry smirked at the thought of saying "never mind, I'll tell you later" about what just happened.

"You got here just in time Mr. Potter, we were about to have her start pushing," the doctor said.

Connie cried out and panted at another contraction.

"It's time to start pushing," the doctor said.

A half hour later, Harry and Connie were overjoyed at the sight of Hermione Lily Potter asleep in Connie's arms. She looked like exactly like Harry, to include the emerald green eyes.

"Gin, Draco and Molly are waiting outside. They are here already for Ron," Harry said.

"Huh?" Connie asked.

"Let's get you to the maternity ward and I'll tell you all about it," Harry said kissing her cheek, cuddling little Hermione.

Hermione's eyes were fuzzy when she tried to open them. She groaned as every part of her body hurt. Her leg was stinging. She saw someone standing over her suddenly and she squinted at the person. She knew the person was talking by the moving lips but she could not hear. She shook her head to clear the cobwebs and clear her eyes. She felt something drip in her eyes and her vision cleared.

"-mione, can you hear me?" It was Poppy. Hermione licked her lips and nodded her head weakly.

"Where do you hurt?" Poppy asked.

"Everywhere," she croaked.

"Well, the burn on your leg is being treated but I imagine it must sting a bit," Poppy said. "Additionally, your baby is fine."

That brought Hermione back to reality. Her eyes went wide.

"Breathe Hermione, breathe," Poppy said shaking her slightly.

"Minerva, could you inform Severus that she's awake?" Poppy said.

"Severus? How-" she started.

"He's fine. We were able to heal his broken leg after the cruciatus effects subsided," Poppy said fluffing Hermione's pillow.

"Poppy, how far along am I?" Hermione whispered.

"About a month," she answered with a smile.

"I didn't know. I was under the assumption I would have to take fertility potions like I did with Emma," Hermione said.

"Is she awake?" she heard Severus call out walking through the doors.

"Yes Severus, she is," Poppy said.

"Oh thank the gods and merlin," Severus said hugging Hermione as she lay on the bed. The surrounding students in the beds giggled at this display from the snarky potions professor.

"Owww, Sev, be careful. I hurt everywhere," Hermione said. "I didn't know about the baby." A tear fell from her eye.

"What's important is that the baby is fine," Severus said kissing her forehead.

"What happened?" Hermione asked.

"It's over, Voldemort, everything," Severus said wiping a tear.

He sat down and explained what happened after she had been stunned and the aftermath. Ron was in St. Mungo's with two broken legs and concussion from the gate. Minerva would probably be using a cane for the rest of her life. Albus, Harry and Draco were uninjured. No students had died, but some had been injured. Sixteen deatheaters had been killed along with seven aurors.

"What about Harry?" she asked softly.

Severus smiled.

"Mione, because of those extra seconds you gave him jumping in front of those stunners, and potion you slipped into his pocket, he was able to kill Voldemort. But it gets better. His wife went into labor during the battle," Severus said. "Shortly after six p.m. last night, she gave birth to a girl."

Hermione put her hands over her mouth.

"From what I hear, she looks like Harry. They named her Hermione," Severus told her.

Hermione laughed and cried at the same time.

"I have to get out of here," Hermione said trying to sit up.

"Mione, slow now. Tomorrow we will go to St. Mungo's to see the obstetrician, and while there see Weasley and Mrs. Potter. They will still be there," Severus said.

Hermione pouted.

"You're pouting my dear," Severus said.

"Well as long as I'm stuck here can I have something to eat?" she asked.

The next day Hermione slowly walked with a cane for support down the halls of St. Mungo's, first to see Ron. He was awake, a huge bandage on his head and both legs being healed.

"I'll be out of here in two days," Ron said.

"I think you should be here longer," Kelly fussed, fluffing his pillow. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Have you seen Harry and Connie's baby?" Ron asked. "Harry brought her by earlier. She cute, looks like Harry, even the eyes."

"That's our next stop," Hermione said.

Hermione gave Ron a peck on the cheek and went to the maternity ward. She knocked on a door labeled, "Potter, C." and went in.

Harry saw Hermione with the cane and rushed to hug her.

"Mione, I don't know what to say," Harry choked.

"No need Harry, I would do it again," Hermione said. "You did it, it's over and that's what matters."

Harry ushered Hermione into the chair and looked to Connie holding a baby girl.

"Now, let me hold my namesake," Hermione declared. "In eight months I'll be back here again having another one."

"But Mione, you were out there-" Harry said.

"Harry, I didn't know I was pregnant, mother and baby are fine," Hermione said. "Harry, yours is beautiful," Hermione said softly.

"Just like her namesake," Severus said kissing her forehead.

Eight months later, on April tenth, Everett David Snape was welcomed into the world. He had Severus' hair and eyes but the rest was all Hermione. Molly was thrilled with her growing day care. Ron and Kelly announced that they were expecting and would be delivering the following January. Since the death of Voldemort, the pregnancy announcements boomed.

August 1, 2014

Severus watched the first years proceed towards the sorting stool. The side staff door flew open and in a flash of blue robes, Hermione rushed in.

"Sev, did I miss it?" she asked getting to him. She kissed the top of his head.

"You're just in time my dear, have a seat," Severus said waving to the first years. She looked to the students to see Emma wave at her. They waited for what seemed like forever until Minerva called,

"Emma Snape" and she bounded to the stool.

Minerva marveled at how she was the very picture of Hermione but taller in her first year than Hermione had been. She was not shy and reserved as Hermione had been, but exuded a quiet confidence. She was beautiful and smart like Hermione, but had Severus' personality. Emma adored both her parents, but was definitely a daddy's girl. She sat on the stool and conversed with the hat for a minute. Hermione and Severus were holding their breath.

"Slytherin!" the hat announced.

Hermione fell from her chair with a loud thump. The entire great hall peered to the head table. Severus was looking down at her, helping her up.

"Are you alright my dear?" Severus said grinning.

Emma hopped from the chair, hugged Minerva then strolled to the Slytherin table, shaking hands with many students already there. When the sorting was done, and Dumbledore's speech was made, the feast began.

"Why am I so surprised? Emma may look like me, but is Severus through and through," Hermione said summoning a roll from a platter. The head table laughed.

Hermione and Severus looked to the Slytherin table to see Emma huddled together with the students on either side of her.

"See? She's been here a half hour and is already scheming," Hermione declared affectionately.

"That's my girl," Severus quipped.

Emma wandlessly summoned a cookie from a tray further down the table. The Slytherin table grew silent then looked to the head table to the Snapes.

"Now she's just showing off," Hermione said.

"So Hermione, how goes the research?" Albus asked.

"Slow but steady. We have made some progress with a variation of a seventeenth century potion," Hermione said. "In another year, it may not blow up in my face. Literally."

They turned to the sound of laughter from the Slytherin table. Emma was entertaining the table again.

"Don't fret Hermione, you have four more at home, one of them is bound to be a Gryffindor," Albus teased.

"Yes, but Everett will not be here until term after next, and then the twins two terms after that," Hermione said. "At least Ronnie and Mione will be here next term, she was kind of glum for a few days to have to start ahead of them. She keeps asking me, 'Mum, why didn't you have me later?" Hermione said. The head table laughed again. Then the prefects led the students to their houses.

"Speaking of children, I need to get home to the other four. Everett keeps threatening to brew a 'banish your little sister' potion and scaring her to death. I'll see that Emma's settled then head home. See you at later love," Hermione said.

She kissed Severus and hugged him. Severus watched her toss her robe over a shoulder and leave the great hall, fondly watching her leave. She looked back and winked at Severus. Despite her many injuries years ago, at the age of thirty and five children later, she was still attractive as she was at nineteen, if not more so. The passion for each other was still there, evident by five children in eleven years. Speaking of which,

"By the way, Snape child number six will be here in April. No comments please Albus," Severus said.

"I was only going to say congratulations," Albus said.

"My goodness you two," Minerva said.

"That's exactly what Hermione's mother said," Severus said.

August 1, 2015

Severus watched yet another first year sorting. The unmistakable faces of Ronnie Malfoy and Hermione Potter were in the crowd. Their best friend, second year Emma Snape was standing with her camera at the ready to take a picture of Ronnie Malfoy and Mione Potter at their sorting. At last Minerva called out,

"Ronald Malfoy." He walked to the stool, hitching up on it. As soon as the hat was on his head, it cried out,

"Gryffindor!" Emma snapped a picture of a shocked Ronald. She winked at Ronald when he got off the stool.

i Draco is going to have a fit! /i Severus thought.

"Hermione Potter" was called and a pretty girl with bright green eyes approached the stool.

Hermione hopped on the stool and after a brief conversation, the hat called out,

"Slytherin!"

Severus actually barked a quick laugh before Emma scowled at him. She scowled like her mother. He quieted and cleared his throat. Emma snapped a picture and hooted, Hermione hugged Minerva and hopped from the stool. Emma gave Hermione a 'high-five' and indicated for her to sit next to her.

i A Potter in Slytherin! And I thought Draco was going to have a fit! /i Severus thought.

"We are going to have our hands full," Albus quipped.

"So Severus, how are Hermione and the baby doing?" Minerva asked.

"Hermione is doing well and will be back to work in a week, and Matthew is a content, babbling two months," Severus said proudly.

Another year, another sorting. Severus drummed his fingers on the table waiting for the first year procession to come through the doors of the great hall. He saw his son Everett talking with some students as they walked into the hall.

"Go Rett!" cried Emma from the Slytherin table. Everett smiled back at her. Everett may have resembled Severus, but was Hermione through and through.

"Everett Snape" was called and he came to the stool. He flashed a charming "Hermione smile" at Minerva then sat on the stool. Minerva looked fondly on the boy when she placed the hat on his head.

After a few seconds, "Gryffindor" was heard and Everett climbed down, hugging Minerva. All the children of "The Golden Trio" adored Minerva and were not afraid to show it. Hermione and Severus' children had a special corner of her heart however.

Severus was still speechless, trying to comprehend a child of his being in Gryffindor. Hermione was never going to let him down about it.

"Severus, he's just like Hermione, why are you surprised?" Albus asked.

"Surely you remember when Emma was sorted? Hermione fell out of her chair," Minerva said taking a seat.

Severus saw his children, Slytherin Emma and Gryffindor Everett look across the hall and stick their tongues out at each other.

i Let the games begin! /i Severus said shaking his head.