Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick and any name you don't recognize, and isn't from the HP universe) are entirely my own.
Chapter 20: A Peaceful Moon
The snow began to fall during the third week of November, which was followed by strong northern winds, that swept across the lake violently. The temperatures during the day merely reached a maximum of thirty-five degrees, dropping into the mid to lower twenties during the night. But the little cabin remained cozy and warm, despite the gray skies outside.
That particular week also brought along Katherine's thirty-seventh week of pregnancy. It was also the week that she finally caved in and between herself, Severus, Christoph and Elisa, prepared the nursery for the little one's arrival. Painted in soft greens and yellows, the nursery was completed as Severus levitated the last pieces of furniture into place, Septimus' old mahogany crib.
Elisa also checked Katherine's progress weekly, asking all sorts of questions and constantly reminding her to rest often and not to get up too fast. But the Healer's constant reminders were not needed, as Severus often came up from the lab to find Katherine stretched out on the sofa or in their bed, dead to the world. And though she never complained, he noticed her rubbing her stomach and back more often, along with her constant shifting in bed at night, as she tried to find a more comfortable position to sleep in.
Severus actually found himself in the lab less than he anticipated around this time of the year, which was something he was actually grateful for in the end. The days became shorter, but they still seemed to drag on forever. The two spent much of their time in the study, where they began working on the reconditioning of the Wolfsbane Potion.
As the thirty-eighth week began Katherine seemed to be more restless than usual. Getting up out of chairs or out of bed were becoming more of a struggle and her walk was more of a waddle now, than it was before. The bed would also dip at the most ungodly hours of the night, as Katherine waddled her way to the loo.
It was on the morning of December second that Severus awoke to the dip of the bed once again, as Katherine fled to the loo for probably the ninth or tenth time that night. He woke in an odd position, and when Severus went to sit up, he felt a slight, dull pain in his lower back. He grumbled under his breath, silently swearing at himself and blaming the pain on his constant leaning over the study's desk and cauldrons the past week.
Silently he summoned a potion from the bathroom, and got up to go about his day. Only thing was, the dull ache returned after an hour. Katherine shot him a curious glance, as he suddenly stiffened behind the study's desk. But Severus kept his head down, avoiding her gaze; the last thing he wanted to do was complain about pain and discomfort, which was considerably less than knew Katherine must have been going through.
The day past by slowly, and the two found themselves turning in rather earlier than normal. But at ten o'clock sharp, the bed dipped, and Severus opened his eyes just in time to see Katherine's silhouette vanish into the bathroom. Groaning, he rolled to his side. His back still ached horribly, and his was quickly becoming frustrated.
'Why didn't the potion work?' Severus thought to himself, as he shifted again and finally found a more comfortable spot. He had just started drifting back to sleep, when he heard the bathroom door open followed by Katherine's footfalls crossing the room. The bed dipped once again, but he didn't feel it shift as it normally would when Katherine would fully lay down.
"Sev?" Katherine's voice seemed like a mere whisper to his foggy mind.
"Sev?" Katherine's voice came a bit louder this time, and Severus felt her shake his shoulder.
"Hmm..." he mumbled into his pillow, as Katherine continued to shake his shoulder lightly.
"I need you to floo Elisa," she said.
"Katherine," Severus said, shifting his head to look at the clock on the nightstand. "It's after ten o'clock at night. I'm not going to floo her now."
"Love, I need you to," Katherine stated, shifting slightly. "The baby's coming."
"WHAT!" Severus started quickly, but he didn't realize how close to the edge of the bed he really was. His feet and arms became entangled in the sheets and quilt, sending him backwards off the side of the bed, landing with a heavy thud on the hardwood floor below.
"Shit!" he swore, as his tailbone made contact with the hard floor.
"Severus? Are you alright?" Katherine gasped, as she tried to look over the side of the bed.
"Fine," he grimaced, as he got up as slowly as possible. "Are you alright?"
"Fine right now," she said, as she rubbed her stomach. "My contractions are about ten minutes apart right now, and my water broke in the bathroom a few moments ago."
"Alright, I'll be right back," Severus said, as he made his way quickly towards the living room to get Elisa there as quickly as possible.
Before he could blink, Elisa and Christoph arrived through the floo, and followed Severus into the bedroom. There they found Katherine standing at the French doors, looking out towards the lake. A full moon hung high in the night sky, casting a soft blue glow over the room and the woman herself.
"Katherine?" Elisa asked, as the three stopped to watch the witch closely.
"Katherine?" Severus questioned, as he slowly made his way to her. In the faint moonlight, he could see traces of tears on her cheeks. Gently he placed a hand on her arm, drawing her attention to him. "Are you alright?"
"You're here," Katherine whispered, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"Yes," Severus said. "Katherine, what is..." But he was cut short, as a contraction rippled through Katherine's body. Severus acted out of instinct, grabbing a hold of her upper arms, trying to keep her upright.
"Sev, promise me something," Katherine said, as she breathed heavily through the contraction.
"Anything."
"Promise me that you will be here," Katherine said, choking back a sob. "Promise me you'll stay with me." Gently Severus reached out, and lifted her chin with his fingers, so that he could look her in the eyes.
"Always," he whispered, resting his forehead against hers.
"Severus, Katherine?" Elisa's soft voice come from the other side of the room. "Katherine, let's get you on the bed, so I can check your progress." Severus helped Katherine to the bed, as Elisa sent Christoph off to retrieve necessities for when the baby arrived. Once Katherine was comfortably on the bed, Elisa began checking her over, and waving her wand to check the baby's heartbeat and position.
"You're at seven centimeters right now," Elisa said. "And Severus said your water broke about a half hour ago?"
"Yes," Katherine murmured, wincing as another contraction passed. "Oh Merlin, they're getting stronger."
"About what time did the contractions start?" Elisa asked, as Christoph walked in with a small bag.
"When I woke this morning," Katherine said. "I had some sharp pains in my back..."
'It's not every day that a man gets to share the pain of childbirth with his wife,' Wakanda's words echoed through Severus' mind. He knew then that was why his back hurt so; he knew that's why the pains had not gone away after he took the potion this morning.
"...then small contractions after that," Katherine finished, rubbing her protruding belly lightly.
"WHAT!" Severus growled. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want to worry you," Katherine said, as she attempted to sit up. "I was still thirteen days out from my due date, so I thought it might be a false labor."
"Severus," Elisa said, turning to the wizard. "I want you to get Katherine up and help her walk around a bit. It will help the labor to progress more quickly."
"You want this to go faster?" Severus scoffed, as he bent down to help Katherine to sit up.
"Wouldn't you?" Katherine snarled, as she grabbed a hold of Severus' upper arms and he pulled her up from the bed.
"Katherine," Elisa said, as she waved her wand at the bed, transfiguring it into a smaller and short reclined bed. "Make sure you squat during contraction, and Severus, you need to support her back as she does so. It will help widen her pelvis and encourage the baby to move downwards towards the birth canal."
"I only hope that what they say is true," Katherine said, as she began taking small steps across the room.
"What's that Katherine?" Elisa said, with a raised eyebrow.
"That the second time goes quicker than the first," Katherine stated, as she made it to the French doors again.
"Well," Elisa paused to think. "Since your already at seven centimeters, and the contractions are progressing quickly...I'd say we're looking at a four hour window."
Midnight came and went, but for the four of them, time didn't move quickly enough. Severus stayed by Katherine's side at all times, helping her during her contractions and talking to her softly in order to help her relax. He noticed that with the stronger the contractions got, the worse his own back pain became. But Severus pushed it to the back of his mind, and focused his mind on Katherine.
Elisa checked her every hour, and finally around three o'clock in the morning, Katherine nearly doubled over as a strong contraction wracked her body.
"Elisa," Katherine gasped, as Severus attempted to hold her upright. "I need to push."
"Severus," Elisa said, as she hurried to the bed. "Let's get you both set up in bed."
"Both?" Severus sputtered as he helped Katherine into the transfigured bed.
"Yes, both" Elisa said, as she checked Katherine's progress. "Ten centimeters Katherine. Let's get setup shall we.
"Severus, I want you to get on the bed behind her," Elisa said, as she set about prepping for the delivery. "Support her back, bring your knees up under hers and lift her legs gently up and out." Without any other comment, Severus quickly moved onto the bed behind Katherine, and did as he was told.
"Alright Katherine, ready?" Elisa asked, as she placed herself between Katherine's legs.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Katherine snarled, gritting her teeth as she felt another contraction building up.
"Alright," Elisa said, ignoring the comment. "Take a deep breath, and remember to hold it for ten seconds...and push!" Katherine propped herself forward, and bore down, as Elisa began counting to ten.
"Follow her forward Severus," Elisa said, between the her counting. "And wrap your arms around her lightly, to keep her against your chest." Severus did as he was told, but a sharp pain to his back made him stiffen suddenly. It was the strangest pain he had ever felt in his life; something that was just a step down from the Cruciatus, but focused only in one area. He could feel Katherine's muscles tighten and work fiercely under his arms as the contraction pulsed through her body and she struggled to push.
"Relax, Katherine, relax" Elisa said. "That was ten." Katherine sagged back against Severus' torso. She was panting heavily, and sweat began to form on her red face.
"Let's go again Katherine," Elisa said, in a soothing voice. "Deep breath and PUSH!"
And it started all over again; Katherine bore down as Elisa counted to ten, and Severus forced himself to close his mind off to the pain building in his lower back. Then twice more after that, the process continued, as Katherine grunted and groaned through two more contractions, until suddenly she gasped just after the fifth time of pushing.
"Relax, relax Katherine," Elisa said. "The baby's head is crowning. And look at all that black hair." The healer let out a soft chuckle, as Katherine snorted while trying to catch her breath.
"Why doesn't...that surprise me," Katherine said between deep breaths.
"Alright back there Severus?" Elisa asked, as she waved her wand quickly to check Katherine and the baby's heartbeat.
"Is there anything else I can do for her?" Severus asked, as Christoph handed him a cold compress to wipe down Katherine's forehead with.
"Nope, just keep supporting her back and we'll be done in about three pushes," Elisa said. "Alright Katherine, the head is about halfway out, and I need you to push harder this time. Ready? And PUSH!"
Katherine gritted her teeth and bore down even harder; making Severus wince as the pain in his back felt like his muscles were on fire. After the ten seconds, Katherine slumped against Severus' chest, panting hard.
"Good Katherine, the head is out," Elisa said, waving her wand once more. "Two more pushes and the little one will be out. Ready?"
"I can't..." Katherine whispered, leaning into Severus. Unshed tears were building up in her eyes as she forced herself to take deep breaths. Severus stared down at her red face; he didn't think he had ever heard those words come from her mouth before.
"Yes you can Katherine..." Elisa said.
"I can't," Katherine interrupted her. "I feel too weak."
"You're not weak Katherine," Severus said, pressing his cheek against the side of her head. "You've face much worse things than this. You've survived working around monsters like Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. You've dueled powerful wizards and witches, risked your life spying for your uncle.
"You brought our son into this world and raised him on your own. You are far from weak Katherine. You are one of the bravest and strongest witches I have ever known. I've always thought that there was nothing that you couldn't do. It's one of the many reasons why I fell in love with you. It's one of the reasons why I love you."
"I love you too Sev," Katherine whispered, as the tears now spilt from her eyes, trailing down her red cheeks. Severus kissed her hair and held her as close as he could.
"Come on Katherine," Elisa said, as she wiped tears away from her own eyes. "Two more pushes, I promise."
As Katherine bore down, Elisa helped guide the baby's shoulders out first. Then on the last push, Severus watched as the rest of the baby slithered out into the Healer's waiting hands. Elisa quickly suctioned out the baby's mouth and nose, until the little one took its' first breaths on its' own. The baby's grayish wrinkled skin turned to a healthy pink, and the top of its' head was matted with slick, wet black hair.
"It's a girl," Elisa smiled, as she laid the baby on Katherine's belly.
"A girl," Katherine smiled, as she laid a gentle hand on the tiny body. "We have a daughter Sev."
Severus remained silent as he took the child...no...his daughter in. She remained quiet under Katherine's hand, whimpering only slightly, like her brother had done in Katherine's memories. The little girl squirmed lightly, and her pale eyelids opened, revealing ice blue orbs beneath.
"One more small push Katherine," Elisa said softly. "For the afterbirth. Then we're all finished."
Before any of them realized it, it was all over. Elisa quickly tied off and cut the umbilical cord, as Severus gently slid out from Katherine's form, allowing her to rest against the soft pillows propped up behind her. Elisa took the little girl for a moment, handing her to Christoph, so he could weigh and measure her, in order to record it on the birth certificate.
Elisa finished examining and cleaning Katherine up first, then moved onto their daughter. Severus sat on the bed next to Katherine, still rather in shock from the whole experience. He only snapped out of his daze, when Elisa approached him with the baby wrapped in a soft yellow blanket.
"Congratulations you two," Elisa smiled, as she placed the warm, tiny child in his arms. She helped Severus position the baby's head and body, so he would hold her the right way, then stepped back towards Christoph to let Severus and Katherine have a few private moments with their new daughter.
"She has your hair," Katherine murmured softly, as she reached out to gently stroke the little one's black hair.
"But she has your eyes," Severus said, staring down at the little girl. "And your nose thankfully."
"Both could change love," Katherine smiled, her eyes half-lidded.
"No," Severus muttered. "My nose wouldn't be right on a little girl." Suddenly the newborn began to squirm again, pressing her face into Severus' chest.
"What is she doing?" Severus asked, with a raised brow.
"She's probably hungry," Katherine said, shifting slightly, so that she could take her daughter in her arms more easily. "Give her here love." Severus carefully handed the baby to Katherine, who unbuttoned the front of her nightgown to expose her left breast.
"Are you hungry, sweet pea?" Katherine murmured, as she carefully positioned her daughter's cheek near the nipple. The two watched the little one grope around clumsily with her mouth until finally she found Katherine's nipple and took it in her mouth. The little girl began suckling softly at first, but it grew stronger by the minute and fell into a steady rhythm.
"Thank you," Severus murmured, as he lightly brushed a damp stray hair away from her face.
"Whatever for?" Katherine asked, looking up into his dark eyes.
"For many things," Severus said, as he brushed the back of his fingers down Katherine's cheek. "For our children. For saving my life. And for giving me a chance at a new life...a better life."
"Sorry to interrupt," Christoph said, clearing his throat slightly. "But I have to finish filling in the birth certificate, so I can file it at work in..." He paused to look down at his wristwatch, while blinking tiredly. "...four hours."
"Did we keep you up Christoph?" Katherine smirked.
"No," Christoph chuckled softly. "I much rather see my goddaughter come into the world than sleep. Only four hours of sleep won't kill me, unless our department decides to conduct an illegal immigration raid today."
"Oh Christoph really," Elisa said, swatting her husband's shoulder lightly. "Well, she weighed in at six pounds, four ounces and was nineteen and a half inches long. For being two weeks early, she's just about the right size."
"So Severus?" Katherine questioned, biting her lower lip.
"So what?" Severus said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a girl, so you get to name her," Katherine said with a grin. "To tell you the truth, it's a good thing it wasn't a boy, because I never really did think of one I liked the most. So?"
"Serenity," Severus said softly, looking down at his daughter, who had fallen asleep against her mother's breast. "Serenity Selene."
"Peaceful goddess of the moon," Katherine smiled, as she stroked the baby's cheek. "I like it. Did you have that planned all along?"
"Her first name, yes," Severus explained. "Her middle name just kind of fit in tonight." He gestured towards the French door, where the December full moon could been seen peeking through the window panes. It's reflection was seen on the surface of the lake, clear as crystal, and it's glow illuminated the pure white blankets of snow that surrounded the small cabin. And although the night air was cold, the skies were clear, exposing millions of twinkling and dancing little stars that hovered in the ebony heavens above.
Katherine softly place a kiss atop the little one's head and whispered, "Welcome to the world, Serenity Selene Prince."
a/n: It's a girl! Okay so Serenity isn't a Roman name, but the reason for Severus naming his name Serenity will come in the next chapter. Also for those of you who were a little disappointed that Severus didn't experience more during the childbirth, there is an explaination for that as well, which will also come in the next chapter. Chapter 21 will be posted some time next weekend, and should be quite long.
A big thanks to Missyick, Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape, tigerlili48, RequiemWolfenstein87 and Love me like snape loved lily Always for their wonderful reviews!
a/n2: Find me on Pottermore! Screen name: ChaserFeather3967!
