Minerva laid back against Dougal and cried happily. She was sweat covered, hair plastered against her skin but she had a magnificent smile. A squealing, naked baby girl laid in her arms and both were wrapped up in Dougal's arms. "She's beautiful," Minerva said as she gazed at her baby and tried to memorize every detail.

"Perfect," Dougal breathed as he stared at his daughter. "She's got my mess of curls it looks."

Minerva grinned at that. "I hope she has the chocolate eyes to match them," she breathed as she turned her head and kissed Dougal's lips lovingly.

"Does she have a name yet?" Poppy Pomfrey asked the couple.

"Hermione Isobel McGregor," Minerva said contently. "Our sweet little Hermione."

Poppy smiled at her friend before holding her arms out for babe. "Let me clean you both up and then you can let your visitors catch a peek at her."

Minerva nodded her head, pressed a kiss to her baby and allowed Poppy to take her. The baby whimpered slightly causing Minerva to grin.

Minerva groaned as she felt Dougal firm against her backside. "Sorry love," he whispered embarrassed by his body's reaction to his wife. He started to move away from her and allow his body to calm down somewhat. She had a sleeping Hermione cradled next to her in a transfigured pillowed bassinet and certainly didn't need his erection pushing against her.

Minerva reach back and prevented his withdraw. "Don't leave," she begged as she waved her hand and removed their clothing. She tilted her hips back and lifted her leg exposing herself to him. "Love me," she breathed needy.

"Hermione is right there," he retorted suprised by the mere suggestion.

"She is sound asleep," Minerva whispered. "Love me gentle," she begged. "We both want each other!"

Dougal pressed a kiss to Minerva's bare shoulder before moving closer to her. He lined himself up and pushed in her. Minerva bit her lips from crying out at the sensation. She waved her hand and wandlessly muffled sound from reaching their babe.

"I have missed this," he confessed as he moved his hand to her clit and teased her. "I am grateful for our girl and glad I got to watch your body accommodate her as she grew but this is where I am meant to be. Buried within you and feeling so connected to you so much that I am tremendously grateful for the near death experience that gave you to me."

"Oh Dougal," she cried as she grasped a handful of his curly hair and drew his lips to hers. She kissed him hard, demanding he match her intensity. "I would gladly take that slashing curse again to get here with you!"

He gripped her hip and thigh to use for leverage as he thrust into her. He rolled his hips and ground into her, listening to the sounds she made as a guide. He felt his impending release and sought to make sure she came too. He swirled his thumb against her womanly pearl roughly and bit down on her shoulder causing her to cry out as she orgasmed. He held her tightly as he shuddered in pleasure and released into her.

Minerva panted as she tried to calm herself down for quite some time afterwards. As she opened her mouth to say something, a whimper sounded. She looked at her babe and smiled as the tiny babe tried to put her hand in her mouth. "Are you hungry love?" she asked as she sat up and picked up her child.

Hermione quickly latched on to her bare breast and suckled greedily. "I shall never tire of watching her feed," Dougal whispered as he gently caressed the baby's cheek. "She is content in your arms and you have an expression of such awe on your face it is breathtaking. I love my girls so much!"

"We love you," she replied with an award-winning smile.

Dougal sat behind the counter at McG's Potions and Herbs with a wide-eyed Hermione laying happily on the counter in a makeshift crib. The baby kicked her arms and legs happily as she tried to grab floating sprigs of edible herbs Master Zuma had floated about for her. Severus came into the room from upstairs and sat down wearily.

"Rough day son," Dougal asked the younger man.

Severus nodded his head but grinned at the man before him. "I am loving every moment of it," he admitted. "I can't thank Minerva and you enough for this opportunity."

Dougal waved him off. A book floated into his hands at that moment. "Apparently Hermione will settle for a good book being read to her," he chuckled at his daughter. "She certainly loves her books!"

"I wouldn't know where she inherited that trait from," Severus said dryly and then started to read a children's muggle book aloud.

The bell above the door dinged causing the men to look up. A red haired witch entered and met his gaze. His face showed his suprise but he quickly hid it. "Sev," she greeted friendly. "Can I speak to you privately?"

Hermione pouted at the question. Severus raised an eyebrow at the baby before picking her up gently. "Now Hermione Isobel McGregor," he said gently. "There is no need for tears! I shall be over for dinner and I will read to you then."

Hermione stopped pouting and smiled at him. He felt her magic grab the book and float it back to the bookshelf in the corner. "You are one of the few that can get her to calm so quickly," Dougal said with a chuckle. "Are you ready to go see Momma?" he asked Hermione.

A giggle escaped the baby as she reached out for her Daddy. Dougal held her close and moved towards the door. "We shall see you for dinner Severus," he offered then looked at Lily. "Good day Mrs. Potter."

"I'm sorry Sev," she said gently. "I should have realized how much hurt I caused you."

Severus looked at Lily sadly. "It's I that should apologize," he admitted. "I should have not of reacted to Sirius and James the way I did. I should not of said what I did. I will be forever shamed for the word I called you."

Lily shook her head no. "You lashed out in your embarrassment and I realized that. I forgave you for that before I made it back to Gryffindor tower. Your book offered me a glance at how you perceived things. Your true self is throughout that book and it was lovely to read. You are my dearest friend and I want you back in my life."

Severus smiled and nodded his agreement. He walked around the counter and hugged his very first friend. "Alright Lily," he whispered. "Maybe we can work on researching ways to help your other friends. I have been looking into potions to ease a werewolves suffering somewhat."

Lily grinned at him before demanding, "Let me see what you have."

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