Chapter 32: The Childhood He Always Wanted

"Excuse me, Sir," Rose said to a portrait of a knight riding a fat little pony.

The Knight jumped to attention. "Yes, fair maiden. How can Sir Cadogan be of service to you?"

Rose smirked. "I'm sorry to disturb you," she addressed the portrait. "I was just wondering if you had seen Professor Snape. He wasn't in his office."

"A lost person," Sir Cadogan sat up straighter on his pony. "Never fear, maiden, I will discover the whereabouts of the soul in question."

"Oh no," Rose said, realizing quickly that she asked the wrong picture for help. "He's not missing. I was just wondering if you've seen him anywhere."

"It will be my greatest honor to take on this quest."

"Actually," Rose said firmly. "I see him, there." She pointed ahead of her. Severus just moved into a conjoining corridor several yards away.

"Glad I could have been of service." Sir Cadogan gave Rose a little bow from atop his steed.

"Thank you," Rose called back as she hurried towards her husband.

As she approached, she noticed that Severus was looking extremely annoyed about something. He was talking to a small group of people. Upon further inspection, Rose noticed that the people were Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Then Rose understood Severus's irritation, even though she knew it was not warranted.

Severus had not noticed her approach.

"When you two decided not to complete your magical education," Severus addressed Harry and Ron, "I was under the impression that I would not be 'graced' with your presence at this school any longer."

"Harry is speaking in Defense Against the Dark Arts today," Ron told Severus coldly.

"Ah," Severus returned, clearly growing more errant by the second, "I had heard. Do you plan to discuss the over use of the disarming charm, Potter?"

Harry pressed his lips together, trying to hold back a not-so-polite reply.

"And what would be your excuse for being here, Mr. Weasley."

"Here to see Hermione," Ron shot back, grabbing her hand as if to prove to Snape that he could.

Severus rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to return.

"Hello darling," Rose said pointedly, cutting Severus off from speaking.

Severus's attention shot towards Rose. She was beaming at him.

"What are you doing here?" Severus asked in surprise. It was the middle of the day. She should have been at work.

"It's nice to see you too," Rose teased, craning her neck to kiss Severus's cheek. Severus stooped slightly to allow her to do this but kept his expression stoic.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione still thought this whole Snape being married situation was extremely off-putting.

"Did I just hear that you are speaking to the students today, Harry," Rose asked.

"Yes," Harry answered.

"I'm sure that will be wonderful," Rose said brightly. She looked over at Severus. He was chewing the insides of his cheeks.

"What are you doing here, Rose?" Severus asked again in a flat tone. "You said you had a shift at St. Mungo's today."

Rose grinned at him. Severus looked at her skeptically. She appeared so happy she might burst. "I said I was going to St. Mungo's today," she replied, "but I never said I was working."

Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "Alright," he said roughly, frustrated that she was not giving him a clear answer. He was quiet for a moment. Then suddenly realization spread across his face.

"I'm pregnant," Rose announced, unable to hold it in a moment longer.

Severus looked as though he was just hit by a stunning charm.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged shocked looks and then looked uncertainly at Snape.

"Congratulations," Hermione told Rose.

Rose could not stop smiling. "Thank you," she replied before glancing back at Severus. "Are you alright over there?"

Wordlessly, Severus grabbed her hand and quickly pulled her away from the trio and into an empty classroom.

Once the door was secured behind them, Severus allowed himself to take a deep breath. He gazed at Rose with wide eyes. He looked terrified and amazed all at once, as if pregnancy was a completely foreign concept.

"You knew this was a very real possibility," Rose joked. "Are you okay?"

"You're pregnant," Severus breathed.

"I'm pregnant," she confirmed.

Severus looked around the room, searching for answers. He avoided Rose's eyes like he was afraid he could get her pregnant again by staring at her too intently.

Rose closed the space between them. "Look," Rose said, taking hold of Severus's hand and resting it on her belly.

Severus stared at their joined hands over Rose's abdomen.

"Your baby is in there, Severus," Rose said gently. "You're going to be a father."

The color was rapidly draining from Severus's face, to the point where Rose was concerned that he might pass out.

"How long have you known?" Severus managed to ask.

"I suspected for a few weeks," Rose told him. "I confirmed it today." Rose had been more animated lately; she had taken to humming and every morning for the last week or so she got out of bed smiling and that smile seldom left her face. Severus was glad to see her so happy, though he should have suspected something was amiss. "Are you pleased?" Rose asked somewhat shyly.

"I-," Severus began. He did not know what to say. "Our child is in there," he told himself, hoping for it to make sense to him.

Rose laughed lightly. "Our child," Rose stared up at him. "Our daughter."

Severus backed up to lean against the wall, removing his hand from Rose's belly but keeping a tight grip on her hand. He could not possibly take much more information. "How do you know that already?"

"My midwife is a seer," Rose explained. "She told me that we are going to have a healthy baby girl." Rose pulled on Severus's hands. "Come sit." She led him over to the nearest desk chair. He dropped into the seat. Rose settled herself in his lap. She carefully stroked at his hair, her presence became more serious. "I know you're scared. I am too."

He looked at her skeptically. "You don't seem to be," Severus pointed out.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Remember, I have known longer than you." She tucked his black hair behind his ears.

Severus closed his eyes briefly and sighed. He could feel Rose's calming powers wash over him. His eyes flit open and he fixed his gaze on Rose. "I don't want to disappoint you or our…our daughter," he confessed.

Rose pressed her forehead against his. "Occasionally, we might disappoint each other," Rose told him, "and our daughter. All parents do. But we will always provide protection and love to any child we have." Rose placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Severus, you are better at protecting others than anyone I have ever met. And you are certainly the most loving person I know."

Severus drew her tightly towards him and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I really hope you're happy," she whispered.

Severus resurfaced. "I am surprised," he said. "I am in awe." He reached for Rose's hand again.

"Hopefully you're not too surprised," Rose teased. "I mean, it wasn't for lack of trying."

He produced a small smile. "I suppose I should be surprised it did not happen sooner," Severus mused, "based on said trying."

Rose laughed. "Well, I'm about a month in," she told him. "So, you have 8 months to get used to the idea."

"Does it take 9 months?" Severus said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at her. She laughed again and he held her closer. His body suddenly stiffened. "How do you feel?" he asked, abruptly serious. He loosened his hold on her. "Am I holding you too tightly?"

"You could never hold me too tight," Rose returned lovingly. "I'm not suddenly so fragile."

Severus ran his eyes over her body, looking for changes in her appearance. Of course, nothing was showing yet. "But you're comfortable? Not in any pain? Or…I don't know. Should I be doing something for you right now?"

Rose smirked at him. "You should be kissing me right now," she suggested, leaning into him.

Severus raised his brows at her and then pressed his lips to hers, slowly deepening the embrace. Severus ran a hand down her arm and knotted the other in her hair.

Rose shivered at his touch. She wanted this mood to continue. She was about to suggest they go down to his office when Severus pulled away much too soon.

Rose examined him. Severus's mind was clearly racing. A trip down to the dungeons was obviously not in the cards right now.

"A girl," he said.

"A girl," Rose said excitedly. "Do you think you can handle that? God help us if she inherits her father's talent for snark."

"As long as she doesn't inherit her father's nose," Severus said drily.

Rose thoughtfully ran her finger over Severus's hooked nose. "We will love her no matter what," Rose played.

"What will we call her?" Severus wondered.

"We do have time to figure that out, Severus" Rose said with a grin. "8 months in fact."

Severus was beginning to look very overwhelmed again. Rose suspected this would come and go continuously over the duration of her pregnancy.

"Do you have a name you like?" Rose encouraged.

Severus was already thinking about the next ten things. He had already jumped to puberty and boyfriends. "What?"

"We don't need to get ahead of ourselves," Rose said firmly. "Do you have a name you like?"

"I don't know," Severus said distantly. "I never thought that-" he considered this for a moment. He tried to picture his daughter. It was only a blur, but he tried to identify how it made him feel. He would come home every night to a family, 'his' family, and he had the power to give a child, a daughter, the childhood he always wanted. He had the power to be the father he always wanted. "I like the name Esme," Severus told Rose after a long pause.

Rose hadn't expected him to offer up any suggestions on what to name their daughter. "Esme," she repeated, testing the name on her tongue. "Esme Snape." Rose listened carefully to the name in her voice. "Dammit Severus," Rose exclaimed.

"We don't have to call her Esme," Severus shot back.

"No," Rose said, "I love it. Esme Snape." Rose shook her head. "It's perfect."

"What then?" Severus was looking at her with bewilderment.

"I didn't want to be like my parents and have all my children's names begin with the same letter."

"Ephraim," Severus said at once.

Rose looked at Severus with a determined expression on her face. "Could we ever possibly love Esme more than we love Ephraim?"

Severus considered her words carefully. Ephraim had been living with them for nearly 6 months. Severus had grown very used to him being around. Severus thought again about the childhood he always wanted. He imagined his family. Esme's face was still a mystery, but Ephraim was clearly there.

"No," Severus agreed.

Rose began to tear up. "There would be no difference in how we love our children. Ephraim has been ours for a long time."

"Yes," Severus said, catching one of Rose's escaped tears with his thumb. Severus gave Rose an almost timid look. "Do you think Ephraim would mind having me as a father?"

Rose's eyes peered into his. His question made her feel sad for him. "You are already his father," Rose told Severus. "You have been for a while now."

Severus massaged his temple. "I was just panicking about having one child," he said. "Now we are going to have two."

Rose laughed through her tears. "Ephraim and Esme," she said. "Our children."

Severus smiled. "Yes," he agreed. "Our children."

Rose wrapped her arms around Severus's neck. Severus ran his hands down her body, settling them on her backside. Their lips met again. Rose tilted her head and let her lips part. Severus's hands became clawed against her, his need growing, his blood boiling and pooling low in his body.

"I love you," Rose said against his mouth.

"I love you too," Severus replied quickly. He reached for his wand to lock the door, but before he could manage it, the door opened.

Rose jumped off Severus's lap as Professor McGonagall, Ephraim, and another young boy that Rose did not recognize walked in the room. Rose quickly smoothed her hair with her hands. Severus got up from his seat too and stood slightly behind Rose, half furious, half humiliated, and very grateful that his robes covered the front of his trousers.

Minerva McGonagall's lips formed at fine line, though she had a spark of amusement behind her stern eyes. "Mrs. Snape," she greeted.

Rose casted her eyes down slightly. "Good to see you, Headmistress." Rose then took a good look at the children. Both looked disheveled and thoroughly embarrassed. Living with Rose and Professor Snape, Ephraim had suspected on more than one occasion that he was walking in on something he shouldn't, especially on nights he came to get Rose after a nightmare. It didn't get any less uncomfortable with experience though. At least he knew they loved each other.

Ephraim's left eye was beginning to bruise and the other boy, a Gryffindor, had a swollen lip.

"Ephraim?" Rose asked, beginning to compose herself.

Ephraim cast his gaze down.

Severus stepped out from behind Rose, the 'danger' clearly gone."

"What's going on?" Severus asked icily.

McGonagall gave Severus a final pointed look before beginning in a firm tone. "I caught Mr. Fayden and Mr. Peterson dueling of sorts in the upstairs corridor. If you could even call it a duel," she added sharply to the boys. "They shot a handful of spells pass each other's ears and then began flailing around on the floor like two monkeys with sticks."

Both boys' faces turned red.

Severus stared coldly at Ephraim. Ephraim glanced up and then quickly glanced back down when he saw the look Professor Snape was giving him.

"Seeing that Mr. Fayden is in your house, Severus, I will turn his punishment over to you," Professor McGonagall said. "Mr. Peterson will be coming with me."

The Gryffindor boy did not seem to know who was getting the worse deal, him or Ephraim. But then he seemed to come to a conclusion. "That's not fair, Professor," Peterson exclaimed to McGonagall. "Ephraim is Professor Snape's pet. He is going to go easy on him."

Severus moved swiftly toward the Gryffindor boy. "I assure you, Peterson, my treatment towards Mr. Fayden will be…more than fair," he hissed the last few words menacingly. "Let me hear you say one more impertinent word and you will know that from personal experience."

Peterson swallowed nervously.

"Very well," McGonagall said. "Come along, Peterson." She stood by the door to let the boy pass in front of him. The headmistress gave Severus and Rose a final raised brow glance before closing the door behind her.

"Explain, Ephraim," Severus demanded once they were alone.

Rose knelt in front of Ephraim, taking up his face in her hands. "Is it just your eye?" Rose asked, pulling out her wand.

Ephraim nodded.

"He's fine," Severus told Rose, "If he is foolish enough to get into a fight, he can live with the consequences of his actions."

Rose threw Severus a sharp look before healing Ephraim's bruised eye.

Severus sighed. "I'm wait, Ephraim," he said.

Ephraim looked toward Professor Snape. He seemed to recover from the intimidation of his teacher's sharp look. Anger washed over him. "He insulted you, Sir," Ephraim shot back, crossing his arms.

Severus stared at Ephraim from down his hooked nose. "And are you too weak to be so easily provoked?" Severus asked.

Ephraim narrowed his eyes at his professor.

"Severus," Rose said with exasperation. "Ephraim," she said gently. "What did that boy say to you?"

Ephraim eyed Rose nervously.

"Yes?" she pressed.

"He called me Professor Snape's pet," Ephraim said.

"As we heard," Severus replied bitterly.

"He said that you must have slipped me a love potion just like you did your wife," Ephraim reported, turning red.

Severus scowled deeply.

"Well I would want to punch that kid too," Rose pointed out.

Severus shot her a look that clearly told her that she wasn't helping.

Rose shrugged.

Ephraim stood their fuming.

"Ephraim," Rose said moving closer to him and wrapping him in her arms. Ephraim leaned against her, still breathing heavy with anger.

"Ephraim," Severus told him, "I'm a grown man who doesn't need a child to defend me."

Ephraim glared at Professor Snape from Rose's embrace. "Well, he shouldn't have said that about you, Sir."

Severus gave Rose an exasperated look, silently asking her 'What now?'

Rose smirked back at him.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Rose asked Ephraim softly.

"Yeah," Ephraim answered roughly. "How much trouble am I in?" he directed at his professor.

"Enough," Severus answered. "You will do a detention tomorrow night."

Ephraim looked relieved. That was a very tame punishment compared to what he was expecting. Perhaps Peterson was right. "Fine," he said stubbornly.

Rose pulled away from the boy and knelt so that they were at eye level. "Ephraim, you really shouldn't have been fighting. It's admirable that you wanted to defend Professor Snape, but that's not the way to go about it."

"At the very least, don't start a duel until you know how to do it properly," Severus pointed out.

Rose glared at Severus. 'Now who wasn't helping.'

Ephraim smirk.

"Well, what's done is done?" Rose brushed off, straightening herself.

Ephraim stared at her for a moment. "What are you doing here?"

Rose started beaming again. She looked over at Severus, who's face went blank.

"Ephraim," Rose began, "I have some news." She grinned at Severus, "We have some news."

"What?" Ephraim asked curiously.

"We're going to have a baby," she said brightly, touching her hand automatically to her abdomen.

Ephraim stared at Rose blankly, processing what this all meant. He glanced at his professor, who was examining him careful. "Oh," was all Ephraim said.

"But there's more," Rose said a little disappointed that Ephraim was not as excited as she was.

"I think I know," Ephraim said quickly.

"You do?" Rose asked with confusion.

"Yeah," he said coldly. "You're going to want me to move out, since you'll have your own kid." He wanted to be the one to say it. He did not think he could bear hearing either Rose or Professor Snape say those words to him.

"No!" Rose said quickly. "Ephraim, that's not it at all."

Ephraim scuffed his shoe against the floor a few times, not looking at either adult. He felt guilty that he resented this unborn baby already, but he couldn't help it.

"Ephraim," Severus said sternly. "Look at me."

Ephraim did for a split second and then went back to staring at his shoes.

Severus looked over at Rose, who looked sadly at the boy. Rose moved to stand beside Ephraim and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Severus knelt slightly to be more at eye level.

"We are having a girl," Severus told Ephraim.

"Nice," Ephraim said coldly.

Severus smiled slightly at Ephraim, which was not something he ever really did. "If that girl comes out looking anything like Rose," Severus started, "we are going to have a problem with men coming around once she's older." There was already a bitterness to Severus's tone that made Rose want to laugh. "She could really use an older brother to help look after her."

Ephraim stared at Professor Snape dumbfounded and then glanced up at Rose who nodded. "Are you saying that you want…" Ephraim could not bring himself to say the words in case he was horribly wrong.

"Ephraim," Rose soothed. "We already think of you as our son. Of course, it's completely up to you."

Severus could see that Ephraim would need to hear the exact words, perhaps several times, before he would let himself believe it. "Ephraim," Severus said firmly. Ephraim directed his full attention towards Professor Snape. "Rose and I would like to legally become your parents." He paused. "If you'll have us," he added.

It was a good thing that Rose was standing beside him because Ephraim seemed to be completely relying on her to support his weight.

"You can think about it," Severus told him. Severus could not shake the fear that Ephraim might have reservations about having him as a father. Esme wouldn't have a choice, but Ephraim could say no.

Ephraim shook his head fiercely, worried the offer might be retracked if he waited too long.

"Are you shaking your head because you don't need to think about it or you don't-"

"I don't need to think about it," Ephraim cut across Professor Snape.

"Would you like us to be your mother and father?" Rose asked, still holding him at her side. "And Esme to be your sister."

"Esme?"

"That's her name," Rose told him. "I think Esme and Ephraim Snape sounds really good."

"Ephraim Snape," Ephraim repeated.

"If that's what you want?" Severus told him.

"Of course, there is not obligation to take our name," Rose said quickly, "Or to…" she couldn't face not having Ephraim as her son; she was far too attached to him to even think of being without him now.

Ephraim's little body suddenly began to shake with sobs. "I want to be Ephraim Snape," he said almost incoherently.

That was good enough for Rose. She pulled Ephraim into a tight hug and sobbed right along with him. "I love you so much," she told him, which just made them both cry harder. "I promise to try my best to be the mother you deserve."

Severus stood somewhat awkwardly behind them. Rose was the only person he had ever actually said 'I love you.' Partly because she was the only one who he trusted to say it back. He stepped closer to his wife and…son.

Severus hesitantly ran his hand over Ephraim's hair and then placed it protectively on his shoulder. Ephraim's body stilled at Severus's touch, it was so unexpected, but he felt instantly safer. Before Severus could pull his hand away, Rose brought hers to rest on top of his. Ephraim reached towards his shoulder too and placed his hand over Rose's.

It was their first time all together, officially a family, Severus, Rose, Ephraim, and Esme Snape.

XXXXXX

I hope you are still enjoying my story. Please Review.

Thora Jane