I don't own anything, J.K Rowling does.
WARNING: Mature themes brought up so if you are less than 18 and / or easily triggered by mature content DO NOT READ THIS STORY. You have been warned.
Chapter 34
"Severus. Calm down. Everything is alright. It's just her body preparing to give birth to your child. The bleeding has already stopped and her vitals are at normal rates but she needs to rest. She will begin needing some pre-birthing potions. I'll give you the recipes. Most important of all absolutely no stress of any kind. Do you know if something was the matter lately? Anything at all." Poppy asked as she scourgified the blood from Hermione and pulled a small cover above her small frame.
"She has placed a lot of pressure on herself for school and she told me this morning that Ronald Weasley will be coming back to Hogwarts too. He is taking 4 N.E. with her and she is afraid that he will act like at the wedding." Severus said taking Hermione's hand and stroking it lightly with his thumb.
"I am going to go and talk to Minerva. Maybe we can find a way to alleviate some of her stress. You can stay with her. She is resting for the moment but I think she will wake up in an hour or two. It'll be best if she saw a familiar and recomforting face next to her." Poppy said standing up and vanishing her chair before leaving the infirmary ward.
Forty-five minutes later, Hermione's eyes fluttered opened. She looked around her and when she saw Severus by her side. A sly smile creeped on her face.
"Hey, my love. You gave us quite a scare. Don't worry, everything's perfectly alright. It's just that you were under too much stress. Poppy is gone to see Minerva. She'll be back in a few. For the moment I want you to rest. I'll stay right here with the two of you. Rest my wonderful perfect wife." Severus said before kissing his wife parched lips.
"No, go to your luncheon. I don't want you to miss it. I'll be alright…" Hermione began weakly.
"Shh, love. Rest. The luncheon can wait. You're far more important than this stupid luncheon. Now rest and don't think about anything else but you and our baby." Severus said placing a hand on Hermione's belly for a few seconds before seeing her settle and go straight back to sleep with a sly smile on her face.
He sent a Patronus to McGonagall to let her know that he was retained in the infirmary and would not be able to assist to the luncheon and to contact him if she needed to talk to him.
"Severus... Professor Snape" Poppy's whispered voice woke Severus up. He was sleeping his head next to his wife's hand onto the mattress of the infirmary bed.
"Sorry. I fell asleep." Severus whispered not wanting to wake Hermione up.
"I saw that. No worries. Just asking if you wanted anything to eat. Hermione already ate an hour ago. You were asleep and she told me she didn't want to wake you up. It's already one in the afternoon and I thought you would be hungry." Poppy said kindly as she pulled the sheets neatly above Hermione.
"Thanks Poppy. I would actually love to eat something. What is there to eat?" Severus asked redressing himself on his chair and making a small table appear next to him.
"I think there is beef and rice I think."
"I'd like a good plate of it then if possible, Poppy."
"Of course. Just wait here and I'll be right back with the plate." She said before walking out of the infirmary ward and towards the kitchens.
A few minutes after Poppy left, Severus felt Hermione's sleep becoming more and more agitated.
"Your mine 'Mione. Mine and mine only. You understand that." Ron's harsh voice said. "You're going to stay here and I am going to show you what a little Mudblood like you deserves to get and will get if she refuses me" he continued grasping her arm tightly.
"Ron, leave me alone please. You're hurting my arm." Hermione said trying to get out of his grasp.
"Ron, leave me alone please. You're hurting my arm." Ron mimicked her. "Do you think I care about it, you whore"
She hadn't the time to process the question before she was whisked away and Apparated roughly to a large clearing.
"Bring the girl to me Weassssley" A cold and sneering voice said.
"Yes Master." Ron said as he grabbed Hermione's arm tighter and pulled her towards the hooded figure.
Hermione kept looking to the ground. Her eyes not daring to look at the hooded figure.
"Beautiful. Isn't she Sssseverussss?" the same cold voice hissed into the air.
Hermione looked up and when she saw her husband barely alive held into the air by two broad shouldered Death Eaters, she melt to tears.
"After all, thissss time Sssseverussss, I would have thought you had learned your lesson. You ought to ansssswer to your ssssuperior. CRUCIO." The voice said without any hint of pity.
"NO. Please. I beg you" Hermione scram trying to reach Severus in vain as she was held by Ron.
"Ssssilence. You, my dear are carrying an insult to the world. A disease. You shall be punished for it… Infantem" the hooded figure began harshly. "Love, wake up" it then said to her almost weakly.
"Love, Hermione. Wake up. It's just a nightmare. I'm here." He said taking her in his arms, placing his hand on her belly and rubbing small circles on her rounded and rocking her softly to calm her.
Beads of sweat were pearling on her forehead; her dress was clinging to her sweaty skin and her baby was kicking furiously.
"I had a nightmare. There was Ron he had joined the death eater. Voldemort was still alive and they captured you. He was very angry and he wanted to kill me. I don't know what this means my love. But I am scared. What if…" Hermione began her brain processing all the information.
"Hermione Jean Snape. You are going to listen to me very carefully. Voldemort is dead. Ron will never hurt you or our daughter in any ways because if he does. You can be sure I'll be there to personally and utterly kill him." Severus said.
Hermione smiled weakly as she imagined Severus' wrath if Ron came to eventually harm her, or anyone actually as she thought about it.
"I love you darling. Can we go back finish unpack? I have to…" Hermione began feeling her energy building back up instantly.
"Wait 'Mione. Can you tell me why we're here?" Severus asked matter-of-factly.
"Oh…" Hermione said beginning to understand. "Alright I'll rephrase that. Can we go back so I can get a good nap inside our new bed. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to have a nice nap with you. It could be punctuated by some more interesting activities too." Hermione responded cheekily and throwing a fiery glance at Severus.
"You are getting a nice long nap. I'll finish unpacking and then, maybe I'll join you. But my wonderful lusty wife we'll have to take a little bit of control over her hormones. You need to fully rest for a few days. You can go in the library and have a bit of light reading. But I don't want to see any school books inside your lovely hands. Alright love?" Severus said as he tried to calm her and the baby who had resumed kicking abundantly.
"I really am impatient for this whole thing to be over with. I can't wait to be back on my knees and please you in more ways you'll ever think are possible." She said and at that moment, she knew she had him.
"Hermione, stop teasing. You know what it is doing to me, my lovely angel and I wouldn't want Poppy to hex me into next year if she sees me bed you in her infirmary ward. Nor would you as it would mean you wouldn't be getting any for the whole time and I don't think you would replace me for someone else. Won't you my love?
"Mrs. Snape, I see that you are awake. How are you feeling?" Poppy asked as she entered the infirmary ward with a large tray of food for Severus.
Hermione sat up and answered to Poppy's many questions. No, she wasn't feeling dizzy. Yes, she felt the baby kick and respond to outdoor stimuli (hands on her belly, voices). She then asked to the Mediwitch if she was free to go back to her personal quarters.
"I'm afraid not my dear. You lost quite a lot of blood and it would be dangerous for you and the baby not to stay under my watch for the night. I have to run diagnosis every hour or so and you need to stay here. If Severus wants, he can stay by your side. I'll make a small bed for him" Poppy explained apologetically.
"I just wanted to know if I could still have a homebirth. You do know that I can't stand hospitals. I would really hate having to give birth into a hospital. But I know that most of the midwives who do homebirths want for the mother and child to have a clean bill of health." Hermione said as she held onto Severus hand for comfort.
"My dear, staying in for the night doesn't mean that you are not in good health. It just means I have to assure myself that everything is alright on the long term. My aunt had a homebirth with a very complicated pregnancy. I can assure you that for the moment the homebirth is still in order. I know that you have met with the doulas and midwives earlier this month and they told me that you were a textbook case. I see nothing wrong by going down that path if so you wishes." Poppy reassure Hermione.
"Thanks a lot Poppy." Hermione said to the Mediwitch.
Severus and Hermione talked while he ate his food and an hour later, Hermione's head fell unto the pillow. Severus enlarged the bed and climbed in. Making sure he didn't hurt her.
When Poppy walked in and saw the both of them laying in the bed. She didn't have the heart to wake any of them up and she pulled the curtains around the bed before warding it in order for them not to be bothered by anyone coming into the infirmary ward.
When Hermione woke up, it was already well passed midnight. She saw Severus laying down next to her and she stayed a long time observing him sleeping he looked so peaceful that she didn't have the courage to wake him up. She stirred a little, trying her best not to disturb him in anyway.
Poppy came inside the room and waved her wand above Hermione. She felt the soft tingling feeling of the diagnosis charm being placed on her and coursing through her veins from the top of her skull to her small toe. When Poppy had finished with her diagnosis, she bent over and whispered into Hermione's ear.
"The baby and you are doing perfectly fine. Don't you worry. If you need me at any time and don't want to disturb him, you can go to the first door on your left. I'll leave it open. Tell me if you need anything at all." The old Mediwitch said
"Thanks a lot Poppy. Looks like he needs to rest. He is extremely tired. He's been working on his lessons plan during the night when I am asleep. He thinks I don't know, but little ne notices when her dad is not next to her and she kicks a lot to make me understand she doesn't like it at all." Hermione said whispering to Poppy.
Poppy closed the curtains once again and warded them before heading towards her private quarters. As she went back into bed, she couldn't keep her mind off the couple in bed number four of the infirmary ward.
Never in her life had she seen a couple so close to each other. The age gap between them didn't make any difference at all. It looked as though they were on the same wavelength for practically anything. The way Severus had looked as he waited for her diagnosis showed just how much he loved her with all his heart.
She remembered the wizard he used to be when he went to a Death Eater's meeting and came back his clothes drenched in either his or someone else's blood. She remembered the first night he had come and asked for help. His Death Eater's robes were drenched with so much blood he left a long sweeping red trace behind him. This night had been the night Harry had escaped the Dark Lord once again and he had directed his hate towards his prisoners and amongst his followers towards Severus.
It had taken five all hours for the Mediwitch to take care of all his wound. Cleaning and disinfecting them before wrapping them in fresh gauze or for the smaller ones band aids. In the morning, he had attended all his class. Not showing any sign of pain or psychological turmoil, although Poppy knew how bad he felt and how hurt he was.
They had become friend, step by step, sometimes, he didn't come into the infirmary for weeks, other times, he came in every day. They talked much of the time. He about how insupportable it was to have two master and not being able to trust anyone of them. Her about the different pupils she had treated since the last time he had come in the ward.
For three years they had kept this little routine on and Poppy now considered Severus to be something as close as a friend she had.
She fell asleep and only woke up four more times to go and check on her patients. At eight a.m. she returned to the bed number four and woke the both of them up. After having done a complete check up on Hermione and was sure Hermione and her daughter were doing perfectly fine. She discharged her and saw Severus help his wife out of bed before transfiguring her blue dress into something a bit more comfortable.
They both said their goodbyes to Poppy and Severus reversed the charm he had placed on the bed the afternoon before and immediately after, they both left and headed to the Great Hall where a copious breakfast awaited them.
The whole Hogwarts staff was there too and when Hermione saw that they all had a happy grin on their face, she breathed out in relief. When she headed for the Gryffindor table, she felt Severus hand on the small of her back leading her away and towards the staff table at the end of the Great Hall.
"Mrs. Snape, how glad I am to see that you are doing much better. When Severus told us you were in the infirmary ward, we all hoped that it wasn't something too serious." Professor McGonagall told Hermione as she pulled a chair for her to sit in.
The table that was usually set on only one side had for the breakfast at least been shortened from a few feet and had been double set. A new set of chairs went opposite the other row of chairs and the whole set up made the table and atmosphere more convivial and less scholar like.
Hermione sat down and thanked the staff for the warm welcome. Severus sat right on her right and served her a large plate of food.
"I don't want any of you to go hungry while you are under my watch." He said to Hermione when she had looked at him with dishevelment as he had served her with two large spoon of scrambled eggs.
"Thanks love" she said. She had the envy to peck his lips. But knew he would feel totally embarrassed if she did so in front of his colleagues or students. So she contented herself by giving a bright smile.
"Hermione, you allow me to call you Hermione?" Professor McGonagall said. When Hermione nodded, she continued. "Do you mind sharing a little bit of information about the baby or would you rather keep it a secret for now?" she asked.
Hermione could sense the curiosity level of every teacher rise and she chucked on a bit of egg. It took Severus large pat to calm her down.
"Sorry, for that. I don't mind at all. Neither does Severus I think" she said looking to Severus. When he shook his head, she began speaking again. "Well, it's a little girl. Due on the 17th November and we still don't have a name. That's pretty much it." Hermione told the teachers.
"Oh, a little girl. Congratulations to the both of you, you must be so happy." Professor Sprout said from the other side of the table.
"We are very happy, thanks Pomona" Severus said with a smile.
"Oh, I see a bright future for this little girl. I see beauty and intelligence. Oh, auspicious the day that child shall be born." Professor Trelawney said her eyes lost into the vast Great Hall.
"If she's going to be beautiful, I reckon she will not inherit my awful nose nor my greasy hair." Severus whispered into Hermione's here making her chuck once again on her food and needing Severus to pat her back firmly to calm the cough down.
They chatted away with the other teachers and Hermione talked for the rest of the meal with Professor Flitwick who was sitting on her left-hand side. After the food had disappeared, Severus took Hermione back to their quarters. He accompanied her straight to bed and made sure she was well before exiting the room and finishing tidying up his things. When he finished with the tedious task, he disrobed himself to his boxers and joined Hermione into sleep.