A/N: At this point I would like to thank all of you who are following my story, either by having it set as an alert or periodically checking in for an update. Many thanks to everyone who added me and/or my story to their favorites lists - you guys rock! And last but not least a huge 'thank you' to those of you who have left me a review and special thanks to FelixFelicisWriter. I love you guys!
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30. New Years Eve at the Malfoy's
Very soon it was New Years Eve and Severus and Bobbie got ready to go to Malfoy Manor. To say that they had been surprised seeing an owl battling its way to the cottage through the Blizzard on Boxing Day with an invitation to a celebration at the Malfoy's would have been a gross understatement.
Bobbie, who had talked to Hermione the Sunday before New Years Eve learned during their conversation that Kingsley and his wife had also been invited, and Severus had found out that his grandmother had been on the list of invitees as well. They decided to show up even if only for a little while. They could always use Bobbie's pregnancy as an excuse to leave any time they felt like it. Bobbie also felt that she had to thank Lucius and Draco properly for their help in freeing her from her captor.
After they were ready to leave they first used the Floo to Prince Manor to pick up Severus's grandmother and then used Richelle's fireplace to Malfoy Manor.
On arrival Severus noticed that the Malfoy's had spared no expense in making the transition into the New Year a memorable one. It almost reminded him of the parties they used to have when Lucius was still recruiting followers for Voldemort, not that Severus had been to a lot of those. Sometimes it was required of him for some reason or another, but other than that he had tried to stay away as far as he could from balls and other festivities as such. Severus had always disliked parties and his aversion to large crowds was only part of the reason. Even in large crowds he had always felt alone. No one wanted to socialize with him and standing around in a corner with a drink, watching everyone having fun was not what he would call time well spent.
He since had found out that it wasn't a total loss if Bobbie or some of his newly acquired friends were present, like it had been at this years Halloween party at Hogwarts or the ceremony for the awards of the Order of Merlin. Also the absence of Voldemort's followers was a gross improvement.
As soon as they walked out of the Floo and had brushed themselves off they heard Draco, "Uncle Severus, Bobbie, I'm glad you could make it." Then he noticed Severus's grandmother and said, "Madame Prince, how do you do?"
After the greetings Draco said to Severus, "Minister Shacklebolt is at that table over there. He has already asked for you."
"Well, then I suppose we will say 'Hello'," Severus said and they went into the direction Draco had indicated. Before they made it they saw that Lucius had noticed them and was waving. Severus said to Bobbie, "I think our good manners require for us to socialize with the hosts for a moment."
Remembering Lucius's earlier advances toward Bobbie during her birthday and when he had come to the school to talk about Draco's choice of women, Severus possessively laid his arm around her waist and they made their way over to where Lucius and Narcissa were standing. Lucius took Bobbie's hand and said, "It is great to see you are doing well, Dr Snape." It was the first time Bobbie 'saw' in her flashback that Lucius was making an effort to be sincere and didn't have any other motives.
She said, "Mr Malfoy I think after the help you have given Severus to get me out of that madman's clutches it would be appropriate that you call me by my first name. Draco has done so for quite a while now." Then she looked at Narcissa and said, "Likewise for you Mrs Malfoy."
"Only if you are doing us the favor and use our given names," Lucius said.
"In that case Lucius, I want to thank you very much for your help. From what I have heard from Severus he couldn't have done it without your and Draco's help. I truly appreciate it."
"You are very welcome, Bobbie. But let me say 'Hello' to your husband..." Lucius inclined his head to Bobbie and then moved his attention to Severus. "Severus, I am glad you could make it. I remember a time when you made yourself scarce when it came to festivities, and even if you graced us with your appearance you never participated in any of the entertainment."
"Thank you Lucius. You may remember my response, that I would participate in aforementioned... entertainment if it would be worth my while. I hope things have become a little more tolerable since I assume I won't run into certain individuals I had the misfortune to know, not to mention the bane of my former miserable existence, who insisted on having the filthy hem on his even filthier robes kissed."
They suddenly heard a hearty laugh and found Kingsley standing next to them. "Spoken like a true survivor. How are you, my friend?" he asked Severus.
The evening turned out to be quite pleasant. Most of the time Severus, Kingsley, Lucius and Draco stood around in a small circle and talked about the latest goings-on, and Bobbie did the same with Richelle, Narcissa and Kingsley's wife. Bobbie found that Narcissa could be quite charming if she wanted to. She also discovered when she touched her hand during the conversation that she and Lucius had decided to give each other a second chance, which seemed to make the woman happy.
For a little while it was just Narcissa and Bobbie while Richelle and Kingsley's wife went for refills of their drinks. Bobbie said, "You have a beautiful house. Severus told me that you had to play host to Voldemort for a while, who basically did as he pleased and the whole place had a cloud of darkness and doom hanging over it. I am sure you are happy that your home is really yours again."
Narcissa winced when Bobbie used You-Know-Who's name but nevertheless answered, "Yes, it was quite difficult living here, especially while Lucius was in Azkaban. I was constantly afraid for Draco and what You-Know-Who would ask of him to do. There were strangers going in and out every day and you could never really feel safe."
"I know you helped Harry by pronouncing him dead when Voldemort asked you to check on him when he thought he had killed Harry," Bobbie said.
Narcissa blushed and then asked quietly, "Who told you?"
"It doesn't matter. The important part is that because of your courage in that moment you made it possible for Harry to finish Voldemort off." Bobbie thought it was a good idea to butter Narcissa up a little since she and Severus were friends with Draco.
Narcissa took the bait and said, "Why, thank you. I appreciate you saying that."
"I think you should be proud of that decision," Bobbie said with a smile.
When Richelle walked back to them Narcissa checked her watch and said, "If you will excuse me, I better make sure that the elves are getting dinner ready." She nodded to Bobbie and Richelle before walking away.
Dinner was a grand affair and then there was some dancing. Severus and Bobbie had actually planned to leave early but ended up staying until after the fireworks.
While they were outside watching the spectacular display of fireworks Lucius had arranged, Severus stood behind Bobbie with his arms wrapped around her. He thought about how different this party was. He used to hate these functions that he was required to endure. He remembered how he would stand somewhere in a corner after 'business' was done and the so called entertainment would go on around him. All the drinking, the openly sexual dancing and then the sex orgies. There were 'Rooms of Requirement' along one hallway for the Death Eaters to live out their perverse machinations and not all their partners were voluntary. It sickened him just to think about it. Then he shook off his dark thoughts and concentrated on the woman in his arms and how different things had become. He drew in a long breath of her scent and then nuzzled in between her hair and to the soft point underneath her ear. She turned her head and said just loud enough so he could hear, "If you keep that up we'll have to ask Narcissa for a room."
Merlin, that was the wrong thing to say in that moment. Her words ran through him like a heat wave and here they stood in the middle of a crowd watching fireworks. He couldn't help but press the evidence of his desire against her. He heard her hitch her breath and then hissing, "Baby, what are you doing? We can't do this here..." Nevertheless she turned in his arms and kissed him.
"Come...," he said quietly and took her by the hand and led her inside the house and straight to a room that looked just like their bedroom on the inside.
She looked around and asked, "What is this place?"
"It is a Room of Requirement, like the one in Hogwarts..." He took her face in his hands and kissed her and said with a husky voice, "...and I require you right now."
She breathed, "Oh Severus." She kissed him back with abandon and laced her fingers into his hair and then whispered, "We better make it quick."
He took her to the bed and slowly and carefully entered her as soon as he had waved his wand and took their clothes off. They could still hear the fireworks outside, and the excitement of knowing that they had just nipped out for a clandestine rendezvous made it so much more urgent and appealing.
They made it back before the fireworks were finished. Richelle who had noticed that they had been gone asked, "Is everything alright?"
Bobbie answered, "Severus just showed me to a bathroom. It's the pregnancy..."
"Say no more, my dear. I understand..."
Severus couldn't help but grin into Bobbie's hair and then whispered, "Are you sure you weren't a spy in a previous life?"
888
Shortly before they left to go home Severus said to Draco, "Am I the only one who noticed that it seems your parents have found some sort of mutual agreement with each other?
"They have decided to give it another go. I think they decided to take a page out of your book Uncle Severus. I saw how my father watched you and Bobbie interact with each other the day we freed her from Prince Manor. I think you made quite an impression on him. Let's hope it lasts," Draco said but didn't look too convinced.
Bobbie took his hand and said, "Give them time, Draco. After Voldemorts downfall most of the people who distracted them from each other are either dead or incarcerated, and things that were okay around Death Eater parties are frowned upon in the normal Wizarding World. They won't have too many opportunities to stray anymore."
Draco nodded with a sigh, "I guess so..."
Bobbie gave him a hug and said into his ear while looking over his shoulder, "I think you need to rescue Astoria from your mother. Things look a little tense over there."
"Oops, I'll see you later," he said quickly and left.
Severus and Bobbie eventually said their goodbyes and then fetched Richelle and took her home.
When they arrived at the cottage Severus turned Bobbie around to look at him and said, "A new year, my Love. I want to make it the best one ever."
"I think we have already started...," she said with a mischievous smile referring to their little tryst in Malfoy Manor.
He smiled stroking her hair and looking into her warm doe eyes. Then he kissed her and picked her up and carried her to their bed.
888
Right after they had gotten up next morning Severus received a call on his mobile phone from a number he had never seen before. He looked at Bobbie with a questioning face and she said, "Could be a wrong number or maybe it is someone you know who has gotten a phone."
He answered with a non-descript 'Hello'.
"Uncle Severus!" he heard Draco laugh on the other line. "I can't believe this thing works."
"You got yourself a mobile phone?" Severus asked with a smile on his face.
"Yes, Hermione bought one in my name and she just gave it to me. We met out here in Hyde Park. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Neville and Hannah are here also and some of us have the hangover from hell."
Severus laughed and said, "Ah, I see...! I guess some took that New Years Eve celebration to the next level."
"Yeah well..., I was voted into calling you and see if you happen to have some hangover potion lying around." Draco snorted. "Come to think of it, Father and a couple of the guests who stayed over from last night would probably benefit from it also."
Severus chuckled and said, "I don't have any here but we have decided to Floo to Hogwarts in a little while to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I guess I could raid my supply I have for the seventh year Quidditch players. They sometimes are in need of it after celebrating their victory. I will drop some of it off at Malfoy Manor on the way home."
"You never told us you have hangover potion for after Quidditch celebrations." This time it was Harry on the phone.
"Ah Mr Potter...," Severus grinned. "You're correct, I didn't! I just started it this year. You also didn't come back in your seventh year, Harry."
"Fair enough!" Harry said and moved the phone back to Draco.
"Okay Uncle. I will take this lot here to the Manor. I still owe Hermione some money for the phone. Maybe we can have another party... Just kidding!"
"You better...!" Severus said and then as an afterthought, "Your father will be ecstatic knowing that you are surrounding yourself with Muggle devices."
"He doesn't have to know..."
"I won't tell him if you won't," Severus said. "Anyhow, I will see you later."
Severus hung up the phone while shaking his head in amusement and then they got dressed to go to Hogwarts. They planned to have breakfast there.
888
When they arrived it was still a little early for breakfast; since it was a holiday Minerva decided to have it at a later time. So after all were wished well for the New Year, Severus went to his potion lab and grabbed a dozen vials of hangover potion. He told Minerva he would reimburse the school for the money the ingredients had cost. When Minerva heard what and whom they were for she laughed and said, "Forget about it, Severus. Just wish them a Happy New Year from us here at Hogwarts. Harry is helping out here enough. I think we can let it slide."
Severus nodded and said, "I agree. He is always here when I need him to take my classes." Then he turned to Bobbie and said, "I will Floo these to Malfoy Manor to put those rascals out of their misery. I will be back shortly."
"You do that!" Bobbie smiled at him.
888
When Severus arrived by Floo in the drawing room of Malfoy Manor he saw one group of kids sitting quietly in a corner with their heads in their hands and another group in a second corner laughing. Severus made his way over to the quiet group and sat a few vials of hangover potion onto one of the side tables.
Neville watched Severus and said, "You are a life saver."
Severus smirked and said, "And don't you forget it. I have to admit I have never seen a livelier group than this one, and all those faces in those lovely shades of green..." He shook his head in mock indignation.
His words made the group on the other side of the room laugh even louder, and the quiet group groan in unison while each grabbed a vial from the side table and downed it.
Severus took the rest of the potions and asked Draco, "Where is the rest of the crapulous lot?"
"I think they are in the small library down the hall," Draco replied.
Severus turned around and marched out of the drawing room and made his way to the 'small' library, which was still about half the size of the one in Hogwarts, while shaking his head in amusement. He knocked on the door and walked in.
"Severus, what brings you here?" Lucius asked with a dumbfounded look on his face. Around him sat several guests who were clearly much the worse for wear.
"Draco mentioned that some around here could use some of this." He held up the potion vials in his hand as he looked down at Lucius, who was molded into his padded leather chair.
"Ah, I think I begin to understand why half of Draco's former classmates are clogging up my drawing room while staring longingly at the Floo. Some of them look like they had a little too much fun last night. I will have to congratulate that lot for a great idea." Lucius picked up one of the potions that Severus had placed on the side table within reach and cheered toward Severus and downed it. "Thank you my friend."
"Don't mention it. I am going to leave these here for your other guests. I have to be going," Severus said and inclined his head in greeting before walking out.
Lucius remembered his manners and got up off his chair and said, "I hope we will see more of each other now that better times are ahead."
"Bobbie and I wouldn't be averse in doing so, but I would like to wait until our daughter is born. My wife tends to not know when to quit sometimes and I don't want her to tire herself out."
"I understand," Lucius said while walking Severus to the door.
They shook hands and Severus turned to leave. Just before he walked out the door Lucius winked and said quietly, so only Severus would hear, "Oh, before I forget... I suppose the entertainment last night was to your liking?"
"You didn't...!" a mortified Severus started to say.
Lucius held his hand up and interrupted him, "No, no... don't worry. You have all the privacy you need in the Rooms of Requirements. We do know when a room is occupied and the only way I know that you were in there is through wand detection." He smiled and then said, "You may not believe me, but I am happy for you."
888
Soon the Christmas holidays were over and Severus and Bobbie left the Cottage and went back to Hogwarts. They had had a very relaxing time and since enough Mediwizards had been trained, Severus didn't even have to leave on Saturday, January 2nd when they were curing more werewolves.
Since Minerva had let them spend the holidays in the cottage Severus and Bobbie thought it was only fair if they stayed at Hogwarts during the first weekend after school started, even though Saturday would be Severus's birthday. Severus, with his new outlook on life even invited the staff to the teachers' lounge for a nightcap and some hors d'oeuvres and it turned out to be an enjoyable evening. Bobbie was so immensely proud of him that he was finally getting a little more outgoing, at least with his colleagues.
Severus's grandmother had invited them for an evening at the Greenborough's restaurant the day after his birthday. Severus had seen her twice during the week because he had gone over to Prince Manor and worked on the Potions Lab to get it ready. The place had fallen into a state of disrepair over the years. The lab at the manor was much larger than the one in Hogwarts and he felt that he should have his own lab for his private use even though Minerva had always insisted that it was no problem, especially since he was also brewing potions for the infirmary. In the much larger lab in the Manor he could make larger quantities of potions he wanted to sell, like the cure for Lycanthropy, the one against the Cruciatus insanity and the Muskle-Gro. He had ordered a few of the new self-stirring cauldrons and got everything set up for some serious brewing. He also set up a corner in the lab with a large book shelf for his potion tomes and a desk for future research.
Severus had talked with Minerva about going full time into potion brewing and getting out of teaching. Minerva had told him that she would really miss him but that she understood that he wanted to do what he was best at and something he liked doing. She also admitted that his talent for potions was wasted where he was now. She had agreed to put word out for a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for the next school year. They had made fun of the fact that his teaching on the particular subject only lasted a year even though the spell on the position was now broken since Voldemort's doom. Severus suggested Minerva ask Alice Longbottom. She was a great Auror but with her newly adopted daughter she wasn't able to work the long and dangerous hours that the job of an Auror sometimes required. If push came to shove she would also be able to bring the girl to Hogwarts once in a while, which brought a smile to Minerva's face because she had grown to like her and Cindy had started to call Minerva 'Aunt Minnie'.
888
February came and on Sunday, which also happened to be Valentine's Day, Severus and Bobbie had just had breakfast at their cottage and went to the kitchen to clean up, when the first contraction came. Bobbie gasped and grabbed her belly. Severus noticed and asked, "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. If I wouldn't know any better I would say that was a contraction. It is too early though," she said.
"Yes, at least two more weeks. Come, lie down for a little while. I can do the dishes by magic," he offered.
Bobbie didn't argue and let him lead her to the sofa where he got her comfortable. At least as comfortable as she could be. Severus had watched her and knew she hadn't been really comfortable lying down in the last few weeks. She also had been hot a lot and threw the covers off.
He bunched up a few pillows behind her back and she thanked him with a nod. He went back to the kitchen and just a little while later he heard her groan. He ran back to her and saw her face was creased with pain.
Severus dropped everything and said in a no-nonsense tone, "We are going to the infirmary. I sure hope Poppy isn't out for a break." He went to the fireplace and threw in some Floo powder and said, "Hogwarts infirmary," and then he called for Poppy.
No answer at first and he started panicking. He again called her, this time louder and then he heard her, "Hold your horses Severus. What is the matter?"
"I think the baby is coming," he rushed to say and then looked back at Bobbie.
"Are you sure?" Poppy asked. "It is a little early..."
"Yes, I'm sure... I think... I don't know. It looks that way," Severus stammered.
"I'll be right there," she said and stepped through. She saw Bobbie on the sofa breathing hard. She went to her and started scanning her with her wand. After a while she said, "Everything looks fine but I guess your little girl is ready to be born. Sometimes babies are early. It would be better not to, but we have some ways to get around that. I will send to St Mungo's for some potions that will aid with the development of the baby for the two weeks we lost. I guess she just wanted to be born on Valentine's Day."
"I could brew them...," Severus said in a hurry.
"Do you really want to stand in the potions lab right now instead of being with Bobbie? And as distracted as you are I doubt you would manage it in the first go. Let's get her into the private room in the infirmary and I can call that potion in from there."
Poppy had a point. He couldn't believe how calm she was while he was feeling like a nervous wreck. He scooped Bobbie up and went through the Floo to the infirmary. Poppy followed and he took Bobbie to the bed. Poppy checked Bobbie again and then told her to get up and walk. It would help things along. Then she sent word to St Mungo's for the potions. When they heard it was for Professor Snape's wife they hurried things up. Poppy thought that it was amazing how a famous name could speed things along, and Severus had definitely become a household name amongst doctors and nurses.
Severus helped Bobbie out of bed and they walked around the infirmary for hours it seemed. Bobbie hung onto him each time a contraction racked her body. He couldn't imagine what she was going through and started blaming himself because he felt he had pushed her into having a baby. His guilt started mounting when she was too tired to walk anymore and needed to lie down.
He sat next to her and stroked her hair. He finally couldn't take it anymore and jumped up from the chair and asked Poppy, "Why is she in so much pain?"
"Severus, it is called labor for a reason," Poppy answered. "We can't give her the normal pain killing potions we have here. They will bring the right ones when they bring the potions for the baby."
"What is taking them so long...?" Severus started pacing until he heard Bobbie groan again. He went to her and held her in his arms until the pain subsided.
He kissed her and then proceeded to stroke her hair with one hand and hold on to one of hers with the other. He gave her some water to drink when she asked him for it, and he thought he would rather go under the Cruciatus Curse than having to watch this.
Finally the Floo came to life and a Mediwizard came through with the potions. Poppy thanked him and took them from him. They talked quietly for a little while until Severus called over to them, "Poppy please. Give her something."
Bobbie felt drained but she still could see that Severus was feeling helpless and totally out of his league. He wanted to help but didn't know how.
Poppy came over with a potion for her and she took it gratefully. Her pains didn't subside all together but they were dulled significantly.
Just before 6 o'clock in the evening it was over and the wailing of a healthy baby girl with a shock of pitch black hair split the silence of the infirmary. Poppy cleaned her up and put her into Bobbie's arms where she started nursing right away. Severus watched in wonder thinking that this was the most precious moment in his life. Nevertheless, Poppy mixed a bottle with the potions and then took the baby away from Bobbie and put her into his arms. First he was afraid to hold her. She was so tiny and he didn't want to hurt her. But soon he got comfortable and settled in with her in a chair and Poppy gave him the bottle to feed her with.
That was how Minerva, Pomona, Filius and Hagrid found him. Hagrid looked at the little girl and promptly dissolved into happy-tears. He fished a tablecloth sized handkerchief out of his pocked and blew his nose with a trumpeting sound that would have startled a herd of elephants.
Everyone else had smiles on their faces and fawned over the newcomer who was just contentedly sucking on her bottle. When the infirmary doors opened again Hermione and Draco walked in. Hermione took one look at Serina and said. "Look at all that hair..."
"Were you expecting anything else? Look at those two." Draco pointed at Bobbie and Severus.
"Good point." Hermione chuckled.
"What are you two doing here?" Bobbie asked.
"Well, the news of the birth of your daughter went all the way to Slytherin house. Astoria sent me an owl and I thought I would call Harry and see if any of the Ministry lot was coming with me to check on her," Draco said pointing at Hermione.
Hermione took it up from there, "Harry and Neville are on some assignment and aren't back yet, Ron is helping George, Minister Shacklebolt is out for the weekend, so it is just the two of us."
"Ginny and Astoria want to come in later after dinner, if it is okay," Draco said.
Poppy said, "That is fine as long as they don't mind looking at her while she is sleeping. And Bobbie needs to rest as well."
Serina had fallen asleep in Severus's arms with the nipple of the bottle still in her mouth. When Poppy went to pick the baby up to put her in a crib Minerva asked, "May I?"
Severus grinned and said, "There you go Aunt Minnie."
Minerva first looked at him with a faint blush but then laughed good-naturedly and picked the baby up out of his arms. She rocked her for a little while and let everyone get a better look and then put her into the crib. Then she went to Severus and patted him on the shoulder and said, "You have a beautiful daughter Severus."
"Yes, I am glad she is taking after her mother." He grinned.
"It takes two to make it happen," Minerva replied with a wink.
Soon the infirmary was empty again and only Severus, Bobbie, and Poppy were left with the baby. At one time Ginny, Luna and Astoria came in but didn't stay long. Bobbie was exhausted but happy. Severus pulled the crib up next to the bed and then laid down next to Bobbie, pulled her into his arms and soon they were asleep.
