Samaria Kirby is my creation. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 3

Christmas holidays were over and classes resumed. Things went about as normal as things ever were for Hogwarts. Harry began to worry about his second challenge, and Samaria did what she could to help him. Every time she opened the golden egg he had won from the dragon, and that horrible screeching noise came, she would have a headache for the rest of the day. Even so, she did her best to help.

This wasn't her only concern. Severus was convinced someone has been stealing from his stores. While things had gone missing here and there, Samaria didn't give it much thought. But he was determined that it was Harry, and the 'other two' as he called them, and that he would catch them. Therefore, she didn't give it too much thought when Severus got up in the middle of the night to go check on a little noise.

"It was just Peeves. Go back to sleep, Baby," she said sleepily, turning over on her other side.

"I'll be back," was all he said as he left.

He can be so paranoid, she thought as she drifted back to sleep.

~*SW*~

BANG!

Samaria jolted awake and sat up in bed at the sound. Severus stormed in the room, using his wand to light the candles as he went. He sat down on the bed in a huff.

"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting up and trying to blink the sleep from her eyes.

"Potter was out of bed," he answered, each word dripping with venom.

"And you took a million points from Gryffindor, so you should be happy." Samaria flopped back onto her pillow.

"No, I didn't! I didn't even catch him," he spat.

"What? Then how do you know he was out of bed," she asked.

"Filch heard the noise too, and when I found him he was holding one of the golden eggs each of the champions won. He said it was that bloody Peeves stealing. Then Moody came, and stuck what is left of his nose in our business! Accused me of hiding things in my stores! Even threatened me! Said he would love to meet me in a dark corridor. He all but said I was still a Death Eater, and Dumbledore was a fool to trust me. Then he spotted a parchment, it was that map Potter has. I know that was his egg. He was there under his Invisibility Cloak! When I said as much, Moody accused me of being the one setting Potter up! It's all a conspiracy to aid Potter!"

After his rant, he flopped back on top of the covers. Samaria crawled over, and rapped her arms around him.

"It's always a conspiracy, Dear," she said.

"Well, I didn't mean conspiracy. Just that Potter always worms his way out of everything, and everyone helps him!"

"I know. Everyone favors him for no reason," she crooned.

"Don't patronize me," he muttered, glaring at her.

"I'm not," she laughed.

"Yes, you are. You want to make me sound ridiculous by twisting my words."

"I would never do that," she insisted.

"You wouldn't lie either, would you?"

"No!" she looked taken aback.

"Stop it. You're not that good," he said, rolling over to face her.

"Yes, I am," she muttered.

"I can tell when you're serious, and when you're putting on."

"I know," she sighed and snuggled closer.

Severus reached over for his wand, still put out by the night's events, but willing to let it go for a while. He turned out the lights.

~*SW*~

The next day, Harry came to Ms. Kirby's office.

"I know what the egg means!" he said, the paused. "Well, kind of."

"What?" she asked, very much intrigued.

He then told her of his night's adventures. Cedric had told him to go to the prefect's bathroom and take a bath. That it would somehow help him with the egg. He put the egg under the water, and went under with it. He told her that it said something like, we'll take what you'll sorely miss, an hour long you'll have to look, and we cannot sing above the ground.

"Mermaids, and I'll have an hour to find what they'll take from me," he said.

Nodding, she asked, "So you can hold your breath for an hour?"

His expression dropped, "No. I got to figure something out. Hermione is at the library now. I'm on my way to meet her."

He looked nervous about something, something other than the task.

"What is it, Harry?" Ms. Kirby asked.

"Well, I wanted to ask you something. I was under my Invisibility Cloak and heard Snape and Moody talking. He said that Dumbledore had given Snape a second chance, and I was wondering… what was his first chance, and how did he blow it?" he asked.

Severus was right, but Moody must not have come out and said 'Death Eater'. Harry doesn't know what he was, she thought.

"I can't tell you that, Harry," she said.

"Didn't think so, but I had to ask."

She smiled at him as he left and wished him luck.

~*SW*~

After the Black Lake challenge was over, and Samaria was in the middle of her Fourth Year Gryffindor/Slytherin class when it hit her. She was in the middle of a sentence and she felt a surge come up her throat.

"Excuse me," she mumbled, and with her hand over her mouth she ran out the door.

A few minutes later, when she returned. she said, "Class, I'm not feeling well today. You're dismissed early."

Everyone rose, talking excitedly, and began to leave.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked past her desk they stopped.

"You all right?" asked Ron.

"I'll be fine. I guess my breakfast didn't agree with me," she replied.

Nodding, the boys began to walk off. Hermione, however, lingered.

Leaning over Ms. Kirby's desk she said with a smile, "Sure it couldn't be something else."

"Like what?"

"Can't you think of anything?" she persisted.

Catching her meaning and blushing, Samaria said, "I can assure you, that is quite impossible."

"I wouldn't be so sure," was the reply, and Hermione left.

Samaria sat there thinking. She couldn't be pregnant. The car wreck that had killed her parents when she was 17 had left her in a coma for two weeks. The doctors, muggle and wizard alike, said she'd never be able to have children because of the damage. Severus was perfectly fine with that. He always said two hundred children a day was more than enough for him. It was partly the reason she'd chosen her profession. She loved children and wanted them in her life, in some compacity. Shaking her head, she walked to her cabinets for a nausea-easing potion. Her hand paused over the lavender bottle.

Was it really possible? she thought.

With a sigh, she closed the doors over her medication potions and went to visit Madam Pomfrey.

~*SW*~

Samaria sat alone in her office later that day. It was dinnertime, but her stomach still couldn't handle anything. She closed her eyes and swallowed the nasty potion Madam Pomfrey gave her to settle it. Sighing, she leaned back in her chair.

A baby? She should be thrilled. Any other time she would be, but the thought of the Dark Lord loomed in her thoughts.

When she left the medical wing, Samaria immediately headed for the dungeons to tell Severus. When she had gotten there, she found him in his office talking to Dumbledore. When had she entered, he had his left sleeve pulled up showing the Headmaster his Dark Mark. It wasn't usually visible, not until lately it had become a very light gray, but now it was a deep gray.

Samaria had apologized for interrupting and left.

Now, she sat alone not knowing what to do. She had been ready to give her life for the fight against the Dark Lord, but now there was another life involved.

Severus would surely still do his job, be a spy, but her… He would expect her to go into hiding with the baby. If anyone knew she was his wife, and they did, then the Dark Lord would find out and expect her to be a Death Eater, too. If not, he would make Severus kill her. Samaria knew he had always liked seeing how far his servants would go for him, and that would be the ultimate sacrifice for Severus. So, she would have to fake her death.

She couldn't do that; hideaway while the rest of the world was fighting. But what other choice was there? If she was killed, the baby would die. Samaria, setting her elbows on her desk, put her face in her hands.

Why now? she thought.

There was a knock at her door.

"Come in."

It was Hermione, "I saw there was a light under the door, and wanted to check on you."

Smiling, she replied, "You are indeed the brightest witch of your age."

"What do you mean?"

"You were right about my symptoms," she explained.

"Oh!" Hermione squealed and sat in the chair in front of her desk. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Ms. Kirby said, with little enthusiasm.

"Aren't you happy?"

"Well," she quickly thought of something to say. "The baby isn't coming at the best time, to say the least. Also, Severus never wanted children, and we thought I couldn't have any."

"Oh, but Professor Snape will want one now that you're pregnant, right?" she asked.

Ms. Kirby merely shrugged and then asked, "You haven't mentioned your suspicions to anyone, have you? I haven't told Severus yet, and don't want it gettin' around."

"No, no one."

"Thank you, Hermione."

"Of course," Hermione said. "So… do you have any ideas for names?"

~*SW*~

Samaria sat in her living area, waiting for Severus. Finally, he came in from dinner.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"Sit down. We have to talk," she said, making room for him on the couch.

As he sat, Severus looked in her eyes. She knew he was performing Legilimency, as he always did when he thought something was wrong with her. She, however, closed off her mind as he taught her. She had finally perfected Occlumency, but still needed work in Legilimency.

Sitting, he asked, "What is it."

Taking a deep breath, she said, "We're going to have a baby." Samaria searched his face for a reaction.

First, shock registered on his face. Then, he looked into her eyes to see if it were true.

As if I'd joke about something like this, she thought and opened her mind.

Seeing her memories, more profound shock settled over his features.

"A baby?" he whispered.

She nodded, not pushing him for more. Samaria, herself, didn't know what to feel. It was joy, fear, disappointment, excitement, and dread all in one.

Severus fell back against the couch and said again, "A baby."

She just sat, waiting for the shock to wear off.

It didn't take long. He rose up again and asked, "I thought you couldn't have children."

"Obviously, they were wrong," was her only reply.

"Obviously," he muttered, and then nodded to himself. "Okay. That's fine." He looked at her and smiled, "We're going to have a baby."

With a sigh of relief, Samaria flung herself into his arms. A big piece of her apprehension was Severus' reaction.

After holding her a moment he pulled back and asked, "And you've been checked out by Madam Pomfrey? Is everything alright?"

Nodding, she said, "Everything's perfect. I'm only about 8 weeks along."

"Really? But then why were you not at dinner? It's even more important that you eat, now!"

"No, no. Madam Pomfrey gave me a potion to settle my stomach. It's made for pregnancies, and she said that it would be ample supplement for myself and the back until my stomach eases. It should only take a few days," she replied, laughing.

Suddenly, Severus' rare smile disappeared.

Now, she thought, the Dark Lord issue. No problem… yeah right.

"We'll have to hide you. You can't work for the Dark Lord like this."

"I've been thinking about that," she confessed. "I think I have a solution."

"If it's anything other than you going into hiding, then you can forget it."

"Just listen! I can't be the only 'Death Eater'…"

"You're not a Death Eater yet!" he interrupted.

"Let me finish! I can't be the only one to have been pregnant while serving him, can I?" she asked.

"No, but you will not be serving him," he said.

"Answer my question!" she insisted.

Severus simply folded his arms and leaned back, saying nothing.

"Answer me now, Severus Snape!"

Glaring at her, he said nothing.

"I'm not stupid. Narcissa was a Death Eater. You already told me that. She had to have been pregnant with Draco during the Dark Lord's reign."

Severus narrowed his eyes further, and Samaria knew she was right.

"Okay! So, Draco is still here and, other than being spoiled to death and raised by a pair of Death Eaters, is perfectly normal."

"You're not going to drop this, are you?" he asked.

She shook her head.

Severus sighed and said, "Yes. The Dark Lord tended to take special care of Death Eaters that were pregnant, or who had a wife that was. He wanted to be able to train a generation up from birth, and have followers more loyal to him than those present. He didn't get a chance though. Before any of the children got old enough to even own a wand, he had been defeated."

"So, I would be fine!" she said.

"Yes, I think having my pregnant wife serve the most evil wizard in centuries would be my exact definition of 'fine'," he replied, sarcasm lacing each word.

"Severus," Samaria said, scooting closer to him.

He could see her intent and moved as far from her as the couch allowed, but eventually he was cornered.

"You know I couldn't live in hiding. Do you want our child raised by an insane hermit?" she pouted.

"Yes. At least the child would have a mother."

Sitting back, she said, "Fine. I'll go into hiding. I'm sure Sirius would love some company anyway. That's were Dumbledore mentioned that I would go, if I were to go into hiding. The baby would even have a male role model there. All. The. Time."

Samaria knew she was hitting below the belt, but after Hermione had left, she had spoken with Dumbledore. He thought that her pregnancy would insure her safety. The Dark Lord would love to have a new generation of Death Eaters already on the way. And if Dumbledore thought she would be safe, so did she.

The look in Severus' eyes was murderous. "Black will have nothing to do with my child," he said through clenched teeth.

"Well, he can't very well help it if we're in the same house," she said.

He narrowed his eyes at her, and she quickly shut her mind. He didn't need Legilimency to figure out her game.

"You are one conniving, manipulating, little…"

"Princess, whom you love dearly and trust she'll do what's right, and still protect your child?" she asked.

With a sigh, he rubbed his eyes, "Now I see why you were in Slytherin. Everyone has always wondered. 'She's so sweet and kind,' they said. I found out real fast, especially after I married you."

She laughed, putting her arms around his neck. She knew she had won.

"Would you love me any other way?"

"It's possible," he muttered, and she kissed him.

~*SW*~

Ms. Kirby smiled as she walked out of her office and into her classroom. Severus may not have liked the idea, but she was adamant about telling her classes about the baby.

"Good morning," she told her Fourth Year Gryffindor and Slytherins.

"Good morning," some murmured back.

"I have some news to tell y'all," this got many of the student's attention.

"I'm going to have a baby," she said, and her eyes went to where Harry and Ron sat to see their reaction.

Harry and Ron, both, had an identical expression on their faces. Their eyes were wide open and mouths just as much so. The rest of the students murmured to each other. Some girls squealed and whispered excitedly, while some boys sat just as Ron and Harry.

Draco's face was even paler than usual, but he kept his mouth shut, a feat most others did not achieve.

Ron, finally regaining himself, leaned over to Harry with a look of disgust, "A baby! That means she… with Snape… BLOODY 'ELL! That's disgusting!"

Hermione leaned over to him, "You knew they were married. Did you honestly think they lived a life of celibacy?"

"I didn't like to think about what they did. But honestly! With Snape?" Ron still couldn't seem to get his mind around it.

Hermione just shook her head at his immaturity. Harry, however, seemed to recover quickly from the shock.

Finally, after everyone settled down, Ms. Kirby began class.

Afterward class was over, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went straight to Ms. Kirby's office.

She smiled as they came in and sat, "So, what do y'all think?"

"I'm so happy for you!" Hermione exclaimed, even though she had already known about it.

"Congratulations," Harry said, while Ron just smiled.

"Have you and Professor Snape discussed names yet?" Hermione eagerly asked.

"We've only known for a few days, honey…I have though!" Ms. Kirby smiled and leaned closer to them. "I haven't discussed this with Severus yet. He says there's no need until we know the gender. But I like Scarlett for a girl, but not sure of names if it is a boy. I mentioned Severus Jr. but…" she stopped at the disgusted looks on Harry and Ron's faces. "Severus didn't like it either. Said he didn't want to go around saying his own name all the time, before he told me to just drop the name subject. He won't really tell me whether he wants a boy or girl either. I hope it's a girl."

"Oh, I hope so." Hermione said.

"A boy would be so much more fun, though," said Ron.

"And why is that?" Hermione asked indignantly.

"'Cause, we could teach him Quidditch and wrestle with him and… wait. Never mind," Ron stopped.

"What?" Ms. Kirby asked.

"This is Snape's kid, too. Do you honestly think he will let us within a ten-foot radius of him?" Ron asked.

"Don't be silly, Ron. You know good and well that I'll let you play with the baby as much as you want. Don't worry about Severus."

Ron nodded, but still looked doubtful.

"Harry, you're awful quiet," Ms. Kirby said.

Harry shrugged, "I was just thinking. As close as I am to you, this would almost be like having a little brother or sister. Never really thought of it before, but it would be nice, you know? To have a younger sibling."

"Not all it's cracked up to be, Mate," Ron grumbled, thinking of Ginny.

~*SW*~

Samaria showed up early to an Order of the Phoenix meeting a couple of days later. Severus had been heavily against it, but he couldn't very well stop her, he had a class. She had really wanted to see Sirius and catch up with him. There wasn't a chance of that if he and Severus were in the same building.

"Hey," she greeted as she walked into the kitchen.

Sirius sat eating a sandwich. When he heard her, he looked up, and grinned.

"Get away from the old ball and chain?" he asked.

"I thought that it was only the wife that was called that," she replied.

"No. It's whomever is the less desirable of the two."

Shaking her head, Samaria walked over and sat next to him.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Wonderful," he said sarcastically. "Cooped up in this beautiful house, who could be anything but? I'm surviving. How are you?"

Grinning, she said, "Pregnant."

Sirius, who expected the usual 'fine' had gone back to his sandwich. It took a moment for the answer to register. When it did, he paused, sandwich between two open lips. He looked up at her with big eyes.

"What did you say," he asked, putting the food back onto the plate.

"I'm pregnant."

"That's what I thought you said." Pausing for a moment, he stared at her. Then he asked, "I'm assuming it's Snape's."

"Of course, it is! How could you ask that?"

"Hoping that it wasn't," he grumbled.

"You two have to stop this childish behavior," Samaria insisted.

"I'll make you a deal. I will stop when you completely get rid of that accent of yours," he said with a grin.

Mouth opened in indignation, she replied, "You know that would take years of practice, if I ever even succeed at it!"

Smiling even bigger, Sirius said, "Yep. Have fun." Pushing away the sandwich, he leaned his chair back against the wall.

"You're impossible!"

"I know," he said and gave her a dashing smile.

Before she could speak, Severus came through the door. He stopped and looked between her and Sirius a moment, giving Sirius an evil eye.

"We've been excused from this meeting. Come on," and with a turn on his heel he walked back out.

Confused, Samaria said good-bye to Sirius, and followed.

Outside, Severus stood waiting for her, so they could Disapparate together.

"What was that about?" she asked.

"We've received an invitation to dinner at Malfoy Manor," he said. "The Headmaster wishes us to go for obvious reasons."

"Isn't it a little short notice for a dinner invitation?" she asked.

Severus looked down for a moment, "Not really. I've had the letter on my desk for days, and just opened it today." Glancing at her stomach he added, "I've been a little preoccupied."

"Luckily you opened it in time," she said, taking his arm.

"Actually, it was bewitched so it would open itself if not opened by a certain time. When an envelope explodes on your desk leaving a letter in front of you, one tends to take notice," with that, they Disapparated.

~*SW*~

An hour later, after stopping by Hogwarts so Samaria could change into something a little more formal, the two found themselves outside Malfoy Manor.

As they stood at the gates, Samaria, having never seen it before, gaped at its beauty. The large gray manor stood majestically before them with diamond-paned windows and a beautiful fountain playing in the refection of the moon and the lights of the house. The only place Samaria had seen to rival it in size was Hogwarts, and Malfoy Manor certainly out did it in beauty.

As she and Severus strolled down the gravel path to the door, Samaria noticed some peacocks strutting around in the yard. One of them was perfectly white.

"Oh," she breathed, as she reached out to touch it when it came close.

"Don't," Severus grabbed her hand. "That one is worth more than you make in a year."

Keeping her hands to herself, but not taking her eyes off the beautiful bird, she continued toward the manor.

When they reached the door, Severus reached up and knocked the silver dragon shaped knocker against the door. After the third hit, the door swung open on its own, and Severus walked in, trailed by Samaria.

Lucius greeted them in the entryway, "Good evening. We are so glad you could come." He walked up to Samaria. "And this must be your lovely wife, Severus." Taking her hand, he kissed it and smiled.

"This is Samaria," Severus introduced.

"Lucius Malfoy," the blond man said.

Behind him, a beautiful blond haired woman came up. She walked as if she owned the world, but the fact that her nose looked as if she smelled something bad took away from her looks.

"This is my wife, Narcissa," Lucius said.

The snarled-up look of her nose disappeared when she smiled, and she became one of the most beautiful woman Samaria ever seen.

"Samaria," she introduced herself, taking Narcissa's offered hand, and shook it.

"Pleasure," she replied, and then turned to Severus. "It's wonderful to see you again, Severus."

He merely nodded in reply.

"Why don't you come sit in the parlor? Dinner will be served shortly," with that Narcissa turned and started down the hall.

The Malfoy's led them to a beautiful room decorated in maroon, gold, and dark green.

Narcissa and Lucius chose two of the high-backed chairs, leaving Severus and Samaria the small, antique couch. Both men remained standing as the ladies sat.

Samaria observed her hosts as she sat. She could see distinct similarities between the two and Draco. The hair, of course, but there were subtle things, like Narcissa's delicate brow and Lucius gray eyes. His eyes, like Draco's, were a soft gray, but she knew from experience with his son that Lucius' could likely become a cold, steel gray.

"Draco speaks highly of you," Narcissa said, directing the comment at Samaria.

"Oh. He's a pleasure to teach," she replied, only half lying. He was, when he wasn't being a brat to the other students.

"Yes, he should be here any moment," Lucius said.

This surprised Samaria. She assumed that he would be at Hogwarts. Yes, it was the weekend, but very seldom did students go home during the semester.

"He insisted on being here," added Narcissa.

Wondering why, but not planning on asking, Samaria said instead, "You have a lovely home."

The pride in their eyes was obvious, but Narcissa only said a thank you, then asked about their work. The subject shifted to the peacocks outside, then to Samaria's robes (which Narcissa just loved and insisted they go shopping together sometime).

During this time the men sat in, for the most part, silence, with Lucius adding a comment here or there. But before long, the three were in deep conversation with Severus only nodding, and even adding a comment sometimes.

Then, after a moment of silence, then Narcissa ventured on a different subject.

"Draco tells us you are expecting."

The things Severus had told her that these two had done in the past were horrible, atrocities that he could barely voice, but when their son was mentioned she noticed a look of love and complete devotion in their eyes. That was nothing, though. It didn't really take a saint to love their child, but when Narcissa mentioned her pregnancy, the look returned. It was as if they really cared. She expected them to be heartless aristocrats with their noses in the air, and while they did have an air of conceit about them, they seemed to be sincerely interested in Samaria and Severus' lives. Maybe she was judging too quickly, but she had the impulse to like these people.

"Yes," she replied with a big smile.

"Oh! Congratulations," Narcissa said, her haughty demeanor slipping, but only slightly. Obviously, she loved the thought of babies, or maybe it was children in general.

"Thank you," Samaria said, and was about to say more when the door opened.

Draco walked in, and by the lack of surprise on his face, he knew they would be there.

"Professor Kirby, Professor Snape," he greeted, but before he made it to a chair to sit a small house elf walked in, and announced dinner was served.

After dinner, the men (including Draco) went into the living room for drinks, and Samaria followed Narcissa into a sitting room.

"So, how far along are you?" she asked Samaria.

After thinking a moment, she replied, "About 9 weeks."

Nodding, the other woman said, "You must let me help with the nursery. You should have seen Draco's. Silver and green with little dragons, he just loved it when he was small. Though he's quite grown out of the nursery, his room still has the same color scheme."

Motioning for her to follow, Narcissa led Samaria to a room she assumed was Draco's.

"It's quite beautiful," she commented. She had always had a fascination with dragons, and added with the fact she had been in Slytherin, made the room appeal to her even more.

Samaria walked around, gently touching the green silk bed spread, and beautiful green and silver drapes.

"Yes, you must help me with the decorating. I have to admit I'm not very good at it."

"Of course. Um, if I might ask, where are you from?" Narcissa asked.

"Mississippi. Southern USA."

"Ah, I knew your accent was American, just not sure what part." Smiling, Narcissa walked up to Samaria and took her hand, "I'm sure we're going to become very good friends."

Before she could comment, the door opened. It was Draco and he looked surprised to see his teacher and mother his room.

"Oh, I was just showing Ms. Kirby your color scheme, dear," Narcissa explained.

"Color scheme? Going to redecorate her house, Mother?" Draco asked, with a face that suggested she tried that a lot.

"She's helping me decide on nursery colors," Samaria told him.

He looked at her for a moment, then away quickly blushing as he did.

Thinking it was because of the degrading comments he had once made about her, Samaria put a reassuring hand on his shoulder as the two women walked out of his room. Maybe that was why he insisted on being there, so he could do damage control if she told his parents what he had said about her.

As they walked down the hall, they met Lucius and Severus.

"Are you ready to leave?" Severus asked her.

She smiled and nodded. After thanking their hosts for dinner and reassuring them that they would indeed visit again soon, the couple left.

As they walked into their living quarters at Hogwarts, Samaria sat down on the couch.

"That was fun. I actually like them."

Severus quirked his brow at her, as if to remind her of what they were.

"I know they're Death Eaters, but I will be too, right? And anyway, they seem decent enough. Well, once you get past the rich, stuck up front," she said.

"They, as anyone else, can be decent. The question is if they will choose to be," he replied.

Severus walked over and sat next to her. She leaned her head onto his shoulder.

"It is a shame good people make such bad choices," she commented.

He nodded, but then started chuckling.

"What?" she asked, sitting up to look at him, confused.

"Draco. I think he fancies you."

"What? No. In fact, I think he barley tolerates me sometimes."

"No, no. Lucius and I were talking about you, and he mentioned what a lucky man I was. When Draco agreed, whole heartily I might add, I looked at him and he turned away, and actually blushed. He left the room very quickly after that. Lucius voiced his suspicions of it as well. It seems he speaks of you very often at home," Severus looked at her to see her reaction.

Samaria just sat there with shock on her face. A lot of the boys thought she was pretty, she'd heard them talking, but Draco had only made comments about her body. Nothing to warrant that he fancied her, just liked the way she looked.

Then, she smiled and set back against the couch, "Looks like you have some competition, Professor Snape."

He scoffed, "Competition, for my own wife? Against a fourteen-year-old, I might add. I don't think so."

"You never know. Draco is quite dashing, and very rich. Quite a catch," she teased.

"Well, if you want him so bad, have at him. But when you get tired of him having to stand on his toes to kiss you, I'll be here waiting."

"He's just as tall as I am," she insisted.

"Oh, well, in that case, I might as well file the divorce papers now." He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"You just might," she replied.

"Well, that's just more room in the bed for me."

Samaria slapped his arm, "You would miss me and you know it!"

"Miss, you? Miss your manipulating, conniving ways, burdening me with responsibilities and children?" he paused, but before she could spit out a comeback he added, "I would indeed."

She closed her mouth that had been opened to insult him back and just looked at him. "I hate it when you do that."

"What?" he asked.

"Throw away a good argument."

"Well, while I know you like to argue, I think we can wait another day for that."

Looking down a moment, she glanced back up and asked, "So, have you come up with any names for the baby yet?"

"I've told you…" he stopped and sighed. "No. I haven't. Now, it's late and we both need to get in bed."

Smiling at him as they walked into the bedroom, she asked, "Almost got you, though, didn't I?"

Severus just looked at her and shook his head.

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