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

Chapter 6

As August droned on, Samaria began to feel terrible. She had no energy, her back hurt more than usual, and the baby seemed to move more. On the tenth day of August, Samaria felt even worse.

"Are you okay?" Severus asked her for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"I'm making it," was her reply.

This afternoon, the two were lounging on the couch together, each reading their book of choice. It was a particularly hot day in England, though to Samaria who had grown up in the humid South, it was tolerable. Though barely. She was lying on the couch with her feet in Severus' lap when a strange pain hit her. She grunted when it came, causing Severus to look up at her in alarm.

"Cramp," she said, dismissively.

Though he didn't look convinced, he went back to his book. A few moments later another, more pronounced, pain hit, causing her to cry out.

"What is it?" he demanded, sitting up.

"A cramp. I'll be okay."

"How do you know it's not contractions?"

"Too early," she said. Then another pain hit and she cried out.

"I don't care. I'm going to Hogwarts to get Madam Pomfrey. She is already there for the start of the year."

"But it's not even the end of August. It's too early for her to be there," Samaria said through gritted teeth, afraid that another pain would come.

"She always comes early. Some teachers, like Sybill Trelawney, live there all summer. She gets there early in case they need anything. Come on. I'm going to put you in bed before I go anywhere," he said helping her up.

She allowed him to walk her to bed without argument.

~*SW*~

Lying in the bed, Samaria sighed. She was indeed in labor. Madam Pomfrey said she was early, but it shouldn't endanger the baby's life.

Severus was beside her, holding her hand. He looked very nervous. He kept looking around for Madam Pomfrey, who went to prepare the items she would need. The nurse had told him Samaria shouldn't give birth for a while, so she would go get some things she had left. For now, the contractions were coming at intervals of 11 minutes. The pain was like nothing she had every felt. and she feared it would only get worse before it was over.

Madam Pomfrey came bustling in with an armful of things, and deposited them on the dresser. Another woman, slightly younger than the Hogwarts nurse followed.

"This is Helga. She will help me. She works at St. Mungo's," Madam Pomfrey told them as she separated the things she would need.

Samaria had opted to have the baby at home or Hogwarts, not wanting to go into a hospital. She couldn't bare them since the night she woke from her coma into a strange room with muggle instruments. The next month was one of the worst experiences of her life, having to stay there and wonder what she would do without her parents.

Her mind came back to the present when another pain hit. When she cried out in pain, yet again, Madam Pomfrey asked Severus to step out. He looked as if wild Thestrals couldn't move him.

"Please Severus. This isn't a very big room and we need the space," she insisted.

With a sigh, he leaned over and kissed her sweaty head, "Will you be okay?"

She only nodded, as another pain came and she clamped down her eyes.

With a look of worry he left and Helga shut the door behind him. Staring at the door as if it was its fault, he began to pace back and forth. With every cry he heard, he stopped. After what felt like forever, Samaria's cries ceased. Severus stopped and looked at the door, willing it to open. It didn't. He began to worry when he heard neither woman nor baby, but then a shrill cry erupted and joy filled his chest.

He was a father.

Putting his ear to the door to try and hear conversation, the only thing he got was baby cries. Just when he was about the open the door himself and see what was happening, Helga opened it and stood back to let him in. Severus stepped in the room, only seeing the woman lying in bed with a bundle in her arms.

Samaria looked up at him and smiled, "Come here."

Slowly, he walked to her. Hearing the door close, he assumed the nurses left, but didn't take his eyes off his wife to find out. When he reached the bed, she took his hand and tugged him onto the bed. Gently he sat beside her.

"Severus, I want you to meet your daughter," she said.

"Daughter?" He leaned over to look in the bundle, and saw a baby slumbering in her arms. The child was red, wrinkled, and had little hair, but to him was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. He looked up at Samaria and gave her one of his rare, full smiles. She handed him the baby, which he took with a gentleness he didn't know he possessed.

Looking into his daughter's face, awed, he heard Samaria ask, "What will we name her?"

Severus' eyes searched the baby's face, trying to think of a name that would fit this wonderful creation. Nothing came to mind. Before Samaria could say anything else, Madam Pomfrey came in to take the baby, saying Samaria needed her rest. She said Severus could stay, but only if he let her rest. Reluctantly, he handed over the baby and watched her go.

"How about Scarlett?" Samaria asked.

"Scarlett?" he repeated. "Why not Crimson or Ebony? What makes Scarlett so special?" He was being sarcastic, she knew. He never agreed to any names she chose.

"I read a book once, and the heroine was named Scarlett. The heroine isn't the nicest person around, but I loved her name. They made a movie out of it, too," she explained.

"What book?"

Samaria hesitated, "You're gonna laugh."

"Probably," he said, with a smile.

"Gone with the Wind."

"The one set in the South during…"

"The Civil War," she finished.

Severus rolled his eyes, "It was a sappy story about a foolish man and a stubborn woman who didn't know what she wanted."

Samaria had known he had read it. She had pestered him until he had.

"But the name…"

"Is mediocre. and not good enough for our daughter," he interrupted.

"Then what?" she asked.

He paused, "Well, how about Elena? I've always thought it a beautiful name."

"Elena." Samaria tried it out.

"I like it. Elena Lily Snape," she said.

Severus, who had been looking out the window in thought, jerked his head back to face her, "No."

"Why? Lily holds a special place in both our hearts. Why not honor her memory with giving her name to our daughter?"

Severus was quiet a moment. "It wouldn't bother you?" he finally asked.

She shook her head and took his hand, "We both loved her. I don't despise her for having your love. I know you love me. That's all I need."

He put his forehead to hers, "I love you with everything that is in me."

"I know," she whispered.

Severus then lay down beside her so he could hold her while she rested.

~*SW*~

Madam Pomfrey left that day because Samaria and Elena didn't have any complications. Quite the contrary, Elena was very healthy, and pleasantly chubby. In fact, Madam Pomfrey said that if Samaria had carried her to term, she would have been a very large baby.

Personally, Samaria was happy she had her early. This way she would be able to return to school when it started.

She hadn't been attending any Order of the Phoenix meetings, being as Harry was staying at Grimmauld Place for the rest of the summer. Dumbledore was adamant that he not discover her role in either the Order, nor as a Death Eater.

Elena was a happy baby. She only cried when hungry or wet. Severus adored her. He held her at any given chance, feeding her and changing her. Samaria thought she had even heard him cooing to her and talking baby talk a few times, but never caught him in the act.

Just a week before school started back, when Elena was only a couple of weeks old, the Snapes had a visitor.

Samaria had just come out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee, when she saw a tall figure standing inside the front door. Not having heard anyone, she wasn't expecting it and jumped so suddenly she spilled coffee all over the floor. The scream that came along with the jump alerted Severus, who came into the room, wand drawn.

At a closer look, they saw who their visitor was.

"Hello, Samaria. Severus," the Dark Lord said.

Both were quick to bow when they realized who it was.

"Forgive me for startling you, but it wouldn't be prudent for me to stand on your door step, knocking."

"No, forgive us, my lord. We just didn't expect you. You are, of course, always welcome in our home," Samaria said, though she didn't mean a word.

Elena's cry filled the room.

"I must have woken her. Excuse me," she said and left the room.

"Ah, a girl?" the Dark Lord inquired.

"Yes, master," Severus said, gesturing to a magnificent chair he had conjured just for the Dark Lord.

He sat as Samaria came back into the room. She really didn't want her precious baby around this monster, but didn't have much of a choice.

"Ah, the child," he said as she came closer. The evil wizard gazed at the baby and she looked right back into his eyes. Though only a few weeks old, she had developed distinct personality traits, one being looking into others eyes as best she could, though she still had trouble focusing.

"Brave little one. Let's hope she doesn't wind up in Gryffindor," he said leaning back away from Elena.

"Certainly not," Samaria said, looking as if that was impossible. Honestly, she didn't really care what house Elena was Sorted into. Though, they were both Slytherins, Samaria and Severus would support her nonetheless.

"Is she the reason we have the great honor of your visit, my lord?" Severus asked respectfully.

The Dark Lord watched as Samaria sat beside Severus on the couch then answered, "No, the Ministry is conducting another routine search of Lucius' manor. I didn't want to linger."

"They never find anything, why do they keep on?" Samaria asked, gently rocking Elena.

"New leads, new reason to look," Severus replied, disgustedly.

"Yes, I was going to contact you today anyway, Severus. With the unexpected visitors, I was delayed. I have an… errand for you," the Dark Lord looked pointedly at Samaria and she got the hint to leave.

Rising and taking a bow, she hurried out of the room and into Elena's nursery. Not knowing the gender, they hadn't decorated it before her birth and only a small bit since. There was silver, black, and pink. Samaria insisted, in spite of Severus' protests, that it wasn't a baby girl's room without at least a little pink.

Laying her down, Samaria began to hum to her until Elena was once again asleep. She turned to sit in a rocking chair, but stopped when the door opened.

"I have to go. I will be back as soon as I can," he whispered, noting that the baby was asleep.

Samaria nodded, and followed him back into the sitting room where the Dark Lord remained. Severus Disapparate after giving Samaria a 'be careful' look that the dark wizard didn't see. And she was, once again, alone with him. Walking over to sit on the couch, Samaria smiled at the wizard before her.

"Your figure has returned very nicely," he commented.

Samaria blushed, though she knew where he was headed, "Thank you, master."

"Tell me, Samaria. Do you desire me?"

Her blush deepened and her eyes flicked around as she thought of an answer.

"Look at me, Samaria."

She did, and he asked the question again looking into her eyes, "Do you desire me?"

"I can't," she answered even though she knew he was performing Legilimens. Quickly, she put a false thought in her mind that said that she greatly desired him, but would never be unfaithful to Severus. Maybe that would satisfy him.

"I see," he said after a moment. Samaria quickly looked down, looking embarrassed and disappointed.

"Marriage, I find, is quite an inconvenience," he said.

She merely pursed her lips, making it seem like she was having an internal battle.

"Do not trouble yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. You were very young when you married," with that, he stood.

She quickly stood and bowed. She added, "I do love him, my lord. I am very happy."

"But not as happy as you could be," he said. "But that is your cross to bear. My invitation remains if you decide to drop the cross." With a twirl of his cloak he was gone. Samaria fell back onto the couch and sighed. That man took more energy out of her than giving birth.

~*SW*~

When Severus came home later that night, she told him what had happened. He said she had handled it very well, not wounding the Dark Lord's pride, but still keeping her fidelity.

"It was such a sacrifice, too," she said. "With his devilishly good looks and charisma, I don't know how I resisted him."

"Yes, it must have been a huge sacrifice, what with him being so romantic and all," he said dryly.

She smiled, and put her arms around his neck, "Well, you're no Romeo yourself."

"No, but you knew that before you entered into this 'inconvenience' with me."

Laughing, she told him, "I don't know how I get by."

"I see you struggle, and don't understand why you stay," he replied.

"I can only think of two reasons, and one happens to be very small."

"Speaking of which, he didn't hold her did he?" he asked, breaking their little game.

"No! I was terrified he would want to, but he didn't even see her again after you left," Samaria said.

"Good. I don't want him touching her. It's bad enough he'll have to touch you."

"When?" she asked.

"When he gives you the Dark Mark. Don't think he has forgotten. He's just waiting until the right time. He won't warn you. It will be sprung on you. Why did you think he didn't mention it tonight? It's getting close," Severus explained.

She sighed and nodded.

"Come on, you need to rest. Elena will be up, ready to eat in a few hours."

"Okay," she replied, and she followed him to bed.

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