A/N: Thanks for the feedback...still thinking about whether or not I'm going to write it…however I have another Severus/Hermione forming the back of my mind…gosh it's going to be impossible to not start writing that one until I finish this one….definitely gonna have to take notes and find a title. ANYWAY….this is it, the chapter you've been waiting for, which sadly means we are nearing an end to the book. A lot of stuff is happening in this chapter so it's definitely going to be longer. I am going to do my best in this chapter, but everything is coming from what I've read as I've never experienced birth myself. Enjoy :D

Chapter 43

Hermione woke in the middle of the night on March 31st. She was in pain again, but she wasn't scared this time. She was ready for it this time. She looked at Severus sleeping, and wanted nothing more than to continue to let him sleep. He came home covered in bruises and wounds too often and late at night only to be up again early in the morning. He didn't sleep well most nights and she knew it. But right now he looked so peaceful, but Rose's intent was clear, she was coming into this world and Hermione needed Severus.

She gently shook his shoulder until his eyes opened and he saw her staring, "Hermione, why are you shaking me awake in the middle of the night?"

"Severus, it's time."

He looked at her, still in the hazy state of sleep and dream world.

"Severus, the baby's coming."

And he woke up immediately. He was shocked at how calm she was, but he could see her face tighten in that moment, though she tried very hard not to show the pain. He got up and threw on a pair of robes and walked over to her. He picked her up, carefully, as if she would crumble at his touch. It was early, and there were no students roaming the halls. They didn't even dare anymore, for fear they would end up in detention with the Carrows.

Hermione felt very close to him, and wanted to insist that she could walk herself, knowing it could help further the process, but she enjoyed feeling his protective hold. They had said "I love you" every night before they went to sleep. Things had changed so much, and she saw a new side to him that she didn't think he even had.

He walked more calmly this time, and when they reached the infirmary, he opened the door slowly, and walked over to one of the beds where he set her down.

"I'll go get Poppy."

Hermione nodded and made herself as comfortable as she could, placing the pillow behind her back and casting a fluffling charm on it so she could sit up. She had noted that her contractions were about 8 minutes apart. It was uncomfortable for her right now, and she was wondering if she could go through the process without potions. She had hoped so, but she was too excited. She had always wanted to be a mother. She wanted to prove that women could be a good mother and have very successful careers.

Severus returned and sat next to her. And took her hand.

"How are you doing?"

"Fine, I mean, it's uncomfortable and I wish I could fast forward time. I just want to hold her."

He hugged her, "I know, Love."

"I really wish my mother were here," she said with a hint of disappointment. She missed her mother, and it hurt even more knowing that her mother didn't even know she had a daughter.

Severus kissed her forehead, "I know."

Poppy finally bustled in a spelled cart following behind her.

"Shall we see how things are progressing?"

Hermione nodded as she clenched her hand. Severus whispered in her ear, small comforting sayings and took her hand as Poppy cast her spells.

"Everything seems fine, and apparently you're at 4 centimeters, not much farther from where you were when you were placed on bed rest. We might be here a while yet. Looks like you might have an April Fool's daughter."

Severus groaned, "Please don't let her be anything like the Weasley Twins."

Hermione laughed at the thought. Fred and George would probably do everything in their power to make that happen.

"Do you think you'll be able to sleep? You should probably try, you'll need as much energy as you can muster."

"I might be too excited, and sleeping was hard enough before."

"Well, at least try to, I'm going to go get some books, and make sure the nursery is completely ready."

"Don't leave me, please."

He kissed her forehead, "It will only be for a little bit, and hence why I ask that you try to rest."

"Fine, but can you please bring an extra pillow or two?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Severus was passing by Minerva's quarters on his way back to the infirmary when his mark flared. It burned stronger than most times, he was angry, and Severus couldn't delay to long.

He knocked on Minerva's door.

When the old witch answered the door and saw Severus she scolded, "Severus have you any idea what time it is?"

"Minerva, Hermione is in the infirmary. I'm being summoned and I do not wish for her to be alone."

It took no more words than that. The old witch walked out and followed closely behind Severus.

When Hermione watched them walk through the doors together, she knew immediately what was going on, and she started to cry. Now she was afraid. She was afraid of doing this without him, she was afraid of him getting hurt, she was afraid of him missing this moment.

Severus hugged her close, "He's angry, if I don't go, it will be even worse. I promise I will come back the second I can. For now, Minerva is here should you need someone. I do not wish to leave you, but I must."

"Severus, you can't miss this. You have to be here, we need you. I need you."

"Which is exactly why I have to go," He got in close and whispered softly in her ear, knowing Minerva wouldn't approve, "I love you, Hermione, and I love our daughter. I do not want to miss this, and I will back as soon as I possibly can."

Severus was wrong. It wasn't Him who had summoned him. It was Lucius. He had summoned Him and the rest of them. They had Potter. And so Severus excused himself under the pretense of going to the restroom.

"Dobby, I request your presence at Malfoy Manor."

As Severus waited, he heard Bellatrix cackle. When he had arrived, she was angry about them having the Sword of Gryffindor. And then he heard Lovegood's scream of pain. He cringed but kept to the task at hand.

The little house elf popped in front of him, "Yes, Master Snape?"

"Dobby, Mr. Potter and his friends are in this house, they are in the cellar. I need you to help them, without telling them it was me who told you. I need you to take them to Shell Cottage, where you will find Bill and Fleur Weasley."

"Yes, oh yes Master Snape."

And events were set in motion and the next few minutes by in a blur.

When Severus returned, Dobby was holding hands with Potter, Weasley, and Lovegood before disapparating as Bellatrix threw her knife and it disappeared with them.

The pain was becoming unbearable, but at this point, Hermione just flat out refused the potions Poppy and Minerva kept urging her to take. Severus might very well be suffering the same pain or worse. Besides, she had been fighting against this for too long, if she gave in now, it would be foolish.

She felt alone, despite the fact that even Ginny and Hannah had both risked coming out of hiding to be with her. They tried to talk to her, distract her, and told her how beautiful they thought her choice was. She appreciated the gesture but none of it worked. She was close to being fully dilated and very worried that Severus would miss his daughter coming into the world. She wanted their happy family, but she knew that it was so close to a final battle, that they might not have it.

It was 6 am on April 1st when poppy declared Hermione at nine centimeters. Severus didn't have much time until he missed everything.

And then Poppy came and sat down next to her and spoke using a soft tone, "Hermione, I need to tell you something, magic like anything else can make mistakes."

Hermione's heart clenched, that tone, and that sentence told her something was wrong with her baby girl. She wasn't as healthy as they thought. Her lack of weight gain in the early stages messed everything up. She did her best to fight back the tears that began to form in her eyes.

When Poppy saw the fear in Hermione's eyes, the medi-witch smiled, "Oh no dear, it's nothing terrible to worry about. It's just, you see, you're having twins. Sometimes the twin hides until the end."

Hermione's tears fell, as she blinked in total shock. Twins? Twin girls? They weren't prepared for two, the nappies and clothes she knew would barely last a few months as is, and they only had one crib in each nursery.

An hour and half later, Hermione was at ten centimeters and in excruciating pain. But she so desperately wanted to have Severus be there that she tried to off put it.

"Hermione, you cannot stop this, they are ready to come, it's not healthy to fight it," Poppy scolded.

Ginny and Hannah sat on each side, each holding a hand.

"'Mione, come on, you know you can't wait anymore. We're here, and just think how happy and surprised Severus will be when he meets them," Ginny coaxed, hoping that she could saying something to convince Hermione.

Instead the young witch just cried, sobs shaking her whole body.

"We might have to spell her Poppy," Minerva spoke, worried about her student.

Poppy nodded, "Tranquillitas et-"

In that moment, Severus apparated into the infirmary.

"Severus," Hermione cried out ripped her hands from her friends and reaching out for him, holding him close, "I thought you weren't going to make it."

He hugged her close before taking one of her hands, as Ginny made her way to Hannah's side of the bed, "I wouldn't have missed this for anything."

"Hermione, now that he is here, can we please deliever these babies."

Hermione nodded as Severus tried to work out what he had just heard.

"Alright, Hermione on the next contraction, I need you to push okay?"

Hermione nodded as Severus spoke, "Babies?"

Hermione giggled for a moment, before bearing down at the pain, pushing with all her might.

Poppy counted down from ten and when she finished Severus asked again, "What does she mean babies?"

Hermione looked at him with a weak smile, "We're having twins, Severus."

Severus paled for a moment, before hugging his wife.

At 7:42 am April 1st, Hermione gave birth to Rose Marie Snape. And at 7:51 am their second daughter was born. Everyone had left the little family alone at this point, Hermione held little Rose and Severus their unexpected blessing.

"How in Merlin's name are we supposed to come up with a second name for her? We barely came up with Rose's in time," Hermione said, looking at her daughter's perfect little face, thankful neither one of them got their father's nose.

Severus was still in shock. He never expected to hold an infant, much less his own child. Yet there he sat, holding his daughter, sitting next to his wife who also held his daughter. He thought back to all the names he had heard her rattle off.

"Dahlia," he said plainly, unable to stop staring at the daughter he held in his own arms, "Dahlia Jean Snape. Jean for your family name."

Hermione smiled and looked over at the little girl in her husband's arms, "Welcome to the world Rose and Dahlia."

Severus smiled and their daughters wiggled simultaneously, and then remembered something that ruined everything.

"Hermione, you have to take them and hide."

Hermione looked up at Severus, confused, "What do you mean hide? Why do we have to hide?"

"He no longer believes that you don't have information on Potter. He is going to send someone for you. And if you don't take them with you, he will do everything in his power to use them as leverage, and will not hesitate to dispatch me if i get in the way."

"Severus, where am I supposed to hide? Where am I supposed to take them?"

"It seems that your friends are doing well enough hiding under everyone's noses. I'll send you with them. And have them tell me where you are so I can send you their things. I love you, Hermione, and I love these two perfect little girls. It has reached a point where I cannot protect you. Please understand that it breaks my heart to have to do this."

Hermione looked at him, and saw the pain in his eyes. She looked down, watching as Rose opened her little gray eyes. Their picture perfect moment was over before it began.

They heard a door open and saw Ginny walk over towards them a camera.

"I borrowed this from Collin Creevey. I figured a family photo was in order."

Hermione smiled, and Severus tried to. He moved closer to Hermione's bed, as they held their daughters to face the camera. The flash didn't even disturb them, like Hermione thought it might. Then Severus kissed Hermione's cheek and passed Dahlia to her mother, so Hermione had a daughter in each arm.

"Ms. Weasley, may I have a word?"

Ginny nodded and Hermione watched as Severus explained the situation to her friend. Her heart clenched at the thought of their family breaking up so soon, but she understood. However now, she was more determined than ever to see him survive the war too. She wanted their family together. No matter what it took, they would survive and raise their daughters together.

A/N2: well I hope you enjoyed. 5 pages versus the past several being 3ish. I've been working on this chapter all night because I couldn't sleep. And now you also know vaguely where we are in the book. According to Harry Potter Wiki, Teddy is simply born in April. So I figure that was the best time line I could make... by the way, anyone know what my "evil" plan is yet? Let me know if you think you do.