"Urgh" Hermione said, wrinkling up her nose in distaste. "This smells horrible."
Severus gave her a withering look of reproach "Well drink it anyways. Your body went through a terrible shock last week and needs replenishing. It will help."
Hermione held her nose and drained the glass of fertility potion.
She and Severus had been back at his cottage for the three weeks. Dumbledore had thought it would be better for her to rest and recover in peace and quiet without everyone badgering her about what happened between her and Severus. Hermione was very thankful he had done this. She and Severus had had a wonderful week and she was sad to see it end. Today they were to go back to classes. Severus had been swooping around all morning in a terrible mood. His body may have changed but he still retained his vindictive personality, which was Hermione was glad of. She didn't want the man she had fallen in love with to change, even his bad traits were sometimes appealing.
"I don't feel like dealing with bloody Gryffindors today." He said, pulling his robes over his lean chiseled chest. Hermione smiled and gathered him in her arms, her seven months pregnant stomach pressing into him. She put her fingers on his lips and started trailing down his neck. He groaned in pleasure, becoming instantly aroused. He didn't know how she did, but she did. He lowered her onto their bed and began trying to take off her robes when she laughed "Severus no matter how much I want to, we don't have time! We are probably running late as it is…." He smothered her mouth in kisses and slightly parted her robes to look at her round stomach. He traced his fingers across it and kissed her belly button. Hermione moaned with pleasure. "You're not going to be able to cover this up. You're getting huge!"
Hermione rolled over and feigned getting offended "Well thank you for making me feel fat Severus Snape!"
He laughed and put his hands on her stomach again and his face looked surprised "Hermione…..she's moving." He moved his hands all over her stomach and put his cheek up against her, feeling the gentle movements of the baby.
Two more months Hermione thought. Just two more months and I am going to give birth to a baby girl. She stood up and ran her hands through Severus' shining raven hair. "It's time to go I think."
Severus' gathered up her school bags and his stuff and took the short walk to Hogwarts with her. Not caring if people saw, he gave her a sweet quick kiss before she departed for the great hall, and he for his dungeons to get ready. As he was walking back, people were gawking at him with open surprise. He could see why. Suddenly there old potions master turns up looking twenty years younger and kissing a pregnant Hermione. He smirked This will give those gossiping girls something to talk about.
Hermione held her head with dignity as she walked into the great hall. People were staring a bit, wondering where she had been gone to. When she sat down and the large protruding bump on her stomach was outlined by her robes, whispering erupted like a wildfires all around her.
Harry, Ron and Ginny sat beside her at the table. "Oh Hermione you look good. You're stomach really did get bigger in the past month!" Ginny said putting her hand on Hermione's stomach.
Hermione smiled. "Yeah, it's scary to think its due in only two months."
Ron looked sick "Really Hermione lets not talk about having babies while were eating."
Harry laughed into his pumpkin juice Ginny gave Ron him a look that burns "Grow up Ron" She said haughtily, turning to Hermione again. "So, you said you had something important to tell us when you wrote me that letter while you were still at Severus' cottage."
Hermione smiled, looking forward to Ron's face when she told about this. She quickly relayed the whole story about Severus being visited by Alena Fulgencia-Latrice and how he had been given the gift of youth. By the end Ron and Harry's mouths were gaping open and Ginny looked shocked as well, although her's was a happy shocked.
"Oh, Hermione that's amazing. This woman really does give blessings. Oh my god I can't wait to see what he looks like." Ginny said.
Hermione giggled "You won't believe it when you see him, he looks so handsome now!"
Ron and Harry both blanched. "Are we talking about the same Severus Snape that I know here. The greasy potions master?"
Hermione looked at him angrily "Shut up Harry."
She was about to start on her hash browns, eggs, pancakes and orange juice when someone walked up to her. It was Lavender Brown and Parviti Patil. Before Hermione could speak she took a deep breath. "I just wanted to apologize for how I acted to you before. It was really rude of me and I know I hurt you. I was just shocked to see you with Professor Snape. Oh, and I want to congratulate you on the baby." She smiled at the end, looking at Hermione's stomach.
Hermione didn't want to except at first, but she knew Lavender was being honest and right now she needed friends on her side. "Thanks Lavender." Lavender then reached over and gave her an awkward hug.
"Ooooh Hermione, I can't believe you're having a baby. I'm so excited. I want to plan a baby shower!" Pavarti said. Like usual she was grinning and giggling.
To Hermione's surprise Ginny spoke up. "That actually sounds like a really good idea! You'll need new stuff for the baby."
Hermione looked skeptical at first, she wasn't much for parties full of giggling girls.
"Oh come on Hermione. It will be funny." Ginny needled her.
"Oh, alright then." Hermione conceded somewhat reluctantly.
Lavender and Parviti looked ecstatic "Well tell you when it is but I was thinking maybe sometime next month? Does that sound good for you? Oh gosh I have to go make invitations….."
"Yeah….sure." Hermione said as they scampered off.
Harry and Ron grinned at her. "A baby shower Hermione? Have fun."
Hermione parted with Ginny and headed towards her first class with Ron and Harry. After Care of Magical Creatures she had a doctor's appointment with Madame Pomfrey to see how the baby ways. Madame Pomfrey said she would be able to give her a due date today.
"Ugh. I hate hospitals." She said to Harry and Ron as they walked her to the hospital wing.
"I don't blame you. I spent half my life in there." Said Harry looking at the infirmary.
He and Ron walked away leaving Hermione alone with the medi-witch.
"Hello Hermione dear." Said Madame Pomfrey kindly. She then looked down at Hermione's stomach "Well you are coming along nicely now aren't you? Take off your robes and lie down on this bed now."
Hermione did as she was told, grimacing. Madame Pomfrey did her test saying "This is a nice healthy baby girl. She looks in perfect condition. And I'm happy to see you have started taking better care of yourself."
Just then Severus walked through the door looking somewhat out of breath.
Hermione grinned feeling 100 better. "I didn't know you were coming!" She said as he came over to take her hand.
"Oh good" Madame Pomfrey said. "I was just about to do the ultra sound and tell her when I think it will be due."
A magic ultra sound was much easier than the muggle ultra sounds. All Madame Pomfrey had to do was speak a few words and the image would appear on a scream she had erected beside the bed.
"Wow!" Hermione squealed as she saw the shadowy image of her baby girl on the screen. She squeezed Severus' hand. "Look at our baby, she looks so big! I can't believe she's inside of me." Severus looked entranced by the screen and said "Do you have the exact due date Poppy?"
"Of course." She said promptly. "May 19th."
It seemed even more real than before now. Two months. May 19th. "It's so soon Severus" She said as she got up and started buttoning her robes.
"Yes. It does seem time has gone by more quickly than usual. How are people reacting to the knowledge that you are pregnant?"
"Oh, no one really talks to me that much. Mostly just a lot of whispering and staring but I don't mind. I have my friends on my side. Lavender came and apologized. Oh and they also are planning me a baby shower." She laughed a little at that.
Severus grimaced "I am grateful for the tradition that baby showers are held by woman."
She playfully hit him on the arm. "Anyways, what are people saying about you?"
"People are shocked. I am getting tired of telling people to shut the hell up at the beginning of each class. Not that many people dare ask me questions though." He gave her a grim smile.
"Sounds like it's the same for both of us. Just a lot of staring and whispering."
He took her in his arms. "Don't worry about it Hermione. I'll see you later tonight. I have to go teach…..Hufflepuffs…..disgusting."
"Okay. I'll come to your classroom after classes are over."
As she was walking back to her next class he was bombarded by Lavender and Parviti. "Hermione what happened to Severus? He looks so young and handsome?"
Hermione decided she might as well tell them the whole story. There looked stunned by the end.
"So some woman came to you in your sleep, blessed you with his child and then made him twenty years younger?"
"Yeah. I know it sound far-fetched. I wouldn't have believed it, but it happened to me. Severus is proof."
"That's just….weird. But it's amazing as well. Ooooh I wouldn't mind having a go at the younger Snape…" Lavender snickered.
"Oh and we set your baby shower date to April 23rd. That's next Saturday. It's going to be in the Room of Requirement so we can have some privacy. Pavarti and I are already making invitations!"
"Umm well that sounds nice." Hermione said, trying to make herself look excited.
"I know!" They seemed to say in unison and ran off together, leaving Hermione standing there wondering what she had gotten herself into. The rest of the day passed in a blur and she was glad when the day was finally over and she could meet Severus' in his classroom
She walked in and saw him standing over a simmering cauldron. A dark tendril of hair was falling into his black eyes and his face was a mask of concentration. He looked tired and worn.
"Hello." She said.
"What?" He snapped at her unexpectedly.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted you." She said coolly.
His expression softened. "I'm sorry. You just surprised me and I am working on a bloody tedious potion. It's for you actually. It's a birthing solution and it was to simmer for over a month. You can take it when you start feeling contractions and it may be able to help. I don't know about helping with the pain, but at least it will make sure the baby doesn't get breeched."
She reached out and touched his face. Her fingers tracing over his cheekbones and touching his eyelids. He leaned into her touch and sighed. "It's been a long day." He said.
"Here let me help you. What ingredients do you want me to get?"
"In my potions room, second shelf on the left is the Blue Cohosh and Pennyroyal Leaf. Both of them are located in the one just over there, you wont need to go to my rooms."
She left and pulled the small glass jars full of the ingredients off the shelf and carefully brought them to him. "What are these used for?"
He wiped his brow and said "They both stimulate the uterine and help with the contractions."
"Well, I guess that would help." She said, trying not to think about the screaming mothers she had seen on TV when at her parent's house.
"Yes…it would. I am almost finished with this and then we can be leaving. I just need to add the Blue Cohosh. Could I see it please?"
She handed it to him and waited while he stirred. When he added the Blue Cohosh, the potion hissed and spit while it turned from a light watery blue to deep royal blue. Severus nodded his head looking satisfied and turned the burner down to low. It will need to simmer.
He took his face in his hands "I am ready to go home Hermione."
"Me too"
She took his hand and they walked home in comfortable silence. Each of them reflecting on the day they had.
When Hermione stepped inside it was pleasantly warm and the smell of baking filled the air. She sniffed greedily and turned to Severus "Did Nelson do this?"
"Yes I asked him if he would have dinner waiting when we got home. I also told him to make your favorite. Strawberry Ice-cream."
She smiled at him and they both went and set at the table to eat.
"Lavender told me my baby shower was going to be April 23rd. I better be ready for everything to be pink and fuzzy."
Severus gagged. "Our daughter is not going to outfitted in pink and fuzzy."
"She is a girl though. She can't wear blue."
"Yes but anything but pink and fuzzy."
Hermione laughed "I kind of agree. I like purple better actually."
After dinner they went back to their rooms. Severus went to go take a shower and then surprised her when he came and grabbed her around the waist. "I'm feeling lonely tonight. I think I need you in the shower with me." He whispered seductively into her ear. He pulled her into the bathroom and then began to slowly strip her. Worshipping her body as he traced his fingers along the outline of her stomach. He stepped into the shower with her and she suddenly started blushing as she admired his young physic. His body had been lean and beautiful, even at 38, but now he looked a bit more defined.
"What is it?" He asked
"I don't know. This is just the first time we have taken a shower together." She said shyly.
He looked at her, his eyes dark with desire and took her in his arms. He started sensually washing her hair, rubbing his fingers through her curls in small circles as she became lost in his touch. She gasped and sighed as he washed every part of her body. Taking his time on her more special parts. She panted as he slipped his fingers inside of her and she felt his hard erection pressed up against her stomach.
"Make love to me Severus."
He positioned himself somewhat awkwardly because of her protruding stomach and slid himself into her. It was particularly pleasurable for her because she had never had sex in the shower before. The stepped out afterwards and he slowly dried her off.
"That was amazing." She said, her face flushed and glowing.
He laughed. "Well what did you expect from me?"
"Getting cocky, are we?"
"Well I have reason to be, don't I?"
"I suppose so" She sighed.
Hermione changed into her pajamas and Severus put on his black boxers. He cast a heating charm on the sheets and it was warm and cozy when they slipped into bed.
Hermione voiced some of her concerns out loud to him before they went to bed. "I'm scared about having this baby. I don't know if I can handle the pain."
He kissed her palm and whispered "You are Hermione Jane Snape. You are capable of handling anything. I'm not saying it won't be painful but I will be there to help you the whole time. You will be bringing our baby girl into the world, just think of it that way."
Hermione smiled when she looked upon birth in that light. She decided not to focus on the pain, but focus on the fact that she was doing this for her little girl. They still hadn't decided on a name for her. Hermione still liked Madison but she would have to talk to Severus…..
Author's Notes: If you read my story then please review.