Hermione and Severus collapsed in their quarters, exhausted beyond belief.
Two more years of school had flown by, paced by the growth of their daughter and her talents, and the worry that grew with each passing day. Would this be the day the Fair Folk found them out? Would they lay siege to the castle tomorrow?
They had spent the last 24 months ensconced in the castle, sending out via friends or owl for anything they needed. They were kept from cabin fever by mere inches due to their friends' unfailing support, and the constant reminder that those creatures who served them food and did their laundry were still under the curse of servitude.
Speaking of House Elves, as their numbers grew, the more industrious the small creatures were shown to be.
Three new greenhouses now graced the grounds, hidden by Elf magic from the eyes of any Ministry suspicion. Wonderful food was still being served in the Great Hall, with the added effect of truly fresh greens, grains, and fruit, making everything taste even more wonderful than before.
The castle itself had benefited from the Elves' increased numbers: every nook and cranny was spotless, any crumbling masonry or ageing timber was now repaired, all the windows were spotless, and the tapestries, rugs, and paintings throughout the castle were cleaned to a fare-thee-well.
The Chamber of Secrets, and all other dangerous, dark, disused, or unusable places were now cleaner than they had been when new, any moldering refuse had been disposed of, and any harmful spells or enchantments had been removed by the dedicated Pookas.
"Ah," sigh Hermione, as her aching body sank into the mattress. "At long last, a castle devoid of students, and my husband all to myself."
"Yes, dear wife... truly a decadent feeling."
Severus yawned hugely, stretching to grasp the woman at his side in his arms.
"Mummy! Daddy!"
"Ungh!" They both groaned as Amethyste bounced onto their bed, jostling them apart.
"Look what I drewed with Clover!"
The young Snape waved a brightly colored picture at her parent's faces.
"Look, here's you, Mommy, and you, Daddy... and here's me, and 'Bastian, and Clover."
"That's lovely dear," Hermione managed before a shared shocked look with her husband had them both sitting bolt upright.
"Who's 'Bastian', Amey," asked Severus with a wary glance at the picture.
"That's the baby in Mommy's tummy, silly!" laughed the girl as she sprang from the bed and out of the room.
"It can't be..."
"It could be... Severus, I'm only 2 days late - that's normal variation... but... how could she know?"
"With our daughter? Anything is possible..."