Opening the door and stepping inside the small cottage, Snape glanced around and didn't immediately see Katrina. He'd grown accustomed to her greeting him as he returned from one of Maggie's tutoring sessions. She never failed to pepper him with questions regarding their daughter's lessons.
The wards surrounding the house had been undisturbed, so he wasn't concerned that something had happened to her. He made his way to the back of the house to the kitchen, thinking she had possibly started lunch without him. She wasn't there, nor was their lunch.
'Odd,' he thought as he headed for the stairs, 'Katrina never before failed to have Dobby prepare lunch so we could eat together on my return.' He reached the landing and stood silently, listening. He could hear nothing from either bedroom, but the bathroom door was closed.
"Katrina?" he called, moving towards the bathroom door.
There was a sound of water flushing in the toilet and a weak sounding voice reached his ears, "Yeah, Sev."
"Are you okay?" he asked, feeling strangely protective.
The door creaked open and Katrina appeared. "Yeah, it must have been something I ate," she said.
Severus ran a critical eye over her. He hadn't forgotten that horrible moment when he'd discovered what potion it was the Dark Lord had forced upon his wife. He hadn't told her, although he had owled the information to Dumbledore. Now, though, he took in the dark circles under her eyes and the drawn look to her face. He mentally shook those thoughts away. It could be just what she said it was – something she ate. "Are you feeling better now? Would you like me to call Dobby for lunch?"
She smiled up at him, "Sure, Sev. I think I'm fine now."
He couldn't resist reaching out a hand to hold her shoulder as they both went downstairs to the kitchen. He'd found they both did more of that lately. There were small touches here and there. In the evenings, they often sat together on the couch and Katrina would curl into his side as they each read their own books.
Once Katrina was seated, he called for Dobby who popped into the room already holding a tray of food. He inhaled, feeling his stomach growl slightly. Apparently, the smell had a different reaction on Katrina's stomach as she bolted up and rushed to the sink, losing what little was left in her stomach.
Severus quickly moved to her side, gently rubbing her back. "Dobby, can you remove that and bring us some broth and crackers?"
"Yes, Master Severus," Dobby responded, disappearing as quickly as he'd appeared.
The house-elf quickly reappeared with two large bowls of soup and some plain salted crackers. Along with that was a pot of tea. "Thank you, Dobby, that will be all for now." He turned his attention back to his wife, "Are you alright, Katrina?"
She grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and rinsed out her mouth before answering, "I don't know what came over me."
Severus had a good idea but he hesitated to say so. "I'd like to call Poppy to look you over."
Katrina turned to face him, "Sev, I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe it's just a stomach bug."
"Even so, I'd feel better if she looked you over," he asserted.
Shrugging, she sighed, "If it will make you happy, do as you wish."
"Sit, try to eat some soup, and I'll go make that firecall." He walked into the living room, threw some floo powder into the hearth, and firecalled Poppy. He knew the woman was spending her summer at Hogwarts.
"Hello, Severus. Is something amiss?" Poppy asked immediately.
"Katrina seems to be having a problem with nausea. She thinks it may be a stomach bug or simply something she ate, but I'd rather have you come and look her over."
Madam Pomfrey was much more observant than most gave her credit for, "You think it's something else?"
"Yes, and I would appreciate your professional opinion."
"Adjust your wards and I'll come right through," she replied.
He did as she asked and a minute later Poppy was standing in his living room with a small bag in hand. "Well, where is she?" the mediwitch asked.
"In the kitchen, follow me." He led her to where Katrina sat gamely trying to eat, though it was obvious she'd only taken a couple sips.
"Hello, dear," Poppy greeted her. "Severus tells me you aren't feeling well?"
Katrina turned a glare towards him, "And I told him that it's nothing."
"Well," Poppy said in a placating manner, "Let's just check that, alright?"
"Fine," Katrina huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she pushed her chair out away from the table.
Severus stood back by the counter, simply waiting as Poppy hummed her way through the check-up.
"Well, I've found the source of the problem," the mediwitch said brightly with a broad smile. "Actually, sources would be more correct."
"What are you talking about?" Katrina snapped.
"You're pregnant, Katrina, with twins."
Katrina's confrontational manner fell away and her arms uncrossed, one hand moving to her flat stomach, "Pregnant?"
"With twins," Poppy repeated gently.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought he could feel a migraine beginning.
"If you know when they were conceived, I can tell you when they're due…"
"It was… that night," Severus said quietly, moving to Katrina's side and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Well, then you should be due mid March. Congratulations, both of you. I'll leave you alone to discuss this. Katrina, I want you on a nutritional potion and I'll want to see you at least once a month." Poppy turned to him, "I can show myself out, Severus."
He nodded, grateful that he didn't have to leave Katrina's side just yet. "Thank you for your help, Poppy."
"You're both welcome. I'll see you in a couple weeks." With that, the mediwitch left the room and they could hear the whoosh of the floo.
Katrina turned her head to glance at him where he stood beside her, "You had an idea, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me?"
He scowled, but the feeling was directed inwards. Why hadn't he told her, he wondered? "I… I knew there was a possibility. I found the potion you were forced to take…"
"What was it?" she asked quietly.
"The commercial name is 'Flora Fanwraith's No-Fail Fertility Philter.' According to their adverts, they claim a 99 success rate," he calmly responded.
"So you didn't mention this because? Were you hoping we fell in that 1?"
He stalked away for a couple steps before turning to face her, "Yes. I didn't want this," he gestured in the general direction of her midsection, "forced upon you! You were held captive, raped, forcibly bonded, and now this! Of course I didn't want this for you!" He stopped himself as he realized his words held more emotion than he had intended them to.
"So it isn't the pregnancy itself, but the way in which it happened?" she asked.
Startled by the question, he wasn't sure how to respond, "What do you mean?"
She rose and approached him, "What I mean to ask is, had this not been forced upon us, would you be happy?"
He hesitated to answer, but he didn't resist when she took one of his hands and brought it to rest over her flat stomach. "These are your children in here, Severus, so it is partially your decision if we keep them. Just because they weren't conceived out of love, doesn't mean they can't be raised in love."
He closed his eyes for a moment. "And if I didn't want them?" he asked, even at that moment he knew it was an irrelevant question. He found that he did indeed want these children he'd helped create.
She released his hand and took a step back, "Then I will ask Poppy for my options."
He opened his eyes and fixed them upon her sad hazel eyes, "You need not. I find myself… eager to meet these children of ours." He found himself nervous at the prospect of becoming a father, but he was determined to give his children a better childhood than his father gave him.
Katrina released a heavy sigh and gave him a small smile. "You'll make a great father, Severus."
He closed the distance between them, having a sudden desire to have his wife in his arms. He gently pulled her close and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Judging by my daughter, you're already a fantastic mother."
He watched her blush before his lips descended to hers. She responded eagerly and minutes passed before the need to breathe pulled them apart. He gave her a small smile before releasing her, "You should try to eat some more."
"I will if you make arrangements for me to see Maggie. I'd like for us to tell her together."
He chuckled, "You sound like a Slytherin."
"I should, I seem to be surrounded by them," she said with a laugh.