Hey everyone…
Sorry this is late, many things going on here, writers block among them ~ I can only write when it is nice and quiet but alas, school holidays are starting here in NZ (summer) meaning I have 2 high school kids/neighbours with music going really loud during the day…
But I have many many plot bunnies floating around ~ including a 6yr year pre-quel for this story ~ story plan complete and all.
Cauldron Babies
Chapter Five: Communication 101
Hermione reflected on her day as she walked to the owlery from History of Magic. It was certainly the most stressful day she had had since the final battle. She was relieved by the actions of Ron and Harry. They had taken the news a lot better than she thought they would. 'Yes, Professor Snape is the father of her children,' Hermione thought, 'but it is not like he had any say in the matter.' They can't be mad at him because of this – for once Harry, Ron and Professor Snape all agree about something, that the idea of having the babies was a bad one.
Upon reaching the owlery Hermione called down a school owl and attached the letter to its leg, giving the owl her address she asked the owl to wait for a reply.
Having completed this task Hermione was free to return to the head girls room to start working on her assignments before dinner tonight. She would not have a lot of time to work on her assignments this weekend with detention tonight, the Hogsmead trip tomorrow along with her visit home and, patrolling on Sunday.
Once in her room Hermione was able to sit down and started to work on her homework having decided to work on her History of Magic assignment first as Professor Binns only wanted 2 feet – giving her enough time to hopefully complete it before dinner in 50 minutes.
Five minutes later Hermione found herself still unable to concentrate on the task at hand as she was once again thinking about her day and the potion. Deciding that she was not going to get much done in her assignment she contemplated her detention that night, and seeing the Professor again, this time without the aid of the headmaster.
During the day she had had many thoughts and questions about this potion. Also being the first person to have taken the potion she was some what of a test subject. Wanting to be as complete as possible in this trial she got up and walked over to her bookcase where she kept her journals. Finding the spare journal that her mother had given her for Christmas she returned to her desk to write out what had happened during the class and her questions.
'This book will be a good place to keep a record of everything that happens – something that others can read,' Hermione thought as she started to write in the book.
Hermione's stomach was telling her it was time for dinner. She had completed writing out 'day one' as she liked to call it – including what she changed in the potion, how she felt when she took it, taking great care to leave out anything and everything about Professor Snape and the thoughts and questions that she had had that day; like the one she had had earlier 'if all pregnancies would result in twins or if is was just by chance that hers did.'
Reducing the size of the journal she was able to place it into her robe pocket before she headed down to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione was not looking forward to dinner, by now she expected others to know. 'Malfoy and Zabini would have gone back to the dorms gloating that I had been sent to the Headmasters office. They knew what the potion was for and saw the color from Professor Snape's spell, they probably heard or at least have heard about what was said at lunch…
And, the Ravenclaws. I was standing in line next to Padma. She definitely saw the purple light and she heard me tell the Professor that I had changed my potion. By now she would have told Parvati what had happened – and as Parvati was sitting next to Ron at lunch, she would have heard what we were talking about…
That's it Hermione decided, dinner was probably not going to be pretty but that she would get thought it was with her pride in tact and hopefully without anyone finding out about Professor Snape for his sake.'
The young girl in her portrait announced the arrival of Ron and Harry to take her to dinner as per their normal routine, which had been a compromise of sorts between the 3 Gryffindors after Hermione had missed too may meals having lost track of time studying.
As the Golden Trio walked into the great hall they could see many heads turn towards the door and could hear people whispering... Ignoring this to the best of their ability they walked into the hall and sat down as per normal, continuing their conversation about what they planned to do while in Hogsmead.
Hermione groaned as she saw Malfoy and Zabini make their way over to their table. Please Ron, Harry, don't get into a fight – I don't want every one here to know yet.
"Granger, I see you managed to get yourself knocked up. Which one of these two idiots doesn't know how to perform a contraception spell correctly?" Malfoy asked a smirk on his face.
"Eww, Malfoy. Incest went out of style centuries ago. Or have some of you pureblood families not gotten that memo yet?" Seeing the look of confusion on Malfoy's face Harry continued, "the three of us are siblings in all ways except blood Malfoy."
"Yeah, just the thought of 'Mione naked let alone having sex would put me off my dinner," Ron muttered.
"Thanks you two, and Malfoy, what makes you think I am pregnant?" Hermione asked trying not to confirm anything at this time.
"The light was purple, the only reason the light would not be yellow was if you were pregnant. I trust a spell over 100 years old more than your word Granger." Malfoy answered, the smirk returning to his face.
"But why do you think that would be the result of sexual intercourse and not the potion we brewed in class today?" Hermione replied, she was starting to have fun and that smile on her face proved it.
Zabini replied "Because Granger, Professor Snape said that the potion is unable to cause pregnancy. And, the portioned required both male and female hair, of which I remember you lacking one. So, for the light to turn purple you needed to be pregnant already."
"And what would you say Zabini, Malfoy, if I told you that not only was I able I complete the potion thus making pregnancy possible but that I was able to obtain a strain of one of your hairs to complete the potion." Hermione replied sweetly as she started to place food on her plate.
As Professor McGonagall had walked into the hall she had seen the two Slytherins talking to the golden trio coming up behind the two boys standing she would give the Golden Trio a chance to figure this out on their own.
"You – you can't do that." Malfoy spluttered.
"Well, Malfoy, Zabini, continue to think that. Who knew, maybe you are not as stupid as you look. Bye…" Hermione hid a smile as the two Slytherins tried to figure out if they had just been insulted or what.
"Very well handled Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall started, "I have not seen Mr. Malfoy that nervous or confused for sometime. Whatever did you tell him?"
"Nothing Ma'am"
"Good, see that you get to detention on time Miss Granger." Once Professor McGonagall had spoken to Hermione she made her way up to the staff table to eat.
Just as Hermione finished her dinner she saw Professor Snape stand up and leave the Great Hall.
"Well, I guess it is that time again. The dungeons are calling me. Detention. Oh, I will not be able to come to the common room later so I will see you two down here for breakfast in the morning before we go to Hogsmead. Remember I need to leave early so I have time to have a look around after going to see my parents.
Wanting to speak to Professor Snape before her detention started Hermione rushed down to the potions classroom arriving 5 minutes early.
Knock knock
Knock knock
Knock knock
"Miss Granger! Stop that infernal knocking and get in here now. You are early. I have no desire to speak to you. Your detention today will be brewing a potion for your problem."
"Professor?"
"The instructions are on the table. Get to it!"
"But Professor, I told you in the Headmasters office that I would not require a potion to fix this problem…"
"Miss Granger."
"I WILL NOT TERMINATE THIS PREGNANCY SIR"
"Miss Granger."
"I do not require anything Sir, they do not have to know who there father is - no one does - if you don't them to."
"MISS GRANGER. Must you do this every time we talk!? It is not a potion to terminate the pregnancy, but prenatal potion. I still don't know why you want to keep this pregnancy, but it is your choice. Merlin help me if I tried to change your mind, I would have half the staff down my neck."
"A prenatal potion Sir?
"Yes Miss Granger."
"I am sorry I yelled Sir. I don't know what is going through your head Sir, if you ever even wanted children, and I know that because of me being a 'know-it-all today and a stubborn one at that you didn't get a real say in it… and for that I am sorry Sir. Sir, Ron and Harry have also asked me why I want to keep them, the twins; I am young and have my life ahead of me, why do I want to have children now. If this new law goes through Sir I will be one of the lucky ones, I actually want children. I don't feel having them, teaching them and loving them is a waste of my life Sir. I will love them because they are my children. And Sir, with you as their father I will at least know they will not be 'dunderheads' as you so kindly put it. They also will have great potential to change the world, and if I can help them get there then there is nothing more important in my life."
"Thank you Miss Granger. Your potion."
"Yes Sir. Oh, Professor Snape, I know that I will somewhat be a test subject with this new potion. I have started writing down what is happening with the potion," Hermione started as she enlarged the journal and handed it to Professor Snape. "I have written in this book what I changed to the potion and why, also the instructions. I have also included some questions that I have about the potion and how I felt after I took it. I am planning to see Madam Pomfrey after detention tonight Sir to add those statistics to the book Sir."
After she finished talking to Professor Snape she nodded her head and walked back to the desk that had the cauldron and instructions and got to work.
As Miss Granger walked to the table with the cauldron Severus just sat there looking at where she had been, before looking back down at the book in hand.
Miss Granger had done nothing but surprise him that day. Before he had been informed whose hair had been included in the potion he had been somewhat proud of the girl for completing a potion that the M.O.M. idiots had been unable to. They had spent weeks trying to fix that problem but had been unable to before the deadline that had been set due to the new law being passed. Also she had appeared calm throughout the day and had been able to stand up for herself. Annoying to say the least; but good for her.
But did she have to be so stubborn?
Severus was surprised to say the least. After being on the dark side or a spy since he was 18 the idea of settling down and having a family had not been a good idea. Seeing the families around him he had seen the wisdom in this choice, time and time again the wives and children of both Death Eaters and potential Death Eaters died in order for Voldemort to retain his power over those under him. The concept of having his own family had never been a possibility in his eyes and he had therefore never really contemplated having an heir to the Snape line.
Looking down at Miss Granger working on her potion he saw the potential in her to do many great things, what would the effect of having two children be to that potential. Would she be able to work? Complete her apprenticeship?...
Then realizing he was still holding the journal in his hands he opened it up and started to read. The first couple of pages were about the potion itself. The changes she made in stirring, the extra leech, and even the time to brew between stages was all noted down here like any Potion Master who was tried and tested would.
Miss Granger had also included some smart questions she had about the pregnancy. Questions like: Would the potion result in twins every time? What determined the sex of the child? How could the potion be improved? Does the potion effect long term development? How do normal pregnancy and potion pregnancy compare? What happened if a male ingested this, the completed potion? This questions all showed just how bright Miss Granger was.
The 'journal entry' for day one had been enlightening. Miss Granger had compared the texture of the potion to that of the polyjuice potion and how it affected her. Also included were the effective spells to determine pregnancy used both in class and by the Headmaster.
Looking back up at Miss Granger it appeared that she was reached the final stage of the potion before bottling the potion. On completion of the potion she started to clean her workstation as she waited for the potion to cool down before bottling.
"Miss Granger, once you have completed that please come here."
Looking up she nodded her head, "yes Sir."
"Professor Snape, I have completed the potion Sir. You wished to speak with me?"
"Yes, Yes Miss Granger. I have looked through your work. It appears to be in order. Continue with your journal entries and see Madam Pomfrey before returning to your dorm. Someone from the Department of Potion Research will be here Monday to see you about the potion and you may present this at that time…
"Miss Granger, how long does the prenatal potion last?"
"I believe 10 days Sir."
"You believe or you know? You will be brewing this potion for yourself during detentions. When you are not working on this potion you will be either researching the 'Partum Novus Vita' potion or marking assignments as I see fit. You may go now."
"Sir, Thank you for reading the journal for me... Good night Professor."
As Hermione walked back down to her workstation she reduced her journal once more and retrieved the 10 potion vials before leaving the dungeons once more to head to the infirmity to have her first prenatal checkup.
With a few minutes to spare Severus headed up to the staff room for the meeting. 'I don't know why the Headmaster feels he requires a staff meeting the Friday of a Hogsmead weekend. Nothing ever changes.
A/N lastly I just want to thank everyone who is still reading and reviewing – it makes me want to keep writing
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!
Next chapter: Staff Meeting; Going home; Hogsmead visit…
But I am afraid it will not me up for about 3 weeks - I am going to help a friend but she doesn't have a computer :(
I will keep writing and hope to give you 2 chapters when I get back but it will depend on how much quiet time I get (due to... a 2yr old; a 11 day old; and they are moving house in 2 weeks and my friend has been told that that she will need abdomal surgery next week ~meaning no lifting for a while)