Disclaimer: All characters that are from the Harry Potter series, along with locations & other things recognizable to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.
A/N: This is the last chapter & then the Epilogue. I hope y'all enjoyed the story if you're new readers & if you're returning readers I hope you enjoyed it more so now that most, if not all, errors were fixed. Thank you so much for all the reviews, they mean so much especially since this is not only my very first fan-fiction but the first story I've ever finished. I'll be editing The Need To Protect next starting next week I think so keep an eye out for that. So please read & review & enjoy! XoXo ~ Mistress Snape87

Chapter 24

Christmas had come and gone. It was the last weekend before classes would begin again. Minerva was still gone, spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. She couldn't be in the castle, not when it was filled with so many sad faces. Severus took over as Headmaster until she was to come back. He was snarkier then usual and short with everyone. Hermione was on bed rest until further notice. She had gone into false labor on Christmas Eve and the scare that it caused them had caused Severus to lose any form of patience he had, had before hand.

"Would you stop pacing, damn it!" Hermione snapped from her spot on the couch. She was reading a racy romance novel that Alesha, one of the Gryffindors that had been at Grimmauld Place for the dinner, had lent her.

Severus didn't even bother to answer, he just grunted. He was worried about Hermione and was trying his best to not show it. He knew the woman was ready to hex his bits off because he snapped at her whenever she tried to get up to use the restroom. As happy as he was to have his witch pregnant, he couldn't wait for them to be born so that she would go back to her bookworm, know-it-all, somewhat perky self.

"Get out! If you're just going to continue to pace and grunt at me, rather then have an actual conversation or tell me what is bothering you, then just leave. Go pace with Remus or Harry. I don't care, just get!" Hermione pointed to the door with her wand, causing it to fly open. "Don't give me that look! I'm not an invalid, damn you. Stop treating me like I'll break if the wind changes direction."

"Granger," Severu growled. He hated when she shouted at him or told him to do something, especially if that something was to leave her.

"Don't Granger me, Snape!" Hermione moved her feet from the couch down onto the floor.

"Oh no you don't!" Severus grabbed her ankles and moved her back into the position she had been in. "You aren't going anywhere."

"Bloody hell, Snape! I just want to go to the restroom."

"Then ask and I will-"

"Hermione, our dresses are here!" Ginny walked into the open door, caring two dress bags. The girls had ordered some evening dresses for the New Years dinner party that was to be held that night. "Do you want to try it on now or la-" Ginny stopped midsentence and step when she realized she'd walked into one of their arguments. "Never mind, I'll come back later."

"It's fine Ginny. I was just leaving." Severus pecked Hermione on the cheek and then stormed out of the room.

"What was that about?" Ginny asked quietly.

"The bed rest is starting to get to both of us." Hermione said shrugging her shoulders before holding her hand out so Ginny could help her up. "The least the dungeon bat could have done was stayed behind to help me up. Harry will kill us both if either of us fall on our faces."

"Right after I kill you for knocking me over." Ginny said trying to get a laugh out of Hermione.

"Ha, not if I kill you first for pulling me down with you." Hermione and Ginny walked into her bedroom and pulled their dresses out of the dress bags.

"It's nice to see everyone with a smile on their face." Severus said as he stood behind Hermione's chair, his hands resting on her bare shoulders. Hermione was wearing a silver strapless dress that was tight along her breast but flowed out under the bust line and stopped just past her ankles. She'd been given a pass of sorts to attend the dinner party but she was allowed only one dance, so she decided to save it for the last dance.

"It is. They deserve it and Albus is not one that would want everyone to cry over him or mourn the fact that he's passed. He's done so much living and it was his time." Hermione leaned her head back against Severus's stomach. She watched Ginny and Harry dancing on the dance floor. Ginny's dress was similar to hers, but it was red and stopped just below her knees. Both girls were wearing black flats, their hair in a French braid. Ginny was wearing a charm necklace with a heart, while Hermione wore a charm bracelet with a matching heart. It was a silly muggle best friends set they bought after Hermione had graduated from Hogwarts.

"Hermione, I'm-"

"I know, me too. This is just hard. Here we thought we'd only have one but we're going to be having three." Hermione took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Severus, I don't know if I can do this. What if I'm a horrible mother? What if after a week I have a nervous break down? What if-"

"Love, you will be a great mother. I'm here to help you through this and to be by your side the whole time. Your parents will be here to help us. Our friends as well." Severus knelt down in front of her, holding her hands in her lap. "You and I are not alone. If we need help, all we need do is ask," he leaned in and kissed her. "All you have to do is tell me what is going through your pretty little head. Tell me when you are feeling over whelmed or you just need a nap. Parenting is a team effort, so lean on me whenever you need me." Hermione pulled her left hand from his and placed it on his cheek where he leaned into it, turning his head to place a kiss on the palm.

"Thank you, Severus. Thank you for believing in me. I love you."

"I love-"

"Hermione! Severus! Quick, Ginny's water just broke!" Harry shouted from the edge of the dance floor closest to the couple.

"Go, I'll have Remus take me up to the Hospital wing." Hermione pushed at Severus to go help Harry. But before taking a step in Harry's direction, he leaned in and kissed her and whispered. "I love you, Hermione." And with that he was off to help carry Ginny.

"Remus, come help me to the hospital wing." Hermione shouted from her seat. "Quickly!"

"Oh god, not you too!" Remus's face seemed to pale even more.

"No, I just want to be there for her." Hermione answered with a chuckle. As they climbed the stairs, or rather Remus climbed the stairs while levitating Hermione, they could hear the students and teachers in the Great Hall counting down. The young witch was a little sad that she wasn't able to have that last dance of 1999 with Severus, but the excitement and joy she felt for Harry and Ginny overshadowed that. As they neared the entrance, they found Severus pacing back and forth in front of the doors.

"How is she?" Remus asked once he settled Hermione down in a chair.

"I don't know. The minute we set her on the bed she started to push and I excused myself from the room." Severus replied; he stopped pacing and sat in the chair next to Hermione. "How are you feeling, love?" He took her left hand in his right.

"I'm fine. A little tired, but fine." She leaned her head against his shoulder, and before she knew it she was dozing off.

Twenty minutes later Harry came out of the hospital wing with a huge smile on his face. "I'm a dad!" Remus pulled him into a bear hug, causing Severus to cringe as he heard Harry's back crack from the pressure.

"How's Ginny?" Hermione's voice was a little groggy as she just woke up as Harry stepped out to talk to them

"She's doing wonderfully, as is our son and daughter. James Sirius Potter was born at midnight and Lilly Luna Potter was born at twelve-oh-two. They are sleeping, along with Ginny. I just wanted to come out and let you all know everyone is happy, healthy, and perfect."

"Congratulations, Harry." Severus said, standing to shake his hand.

"Give Ginny our love when she wakes." Hermione stood up and kissed Harry on the cheek. Remus stayed behind to talk with Harry, while Severus levitated Hermione again, heading down the stairs to the dungeon.

Not too long after leaving the new father and friend, Severus was lowering Hermione into their bed. Somewhere between the Great Hall and the dungeons, she had fallen asleep. He stood there watching her; she had moved her hands to her tummy, as if to protect the precious gifts growing inside. Slowly he tore his eyes from her and walked to his side of the bed, undressing as he went.

Once he was down to his boxers, he turned to Hermione, his wand pointed at her. With a flick of his wrist, Hermione was laying there completely naked. After setting his wand down he slid in behind her, pulling the covers up to their shoulders, laying his hand atop of hers. "I will do all I can to protect you and our babies. I'll do all I can to make you happy. I will always love you." With that he kissed her bare shoulder, and held her close to his body.

"I love you too." Hermione whispered as she intertwined her fingers with his.