Hey everyone! Sorry about not posting yesterday, I completely forgot that it was Tuesday. Well, after this, only 3 more chapters!
Hope you enjoy!
The remaining chapters will cover large expanses of time and move VERY quickly. Be prepared.
As Olivia grew, Hermione enjoyed being home all day more and more. She often spent most of the time reading to Olivia, though she seemed more interested in Hermione's hair than anything else.
Time seemed to fly by after that. Around her first birthday, Olivia was walking on her own and managing to get into everything she shouldn't be in. She had learned to say 'daddy' and 'mommy' often, but the rest was baby jumble, which Hermione was learning to translate faster each day. Severus loved when Olivia called him 'dada'. Those two had a connection that surprised Hermione. For the first few months, Severus had been unsure of how to be a father, but took it in his stride with ease. As Olivia chatted away in nothing but sounds, Severus managed to catch enough from the sounds to know what she was saying. Hermione would often hear Severus in the nursery carrying on conversations with their daughter as she handed him stuffed animals and toys to play with.
It was on one of these nights, after Severus had tucked Olivia in that he surprised Hermione into silence. She was in her study, pulling a few books from the shelves near the fireplace, when he was suddenly behind her, his arms encasing her form.
"Can I help you?" she asked, fishing for more books.
He didn't answer, but pressed his lips to her cheek. Hermione felt there was something bothering him; there was something in his presence in that moment that made her heart quicken.
"I feel like you have something to say," she mentioned quietly, the smile gone from her voice.
"I…I think I'd like to have another baby,"
The books she had in her hand tumbled to the floor as she immediately turned to look into his face. His features were stern, and his eyes conveying how serious he was. Hermione waited for his expression to change, or for him to say it was a joke, but he continued to hold his serious expression. For a long moment, Hermione couldn't find the right words to say to him, and stared at him dumbstruck.
"You want to have another baby?" she asked finally.
"Yes,"
"Didn't you say you never wanted children? Olivia wasn't exactly planned,"
"She changed my opinion on having children," he said with a shrug.
Hermione didn't feel like they had been parents long enough to judge whether or not they wanted more children. Regardless, she did want more children with him. Starting a family was one of the best things that they had done and Hermione felt closer to Severus than she ever had before. Hermione would have never opened her mouth, but she wanted many more children with him. As her thoughts whirled away, Severus stepped away from her, thinking she was against the idea.
"It's up to you," he said, turning his eyes away.
"I do," she blurted out. "But are you sure? I do want to have another baby, but this is a big decision, I mean, this is life changing, and there's no going back,"
"I'm sure,"
A few months later, Hermione was pregnant with their second child. Because this baby was planned, Hermione happily shared the news with Severus, and immediately spread the word to their friends. They told Olivia, now two years old, that she was going to be a big sister, and she was more excited over the idea of having a playmate than anything else.
Even being seven months pregnant, Hermione still made it to all of the gatherings at Grimmauld Place. At least once a week the three Snapes would have dinner with nearly all of the Weasleys (minus Ron) and the Potters. Everyone loved Olivia when she came, and she was particularly fond of George who usually packed extra things from his shop to amuse her with.
As Hermione sat at the table, her stomach preventing her from sliding her chair closer, people swarmed around her, feeling the baby kick. Severus sat beside her, no longer in the shadows, proud of his daughter, his wife, and their unborn baby. He now didn't mind sitting at the table and talking to people and even laughing at things people said. Hermione was so proud of him and how easy-going he had become since Olivia was born. Severus held Olivia on his lap throughout most of their visit to Grimmauld Place, playing with her freely and not caring that an entire roomful of people were bearing witness to the softer side of him.
As everyone sat around talking, the front door opened, causing everyone to look up. Hermione was sure they were all accounted for – that was until she saw Ron step into the room with a blonde woman on his arm.
"Ron!" she said before she could stop herself. "Help me up," she said to Severus as she started to stand and people rushed over to Ron.
Severus placed Olivia on the floor and helped Hermione to her feet. She happily went over to the two, anxious to meet them.
"Gwen, this is Hermione," Ron said, avoiding her gaze.
"Hermione? Hermione Granger?" she asked with wide eyes as the two shook hands.
"Oh, I'm not Granger anymore, it's Snape now," Hermione said happily, releasing the woman's hand.
"This is my daughter, Olivia," Hermione said turning and holding her hand out, with the girl took willingly. "And my husband, Severus,"
Severus stepped forward to shake hands with the woman, muttering a soft hello. By the look on her face, Hermione knew that she was one of his past students.
"Professor Snape," she said quietly.
"Please, call me Severus," he said, wrapping an arm around Hermione's waist.
"Did you find out what you're having?" Gwen asked.
"Another girl," Hermione answered with a smile, placing both of her hands on her stomach.
Once they were all settled down again, Gwen continued to ask questions to Hermione, which she was more than happy to answer. Hermione found it easy to talk to Gwen, and she seemed extremely interested in trying to get to know Ron's friends, which Hermione liked. By the end of the night, she was a part of the group. As much as Hermione would have liked to stay longer, Olivia needed to go to sleep, and Hermione was exhausted.
"Ready to go?" she asked, turning to Severus.
"I'm ready if you are," he said.
Severus helped Hermione to her feet and went to retrieve Olivia from George's lap. Hermione said goodbye to everyone as Olivia wrapped her arms around Severus' neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. A few minutes later, the three walked into their house. Severus immediately put Olivia to bed, and Hermione was under the covers by the time he came into the room. When the light was off, Hermione felt Severus turn to her.
"So?"
"So what?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing to say about Weasley?"
"I really like Gwen; she's sweet,"
"He's still in love with you,"
"Severus," she sighed, rolling her eyes in the darkness.
"It doesn't bother me, I'm just telling you that he still has that look on his face like someone just ran over his dog,"
"Are you jealous?" she teased him in the dark.
"No," he replied easily. "I have you, Olivia, and another baby on the way. I don't have a reason to be jealous,"
"You used to be jealous," she mentioned, curling up into his side. "Harry told me about when Ron confronted you,"
Severus sighed deeply, pulling the covers over the two.
"He brought it on himself," he grumbled.
Hermione smiled and gently kissed his cheek before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
It was two months later, during the early hours of the morning that Hermione awoke with a gasp and a sharp pain. The bed beside her was empty, and Hermione quickly made it to her feet, getting dressed and heading immediately to the stairs. Bracing one hand on the wall, Hermione made her way down the stairs and to Severus' study, where she could see a light coming from under the door. Hermione paused for a moment as another contraction hit her. The moment her breathing was back to normal, she proceeded on. Pushing the door open, Hermione stood in the doorway, bracing her back with one hand while resting her other on top of her stomach. Severus raised his eyes from the book in front of him, his glasses resting on the edge of his nose.
"Are you busy?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady while attempting to be casual.
"No, I just couldn't sleep," he sighed, sitting up.
"Severus, I think it's time," Hermione said.
In a flash, his glasses were torn from his face and he was beside her in a flourish of robes.
"Go wait by the fireplace; I'll be right back,"
Before Hermione could reply, Severus was darting up the stairs. Hermione had just made it to the fireplace, holding onto it for support as another contraction hit her, when she heard Severus coming down the stairs. He walked into the room, holding Olivia and carrying a bag. The small girl was already asleep on her father's shoulder.
"Ready?" he asked, peering into her face with slight worry.
"Yeah," she replied breathlessly.
Severus helped Hermione into the fireplace, and she immediately arrived at St. Mungo's with Severus arriving a few moments later.
"Drop Liv off with Remus and Tonks, I don't want her sitting around the hospital all night," Hermione instantly said.
"But-"
"I'll be fine, I promise. They still have to get me a room and I have to get changed,"
Hermione took the bag from him, and he quickly stepped back into the fireplace, disappearing. The nurses were around her a moment later, ushering her to a room and handing her a gown. She quickly changed and maneuvered herself into the bed, wincing at the pain. Thankfully, Severus appeared a moment later, his features drawn.
"Was Remus okay with taking Olivia?" Hermione asked once he was seated.
"I don't know, I didn't stay long enough to ask," he muttered, his eyes scrutinizing every inch of the room.
A few hours later, their second daughter, Charlotte, was born. With confident hands Severus held their daughter, a smile playing on his lips. Hermione gently slipped to sleep, feeling the exhaustion finally taking her over.