Chapter 28

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thank you to June for doing the beta work for me here.

Chapter 28

They wed a week later, after deciding on a small ceremony with only a few people invited. In attendance were her parents, who were quite taken with Severus. Harry showed up with Pansy Parkinson, of all people. Ginny and Draco were there, as was Minerva and the rest of the staff. Albus performed the ceremony, with the ever-present twinkle in his eyes. Much to the surprise of most in attendance, Ron was nowhere to be found.

After the ceremony, they gathered in Severus’ and now Hermione’s quarters. They had expanded the rooms to accommodate both of them, as well as their new baby, and even a small room for Osiris and Crookshanks. They had agreed to spend the school year at Hogwarts; the summers would be spent at one of the Snape estates.

As the celebration moved on, Severus noticed Hermione smiling at Harry and giving him knowing glances. He suspected it had something to do with the fact Ron had not shown up. Severus, of course, wanted to find out just what was going on, so he approached Harry, who had gone to the bar to pour himself a drink.

“Harry,” Severus nodded, then reached to pour himself a drink.

“Congratulations, Severus, on both counts.” Harry held out his hand, which Severus gladly shook.

“Thank you. I could not help but notice that Weasley is conspicuously missing,” he stated.

Harry immediately smiled. “Yes, well, you see, Ron met with an unfortunate… accident, this morning,” said Harry as he took a sip of his drink.

Severus’ eyebrow immediately shot up. “Accident?” he asked.

“Well, not really an accident. Hermione paid him a visit last night, and, well, Ron woke up with…his…” Harry felt his mouth go dry.

“Yes?” Now Severus was truly curious. Hermione had gone out to dinner last night with her mother, Ginny, Pansy, and Minerva. When he arrived from his dinner with her father, Draco, Harry, and Albus, she was already in bed. ‘Just what did my wife do to Weasley?’ he wondered.

“Okay, you’re going to make me say this, aren’t you? She hexed his balls so far up his arse, they are now hanging out of his ears. Not only that, but,” Harry shivered for a moment, “they’ve got curly red hair, which makes him itch all day.”

“Indeed?” Severus felt the corners of his mouth twitching madly. He looked over his shoulders and smiled at his new bride, who waved to him from the middle of Ginny and Pansy.

Draco, who had been speaking with Albus, joined both men. As he poured himself a drink he looked at Harry.

“So, where is my reluctant brother-in-law?” Draco asked.

“It seems Mr. Weasley is indisposed for the next — what would you say, Harry — the next several days?” said Severus.

“Try weeks,” affirmed Harry, as he sipped his firewhisky.

Draco noticed the grimace on Severus’ face, and then looked back at Harry. “What’s going on?” Draco asked.

“Tell him,” said Severus, now trying hard not to laugh.

Harry leaned over and whispered into Draco’s ear. Upon hearing of Ron’s newfound headgear, Draco also grimaced and placed his hands on his balls, as though just hearing about it would lead him to the same fate.

“I have to see that,” stated Draco.

“No, Draco, believe me, you don’t want to see that,” assured Harry, as he shook his head.

“Harry, you don’t understand. I don’t want to, I have to.” Draco then walked to Ginny and whispered something in her ear. Ginny shrugged and nodded, then turned back to her conversation. Draco then walked into the rear bedroom, leaving Harry and Severus to give each other knowing glances of their own. Draco had gone to the back bedroom to use the floo. After several minutes he came back, wiping the tears running down his face. He held his side as he laughed, “Oh Merlin, that was the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life.” He patted Severus on the back. “Severus, whatever you do, don’t ever piss that woman off.”

* * * * * *

The months passed, and the day finally came when Hermione woke up to labor pains. Severus immediately flooed to the hospital wing. Poppy arrived with Minerva and Albus on her heels. Severus guided the two women into the bedroom, and then reluctantly joined Albus in the living room. Much as he wanted to be inside with Hermione, he knew he could not stand to see her in so much pain. For hours he paced the living room floor. As he did so, Osiris could be seen pacing the fireplace mantle, and Crookshanks took up his pacing on the coffee table. The only one who seemed to be relaxed was Albus, who had long ago begun a very satisfying nap.

Hermione had gone into labor at nine o’clock in the morning, and at twelve forty-five, Severus heard the healthy cry of a newborn child. He stopped his pacing and immediately ran to the bedroom. As he flung the doors open, he could see Hermione sitting up in their bed. She was dressed in a purple velvet dressing gown, and held a small bundle wrapped up in a green and silver blanket. She looked much like the vision he had seen so many years ago.

She looked up at Severus, and it was apparent to him how tired she was, yet so very happy. He approached the bed slowly, not noticing the two other women leave the room, only to be replaced by Osiris and Crookshanks, who now situated themselves at the foot of the bed.

“He’s going to be a crafty one, I just know it,” stated Crookshanks proudly.

“He will if we have anything to say about it,” answered Osiris.

Severus sat on the edge of the bed and leaned towards Hermione. He moved aside the blanket and looked into his child’s eyes. There would be no doubt in anyone’s mind ever, that this was his son. The boy would have black eyes just like his, Severus thought, as he stroked his son’s soft head of black hair. The baby was a carbon copy of his father, apart of course from the cute little button nose, that he had thankfully inherited from his mother.

“He is the most beautiful being I have ever seen.” Severus looked into Hermione’s eyes. “Apart from you, my love.” He kissed her, and then kissed his son on his forehead. “What shall we name him?”

“Well, this might sound strange, but I rather like the sound of Raven Sanguis Snape.”

Severus smiled, then looked back at Osiris. “It has a certain ring to it. I like it, but don’t you think the name Raven may be too great a temptation for the fates to sort him into Ravenclaw?” asked Severus, making a face.

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed. “Oh, Severus, with those two on his heels,” said Hermione, gesturing towards the foot of the bed, “there is no doubt in my mind he will be nothing less than a Slytherin.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have gotten some comments in the past about Ron's situation. But in my opinion, the Hermione in my story would have had no problem hexing him, as she saw his remark the beginning of what may have been the end of her relationship with Severus. Regardless of what Severus did to her, he heard what he heard and had Ron not have had the thoughts in the first place or spoken them Severus would not have heard what he did. Because Ron DID want to play the joke and he would have tried to talk Hermione into it.

A short epilogue and then on to sequels.