The Scientist
Chapter 5 of 6
neelixA short account of how Hermione became aware of Severus.
ReviewedTime passed, as it has a habit of doing. They were married three Christmases after their first kiss, and they were almost a family two more Christmases after that.
Severus had always adored Hermione, but he had found her especially appealing when she was carrying his children. Her temper would become erratic, and he found she could curse like a navvy. In addition, she would cry at the silliest thing, and turn to him for comfort and reassurance at inopportune times of the day. His fifth-year students had become quite used to Mrs Snape knocking tentatively on the classroom door and being comforted by a softly spoken Professor Snape, who would then stroke her hair softly and usher her out of the room before turning and glaring as if daring any of them to comment.
But her skin had glowed, and her hair had become thick and lustrous, and her hormones had made her as eager for him as he was for her at the end of each day. And her stomach would swell softly and move of its own accord. Bath time became an event, and they would wait with bated breath for a foot to wriggle or kick and laugh as ripples cascaded across the surface of the bath water.
When Hermione had thought he wasn’t looking, she would softly rub her stomach and hum lightly to the baby, and Severus would smile and allow tears to fill his eyes as he watched her.
*******
St Mungo’s was well used to mothers in the midst of childbirth. The extra-powerful Silencing Charms around each room was a testament to that. What St Mungo’s was not accustomed to was Severus Snape, Expectant Father.
He would pace, naturally. And he had insisted on being in the same room as Hermione at all times.
‘My child is being born, and you will let me in,’ he had murmured silkily, his voice giving away the veiled ire that lurked beneath. No one had tried to argue with him afterwards, nor at any of the subsequent Snape births. But he did have a habit of getting in the way.
During a break in contractions, Hermione had held her hand out to Severus and pulled him to her side, murmuring that she needed him to stay with her, stroke her brow and hold her hand. Severus had nodded, his lips pursed tightly together as if he was unable to speak, and did exactly as she instructed him. When his back had turned, Hermione had caught the eye of the nearest mediwitch and winked at her.
After what seemed to both Hermione and Severus to be a terribly long time, combined with a series of frantic pushes and screams of exertion, Hermione had given birth to her first child and provided Severus with an heir.
Caleb Sebastian Snape had been born with a shock of black hair that sat in a small curled mop in the middle of his crown, and his eyes, when he had finally opened them, were the darkest shade of brown that they looked almost black. He hadn’t cried at first when he had been placed in his father’s waiting arms. They had surveyed each other seriously, until a large shudder had wracked through Severus’s chest, and a teardrop had fallen from his nose and landed on Caleb’s cheek. The baby had wriggled and whimpered, and years later Hermione would curse Severus around the dungeons when Caleb refused to shower and would blame his father for her son’s aversion to water.
They went on to produce three further children, all girls. Ceris arrived two years after Caleb, and the two siblings grew close over the years. Her poker-straight, chestnut coloured hair was a stark contrast to Caleb’s black curls, and on first glance no one would have thought them to be brother and sister. However, if anyone had looked closely at their eyes, there would be no mistaking the family resemblance. And no one would doubt that they belonged to the Snape family.
The youngest two were a happy surprise, and had arrived together but a few minutes apart. Hermione had gasped in shock at being told during her labour that a second baby was on its way. Carly and Ciara were like two peas in a pod, with curly chestnut hair and tiny, button noses. As they got older, Severus would mutter that they were like a pair of mini-Hermiones, running around the dungeons and causing mayhem in his lab. Then he would chase them and catch them and revel in their laughter as his long, slender fingers tickled them into submission, watched by a laughing Hermione who was so proud of her beautiful family.
******
The most poignant day for the Snape family was the day they moved from Hogwarts.
They had expanded the dungeons as much as they possibly could to accommodate their growing family, and although Severus and Hermione had put it off for as long as they could, necessity had decreed that they needed more space and a more normal life for the children.
Severus had decided that the move needed to happen before Caleb’s eleventh birthday, so that he could arrive at Hogwarts with the rest of the first years as a normal student. Reluctantly, Hermione had agreed, and after a short period of frantic house hunting, they had finally found a home on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It was close enough to the village to be convenient and far enough away that students visiting for Hogsmeade weekends wouldn’t pass by the house. With a little expansion, and some tasteful interior design, they had moved into their own home as a proper family. On the first night, Severus and Hermione had sat on their new, squashy, cream sofa, and listened to the children running into each other’s bedrooms and giggling amongst themselves.
‘How are you feeling?’ he had asked her and threaded his fingers through hers.
‘Like I have come home,’ she had said. She had raised her eyes to the ceiling and smiled broadly at the sound of her children.
Later that night, after they had christened their new bed, Severus had thanked the gods over and over for bringing Hermione to him.
‘I’m glad I found you, too,’ she had mumbled into her pillow, and the bed had shook with Severus’s laughter at his wife’s unconscious use of Legilimency as she fell asleep.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Scientist
88 Reviews | 6.94/10 Average
I'd say that NSS's attempts to make you a better writer have succeeded, you're one of those authors i always stop to read, no matter what the description of the story is, because I've enjoyed everything you've written. This was no different, and I loved the wedding scene at the end. So sweet.
Baaha ha ha, he caught her out! Kiss please!!
So beautiful!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I adored seeing the way Severus was with Ceris on her wedding day, ‘Just remember what I said, Ceris. You will always have a home here, whatever happens.’ My father told me the same thing on my wedding day.I'm so glad that he could identify with the look on Albus' face when he saw how he looked at Ceris as her father walked her down the aisle. He knew by the tears in Albus' eyes that his precious daughter would be in good hands.
At the wedding reception, a slightly drunk Severus was clearly still enamored of his bride. I'll bet some of the guests suspected what was on their minds... all that hip grinding would not go unnoticed. And if they hadn't noticed the growing ardor of Severus and his wife, they certainly did when the Snapes shared a searing kiss. All the catcalling and yahooing didn't faze them... they had other things on their minds.I chuckled when Carly winked at her mother when told that she and her father were leaving... and that she and her siblings did not need to hurry back.Thank you for such a happy and heartwarming story. I must have needed some "happy thoughts" this afternoon because reading your tale has really put a smile on my face.Beth
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Bless you. You write very nice reviews and make me smile a lot!
Real Life had got in the way of my reading this and then I did the unthinkable and forgot about it! What a fool I am. When I stumbled upon this again today, the first thing I did was kick myself in the arse, and then I started over at chapter one!This is such a lovely chapter. It has made me smile and thank God that I found the story again. Your Severus is the most wonderful husband and father anyone could have!His reactions to his adored wife as she carried their children were perfect, and I liked bath time and the way they would watch for the baby to move a foot or an arm.
His insistence that he would be in the room when his wife gave birth to his children just melted my heart, and I laughed out loud when Hermione winked at the mediwitch when Severus wasn't looking. Seeing how the new father responded when he held his son for the first time warmed my heart.All four of their children were completely loved, and they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the center of their parent's world. The new home that Severus and Hermione found on the outskirts of Hogsmeade became a place filled with joy. It was a very special moment for Severus when he realized that his wife had unconsciously used Legilimency to let him know that she was "glad I found you, too." It doesn't get any better than this!Beth
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
There is something amazing that happens inside a reader when they find a story that suits them. I am very glad that for you, one of them was written by me!I loved writing The Scientist - It was inspired by the Coldplay song, and intended as a one-shot, but it just grew. I esescially love writing Severus with children, too. Thank you so much for the loevly comments x
I've only just come across this and really loved it - it's adorable! How lovely to find something that's truly 'romantic' and gives Severus not just a little bit of love but a whole lifetime of the happiness he deserves!Well done for writing and sharing :-)
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thank you so much. I am very glad you enjoyed it!
Perfect ending. Lovely, I enjoyed this story a lot!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Sorry I am only just responding! Bad neelix... But anyway, thank you for reveiwing, I am very happy you liked it!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Sorry I am only just responding! Bad neelix... But anyway, thank you for reveiwing, I am very happy you liked it!
I liked this. Write more. *purrrrrr*~Lotm
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
I have been remiss and am so late replying to your lovely comments...forgive me. RL gets in the way sometimes. And thank you... x
Response from ladyofthemasque (Reviewer)
No worries, you'll get around to it when you get around to it. *purrrrpurrrrrpurrrr, attempts to trip you into your keyboard, purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*~Lotm
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
lol... mad woman! I am posting 'darkness within' presently, although the queue is taking some time.... ! and I do have a new story brewing... but it's a little complex, so it will be a while before it see's the light of day. Thanks for the encouragement!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
I have been remiss and am so late replying to your lovely comments...forgive me. RL gets in the way sometimes. And thank you... x
Response from ladyofthemasque (Reviewer)
No worries, you'll get around to it when you get around to it. *purrrrpurrrrrpurrrr, attempts to trip you into your keyboard, purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*~Lotm
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
lol... mad woman! I am posting 'darkness within' presently, although the queue is taking some time.... ! and I do have a new story brewing... but it's a little complex, so it will be a while before it see's the light of day. Thanks for the encouragement!
what a lovely ending! thank you so much for sharing you time, talent, and vision.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Sorry for the late response! Thank you for your kind words.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Sorry for the late response! Thank you for your kind words.
This was a really nice story. I especially loved this chapter; I think it was my favorite. Wonderful job and keep up the good work! ~Jen
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thank you so much - apologies for the late response (I have a load of reveiws that I didn't see!)
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thank you so much - apologies for the late response (I have a load of reveiws that I didn't see!)
My grandparents had that kind of relationship, even at the end of their lives. I think we all envied it, in spite of the smirks. Thank you for this lovely story and the nice memories of my own that it produced.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thanks for the review... I love to see people who are passionate about each other, and I think my SS/HG always are!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thanks for the review... I love to see people who are passionate about each other, and I think my SS/HG always are!
Steamy!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ha... thanks!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ha... thanks!
I L.O.V.E. this story! A wonderful break from the heart-wrenching, trying-to-read-through-tears stuff. You got the characters spot on... well spot on according to what's in my head at least. And their kid marrying Harry's kid... in any other story it would have been terribly cheesy, but here, it's perfect!:D Keep up the excellent work
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thanks! It was just a little thing buzzing around my head and intended as a one shot... trouble is it ran away with me and even I wanted to know...what happens next? lol... thanks for reviewing.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thanks! It was just a little thing buzzing around my head and intended as a one shot... trouble is it ran away with me and even I wanted to know...what happens next? lol... thanks for reviewing.
Aww, that was a sweet ending all the way around.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ahh thankyou! I am very glad you enjoyed it!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ahh thankyou! I am very glad you enjoyed it!
Aww i love drunk Severus lol
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
mmmm...me too! makes me want to take him home and get him into bed. Just so he's safe, of course!!!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
mmmm...me too! makes me want to take him home and get him into bed. Just so he's safe, of course!!!
*sniffles* That was so beautiful! From Severus almost crying in front of his daughter (makes me think of my wedding and my own sniffling father) to the perfect end, in which you can just feel how much they love each other. This was a wonderful story, from start to finish. Do you have any plans for writing any more sshg?
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ahhh thanks! I loved writing this you know. I do love a bit of warm and fuzzy. I have written quite a few ss/hg stuff and most of it is posted on aff.net because I dont have an active beta. However, I do intend to post more here. Thanks for asking :)
Response from kizzy7 (Reviewer)
Is aff.net fanfiction.net? Alas, I have yet to venture into ff.net. I mostly just read here and ash and owl. Maybe I'll go look, however...
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
ahhh thanks! I loved writing this you know. I do love a bit of warm and fuzzy. I have written quite a few ss/hg stuff and most of it is posted on aff.net because I dont have an active beta. However, I do intend to post more here. Thanks for asking :)
Response from kizzy7 (Reviewer)
Is aff.net fanfiction.net? Alas, I have yet to venture into ff.net. I mostly just read here and ash and owl. Maybe I'll go look, however...
This was very, very sweet. The perfect ending to this adorable little story.Thanks for sharing. /M
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thankyou for your kind review! I have been overwhelmed by the positive responses!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Thankyou for your kind review! I have been overwhelmed by the positive responses!
Great chapter. I thought it was really cute. Keep up the good work!~Jen
This story is a nice sweet balance to the other dark, melodramatic stories about our favorite pair (don't get me wrong I like melodrama too!) It is just so Disney sweet I want to sing ...and they lived happily ever after!! Yay.I love, love, love it!!!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Oh good grief... you'll be getting them singing that annoying song from High School Musical next!! I know it's fluffy but Disney?? arrrghhhhh..... *ponders whether to include a kidnap scene in next chapter*
Response from geomancer (Reviewer)
Sorry, it was wrong of me to compare to Disney, there was plenty of lovely sex that would never be found in that kind of story.Hey, though, wouldn't it fun if there was a High School Musical kind of challenge? You know, Magical European Boarding School Musical! Could be a fun thing!!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Don't apologise! Your review made me laugh out loud... but that challenge.... Harry and Ginny dueting beneath Hogwarts Tower... Severus and Hermione avoiding each other until they realise they're in love... It might have legs! lol
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Oh good grief... you'll be getting them singing that annoying song from High School Musical next!! I know it's fluffy but Disney?? arrrghhhhh..... *ponders whether to include a kidnap scene in next chapter*
Response from geomancer (Reviewer)
Sorry, it was wrong of me to compare to Disney, there was plenty of lovely sex that would never be found in that kind of story.Hey, though, wouldn't it fun if there was a High School Musical kind of challenge? You know, Magical European Boarding School Musical! Could be a fun thing!!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Don't apologise! Your review made me laugh out loud... but that challenge.... Harry and Ginny dueting beneath Hogwarts Tower... Severus and Hermione avoiding each other until they realise they're in love... It might have legs! lol
I like the pregnancy bit where she would go into his classroom for a cuddle. Can just see the glare!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Ha! I liked that bit too - I had to draw on my own experience of pregnancy, where sometimes the only thing that works is reassurance from your man!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Ha! I liked that bit too - I had to draw on my own experience of pregnancy, where sometimes the only thing that works is reassurance from your man!
so warm and touching. i'm curious where you're going from here, tho. thanks so much!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Aha! Next chapter, we are suddenly thrust into the present day. Thank goodness too, because writing in this tense has really made my brain ache! Thanks for the nice comment!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Aha! Next chapter, we are suddenly thrust into the present day. Thank goodness too, because writing in this tense has really made my brain ache! Thanks for the nice comment!
awww so sweet! I want to be hermione! lol x
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Mmmm yes... me too!!! I sometimes think Hermione is my Mary Sue!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Mmmm yes... me too!!! I sometimes think Hermione is my Mary Sue!
Oh, I simply love this story! You have such a wonderful, beautifully elegant way with words, neelix. I absolutely adore happy, fluffy stories, that just focus on severus and hermione, happy and together without some gruesome, unfortunate twist! And I always feel that there are not enough of these types of stories around. Happy, happy fluff!!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
oh wow! What a nice review! Thank you so much. I agree with you, Hermione and Severus deserve to be happy... why should some grumpy old hard done by ex-Death Eater come along and spoil it? Glad you're enjoying this - the last chapter will be up very soon!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
oh wow! What a nice review! Thank you so much. I agree with you, Hermione and Severus deserve to be happy... why should some grumpy old hard done by ex-Death Eater come along and spoil it? Glad you're enjoying this - the last chapter will be up very soon!
Oh, that was so sweet! I love happy endings and they are truly enjoying life.
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Ahh thanks for reviewing! One more chapter, hope the ending doesn't disappoint!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
Ahh thanks for reviewing! One more chapter, hope the ending doesn't disappoint!
This is the Fluffiest, sweetest, wonderfulist (is that a word) that I have ever read....thank you!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
You know, I don't think wonderfulist is a word, but in this case it should be! Thanks for the kind comments - one more chapter to go, hope you enjoy it!
Response from neelix (Author of The Scientist)
You know, I don't think wonderfulist is a word, but in this case it should be! Thanks for the kind comments - one more chapter to go, hope you enjoy it!