Chapter 49

Severus and Hermione found Poppy scrubbing at her eyes, standing just inside the door of her rooms.

"Old woman, what's wrong with you?" Severus asked. But his voice was gentle.

Hermione glared at him nonetheless and hugged Poppy as the healer dried her eyes.

"I'm so glad it worked," she stammered.

"Of course it did. With the 'Wonder Boys' and Hermione working on it, how could I fail to win?"

Hermione and Poppy looked at Severus incredulously. "The Wonder Boys?" they said in unison, laughing.

"Those boys have established their brilliance, and they need to establish their own collective identity. Scorpius needs this to help build his reputation. Albus needs it for the same reason...and to get out from under his father's shadow."

Hermione sobered. "You're right, of course. I think Harry would approve. He never wanted the glory, Severus."

"No, I suppose he didn't. He was Lily's son in more ways than Potter's." He turned to Hermione and basked for a moment in the pride that filled her eyes. "I'm starving. Would you mind if we take up our plans later and go to breakfast first?"

Hermione blushed, feeling so euphoric at the moment she didn't care what they did as long as they did it together. She just wanted to look at Severus and see him nearly all the way back. "I don't mind. I didn't eat much last night, and I am starving, too."

Severus nodded. "Come on, then, ladies, let's go to breakfast. It's time the boys got a little school-wide recognition."

Hermione and Poppy eyed one another. Didn't Severus realize he was nearly free of the wall? There was so much more gentleness and good nature in his mannerisms this morning. The potion had not only restored his arm and hand, but it had taken the anger and fear away.

Hermione was suddenly hopeful that she would be bonding with not only the Severus she'd known as a child but also the one she'd fallen in love with. They were, in fact, one and the same. She only wished Severus realized it. The angry, standoffish, unfeeling man she'd lived with all these weeks was fading away. That Severus would never have wanted to place himself in a position to get recognition right next to the boys.

Encouraged, the women followed Severus to the Great Hall. They took their seats and watched as a few more students filed into the room and sat at their tables.

Minerva got up and made her usual speeches, telling the students that a Hogsmeade weekend was coming up and reiterating the rules. The students were excited about the coming day of shopping and relaxation. She turned to the staff table and asked, "Does anyone else have anything they want to add?"

Severus stood, looking over the eager faces of the students, and caught Scorpius and Albus' attention. Then he raised his left arm to wave at them.

There was a collective gasp from the staff and student body, and then a thunderous clapping began.

Severus looked down at Hermione, perplexed, and she stood and took his hand. "They all love you, Severus. You have earned their respect. They admire and love you for the things you and the boys have done." She saw tears well up in his eyes.

Severus blinked against the sudden stinging in his eyes and felt wetness on his face. Horrified, he wanted to turn away and hide; but with the encouragement of Hermione and the rest of the staff, he stood as the waves and waves of clapping sounded around him. He waved to the boys to come up. They looked at each other and ran up to the stage. Hermione moved back, squeezing his hand before she released him.

Severus put his hands on the boy's shoulders and said, "I give you the Wonder Boys." His deep voice pierced the cacophony; and after a moment of silence, the students got louder. Everyone knew that Malfoy and Potter had been working with Professor Snape to create a potion to heal his arm. He felt the boys start to sweat under his palms, and he allowed a smile to play about his lips.

The applause continued. Severus was overwhelmed, and he could not imagine the boys being any less happy. He glanced at their faces and saw the utter pride they couldn't help but exude.

Severus finally raised his hands and everyone sat quietly waiting. "Thank you for your unexpected applause. This was a difficult time for Madam Snape and myself. Without the help of Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter here, I would not have the use of my arm again. You should be very proud of them and their accomplishments at such a young age. Now eat, have a productive end of week, and enjoy your day at Hogsmeade on Saturday. Madam Snape and I will be gone this weekend." He turned on his nastiest glare and said, "I do expect that you will all behave because detentions will be harsh for anyone who disobeys."

Minerva looked on in amusement as the students gasped. Then they seemed to half laugh, not knowing if he was joking or not.

There was another round of applause, but it was short lived because the food appeared and the children tucked in.

Severus gave each of the boys a hug and turned to gather Hermione to his side as they returned to the staff table. The table was abuzz with demands for the story of Severus' return to health and to his old self, as they now thought of him as reborn from the bubble.

After telling the story and eating breakfast, Severus took Hermione's hand and prepared to leave the Great Hall. As they walked by Poppy, Severus squeezed her shoulder while leaning to kiss her temple. "Have a good day off, Mum. I have the watch."

Minerva and Poppy exchanged misty-eyed glances and heard Hagrid blow noisily into his handkerchief down the table. They started to giggle.

As Severus and Hermione walked back toward their rooms to take showers and get ready for class, Severus said, "I hope you don't mind the boys getting most of the credit. Hermione, you were well capable of helping me, and I hope you don't mind that I let the boys do nearly all of it."

"Mind?" She laughed. "Of course not. I've got enough to do teaching class, and the boys need to continue to cultivate their brilliance with potions." They were now in the hallway by themselves, and soon they reached the stairs to the dungeon. They didn't speak again until they had gotten into their room, and it was warded behind them.

Severus drew her against him and kissed her hungrily. "Mrs. Snape, I feel like a heavy load has been released from my shoulders."

"Is the wall gone?" she asked, kissing him with equal fervor.

He stopped and stood back; he seemed to look inside himself. His eyes closed, and he stood there a long moment. Finally his eyes opened. "Not in the respect it used to be...not like a breaking of glass where I felt it shatter and pain would overwhelm me and then relief came. It faded away this time. 'Faded' isn't really the right word. I absorbed it, Hermione. It won't happen again. I don't need it. I will never pull away from you that way again. But I can't promise not to have cantankerous moods on occasion."

Hermione took his hand and led him to their couch. He sat, and she curled up at his side. "I don't care about the cranky side of you. I kind of like it. A good roaring argument is good for us occasionally. I won't promise not to cry, though. I just want the man I married to be with our baby and me. And there is make-up sex. It's quite fun."

"Yes, there is that," he said with a sexy smirk, turning toward her. His once-useless hand slid over the small bulge in her stomach, and he felt the life there. His magic seemed to sing to the life inside, and Hermione made an odd sort of purring sound. She felt it, too. "What is that?" she whispered.

"Our baby is going to be powerful," he said.

Hermione sighed; she'd harbored a fear that their baby could be a squib because of her Muggleborn heritage. "Severus, would you be unhappy if I asked you not make love to me till after the bonding? It would be a new beginning for us."

He looked down into her face, and she saw gentleness there. "Of course not. I was thinking the same thing." He stood and pulled her to her feet. "Now, I'm going to shower, and you go prepare to teach your classes. I will hang around the infirmary today while Poppy goes to help Molly."

Severus sat at Poppy's desk. It was after lunch, and he'd been alone all day. He stood for the 15th time, discarding his book, and walked to one of the infirmary windows and looked out over the vast grounds of the castle. In the distance, he could see Hagrid walking with his students to the edge of the forest. No doubt he had some unusual animal to show them.

He watched a few first years flying a few feet off the ground to get practice. Off in the distance, he could see the greenhouses, and he was sure Madam Sprout was busy showing her students how to care for some strange and exotic plant.

There had been times in his mid 20s when he'd hated the sight of this place and the students who sat in his classes. He'd always had desperate fear clutching his heart. He'd been afraid of the situation he'd found himself in and of the things his decisions had led to. When Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts and Voldemort had returned, he'd felt that fear tenfold. It never had affected him getting the job done. Fear had made him more careful and sharpened his instincts. Now, here with Hermione, a peace he'd never known before was settling down around his heart and soul. He felt excited about his life and about the baby. There was a terror there, but it was a different kind of terror...one like being on the top of a rollercoaster and knowing you'd scream your head off going down but enjoy every exciting moment of it.

He was distracted by a timid knock at the door. "Come," he called, turning toward the door.

A small blonde head peered around the door, and a young girl stepped into the room. Spying him, he saw her go pale, and she started to back out.

He came forward. "What is it you need?" he asked. His eyes assessed that she wasn't externally bleeding or limping. "Please come in." He gave her a smile. "I promise not to bite."

Her eyes were wide with fear, and she was twisting her robe in one fist. "Where's Madam Pomfrey? I need to speak to her."

Severus said, "She took the day off, and I am here to help you with anything you might need. Please come sit in the chair at my desk. We can talk." Alarm bells were going off in his head. He tried not to groan out loud, and he hoped against hope he was wrong.

"But... but I need to talk to a woman... Professor Snape." She choked and tears filled her eyes.

He stood and came to stand over the girl. Then he squatted down and took her hand. "Please, I'm a professional, Miss..." he said kindly.

"Sarah Juniper," she supplied a bit shakily.

"Miss Juniper, please tell me what it is you need." His voice was nearly purring with softness.

She stood staring at her feet for several minutes and finally whispered, "I'm bleeding. I'm sorry... I'm scared. I need my mummy!" She crumbled against him, and her arms held tight to him.

Severus' fears were realized. He held her lightly and patted her back, praying that no one would come in. He felt a blush creep up his neck.

"Why isn't your Head Girl helping you with this problem?" He had a tight edge to his voice, and the tears spilled down the girls cheeks.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you this might happen at your age?" He stopped and took a deep breath and calmed his face and voice. If he sent for Hermione, she would laugh hysterically at him, and he would never live this down. What if Hermione gave him a daughter? He might have to deal with all this one day.

"No," she cried.

"Miss Jun... Sarah, come hop up on this bed and let me make sure if what I suspect is right. Then we will talk." He let her go as he stood and guided her to a bed. She hopped up onto it, and Severus used a simple spell to study her body rhythms and confirm his diagnosis.

He looked to the ceiling and thought, I'm going to kill Poppy, this girl's Head of House, and the Head Girl. He took a deep breath, "There's nothing to be frightened about. This is a natural thing that happens to girls your age. Your body is changing, and you're becoming a woman. Each month your body has a cycle..." He could feel the sweat running down his neck, and his robes felt heavy and hot. "... it's very normal, and it shows you're growing up. Mind you..." he gave her a stern look "...this does not mean you're a grown-up. You still have years of school and lots of maturing before you will be a woman. You will not engage in any snogging and/or shagging for a number of years to come."

Sarah looked at him astonished and frightened. Then he gave her a tender smile, and she giggled. "Yes, sir."

He spent another 20 minutes explaining the cycle, and he gave her a potion for the cramps and the supplies she would need. Finally he asked, "It there anything else you need to know?"

"No, sir. Thank you." She smiled up at him with relief on her face. She headed for the door and then turned back and said, "You're not such a meany after all, sir." She blushed and ran out.

Severus felt his legs go weak, and he went to Poppy's desk and sat heavily, putting his hands in his face. Mortified, he thought, Well, I guess I handled that, but I'm still going to rake some people over the coals.

Suddenly, he heard a giggle. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder, and then Hermione appeared out of thin air. "You're going be a great daddy, Severus."

"Hermione." He stared at her aghast. "How long have you been watching?"

"I came when she latched on to you." She snickered.

"Why didn't you help me?" He glared at her, wondering how he'd missed the door opening and closing. He'd been scared out of his wits.

She laughed again and climbed onto his lap. "You were doing just fine. One of my students told me why Sarah wasn't in class. I came to bail you out, but you were wonderful, Severus."

Severus held her close and buried his warm face in her cool neck. "I was mortified."

"But she didn't know that. You did an amazing job." She kissed his forehead and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I did?" he asked, feeling a little less embarrassed.

"Yes, you did. I'm proud of you. Poppy will be, too." She soothed his face with her fingers.

"I'm going to strangle Poppy and the rest of the women in charge of these girls. They need to know the facts of life. It may be the parents' responsibility, but if that fails, they need to at least be aware of what's happening so they aren't scared out of their minds."

"Well, Severus, when you become Headmaster, that can be one of your new rules," she said, leaning her forehead against his and placing a kiss on the tip of his nose. She sighed. "I'd better get back. Filius is not that comfortable in a Potion's classroom. It's impossible for him to see into the cauldrons."

Severus held her close a moment. "Thanks for taking the time to assist me, even if all you did was stand there and let me twist in the wind." He smirked.

Hermione got to her feet and laughed. "You really were doing okay on your own, and I didn't want to interrupt." She stretched her neck, and he kissed her again. "Merlin, I love you, Severus. I can't wait to be your bondsmate, Husband."

He walked her to the door. "And I'm looking forward to being your bondsmate, Wife."

"It will feel different, won't it?" she asked as he opened the door.

"Yes, we will be more in tune with each other. There will be a bonding on a magical level. I really can only spout facts since I've never experienced it."

"Good thing, too. You're mine!" she teased him, poking a finger into his stomach.

"Get out of here, and rescue Filius. I'll meet you in the Great Hall for dinner." He gave her a pat on the butt as she went through the door.

She turned to flash him a brilliant smile, and then she was gone.

Severus smiled and closed the door. God, I love that woman. Thank you for putting her in my life. He sat down at the desk and devised some ways to get back at Sarah's Head of House and the Head Girl.

Lisa, thank you so much for the Beta work that you do for me. It makes this process so much easier for me.