Chapter 56

Severus and Hermione settled into the next few months of waiting for the baby. Hermione was so pleased to be back in her classroom full time. The children seemed to be happy and learning a great deal. Scorpius and Albus were so far advanced, from the students in their class, they where given permission to work in the back corner of the room on special projects that Hermione and Severus okayed.

Hermione's body began to swell at an alarming rate. By the last month, she was so uncomfortable that she asked Severus to teach her classes. Being around the cauldron fumes was not that good for her, and she found standing on her feet all day quite difficult.

Severus closed the door behind him as he entered the room after his first full day of teaching the class alone. Hermione was lying on the couch asleep. The book on her huge belly was going up and down with her steady breathing. He smiled and took off his cloak and waistcoat and hung them up. He rolled up his sleeves and then kicked off his boots. He came close and took the book off, silently laying it on the side table. He knelt down next to her and caressed her hair and bent to place a kiss on her lips. He heard her sigh and felt her fingers snake into his hair, pulling him in closer for a deeper kiss. He drew back, and she was smiling at him. "How was your first day back in the classroom?"

"I enjoyed it," he said with a bit of wonder in his voice.

"Of course you did. You were born to be a teacher. All the other stuff was just growing pains."

He laughed, and a touch of bitterness worked its way in. "I could have done without the pain part of the growing."

"We all could have, Severus. But you wouldn't be the man I love without what you went through."

She tried to get up but couldn't, and he grinned and held out his hand. She grasped his hand and felt his other hand on her back, and he pulled her to her feet.

She rubbed her swollen belly. "I'm as big as a beach ball."

Severus rubbed her stomach and said, "I love beach balls...especially this one."

He walked with Hermione to the door of the loo. "Call me if you can't get back up." He placed a kiss on her cheek as she ran her fingers over his. She turned to head into the loo.

"Do you want to eat dinner here or in the Great Hall tonight?" Severus called in to her.

"Nothing sounds good. I've been having this craving..."

Severus said, guessing, "Sugar quills, Rosmerta's famous chicken pie, pudding, or some Muggle thing like a Twinkie?" He'd been all over for weird things since about the fifth month of the pregnancy.

So far he'd barely had to step into Muggle London except for a specialty store that had some unusual American fast food treats.

Hermione flushed the toilet and washed her hands. She came to the door, and Severus saw her grimace. "Did you have a pain?" He took her arm and slipped an arm around her waist. His voice was full of worry.

Hermione laughed. "No, Severus. I just don't think you will go for this one."

"Hermione, haven't I already gotten you everything you've craved?" He went to put his cloak back on, but Hermione picked up her wand and changed his clothes to Muggle clothing.

He looked down at the jeans and shirt. "Ah, so it's Muggle food. What is it this time, my love?"

"I want a Big Mac, fries, and a chocolate milk shake...and don't forget the hot apple pie."

"A what? Hermione, you want a fish?"

"A fish? I said a Big Mac not a mackerel." She laughed. She went to the couch and pressing one hand to her back and one to her stomach, she lowered herself awkwardly into a sitting position.

"Well, in that case, I need more details."

"The food I want is from one of those fast food American-style restaurants."

Severus grimaced and groaned, "Please tell me you're not serious. I can't go into London this late in the afternoon. It will be dark in no time."

"Please, Severus. I can't get it out of my mind. I need some comfort food. I can just taste the bun and the burger, slathered with secret sauce and the dill pickles. Or the fries, greasy and crispy with salt, the milkshake thick and chocolaty, and the apple pie, hot and sweet... please." She turned her big brown eyes on him, batted them at him, and then flashed him a grin full of love that she knew would get her anything."

"That's not fair. Those Muggle fast food places are full of shrieking, ill-mannered children. And they stink of grease and body odor."

"I know, Severus. I'm sorry, but I really don't think I can sleep without getting this craving satisfied tonight."

Severus sighed. He couldn't tell her the whole idea of venturing into Muggle London, alone, terrified him. The last time, he'd Apparated close to a shop and was in and out with the Twinkies in two minutes flat. Still some street woman had clutched at his hand and begged for coins.

The idea of going into one of those commercialized restaurants full of families made his stomach flip.

"Location?" he asked, turning away so she couldn't see the annoyance on his face.

"Leicester Square, Swiss Court, London." She said, "Look in the drawer by the bed. My wallet is in there. You'd best take £10.

"Ten? You can't be serious! Will it really cost that much?" He went to get the money.

"Well, you might find there's something you want." She lowered herself back onto the pillow and pulled her feet back on the couch.

Severus tucked the money into his jeans pocket and bent to give her a kiss on her lips. "I will be back as soon as possible. If anything comes up, send for Poppy immediately. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir," she teased him. "Thank you, Severus. Your son will be very proud of you when I relate this story."

"I doubt it." He turned and went to the Floo and took a hand full of powder. "Diagon Alley," he stated and stepped into the fireplace. He was gone in a cloud of green smoke.

Hermione smiled and let herself relax as she picked up her book.

Severus walked through the arch from Diagon Alley into The Leaky Cauldron. He passed through, not paying any attention to the odd looks he was getting from those who were surprised to see Severus Snape in Muggle attire.

Severus stood for a moment on the street then headed on Charing Cross Road to Oxford Road. He stood in the dimming evening light looking with disgust at the yellow arches. People from all walks of life seemed to be streaming to the restaurant. Shrieking, laughing kids were skipping, running, and hopping along with their parents. He was used to children 11 years and up. Exposure to babies and children younger made him stare with hidden fear. He stepped into the restaurant and eyed the tables of families. One mother was mopping the face of a crying child. The child seemed to be leaking fluid from every orifice on its face. Severus couldn't tell whether it was a boy or girl. With drool, tears and bogies, it was a complete soggy mess. For the second time that night, his stomach rolled. Another child was stuffing some small round unidentifiable thing into his mouth, which was also covered in white sauce. He averted his eyes and took his place in the queue. He looked up to study the menu, picking out the items Hermione had wanted. Yes, he would have enough to buy something. He would order a number 5: an Angus Bacon & Cheese burger with fries and a drink. He thought he might try a McFlurry. Ice cream and cookies sounded good. He felt something slam into his legs and looked down to see a tiny boy looking up at him with huge black eyes. One very sticky hand was pressed against the leg of his pants. He was about to grab the boy and push him away when the child smiled at him.

"Sowwy," the boy said. "Jimmy's after me. He wants my Shrek." He held up a fat green plastic thing that looked sort of like a troll.

Severus saw a hand reaching out for the toy. He grabbed the other boys arm, firmly but not exerting any pain. "Jimmy? It's not polite to take others' toys."

A harried looking woman hurried up and said, "I'm sorry, sir. Nicholas, tell the nice man you're sorry and come sit down." She grabbed Jimmy and pulled him to her side as Severus released him.

Nicholas looked up into Severus eyes and said, "I'm sowwy I bumped you."

Severus suddenly wondered if his son would someday look like this. The boy was beautiful. He had large black eyes and curly hair. He reached out and touched the boy's head, feeling the silky black hair. "No harm done, Nicholas. Be gone with you; go back to your table." He smiled down at the boy.

Severus looked at Jimmy with a stern frown. The boy tucked into his mother's side. "Sorry sir." He turned and ran back to his table.

Severus looked at the sticky spot on his pants leg and then back at the boy who was now pretending to walk the fat, green monster around his table. He was laughing and talking a blue steak. Other parents were smiling or hugging their children. One mother clapped when her child sucked successfully from his straw. Severus realized that the parents may look harried from a day of child chasing, but most of their faces were lit with love and happiness as they gazed into the faces of their children. Severus suddenly found the idea of having a boy like Nicholas appealing.

A voice interrupted his thoughts: "Sir, can I have your order?"

Severus turned to the young woman and started to name off his list of choices.

******

When Severus stepped back through the Floo into their rooms, he found that Hermione had fallen asleep again.

He sat the bag of food and drinks on the dining table. He came and kissed her awake for the second time that night.

She let him help her up from the couch, and they moved slowly into the kitchen.

"Oh Severus, you did it." She grabbed some fries and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing with relish.

He eyed the fry and then took one and feed it slowly into his mouth. He chewed it carefully as if he was eating a worm, and then his eyebrows rose. Hermione laughed and said, "You like it!"

"It is quite good," he admitted as he folded the paper wrapper half down her burger and then handed it to her. He watched as she took an enormous bite and pink sauce slipped out and dripped onto the table. He smiled as she moaned with pleasure.

"Oh, Severus, this is wonderful. I can't remember eating at McDonald's more than a handful of times when I was a kid, but I loved it so much. She took a hard suck of shake from her straw. "Oh, that's good. I'm in seventh heaven."

He unwrapped his own burger and took a big bite. Hermione watched in amusement as his eyes shut. "That is good," he admitted. Having lived most of his life at Hogwarts, he found the food well made but familiar. It was nice to have something that tasted different.

"Was it as horrible as you expected, Severus? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to go."

He eyed the sticky spot on his leg and then smiled at Hermione. "Actually, it was educational."

"How so?" she asked, stuffing several more fries in her mouth.

"Small children may be a handful and a lot of work, but they are valuable and can bring great pleasure and fulfillment."

Hermione stared at him. "You learned that from a trip to McDonald's?"

"Indeed," he said, stuffing a few fries into his mouth.

"Remind me to send you more often." She laughed, but her eyes glowed with happiness that somehow during this trip he'd seemed to have left his fear behind at having to deal with a baby or young child.

After dinner, they crawled into bed. Hermione tried to arrange the pillows to help make her comfortable, which seemed almost impossible this late in her pregnancy. She finally lay back with a sigh. Severus joined her. As they lay in bed, Severus pressed his ear to Hermione's naked belly and listened to the faint movements of his son. He felt the baby kick against his fingers, which rubbed her ever so slowly. She slowly caressed his hair.

"I can't wait until I can hold our baby, Severus."

"Neither can I. I never imagined being a father before you came into my life. Some of it still scares me, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

"I'm scared, too, Severus. We will have a baby that's totally dependent on us for everything. I like our time. I like laying in peace in our bed and making love when we want. But I'm also looking forward to the challenge and joys of child rearing."

"We will have to find time for us...even if we have to use a Time-Turner," she joked.

"I hardly think Minerva will give us a Time-Turner in order to have sex," he drawled as he begin to kiss her belly, sliding his hand over the round mound and then up to cup her breast. "They are larger. It's a beautiful thing to know the change will nourish our perfect boy."

He moved to take a nipple into his mouth and slide his tongue over it and made her moan with pleasure. Her fingers threaded into his hair, and she stroked his hair as he continued to ignite her passion and his own need for her.

His hands and fingers caressed her and massaged her. His fingers slipped into her and moved gently as she pressed down against them.

"Severus, move behind me," she coaxed. He stretched out behind her and rolled her to her side, facing away from him. Kissing her neck gently and placing one hand around her to continue pleasuring her, he help her part her legs and slowly he moved to enter her. It was a bit awkward, but he managed it, and he started to move in and out as she pressed herself back against him. He put his arm around her to support and hold her close, and his finger slipped into her from the front, pressing his fingers against her nub and stimulating her until she was tensing with an orgasm. Her muscles clamped around him, and he came with a groan and held her close.

"I never tire of you, my wife. Each time is as good as the first."

Hermione rolled to her back, and he pushed up onto his elbow to look down into her face.

"You're so beautiful. There's such an amazing glow about you. Having our baby really makes you fulfilled doesn't it?" he observed.

Hermione slid her fingers over his cheek and said, "Being in love with you, being your wife, and having your baby agrees with me. I never thought I'd be this happy, Severus. I came back to Hogwarts to live with a ghost, a mere memory of you. By a ghost of a chance, I found you alive and eventually in the flesh." She drew his face down into a kiss that made Severus believe anything was possible.

Lisa, thank you for your beta work. We are nearly there. One more to go. It has made this whole process so much easier for me.

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