Chapter Eighteen

Hermione and Severus walked hand in hand along with the Grangers and the other former students over the hill and down the sloping path to Hagrid's hut. There was a small bonfire burning just outside, and Hagrid himself was sitting on the stoop with a flute in his hands. He was playing an eerie soft tune.

His eyes lit with the dancing fire as he rose to greet them with a shout. "Harry! Hermione! Well, look at ye all." He gave the two a bone-crushing hug and looked about the group. "Sev'rus," he said, looking with surprisingly kind eyes at the man. "It's good to see you. Now who have we here?" he asked, eyeing the Grangers.

Hermione happily introduced her parents to the half-giant. "Hagrid, this is my mum and dad, Harris and Margaret Granger. They have come for the wedding."

Hagrid rumbled forward and held out his massive hand. Margaret and Harris were both looking up at him with their mouths hanging open. Harris took a breath, shut his mouth and grinned; he held out his hand and tried not to grimace as Hagrid's paw engulfed his hand and half his arm. "Well, it's good to meet you," Hagrid said enthusiastically. "You have a right fine daughter here, you have. We are all very proud of our Hermione."

"It's good to meet you too, Hagrid; we have heard a great deal about you."

"Have you now?" Hagrid laughed, and everyone in the company felt the vibration of his merriment in their chests. He nodded to Margaret. "It's good to meet you, ma'am."

Margaret had recovered her manners and replied, "It's wonderful to meet you too, sir."

Hagrid ducked his head and then surveyed the company. "Look at you all. All grown up... and you a bit more'n most there, Ginny. Congratulations, you two." He said looking at Harry and Ginny. "Come, sit for a bit."

Severus pulled out his wand and rolled some nearby logs and rocks closer to the fire, and they all took seats. Pretty soon the stories were flying, and the laughter lifted up into the brilliant starry night.

******

Several hours later, Hermione crawled into bed with Severus following her. He reached out and drew her close. "It was a pleasant evening," he said.

She snuggled up against him. "It was very nice. I still can't believe my mum and dad are here. It's a dream come true, Severus, to share my life here with them. We must buy Minerva a thank you gift for allowing them to come."

"I hardly think a gift is necessary. She was happy to do it for you, but if you wish." He placed a kiss on her forehead.

"We can look tomorrow on the tour of Hogsmeade. There's a new jewelry store there near Madam Malkin's. A brooch of some kind would be nice for her. I need to pick up the wedding robes and have the last fitting."

Severus groaned. "You could take your parents on your own."

"Please come, Severus, I think the whole group from tonight will want to go, and we sort of made plans, while you were talking to Pomona, to have a drink at the Hogshead."

"If that's what you want, Hermione. I feel a bit out of place with all the younger people. People who don't know us will think I'm someone's father."

She smiled cheekily. "No, only my sugar daddy."

Severus sneered. "I hardly think that fits me. There is nothing sweet about me."

Hermione rose up, turning to look into his face, and grinned before kissing his cheek. "Hummm, pretty sweet here," she teased. She then kissed each of his eyelids as he looked on, amused. "Sweet as nectar," she praised. His fingers slid up her back and tangled in her hair. She then placed a soft kiss on his lips, "Yummy, honey...nectar of the gods." She giggled when he grabbed her and flipped her over and partially under him. She entwined her legs in his. "Yep, my sugar daddy."

********

The next day found the group walking back up the tree-lined lane to Hogsmeade. Ginny and Harry had insisted on coming, though she was lagging further and further behind. Harry stayed at her side.

Severus finally stopped the group, and they waited for them to catch up. "Ginevra, are you certain this walk is wise in your condition?" he asked, eyeing the sheen of sweat on her brow.

She nodded, a bit out of breath. "My healer tells me it's good for me to walk."

Severus got on one side and said, "Harry, take her arm. Hermione, will you cast a lightening charm, please?"

Hermione nodded. Pulling her wand out, she waved it over Ginny, who floated of the ground a couple inches.

Harris laughed. "I wish I could have done that for Marg the last days before Hermione was born. She was as big as a house."

Margaret punched his arm playfully, and Hermione laughed. "Nice, Dad."

"I was," Margaret agreed with a laugh as they continued down the street, the two men pulling Ginny along.

Ginny and Harry carried on straight to the Hogshead while Hermione the others took her mum and dad on a tour of Hogsmeade. There was not a lot to see there, but they seemed like two kids in a candy shop, staring at all the buildings and things they had heard about for so many years.

Harris bought some sugar quills and some exploding pop. Margaret bought some quills and ink as well as auto-correct paper. Neville and Luna went to the apothecary. Severus slipped in behind them for a few minutes while Hermione and Margaret went to the dress maker's. Harris tagged along with him, his eyes getting wider and wider as he read some of the ingredients on the many jars that lined the walls. "Dragon heartstring, eye of newt, unicorn horn... Severus, are there really unicorns?" he asked.

"Of course, how else would they get the horn?" Severus replied with a grin. "It is, however, very rare. They only shed their horn after their first year, and it's very small. It's a good thing not too many potions call for it, as it's a rare ingredient." He made a purchase and then beckoned the man to follow him out. "Longbottom, Lovegood," he called to the pair. "We are heading to the Hogshead."

"We'll be along in a few minutes," Neville called back. He was selecting a few seeds.

Their timing was impeccable...Severus and Harris met Hermione and Margaret coming out of Madam Malkin's at the same time. Severus quickly relieved Hermione of the large box she was holding, acknowledging her hurried instruction not to shrink the delicate garment within.

When they reached the Hogshead, they searched the large room and spotted Harry waving to them from the back corner. The Potters had settled into a booth and ordered some butterbeers for old time's sake. Hermione decided to do the same, encouraging her mother to have one as well. Severus and Harris chose to go for fire whiskeys.

Once they were all seated, Hermione noticed Ginny wince. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, my back's hurting. It's from carrying all this weight up front."

Hermione squeezed her friend's hand supportively. "Maybe you shouldn't have come today. We could hire a carriage to take us all back to Hogwarts. Just say the word and we can go now."

Ginny waved her hand dismissively, "I'm okay. Besides I haven't been out in ages. I'm really looking forward to the wedding tomorrow."

"It wouldn't be right without you there. I'm so glad you and Harry came. I just wish..." She let the words trail off.

Ginny patted her arm, "I know; if he wasn't my brother, I'd take a switch to him. I love him, but he was a grade A git."

Hermione felt Severus lean closer to her for support. He might have been carrying on a conversation with her dad, but he was also able to discern her and Ginny's conversation. She glanced at him and saw he was concerned but not annoyed, and that made her love him even more.

"Owww," Ginny cried out. "This one is such a kicker." She pressed her hand to her large belly, to try and alleviate some of her discomfort.

Hermione glanced at her watch. It had only been about five minutes since the last pain. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked her friend again.

"Hermione, when you're at this stage, everything hurts or is uncomfortable." She squirmed to get a better angle on her back.

Harry and the men were in a discussion about the seeds Neville had bought. Severus had asked about the properties of the seeds and what Neville planned for them. "Ask Pomona about them. She can tell you all of the plant's needs. I'm mostly versed in what can be done with the leaves and stem bark."

Ginny groaned again and Hermione glanced at her watch again, only another five minutes. "I may never have had a baby, Ginny, but I know most normal pains do not come in five minute increments."

Her question had come at a lull in the men's conversation. Severus turned and asked, "Ginevra, are you in labor?"

Harry immediately straightened his whole body and shouted, "What?"

Severus scooted out of the both and pulled out his wand and, uttering an incantation, watched as the colors danced about Ginny's form. "I thought you'd been through this before." He had that annoyed smirk.

"I have, but the pains were up front in my lower belly area. This feels like back spasms, plus it hurt a lot more last time; it's completely different today," Ginny said, stubbornly refusing to believe she might actually be about to have her baby."

"Severus, is Ginny in labor?" Hermione asked.

"Quite," he answered. Looking at the gobsmacked expressions of his companions, he quickly took charge of the situation. "I say we adjourn this discussion to a later time and get Mrs. Potter to Poppy post haste. Mr. Longbottom, will you please summon a coach?" he instructed the group. "Apparation is not advisable right now," he informed the nervous father. "Plus we cannot Apparate into Hogwarts anyway."

Harry scrambled from the booth, and the others quickly followed. Neville ran outside to hire the carriage.

Harry placed his arm about Ginny's waist, Hermione got on the other side, and they walked her out of the Hogshead. Outside the door, she groaned and her legs collapsed under her. Severus swooped in and picked her up.

Harry said, "I can do it." He held his arms out for his wife.

"Nonsense," Severus told the younger man. "I already have her and here comes the coach. You get in, I'll hand her into you. Hermione, send your Patronus to Poppy and let her know we are coming. We should have plenty of time. Don't these things take hours?" He murmured to no one in particular.

Luna said in her soft voice, "Things could progress quickly. Sir, I have been studying to be a midwife."

Severus waited till Harry climbed into the coach and then he lifted Ginny in. "By all means come with us." He clambered into the coach, and Luna followed. "Hermione, perhaps you and Neville can Apparate your parents back to the gates of Hogwarts."

Ginny cried out in pain, and Severus began to regret not suggesting the Floo. "I do not think this baby plans to wait too long. It's best you hurry. We will be along in a few minutes."

The coach pulled away. Inside, Severus waved his wand, placing a cushioning charm on Ginny, making the ride less jarring and bumpy. Harry sat next to her, and with a magical charm, the coach expanded so she could lay full out with her head on his lap.

Luna pulled her wand and began to check Ginny's vitals as she rode through another labor pain. All of a sudden, Ginny's waters broke, saturating her and Harry. "OH, MERLIN!" Ginny shouted as another strong wave of pain overcame her.

"I don't understand!" Harry said from behind Ginny. "It took hours last time!"

Ginny was panting through the pain. "Well, it's not going to this time. Oh, I need to push," she wailed.

"Professor Snape, have you ever delivered a baby before?" she asked.

"Yes." He said, his brow creasing with the memory. . . It had been under very rough circumstances...one of the young girls being kept by a Death Eater had gone into labor while he had been in attendance. As the only person present with even a remote amount of medical knowledge, he had been called upon to conduct the birth.

Luna got on her knees next to Ginny and conjured up a sheet to cover Ginny. "Well, it looks like you're about to help deliver another one. Harry, help her to sit up a bit. Bend your knees, Ginny." Harry moved quickly to comply with Luna's instructions.

"No, no!" Ginny cried in alarm, clinching her teeth against another pain. "I can't have this baby here!"

Severus said sternly, "Calm yourself, Witch. Breathe, this child wants to come into the world right now, and there's nothing we can do to stop it."

Ginny looked at Harry with panic.

"Ginny, you can do this, you can. You're strong." Harry soothed and encouraged her with a soft, gentle voice. He rubbed her lower back with one hand and braced the other one about her chest, holding her against him.

Harry looked at the determination in Severus' face and the soft calm countenance of Luna and felt at peace. He trusted these two people with his life, and Ginny and this baby were his life.

Severus chanted a pain-relieving spell, and Luna said, "Push, Ginny, push." She reached between Ginny's knees and felt the baby's head crown. "Sir, bear down on her upper abdomen when you feel the next contraction."

Severus went to his knees and placed a hand on Ginny's abdomen. He felt the coach come to a stop, and the door was flung open, and he felt Hermione close. He was aware that heads where poking into the door, all watching. He felt her contraction and gently pushed. Ginny cried out in pain, and Luna pulled the baby free. "It's a boy!" she announced. With her wand, she checked the baby's breathing, cleaned and warmed him.

Severus brought his wand up and severed the cord, tying it off with magic. He brought a vial from his pocket and placed some of the cord into it. "It might be quite useful for this child in the future. Many lifesaving potions can be created for him from it."

Harry, who had been looking at Severus strangely, smiled now. "Thank you, sir."

Hermione, who was now standing in the door, dug into her shopping bag and drew out a soft warm baby blanket. "Severus," she called to get his attention. He turned and smiled when he saw the blanket. He took it and handed it to Luna. She wrapped the baby into it and laid him down on Ginny's chest.

Ginny was crying, Harry was crying... big gulping happy sobs. "He's beautiful!" they said in unison.

Severus voice was heard over the din. "Merlin help us, another Potter."

Everyone turned to look into his face and saw, to their utter shock, tears of joy running down his face. They all laughed at the phenomenon, even Severus. Ginny laid a finger on the baby's soft hair and let a curl slide over her finger. "Albus Severus Potter," she said in a whisper.

"What!" Severus exclaimed, watching the magic of the naming swirl about the baby. "What did you go and do that for?!" He complained but reached out to touch the baby's hand. The little fingers wrapped about his pointer finger. Hermione saw his face melt, and she climbed into the coach and hugged his arm. Tears ran down all their faces at witnessing the miracle of birth.

The gate to Hogwarts swung open, and Poppy came running through. The baby started to cry. "Out of the way. Let me though," the medi-witch called.

Hermione and Severus crawled out of the coach, giving her room. Poppy climbed into the coach, waving her wand. "Well, I dare say you all didn't need me." She smiled at the group. "This boy is fit as a fiddle, and you did an excellent job, Miss Lovegood."

"With Professor Snape's help," Luna said.

"Is that a fact?" She watched as Harry and Ginny lifted the blanket to examine his ten tiny toes. "When you are ready, Mrs. Potter, I can float you up to the infirmary on a stretcher and check you both over."

Severus helped the medi-witch out of the carriage and watched as she conjured a floating stretcher.

Harry handed the baby out to Hermione, who stared at the tiny face as if she had never seen a baby before.

Severus and Harry got Ginny out of the carriage and laid her out on the canvas, covering her with a clean white blanket that Poppy had placed a warming charm on.

Hermione handed the baby to Harry. He turned to Severus and Luna. "Thank you," he said softly before turning away to follow after his wife.

"Wow!" Harris said, "You always seem to have so much drama around you. I'm quite happy to have experienced it firsthand this time. Come on, Margaret. I think we can find our way up to the castle. Let's let Hermione and Severus have some time together." He took his wife's arm, and with a wink, he guided her up the long drive to the castle.

Severus was finding the deluge of emotion draining, and he turned to Neville and Luna. "Thank you. You will make an excellent mid-wife Miss Lovegood. Mr. Longbottom." He gave the young man a smirk and then linked arms with Hermione, and they walked away leaving the two to smile with raised eyebrows at each other. Luna gave a crazy whoop and Neville followed. They danced about each other and raced up the drive past Hermione and Severus.

Hermione laughed, "They suit each other very well."

"Yes." Severus was quiet and Hermione just let him lead until she realized where they were heading. She grinned up at him as he led her to the secret door, through the hall and into the secret room.

Severus pulled her to him, kissing her with abandon. "That was exhilarating!" he said between kisses.

She looked at him with surprise at his lighter, amazing mood. It was a side of Severus she had not seen before. One she found very appealing. "You're positively giddy!" she laughed at him.

"I am, aren't I? I feel like I've been drinking." He threw off his cloak and waist coat and held out his arms to his soon to be bride. "Care for a romp before joining the others?"

Hermione grinned taking his hands, "Absolutely." Their lips met and clung to each other's as Severus backed them toward the bed. They fell back onto it in a laughing heap before crawling under the covers. Hermione looked up into his eyes. "The baby was wonderful wasn't he? I've never seen a newborn, not like that."

"Will you want to wait for a few years to have a baby?" Severus asked, a curious tone in his voice.

Hermione looked at his expectant face. What did he want her to say? She took a deep breath and told him how she really felt "Today made me want a baby now, Severus. Does that frighten you?"

His eyes had gotten round as saucers. Tears swam in his eyes. "It makes me very happy, very humble and thankful for my life with you, Hermione. I would like us to have a baby as soon as you are ready."

She caressed his face, and he turned and placed a kiss in her hand. "Let's try right now," she said with conviction.

His eyes crinkled with a smile and he said, "Doesn't one usually wait till after the wedding? Also, isn't it a custom for non-magical folk to not see each other the night before the wedding, bad luck and all that rubbish?"

"Severus," Hermione said with a grin, "everyone knows we've been together for a long time. I want to be with you tonight, and every night for the rest of our lives. I think we make our own good luck by loving each other with all our hearts."

"Yes, we do." he told her, gathering her close.

"I am coming up to the most fertile part of my cycle right now. I was going to be extra careful by taking the contraceptive potion during our honeymoon."

"I do have a potion that would make conception more likely for you at this time. It's in my lab."

"You keep that sort of thing on hand?" Hermione asked curiously.

Severus shrugged. "I'm trying to get my brewing skills back up to the standard they were before the Final Battle as you know. I'm brewing anything and everything I have the ingredients to brew with."

Hermione grinned. "Will tomorrow be soon enough?"

"Yes," he said. His voice got low and sexy. He bent to kiss her, and as their lips met, Severus vanished their clothing with wandless magic.

Hermione giggled, "You do know how to get down to it." Her hand ran over his back, feeling some scars and the muscles of his back. "I love you so much. I want more than anything to have your baby, Severus."

With hands that worshiped each other and lips that caressed and tasted, soft sighs and straining muscles, the promise of a possible life being created made them all the more eager to make love. Each time they were together was as sweet as the first.

********

Thank you, Suzanne for your beta work, It is much appreciated.

Merrin, I know I work you hard, and I so appreciate your help with the beta work. Thank you so much.

Becky, as always, thanks for your first look and your kind comments.