Chapter 20: Old magic

Chapter 20: Old magic

I always knew of a magic that would draw a man to the birth of his child; it was something to do with the introduction of wizarding blood to the world. But such facts go unremembered in such frantic circumstances as giving birth to a child. That day, I was puzzling over my take-home work from Hogwarts’ newest program for those too concerned with their children’s safety to allow them to go to school. I had almost finished my seventh year. The soft April air danced through the window, reminding me slightly of what had occurred almost a year past.

I hadn’t thought of Severus that much in the previous four months—only before bed when my mind was susceptible and weakened to unwelcome thoughts. The check-ups at St. Mungo’s had revealed that my baby was healthy and fine. I asked not to know the gender of the baby.

Ron and Harry had also been doing their coursework abroad due to the seemingly never-ending Horcrux hunt. We saw them every other week; the rest of the time they would stay at the Leaky Cauldron, on the Knight Bus or sometimes even Hogwarts. They would often come to Grimmauld Place exhausted and dirty and would go to sleep without speaking to anyone. Ginny would wash Harry’s wounds, and it seemed to me that they were in love again.

And so there I stood in the dining room, asking Remus for help with my Defense Against the Dark Arts homework. I had a question about werewolves. He and I had become great friends over the course of those few months, and I could chart the progression of the month by the hue of his skin. It was not near the full moon; therefore, his hair was orderly, and he looked healthier than ever. We laughed about a simple question on my worksheet.

The laughter died out for a moment, and I stood from my leaning position on the counter. He did as well.

“You look lovely tonight, Hermione,” he said quietly. I could expect such comments from him, as he was an entirely platonic friend. But he had a strange and un-called for sincerity in his eyes as I thanked him. I attempted to step past him, but he continued to look me in the eye.

“I have to tell you something.”

“Yes, anything, Remus,” I said as I crossed the kitchen to retrieve some milk from the frozen pantry.

“These past months with you have been wonderful. I have come to think of you as a very dear friend. You are a very mature witch for your age.”

“Oh, really?” I responded. What was he playing at?

“Yes, and I really feel that I must—” He paused and stood. He seemed to be having trouble phrasing what he was saying. He walked to me, and when he was mere inches away, I understood immediately. He was going to kiss me.

He bent down and delivered a soft kiss that spoke of nothing but pure, sweet love. I, having been forsaken for eight and a half odd months, indulged him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and the kiss grew deeper. I leaned against the counter as an old feeling came back to me; I had forgotten what it was like to be loved.

He leaned in as much as he could with my pregnant stomach, and a great, swooping sensation came over me. I thought it was attraction to him, but I knew I was wrong when he leapt backward with soaking pant legs.

My water had broken.

I looked up to see Remus with a wand to his throat. And when I turned my head, I nearly passed out. Standing there, looming stubble, filthy robes and all, was Severus Snape.

“How dare you lay your hands on her, Lupin?” He asked. His voice was velvety and low, just as I remembered it. I was in such a state of shock that I had trouble keeping consciousness.

“What—” Lupin began, almost as bewildered as I was.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here, Lupin. It must be an old magic.” He looked down to see me sitting on the floor; my robes were steadily soaking through. He picked me up to sit me on the bench, and at his touch, I experienced a rather painful contraction. I was panting heavily, but I still heard his slightly uncomfortable coos that were intended to sedate me. No such thing would happen.

“GET MOLLY, YOU IMBECILE!” Snape shrieked at Lupin who was standing dumbstruck in the kitchen. He nodded and ran out of the room, shrieking to high heaven for help. Men did not handle labor well.

As the first contraction ended, Snape realized that he had five minutes to get me to a bed. And so, with an amazing amount of strength, he picked me up and carried me up the stairs.

“Hermione, I know you want to know why I haven’t seen you,” he said hurriedly. “It would not have been safe. But things are winding down now; I can see you more often.”

“OH, MY GOD!” Ginny screamed as she emerged out of the bathroom in only a towel. “MURDERER! MURDERER IN THE HOUSE!”

Severus did not skip a beat. He strode quickly past her and gently laid me on my bed. I could hear thundering footsteps all around the house. Soon the room was full of everyone staying at the home. As Molly Weasley stepped through the door, she began to bark orders, sending every man except for Lupin and Snape out of the room. Severus sat by my side and held my hand protectively as another painful contraction washed over me. Molly slipped my undergarments off and ordered Ginny to retrieve a towel and some cold water.

“She’s fully dilated!” cried Molly after numerous contractions had passed. Severus allowed me to grip his hand for dear life as I slid in and out of consciousness. The searing pain hit me, and I screamed with all my might to drive it away.

Lupin paced the room, mumbling and fretting until Molly told him to sit on my other side and mop the sweat off of my forehead. I was officially in labor as Severus haughtily snatched the washcloth from Lupin and began to lovingly and tenderly wipe my face.

Dawn broke, and I was called back to my earthly body as I gave a final shove and a newly-pitched scream bit the air. Molly quickly placed the wrinkly, red baby on my chest so that I would be the first to touch my child. An olive-skinned face looked skeptically back at me. Adorable, blue eyes quizzically stared me down as I lovingly stroked the baby’s soft, black hair.

“It’s a girl,” said Lupin unnecessarily with a sigh.

Severus leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. He said to her in the most gentle voice I had ever heard escape his mouth, “And we’ll name you Juliet, little one.”

The baby let out a soft hum as Molly pushed Ginny and Lupin out of the room, leaving Severus and I to wrap our child in a blanket.

“All that work, and she looks just like you,” I panted as he wrapped her soft, rubbery skin in a lilac blanket.

“Oh, tosh,” he responded, handing her over. “She has your nose.”

I smiled at him, and he kissed my forehead as the baby began to nurse. Her long, black eyelashes were stuck into triangles. I looked up at Severus once more; his gaze was alternating between me and the baby. I had never felt so much love radiating off of a person as at that moment.

Author’s Note: I would like to thank http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/1483/contractions.html for the helpful information about contractions.

This was my favorite chapter to write so far, well except for the last chapter, but I'll say nothing of that!!

And for everyone leaving me comments about sticking with Snape post DH, I want to let you know that this story was completed far before DH was released. And I did enjoy it, especially after all we learned about our hero in bat-like robes. ;)

And now that I'm back I also just want to say thanks for all the support I've gotten from this community. And I have a lot of respect for those of you who have stuck with this story! I almost didn't, to be honest. I hope the upcoming chapters will be pleasing to you all.