The Birth of a New Family

Epilogue – The Birth of a New Family

Severus was trying to calm his son down. He was ready to climb the walls. The first-time father was ready to do his nut if he didn’t hear any news soon.

“Harry,” Severus said in his most intimidating voice, “sit down, now!”

“I can’t!” he blurted out as he ran his hands through his unruly black hair. "Why don’t they tell me anything? I’ve changed my mind, I’m going in!” he burst out as he made a dash for the door. Severus was on him like a panther.

“Boy, you passed out just watching that damn Muggle video Hermione showed you!” He gave a withering look at his wife as she sat unrepentant while breastfeeding their three-month-old daughter, Sarah.

“Don’t give me that look, Severus Snape!” she warned him. “Would you rather he passed out in front of Ginny during the delivery? She’d hex him on general principle!” she snapped.

“And precisely what would be said general principle?” he asked as he folded his arms across his chest, his curiosity now piqued.

“The principle being that she’s the one in god-awful, excruciating pain, and if anyone has the right to pass out, it would be her! You just have to look at it—it’s her body going through it!” she reasoned impatiently.

Severus scowled at his wife. Now though would not be the time to explain to her the unique pain a husband feels having to watch the love of his life going through agony and be completely helpless to stop it or take it upon himself.

“Harry, you need to breathe,” he told him as he put a supportive arm around him. "It’s going to be just fine,” he said reassuringly.

Just then Madam Pomfrey arrived and announced Ginny had delivered her baby.

Harry scrambled to get to the door and by Ginny’s side. Severus sat next to his wife. He let the Weasleys and his son have this moment.

“Remember how happy Harry was about having a sister?” Hermione reminisced.

“Yes,” he smiled. He had kept the conversation he had with Harry quiet. Harry had asked if he would consider naming her Lily, and Severus had refused. He had told him to save that name for when he had his own daughter.

“After all,” he had said, “Lily Potter is the way it should be, not Lily Snape.”

Harry had hugged him then and had said no more about it.

“How will you feel if it’s a girl, and he names her Lily? she asked timidly as she switched breasts.

Severus stroked the black silky hair on his daughter’s head. “It is immaterial to me. Besides, it’s how it should be. Lily was the boy’s mother,” he said absent-mindedly. His interest was completely in his daughter.

She smiled at him. Oh, how things had changed! She had started her work at the Ministry early after the holidays were over. After a semester without Hermione, Severus had been ready to lose his mind. He had finally come to her flat in Muggle London and begged her to marry him. He had been so miserable, he hadn’t care anymore if he looked desperate, for in fact, he was! She had chuckled at him and rescued him from his self-imposed misery. She had moved in, and they had been married in a small ceremony in Minerva’s office. Hermione had Apparated to work each day, and things had become quiet and cozy for a while. Finally, a year later, Harry had married Ginny, and very unexpectedly she had become pregnant in record time. Hermione had burst into laughter and tears at the same time when Ginny had announced their pregnancy. She had said she was three months pregnant and had been waiting until her first trimester was over to tell everyone. Severus had rolled his eyes. He, of course, had known she was pregnant and had grown accustomed to her emotional outbursts.

Remus and Tonks had heartily congratulated both couples as Severus kept a distinct scowl on his face. He had a reputation to maintain, after all. Remus and Tonks had worked with his diet, trying to find the best combination to stave of the transformations. Every month the results were getting better and better. The Lupins looked happier and happier each time the Snapes saw them, and it was wonderful. Severus still maintained his cool demeanor in public, but everyone knew Remus and Severus had become the closest of friends and confidants.

Today, however, Severus did not care to fool anyone, for he expressed his joy and happiness over the new arrival. He was a grandfather. He was very proud of Harry and Ginny and was honored that such a wonderful and intelligent witch like Hermione had borne his child. The day Severus and Hermione’s little Sarah had been born, Severus had bawled as much as his newborn daughter had. He had sat alone with Harry and had cried over her and felt so keenly the loss all over again for all he had missed with Harry. Harry had held his baby sister, Sarah, and had spoken to his dad in soft tones. No one knew what they'd discussed that day: it was between father and son.

Harry came out with a blue bundle. Severus gasped as Harry handed the bundle to him as the new father sat down. Severus held his grandson and watched as he opened his eyes wide. They were green, not so emerald as Harry and Lily’s, but they would lighten as he got older, Severus was sure. Severus was overcome with joy as he looked into his grandson’s eyes, and he'd remembered the first time he held Harry. It had been love at first sight. No matter what had happened, whatever had been taken, or lost along the way, the love had remained, and that love had grown into a larger love that took this child into its fold.

“We’ve named him Severus. Severus Harry Potter,” Harry said quietly.

Severus looked at his son and then his grandson and namesake, shocked at the announcement of his name. Baby Severus was perfect. Wisps of black hair decorated his crown and green eyes looked up at him. They would be Lily’s eyes.

“Hello, Severus,” he said softly. “I’m your grandfather. I’m going to teach you all about potion-making, just like I did with your father.”

Severus looked up at Harry and said, “You have made me proud, son. May God grant you all the joys this life can bring. That is my blessing to give to you.”

Harry felt a weight lifted off of him. The blessing from the only father he had known, the one he was sure he could never please, had blessed him. He felt free.

Harry watched his father as he held and spoke to his new grandson. A tear ran down Harry’s face as he pictured for the first time how it had been all those years ago. He had felt cheated for so long, but now, watching his son being adored by his grandfather, it made him feel he could experience it, watching it through his son’s eyes. It would be like growing up all over again, and all the pain of neglect and loneliness he endured with the Dursleys could be replaced with better memories, memories that should have been.

Harry sighed as he sank back into his chair, listening to his father’s rich voice wash over him, lulling him to sleep, as he continued to talk to his grandson. Both wizards were so grateful that even though everything else had been lost, the love had remained.

~The End~