In The Life Of A Potions Master

A/N: This chapter is going to be the birth and a glance at the years following the story. I hope you enjoy the final chapter. All that’s left is the Epilogue. So read, review, and I love all my reviewers with out your support this story may have never been finished. Many thanks to all of you who have read.

Chapter 10

Hermione sat in the staff room listening to the teachers glowing words about the new world opened to their students. She grimaced again as she felt another pain wash over her. She had had a rather strong craving that morning for a ham sandwich and now her stomach was in an uproar over the seemingly innocent sandwich.

Severus leaned down and quietly inquired if she was alright. Hermione smiled and assured him she was fine. She took a sip of her grape juice and winced as another pain lanced through her. Poppy stood from her place and smiled.

She looked to Ginny and grinned, “It appears it’s time for you to learn about birth Miss Weasley. Please collect Professor Granger.”

Hermione looked up from her notes and shook her head, “It’s just a bit of indigestion Poppy, nothing to worry about.”

“Dear your at the end of your nine months. And if that’s indigestion I’m the next dark lord.” Poppy said smiling.

Hermione looked at Severus’ startled face, “Finish your meeting love. It’s just indigestion. I’ll be back before long.”

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and followed the medi-witch from the staff room. Severus quickly set about finishing the meeting. Assigning teachers the tasks of monitoring the student lounges and a teacher the task of watching over the train layout. With that done he quickly set off for the infirmary.

Severus swept through the doors to the infirmary and made his way to the teachers privet room. He found Hermione laying on a clean white hospital bed already in a lose gown. Her face was set in a grim line as an obvious contraction swept over her.

Severus was by her side in an instant. Taking her hand in his he winced as her grip crushed down on his hand. Poppy and Ginny came in just in time to hear five distinct pops as Severus’ fingers popped out of their sockets.

Poppy tisked lightly, “Well those will have to be set. Ginny dear, why don’t you handle Professor Snape’s hand well I take a look at Mrs. Snape.”

Ginny and Poppy both winced as Severus pulled his fingers straight and then pushed them back into the sockets. Ginny quickly applied charms to stop the swelling and went to retrieve a pain potion. Meanwhile Poppy went about examining Hermione. She lifted her head and smiled.

“Well Severus, I hope you’re ready to be a daddy because it wont be long now.”

Severus watched Poppy flit about the room setting up a bassinet for the baby. Ginny returned with the pain potion and handed it to Severus.

Ginny grinned at Hermione, “This is so exciting! Think Hermione, your first baby is going to be my first delivery.”

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and grunted as another wave of pain swept through her, “How about we trade places?”

Poppy patted her leg, “Now now dear, this should all be over…” Poppy’s words were cut off as Hermione’s water broke, “Sooner then I expected I guess.”

Poppy reexamined Hermione and then smiled at Ginny, “It’s time Miss Weasley. Time Hermione’s pushes please.”

Ginny cast a charm to allow her to watch Hermione’s contractions peak and fall and began to instruct her when to push. Severus watched in wonder as over a half hour the head began to appear and soon the shoulders. Poppy clamped the cord and handed Severus a small silver dagger and a phial. Severus easily sliced through the cord and collected small amount of blood Poppy allowed to spill from the cord.

Ginny mopped Hermione’s face with a cool damp cloth and smiled warmly. Until a new contraction started to peak. “Um, Poppy!” Ginny called slightly panicked.

“Your turn to catch dear. It’s easier then Quidditch.” Severus looked from Poppy to his small son to Ginny’s frightened face.

Severus smiled at Ginny’s look, “I have complete faith in you Miss Weasley.”

Severus resumed his place next to Hermione and very soon they had a daughter to match their tiny son. Poppy and Ginny quickly cleaned and checked the babies and finished seeing to Hermione. Severus sat looking at his two children.

As planned the boy was named Salem. He had his father’s hair but his mother’s features. He looked exactly like the baby pictures Hermione had shown him of herself. He lay nestled in his mothers arms gripping her finger with surprising strength.

Severus looked down into his own arms at his daughter, Sandy. She had thick brown hair and her father’s eyes. She had her father sharp features with a tiny little nose. He could only hope that it would stay tiny and beautiful.

He was surprised by how full of love his heart felt. It was little wonder that he wasn’t skipping through the school singing. He smiled at his little daughter and began to hum a quiet song. His baritone rumbled in his chest and Sandy yawned and her eyes fluttered closed. As her breathing became rhythmic Severus gently laid her down in her basinet.

As the day went by Severus and Hermione presented the twins to their friends. Over several hours they spent time with all their loved ones. As Harry was leaving Severus followed him out.

Severus looked at Harry, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking Professor Potter. I’ve come to a decision about something that has bothered me for a long time.”

Harry looked at Severus confused. He was starting to wonder if the days events had rattled the Headmaster’s mind when Severus continued, “Seventeen years ago I let someone else make a decision for me. I must say that I have often regretted that.”

Severus took a deep breath and handed Harry a package wrapped in brown paper, “I can’t explain what I am talking about so I decided to show you. Inside you will find a letter and a pensive. Look at the pensive before reading the letter Potter. It will put things in perspective.”

Severus returned to Hermione’s room and Harry went to his office. He set the box on his desk and removed the wrapping from it. He pulled out the pensive and held it delicately in his hands. Harry considered the pensive for a moment then plunged into the memories.

Two hours later he pulled out of the pensive having viewed Severus’ life from a different prospective. He saw how his father and the Marauders tormented him. Felt the feelings that went with the events. Watched as a young Severus Snape fell in love with a beautiful woman and felt his grief at her death. He saw his mother, Lilly, comforting Severus. Watched their friendship and saw and felt how much he cared for her.

He even felt the sorrow Severus felt as a tiny Harry Potter left his life to one day return. Felt the contempt at the knowledge that when his younger self returned to Hogwarts Severus would only be able to treat him with contempt and hatred.

Harry slit open the envelope and found a contract inside. It was dated 1, November 1981 and was a contract of adoption. The consent to adopt line remained blank. Along with the contract was a letter from Severus. Harry unfolded it and began to read.

Dear Harry,

Seventeen years ago I went and procured the contract you now hold. It was my wish to watch over what remained of my dearest friend Lilly Evens. But it was not to be. At that time I was still a spy and you were destined to destroy Voldemort. So I had to let go of my last link to a friend I had failed. I don’t know that I can ever make up for the way that I have been forced to treat you. I hope you will understand that my choices were limited in my behavior towards you.

I am very proud of the wizard you have become Harry. And I know your mother and father would be as well. I hope all this information helps you to understand the way I have been forced to treat you.

Severus Snape

Harry wiped a tear from his eye and pulled out the final item in the box. It took him three hours to read through the book which turned out to be excerpts from Albus’ journal. When he finished he rested his head on his desk and silently cried.

As the last of the tears fell he pulled a bottle of ink and a quill from his desk and signed the aged parchment. His signature glowed for a second and then the scroll sealed itself. Harry picked it up and made his way to the infirmary. He found Severus sitting in a rocking chair in front of one of the large windows in the hospital.

Severus looked up at Harry’s approach and gave a small smile, “Hermione is resting,” he quietly explained.

“I came to give you this,” Harry said holding out the scroll.

Severus looked at it in disbelief as Harry set it down on the windowsill. He waved his wand and a second rocker appeared. Harry picked up little Salem and sat down.

“I only showed you those things so you would understand the request I was going to make of you. Why did you sign the consent?”

Harry looked at Severus openly, “I have lost so many people in my life, sir. The only person I really had left until today was Hermione. I look out of my window and see Hagrid’s hut, empty. I look at the high table and see McGonagall gone. I look at Albus and he is gone yet still there. And I look at Ginny and am reminded of my best friend. Gone. My parents, Sirius, Lupin. Even Hermione was gone for awhile. It almost killed me losing her.

“But I have seen things in your pensive that make me understand. Mind you I still don’t like the way you treated me. But I can understand. I also know how you felt about it. I saw and felt the way you felt when my mother died. You’re the only link to my parents I have. You love my best friend, and her children, and me. For a long time I have longed for my father. You’re not him. For a long time I longed for A father. You wanted to be that.”

Harry took a deep breath, “The things you shared with me tonight mean more to me then anything I have ever dreamed of. I’m still very much a child I think. Longing for things denied me. You wanted the chance to be part of my life. To raise me and care for me. Well now you have the chance to help me grow into a strong man. The chance to be the one I turn to. If you still want it that is.”

Severus smiled at Harry, “Go lay your brother down Harry. He seems to have fallen asleep.”

Harry grinned and stood to place Salem in his basinet, “Do you mind if I tell Hermione?”

“Not at all.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Later the night Severus watched as Salem’s little mouth suckled at his mother’s breast. He watched as the little boys eyes drooped and closed. Hermione tucked her breast away and gentle settled Salem to sleep. She lay back against her pillow and smiled at Severus.

“So why does Harry want to see me?”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself? He is standing outside waiting.”

Severus went to the door and let Harry in. Harry walked to Hermione’s side and hugged her, “Hi, mum!”

Hermione looked at Harry and grinned, “They are precious aren’t they?”

“Yep, my brother and sister are beautiful.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry, “What are you on about Harry?”

Harry handed Hermione the role of parchment which opened for her. She read it and saw the line awaiting a mother signature. She looked at Harry startled, “Are you serious?”

“Why not. Are you or are you not my father’s wife?”

Hermione looked from Severus to Harry, “You two have some explaining to do.”

So Severus and Harry filled Hermione in. When they finished she beamed happily at them, “Well they do say all good things come in threes don’t they. But really Harry are you sure about this?”

“Why not? You’re always taking care of me anyway. If it hadn’t been for you watching out for me I wouldn’t have ever passed my Newts or OWLS or any of my other finals for that matter. I would have been to busy goofing around and forgotten to study. So, Hermione Granger will you be my mummy?”

Hermione laughed at the green puppy dog eyes Harry sent her way, “First off that only works if your eye’s are brown. Second off if it’s what you want.”

Harry nodded, “It is.”

Hermione put quill to parchment and as the glow of her signature faded the roll of parchment disappeared. The three sat together quietly watching the babies and talking well into the evening.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Three months later.

Severus cursed his rotten luck. Here he was, a powerful wizard. One of those who fought against Lord Voldemort. And he couldn’t even master a simple charm to change a nappy. He pulled the dirty diaper from his sons bottom and scowled at him.

“Salem Snape, don’t you even think about a repeat of earlier.” He commanded.

Hermione stepped in just in time to watch their son unleash a spray in his father’s face. His scowl deepened as he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his face. “If you had a house they would have just lost a hundred points.”

Hermione laughed, “As if you would deduct points from your own son. Come now Severus. How many times do I have to tell you just give him a puff of air.”

Severus’ scowl reached the level of death glare, “I am not blowing on my son’s penis. He needs to learn to stop peeing all over me.” he hissed.

“And in the mean time you need to change your robes yet again.” Hermione flicked her wand and diapered Salem. “Harry popped the question. So we have a wedding to plan for love.”

“Well I guess I don’t have to ask if Sinestra said yes then. It’s about time he removed his head from his arse and asked her. Everyone knows they have loved each other forever now.”

“Severus,” Hermione grinned, “Your turning into an old hen.”

~*~*~*~

Eleven years later

Hermione and Severus watched Salem and Sandy awaiting their sorting. Harry sat next to Severus holding a substantial sack of galleons. Salem sat the stool first and all watched in excitement as the hat mulled over the decision. Finally the flap moved and the hat shouted Gryffindor. Next Sandy sat and before the hat was even on her head it shouted Slytherin.

Harry handed the sack to Severus who smirked at Hermione, “I told you she would be in Slytherin.”

Hermione stuck her tongue out and crossed her arms. Severus just smiled at her and winked at his daughter.

She went and sat at the Slytherin table along with her friends. Harry smiled at his son James as he excitedly whispered to Sandy.

~*~*~*~*~*~
Eleven years later

Severus sat fidgeting outside of the tent his daughter was getting ready in. He was worried he would trip and rune her big day. He smiled at the beauty of his daughter as she exited the tent. Her long curly brown hair flowed down her back. Her tall slender figure was accentuated by her white wedding dress. Her face was angular, even her nose was sharp, but Severus was thankful it was far shorter then his. Her black eyes shined at her father as he presented his arm to her.

The walked down the aisle arm in arm to the alter were James Potter waited for them. Severus placed Sandy’s hand in his and leaned into James, “Take care of her young man, or you know who you have to answer to.”

James grinned, “Yes grandfather.”

Severus chuckled at the thought of his daughter marring his grandson. When the two had found out that Harry was only adopted by Severus they had been overjoyed. He could understand that. Finding out that you weren’t attracted to a relative must have been a relief.

He sat between a crying Ginny, and a crying Hermione and pulled to tissues out and handed one to each woman. He looked over at Harry and smirked, “Women!”

Harry grinned and nodded and they both felt the sharp blow of elbows to their sides. Sandy giggled at the alter as she looked at her parents and then at James. She hoped they would be that happy.