The Healing

CHAPTER TWELVE


Severus stood in the doorway and watched as Hermione bathed the baby in her bathroom sink. His hair seemed to stick up even worse after his bath. She wrapped him in a towel and carried him back to the nursery and laid him out on the changing table.

“What’s that you are rubbing on him?” He asked.

“Baby lotion, his skin gets kind of dry.” She said, cooing to the baby as she massaged his chubby legs and arms.

“But it’s pink.”

“So, what does that have to do with anything?” She asked as she put a fresh diaper on him.

“He’s a boy.”

“It’s just baby lotion Severus, the color has nothing to do with gender.” She said as she slid Sebastian’s arms and legs into a pair of red sleepers that zipped up the front. “Did you put your jacket into the washing machine?” She asked as she flipped off the light and left the nursery.

“Yes…I thought you were putting him to bed.” He asked as he followed her down the hall and into what appeared to be her room.

“I am, he sleeps in here with me for now. It’s just easier to tend him through the night if he’s closer.” She walked to the side of the bed and laid Sebastian onto his back in the bassinet, covering him with a light blanket.

Her bedroom was very much like her, simple yet feminine. The furniture was a dark mahogany wood with a four poster bed, side tables, a mirrored dresser and a tall chest of drawers. It was accented with doilies of cream lace and a cream colored coverlet. Again, fresh flowers and candles littered almost every surface.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and yawned. She pulled her legs onto the mattress and rolled to face the middle of the bed, patting the other side.

“Come on Severus, I’m exhausted. Lay down with me and talk like we used to.” She smiled. He kicked off his shoes and crawled onto the other side of the bed, turning in so that they were face to face. Their hands clasped on the bed between them as they laid there, noses almost touching.

“You still smell like cookies.” He muttered.

“Mixed with baby vomit and lord knows what else.” She said on a laugh.

“You care for him so expertly, I feel like an idiot watching you.” He said as he stroked his thumb over her fingers where they entwined with his.

“Trial and error really, I read a lot of books, as you can imagine. Mostly I just adore him so much its easy to care for him, I want to do it, I look forward to every diaper.”

“You’ll have to teach me how to do some of this stuff.” He said.

“You? You’re going to change diapers?” She asked incredulously.

“Sure, why not.” He said with a shrug. “Can’t be that bad, now that I know to cover his what-not lest I be hosed.” He said frowning. “Been through a lot over the years….first time I was ever peed on though.” Hermione was laughing as she scooted closer to him.

“It will not be the last time either, I wonder if he does it on purpose sometimes.” She said as she slid her foot between his. “I missed this.”

“Me too.” He whispered before brushing his lips against hers. He slid one arm beneath her head, and the other about her waist, pulling her close so that their bodies were pressed together completely. His arousal was evident, pressed tight against her soft stomach. The knowledge that she had brought this reaction about notched her own, neglected sex drive up a gear.

What started as a gentle exploration quickly turned hungry as their bodies recognized and remembered what they had between them. Hermione unbuttoned his shirt and slid her hand inside, her hand lighting over the chest she knew, and remembered so well. Their tongues and lips met in a wet, heated battle for dominance over the kiss, fueling the flash fire that was erupting between them.

Severus slid his hand over her hip and up under her shirt, thrilling at the feel of her heated, bare skin beneath his palm.

“Oh, wait Severus…” Hermione said as she pulled her lips away from his. “I can’t.” She said, breathing heavily. Severus released her and rolled onto his back, his arm flopping over his eyes.

“I’m sorry, you are right, we should take this slower.”

“Oh, no…” She leaned over him, kissing his chest and his neck. “It’s not that, I want to….I mean I REALLY want to, I just can’t….the doctor said I shouldn’t have sex until six weeks after Sebastian was born….he’s just a little over four weeks old.” She placed soft kisses against his chin and his lips. “I’m sorry, can you wait another two weeks?” She asked.

“I can wait as long as you want me to.” He said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight against his side. He felt at ease with her lying beside him. “Do you want me to go now, so you can get some sleep?” He asked as she yawned and snuggled closer.

“No, I missed sleeping with you. Will you stay the night with us?” She asked, her voice muffled against his throat.

“Of course I will. I always slept well with you, despite your cold feet on my legs.” He said as he slid his wand from his pocket and charmed the blanket to cover them. He set it on the nightstand and nestled closer.

“Don’t know how well you’ll be sleeping, but I want you to stay.”

“Why wouldn’t I sleep well?” he asked, but she was already asleep.

Severus had just slipped into a deep sleep when he heard the high pitched crying, he sat straight up, looking around franticly for a few seconds before he realized where he was. Hermione was propping pillows behind her as she reached for little Sebastian in the bedside bassinet.

“What happened, why is he crying?” Severus asked worriedly.

“Nothing, its time for him to eat again.” She said, yawning as she opened her blouse and put him to her breast.

“Eat? But its two in the morning.” He said glancing at the clock beside the bed.

“He eats every two to three hours Severus. Haven’t you ever been around babies?” She asked.

“Only Draco Malfoy and he always had a nanny with him, I don’t even think I ever held a baby before Sebastian.” He said, watching his son suckle. “You mean you wake up every couple of hours and feed him?” He asked.

“Yes, it’s not as though he can walk to the kitchen and make a sandwich Severus.” She chuckled.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Exhausted, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She let her head fall back against the headboard.

“Can I do anything?” He asked , feeling useless.

“Hm, water would be nice, and you could fetch me a diaper and some wipes.” She said. “He doesn’t smell too sweet at the moment.”

“Right, water…” He grabbed his wand and conjured a glass of water. “Accio Diaper, accio wipes.” He caught the items as they drifted into the room.

“Wow Severus, as sweet as it is that you are trying to help, you sure are lazy.” She laughed.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to leave you alone.” He looked so sweet sitting there, staring at her and the baby with concern.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being so sweet about this, you could have reacted so many other ways….but to have you be so sweet, so considerate….well, just thank you.”

“If I thought you had kept him from me out of malice, I may have reacted differently.” Hermione pulled Sebastian from the breast and laid him on the bed.

“No, I have never felt any malice towards you. I was a little miffed at you at first for not using the contraceptive charm, but then again, I was perfectly capable of casting it myself.” She looked up at him and smiled. “What can I say, when you touch me I can’t seem to think straight.” She unzipped the baby’s pajamas and pulled his little feet free. Severus watched carefully as she opened the fresh diaper and laid it across her lap, then pulled a wipe from the box and wadded it into her fist for a moment.

“Why are you doing that?”

“To warm it up, would you want me putting something cold and wet against your what-not?” She asked.

“Maybe not the cold part, but I wouldn’t mind the later.” He mumbled.

“You are going to make the next few weeks difficult aren’t you?” She asked as she pulled the little Velcro tapes free.

“I’ll try not to.” He was watching her carefully as though she were teaching him to brew a potion. She pulled back the front of the diaper and he recoiled quickly. Hermione laughed at him as he stared at the mess in horror. “You do this all the time?”

“Someone has to. You were all for changing diapers earlier. Change your mind?” She asked as she wiped Sebastian’s bottom clean and put the fresh diaper on him.

“Why didn’t he pee on you?” He asked.

“He does, regularly, not to worry.” She folded up the dirty diaper and handed it to him. “Dispose of this will you?” She redressed the baby and laid down, pulling Sebastian to lie beside her as she freed her other breast and nursed him lying on her side.

Severus, still smarting after she called him lazy, walked to the baby’s room and tossed the dirty diaper into the pail by his changing table. He returned to the bed and laid against the pillows to stare at them. His family.

***OK, sorry but I sat and imagined Snape with an infant and thought, you know....the man would be completely clueless..and had to write it. Sygnus, I have two boys, and I remember vividly the night our first was born..we were stationed in Hawaii, I woke up at 3 am and told him my water broke, he said he would call DPW in the morning, finally go the hospital across the island mind you, and after 15 hours in labor, the little monster got stuck and had to be helped out..I was enjoying my sleep when I hear my husband screaming, and nurses running into the room. He had tried to be sweet and let me sleep by changing the baby all on his own...my big bad infantryman was cowering like a girl while the baby peed everywhere!

Okay...enough fluff, time to play... :)