A Secret Worth Keeping

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only those that I created myself. Please do not harm me in any way. I only do this for fun.


A Secret Worth Keeping


Chapter Fourteen: A wet baby is a cranky baby


Hermione woke up in her bed with the quilt pulled up to her chest and a pillow tucked under one arm. She looked around, confused as to how she had gotten into bed. The last thing she remembered was sitting in the rocker watching Sebastian sleep. She turned over and felt her lips form into a smile as she spotted Severus sitting in the rocker with Sebastian sleeping against his chest. Both were sound asleep, and both looked incredibly adorable.

That was what she wanted, wasn’t it? For Severus to be the father that she knew he could be. For them to be an actual true family? She leaned up on one elbow and watched them for a moment before glancing over at the clock. It was still early, but she knew Poppy would be up already, preparing for the day. Yesterday, in her confused state of mind, she had forgotten her promise for an examination. Now would probably be the perfect time, while the men in her life were still asleep.

The men in her life.

She sighed and let her eyes linger on the sleeping man. His head rested against the wooden back of the rocker and his expression held nothing, no anger, no hurt, and no pain. He looked at peace with their son sleeping snugly against him. Her gaze travelled him from top to bottom. He had removed his shoes and propped his feet up on the ottoman. His socks were black, but she expected that from him. He had disposed of his cloak and jacket, and the white shirt he wore appeared tailored to fit him perfectly. Its stark whiteness a complete opposite of his inward darkness, but like him, it was spotless, perfect…. Well, almost perfect: Sebastian had drooled, leaving a wet spot on his right shoulder.

Such a domestic vision.

She stifled a giggle and sat up slowly so as not to make too much noise. Severus had obviously come back last night and put her into bed. She thought that was a very nice thing to do, considering. He was completely different to how she remembered him in the past. Her times in his classrooms seemed like a foreign memory now. She now had a hard time putting the two men together as one. Her Severus and her Professor Snape were now two very different men. She still disliked the Professor Snape, but her Severus… she could most certainly learn to love if given time. She knew he was willing to wait for her as long as possible, and that made her feel secure.

Her movements caused the bedsprings to squeak and she stilled, hearing a soft snort coming from the rocker. The man stirred, blinking his eyes with the fabricated dawning of the sun in the fake window.

“Hermione?” His voice was deeply husky with sleep.

“Shh, it’s early…”

“Where are you going?”

“I forgot to see Poppy yesterday. I thought I’d do it now while you two were sleeping. Do you mind?”

He shook his head and let his eyes drop to the baby. “We will be fine. Let me know what she says.”

She nodded and crossed to them, gently kissing the top of the baby’s head before pausing. Her gaze found his sleepy eyes and she smiled, dipped her head and kissed his cheek. She couldn’t resist, and was glad that she did when she saw the warmth radiating from his surprised smile.

“I will be back soon. You both can use my bed if you get too uncomfortable,” she whispered.

“I don’t want to wake him. I think it would be best if I stay here.”

“All right. I should be back before he gets hungry.”

“That will be soon, I hope; he’s always hungry when he wakes.”

“Tell me about it,” she chuckled and, with a grin, left the room to shower and dress.

~0~

Hermione walked into the hospital wing half an hour later and looked around the familiar room, noticing the long rows of pristine beds and spotless flooring.

“Poppy?” she called out.

The mediwitch appeared from a back room and smiled, motioning her forward and into the vast room.

“I was wondering when you were going to come by,” the elder spoke in her normal, clipped tone that was slightly laced with kindness.

“I’m sorry, I forgot. So much has happened in the last twenty-four hours that I lost track of my thoughts.”

“I understand, Child.” Poppy smiled and motioned to a bed where she pulled a gown from the side table and handed it to her. “Change, and I will be back in a few minutes.”

“Yes, Miss,” Hermione nodded, and once Poppy left, pulling the curtain around the bed, she changed into the scarce white gown and climbed onto the bed. She hated these kinds of examinations, having to endure them over the last nine months didn't make her like them any more. Muggle doctors had a lot to learn in the act of treating expecting women.

Most of the doctors she had seen during her pregnancy had had her stretched out on cold, metal tables with her feet up in stirrups and legs spread wide. She hated that exposed feeling, but she endured it. She didn’t get a lot of chances to see doctors during her pregnancy so she endured the embarrassment for the baby’s sake.

Poppy returned after a few moments and smiled at her. “This won’t take long, Child. I just want to see the extent of your healing, and assist it if I can.”

Hermione nodded silently.

“All right, just lie back and relax,” Poppy coaxed and bent down to do her job.

A mere ten minutes later, she was finished and Hermione felt one hundred percent better. The aching and soreness was gone.

“Was it bad?” the younger woman asked as she watched the elder witch tuck her wand away.

“No, it wasn’t bad. You had some damage but I was able to heal it without any problems. There was a laceration, which, I assume was from the Muggle doctors cutting you, that was in the process of healing by itself so I just sped it along a little. Your uterus has returned to normal and your hormones have stabilised. The pain should just be a memory now. But I have to ask you to refrain from sex for at least a few more days.”

Hermione blushed at that and shook her head. “Don’t worry there; I don’t want to go through this again.”

Poppy laughed and shook her head. “Maybe not yet, but someday you will.”

“Doubtful.”

Poppy studied her carefully before kneeling down at her bedside. “I don’t know what happened between you and the baby’s father. However, I do know that you are a wonderful and very intelligent girl, Hermione.” Her eyes delved into the younger woman. “And I do know that Severus was half-mad with grief when you left so unexpectedly.”

Hermione’s eyes darted to the mediwitch in disbelief. “He was? How do you know?”

“I’m his caregiver; I am privy a great deal to his mindset and emotions. I know a lot about Severus that others do not. I can tell when he is wracked with grief. He was stricken when you left, Hermione. I have rarely seen him in that much grief and pain, even after his returns from his tortures with Vold… You Know Who…."

“I didn’t want to go, Poppy. I had to. You don’t understand what happened.” She lowered her head in shame.

“True. I haven’t been informed of the details. However, I know Severus, and I know when he’s in love. He loves you and I don’t want to see him hurt again.”

Hermione felt an unexpected anger rise in her. “What about me? What about my hurt?”

“Did he hurt you?” the witch asked softly.

Hermione flinched at her query, knowing what the elder woman was doing but not liking it one bit. “He’s the father of Sebastian.”

Poppy nodded and stood up slowly. “That’s what I thought…. ”

She sighed and opened the curtain. “You’re free to go, Hermione, but if you feel anything out of order, unexpected pressures, sudden pains… anything, I want you back here as soon as possible.”

Hermione nodded and as Poppy turned to leave, she asked quietly. “What are you thinking?”

Poppy turned to give her a sad gaze. “I think he may have… forced… more upon you than you were ready for.”

“He did…. ” She paused when she saw the look on Poppy’s face. “But there were circumstances involved. I don’t blame him, and he has forgiven me for leaving. We are trying to work it out. Please don’t be angry with him, Poppy. He didn’t… I mean…”

“It’s all right, child; when Severus is ready to confide in me, he will. I just don’t like the idea of…. ” She frowned. “ Don’t fret yourself about us. Severus and I have been friends for a long time; we can deal with each other appropriately. Now, I want you to go and get some proper rest. I’m sure your son will be calling for you soon.”

“Thank you, Poppy,” Hermione answered meekly before quickly redressing and making her way back to the dungeon she shared with Severus.

She heard the baby before she walked in. A crying echoed throughout the chambers as she hurried inside.

“Severus?”

“In here…. ” His voice sounded nervous as she crossed to the bathroom and peered inside. What she found made her grin.

“Problems?” she giggled moving further inside. Her appreciative gaze wandered over his now bared and soaked chest as he struggled to hold onto a howling baby kicking violently in his grasp. The bath water splashed and a pool of water surround his wet bare feet as he attempted to bathe the wriggling infant. His brows burrowed in concentration as he fought for control over the baby. She giggled again. “Something happen?”

“Just don’t look at your bed, it’s a smelly mess.” He cast an amused look at her before returning to his task.

She glanced at the open door but took his advice and did not go to look. She would let the house elves deal with that.

“He was a mess, so I thought I’d try to bath him. He doesn’t like water, does he?” Severus spoke softly as he deftly cupped a palm full of water over the howling baby.

“No, he hates baths. Do you want me to take over?” She stood to the side and watched the struggle between son and father.

“No, I want to do this. It’s… I think he’s more hungry than anything.” He cast a glance at her. “Are you all right now?”

She nodded. “Clean and clear and one hundred percent cured.”

“Good.”

Hermione watched as Severus finally managed to get the baby cleaned and, with a sigh of relief, handed him over to her. She took a towel and wrapped the squalling baby up, securing his arms and his howling subsided immediately to a softer whimper. She then passed a towel over to Severus, eyeing his remaining clothing with a wide grin. The trousers he wore were completely soaked and he looked so damned cute standing in nothing else.

“Here, dry yourself while I feed him.”

Severus took the towel and allowed his fingers to caress hers for a moment before she dropped her hand, turned on her heel and crossed the room to take her now normal place in the rocker. Severus followed her out casually wiping the excess water from his hair and chest. His gaze lingered on her as she unbuttoned her blouse and exposed herself. His eyes settled on her hungrily as he watched his son attach himself to a nipple.

‘If only that was me,’ he thought and turned to go back into the bathroom to retrieve his shirt and cast a drying spell on his pants. He didn’t want to see her like that now. They had come a long way and he didn’t want to push her too far too quickly. He knew how she felt and he had to give her space to come to her own decisions about him.

He returned to the room, buttoning up his shirt as she glanced up at him.

“Where are you going?” she asked softly as she watched him dressing.

“I am going to my office. I still have some things to do before the start of term.”

“Anything I can help with?” She gave him a smile as he picked up his shoes and cloak.

“No. I’ll send Mr. Potter in though, if I see him. I’ll be back later this afternoon.”

She nodded and gazed back down at the baby. “Say bye-bye to Daddy, Sebastian,” she cooed, causing Severus to smile.

“He may have our intelligence, my love, but even I don’t expect him to start talking just yet.”

She gave him a big grin. “One never knows, Severus. He may astound us all.”

Severus leant down and kissed her lips gently. “He already did me, when I learned of him.”