If the Crime Fits the Punishment

ok, kiddies..... the legal stuff. gotta do it. not mine.... although i think it\'s safe to say i\'ve borrowed lots of it from j.k. rowling! with exception of kendra, her family, her cat, and illiana. cannot forget the fact that i\'m doing this purely for my enjoyment. and yours, too. but mostly mine. and i\'m not, i repeat *NOT* making any sort of money off this. unless you count that bottle of syrup that simone handed to me early on in the fic as payment. but no actual *money* has exchanged hands!

i\'m quite certain you all know the drill...... i don\'t think there will be smut in this chapter, but one never knows. just a heads up, in case and all. that way, no one can come back later and say.....\'oh, you\'ve scarred me for life! i never thought i\'d see anyone do *that* and now the image is permanently seared into my brain! how could you?....\' oh, sorry. was i ranting?

oh, yeah..... cameo.... i think illiana has just decided to move into this fic. which is why i haven\'t worked on hers in some time. or perhaps it\'s because i haven\'t worked on *Murky Waters* that she\'s here. never know with that girl....

read and review..... please?

Chapter Twenty Nine: Hell Hath No Fury
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus stepped into the small cottage that his wife lived in. By herself. He was still a bit unsettled about that part, and he was relatively certain he\'d found a solution to the problem. Every night, he flooed into the little home for dinner and time in her company. He almost always ended up nearly begging her to move back into the dungeons with him. And every night, she told him no. He was at his wit\'s end with the stubborn chit. So he had wracked his brains and come up with a solution he thought would work for both of them. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the mess she had made of her living room.

Kendra sat in the middle of her couch, various books spread out around her as if she were cramming for one of the the N.E.W.T.S. She leaned back against the back of the couch, a pillow tucked between it and her. It was now the end of January, and she was steadily growing bigger. Sitting on anything, for any amount of time, was becoming increasingly difficult for her to manage. One of the books was perched on her distended belly where she could easily read it. It moved every so often with the restless shifting of their child growing within her. She didn\'t seem to notice as she studied the page before her.

He\'d seen that look on her face when she\'d been in school. She was deep in thought, and he now recognized it as her plotting look. She got that particular look anytime she planned to make mischief. He strolled over to the mess of books, noting they were from Hogwart\'s library. How she had gotten them out of the restricted section, as well as the school, was a mystery to him. He looked over each open page, making note of the spells and enchantments she had them opened to. If he didn\'t know better, he\'d swear she was researching....... Oh, damn, damn.... double damn! \' I do so hope that you\'re not planning to do anything with these,\' he commented, gesturing to the books and notes with one encompassing motion.

\'Of course I\'m planning on doing something with these,\' she replied, never looking up from the page she was studying. He moved so he could look at it over her shoulder. His trademark scowl made a swift appearance.

\'Tell me what all this is for,\' he more or less demanded, his tone brusque and hard. She nodded absently, her hand scratching out notes on some parchment with an old quill. Some of the feathers at the top were worn away, while the bottom ones looked scorched. It had obviously seen much use. She never looked up as she wrote, but her voice floated out over the silence of the room just the same.

\' I intend to dismantle the Primal Lust spell on Draco\'s flat. Permanently,\' she told him. She stopped writing a moment, lifting her hand to her eyes to rub at them tiredly. She\'d obviously been at this for a while. He had to hold back the chuckle he felt bubbling up when he saw the smudge of ink staining her nose. \' If Illiana can do, so can I.\'

\' Illiana was trained at Durmstrang,\' he reminded her. She looked up then, and he couldn\'t quite stop the grin that spread his lips when he saw the myriad splotches of ink covering her pale features. The look she gave him was blank, telling him she had missed the reason for his statement. He sighed. \' Illiana could dismantle the spell because she studied at Durmstrang, a school that taught Dark Arts spells. That is a Dark Arts spell. After a fashion. Also, she could so easily dismantle it because it was a rather crude, base form of the spell. Easy to make go away.\'

\'A base form? How do you know it was a base form?\' she cocked a brow at him, all her attention now fixed on him. He scowled at her for a moment, knowing that she would not be dissuaded from getting the answer to her question. He decided it would be easier to tell her than try and dodge the situation.

\'Where do you think Malfoy got the spell from?\' his look was serious as he posed the question. She stared at him in disbelief for a moment, then her own scowl surfaced. He knew he was in trouble. He crossed his arms over his chest, assuming his favorite offensive postion.

\'You? You taught that rotten prat that spell? Ye\'re the one responisble fer the two of them using that spell on unsuspecting females? Including me? Are ye completely daft? Why would ye go and give him that kind of power over someone?\' she asked, her questions coming out rapid fire. Her brogue rolled over him in full force. She struggled to her feet, books and parchment slipping to the floor willy nilly. She didn\'t notice, her attention focused on trying to intimidate him. He didn\'t let her scare him one iota.

\'My darling wife, do you think I would do something so lacking in class and intelligence as to give him any kind of power over someone by teaching him a full lust spell?\' he questioned her. She stared at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing in ill concealed anger. She waited for him to go on, since he had that particular look on his face that said he obviously had more to tell. He uncrossed his arms, pulling his wand. \'Libido Accrescere!\' he said, pointing the tip of his wand at her.

The light that enveloped her was a pale pink. A moment after it surrounded her, Kendra felt a tingling start at the base of her neck. It slowly worked it\'s way down her spine, increasing in power as it moved lower. She swore she could feel ghost hands, *his* hands, which were no where near her, caressing her flesh. Expertly fondling the suddenly moist juncture at her thighs. She shivered, feeling the quiver of muscles that seemed to be centered right at her very core. Her eyes went wide, flying to his as the same muscles that had just quivered began clenching in an unmistakable sign of orgasm. As the release washed over her, she felt her knees go weak. His hand was there then, under her elbow, to steady her. The look on his face was entirely too smug. She dropped back into her previous seat on the couch, her entire body relaxed. She could only stare up at him in something like stunned shock.

\'That...... I..... you.....\' she seemed to be at a loss for words. It was something he very rarely saw. It made him smile. She finally managed to get a coherent sentence out when she demanded, \'What the bloody hell was that?\'

\'That, my dear, was the Primal Lust spell. At about only half power. What that twit Draco has cast on his flat is little more than a quarter of the spell\'s true strength. Naturally, I know the full strength version of the spell. If you like, I can cast it and show you the difference,\' he informed her, his hand going for his wand.

\'No, thank you. That was..... godssss,\' she moaned as an after shock hit her. When she was capable of speech again, she looked up at him. She could tell he was enjoying himself by the smirk on his face. She was certain the rush of pleasure had brought a flush to her cheeks. \'You may tell me more about that after the baby comes. When I\'m better able to study it\'s affects.\'

\'As you wish, brat,\' he nodded. He used his drawn wand to tidy the mess she\'d made of her study materials while standing. Once things were again piled up neatly, he lifted her notes and studied them. His eyes widened slightly at what he saw written there. He glanced to her, then back at her precisely written notations. \'You are certain you wish to pursue this? You do know what will happen, should you succeed with this spell?\'

\'Of course I do. I\'ve done extensive research on it,\' she nodded. He was concerned that she wasn\'t by the thought of creating that much havoc in the lives of unsuspecting people. Oh, she\'d done the same with him, he was sure. But the impact hadn\'t been quite as wide spread as what she was planning here would be. More than one person would be affected by her meddling. While he was not adverse to her hitting Malfoy with a little of his own medicine, the golden prat was not the only one she would be hurting with this asinine idea of hers.He heaved a sigh, wondering if she\'d ever give up the insane notion she had that she must avenge herself on every wrong done her. She looked up.

\'Kendra, do you not think that perhaps you should rethink this little idea of yours?\' he asked her, his tone letting her know he was serious. The look on her face told him she was genuinely confused by his question. He sat next to her, his hand indicating the scattered books and notes. \'Malfoy will not be the only one this bit of revenge of yours will impact.\'

\' I do know that, Severus. I told you I did extensive research. I know exactly what will happen when I cast the spell I\'m working on. I spent nearly all of last month working out exactly what would happen. As well as who it would happen to. When I saw that, I made sure to study all the most minute details to see if I wished to continue. All of my findings say that it will not be the great disaster you see it to be.\'

\'Have you ever considered what would have happened to you when you kidnapped me, had your plans not gone as you\'d hoped?\' his tone was neutral. She opened her mouth to make a comment about it not failing, but his sharp glare had her closing it to think things over. Finally, she shook her head negatively. \'Do you know what kind of things I\'m capable of? Having been a Death Eater, I learned so many tortures that a person should not be subjected to. How would you have managed, had I not been as lenient with you as I was? I could have done any number of things to you.\'

\'But you didn\'t,\' she pointed out. He muffled his groan of frustration. \'You are, under that cold exterior, a mere man who needed the right person to love him.\'

\'You are purposely not understanding me,\' he sighed, raking his hands through his hair in agitation. His black gaze sought hers out, staring hard at her as he continued to speak. \'How would you feel if someone stepped into your life and completely threw everything you knew up in the air, leaving you lost and confused?\'

\'You mean like the way I felt after you\'d completely tipped my world up on it\'s ear? I would have been content to sit and be unnoticed in the back of Potions, but you were ever carping on me for one thing or another. You were the one who set the wheels in motion. And this is where it brought us. Married and in love, expecting our first child,\'\' she returned gently. Her words stopped him cold in his tracks. She had a point there. One he could not find an arguement for. At least, not one that would actually work here. He sighed once again.

\'Why must you muck about in other people\'s lives?\' he questioned, his voice sounding tired.

\'Every once in a while, one should have their life mucked about with. Would you rather I had not done so with you?\' she asked. She sounded truly hurt. He glanced up at her, noting the look in her eyes. She was staring at him with pain swimming in her gaze.

\'You should know that I don\'t,\' he told her, his voice gentle. His eyes probed hers for a moment longer, then he heaved another sigh. \' If you will not abandon this foolish notion of yours, the least I can do is aide you so that the spell will work to it\'s utmost.\'

\'Why?\' she nearly demanded.

\'Because I imagine you do not want Illiana disassembling it, do you?\' he mocked, his eye brow popping up as he spoke. She glared at him a moment before returning to her books without another word.

\'Of course not,\' she grumbled.

\'Now, since we have that bit of business out of the way, I have some things I need to discuss with you,\' he drawled slowly, bringing her eyes up to his once more. She sighed, wondering what had lit the fire under his arse today, then gave him all her attention so that she could get this over with. She had a spell to formulate.... lives to interrupt.

~*~*~*~*~

Severus watched the bricks shift in and out as the doorway to Diagon Alley opened up behind the Leaky Cauldron. It was very early March, and he and Kendra had ridden the Hogwart\'s express into London because Poppy had forbidden her to floo or Apparate with the baby\'s due date now just around the corner. He was of the opinion that Kendra shouldn\'t have even left Hogsmeade, but she had finished all the preparations on the spell and was intent on casting it. So here they were.

Not that he thought the idea of visiting Malfoy\'s shop was without merit. There were a few things he had every intention of looking for. He would just prefer that his head strong wife had stayed at home with her feet up, resting as much as she could. He was certain she would need it, once the babe arrived.

He glanced over at his wife. She was leaning against his arm, her face slightly flushed. It appeared that the child was making even the simplest of things difficult for her. She could move around, but she was slow at it. He\'d even arrived at the cottage late one night to find her sleeping in the chair, sitting straight up. He didn\'t think she\'d slept in her bed in several days. When the doorway opened fully, he stepped through, his hand resting on her back to help her should she need it. \'Are you certain you wish to do this now?\' he asked her once more.

\'Of course I\"m certain,\' she nodded. Her tone was steady and full of ill concealed excitement. She would never back down from this, but he felt he had to ask her.

\'Well, let\'s get to Malfoy\'s shop and bloody well get this over with!\' he sighed heavily. The street was crowded, it being a Saturday. Many of the patrons on the sidewalks gave them a wide berth. He suspected that much of it was due to his scowling countanence. Some of the witches and wizards knew him, of course. They were undoubtably surprised that he was being seen in public. In the daylight hours. With a woman. A beautiful, very pregnant woman. Such things didn\'t occur when it involved Severus Snape. His lips curled into a shadow of a grin.

He escorted her along the sidewalk, his menacing look driving the crowds from their path so she had an easier time at moving. She lead him up the boulevard with a purposeful gait, knowing exaclty where she was headed. He followed her, his eyes constantly scanning for any signs of trouble. He knew for a fact that Lucius Malfoy would be intent on making them both pay for what they had done to him at their last meeting. And he always had enemies.

Kendra lead him up to a shop with a sign hanging over the door that matched the bags that were used to package up sold goods. It was painted the same shade of pussy pink as the bags, the same black block letters spelling out the name of the business. Malfoy\'s Malicious Fetish Fancy. The place where her lunacy would take root. There were a pair of people here who would be extremely hacked off with her for this. And he wasn\'t certain he would protect her from them, should they come after her for it.

A bell rang as they entered, sending a woman\'s husky moan floating through the air. Malfoy was nothing if not thorough. That little touch must prove to be popular with the younger men who managed to wander in here. In fact, he could well imagine them opening and closing the door to hear that announcing bell incessantly. Infantile behavior, but it most likely kept people coming back.

The walls were covered with all sorts of things. Many of them, he was certain, most people wouldn\'t know what they were used for. A bed was centered in one corner, covered with silk sheets and a mound of pillows. Devices of all sorts lined a set of shelves to his right. Behind a glass counter, he saw bottles and jars. There were many different colors of liquids and ungents. He was certain some of them were even flavored. He also found a rack of women\'s lingerie off to one side, catching his attention for a moment or two as he let his mind turn over a few interesting thoughts.

The back wall sported the leather goods section, as well as a table where Seamus Finnigan sat. He held a piece of leather in one hand, a tool in the other. He looked up at the two of them, his eyes going wide to see his old Potions Master standing in the middle of a kink shop. His gaze moved from Snape to Kendra, who was speaking to Severus in a low tone. He leaned down toward her so he could catch all she said, his gaze never leaving the astonished face of Finnigan as he replied with a nod.

The interior of the shop looked like something out of the pages of a Muggle men\'s magazine. He\'d seen them a time or two. It seemed the boys in his House were always trying to smuggle the silly things in. What it was about pubescent boys and naked women was beyond him...... Well, ok, not entirely beyond him. But he saw no need for them to be so enamored of a few photos, non moving ones to be sure, of fully unclothed women that were most likely touched up and made better looking than they were.

He watched Kendra as she moved over to a quiet corner, pulling the folded parchment she\'d brought with from the inner pocket of her cloak. She withdrew her wand and lifted it. Her mouth moved as she uttered her incantation, though he couldn\'t hear her speaking. She was purposely keeping her voice low, as she knew that Draco and Illiana were upstairs, and didn\'t want either of them to hear her. When he was certain she would not be interrupted, he moved on silent feet toward a still staring Seamus Finnigan.

\'Professor Snape!\' his voice squeaked on the title. The young man\'s cheeks flooded with color, and he cleared his throat loudly before continuing. \'What brings you here?\' he managed on a more even tone.

\' I came with my wife,\' he returned simply, his gaze roving over the leather products displayed behind the Irishman. He noted that Finnigan\'s eyes went to where Kendra stood, rounding in surprise at the notion.

\'Pardon me, sir... but isn\'t that Kendra MacLeod?\' Seamus asked, his eyes flicking back to the young woman standing in the corner. When Severus merely nodded, Seamus continued. \'But I thought she hated you. I remember her sitting in the Gryffiondor Common Room, mumbling incoherently to herself about making you pay. No one paid her much mind, as they had trouble understanding her brogue. But I had no problems.\'

\'Her brogue is atrocious. And yes, she hated me. Hated, as in past tense,\' he replied, looking at the impudent whelp with his patented glare that would freeze even the lowest level of Hell to a solid block of ice. Seamus blinked, his eyes going to the young woman in the corner once again. Severus wasn\'t about to question Finnigan about what he\'d heard Kendra muttering to herself in the Common Room, but it was interesting to know that it seemed very few people had actually \"seen\" her when she was a student. Him being one of them. Odd, that. \'Things do change, Mr. Finnigan.\'

His tone of voice said the subject was closed. Seamus nodded at him, swallowing convulsively. \'Now, perhaps you would be so kind as to show me some items I\'m interested in,\' Snape\'s voice was silky as he spoke. Had he been drinking something, Seamus imagined he would have choked on it right then and there.

It was as Severus was paying for his purchases when he felt her finish casting the spell. It was complicated and long, involving much concentration. It had taken the two of them nearly a full month to refine and develop the subtle nuances that would make the spell work. And indestructable. Kendra had insisted that she wanted nothing to be able to interfere with the results. He had pointed out to her on more than one occasion that she was playing with fire, meddling with people\'s lives the way she seemed wont to. She had merely told him to worry about something other than her mucking about in someone\'s life. He\'d finally given up and left her alone.

The spell, which she had dubbed Veras Amor, was a combination of several lesser spells. When combined, as she had done, the effects were rather.... unique. He could feel the bonds of this entirely special spell wrap themselves around the shop and it\'s inhabitants. He hoped that Kendra had taken precautions, or he would be terribly put out with the scheming little twit. She came over to him, her face showing how much effort it had taken to cast her spell. Exhaustion was written there, while triumph shone from her eyes.

\' You are certain now that it is done?\' he asked. He had no desire to come back and repeat the entire thing all over again.

\'What the bloody fucking hell was that?\' came the bellow from above stairs. She gave him a telling grin. He nodded, then took the bag from Seamus\' hands. Draco Malfoy sounded decidedly put out.

\'Right. Let us be off then, wife. I believe you have caused enough trouble for one lifetime today,\' Severus put his free hand on her back and escorted her to the door. The parting look he gave Seamus had the young Irishman wondering if he could find a position in America somewhere. He was certain he didn\'t want to know what was going on or what would happen next.

Severus took Kendra back to King\'s Cross Station, where the two of them would catch the Hogwart\'s Express back up to Hogsmeade. She was moving slower than usual, telling him she had over taxed herself in the weaving and casting of the spell. He was of a mind to take her to task about it, but decided against the unnecessary use of energy. She wouldn\'t listen to him, at any rate. Not when she\'d set her mind to the whole course of action in the first place. He sighed, wondering, not for the first time, when his life had become so complicated.

Once happily ensconced in one of the Prefect\'s compartments at the front of the train, Kendra settled herself as best she could on the seat with her head resting against his shoulder. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, allowing her to move in closer. He felt her sigh in contentment. Then her body relaxed and she fell into a deep sleep. He allowed himself to drift into the well of his thoughts, his mind going over the events of the last year. He smiled to himself, wondering if life would ever be simple again, now that Kendra was in his life permanently.

~*~*~*~*~

Kendra was startled from a light doze by the pounding fist at her front door. She hadn\'t been sleeping well lately, mostly tossing and turning, and the naps she stole here and there were all that kept her going. She had barely struggled out of the rocker her parents had left in the nursery when her door slammed open. It hit the wall with such force, she heard pictures crashing to the floor. She made her way out into the hall to find Illiana standing in her home. The woman\'s eyes, so dark a shade of purple as to be nearly black, were fixed on her. The scowl she wore would have frightened Kendra, had she never been on the receiving end of one of Severus\' own menacing glares.

\' Illiana?\' she asked soflty, wondering what had brought the woman here, with that particular look on her face.

\'What the fuck did you do?\' she demanded, her voice low and lethal. Kendra felt the desire to run well up, and that steeled her backbone. She would cower from no one if she could help it.

\'Care to be a bit more on the specific side?\' she asked, crossing her arms as best she could. They ended up tucked between her bosom and belly. Illiana made a move toward her, but Kendra\'s glare halted her. As well as the wand she had pulled from her robes. \' I think, until we can sort out your ill temper, that you\'ll stay where you are. Now tell me what has your knickers in a twist.\'

\'You and that bloody spell you cast!\' she nearly shouted. Kendra sighed, wondering why she hadn\'t figured it out. Must be the lack of sleep. ~And that odd feeling you\'ve had the last few days,~ her brain interjected. ~You\'ve been completely out of sorts lately.~

\' I\"m sorry you were caught in that, but there was no help for it,\' the red head replied, her tone conveying her feelings.

\'No help for it? Do you know what was happening when that damned spell took effect?\' Illiana\'s voice went even lower. Kendra had the grace to blush, knowing instinctively what had been happening. \'Remove it! This instant! Now!\'

\' I\'m sorry, Illiana. I can\'t,\' Kendra shook her head.

\'Can\'t? Or won\'t?\' the other woman narrowed her eyes in speculation.

\'Can\'t. The spell is irreversable. I\'m truly sorry. I.....\'

\'You\'re sorry? I can\'t.....Draco..... neither one of us can...... How could you do this to me?\'

\' I wanted the Primal Lust spell permanently dismantled. This was the only way to do it,\' Kendra explained. She grimaced a little when she felt a twinge of something. Ignoring it, she centered her attention on the angry woman across from her once more. \' I\'m really sorry you were caught in it. If you hadn\'t have taken the spell down in the first place, you wouldn\'t have been in the cross fire.\'

\' I can\'t have sex! With anyone! Because you couldn\'t fucking leave well enough alone, I can\'t have sex!\' she blurted, some of the anger leaving her voice. \'Trust me, I tried. Draco can\'t arouse me. Nothing can arouse me. I even asked a complete stranger out of desperation. There was nothing! It took me some time to figure out what had happened. When Finnigan mentioned that you and Severus had been in the shop, I knew....\'

\'You will be able to have sex again. As will Draco,\' Kendra explained. She took a step forward, then stopped. Her back ached, and not for the first time this week. She put a hand on it and idly rubbed the pain as best she could. \'As soon as you each find your soul mate, you both will.....\'

\' Soul mate? I\'ve already found mine! He\'s bloody dead!\' Illiana shouted, her voice breaking into a sob at the end. Kendra groaned and moved forward. Her wand was forgotten, the hand holding it slipping it back into her robes. She put her hands on the other woman\'s shoulders.

\'No, he\'s not,\' Kendra replied.

\'Yes, he is!\' Illiana snapped. She shoved Kendra\'s hands from her shoulders to glare at the younger woman defiantly. \'He died some time ago. And now you\'ve cursed me for the rest of my life! I hate you!\'

\' I swear to you, Illiana. I researched everything thoroughly. If I had thought that you would be....\' Kendra began. She stopped, though, watching as Illiana\'s hand drew back for a slap. Kendra sighed, knowing that she deserved this. Her friend was far too angry to listen to her reasoning at the moment. \'Go ahead and hit me. I deserve it,\' she admitted.

The anger left the silver haired woman. She let her hand fall back to her side, feeling disgust at herself for even considering hitting a pregnant woman, much less her friend. She stared at Kendra warily for a moment before sighing, trying hard not to give into tears. \'Why do you have to be so?...\'

\'Meddlesome?\' Kendra asked with a faint smile. \' I don\'t know. I guess it\'s just my nature to do such stupid.....\' her voice trailed off with a gasp, her hands immediately going to her stomach. Illiana watched her face go white. Concern flooded her features immediately.

\'Kendra?\' she asked, moving over to take the other woman\'s arm in her hand.

\' I think I\'m alright,\' Kendra managed to pant out. \' I should like to sit down, though. I feel as if.....\' she never finished her sentence. A low, pain filled cry left her lips.

\'Oh, shite!\' Illiana swore softly.

~*~*~*~*~

The Potions class looked up as Professor Snape stood up from the chair behind his desk so suddenly, the wooden piece fell to the floor with a loud clatter. All eyes noted that he looked rather disconcerted for a moment, then he muttered a curse under his breath. His gaze snapped to the gaping students, his lips twisting in a fierce sneer. \'Back to work, all of you! Or I\'ll deduct one hundred points. From each of you! Finish your assignment in silence. I have to leave the room for a few moments.\'

The students were shocked to see their normally stoic Potions Master make a mad dash for the doorof the classroom. His robes billowed out around him as he ran, actually ran, out the door and down the hallway. They were too shocked to do anything but speculate on the reasons for his odd behavior.

Severus met up with the Headmaster halfway to his office. Albus wore a look of gentle concern on his face. He noted with satisfaction that the unrufflable man in black looked positively lost. \'Use the fireplace in my office to go fetch her. Then you can floo back into the Hospital Wing. I\'ve already informed Poppy. She is expecting you.\'

\'My class....\' Severus began.

\' Is taken care of. Now go. Your wife needs you,\' Albus ordered gently. The tall man nodded once, curtly, then turned and hurried up the hall. His robes flowed behind him, trailing in his wake. Dumblebore chuckled to himself at the way the young man was anxiously going to his wife. Things were about to get rather interesting around the castle.

Severus stepped out of Kendra\'s fireplace to find her crumpled to the floor on her knees. Her hands were curved over her belly, her face white with pain. He noted the way her eyes were squeezed shut, the fact that her teeth were locked over her bottom lip so tightly, a spot of blood welled up there. Coral, the House Elf he had brought from the Snape family Estates to serve Kendra, was crouched next to the prone figure of her mistress, holding the pale face in her hands gently. Illiana sat next to his wife, trying to get her to say something. Anything.

\' I\'m here, brat,\' his cool voice filled the air. He watched Kendra\'s head come up slowly, her green eyes focusing on him for a moment before she managed a faint smile. It looked to him more like a grimace of pain. \'Come along, then,\' he said as he stepped over to her side. With an ease of movement that would lead someone to believe that he did this sort of thing all the time, he scooped her up into his arms. \'You are expected in the Hospital Wing.\'

\'What about your class?\' she gasped, slipping her arms around his neck. Her face went under his chin. He could feel the muscles in her body unclenching as the pain eased.

\'Albus has taken care of it for me. Are you two coming?\' he looked over his shoulder at Illiana and the Elf. Both looked startled by his question.

\'Of course,\' Illiana nodded, then got up to follow them. Coral looked at him in shock.

\'Master wants me to go with?\' she asked hesitantly. She had seen cruelty at the hands of the Snape family, and he could see she thought this was some sort of trick.

\'Yes, Coral. As does the Mistress. She needs you. And so do I,\' he told the frightened Elf in his most gentle tone. She looked about hesitantly, then a smile brightened her face and she stepped over to where the three of them awaited her. Before any of them could turn for the fireplace, Coral snapped her fingers. They found themselves in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey making her way toward them rapidly.

~*~*~*~*~

\' It\'s going to be a long birth, Severus. The first ones generally are. I\'ve checked everything out, and she\'s in active labor, but she\'s only dialated about two centimeters. At this rate, it\'ll be the start of the next school term before that child of yours is born,\' Poppy told the anxious father to be. The two of them were well away from the cot that Kendra lay on. With Illiana and the House Elf at the girl\'s side, the Medi Witch had finally been able to drag him away from the bed long enough to talk in semi privacy.

\'What can I do?\' he asked, his tone less than his normal one.There was no force in it, only a faint hint of panic.

\'Do you have those Potions prepared that I asked you to make?\' she asked him. He nodded wordlessly, then turned on his heel to fetch them from his private labs. Poppy moved back to stand by Kendra, who was already looking very much worse for the wear. She smiled at the girl. \'Severus has gone to fetch some potions. One will help with the pain. I suggest you take it.....\'

\'NO! No bloody potions. I intend to do this without the aide of anything that will take away from the experience,\' Kendra hissed.

\'You have no idea what you want to do, child,\' Madam Pomfrey told her, her tone taking on the hard one she used with the stubborn patients. \'You\'re going to have a rough go of it, you know. The potions will help make things....\'

\' I said no! What part o\' the word dinna ye understand?\' she snapped, her brogue rolling out like the tide. Poppy pressed her lips together in consternation. The two of them glared at each other, trying to intimidate one into giving up. They were still doing so when Severus returned, several small vials clutched in his hand. He stopped short as he saw the way the two women were looking at each other.

\'What is going on here?\' he demanded forcefully.

\'You and your wife are well suited. She is stubborn and pig headed,\' Poppy told him, then stalked off toward her office. His gaze sought his wife\'s, noting the dullness brought on by the pain. He sat in a chair pulled up next to the bed, offering her one of the vials in his hand.

\'Ye can bloody weel put it away! I willna be takin\' it!\' she growled at him. He stared for a moment, then his lips tightened as his temper took the place of his concern.

\'You cannot know what you are saying,\' he informed her. \'You will be in much pain, and will need all your strength for the upcoming birth. Now, allow me to....\'

\' If ye even attempt to put that to m\' lips, I\'ll hex yer pecker! It\'ll fall off and turn tae dust!\' she spat at him.

\'Kendra, you....\' he began, but she interrupted him again

\' If ye sae much a take the top off that vial, ye\'ll never.....and I mean *never* lay hand on me again. Do ye understand me? I\'ll be having this babe naturally. And there\'s naught ye can do aboot it!\' she glared at him. He stared back for some time, then nodded with a sigh, slipping the vials into his robes. It was going to be a long birth, indeed.....

Both Albus and Minerva stopped in to see how Kendra was faring at points through out the day. She was not quite as hostile to them as she had been with Poppy and Severus, but she was no where near being civil. When Severus tried to excuse her bahavior, they shook their heads, saying it was the pain and hormones that had her behaving like a fully grown mountian troll. She glared at anyone when they mentioned potions, but wouldn\'t let Severus leave her side.

When her parents showed up later that evening, she fell into a conversation with her mother in Gaelic. When Morgaine took Severus aside, leaving Aengus to sit with Kendra, Severus could see the worry on her face. \'Ye need to get that potion into her. She\'s already tired. This isn\'t doing her any good.\'

\' I know this. But she won\'t let the vial anywhere near her,\' he returned with a growl. Why did women have to be so bloody stubborn? \'Where the devil did she get this ludicrous idea in the first place?\'

\' I really have no idea. But she needs to take that potion. So bloody well think of something,\' Morgaine ordered, then moved back to her daughter\'s side.

When dinner time rolled around, Severus ordered Illiana to go to the hall to eat, as well as Aengus and Morgaine. The three of them reluctantly left the Hospital Wing. He then asked Coral to go to the kitchens and find herself some food, allowing Severus time alone with his wife. She was laying on the cot, limp and sweaty. Her hair clung to her face in damp tendrils. He stared down at her impassively for a few moments, then slipped his robes from his shoulders.

Kendra\'s eyes opened when she felt a pair of cool hands on her warm face. She looked up to find Severus sitting on the bed behind her, her head resting in his lap. Wordlessly, he helped her sit up, giving her a brief respite from the bed for a moment or two. His fingers pulled through her thick hair, working out the snarls. Then he had it divided into three sections. She was not as surprised as he thought she might be to find him braiding it into one neat plait down the back of her head. When he had it secured with a small charm, she settled back against him with a sigh.

By three in the morning, Severus had sent her parents to bed. Along with Illiana. He still sat behind his wife, holding her body as she struggled through the contractions and accompanying pain. His clothing was soaked through with her sweat. She was exhausted, but still refused adamantly to take the potions he had for her. Poppy came into the room, looking at the two of them

\'You should go get some sleep, Severus. It won\'t be until sometime later that she delivers that child. Staying up won\'t do you any good, you know,\' she told him.

\' I will stay with her, thank you,\' he replied. There was an edge of weary concern to his voice. She snorted, making a comment under her breath about stubborn headed people.

\'Can I have something to drink? I\'m so thirsty,\' Kendra\'s voice was barely above a croak as she spoke. Severus glanced down at her, a faint smile curling up the corner of his lips as he stared into her green eyes. She managed a ghost of a smile in return.

\'No, you cannot,\' Poppy\'s voice insisted. Both husband and wife looked to her. \'But you may have some ice to suck on. Severus, why don\'t you go get some ice from the kitchens for her?\' Poppy gave him a meaningful glare. He stared a moment or two, then nodded and slid from behind her.

\' I\'ll be back, brat. Don\'t go anywhere,\' he said softly. She nodded, watching him move away. It was about ten minutes later that he returned with a metal cup of ice. He slid back into position behind her, holding her against him gently. His long fingers slipped a chunk of ice between her lips, allowing her to suck on it before offering another one.

Five chunks of ice later, Kendra lay relaxed against him, sleeping off the effects of the potions he\'d mixed into the frozen water. Poppy regarded the two of them for a moment, then sighed heavily. \'It\'s about damned time. That girl wouldn\'t have had the energy to give birth, had you not gotten her to sleep. Now, as for you,\' she leveled her piercing gaze on Severus. \'Off to bed with you, as well. It\'ll do her no good to see you practically sleeping when she needs you most.\'

\'As you wish, Poppy,\' he nodded, closing his eyes where he sat. She almost opened her mouth, then thought better of it and left the two of them where they were for the night.

~*~*~*~*~

Severus stared down at the small bundle of flailing limbs he held in something like wonder. His child, his daughter, was wrapped in a blanket and fussing mightily in his arms. Kendra was laying on the narrow cot, pale and worn out. She was nearly asleep as she lay watching her husband hold his child for the first time. The look of amazement on his face was a sight she wished to cherish for some time to come.

It was nearly ten in the evening. The baby had only been born a few moments ago. After almost thirty four hours, Kendra had finally brought the small bit of child into the world. It had been a long, nerve wracking process for the two of them. He found that, as everything was now over and done with, he had been more worried than he could have ever imagined. Afraid that something would happen to both his wife and his child. And yet, here they were.

The birth had been particularly hard, even after he\'d managed to get potions for pain and sleep and whatever else they\'d been for into his wife. Poppy stood to one side, watching the new parents with the tiny infant. Cerridwen Sin Snape was a miniature version of both parents, with Kendra\'s nose and mouth while her eyes bore Severus\' shape. The few strands of hair she had on her head were a mix of both red and black. She had yet to utter a sound, wailing for only a moment after her birth, when Poppy had smacked her petite little bottom.

\'A girl.....\' his voice was soft as he stared down at the child he held.

\'Yes, Severus. A girl. She\'s beautiful,\' Kendra nodded, stifling a yawn.

\'You should sleep,\' he told her, his gaze never leaving the tiny face before him.

\'As should you,\' her voice rejoined quietly, even though he could hear the concern she felt. \'You did very little of that last night, worried about me as you were.\'

\'You both should sleep. It\'s been a long couple of days. That babe will be drifting off soon, so let me take her and the two of you get some rest,\' Poppy spoke up. Severus looked from his daughter\'s face to his wife\'s. He sighed and handed the child over wordlessly. The domineering Medi Witch was correct. He was bloody exhausted. He knew Kendra was only staying awake by sheer will power. Poppy smiled at him, cuddling the small bundle close to her chest as she turned away from them.

Severus yawned, then slipped out of his jacket and shirt. The two articles of clothing were folded and placed on the chair near the bed. He removed his shoes and socks, leaving them under the chair. Then he was slipping into the narrow cot, spooning his body to hers so that he could hold her while he slept. She snuggled back against him, sighing contentedly.

It was a nice end to a very long, very hard day. Nice, indeed....

\' I believe you owe me,\' the voice caught Severus\' attention before sleep could. He remained still, feigning sleep as he listened to the softly spoken words. It was followed by an even softer chuckle. \' It looks as if I\'ve won the bet.\'

Bet? What bet?

\'Now, Minerva,\' a second voice spoke up. \' I believe that it is I who have won the bet.\'

\'Nonsense, Albus,\' the woman sounded put out by his presumption. \'Under the terms of the bet, I have won. I told you she would win his heart.\'

\' I recall that it was I who said that he would ensnare her. My money has always been on Severus. The boy is smart. For the most part. I had to wonder there for a while when he couldn\'t wrap his brain around marriage. But he managed just fine, even without being hit by a brick. You did cheat, you know.\'

\'Cheat? How did I cheat?\' her voice sounded incredulous.

\'You planted that book for her to find. She should be smart enough to know that a spell book from our world would never just end up in a Muggle bookshop.\'

\'You had to go and give it back to Severus. She would never have gone through everything.....\'

\'There would have been nothing to go through if he hadn\'t gotten away and brought her back here. You and I both know that.\'

\' It seems to me,\' a third voice chimed in. Severus stifled the groan that threatened to roll up out of his throat at it. \'That none of this would have come to pass, had I not known about it and told you.\'

\'You are, of course, right. My apologies, Sybil,\' Dumbledore said gently.

\'You both win this bet,\' Sybil concluded.

\'Of course. That is the proper thing,\' Albus agreed. His and McGonagall\'s voices died as the two of them walked off. Severus was about to roll onto his back when the soft chuckle stopped him.

\'Good night, Severus. Congratulations, and enjoy the rest of your life with her,\' Trelawney\'s soft voice flowed over him. Then she turned away, her innumerable chains, beads, and baubles jingling against one another as she walked.

When Severus was certain he was once again alone with his sleeping wife.....~Thank the gods she is sleeping!~ his brain sighed at the thought. When he was alone with Kendra\'s unconscious form, he took stock of what he\'d just heard. McGonagall and Dumbledore had bet on his life. More to the point, his life as it pertained to a young Gryffindor who had a bit of fervent revenge on her mischievous mind. Because the two of them had been planning and plotting, he now had a wife and child. ~Whom you both love deeply,~ his mind piped in. As if he needed reminding about it. He knew how he felt.

Yes, it was a bloody good thing Kendra had slept through that conversation. He had no doubt she\'d have thrown herself from the bed and gone after the two plotting Professors, had she been awake. Not a pleasant thought, to be sure.

He sighed, settling back down for sleep. He\'d find it in his heart to be a complete bastard about it all later. When he could dredge up some hate at the two of them for what they\'d done. Oh yes, Albus and McGonagall would rue the day.

\'Who the bloody hell are you kidding? We both know you\'ll never take them to task for this. You are such a stupid git if you think you can....~ his brain began.

\'Oh, piss off,\' he mumbled out loud to himself, then promptly fell asleep. Had any of his students have seen him, they would never have believed the smile that curved his lips.

end chapter twenty nine
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as always, i must thank madam shark for all her help and her ability to put up with me when i don\'t want to share.... so she can be as surprised as everyone else at what kendra does next. ;p

to kenly and simone and lori.....my staunch supporters. without you, this wouldn\'t have gone as far as it has...... thanks lots, ladies. love you all bunches! :)

to those of you who loved that Severus punched Lucius, thank you. i was actually expecting big time flames over that one. i\'m glad there are those of you who loved it! i\'ve been planning that since about chapter nine or ten... so for some time now.

in case you\'re wondering.....
libido= lust
accrescere= increase
veras= true
amor= love

about the baby\'s name..... i\'m twisted, can\'t help it....
Cerridwen.... a goddess in celtic legend. she was supposed to have a cauldron of knowledge, and was also a deity of the moon and grain....

Sin (pronounced Shin) was a one time patron goddess of warriors

please feel free to stop by and leave a little note for me..... i don\'t mind. i\'ll remove it if you flame me, but i do like reviews. one of these days, i\'ll catch that effing monkey, then he\'s in for it. the hairy little flea bag has *all* of my chocolate frogs. All of them.... not a one left for me.... i\'m so upset!