Unwanted

chapter 29~~Epilogue


16 months later..........

(sorry citten!)

"Take out your textbooks and start your essays which are due tomorrow at the beginning of class. As some of you know, tomorrow is my last day of teaching for two weeks. Professor Malfoy will be taking over and will have all the privileges and rights as not only Potions master but Head of Slytherin House. I will be informed if anyone steps one toe out of line." Severus stood before his desk, arms crossed, as he glared at his fourth year Slytherin/Gryffindor class. He always wondered if Albus was just being perverse combining the two most diverse Houses together so often, and in his potions room. He sneered at a Gryffindor who was trying to whisper to her friend. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Walters. I would give you detention if I wasn't certain Professor Malfoy wouldn't walk out on his first day teaching."

The girl nodded as he swept his dark gaze around the room.

"You're excused."

The room emptied in less than two minutes. His best record yet. He smirked and cleared his desk with a wave of his wand. He strode through the back entrance to his quarters to find Hermione ensconsed on the puffy lounge chair she'd insisted on, a frown marring her glowing face. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, brushing some curls behind her ear.

"What's wrong, Love?"

"I can't get up. I have to go to the bathroom and I can't get up." She closed her eyes when she saw his fill up with laughter. "Please, don't, Severus."

Severus stood before her and took her hands in his, pulling with a fake groan until she stood in front of him. He bent down and kissed her nose.

"You shouldn't sit in it, then."

"But it's so damn comfortable." She smiled up at him, then pushed on his chest, walking around him as she hurried into their bedroom. Severus took her seat as he watched her waddle through the doorway. Eight and a half months pregnant and her hormones were all over the place. One moment she had straddled him on their bed wanting to ride him, another moment she was throwing books at him for something stupid, like leaving their toilet seat up. Really, he'd been a bachelor all his life, until she'd returned to them. You can't teach an old Hippogriff new tricks. He knew better than to laugh at her predicament.

"Aren't you glad I came in before heading into the village to get Tristyn? You'd have sat here for another hour unable to even cross your legs." He called out to her. She said something he couldn't make out, but knew he probably didn't want to know what it was anyway. "Are you going to be alright now? I have to get the little imp before she runs off from the school again." Three months before, Hermione had missed picking her up; she'd been having horrible morning sickness still and overslept. Tristyn had decided that she'd be able to walk herself back to the castle, but using a short cut through part of the Forbidden Forest. Luckily Hagrid found her quickly in the midst of a herd of unicorns, chatting away not realizing the panic she'd caused. Since then, Severus or another staff member picked her up.

The white fluff ball wound herself around his ankles and he looked down in resigned disgust at it. Somehow, 'he' had turned into a 'she' and was as heavily pregnant as his wife. Hagrid had assured him she'd have at least four kittens. He'd suggested to Flitwick that he might want to neuter his tomcat before Severus did it. Without pain killer. Or instruments.

"Go on, Severus. I'll just sit on the toilet. It seems if I'm not peeing, I must be asleep." Hermione grumbled from the bathroom. Severus laughed, safely in another room, and exited the livingroom through the floo. He appeared in the classroom where his daughter attended. Looking around, he saw her sitting in the corner, her arms folded stubbornly across her little chest, her Snape glare directed at her disconcerted teacher.

"What did she do now?" He sighed.

"She told Bronwyn that she was going to hex her hair off. She's quite good at intimidating the other children, Professor Snape. Inherited, I'm assuming." The teacher, Katie Bell, smiled at her former instructor, fully remembering leaving his class in tears more than once during her seven years at Hogwarts. Severus closed his eyes and reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation.

"May I take her home? I think we'll walk back to the castle, though." He glared at his daughter, who returned his look intently. Katie nodded and Severus motioned to his daughter. She stood and stiffly approached him. He extended his hand but she walked past him and out the school room door.

"Professor, I think it has something to do with the new baby coming. I've seen it before with the older children when siblings start arriving. Good luck, and tell Hermione hi for me, please." She walked Snape to the door. He nodded in understanding and hurried off after his daughter. Once he reached her, he bent down and took her hand, holding it tightly, though she struggled slightly.

"Tristyn? What happened today?"

"Bronwyn kept saying I wouldn't be your baby anymore, nows the new one's coming."

"Ah. You're not a baby, though. You're six years old, a big girl as you always have reminded me. I've always been impressed with your desire to go beyond your age in all things. Your mum is quite excited about having another baby, especially since she missed so much of your childhood before her return."

"She's just replacing me, just like Bronwyn said!" Tristyn yelled up at her father. She tugged at his hand, but he refused to let go, so she dug her heels in the ground, trying to stop their walking. Severus stopped and gave his daughter his worst student glare, which of course did nothing. Sighing, he lifted her into his arms and hugged her against his chest. "She just came back. I tried to be good so she wouldn't leave 'gain, but she just wants a new baby, not me." She cried into his robes, tears soaking into the dark fabric, darkening it even more in little circles.

Severus conjured a bench and sat down with his daughter, cradling her sobbing figure into his chest, rocking her like he had when she had been a baby. The first few months after Hermione's return had been alternately tense and joyful as mother and daughter learned how to deal with each other without turning to Severus at every turn. Once she had discovered his pregnancy, Hermione had thrown herself into it, determined to be different than during Tristyn's confinement. She threw her arms around his neck and sniffled against him, signalling the end of her crying, when he would be able to talk with her.

"Tristyn, we're not replacing you, first of all. We love you so much that we wanted another baby to love, for you to love also. You have been as good as you're going to get, and for that I commend you. Your mum loves you and missed you for five years. You're going to be a big sister; do you realize what kinds of responsibilities that will entail? It includes helping your mum while I'm teaching, getting to hold the new baby, while sitting in a chair, of course. If mummy's busy, she might even let you give the baby a bottle. Why, this might even mean you get to stay up a little later at night in reward." He lifted her face with a forefinger under her chin. She wiped her eyes with her fists, giving him a disbelieving look.

"Mummy's ignored me."

"She doesn't mean to, Poppet. When she had you, she was very ill, remember? We talked about this. She is worried that the same thing will happen with his baby. We need to reassure her that everything will be fine. I thought you wanted a little sister or brother?"

"A brother'd be cool." Severus cringed at the Muggle word. "Bronwyn has two little brothers and she said they can pee way up in the air, like a hose! Then I'd still be your little girl." She added in a small voice.

Feeling close to tears, he hugged her tightly. "You will always be my little girl, even after you're married and moved away. Even if Mummy and I have five or six more daughters."

She smiled up at him. "Really?"

"Yes. You can't threaten to hex your friends, Tristyn. You don't want to be a Marauder, do you?" He asked silkily, having told her about the boys who'd taunted him while in school, but never mentioning that they were her Uncle Harry's father, or Remus Lupin. the Marauders had become her boogiemen, people she was not to emulate. He couldn't wait until Potter learned of it.

"Oh, no. Did Rover have her kittens yet?" She changed the subject, hugging him tightly.

"If you mean the dust rag you insist on keeping, no. She's not had the litter yet. You have done a good job taking care of her, by the way. Very grown up of you." He said as he stood, made the bench disappear, and started walking back to the castle, still holding her. He hadn't realized how Tristyn would feel, knowing her parents were having another child so soon after reuniting. Not that he felt guilty about the new addition; finding out Hermione was willingly pregnant and excited about it had made him happier than he'd been in a long time. He felt guilty, though, about not seeing Tristyn's dissatisfaction with the situation.

"Do you think Mummy will let me help make dinner tonight?" Tristyn snuggled against her father. He smiled and brushed black curls out of her face.

"Your mum is tired, so you will probably be helping me with dinner. Is that acceptable?"

"Okay. Draco's coming tonight, right?"

"Yes, and Pansy with the baby. Be good." The baby was two and a half and annoyed Tristyn no end. She sighed and gave him her most innocent look.

"Alright. but if she gets into my toys..."

"You'll leave her be."

They entered through the Hogwarts front gate. Severus scowled at the students out on the lawn while his daughter laughed and greeted them with her brilliant smile. So much for intimidation of the student body working once one was a family man. Next term he'd have a whole new set of first years to torment.

"Hey, Tristyn! How was school?" Katie's younger sister, a first year, trotted up to the Potions master and daughter. With a tug, she urged her father to let her down. She jumped the last few inches and ran to her older friend.

"Good afternoon, Professor." She greeted him. He nodded his head back. He allowed Tristyn a few moments to talk with her friend, but they needed to return to the dungeon, to Hermione. Who knows where she got herself stuck this time.

"Tristyn, your mother is waiting for us. You may see everyone this weekend when they're all done their classes. Assuming Miss Bell has finished her homework." He sneered at the girl, but she just smiled back at the tall man. He sighed and rolled his eyes as his daughter ruined the effect by taking his hand and tugging him towards the castle. She continued waving her greetings to the student populations. She pushed open the great door and ran to Argus Filch. Who knew the old Squib had a heart? He'd been one of her greatest protectors since the first time he'd entered the castle with his daughter, six years before. Filch lifted her in a hug then put her down when a group of students turned a corner towards them. He scowled after them, along with Snape and the children hurried on their way.

"Come, Miss Snape. We must hurry." He took her hand and they walked down the stairs to the lower levels. They advanced on their quarters when Madame Pomfrey opened the door, surprised at seeing them.

"Oh, good, I was going to send someone into the village for you, Professor. Hermione's in labor and she's very close. I really don't feel comfortable with her flooing in her condition, nor Apparating." She was now talking to his back as he rushed into the suite and hurried into their bedroom to be by her side. Hermione knelt in the middle of the king sized bed, rocking back and forth on her hands and knees, breathing slowly and calmly. It was the exact opposite of her birth for Tristyn. He dropped to his knees on the floor at the foot of the bed and moved closer to her.

"You didn't tell me you were in labor earlier, woman."

"I didn't know I was. I'd been having backaches for the last three days. My water broke right after you left and I flooed Poppy immediately. She said I'm at six centimetres." She smiled at him tightly as she breathed through another contraction. He could tell she was in pain but working through it like they'd trained the last few weeks.

"I have to take Tristyn to Albus, but I'll be right back." He said softly, taking off his cumbersome robes to get comfortable with his wife.

"I'll floo Albus and ask him to take the little dearie, Severus. You get comfortable. It's a good thing Mr. Malfoy is arriving tonight to get settled in." Poppy and Tristyn stood in the doorway watching the two of them. The little girl's eyes were wide in wonder and a little bit of fear.

"Mummy?" She asked fearfully, stepping into the room slowly. Severus pulled a sheet over Hermione's lower half, thankful she was wearing her old nightgown. Hermione smiled at her daughter and lay down on her side for a moment, beckoning her forward. Tristyn hurried into her mother's arms. "Are you okay?"

"I'm alright, love. Be good for Uncle Albus, please. By tonight you'll have a little brother or sister." Hermione hissed as a contraction washed over her unexpectedly. She noticed Tristyn's worried face and hastened to reassure her. "It's alright," She repeated. "Having a baby hurts a little bit. Don't worry."

Tristyn kissed Hermione, then turned and hugged her father tight. She jumped off the bed and told Poppy she had to go get something from her room. Severus wiped Hermione's brow as she got back up on her hands and knees. She smiled back at him.

"DADDDDDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!" Tristyn's screech stopped his next words. He patted Hermione's hand and hurried to his daughter's bedroom door. She was standing on her bed pointing toward her open closet door. "DADDDYYYY!!"

"What?" He thought maybe a Boggart had taken up residence in there. He advanced on the open door with his wand drawn.

"There's rats in there! Rover has rats in there!!! Get them out!" She yelled, backing up toward the headboard, sitting on the wood and pulling her feet up under her robes.

He pushed aside the door, opening it wide to find the girl's white familiar lying on a discarded jumper on the floor, three hairless rat like beings lying against her stomach. He roared with laughter and bent down to pet the new mother cat. "Come here, Poppet. Rover just had her kittens. They don't have hair most of the time when they're first born. Look." he wiped his tears and held her hand as Tristyn advanced hesitantly on her pet. He pulled her away gently as she reached to touch them. "No, Tristyn. If you touch them, they'll get sick, and maybe die. You can't touch them for a couple of weeks. Only Rover can."

"They're so tiny."

"Yes, they are. Now, let's leave her to finish. And yes, you may get a new sweater next time we're in Diagon Alley." He shuddered at what the cat had done to his daughter's clothing and thanked Merlin that it was the only piece on the floor. Tristyn waved goodbye to her pet and grabbed her favorite toy in preparation of spending time with her favorite lemon drop popping Headmaster. She skipped out of the room, yelled a goodbye to her mother and entered the floo with Pomfrey. Severus rejoined Hermione, who he found lying on her side, holding her stomach, snorting with laughter.

"Oh, man, I gotta go pee now! That was classic." She reached up so Severus could help her into the bathroom. She sat gingerly and sighed as she started to go. He returned to the bedroom to conjure some disposable sheets and a mattress protector for the birth. He was quite excited about having a home birth, seeing his child being born, since he'd missed out completely on Tristyn's.

"Little rats." He heard Hermione laughing at their daughter's antics again. At least she was in good spirits. He'd heard that Ginny Potter threatened to turn Harry into a woman during her labor. "Severus?" She called worriedly. He rushed in the bathroom. She was standing beside the shower, reaching in to turn on the spigot.

"What are you doing?"

"I want a shower. My water broke all over my clothes, and I feel gross. Help me?" She started pulling off her nightgown. He got a pair of sweats and a t-shirt from the bedroom, closed the bathroom door and changed quickly while she waited patiently for him. He helped her climb in and was glad he did it when she sighed in pleasure when the water beat down on her back.

They returned to the bedroom fifteen minutes later when the contractions were coming too close together and she couldn't stand being on her feet any longer. He helped her into the bed, back in the hands and knees position.

"I'm going to floo Poppy. She really needs to hurry." He rushed to the fireplace and called the headmaster's office, wincing when Hermione yelled at him from the bedroom. He didn't feel so bad for Potter now. It was going to be a long afternoon it seemed.


Tristyn stared at the black haired child cradled in her Daddy's arms. It's eyes were closed and she could see it's lips moving, opening and closing.

"It has hair. Rover's babies don't got hair."

"Human babies are different. And this is your little brother. And no he won't be spraying pee all over like Bronwyn's brother."

She frowned then touched his cheek lightly. He turned his head towards her touch. His little hand opened and she pressed her finger into it. He closed his tiny fingers around it and she gasped. "He's really strong!"

"Like you were." He looked over at Hermione, lying in their bed, sleeping lightly. Her labor passed fairly quickly after Poppy had returned. She had nursed the baby before falling into her sleep. He couldn't blame her. He hadn't been going through what she was, and he wanted to lie down for a few hours.

"Can I hold him? I'll be careful, I promise." Tristyn bit her lip like her mother did when worried. He smiled and stood with his son. She scooted into the chair, sitting into the corner so her arm was on the armrest. Severus placed a pillow under her other arm, then gently put his youngest baby in the arms of his oldest's. He made sure the baby was secure, then crouched down beside the two of them, brushing identical black curls from his daughter's face, then off of his son's forehead. "He's big."

"I'm sure your mum would agree wholeheartedly." Severus smiled at her as she rocked her little brother slightly against her chest. "His name is Averill, Tristyn. And you are a big sister now." He whispered as the baby opened his dark blue eyes and focused them on his sister's face.

Hermione's eyes opened slowly. She felt like she'd been battling Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic again, sore and tired. She smiled as she saw her family sitting quietly in the corner, her husband protectively holding their new son's head while their extraordinary daughter cradled her baby brother while sitting in the chair. As if feeling her eyes on him, Severus turned to look at her and smiled back, unshed tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. She wiped her cheek, having cried herself without realizing it.

This was her family, this was what she wanted with all her heart.

THE END!!!!


A/N~~It's over, I'm finally finished with it. Tristyn just did not want to let me stop writing about her, the little attention hound! I thank everyone who followed the story so thoroughly and faithfully, and everyone who left reviews. I truly appreciated them.

A special thanks to Angel, Juls, Citten, Barbara, Lisa, Heather, Killer K, Joani, Kris, and Beck, all of whom left reviews after just about every update and encouraged me to finish this thing.


I might do a sequel, but I want to concentrate on some of the other stories I'm working on, plus work on the challenge I submitted for other writers.

Everyone, thanks

Marti