A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 34 ~ The Time Arrives and Stops

Eli not only served Hermione, he downright pampered her, seeming to know what she needed before she needed it. She even got a sudden urge for vanilla ice cream, and almost before she said it, Eli had a big bowl of it in his hands, accompanied by several pickles arranged decorously around the rim.

He did rub her feet and her back when she ached, seeming to have magic hands that smoothed away her pain within minutes. He would draw her bath, using the jasmine scented spigot and magically kept the water warm for her as she soaked. At first, Hermione didn’t feel comfortable being naked in front of the little elf.

“Eli sees many naked witches, witch. Is nothing new. All is the same,” he said to her.

“Thanks for not making me feel special, Eli,” Hermione said to him sarcastically as she dropped her towel and let the elf help her into the tub.

”Miss is quite welcome,” the elf replied, missing the sarcasm entirely.

After a couple of brawls with Severus that involved hexes and even hair-pulling (on Hermione’s part), Hermione won out as to where she would have the baby. At home. Poppy agreed to come and deliver the child. She understood how Hermione felt having her child at Hogwarts. She couldn’t count on good care at St. Mungo’s because of her situation. The medi-witch assured Severus that Hermione was healthy and would be fine.

The Potions Master still didn’t like it but if that was what Hermione wanted, then that’s what she would have. Eli moved the crib into the Master bedroom for the time being.

The plan was quite simple. When Hermione went into labor, Eli would wink into Hogwarts (anti-apparition spells didn’t work on house elves), notify Severus who would depart for the house, then get Poppy who would follow. Severus would stay with Hermione until the medi-witch arrived.

It all sounded good on parchment.

On Wednesday, Hermione awoke with her back aching. Eli was by her side in an instant. He placed two clawed hands on her belly and focused. He looked at Hermione.

”The baby comes,” he said to her with a smile, “Should I go gets the master?”

Hermione sat up, grimacing a bit.

”No Eli, he’ll only aggravate me hovering around like a big bat and asking me if I’m all right every five seconds. When my water breaks, you can go get him and Poppy,” Hermione said to the elf.

Eli didn’t look too pleased about this, but did as Hermione asked.

He fed Hermione only crackers and water as her contractions began to get stronger. At about one in the afternoon, her water broke. Eli cleansed the bed and changed her gown magically. Hermione puffed, counting between her contractions. They were about ten minutes apart now. She had time but not much time.

“Go get them, Eli,” Hermione panted, her brow covered with sweat.

”Yes, Miss. The Master will be here shortly,” Eli said, winking out.

Hermione fell back and concentrated on breathing. Soon she’d be a mother.

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Hera was watching Hermione intently in the mirror as she went through labor.

”This is a difficult, wonderful time mortal. Don’t worry, after you give birth…you will have your husband,” the goddess said, smiling, “And it will be a good, solid marriage.”

Suddenly, Zeus bellowed for her to come help him find his crown.

“Men,” the goddess griped, rising and leaving the throne room.

In the cavern the Fates were gathered around the mirror.

”She’s alone!” Clothos cackled.

”Now is the time,” Lachesis hissed, taking the eye from Clothos and approaching the loom. Gently, she tugged on Hermione’s thread, snapping a few more strands.

Suddenly Hermione screamed as pain poured over her and a powerful urge to push. Oh gods, the baby! The baby was coming now!

”Severus!” Hermione screamed before she bore down.

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Severus had just started his afternoon class when Eli suddenly appeared.

”The baby comes,” the elf said to him.

Severus looked at him wild-eyed and turned to the class.

“Dismissed!” he shouted, tearing from the room, Eli following.

”No panic, Master…the Miss is calm and fine. I goes to get Poppy,” the elf said, winking out.

No panic? Was the elf crazy? His child was about to be born. Severus barely made it through the door of his study before disapparating.

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Eli appeared in the infirmary. He found Poppy’s temporary assistant there. She had been hired by Albus to cover for Poppy whenever Hermione’s time came.

”I needs Poppy,” the house elf said to the assistant, who was changing sheets on the beds.

”She’s in the office,” the assistant said, plumping pillows with her wand.

Eli hurried to the office.

”The Miss is ready,” the elf announced.

Poppy was doing paperwork. She looked up.

”The Miss?” she said, confused for a moment, then she stood up, “Oh, you mean Hermione. How is she?”

Poppy stood up and grabbed her satchel.

”The water is out and the baby coming, but there is time,” Eli said, “The master is there.”

”Well, we’d better go then,” Poppy said, walking briskly out of her office, “Take over Lois.”

The assistant nodded and continued making beds.

Poppy couldn’t apparate and didn’t do “elf travel” so they would have to walk across the grounds and out through the main gate before she could apparate.

But according to the house elf, they had time.

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Severus appeared in the living room and ran, his robes billowing to the bedroom, just in time to see Hermione bearing down, straining, her legs gapped and a big black bubble emerging.

”Hermione!” he gasped as the witch fell back gasping.

“The baby is coming Severus!” she cried, “Help me!”

Severus ran into the bathroom and gathered all the towels he could find and ran back to Hermione who was sitting up again pushing. Not knowing what else to do, the Potions Master held the towel down between her legs.

“The baby’s head is showing, Hermione! I’m here…just push! Push it out!” he directed her, the towel held at the ready.

Hermione bore down again, screeching with effort and the baby’s entire head popped out. Severus grasped the child with the towel.

”One more push, Hermione! One more, witch!” he gasped.

Hermione pushed and Severus pulled, freeing the baby, which lay limply in the towel, still attached by the cord. It was a girl.

Severus turned his child over and awkwardly patted its bottom to clear her passageway. There was a little cough, then a weak cry as the baby began to squirm.

Severus smiled and began to clean the baby off.

”It’s a girl, Hermione. She’s…she’s beautiful,” the wizard said, his voice breaking with emotion as he held his firstborn. He pulled out his wand and severed the umbilical cord, cauterizing it in the process.

“Hello, Cassia,” he said to the child, changing the towel, “Welcome to the world, Princess.”

He looked at Hermione, who was gazing at him with soft eyes.

”Let me see her, Severus,” she said weakly.

”Yes…yes of course,” Severus said, about to approach Hermione when she suddenly paled, her eyes going wide.

Severus heard a gush and looked down to see blood pouring from between Hermione’s legs, turning the sheets red.

”No!” the wizard cried running and putting Cassia in the crib and returning to Hermione, using his wand to cast a clotting spell on her, one he used when in service to the Dark Lord.

It didn’t work.

”No! No!” the wizard cried desperately, grabbing towels and pressing them between Hermione’s legs in an attempt to stop the bleeding…they were soaked and Hermione was ashen, her breathing barely perceptible.

’NO! HERMIONE YOU CAN’T DIE!” Severus roared at her, frantically mopping up the blood, his hands and sleeves covered in it.

Hermione didn’t respond.

“Oh gods! OH GODS! Help me! Somebody help me!” the anguished voice of the Potions Master screamed.
He had never in his life cried out for help until this moment.

Throughout Olympus, all the gods stopped what they were doing as they were called upon by some anguished mortal. Even Eris in her underground cave heard the cries, as did Hera and Zeus.

Hera recognized Severus’ voice ringing through the Halls and immediately ran to the throne room to see the wizard crying and frantically trying to stop Hermione’s hemorrhage. Zeus entered just in time to see Hera transform into a streak of light and flash through Olympus, bursting through the door of the Fate’s domain, reforming and casting a timeless spell on the Loom of Life, stopping time in the mortal realm.

Severus, Hermione, Poppy and Eli as well as the rest of the world of humans stopped.

”What the hell do you think you are doing?” Hera screamed at the Fates. She looked at the loom and saw darkness surrounding a thread hanging by a single strand.

“We are doing nothing, Hera. The witch’s thread weakened. It is truly fate in operation here,” Atropos said victoriously, “You must not interfere!”

”You did this! I know you did!” Hera screamed at them.

“Release the loom, Hera,” Zeus thundered behind her, “I forbid anyone god or goddess to interfere with the lives of these mortals, and that includes you, wife!”

Hera looked at him wild-eyed.

”Zeus, Zeus please my husband. Your daughters had a hand in this…I know it,” the Queen pleaded, “There was so much happiness to be had here. The mortal Snape deserves some happiness, some redemption. You know we can no longer bring mortals back from the dead, my King. If the witch dies, it will be permanent.”

”I’m sorry, Hera. I have given my decree concerning these mortals. No interference,” the god said, “It will take more than pleas to change my decree.”

Aphrodite and Eros stood behind Zeus, both of their eyes sad. They had never wanted this ending, neither of them.

Eros stepped forward.

”Zeus,” he began, “Please…won’t you…”

“BE SILENT!” Zeus thundered, blasting Eros out of the door with a lightning bolt. Aphrodite ran to her unconscious son’s side, glaring at Zeus.

”I am the King of the Gods here. I will not be questioned! Now Hera…release the Loom and let nature do what it will,” Zeus said to his wife, his face black with rage.

They all wanted to try him.

Hera blinked back tears as she looked at her husband. The Fates smiled evilly.

It appeared their plot had worked.

They would be avenged.

Suddenly a bright light flashed and Eris appeared in their midst, startling everyone. Zeus recovered first.

”Eris! What are you doing here? You cannot enter Olympus unless…unless someone has invited you,” he said faltering, “In which case, consider yourself uninvited and go!”

Eris had used one of her twelve invitations granted by Eros. She had a plan how to fix this. Normally, she would appreciate all the strife and mayhem, but this...this was unfair. She knew those three old crones had something to do with Hermione's state. Besides, they were stepping all over her toes. Strife and Discord were Eris' calling card.

The King of the Gods scowled down at Eris, who looked into the mirror at the fear and pain on the face of Severus Snape. They had all led him to this moment.

Then the goddess took on a cunning look.

”I came here to help you, my King,” the goddess said, “With an ongoing problem that I believe I can find the solution for…”

Eris flicked her finger at the god’s loins subtly.

"But...if you're not interested...I'll just go then," she said, twining her arms up into the air dramatically as if preparing to leave Olympus.

Zeus saw the finger flick and immediately all thoughts of Severus and Hermione went out of his head. Did Eris have a way for him to get his nature back?

”Wait...a solution, Eris?” the god asked her.

Eris smiled at him naughtily.
”Yes, a solution, my King. Just step over here into my office and I’ll tell you what it is,” the goddess said, ambling away from the others.

Zeus followed and leaned down as Eris whispered into his ear, stopping to look at Hera for a moment, then whispered a bit more and stopped again to look at the Fates, then whispered just a little more…

Zeus eyes narrowed and widened as the goddess whispered to him, then a smile started and broadened so wide the entire cavern was lit up for a moment.

”Yes! Yes!” he said, straightening and striding over to Hera.

”My wife. I have decided to be magnanimous. If you will grant my request, I will order Lachesis to repair the thread before it breaks,” the god said, “It all depends upon you, Hera. Remove the Impotence curse if you would have your mortals’ happiness.”

“NOOOO!” the Fates cried out in unison.

”Be silent!” Zeus hissed at them. They shut up but milled about anxiously, passing the eye back and forth so they could see what was happening.

Hera blinked at Zeus, then at Eris who met her gaze directly.

”If there was ever a time to be unselfish, Hera, this is it. Show compassion. You don’t fuck the randy old bastard anyway,” Eris thought.

Hera considered, looking at the mirror and the frozen anguished wizard. Would she willingly deal with Zeus’ infidelity to save his witch from the Fates and grant him a happy life? Did success mean that much to her? They were only mortals after all. They’d be dust in one hundred years.

What is your decision, my Queen?" Zeus asked her, his eyes hopeful.

Hera looked at Zeus again, frowned, then gave her answer.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.