A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 37 ~ The Outcome

For the next day and a half, Severus only left Hermione’s side to use the loo. He barely slept, afraid he would miss any signs of her return. He took care of Cassia, who required small feedings every two hours, but Eli was right there. His master wasn’t in good shape and the elf worried he might drop the baby, or stick her with a pin when changing her because of his tiredness. But the Potion Master functioned. He had stayed up for days before.

“Severus, you must eat something,” Poppy said, holding out a bowl of her infamous gruel.

The medi-witch’s gruel was legendary for its horrible flavor, but it was very nutritious.

Severus, his chin covered in stubble and his skin having an unwashed look, eyed the medi-witch before saying if he did want to eat, which he didn’t, he certainly wouldn’t willingly swallow down “that swill.” He’d had it forced on him enough when he was helpless from Voldemort’s tortures.

At night, the Potions Master continuously talked to Hermione, telling her to wake up and that she was needed. He didn’t say he loved her however. Instead, he said she had responsibilities to meet, and even once said he didn’t intend on changing nappies alone for the next three years. His voice caught when he told her this however. He couldn’t hide his emotion, though he made a grand effort.

The next day, Severus was changing Cassia in her crib, and had just pinned her nappie on when he heard his name called. The wizard spun so quickly, he stumbled.

Hermione was laying in the cot, looking at him, a bewildered look on her face.

”How did I get here?” she said weakly.

Severus blinked at her as if she were a ghost for a moment, then bellowed for Poppy…rushing over to the witch’s bedside and staring down at her, fighting the urge to fling himself on her and kiss her soundly.

”It’s about time you woke up witch,” he said to her gruffly, though his dark eyes couldn’t quite reflect the sternness he was trying to portray as Poppy rushed in.

She looked at the witch.

”Oh, thank the gods!” the medi-witch gushed, pulling out her wand and stepping between Hermione and Severus and checking the witch’s vitals. Then she left and retrieved the healer’s glasses. When Poppy returned, she pulled the blankets away from Hermione’s body and lifted her nightgown. She examined Hermione’s womb carefully. It was healed.

Poppy smiled broadly.

”We can expect a full recovery,” she said, lowering Hermione’s gown and running her hand over the witch’s cheek, “You had us scared to death for a while there, Hermione. Severus hasn’t left your side the entire time.”

The Potions Master scowled at Poppy blackly. Hermione didn’t have to know that.

”I did leave several times,” he groused.

”To use the loo. You haven’t even showered,” Poppy snapped back at him, “Or eaten.”

Severus fell silent.

”The baby…is the baby all right?” Hermione asked, her eyes full of fear.

”Yes. Cassia is fine,” Severus said, walking back over to the crib and pulling on Cassia’s tiny undershirt before carrying Hermione’s child back and holding her so the new mother could see her infant.

Hermione reached for the baby, but Severus held her out of reach.

”I don’t know if you’re strong enough, Hermione,” he said.

“Give me the baby, Severus,” Hermione said. She was weak, but the baby could rest on her chest. Her eyes narrowed.

Severus hesitated, then carefully placed the baby in Hermione’s arms, hovering over her as she studied Cassia, a broad smile on her face.

”She has black hair,” the witch said softly as the baby squirmed, making little noises.

The baby looked up at her, the child’s forehead wrinkled like a little old woman’s.

Hermione laughed.

“I can’t tell what color her eyes are yet,” Hermione said, “But her nose looks all right.”

Severus frowned at Hermione as she counted the baby’s fingers and toes.

”What’s that supposed to mean?” he growled at her as Poppy hid her smile behind her hand.

Eli was grinning broadly from the crib. The Miss was back. Everything was good again. Now, if only the master would stop pretending he wasn’t overjoyed and tell her that he loved her.

Severus noticed that the front of Hermione’s nightgown was becoming wet.

”I think you’ve sprung a leak,” the wizard said.

Hermione was lactating. Holding her baby had triggered her body’s nursing instinct. Her boobies overflowed.

”Help me sit up,” she said to Severus, who looked at Poppy.

The medi-witch nodded.

”I’ll go get some more pillows,” Poppy said as Severus carefully helped Hermione into a sitting position and held her there until Poppy returned with the pillows, piling them behind the witch.

“Take the baby, Severus,” Hermione said to the wizard, passing Cassia to him.

Severus held his daughter and watched as Hermione slipped one arm out of her nightgown and lowered it, her milk-swollen breast in full view.

The Potions Master’s tongue almost lolled out of his mouth. It was so…round and large, the areola broadened and brownish, milk leaking from the nipple.

He made a noise in the back of his throat he hoped no one heard.

Eli grinned at him. The master liked what he saw.

Hermione held her arms out to the wizard, who stared at her exposed breast, completely oblivious to anything else.

Hermione smirked and cleared her throat. Severus’ eyes shifted to her face.

“Um…the baby, Severus. I’d like to nurse her…if you don’t mind,” the witch said.

“Oh…oh yes. Here,” the wizard said, handing Cassia to Hermione.

It took some time to get the baby to take Hermione’s nipple, both baby and mother were quite frustrated before they finally came to an understanding. Hermione gasped when Cassia began to drink.

”Oh gods, that…that tickles,” Hermione hissed.

“Does it?” Severus asked in a strained voice.

He had watched the battle between mother and child with interest, mostly the mother though. Gods, Hermione’s breasts were huge, overflowing with milk.

Severus idly wondered what breast milk tasted like.

”Sweet, master. Very, very sweet,” Eli said in a low voice, standing next to Severus’ knee.

”What’s sweet?” Severus asked, staring down at the elf.

”The Miss’ milk. Is very sweet. My old master sometimes drank the milk. Much giggles from the Miss,” Eli said with a smile, “Good in-outie too.”

Severus arched an eyebrow at the little elf.

“In-outie?” the Potions Master said.

Eli kindly demonstrated what in-outie was, making an “o” with one scaly thumb and forefinger, then thrusting through it rapidly with the forefinger of his other hand.

”In-outie,” the elf reiterated.

“Oh,” Severus said shortly, looking at the elf with some amazement.

Eli was something else.

Suddenly Hermione wrinkled her nose and looked at Severus.

“Severus, you reek,” she said, “You need to go shower. You smell like a mountain troll."

Her eyes swept over his stubbly chin.

“You need to shave too,” she added.

Why…the bossy little minx.

His brows drawn together, Severus wanted to say the reason he reeked was because he had just spent the past two days at her bedside, coaxing her back to life and she should be glad of it, but he bit the retort back as he looked at Hermione nursing his child, alive and well.

She was back.

”I was going,” he snapped at her, “I just wanted to make sure Cassia wouldn’t starve trying to latch on to those huge…melons.”

Hermione gave him a naughty little grin.

”You mean the melons you couldn’t take your eyes off of?” she asked him sweetly.

Severus snorted.

“I’ll be back, witch” he snarked, not answering her question.

He turned with a billow of robes and an unpleasant rush of scent, then strode out of the privacy area, pushing the black curtain aside angrily.

”Phew!” Hermione said, and looked down at Cassia, who was nursing blissfully.

”That’s your father, Cassia. He normally smells much better,” she said to the baby, who squirmed a little.

Hermione smiled down at her.

It didn’t matter what anyone thought…her child was beautiful and welcome in the world.

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A/N: Thanks for reading. ***