Love and Parenthood
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Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
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Adult +
Chapters:
19
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Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
19
Views:
12,222
Reviews:
17
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Inspection
Love and Parenthood
Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.
The Inspection.
Hermione and Severus heard nothing of Mistress Fletcher during the following month and had almost assumed that she had decided to interfere with someone else. That hope however was proved to be unfounded when she made an unscheduled appearance in the lab just as Hermione was beginning with her Third year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
Hermione felt a wave of stress bubble up as soon as she saw this woman but she attempted to focus on her task and succeeded in ignoring her until the class was underway. As soon as the children started their brewing Mistress Fletcher homed in on her.
“I understood your husband was employed as Potions Master in this school,” she said loudly.
“He is. As his Apprentice I take over the role when his duties to the Wizengamot and the Aurors require his absence,” replied Hermione, not taking her eyes off the class for a moment.
“Madam Snape! It is considered good manners in the Wizarding world to look at the person you are speaking to.”
“It is also considered sensible not to take your eyes off a class when they are brewing. Even with the best planned lesson children can have accidents.”
“I have made time today to fit in a tour of inspection of the new buildings. When will this class be over?”
“This class has another thirty five minutes to run but I have another straight after.”
“That’s not acceptable. I need to be back at the Ministry by tea time.”
“Well if we had known that you wanted to visit today we could have made arrangements for one of us to be free to take you.”
“That would rather defeat the purpose of a surprise inspection. Where is Professor Snape?”
“He is in Hogsmeade. I am expecting him back in time for lunch.”
“What is he doing in Hogsmeade?”
“He’s having a meeting at the Auror’s Academy. He’s going to start teaching there when we move to the Annexe. When he comes back, one of us will stay here and the other will accompany you.”
“Where is the Headmaster?”
“He’s visiting the Ministry this morning on some sort of Wizengamot business. I only know because he mentioned it in passing.”
“I see. I suppose I have no choice but to put up with this inconvenience. Go about your business Madam and I will observe your lessons.”
Hermione was forced to complete that lesson and the following one under the eagle eye of Mistress Fletcher. They both went smoothly enough but it was difficult to carry on as normal with the feeling that Mistress Fletcher was waiting to pounce on the slightest mistake. When lunchtime drew around Hermione escorted her to the Great Hall. As they were entering Professor Dumbledore caught up with them.
“Ah Hermione,” he said jovially. “I heard you had a visitor.”
“Yes. Mistress Fletcher was hoping either Severus or I could be spared to show her around the Manor.”
“I have come to inspect the Manor. I have been greatly inconvenienced by this delay,” insisted the older witch forcefully.
“Severus is going to be held up. Something came up at the Ministry and they called him down to help. He should be back this evening. What classes does he have?”
“Fifth and Seventh Year.”
“I’ll take care of the hinghing. I imagine you have prepared notes?”
“Yes.”
“Splendid. I’ll try not to make a mess of your lab and you can go as soon as you’ve eaten.”
“I would prefer to leave now,” said Mistress Fletcher.
“I’m afraid that will be impossible. Severus would never forgive me if I allowed Hermione to skip lunch after a full morning’s work. We have to take good care of all our expectant mothers.”
“I’m surprised you allow her to work with impressionable children in her condition. I hardly think that you would wish the younger children to follow her example.”
“On the contrary,” said Dumbledore, steel creeping into his tone. “I would be very happy if they all made a contribution to society, made happy marriages and were blessed with children. It will take most of them many years to achieve that, if they ever do.”
Mistress Fletcher had no comeback for that and the meal proceeded in an uncomfortable silence. Hermione made a valiant effort with her food but was too tense to have much of an appetite. Eventually the two of them made their way back to the upstairs sitting room.
“If you wait here, I’ll go and get my Portkey,” said Hermione.
“That’s your preferred method of travel?”
“I was travelling by broom but now I’m getting bigger it’s not very comfortable to bend forward. We’ve got the Manor grounds warded for Apparitions already but the floo isn’t set up yet. We are planning to have that working by the end of term when we move in.”
“Well I suppose it saves the walk to the gates. Go on and fetch it.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“And this where the births will happen? How much of this is new?”
“Most of it. This was a Muggle dwelling and this part was the coach house, stables and brewhouse. The original buildings are three sides of the courtyard and the builders have adapted them and built over the courtyard.”
“Who paid for it?”
“I don’t know. Professor Dumbledore took charge of all that. I don’t know where he found it.”
“So as far as you know Professor Dumbledore could be channelling public money into revamping your house?”
“As I said I don’t know where it came from.”
“It must be adding considerable value to this property.”
“I don’t know. As far as I’m aware it’s all temporary. We don’t really plan to run a maternity hospital after this is over. Severus funded the renovation of the main house and the cottages and we are not charging rent on it. We didn’ttialtially bargain on needing the extra building but because all the babies were conceived on the same night we ought to have two birthing rooms and then there are two full birthing teams to house. It all takes space.”
“You are planning traditional birthing rituals for all these children?”
“Yes.”
“I have to say I’m very surprised. I mean surely most of these children are going to be adopted.”
“As far as I know we’re only expecting three to be adopted.”
“Do you mean that these girls plan on keeping illegitimate offspring?”
“Lots of them aren’t illegitimate. I’m married, as is Professor Graceworthy-Plank. Three of the other girls have married and I know some of the others plan to marry when the fathers leave school.”
“How many children will be pureblood?”
“I’ve no idea. Professor Graceworthy-Plank’s baby is and Ginny Longbottom’s is. Being a Muggle-born myself I don’t know enough about who is connected to whom.”
“But surely you know who is mixed blood?”
“I know that some are. Lavender and Lu are purebloods married to Muggle-borns but unless they’ve told me what they are I wouldn’t know. Severus would know.”
“I see I shall have to ask him. I think it’s a little much to go to these extremes for births of this kind. Who decided all this?”
“Severus.”
“I shall have to find time to speak to him about this.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to talk to you. He has very strong ideas about what tos to be done and I respect his guidance.”
“Well I think you’ve probably helped me as much as you are capable. Where do I have to go to Apparate?”
“The nearest point is just beyond the Gatehouse.”
“Tell your husband he can expect to hear from me very shortly and I will expect answers. Good day!”
Hermione watched in silence as Mistress Fletcher trotted away towards the Gatehouse. Severus wasn’t going to be pleased. She waited until the woman vanished before activating the Portkey to travel home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“How bad was it?” asked Severus later that evening.
“Pretty awful,” said Hermione.
The two of them were sharing a private dinner in their quarters as Severus had been rather late back from London.
“The builders have finished the unit. I think it looks really good but she was trying to put a spin on everything.”
“What did she try to imply?”
“She tried to suggest that there was something wrong with us not paying for the builders and she was sort of ….. sort of dismissive about the babies.”
“In what way?”
“She was trying to ask about the bloodlines of the babies. She wanted to know how many were pureblood. She expected them all to be offered for adoption. It was like she thought that they should be swept under the carpet and that it was a waste to observe the customs.”
“I see.”
“And before we set off she made a remark to Albus about allowing me to teach.”
“He knows you’rmpetmpetent.”
“She thought I was a bad influence… being pregnant at my age.”
Severus froze.
“Bloody bitch!” he exclaimed. “She’s lucky I wasn’t there. Tomorrow I’m going to visit her office to sort her out.”
“Do you think you should?”
“Yes I do. She will not insult you in that fashion.”
“I don’t want to cause an argument.”
“You haven’t caused it. She has caused it.”
“Yes but I am very young to be pregnant.”
“You are married. No one can criticise you for bearing your husband’s children. With the state of fertility in our world every magical child is a gift. I extend that to all the pregnant witches in the castle and that is why we will provide what the families might not be able to. I will see this woman tomorrow and I will tell her.”
“Take Arthur with you.”
“I don’t need an escort.”
“I know you don’t but we can’t both go and I’m a bit worried about you seeing her without a witness. She’s really provoking and I just don’t trust her. Please?”
“All right. I will do if it makes you happy. Arthur might as well meet her anyway if they’re joining us at the Manor. With any luck he might have some kind of influence over her boss.”
“No Imperio if he hasn’t.”
“Killjoy.”
Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.
The Inspection.
Hermione and Severus heard nothing of Mistress Fletcher during the following month and had almost assumed that she had decided to interfere with someone else. That hope however was proved to be unfounded when she made an unscheduled appearance in the lab just as Hermione was beginning with her Third year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
Hermione felt a wave of stress bubble up as soon as she saw this woman but she attempted to focus on her task and succeeded in ignoring her until the class was underway. As soon as the children started their brewing Mistress Fletcher homed in on her.
“I understood your husband was employed as Potions Master in this school,” she said loudly.
“He is. As his Apprentice I take over the role when his duties to the Wizengamot and the Aurors require his absence,” replied Hermione, not taking her eyes off the class for a moment.
“Madam Snape! It is considered good manners in the Wizarding world to look at the person you are speaking to.”
“It is also considered sensible not to take your eyes off a class when they are brewing. Even with the best planned lesson children can have accidents.”
“I have made time today to fit in a tour of inspection of the new buildings. When will this class be over?”
“This class has another thirty five minutes to run but I have another straight after.”
“That’s not acceptable. I need to be back at the Ministry by tea time.”
“Well if we had known that you wanted to visit today we could have made arrangements for one of us to be free to take you.”
“That would rather defeat the purpose of a surprise inspection. Where is Professor Snape?”
“He is in Hogsmeade. I am expecting him back in time for lunch.”
“What is he doing in Hogsmeade?”
“He’s having a meeting at the Auror’s Academy. He’s going to start teaching there when we move to the Annexe. When he comes back, one of us will stay here and the other will accompany you.”
“Where is the Headmaster?”
“He’s visiting the Ministry this morning on some sort of Wizengamot business. I only know because he mentioned it in passing.”
“I see. I suppose I have no choice but to put up with this inconvenience. Go about your business Madam and I will observe your lessons.”
Hermione was forced to complete that lesson and the following one under the eagle eye of Mistress Fletcher. They both went smoothly enough but it was difficult to carry on as normal with the feeling that Mistress Fletcher was waiting to pounce on the slightest mistake. When lunchtime drew around Hermione escorted her to the Great Hall. As they were entering Professor Dumbledore caught up with them.
“Ah Hermione,” he said jovially. “I heard you had a visitor.”
“Yes. Mistress Fletcher was hoping either Severus or I could be spared to show her around the Manor.”
“I have come to inspect the Manor. I have been greatly inconvenienced by this delay,” insisted the older witch forcefully.
“Severus is going to be held up. Something came up at the Ministry and they called him down to help. He should be back this evening. What classes does he have?”
“Fifth and Seventh Year.”
“I’ll take care of the hinghing. I imagine you have prepared notes?”
“Yes.”
“Splendid. I’ll try not to make a mess of your lab and you can go as soon as you’ve eaten.”
“I would prefer to leave now,” said Mistress Fletcher.
“I’m afraid that will be impossible. Severus would never forgive me if I allowed Hermione to skip lunch after a full morning’s work. We have to take good care of all our expectant mothers.”
“I’m surprised you allow her to work with impressionable children in her condition. I hardly think that you would wish the younger children to follow her example.”
“On the contrary,” said Dumbledore, steel creeping into his tone. “I would be very happy if they all made a contribution to society, made happy marriages and were blessed with children. It will take most of them many years to achieve that, if they ever do.”
Mistress Fletcher had no comeback for that and the meal proceeded in an uncomfortable silence. Hermione made a valiant effort with her food but was too tense to have much of an appetite. Eventually the two of them made their way back to the upstairs sitting room.
“If you wait here, I’ll go and get my Portkey,” said Hermione.
“That’s your preferred method of travel?”
“I was travelling by broom but now I’m getting bigger it’s not very comfortable to bend forward. We’ve got the Manor grounds warded for Apparitions already but the floo isn’t set up yet. We are planning to have that working by the end of term when we move in.”
“Well I suppose it saves the walk to the gates. Go on and fetch it.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“And this where the births will happen? How much of this is new?”
“Most of it. This was a Muggle dwelling and this part was the coach house, stables and brewhouse. The original buildings are three sides of the courtyard and the builders have adapted them and built over the courtyard.”
“Who paid for it?”
“I don’t know. Professor Dumbledore took charge of all that. I don’t know where he found it.”
“So as far as you know Professor Dumbledore could be channelling public money into revamping your house?”
“As I said I don’t know where it came from.”
“It must be adding considerable value to this property.”
“I don’t know. As far as I’m aware it’s all temporary. We don’t really plan to run a maternity hospital after this is over. Severus funded the renovation of the main house and the cottages and we are not charging rent on it. We didn’ttialtially bargain on needing the extra building but because all the babies were conceived on the same night we ought to have two birthing rooms and then there are two full birthing teams to house. It all takes space.”
“You are planning traditional birthing rituals for all these children?”
“Yes.”
“I have to say I’m very surprised. I mean surely most of these children are going to be adopted.”
“As far as I know we’re only expecting three to be adopted.”
“Do you mean that these girls plan on keeping illegitimate offspring?”
“Lots of them aren’t illegitimate. I’m married, as is Professor Graceworthy-Plank. Three of the other girls have married and I know some of the others plan to marry when the fathers leave school.”
“How many children will be pureblood?”
“I’ve no idea. Professor Graceworthy-Plank’s baby is and Ginny Longbottom’s is. Being a Muggle-born myself I don’t know enough about who is connected to whom.”
“But surely you know who is mixed blood?”
“I know that some are. Lavender and Lu are purebloods married to Muggle-borns but unless they’ve told me what they are I wouldn’t know. Severus would know.”
“I see I shall have to ask him. I think it’s a little much to go to these extremes for births of this kind. Who decided all this?”
“Severus.”
“I shall have to find time to speak to him about this.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to talk to you. He has very strong ideas about what tos to be done and I respect his guidance.”
“Well I think you’ve probably helped me as much as you are capable. Where do I have to go to Apparate?”
“The nearest point is just beyond the Gatehouse.”
“Tell your husband he can expect to hear from me very shortly and I will expect answers. Good day!”
Hermione watched in silence as Mistress Fletcher trotted away towards the Gatehouse. Severus wasn’t going to be pleased. She waited until the woman vanished before activating the Portkey to travel home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“How bad was it?” asked Severus later that evening.
“Pretty awful,” said Hermione.
The two of them were sharing a private dinner in their quarters as Severus had been rather late back from London.
“The builders have finished the unit. I think it looks really good but she was trying to put a spin on everything.”
“What did she try to imply?”
“She tried to suggest that there was something wrong with us not paying for the builders and she was sort of ….. sort of dismissive about the babies.”
“In what way?”
“She was trying to ask about the bloodlines of the babies. She wanted to know how many were pureblood. She expected them all to be offered for adoption. It was like she thought that they should be swept under the carpet and that it was a waste to observe the customs.”
“I see.”
“And before we set off she made a remark to Albus about allowing me to teach.”
“He knows you’rmpetmpetent.”
“She thought I was a bad influence… being pregnant at my age.”
Severus froze.
“Bloody bitch!” he exclaimed. “She’s lucky I wasn’t there. Tomorrow I’m going to visit her office to sort her out.”
“Do you think you should?”
“Yes I do. She will not insult you in that fashion.”
“I don’t want to cause an argument.”
“You haven’t caused it. She has caused it.”
“Yes but I am very young to be pregnant.”
“You are married. No one can criticise you for bearing your husband’s children. With the state of fertility in our world every magical child is a gift. I extend that to all the pregnant witches in the castle and that is why we will provide what the families might not be able to. I will see this woman tomorrow and I will tell her.”
“Take Arthur with you.”
“I don’t need an escort.”
“I know you don’t but we can’t both go and I’m a bit worried about you seeing her without a witness. She’s really provoking and I just don’t trust her. Please?”
“All right. I will do if it makes you happy. Arthur might as well meet her anyway if they’re joining us at the Manor. With any luck he might have some kind of influence over her boss.”
“No Imperio if he hasn’t.”
“Killjoy.”