You Promised It Would Be Forever - Edit

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 40 ~ Happy Endings and Beginnings

Hermione stepped through the floo first with her carryall bag. She turned expectantly waiting for Severus, who followed her, holding a small bundle in his arms and talking to it gently. A loud little cry went up.

"You certainly have your mother's lungs, Argus," Severus said to his son, smirking as Hermione put the bag down and brought her hands to her hips. She scowled at Severus.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" she asked him

"Probably that he'll be very good at holding his breath underwater," the wizard replied, giving Hermione a wicked grin. "He'll be able to pass your talents on to the female populace."

Hermione's mouth dropped open.

"Severus! He's only three days old! And already you're talking about him being with women," Hermione said, frowning.

Severus grinned down at the baby.

"Well you saw for yourself, Hermione. My nose isn't the only attribute I've passed on to the boy," he said rather proudly.

"He'll grow into it," Hermione said, opening the bag and taking out some bottles.

Eli winked in, standing on tiptoes trying to see the baby.

"The young Master is home now!" the elf said delightedly. "Oh Master! Mistress! Such a happy, happy day it is!"

Severus lowered Argus so Eli could see him. The elf's eyes went soft.

"A handsome boy he is, sir. What is his name?" Eli asked.

"Argus Jacob Snape," he replied, bringing the baby back up.

"I'm still not sure about naming him Argus, Severus. It's the most popular name around. By the time he starts Hogwarts, almost every wizard will have the same name," she said, taking towels out of the bag.

Eli gathered up the bottles and took them to the kitchen, cast a stasis spell on them and put them in the cooler.

"I know Hermione, but the name Argus has a special significance for us. If not for Argus Filch, little Argus would not be here, because we would not be here. It is fitting we honor his memory this way, as well as Jacob's," he said.

Hermione turned and looked at him as he stared down at the baby, his black eyes unreadable. She knew he was thinking of Jacob.

"You're right Severus," she said softly, walking up to him and taking the baby. Severus looked after him longingly as she walked down the hall.

"I have to introduce Argus to his crib," she said. "Then I have to fill his bottles."

Severus perked up at this. He always wondered what breast milk tasted like. He walked behind the witch and his son.

"Can I be of assistance, wife?" he called after her, a little smirk on his pale face.

Severus would give Hermione a year or two. Then she could introduce their next child to the nursery. Maybe a girl next time.

Severus wanted a houseful of children. There wouldn't be a dunderhead among them either. He'd make sure of that.

He turned into the nursery and saw Hermione had put Argus into the crib. Apparently he took right to it, because the baby was sound asleep. Severus walked over and looked down at his son. He had the classic Snape nose, and his mother's chestnut hair. They still weren't sure what color his eyes would be but they seemed to be darkening. Maybe black, like his father's.

Hermione took a very strange looking contraption out of a small back. It had a clear large suction cup attachment, which was attached to a handle and there was a small removable bottle beneath it.

"What is that?" Severus asked, cocking his head as Hermione sat down and opened her robes, then began unbuttoning her blouse.

"A breast pump. My mum sent it. I told her we have easier ways of extracting milk here in the magical world, but she made me promise I'd try it. Mum never really trusted magic. Still, I need it to get my supply up first," Hermione said.

She opened her blouse, revealing she was braless, then removed two pads that were resting on her nipples. The Potions Master's eyes glittered as they fell on his wife's milk enlarged breasts. He bit his lip.

He watched as Hermione attached the cup to one of her breasts, then began to pump the handle. She also bit her lip. Severus' eyes narrowed as he watched milk begin to trickle into the little bottle. Hermione looked like the sensation was pleasurable. Well, she was getting her breast sucked after all. Severus knew she liked that.

"Does that muggle machine feel as good as I do?" he asked her, his black eyes glittering.

Hermione looked up at him, still pumping.

"Of course not, Severus. Your mouth is soft, warm, alive. You feel much better than any machine could. But you wouldn't be able to save the milk," she said, giving him a smile.

Severus continued to stare at her enlarged breasts.

"Just how much milk do you produce?" he asked her.

"It's basically supply & demand, Severus. Right now, my body doesn't know how much milk to produce, so I will have to actively stimulate my breasts and pump frequently to get a steady supply going," she said. "I have plenty of bottles right now, but I still have to do this. After I get regulated, then I'll use magic to extract the milk. I need the suction now, though."

There was only a little milk in the bottle.

"Looks like slow going," the wizard commented. "You look like you could use a little help getting stimulated, wife."

Hermione looked at her husband. He had a glimmer in his eyes as he looked at her breasts.

"Severus! You aren't thinking…" she began.

"And why not, wife? It's fine for my son, isn't it?" he said silkily.

"Yes, but…" Hermione said, starting to feel a little warm.

Twisted as it was, the idea of breast-feeding Severus kind of turned her on. The wizard didn't miss the naughty little light in her eyes.

"Plus, it would be quite…helpful to your production…wouldn't it?" Severus said persuasively, still keeping the silk in his voice.

"I…I guess so," she replied.

Severus gave her a rather hungry look and closed the door. He started toward her.

Hermione's eyes shifted toward the crib.

"But Severus…the baby," she said softly, "He's in here."

"I'm sure he won't mind sharing his mother," the wizard said, kneeling before her and caressing her breast.

"He's going to have to get used to it, after all," he breathed, lowering his head and latching on her nipple gently.

Severus heard Hermione sigh, as her hand lightly locked in his hair.

The Potions Master found he liked breast milk very, very much.

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Ginny Weasley and Lord Percival Hornswallow the 2nd began to date socially two months after meeting. It was quite a chaste little affair. Ginny wasn't rushing into any intimate relationships and informed Percival she had no problem with him dating other witches. This bothered him a little bit. Even the women he dated were jealous of each other. The fact that Ginny didn't mind him dating or even sleeping with other witches gave him mixed feelings. On the one hand he was glad she wasn't clingy or possessive. On the other hand, he wished she were, just a little. So he'd know he mattered to her. He certainly didn't want her seeing any other wizards.

Percival found he enjoyed the fiery redhead's company. She was rather outspoken and combative, loving to debate and argue. He figured she probably had to be that way, growing up with six brothers.

She was also quite thrifty, and they didn't do fancy restaurants as often as having lunch in the park. She hated wasting money. Once in a blue moon she might consent to going to a restaurant, but she insisted the menus have prices on them. And then she would pay her own way. She was nearly impossible to court. He rarely got a chance to spend a dime on her, which he found frustrating. Percival hated to see her counting out coins carefully and handing them to a vendor, waiter or cashier.

They had gotten into a debate about it four months into their spending time together. They were on a first name basis now. Percival still had yet to kiss her properly. He got a hello and good-bye peck. Sometimes she would hold his hand as they walked through a park or along a lake. She was driving the wizard crazy, to be honest. She was beautiful, and her standoffishness attracted him greatly. There weren't many things in the world that Percival couldn't have if he wanted, but Ginny was one of those things. And Percival knew if he pushed her for more intimacy, he might drive her off.

"Ginny, I have more money that you do. Why don't you let me treat you when we are out? You are a lovely young witch, and I don't mind footing the bill for our outings. Being with you brings me so much pleasure," he said persuasively.

"Because Percival, I don't want to feel indebted to you, that's why. This way, I don't have to feel guilty about being the way I am, taking my time…just enjoying your company as a friend. If you were paying for everything, I'd feel like you were tallying it up in your head, waiting for me to "pay up" or something. And don't say that wouldn't happen Percival. You might not consciously do it, but all men do it," she said evenly.

"Ginny, I would like very much to be more than your friend," he said sincerely, taking her hand. They were walking around a lake in Shropshire Park. "I've never known a witch like you. You are very different, very special. You have opinions. Convictions. A temper. Plus you are beautiful. Not just lovely. In the beginning you were lovely, but now to me you are beautiful, from your flaming red hair down to the smallest freckle."

He paused, stopping the witch and turning her toward him.

"Ginny, I can't help that I'm wealthy or that I believe that a lovely woman is worth spending my money on. I know you have your own beliefs and convictions concerning this, Ginny and good reasons why as well. But I assure you I am not the kind of wizard that tallies up how much I spend on a woman and expect her to ring like a register and fall into my bed when I've spent enough. I've had to deal with women that will sleep with me after only a dinner, and not necessarily a high priced one, or even after a simple drink. Now I know that doesn't sound bad for most wizards…they would love to be in my boots I imagine. But it all gets old. There is no challenge, and worse, no feelings. Every witch, with the exception of you, would just as easily fall into the next wealthy wizard's bed."

"What's worse, they are all looking to sleep their way into marriage. Counting on their bodies and their pedigrees to land them a rich husband so they can go tearing through his accounts, hold grand and senseless parties, and buy useless trinkets that cost a working wizard's salary for a year, only to be stuck in a box someplace after wearing it once," he said, rubbing his brow in exasperation.

He looked at the witch. Ginny was staring at him, listening.

"Ginny, I am a wealthy man but I have no wife, no children. I want that badly. And I want a real wife, a partner, not a showpiece. Not a witch that has been shuffled from bed to bed depending on who was wealthier than whom. I'm looking for a wife, Ginny," he said honestly. "And you…you are…"

Ginny raised her hand.

"Don't say anything more, Percival. Please," she said, taking her hand gently out of his.

"But Ginny," he said, walking alongside her.

"Percival, there is a lot more than just me to deal with. I come from a large, close-knit, often extremely annoying family. They interfere in everything. Simply because we love each other so much. They can be a bit much, and none of us are society people," she said softly.

"I'm going to be honest with you, Percival. I am very attracted to you, but you come with a lot of baggage too. Your wealth for example. You're just so damn rich and there are social niceties that have to be attended to that I don't know I could deal with. When we are out together, it's like you're in my world. And you fit pretty well. You're the first rich wizard I know that enjoys standing on a sidewalk eating hot dogs. But I don't think I could fit into your world like that."

"I'd want to work, for example. The wives of rich wizards don't work. Do you see what I'm talking about here? I browse thrift shops and cut-rate stores. I enjoy saving money. I learned to be that way because we grew up poor. I'm not going to be able to change that…I don't want to change that. I'm used to cleaning my own house, not having servants at my beck and call. Most witches would love that, but I doubt I would. I'm a pureblood like you are Percival, but don't you see how different our worlds are…they are bound to clash if we were to become more than what we are now," she said as they rounded the lake.

"I could deal with the clashing, Ginny. I'm not looking for a wife to fit into society…I'm looking for a wife who can fit into my life as a man, an ordinary wizard. If you don't want servants, you don't have to have them. But remember, that is their livelihood, how they make their living and support their families. But there is enough to for them to do without waiting on you hand and foot. If you want to work, that would be fine with me. It would be better than you lounging around doing nothing. And as far as the social occasions go, I would leave that up to you. I go to many events stag by choice. It doesn't bother me to do so. I could adjust my world to make it good for you, Ginny…" he said.

Ginny laughed softly.

"We're talking like we are going to get married," she said. "You haven't even kissed me, Percival. We might not even be compatible."

Percival looked at her, his green eyes heating up.

"I have a feeling we could be quite compatible, Ginny Weasley," he said a bit heatedly. "I've been wanting to kiss you from the first time you bought me a hot dog. Let me kiss you now. Please."

Ginny looked at Percival. He was handsome, sweet and extremely patient. She knew he was attracted to her the second week of their association. She constantly told him she was off of wizards for the time being, and he insisted they go out as friends…no pressure. And he had done well until tonight. She had to admit he was different than the other wizards she had met. Plus, she was quite attracted to him, and had wondered what it would be like to kiss the wizard. Maybe it was time to find out.

"All right, Percival," she said, holding up her hand as the wizard started to go for her immediately, stopping him in his tracks. "But a regular kiss. No tongue. No roaming hands."

Percival hadn't been planning on fondling the witch. He knew he wouldn't get away with it. But the tongue thing. He would have definitely tried to explore her mouth.

"No tongue, no roaming hands," he agreed, "but I can embrace you, can't I?"

"As long as it isn't too tight, and you don't start rubbing against me," she said.

He nodded and Ginny closed her eyes.

Percival looked at her and didn't move. Finally Ginny opened one eye.

"What's wrong?" she asked him.

"Well, you stood there and closed your eyes. I was waiting for someone to yell "Fire" and cut you down. You looked like you were standing in front of a muggle firing squad," he said evenly. "You're supposed to close your eyes when I kiss you, not before I kiss you.'

Ginny shook her head.

"I'm sorry Percival," she said softly. "You can kiss me now. I won't close my eyes unless I feel the need to."

Percival smiled at the witch and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist, drawing her into him lightly. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her tenderly, moving his mouth against hers gently, his head moving slightly.

Ginny felt his gentleness and responded to it, her arms going around Percival's neck before she knew it was happening as she returned his kiss. She felt a bit of a tingle run through her body. His arms were strong and his body hard beneath his robes. He held her firmly, capturing her lips between his own as if tasting them. He felt very, very good…and that tingle was quickly becoming something else.

Percival could feel Ginny responding to him, and there was nothing cold and practiced about her. He was coaxing this response from the witch, pulling passion out of her, true passion. It was so different than what he experienced with other witches. Percival was becoming drunk with the feel of it. The wizard badly wanted to deepen the kiss and pull her to him tighter…he could feel Ginny would accept him. But no…he had agreed to her rules. He couldn't risk angering her, not now, not after she had allowed him this sweetness. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, and looked at the witch. Ginny's eyes were closed, and her mouth still held in a way that was just asking for more. But he didn't give it to her.

Ginny felt Percival pull away, and wanted so much to lean into him and continue the kiss. It had been just that sweet. Actually, she would have liked for him to hold her tighter. There was a little flame inside her now. The little flame that told her that she was interested in more than a platonic friendship, the little flame that told her she would like something more from the wizard than that single kiss. Ginny opened her brown eyes, and they were heated.

Percival could have danced at the way she looked at him, before she unwound her arms from around his neck and stepped out of his grasp, regrouping

"So, what did you think? Are we compatible," he asked her.

Ginny looked at him and began walking. Percival fell in step beside her, his brows raised in askance.

"I think," Ginny said softly, "that you need to meet my family, Percival. See if you can take them before I tell you whether or not I think we are compatible. We eat together every Sunday…almost the whole family, anyway. I think you should come this Sunday."

Percival looked at her. She wanted him to meet her family. This could be a very good thing, or a very bad one. His green eyes swept over the witch. He wanted her. If breaking bread with her family could bring him closer to acquiring her, hell, he'd do it.

"I'd be happy to have Sunday dinner with your family," he replied smiling at her.

Ginny looked at him, then thought about Fred and George working him over, trying to get him to invest in their joke shop, and her mother…gods…her mother. She knew what Molly would do. And her father. Merlin. Well, there was nothing for it. If her family didn't run the wizard off, maybe she and Percival could explore their feelings about each other further. It made no sense to get involved with the wizard, then find out he didn't like her family. Ginny was family-oriented. Irritating as they could be, she would never throw them off for a wizard. Ever. If he didn't like them, then that was the end of that.

She gave him a little half-smile.

"You say that now, Percival. We'll see how happy you are after dinner," she said.

They took another walk around the lake, mostly in silence.

Then Percival escorted her home.

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A/N: All right. Severus and Hermione have had their first child, Argus Jacob Snape. They seem very happy and still very randy. Lol. Essentially, their story is over, though I will probably insert bits of their life as I feed the need of those who want to see Ginny and Percival get together. Those of you who don't, this would be a good place to stop reading. I appreciate you going this far. Ginny Weasley is very careful in this fic. I think she has learned some valuable lessons about being too promiscuous from her younger years. She is a serious, bright young witch and is holding Percival off, learning about him in the process. She doesn't want to have to change who she is for the wizard, but Percival is willing to make concessions so she could be happy with him. I can tell you this though…he is going to do something really fantastic that she won't be able to ignore. Anyway, please review