Lialani\'s Story

disclaimer: weve heard it all before: i own nuttin, she owns it all.

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And she was still thanking them, nine months later, as she heaved herself out of bed, her very prominent belly sticking out.

“Thank you, Hermione, for helping me get up,” Lialani gasped, straightening her back.

“It’s no problem, Lialani, really. I’ve been helping you for the past nine months, and yet everyday you keep thanking me for the littlest things,” Hermione said, reaching into Lialani’s trunk and pulling out a maternity dress.

“Ugh, the ugly things they make me wear just because there’s a uniform to follow,” Lialani grumbled as she slipped the dress over her head.

Hermione just smiled. She had been hearing the same thing every morning for the past seven months, ever since Lialani had begun to show.

“Well, just think that when you finally have the baby, you can wear your old clothes again,” Hermione said.

Lialani nodded, rubbing her hands over where a new life had begun. She giggled as she felt the baby kick.

“Hermione, do you want to feel the baby kick?” Lialani asked.

Hermione nodded and Lialani grabbed her hand, placing it on the spot where she had felt it kick last. When she felt it kick, Hermione’s face split into a wide smile.

“I can’t wait to find out if it’s a girl or boy. Couldn’t Madam Pomfrey have done a spell or charm to find out?” Hermione asked, her hand still glued to Lialani’s belly.

“Yeah, but I asked her not to. I don’t want to know until it’s born,” Lialani replied.

Hermione nodded. She understood; it took away the element of surprise that came with having a baby and she wouldn’t have wanted to know either.

“Hey, Lialani! Good morning!” Lavender burst out of the bathroom, hair in place but still in her nightgown. “Oh, is the baby kicking?” she asked when she spotted Hermione’s hand on Lialani’s stomach.

“Yeah. You wanna feel?” Before Lavender could answer, Lialani took her hand and put it next to Hermione’s.

She squealed delightedly as she felt the little one kick as though it was ready to come out into the world.

“You’re due any day now, right?” Lavender inquired, still rubbing her hand over Lialani’s belly.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m dying to know if it’s a girl or boy.”

“Hermione just said that!” Lialani happened to look at her watch and gasped. “We need to get down to breakfast now. Lavender, girl, get dressed!”

ndernder laughed and scurried to her trunk. She dressed quickly, taking care not to muss up her painstakingly done hair.

“Let me do my eyeliner and we can go down,” Lialani said, and Lavender added, “I need to do mine too.”

A few minutes later, the three girls were heading down to the Great Hall, make-up applied. Lialani managed the stairs with some difficulty, leaning heavily on Hermione.

“Man, I cannot wait until this baby is born and I can finally walk normally,” Lialani said, breathing deeply.

Hermione laughed and helped her down the last step. Lavender spotted Parvati, who waved her over.

“Guys, I gotta go,” she said and hurried to Parvati.

Lialani shrugged and followed Hermione into the Great Hall. She was used to the stares ahisphispers that followed her and her unborn child. In addition, Severus’ mealtime stares were familiar to her now. She knew that he was worried about her, worried about his child. Her heart swelled every time she thought about him. As she looked at him, she was surprised to see that he wasn’t watching her intently. Instead, he was looking down at his plate as if he was ashamed to look at her.

Hermione saw a cloud settle in her friend’s previously bright eyes.

“Lialani, what’s wrong?” Hermione asked, looking worried at the sudden change in mood.

“Snape won’t look at me. He’s looking away on purpose,” Lialani replied, still watching him.

“I’m sorry, I really don’t know why,” Hermione said. She didn’t know what to say.

“He’ll look at me eventually. Curiosity will win over and he’ll be forced to look at me,” Lialani seemed to not notice what Hermione had said.

“Why don’t we sit down and eat?”

“Okay,” Lialani seemed to snap out of the trance she was in and sat down at the Gryffindor table.

“How’s the little one?” Ron asked, patting her belly.

“Kicking like crazy,” Lialani replied after taking a bite of oatmeal.

“You’re due any day now so it shouldn’t be long. Where’d you feel the last kick?” Ron moved his hands to where Lialani pointed. He chuckled at the force of the kick. “That’s gonna be one powerful kid. But you haven’t told us who the father is yet.”

Wrong thing to say. Lialani immediately shut down, grabbing an apple and leaving the Hall.

Severus watched her leave, wondering what had caused her abrupt exit. He looked at the Gryffindor table, and when he saw Ron’s bewildered expression, he knew what had happened.

“Oh, why haven’t you guys learned by now?” Every time you ask who the father is she walks off in a huff, even when you asked in DADA,” Hermione said, picking up her and Lialani’s bags.

“Well, I didn’t mean to make her mad. I just wanted to know and it slipped out,” Ron protested.

“Then don’t let it slip out!” Hermione stomped out, aggravated at her friend’s tactlessness.

“Lialani! Stop!”

Lialani turned around and was startled to see Remus.

“Professor Lupin!\" Lialani exclaimed.

“What happened in the Great Hall?” he asked.

“I was sitting at the table and everyone was fine, but then Ron asked who the baby’s father was. The father has asked me not to tell anyone, so I just left,” Lialani replied, her hands absently running over her bulge.

“Well, you shouldn’t just walk away. Explain that the father would rather remain anonymous and to stop asking because you want to respect his wishes.”

“But I get frustrated every time they ask, and I want to get away.”

Remus looked at her. “Why do you get frustrated?”

“Because I want to tell them but I can’t.”

“Then explain that to them. Maybe it will cut down on your tendency to leave class before the bell rings,” Remus grinned when no embarrassment showed on her face.

“Don’t forget that I also had to go to the bathroom that day and you wouldn’t let me. So when Harry asked me, I left because of that but also as a chance to go to the bathroom.”

Remus laughed.

“Lialani, there you are! I have your bag since you forgot it,” Hermione panted as she slid to a stop by the two.

“Thanks,” Lialani took her bag and slung it on her shoulder with a little difficulty. “I have your class now, right Professor?”

“Yes, you do,” Remus nodded. “And in three, two, one-”

The bell rang. Lialani and Hermione laughed.

“Let’s go, ladies,” Remus said.

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“Time for Potions. Let’s go,” Hermione said as they finished their lunch.

“Yay,” Lialani replied, the fake enthusiasm obvious. The man may be the father of her child and the man she loves, but he still had social issues.

“Imagine if you went into labor during his class,” Hermione giggled at the thought.

“I hope not. Imagine that! Giving birth to my baby in his classroom. I think not!” Lialani laughed.

As they neared the classroom, they were surprised to see everyone milling around in the hallway outside it instead of inside as they were supposed to be.

“What’s going on?” Lialani wondered aloud as she saw that the door was closed. “Where’s Professor Snape?”

At that moment, that professor-in-question appeared around the corner and stalked toward them, robes billowing ominously behind him.

“Inside now!” he barked, and with a wave of his wand, the door opened.

The class rushed to get inside. However, Severus put a hand on Lialani’s shoulder, stopping her.

“Miss Turowsky, I need to talk to you. Alone,” he added pointedly, glancing at Hermione.

Hermione shot a look at Lialani and went inside the classroom. Severus shut the door behind her.

“May I feel it kick?” he asked softly.

Lialani looked up at him, shocked. Nevertheless, she took his hand and gently placed it on her stomach. Keeping her hand on his, she moved it around, trying to find where the baby was kicking.

As he felt the little kick from his child, Severus’ face broke into a wide smile. Lialani looked even more shaken at this.

“It’s a girl,” he said suddenly.

“What are you talking about? Neither of us have any idea that it’s a girl or boy,” Lialani whispered, startled. This was getting weirder and weirder.

“I don’t know. I just have this feeling that it’s a girl,” Severus replied. “But now we have to get into the class.”

Lialani nodded.

“And, Miss Turowsky, I would appreciate it if what has happened in you other classes was not repeated here. Is that understood?” Severus asked in a loud voice.

“Of course, Professor Snape,” Lialani replied in a similar voice.

Severus opened the door. To his happiness, the entire class was in their seats, chatting with each other.

Lialani sat down in her usual seat, next to Hermione. They talked quietly with each other, each concentrating more on the potion than anything else. This ended in the middle of the period.

“Um, Lialani, did you hear that? It sounded like a splash,” Hermione said, thinking it was a potion.

Lialani didn’t answer. Instead, she looked with mounting horror at the growing puddle of water under her chair.

“Hermione, my water just broke,” she choked out, but it ended in a cry as she felt the first contraction.

“Professor Snape!” Hermione cried.

“What?” came the irritated retort from the other side of the room.

“Her water just broke!”

Severus immediately came to Lialani’s side. She looked up at him, another contraction causing her to clench her jaw in pain.

“Oh, no,” Severus whispered. “Alright, Miss Turowsky, don’t yell out. I’m going to pick you up so I can carry you to the hospital wing, okay?”

She nodded, still unable to speak. Severus leaned down and lifted her up, her dress dripping with water.

“Everyone, get to your common rooms. Class is dismissed. If I hear about any of you wandering the halls, detention with me will be the result. No exceptions,” he said, and with that, he swept out of the room, holding Lialani carefully. She screeched as another contraction came, clutching the front of his shirt rather painfully.

He fairly ran up to the hospital wing, and with a resounding ‘crack’, he kicked open the door and ignored it as it splintered under the force.

“Poppy! Her water broke!” he yelled.

Immediately, several heads popped up from the beds their bodies were laying on to see just whose water had broke.

“Mind your business!” Severus barked, and all heads shot back down.

At that minute, the medi-witch came hurrying out of her office.

“Put her down,” she commanded, and instantly he lay her down on a nearby bed. “Now, Severus, you’ve got to leave.”

At this, Lialani found her voice. “No, Professor, stay with me!”

Severus looked at Poppy, pleading with his eyes. She gave in immediately, knowing that now was not the time to argue with him. When Lialani realized that he was staying, she grabbed his hand.

As the contraction came faster and faster, Lialani began to scream. She clutched Severus’ hand, squeezing it tighter and tighter.

“Okay, dear, PUSH!” Poppy cried, and Lialani pushed with all her might. “Again! Again!”

Lialani continued to push, her hand still wrapped tightly around Severus’. His heart went out to the poor girl laying on the bed next to him, going through the worst pain she’ll ever feel in her life. One part of him felt bad for making her go through this, the other part was happy that she was doing this because she wanted his child and this is what having his child meant.

It went on like this for several hours, after the first few Severus had lost count, preferring to pay more attention to Lialani. Suddenly, her eyes locked with his, and as she gave one last mighty push and let loose with a bloodcurdling scream, the wail of a newborn child could be heard over her.

Poppy quickly cut the umbilical cord and held up the flailing, screaming baby.

“It’s a beautiful baby girl!” she announced.

Lialani burst into tears.

“Look, she has my hair,” Severus breathed, pointing to the surprisingly thick patch of raven black hair on his little girl’s head.

Lialani reached out with shaking arms to take her daughter. When she was safely cradled to her, the baby opened her eyes to reveal not the dull-colored eyes of a newborn, but beautiful, sparkling emerald-green orbs. Lialani gasped.

“How can this be?” she asked. “There’s no way that anyone but Professor Snape could be the father.”

“Does anyone in either family have green eyes?” Poppy asked.

Severus and Lialani thought a moment.

“My grandmother on my mother’s side has green eyes,” he replied.

“Her genes simply skipped a few generations,” Poppy said.

Lialani nodded as a thought struck her.

“What should we name her?” she wondered.

Severus immediately had an answer. “We’ll name her Aglaia Niamh Snape.”

“Professor, that’s beautiful! That’s what we’ll name her,” Lialani agreed. “Put that on the birth certificate, Madam Pomfrey.”

Poppy nodded and put her wand to the parchment. ‘Aglaia Niamh Snape’ was written out in beautiful flowing script. She fished a quill out of her pocket and handed it to Lialani.

“You’ll need to sign it as the mother, dear. And you’ll have to sign it too, Severus,” she said.

Lialani nodded and looked down at the sleeping Aglaia.

“Professor, can you hold her so I can sign my name?” she asked.

He nodded eagerly and sat down on the bed next to her. She deposited the sleeping girl in his arms and turned to Poppy. Severus looked down at his daughter, his heart swelling with pride and joy as he watched her sleep peacefully. Yes, he had named her well.

“Now, Severus, it’s your turn to sign,” Poppy said.

He reluctantly gave the girl back to Lialani and with a flourish signed his name.

“Okay, now, Severus, its time you got back to your classroom now. Classes have already started now you’re needed more there than here,” Poppy gave a pointed look to the exhausted Lialani and ushered him out.

“I’ll check on you later, Miss Turowsky!” he called just before the door was closed in his face.

“I know you’re not going to like this, but I need to take Aglaia so you can rest. You’ve had an exhausting day,” Poppy reached out to take the baby.

“Oh, but Madam Pomfrey, I want to hold her just a little while longer,” Lialani protested, but as a yawn nearly cracked her head in two she relinquished her hold on the baby.

Poppy scooped Aglaia up and placed her in the crib that had been ready since Lialani began her ninth month. When she looked over at the new mother, she was already asleep.

“Poor dear,” she murmured to herself.

Lialani simply rolled over and continued to snore lightly.

*Aglaia-this name means \"splendour or beautiful\" in Greek.
**Niamh-this name means \"bright\" in Irish.

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a/n: i really appreciate anyone who reads this and reviews politely. im really sorry if there are any grammar or minor spelling errors in this, i just got a beta so everything should be all set for future chapters. as usual, reviews are appreciated and any flamers will be simply deleted from the page and my memory.

gryffindorsgirlie