A/N: The Wizard's Pleasure has returned with some drama, surprises and family fun. Sorry for the delay once again, I had to get my facts straight on a few things and decide where something was going but I'm so happy with how this turned out. Please enjoy… favourite follow and review.
Chapter 15
Hermione knew instinctively what the pain was as it seared through her lower abdomen and groin. Something primal in her knowledge kicked in and she could tell from the heaviness of her body and the way the pain was near constant but rolled like waves that what she was experiencing was the contractions of childbirth. She was in labour.
Awareness flared in her consciousness and her eyes popped open to confirm her husband was still with her, and to see where she was to give birth to his child. Her eyes drew to Severus first; he was frozen in shock as his own realisations dawned.
Another all-encompassing pain flooded her body and as she recognised an urge to push, she knew she had to snap Severus out of him catatonic state. There was no way he would want to miss this just because he couldn't get his mind to believe it and so she hollered his name, pushing the power of the pain she was experiencing into her exclamation.
"Seeeeeeeeeveruuuuuuuussss!"
Something of a flicker shifted in his eyes as he came back to himself and the room.
"Severus. It hurts. It hurts so much. Help me, please."
He didn't notice the deep, forest green bed spread that Hermione was resting on as he attempted to make her comfortable; adjusting the matching pillows behind her back and under her hips. It completely escaped his usually keen eyes that there were pictures on the mantelpiece over the roaring fire of what seemed to be a master bedroom; pictures of a little girl with curls so black they were almost blue and eyes that shone like sunlight on obsidian. All he focused on was Hermione.
They had both worked out exactly what was happening after only moments of observing the protrusion of Hermione's belly, the waves of contracting pain and the sodden bedding. He had quickly divested Hermione of the night clothes she had been in, wandlessly conjured and lit enough candles in the room so he could see what he was doing and crouched down between her thighs to try to work out how much more pain she would have to endure. It grated on his heart that he could not ease the burden for her.
"It looks like we're almost there, Hermione," He soothed in a calm but efficient tone. "I can see the head."
"Oh sweet Merlin. I don't know how to do this, Severus."
She sounded panicked and he was at a complete loss. He didn't know how to do this either. At least, he wasn't supposed to know how to do this. The secret had never been disclosed, not even to Albus that he had been the one to deliver Harry Potter; in a strikingly similar situation, except for the time jumps.
Potter had been a little to Gryffindor in his eagerness to meet the world and had arrived two weeks early. With James and Sirius on an Auror or Order mission, Lily's doe patronus had arrived at Spinner's End and echoed her distressed voice, exclaiming that she was alone and scared. Severus hadn't hesitated.
They'd muddled through in the early hours of an otherwise uneventful night. Lily, having been almost as invested and devoted to research as Hermione was had studied what to expect during labour and what had to be done. She talked Severus through it as he had placed Lily's feet on his chest and guided Harry Potter into the world. Ignoring the fact that this was the only way he was ever going to be this close to Lily.
When it was all over and he had made sure that both Lily and the child (who looked entirely too like his father) were healthy, he placed a glamour on himself and delivered them to St Mungo's. That night he discovered how the Dark Lord had finally interpreted the prophecy. That night he went to Dumbledore and joined the Order of the Phoenix.
An almost scream from Hermione brought Severus back to the present and deciding he could explain his knowledge later (if she really nagged him for it and he really had to), he manoeuvred her into a similar position as Lily had been in all those years ago; bracing her feet against his chest. He hoped he was still strong enough to take the pressure when she strained against him.
It took only a moment, whilst assuring his wife that she was amazing and strong and beautiful and could do anything, for Severus to see a better way for them to move forward; he dropped her one leg to his side and took and had her grab at the bedding covers whilst he focused on the life she was bringing into the world.
She never faltered, never complained that she couldn't go on. She breathed heavily, panted, grunted, screamed and cursed the entirely of the male population but she pushed for through it all until she heard the tinkling tell-tale sound of a baby's cry.
Severus followed all the usual follow up steps that he knew to be necessary. He cut the umbilical cord, cast a mild scourgify of his new-born son and a healing spell on Hermione's sore nether area. He was just about to lean over to hand Hermione their new baby when she gripped his arm and swore at the top of her lungs.
Severus froze. Now, it was completely unchartered territory for him. What if there was internal bleeding or other damage he couldn't see?
"What is it, Hermione? Talk to me, love. What's happening?"
She grit her teeth as she waited for her now familiar pain to subside.
"We're not as done as we thought. There are more contractions. Severus, we're having twins."
"Salazar's balls." He muttered before he could think better of it.
Hermione's laugh at hearing such an uncouth statement come from her usually unflappable Professor-come-husband turned into a long howl as her second baby in as many minutes attempted to greet the world.
"Levitate the baby so you focus on this one," Hermione screamed as Severus seemed to be at a complete loss. She would've found it endearing, even amusing to see him so out of his element if it weren't for the fact that she was once again trying to give life.
He finally managed to come back to the situation after another long moment and did as she asked. The first baby was quiet and they both wondered later if he sensed their need to concentrate on delivering his brother.
An hour later they were all at St Mungo's in a private room, having been thoroughly checked out by the resident natal medi-witch, Pansy Parkinson-Nott. The twin boys of Severus and Hermione were each nestled against one of their mother's breasts as 'Nurse Nott' as Hermione had called her with a smirk, smirked from near Severus.
"It's typical she'd be amazing at even breast-feeding. Most witches struggle with that but she's taken to it without so much as reading the pamphlet."
"She takes to almost everything without the need for instruction." Severus responded warmly, walking over to his wife and kissing her forehead. She smiled a little but was starting to dose.
"Have you thought of any names?" Pansy asked, curious burning away at her.
"Not yet-"
"Actually, I've thought of one." Hermione said over Severus as he sat behind her to rub her shoulders.
"Oh?" Severus and Pansy chorused.
"Yes… this one," She nodded to the baby on her left breast; the first one with the darkest hair; "I want to call him Salazar Severus…."
Severus felt a tear coming to his eye as Hermione leaned toward his face and kissed him.
"Are you serious?" He asked, unable to comprehend that Hermione would make such a concession as to name her son after the muggle-hating founder of Hogwarts.
"I think it's about time we all truly buried past hostilities. Slytherin house moulded you into the man I love, the father of my children and I couldn't be more grateful. This is how I want to honour that… if you're okay with it?
Severus nodded. His heart clenching as words escaped him.
"Well what about Salazar's brother?" Pansy interjected, breaking the moment. "You know, I don't think the wizarding world has had a Salazar since Slytherin himself. The papers are going to go wild."
"I couldn't give a flying fig about the papers but I do have an idea of a name for my second son." Severus said, still a little choked as he turned to Hermione.
"Tell me… please." Hermione begged, leaning her wait fully against him now.
"Godric Granger Snape. I think it only right that we recognise your heritage in them too, love; both magical and muggle. What do you think?"
"I love it… and I love you but not in that order."
He squeezed her shoulders and stared disbelievingly at his family as Pansy slipped out of the room with an uncharacteristically misty expression.
They both dosed for a little while after Salazar and Godric had been put in the crib near the hospital bed. Severus wrapped himself behind Hermione and slumbered peacefully; happier and more content that he could ever remember being in his life.
"Are you awake, love?" Hermione asked softly, an hour or so later. He grunted out of sweet unconsciousness. "I could do with some water and I'm not sure where my wand is."
Severus stirred and woke enough to wandlessly transfigure a napkin on the side table into a glass before filling it with a wandless aquamenti.
Hermione drank deeply once she'd sat up before turning to Severus, who had moved to sit in the chair near the bed.
"Do you think we're stuck in this time now? Not that I mind with having the boys but we know nothing of our lives in this time, other than the fact that we obviously beat the Ministry's tests and are still together."
"I wish I could answer that for you but I am as in the dark as you are. Perhaps there is more for us to learn in this time before we move on. This is not your first jump through time since this began. When I walked through the barrier, I was immediately at the cottage, but you weren't there."
"No, I had to walk down a huge corridor of trees and then unlock the gate that led me to the cottage. Was it ours?"
"I believe so. I only looked through the window but there was a picture of a little girl on the mantelpiece on her first birthday. She had your curls and nose but my colouring. The frame said her name was Peri."
"As in Periwinkle?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"Given the significance of the colour and the flower concerning you and the collectables for our test, I think that is an acceptable and logical mental assumption."
"Mmmmm, I love it when you get all wordy on me." She responded, turning to kiss his neck.
"Now is not the time."
She grumbled but conceded his point. She was still a little sore despite the healing charms placed on her downstairs.
"So we have a daughter too. I wonder how much time is between her and the twins. Actually, I wonder who's looking after her."
"I assume Potter. There were pictures of him on the mantle of the cottage too. When we get back to our time, please don't subject me to him too often."
"Just be grateful I didn't name one of our sons after him. I thought about it but decided you wouldn't be too happy about the idea."
"Your assumption was correct. As much as I…"
"Hermione…" A sudden gaggle of people burst through the door, whooping and offering hearty congratulations. The majority were red-headed and bustling toward either Hermione or the crib but amongst them was – speak of the devil and he appears – Harry Potter with his slightly pregnant wife and two sons.
Harry headed straight for Severus, his hand out ready to shake.
"Congratulations, Severus. You remember my boys… James and Sirius."
Severus couldn't help the sneer that was making its way to his lips... interrupted though by the oldest of the two young wizards who also put his hand out to shake Severus's.
"Congratulations Uncle Sev. I'm so happy there are finally more boys in the family. I love Peri but she likes too many girl things which are boring."
Severus couldn't help himself, he snorted.
"Well I tried my best for you, young Potter. Even managed to give you two instead of one."
"I made you something…" The 'about eight year old' Potter spawn said, holding out a phial of potion. "Mum helped. She said you were going to need lots and lots of calming draught with two babies. I chopped the peppermint leaves and I was allowed to stir it when it had cooled down a bit."
"Well, well… it seems there might be a decent Potioneer to come out of the Potter family after all. " Severus said with admiration and amusement as he appraised the contents of the phial. It was the exact shade of lilac it should be. "Potions was never your father's strength. You must take after your Grandma Lily."
This seemed to invoke a very-Gryffindor show of pride and arrogance as young James Potter ran into the middle of the room and started to excited proclaim…
"Roll up, roll up… come and experience the magic of James Severus Potter's Potions extravaganza…"
Not so accidental magic poured from the boy as he conjured six cauldrons out of thin air bubbling and dancing around him, emitting pungent aromas and different coloured smoke.
Most of the room laughed and applauded as Severus looked on flabbergasted that Potter had named his first son for him. Something else tugged at his heart strings as he remembered the shiver that had run through him at the idea of naming his own son Harry. It seemed Potter had taken the high road and forgiven Severus his sins of the past as completely as Hermione had.
Whilst she enjoyed the display of her nephew, Severus made his way towards Harry Potter. It seemed they were friends in this time but he needed to say this as himself, now.
"Harry…"
Harry looked confused, then worried.
"What's wrong? You never call me Harry."
Bugger.
"This is important, Potter. Do pay attention." Severus responding, falling too easily back into pissed-off-professor tones.
Harry snorted.
"I wanted to thank you. My past made it difficult to accept you were not your father and whilst I am not sure I am ever capable of forgiving his cruelty of my childhood, I am humbled that you have forgiven my cruelty of your childhood. It was necessary of course, to some extent but I took it too far. I am still overwhelmed that you named your son after me.
"Severus," Harry said, solemnly placing a hand of his ex-Potions Professor's shoulder, "Hermione always told me not to tell you this… that you'd sneer and be embarrassed by it but I've held my tongue long enough. You are the bravest man I have ever known and it was my honour to name my son after you. You might also like to know that we found out last week Luna is having twin girls… we'll be naming them Lily and Pandora. There will be another Lily Potter in the world."
Both men wiped the mistiness from their eyes , before clearing their throats and shaking hands.
"You're a good man, Potter." Severus said as he began to walk back to Hermione.
"You too, Snape." Harry replied.
And the world faded from view just as he took Hermione's hand and wiped her eyes, realising she had witnessed his exchange with Potter.
A/N: Well, what did we think? Did I pull off a realistic labour? Probably not as I've never been through it but I love how it turned out. I wonder where they're off to next.
Love and blessings
Moon x