Work Text:
Friday, October 31st, 2003
“Oof," Severus groaned, curling into himself a little bit. It was not his ideal way of waking up in the morning, but he had become used to it of late. Next, he registered the sound of giggling.
“Papa, Papa,” he heard his son call.
His son. The thought was unimaginable just over two years ago, and even today, every morning when they woke him up almost too early, it made him smile.
“Alexander,” Severus said, reaching out to catch the five-year-old and drag him into a bear hug in the King sized bed he shared with Hermione. The child let out a high-pitch squealing laugh of delight, “It is too early for such nonsense,” Severus said, rolling over, the boy still in his arms.
“But the sun is awake,” Alex laughed,
“Not in this room,” Severus said, “Goodnight, Alexander,” Severus borrowed his head into his son's neck, causing another round of giggles as his nose tickled the boy.
“Where is your sister?” Severus asked,
“Helping Mama cook breakfast,”
“I see,”
“Mama told me to wake you up,”
“Did she?”
“Yes. Now, Papa, time to move,” Alexander said, trying to push Severus out of the bed,
“Ok, I’m moving. You are almost as bossy as your mother,”
“Thank you!” Alex replied with a cheeky smile, “Can we play Quidditch?”
“Maybe later, first I need you to go tell Mama and Anatasia that I’m up and doing, while I get ready for the day,”
“Ok, Papa, but if you go back to bed I will jump on you again,” Alex threatened adorably,
“Of course,” Severus said, trying not to smile.
~
Severus entered the dining room all dressed for the day in his trousers and button-down shirt, just as Hermione was placing breakfast on the table.
“Good morning,” Severus said, gently kissing her cheek, “You are too good to me, woman,” he whispered in her ear,
“It’s just breakfast,” Hermione laughed, swatting Severus' hand as he attempted to grope her bottom as he passed to get to his seat.
“Good morning, Anatasia,” Severus greeted his daughter leaning over to kiss the top of her head as she was sitting next to him.
“Hello, Papa,” she greeted, she was naturally more reserved than her brother, “Papa, will you be going to Uncle Harry’s with us today?”
“Hmm,” Severus thought for a moment, “Tonight? What’s tonight?”
“It’s Halloween!” Alexander interrupted,
“Oh? Is it? Hermione, is it Halloween?” Severus asked, eying the bright orange craved pumpkin mug his coffee was sitting in,
“Yes, dear,” Hermione smirked,
“And I thought we were playing Quidditch later today, Alexander,”
“We can play at Uncle Harry’s”
“Hmm, is Quidditch a Halloween tradition?” Severus asked,
“No,” Anatasia said, “It it not! Papa, will you help me with my pumpkin?”
“Ana, Papa is playing quidditch, not pumpkins!”
“Oh no,” Hermione murmured. Severus sighed.
“Alex, Ana,” Hermione chided her children, “If you continue to squabble like garden gnomes we won’t be going anywhere. Which is a shame because we made those ginger newts yesterday to take and I know Aunty Ginny was really looking forward to them,”
“Because Aunty Ginny is having a baby?” Anatasia said tartly,
“Yes,” Hermione nodded, “She’s been looking forward to these all week,”
“Are you going to have a baby, Mama?” Alex asked, shovelling his omelette into his mouth, something Ron Weasley would be proud of. Severus choked a little on his coffee.
“I took the day off from work today, so I shall make time to play Quidditch and carve pumpkins,” Severus said a little awkwardly. He and Hermione had not spoken about having more children in the two years they reacquainted, well, they were much more than acquaintances now. They had been dating officially for eighteen months. Unofficially, that first meeting at his apothecary was what he considered their first date.
The children chorused in cheers. Hermione caught Severus’ eye and smiled at him. He blushed. Her smile never failed to make his heart soar.
~~~
The one thing Hermione had learned in the last two years was that Severus was a man of his word. If he had said he would do something he would do his absolute best to make it happen. He managed to spend time with both of their children without incident. Although, Alex did have trouble on his child-safe broom in his outlandish lion costume. Ana watched with fascination as Severus used his want to slice their pumpkins with precision.
“To be honest, I’m surprised Snape didn’t run for the hills,” Ron commented out of Severus’ earshot,
“We never really knew him, though, did we? We were just his students,” Harry replied,
“He has taken me by surprise, too,” Hermione confessed, “Moving in together was a good thing for the kids, but he’s really easy to live with,”
“Merlin, I never thought I'd hear to say that about anyone,” Ron chuckled,
“Nah, I’m not surprised,” Harry said, “You saw how well organised his potions cupboards always were. He’s probably just as anal as Hermione is,”
“Well, yes, but he has his moments,” Hermione laughed, “He organises his books by colour, not subject and author. It’s infuriating. He said it’s because he remembers books by colour first, and it's nicer to look at,”
“It's the end of the world,” Harry laughed,
“Bloody mental,” Ron shook his head.
~~
By the evening, the children were almost all tuckered out and were tired enough to sit and watch some child-friendly Halloween movies in Harry and Ginny’s lounge room. While the adults were cleaning up after dinner and enjoying a few drinks and conversation.
Handing Hermione some mulled wine, Severus guided her out to the patio to look at the stars for a moment of privacy.
“There has been something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about,” Severus said seriously,
“Me, too,” Hermione said, hands clutched on her warm spiced drink.
“Shall we say it at the same time?” Severus asked. He placed his drink on a nearby table and put his hands in his pockets when he straightened up.
“Sure,” Hermione smirked,
“Three,” Severus said,
“Two,” Hermione replied,
“One,” they said together,
- “Will you marry me?”
- ”I’m pregnant”
“What?” they said in chorus,
Severus pulled out a ring box and presented it to Hermione. Hermione dropped her wine, hands coming to her mouth in shock.
“Severus?” She said,
“You’re pregnant?” Severus asked, stepping forward.
“I found out yesterday with the charm. You want to marry me?”
“I love you,” he said, “I don’t know how you feel about marriage, and you don’t have to change your name, but I would like to be with you. I want it recognised by the ministry. I want to be officially named Alexander and Anastasia's father,”
“Do you want other children?”
“With you? As many as you want to have. I will be here with you. I will do the nighttime feeds while you sleep, whatever you wish”
“Oh, Severus,” Hermione sighed, bringing her arms around his neck, she pulled him into a kiss.
“Hermione, darling, is that a yes?”
“Of course, you incredible man,” She swatted his shoulder,
“I’m nothing without you,” he said, placing her ring on her finger.
“I cannot believe you proposed on Halloween,” Hermione said,
“I needed to replace the memories of bad Halloweens with a good one,” Severus said, turning Hermione around so he could hug her from behind and they could both look out at the stars. His hands found their way to her stomach, “I’ve never been so happy,”
“New Patronus memory for sure,” Hermione commented,
“Oh, Merlin,” he said, resting his forehead on her shoulder, “What if it's twins again?”
“Maybe we’ll do ‘B’ names. What about Bathilda and Barnabas?”
“Mm,” Severus frowned, “Almost grounds for divorce,”
“No, you love me too much,” Hermione laughed,
“Indeed, I do,”