Chapter 95: A Family Outing To Remember

The Snape Residence, Unknown Location, Wizarding World...

White smoke had come from the barbecue grill as Remus Lupin attempted to cook a rack of ribs. Resting comfortably in a white lawn chair had been Lucius Malfoy attempting to take in the sun for a nice bronze tan. There were numerous tables with food being placed where Minerva McGonagall and Lady Hamershal were debating where to put the various containers of Tupperware with more food inside. Molly Weasley had been loading plates by the second as numerous trips were made to obtain food.

Tonks had been lounging on a beach towel with shades covering her eyes as she watched her husband try his hand at cooking. Draco Malfoy was racing across the vast yard in black swim trunks soaking both Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley who had also been in swim trunks.

Ginny Potter had been sitting beneath an umbrella basking in the shade as she flipped through a wizarding world magazine with Susan Weasley and Pansy Malfoy giggling beside her. Arthur Weasley had his hands full disarming the twins and gathering up the grandchildren so Molly could feed them.

Laughter filled the front yard of the vast Snape manor as Jarvis Hamershal attempted to dazzle Albus Dumbledore with his parlor tricks only to fall flat on his face in the wake of the attempts courtesy of his elder brother's hex no less.

The children of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had joined in the scene hexing "Uncle Jarvis" at Draco's behest. He had still been quite bitter about the incident at Hamershal Estate some years ago and was doing all he could to obtain revenge in the wake of it.

Jasmine Malfoy had taken a liking to Albus Severus Potter but kept her crush a secret despite hitting the poor sod now and again.

Severus Snape had barely come out of the house doing his best to wipe the red lipstick from his pale lips that had been on his wife's face at the time he kissed her and got it all over him. He had been a curious sight with the smudged lip markings around his pale neck and across the upper portion of his sweat-blasted chest as well.

Hermione Snape's wild hair and heated expression did little to keep one from noting the rather impressive belly bump she had been sporting despite being in summer attire like the rest of the group. She gripped her husband kissing him once more in the wake of her ever-shifting hormones due to pregnancy.

Narcissa Malfoy had been making quite a few drinks at the outside bar as Teddy Lupin came zipping by her in a bid to chase after James Potter II.

John Granger was having a dispute with his wife on how much sunblock to put on his back, as she ignored him and continued on with her business of keeping him from burning.

Austin Embers had been doing his best to keep himself sane as he marveled at the turnout to the cookout. It was fun to be included with the rest of Severus Snape's extended family as he made his way toward Remus Lupin with another batch of ribs for the grill.

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The Yard, The Snape Residence, Wizarding World...

Severus Snape walked over toward his wife handing her a glass of lemonade and taking care to massage her swollen feet as she lounged away in the shady lawn chair content to be pampered by the man she'd loved since they were children attending Hogwarts.

"A girl could get used to this," she said closing her eyes and losing herself in the sense of relaxation.

"Insufferable know-it-all," muttered Snape looking upon her much as he had during their collective repeat a seventh year at Hogwarts.

"Slytherin git." she countered opening her eyes to meet his gaze once more.

He had been about to offer something along the lines of a retort when he was struck and soaked to the bone via a wayward water balloon. His obsidian eyes narrowed and he turned his attention to the children.

"Uncle Harry did it." said Jasmine Malfoy content to let her "Great Uncle Sev" take out his frustrations upon the now nervous Potter Patriarch.

"I did not...Malfoy was the one that threw it!" shouted the green-eyed wizard in his own defense.

"Best of luck proving it Potter," muttered Draco narrowing his gray eyes at the Gryffindor wizard.

Ron Weasley had nothing to say as he looked up from the picnic area where he and his children were eating. He knew all too well the look on Snape's face as he glared daggers at both Harry and Draco.

The shirtless younger wizards had been quite caught off guard by his shift in mood. Hermione even found herself growing tense in that instant knowing her husband's tendency to fall into foul temperament.

Harry looked like a deer caught in headlights as Snape simply turned to face him and summoned his wand.

"AQUA SPHAERA!" he shouted violently moving his wand the way he had in Charms class as Sebastian Prince. "Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy."

Both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy's eyes widened as they noted that he sent the spell directly after the two of them.

"RUN!" they shouted at each other as Snape's wand produced a large water sphere that enlarged to the size of a muggle house and rolled after them. The children laughed and jested as their fathers attempted to get clear of the rather determined magical orb of water.

Snape turned his attention back toward his rather shocked wife.

"Once a git always a git," she said shaking her head.

"And you love me for it," he replied leaning down and pressing his pale lips into her soft pink ones as he had so many times before. "You forgot Slytherin."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh as she turned her attention to the screams from both their best friends.

"You aren't in a mood to let this little infraction slide are you?" she asked with an arched brow.

"Not particularly," replied Snape settling into the lawn chair beside her in the shade.

There was no place either of them would have rather been given everything that they had gone through just to share this moment together.

"I love you, Slytherin git," said Hermione meaningfully.

"And I love you, Insufferable Gryffindor," replied Snape with just as much meaning in his words.

They shared yet another heartfelt kiss amid the mental reflection of their earlier relationship while both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy attempted to shake the rolling water sphere from trapping them.

"This is all your fault Potter!" shouted Draco still running despite being winded.

"Me!" shouted Harry annoyed and just as winded. "You're the one that threw the water balloon!"

They continued to run from the massive water orb getting quite the work out in the process.

"Here's an idea why don't you take one for the team and let it absorb you," said Draco still running.

"No way Malfoy let it get you!" countered Harry outraged.

"Scared of a little water Potter?" asked the gray-eyed Junior Malfoy.

"You wish Malfoy, although I'd say you were the one that's scared." countered the Senior Potter.

Laughter and mocking comments about the two boys not having changed a bit since their earlier days at Hogwarts went about as everyone enjoyed the hot summer sun and each other's company as if they were merely one big magically inclined family.

"UNCLE SEV!" shouted Draco at his wit's end.

"MAKE IT STOP!" they both shouted in unison despite everyone's amusement at their expense.

Hermione smirked and looked over at her husband.

"Severus you really should let them rest," she said out of concern.

Snape sighed, he had been rather enjoying his vengeance against the two most irritating students he had ever had the displeasure of teaching.

"As you wish love," he replied using his wand to split the orb in two effectively splashing both Harry and Draco with each half.

"Bloody git!" shouted a soaked Harry Potter.

"For once I agree with Potter," replied Draco equally soaked and annoyed.

"Will wonders ever cease?" asked Snape turning his attention back to lounging in the shade.

Hermione had gotten such a kick out of the antics of her friends that she had begun to experience labor pains. The contractions had become quite heavy and as a result, she alerted her husband.

"Severus I believe it's time," she said with a worried look on her face.

Snape nearly fell out of the lawn chair scrambling to his feet.

"It...it's time?" he asked quite nervous as he looked up at his young wife.

Hermione did a few of her breathing exercises and nodded.

"What's going on Severus?" asked Lupin from where he stood at the grill.

"She's going into labor," replied Snape meeting Lupin's concerned gaze.

"I know that feeling," said Tonks looking over at Teddy.

"EVERYONE HERMIONE'S HAVING THE BABY!" announced Ron as he too got to his feet and moved toward the labored witch.

Both Harry and Draco scrambled to their feet having no time to dry themselves as they made their way toward everyone else.

Hermione gripped Snape's hand and met his eyes as she saw firsthand just how loved this new child had been and it hadn't even entered the world yet.

"Settle down everyone," instructed Minerva McGonagall. "We need to get her to St. Mungo's immediately."

The rather impressive summer party came to a rather unceremonious close as everyone's focus shifted to Hermione and the soon-to-be new arrival.

"I'm going to be a godfather!" shouted Lucius Malfoy with a smile on his face.

"As if Malfoy I'm the godfather!" said Harry narrowing his eyes at him.

"You both are mistaken I am most definitely the godfather," said Lupin with a smirk.

"No way!" said Draco believing himself worthy of being in the running.

"Settle down boys!" said Lady Hamershal annoyed with the antics of most of the males in attendance. "Let us focus on getting her to the hospital for the birth, you all can continue to fight about your status in the lobby."

Jean Granger moved to take the other hand of her daughter. It was a great comfort to have both her and Professor McGonagall with her at this time.

John Granger and Dave walked over to Snape.

"This is it, Severus," he said with a hint of pride in his tone. "In just a couple of hours, you're going to be a father."

The Potions Professor had not known what to make of the situation but he knew he'd be there for Hermione and their child no matter the situation.

Everyone rounded up the children and prepared to make the trek to St. Mungo's hospital. As they all hustled toward their respective muggle vehicles, Hermione stopped Severus on the way out.

"Severus, could you get my overnight bag?" she asked not wishing to go into the hospital without it.

Snape nodded and raced back into the house for the bag as everyone filed into their respective cars and trucks.

The Potions Professor briefly noted his appearance in the mirror on his way out of the master bedroom toting his pregnant wife's overnight bag. For the first time in his life Severus Snape was grateful to both Lucius Malfoy and Albus Dumbledore for making it possible for him to become Sebastian Prince, for without him he would not have had the chance to experience what life truly had to offer and would have been stuck in his ways.

"SEVERUS!" shouted Hermione from outside not wishing to leave him behind.

"Coming love!" replied Snape stepping out of the house with the bag in tow and slipping into the car with her.

She gripped his hand as if it had been for dear life.

"I love you," she said looking visibly terrified of what was to come but pleased that he'd been there with her.

"I love you too," he replied meeting her amber-eyed gaze. "Always."

The engines started and everyone was off to St. Mungo's to await the birth of Severus and Hermione Snape's firstborn child unsure of what other adventures were in store for them all in the future but truly bonded by the one they all shared in the not so soon to be forgotten past.

-THE END!