Owls and Musings - The Sequel

Chapter 2 - New Life

"Ah, how cute!"

"So soft."

"They're darling!"

"C'mon, open up the next one!" Tonks urged, bouncing in her excitement. Her hair today was streaked pink and blue in honour of the twins.

Esme, ensconced on the sofa in her parlour, reached for the next present being passed to her by her friend. She felt like a beached whale and had surpassed looking like one at Christmas.

Today, at the end of January, the women of the castle were holding a clúdaithe le bronntanais for her. This was a time-honoured ritual where close friends gathered together with the expectant parents and with food and gifts, showing the new parents that they were now joining a larger community. This was normally given only for the first pregnancy. The Muggle world had caught on and had transformed it into the modern day Baby Shower. Over the years, the fathers had been politely excluded from the proceedings (they never wanted to attend in any case) and the ritual had become a women only affair. The women had swooped down on the Snape quarters, and while McGonagall had transfigured the front room into party central, the others had politely but firmly hustled Severus out the door.

Now piles of gifts for the twins surrounded her.

"Oh, how cute!" resounded through the room again in a universal exclamation as she unwrapped two matching quilts. She thanked Tonks and laid them next to her as she reached for the next gift.

+++

Severus pulled out his watch and, unlocking the cover, checked the time: half past three. An hour and a half to go before he could go back to their rooms. Before closing the cover he glanced, as he always did, at the inscription etched inside, 'Always entwined, never apart. ES & SS.' It was the same one Albus had magically inscribed on the engagement ring all those years ago.

Esme had taken the watch to a jeweller in Diagon Alley after finding it at the cottage and had commissioned him to inscribe the sentiment inside a circle of knotwork. Severus never left their rooms without it.

He snapped it shut, placed it back into his waist pocket and drew his cloak more tightly around himself while casting a warming charm on it again as he strode along the slushy streets of Hogsmeade. He had decided, after being so precipitously removed from his quarters, to come down and purchase some supplies for the classroom stores. The proprietor of the village apothecary had taken his list and told him to come back in an hour.

With an hour to kill he had decided to go warm up at the Hog's Head with some mulled wine while he waited. He would be left alone there, the clientele tending toward the solitary types.

As he entered, another patron entered behind him.

"Severus," came the quiet voice behind him.

He peered at the other man in the gloomy tavern light; he frowned.

"Lupin," he grudgingly acknowledged.

They walked up to the seats at the bar and placed their orders with the barman.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Remus said as he opened his butterbeer.

Snape growled, "I was kicked out of my rooms."

"Oh?" Lupin said. Then his eyes opened fully. "Oh! Do I need to go purchase a box of cigars?"

"No, it's not that - we still have three weeks. No, it's worse." He ground the words out as he stared into his steaming cup. "A clúdaithe le bronntanais."

Remus chuckled. "Well, that explains a lot that has been going on this week."

"Those women," Snape continued indignantly, "kicked me out as they were covering everything in blue and..." he shuddered in absolute revulsion, "pink."

Remus looked sympathetic and took another pull on his bottle. "I'm afraid this will become a normal phenomenon, Severus. With the end of the war, babies are going to be blossoming everywhere. Molly tells me Bill and Percy's wives are both expecting in the summer."

Snape just grunted into his cup.

Remus continued, "Even Tonks is starting to talk about little ones. Really, Severus, you two are at the vanguard of a wizarding population explosion. And twins at that! You give us newlyweds a lot to live up to."

Severus looked over at his drinking companion. "You're joking about you and Tonks, right?"

Lupin shook his head.

"Won't they be werewolves as well?" All Snape could see were werewolf puppies across the hall.

"No, only if Nymphadora were a werewolf herself. Actually, we were thinking of adopting. There are so many war orphans now." He shook his head in contemplation of this last statement.

Snape grunted again and sipped his wine. They were silent for a while longer enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the deserted pub.

"What are you doing here? You don't normally drink here," Snape finally enquired of Lupin.

"Local pack meeting," Lupin explained, then looked over at the dark man next to him. "I have some news that might be of interest to you," he offered.

"Whatever would I be interested in werewolves for?" Snape scoffed.

"Draco," Remus said softly.

Snape became rigid, then looked around the empty pub with hooded eyes. Only Aberforth was nearby. Snape cocked his head toward an empty table, far from the bar. Remus snagged his bottle and followed.

When they were seated, Snape looked at the other man and said in a low, steely voice, "All right, Lupin, you have my attention."

Remus took a long pull on his beer to settle himself and then set the bottle down while avoiding Snape's eyes, which he could feel drilling into him.

"Apparently," he drawled out, "after Draco was bitten last winter, he vowed revenge on Greyback. You'll remember Greyback originally scratched him two years ago as a means to ensure his cooperation in the task he was given to kill Dumbledore. Greyback then bit him after he was found hiding with his mother. He made a vow at that time that he would refuse to take the potion until he killed Fenrir." He took another swallow, as Snape nodded his acknowledgement. He already knew this from the previous winter. "Well, he has accomplished his goal but died in the process." He looked up in time to see the pain his news caused flutter across the other teacher's face before he regained control.

"I see," was all Snape said.

Lupin's hand twitched as if he wanted to reach out in sympathy, but he thought better of it. Snape would not appreciate that type of emotion from him.

"I'm truly sorry, Severus. I thought you ought to know," was what he did offer.

Snape nodded and downed the last of his wine, making a face as he did so; it had gone cold. "I appreciate you letting me know, Lupin," he finally said, checking his watch again. "I need to get going - I have an order to pick up." He stood up to leave, then turned toward the werewolf saying, "I'll have your potion ready at seven tonight."

"Of course," Remus acknowledged. "Thank you, Severus," he added a bit sadly, but the Potions Master was already gone in his customary swirl of robes.

Snape walked down the second floor corridor towards his front door. Gustav looked weary as he unlocked the door.

"You'd think I was a bloody common room portrait with all this coming and going today," he mumbled.

Severus ignored him as he pushed the door open. Minerva and Tonks were seated in the parlour taking tea from what looked like leftover party food. The decorations were gone for which he was grateful.

Tonks waved from where she sat. "Wotcher, Snape - have a fairy cake?" She was flourishing one of the treats in her other hand.

Minerva looked up as he closed the door. "Good timing, Severus. We just finished clearing up. Tea?" she offered.

"In a moment. Where's Esmerelda?"

"Having a bit of a lie down. Don't worry," she added at the look of concern on his face, "she's fine; just worn out. Go back and see her if you don't believe me." She waved her arm in the vague direction of the hallway.

He tossed her a look as he laid his cloak over the back of a chair and let his long legs carry him down the hallway. He snuck a peek in the nursery finding it full of baby gifts, but kept going to the master suite across the hall; he couldn't deal with all the piles of pink and blue gifts just yet. Gently opening the door, he entered.

A fire in the brazier sent a soft glow over the sleeping woman in the bed. He absently noticed the snow that had begun to fall again outside the French doors leading to their private balcony.

His wife was lying on her side; her thick plait lay on top of the covers. Those same blankets covered the large mound of her belly, and he could barely discern movement as limbs were shifting in her womb. He placed an awed hand on the swelling and sent a calming thought to the babies. Hush now, your mother needs her rest. You'll be with us soon enough.

Slowly the babies quieted down, and he received an impression of contentment from them. He and Esme had spent many a quiet afternoon and evening this autumn touching the burgeoning consciousness of the twins, and they responded well to his mind's suggestions. He leaned over placing a light kiss on his wife's cheek, pulled the duvet further up and around her shoulders and brushed some stray hairs from her face. He eased himself out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

When he made his way back to the front room, McGonagall handed him a plate of biscuits and a cup of tea. Tonks had left while he had checked on Esmerelda. Severus sat down in his favourite wingback, setting the plate and saucer on the reading lamp tray.

"I take it the party went well?" he enquired.

"Aye," she said, sitting back down on the divan and taking up her teacup. "I believe you two are set for the first few weeks," she teased.

He looked astonished. "Weeks?"

"I'm joking, Severus," she assured him. She looked at him though, with a hint of a grin as she realised something. "You've never been around newborns, have you?"

He shook his head.

"Well, they grow. A lot. This of course means new togs every few months until their growth rate settles down." She chuckled at sheer terror in his face.

He was beginning to understand why Arthur and Molly were just now able to afford new things.

"Now, if I know your wife," Minerva continued, "she'll be finding other mothers to trade around with. It is a time-honoured and thrifty tradition." She settled back into the divan cushions smiling at her nephew-in-law over the rim of her cup. His face was beginning to look poleaxed.

"Cheer up, Severus. Concentrate on how happy those babes will make you feel when they are finally here and in your arms."

"I'm starting to panic, Minerva," he said very low.

"Whatever for?" She looked over at him with concern.

"What do I know about raising children? Teenagers I can handle, but little ones?" He gave his head a shake in incredulity at the magnitude of the responsibilities that were looming ahead of him.

"You learn by doing, dear boy. And by talking to other parents you admire. Trial and error, Severus, that's how the rest of us do it." He had forgotten she had finished raising his wife after her parents had passed on.

"My past has a lot of errors," he said quietly, remembering the abuse he had received in his parents' house - he would never deign to call it a home - as well as that which he had been forced to dealt out as a Death Eater.

Minerva pursed her lips. She had gone to school with Eileen Prince and had known Tobias Snape. They had married in the late forties. Eileen had managed to keep her powers a secret from Toby for several years, but he had eventually sussed it out and hadn't been pleased. Severus had come along nearly ten years into the marriage, definitely not planned for and when he had exhibited magic early, Toby had snapped. Minerva had tried to help her friend, but Eileen had refused. She insisted she could deal with the situation. When Severus had arrived at school, his mother's old school books in hand, used robes on his back and a beaten-down look in his eyes, Minerva nearly cursed herself for not interfering with the family earlier. It was not a surprise at all when the hat had sorted him into his mother's House, Slytherin.

"As I said," she reiterated, "we learn. We do not have to repeat the mistakes of our parents," she said rather pointedly. He took the hint, nodding in acknowledgement. "That means to not go overboard the other way either and spoil them rotten!" she said smiling again. "That's my job as grandmother!" she quipped in a jovial manner. He smiled wryly at her in return.

She got up and headed towards the door, vanishing her cup and saucer in the process. "It's nearly time for dinner. Are you heading down?"

He shook his head, his dark lank hair swinging in front of his face. "No, I'm going to stay here. I need to brew Lupin's potion, and I want to be here when Esme wakes."

"I understand. Have a good evening then. And Severus?" He looked up at her. "Don't worry, you'll do just fine."

He nodded as she turned and left, Gustav's muttering filtering through the door.

+++++

"Severus."

"Hmmm"

"It's time."

"Huh? No, it's not. It's three in the morning..."

"Not that, dear. The babies... get P-P-P-Poppy!" She groaned, her fingers clenching his shoulder. "Now!"

"Now!" He was instantly awake and running to the Floo throwing in a handful of powder. "Pomfrey!" he yelled. He heard a faint mumbling through the flames, then more clearly:

"What's that? Who's calling? Severus, is it time?"

"Yes. She says now."

"Be right there!" A moment later Snape handed Pomfrey out of the fire. She immediately headed over to the bed, wand out and diagnostic spells flying. She finally looked up at the hovering father-to-be. "Are you staying or leaving?"

He glanced at his wife - it was her call to make.

"Please stay," she pleaded, another grimace of pain screwing up her face.

That decided him. "I'm staying."

"Good man!" Poppy said, nodding in approval. She promptly put him to work.

In the end, he sat behind Esme supporting her as she pushed and had the joy of cutting both cords with his wand as first his son and then his daughter entered the world screaming. He cradled his wife as she held the babies, and they both exclaimed at how beautiful they were.

Eventually, Poppy placed both infants in his arms and shooed him out so that she and Wizby could clean and Esme could get some rest.

In the parlour awaited the headmistress and the Lupins.

"May I introduce you to Emrys McGonagall Snape and Brigida Scott Snape," he announced as he entered the room, beaming from ear to ear.

The three adults stood up and came over to admire the new generation. Minerva helped by taking Brigida, and Remus pulled out a camera.

"Colin Creevey asked me to take some photos," he explained. "He has also offered to take some formal sittings later as a gift to the family."

Severus was in magnanimous mood. He gave Emrys into Minerva's other arm as she sat on the sofa so that there would be one of her with both babes. Several more shots were taken before Severus called a halt and took the children back to the bedroom and placed them in the double-sized bassinet next to Esme's side of the bed.

He made sure that they were wrapped well and gently placing a finger on both of their foreheads, projected a welcome to them. He then bent down and kissed each of their heads before turning his attention to their mother. He saw that she was already asleep and tucked her more firmly in as well after bestowing a kiss on her forehead. He noted Wizby was quietly sitting nearby keeping an eye on everything until Severus came to bed. He nodded his satisfaction to her and returned to the parlour.

When he reached there, Remus handed him a glass of celebratory wine. Severus accepted and went to sit in his chair by the fire. He looked over at the werewolf sitting across from him, while Tonks and Minerva chatted on the sofa.

"Lupin, I have something to ask of you and Nymphadora."

"Of course, Severus."

Snape took his time before continuing to gather his thoughts.

"Let me preface this request by saying that there are not a lot of people in the wizarding world that Esmerelda and I would trust with this. There are even fewer in the Muggle world, but they would not be able to handle the magical aspects, and of those few in the wizarding world you and Tonks are the only ones we truly count as friends and contemporaries." He paused to take a sip of his wine while Remus patiently kept silent waiting for Severus to continue. Neither noticed that the ladies had stopped talking and were listening in.

"Esme is teaching me that life is too short not to take that which is freely offered," Severus finally said, looking up at the werewolf. "I want to ask that you and Nymphadora become godparents to our children."

He rose gracefully and slowly held his hand out to Remus.

Remus barely took a second to decide and clasped Severus' hand as he, too, rose from his seat. "We would be honoured, Severus. If anything, God forefend, should happen to you both - we will take care of them as if they were our own."

"Thank you, Remus," he said sincerely.

A sniff came from the sofa. McGonagall quickly took out her lace hanky and dabbed her eyes dry. "Right," she said, "it's about time you two came around." Both men looked at each other and then at her with looks that clearly said 'Who, us?'. She huffed at them and then stood up, smoothing out her robes. "Well, it is dinner time and this grandmother is starving. Remus, Tonks - if you will accompany me; Severus, I'll send up a tray for you and Esme."

"Thank you, Minerva."

The other three said their congratulations again as Snape showed them to the door and then sat back down again to finish his wine.

He began to reflect back through the years and marvelled that here he was, after all these years, married and the father of twins. He had never even expected this type of life when he had begun spying for the late headmaster. He hadn't even expected to survive this long! But yet, here he was and his new family awaited him in the bedroom. He quaffed the last of the wine and headed for the master bedroom.

After checking on the twins and making sure they were still tucked in securely, he dismissed the house-elf for the evening, shed his outer clothes and after relegating Casey - with much protesting from the cat - to the end of the bed, snuggled up to his wife.