Precarious (Severus Snape x Reader)

Chapter 34: Flawed

TW: Self-deprecation, suicidal ideation

"You must keep living."

-

A few uneasy weeks had passed since the trauma of your unexpected bleeding. It had frightened you and Severus to the point of hardly even touching your belly, let alone your most intimate places. The lack of sexual contact didn't seem to bother either of you, though, both preferring the guarantee of your baby's safety inside the haven of your womb. After sleeping off the adrenaline from the incident, Severus rectified the situation of his canceled class while you continued to rest and keep a precise tally of baby's little flutters within you. Thankfully, the interrupted class didn't seem to arouse much suspicion from the staff, but the children, however, had started to pay keen attention to the two of you.

The morning you reached the twenty week mark of your gestation, you were granted a reprieve from class to have a check-up with Madam Pomfrey. You slipped to the hospital wing just before the beginning of your third year class and were elated to hear from Poppy that your exam was still normal. You released a great breath at the crackling pulsation of his heartbeat from the charmed machine and decided that you could allow yourself to relax, if only just a bit. A sense of calm happiness came over you during your stroll back to the dungeons, and you let your mind wander along with your feet.

Making it to twenty weeks was such a grand milestone. You were halfway to delivery, possibly even a little over halfway if baby decided to arrive earlier. What were once tiny flickers of kicks had turned into rustling, rolling sensations, and it was clear that baby was growing and getting stronger. Your belly was notably larger as well, filling out into a rounded feminine curve, and you had to wear your baggiest robes to conceal the bump. It was becoming almost impossible to hide, in fact, and you made a mental note to discuss your publicity with Severus tonight, before you grew any bigger.

With that thought, you approached the closed door of the potions classroom. As you came nearer, you expected to hear only the booming voice of your lover, but you were surprised to also hear the shrill, hasty exclamations of students as well. The sound took you aback because you had never heard such an uproar in Severus' class before today. What could possibly be going on in there? Had he lost his mind? You eagerly pressed your ear against the door and closed your eyes, trying to pick up bits and pieces of conversation.

"That's quite enough, Mr. Higgins," Severus scolded.

Hasty footsteps sounded out above the chatter.

"Really, professor, we just want to know! You're together, aren't you?" an unidentified voice rebutted.

"You shouldn't be ashamed, she's lovely!"

"Are you getting married?"

"But she's your student, too!"

What on earth are they talking about? Have they figured it out? Your stomach churned as you fretted. It was becoming harder to discern individual statements as the children rapid-fired their opinions left and right. You thought it an appropriate time to end Severus' misery and help him stifle the haphazard words of the children before they got drastically out of hand. Your fingers closed around the doorknob and, as you felt it grind beneath your twist, a strikingly loud crack thundered through the air that could only be a heavy book meeting some poor soul's desk.

"SILENCE! I want absolute silence! Not another word!"

You caught his eye as he reprimanded the class, and he softened slightly, his momentary relief only perceived by you. When he fixed his gaze back to the children, he was once again made of stone. However, the kids were not looking at him. They were transfixed on your figure squeezing through the door, albeit clumsily to avoid bumping your shrouded belly on the frame. You fixed your expression into a look of discontent and intimidation to the best of your ability and moved to join Severus in front of his desk. It seemed that you had stolen the breath from every student in the room because not one of them made a peep as they flicked back and forth between the two of you. Severus took this moment to glare at every student into their souls while you deliberated about what to say. You rarely ever had a class so disruptive and were still struggling to be a disciplinarian yourself.