A New Story

Chapter 25

After Severus taught his third class of the day, he finally had a free period. He went to Madame Pomfrey's to heal his burns and ask her about the baby. She should have enough knowledge since there was a peak of teenage pregnancy during her time at Hogwarts. 

He was walking towards the hospital wing when suddenly, someone grabbed his arm. Without thinking, Severus whisked around, pulled out his wand and pointed it at the person.

'Hey. It's me Ben.' Regulus held up his arms in mock surrender. 

Severus put his wand back in his hollister and asked, 'What do you want?'

'Just heard from one of my first years that a Slytherin got into trouble in Potions and hurt you. Are you okay?'

'I've heard that question more times this month than in my entire life. Yes, I'm okay.'

'There's been a lot going on for you this month and I really don't know what to ask you except "Are you okay?" Where are you going anyways?'

'Hospital Wing.'

'I thought you said you were okay.'

'I am. Just want to check on something.'

Regulus whispered, 'The baby?'

Severus nodded, 'Don't you have a class to go to?'

'Nah, free period for me. Can I come with you? I have nothing to do.'

'Sure,' he really didn't have the strength to fight with him, 'Do what you want.'

'Great.'

They walked together while chatting about their first classes that day. 

As they reached the Wing, they saw Madame Pomfrey restocking the shelves while humming to herself. 

'Good morning, Poppy.' Severus said in his soft, smooth tone.

'Ah, hello Severus and Benjamin. What can I do to help you today?' the matron smiled.

'Mind if we discuss it in a more private place?'

'Of course.' she led them into one of the examination rooms and locked the door behind them, 'So, what happened?'

'One of my students played a prank which resulted in a potion exploding everywhere. I was standing close to the cauldron and it splashed on me. I have come because I have ran out of ointment for burns, and as you might know, I am currently pregnant and my healer in St. Mungo's had advised me to be careful with everything because there is a high rate of miscarriages in my early stage, so I'd like to check.'

'Severus,' she continued after a long pause, 'Are you ready for a baby?'

'Not really but I have five years to prepare.'

'Five year?!' 

'Yes, Poppy. Five years.'

'H-have you thought about abortion?'

Regulus spoke up, 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Alden, shut up.' Severus looked at him. 'Poppy, I have thought about it but it seemed heavily inhumane for an innocent being to be killed just because things may get tough for me.'

'I understand. Alright, here, take this for your burns,' she gave him a bottle of liquidy substance, 'And how far along are you?'

'About two months.'

'Get up onto the bed so I can run some scans on you, Severus.'

He climbed onto the bed and Regulus was at a lost to what he should be doing. He fidgeted nervously and wondered if he should leave. 

As if sensing his thoughts, the man on the bed told him, 'Ben, just stand there. You don't have to leave.'

He nodded and obeyed. Madame Pomfrey hovered her wand above Severus' belly and lingered, it then, projected a little black blob. 'That's your baby, Severus.' Pomfrey said.

'It's so small.' his eyes twinkle. Dumbledore would be so proud. Regulus looked at it in awe.

'It is, isn't it?' she laughed. She flicked the wand and printed out the sonogram. 'Here.' 

'Thank you.' Severus leapt out of the bed and patted down the wrinkles in his robes.

'Hang on, take this list of potions and ingredients you're not allowed to touch.' she handed him a piece of parchment.

'Thanks, Poppy, bye.' Severus walked off with Regulus.

Regulus kept sneaking peeks at the sonogram so many times that Severus straight up asked, 'Do you want me to give you one too?'

Unexpectedly, he replied, 'Yes, please if you don't mind.'

Severus furrowed his brows but still duplicated it, 'You are one weird man.'

'Hey!' he said clutching his heart like he had been wounded. 

'Need to get to another class now. See you at dinner, Ben.' 

'Aren't you going to eat lunch?'

'I prefer eating in my living space.'

'In the cold dungeons?'

'Yes.'

'Who's the weird man now?'

Severus rolled his eyes and went to the potions classroom to teach.