Can't Catch Me Now / Severus Snape

86. Baby

" I'm Rita Skeeter, I write for the daily prophet. But of course you know that don't you. It's you we don't know, you're the news. What quirks lurk beneath those rosy cheeks? what mysteries do the muscles mask? does courage lie beneath those curls? In short, what makes a champion tick. Me, myself and I want to know. Not to mention my rabid readers. So, who's feeling up to sharing? Mmm? Shall we start with the youngest. Lovely." Rita grabbed Harry by the hand and led him to the closet.

"This is cozy."

"It's a broom cupboard." harry corrected.

"You are pregnant." 

"I am not. I'm just nervous." Lilith corrected. 

"You are pregnant." Severus held up the test she had taken and then promptly forgot she took. 

"Oh right." Lilith agreed. "It's positive?" 

"You are pregnant!" Severus declared. 

"Really bad timing." Lilith agreed. 

"Lilith!" Severus declared hugging her. 

"Oh yes, it is wonderful but bad timing, I told Lucius-"

"We can tell him to stop." Severus countered. 

"I think its too late for that." LIlith admitted.  "Come on we are going to be late." 

"Lilith-"

"I... just need to... focus on one thing at a time." Lilith countered. "Like ravenclaws diadem and this challenge." 

"Okay." Severus agreed. "So we arent telling-"

"It's still early, we tell no one." Lilith agreed. 

When harry got the golden egg Lilith felt tears fall down her face in relief. But the weight on her chest was still there, still strong, like an elephant, compressing down on her as her heart pounded against the weight, she felt like she was going to explode with nerves.

It was like harry knew and after he was done he ran up and hugged her tight. The weight lifted as she held him close. She rested her chin on his head.

"You did so good Harry." Lilith declared. Severus stared back at them as Aria joined in on the hug, hugging harrys legs. "Im so proud of you!"

"Thanks mum. I was terrified."

"It didint show, you were magnificent." She assured. Severus hugged him next taking the first deep breath it seemed all day with his son safe in his arms. 

XXX

"The yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the yule ball is first and foremost... a dance. " Minerva declared. The boys groaned while the girls looked around giddy.

"Silence. The house of Godrick Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."

"Try saying that five times faster." Fred whispered to george.

"Besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons, besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons.." they laughed out.

"Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight." Minerva declared.

" Something's about to burst out of Hilary but I don't think it's a swan," Ron whispered to seamus.

"This is hopeless." Severus grumbled as Lilith wiped the dust from her hands. 

"We will figure it out." Lilith countered. "We will find it, we have to."

"You shouldnt be searching through that place in your condition." Severus demanded. 

"My condition is probably the size of grain of rice, or a peanut. Come on." Lilith countered. "I'm fine, despite some vomiting i'm fine. I'm good, I'm on a mission." 

" Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasly, will you join me." She grabbed ron and pulled him to dance.

" Now, place your right hand on my waist." Minerva requested. Ron looked horrified.

" Where?" Ron demanded. 

"Looks like they are getting ready for the dance, should you be preparing the slytherins?" Lilith teased. Severus scoffed, Aria ran up to him grabbing his hand. 

"Dance with me daddy!"

"Oh now you can't say no to that little face." Lilith encouraged.

" My waist. " Minerva repeated sternly, Ron did as requested with disgust and a whistle came from the crowd. " Now bend your arm. Mr Filch..." She looked to Filch for the music and he started it up. "One two three, one two three, one two three." Minerva counted off.

"Oi! Never gonna let him forget this are you?" Harry asked Ron's brothers.

"Never." Fred and george assured.

"Everybody come together." the girls stepped forward while the boys tried to stay far away. "Boys, on your feet. Oh Professor Lilith please join us!"

"Harry come dance with me!" Lilith requested reaching out a hand.

"Oh you arent going to whistle at them?" Ron demanded. Harry smiled sheepishly up at her.

"Sorry if I'm embarrassing you." Lilith whispered. "You are going to be a man before you know it and not let me do this with you anymore." 

"Mum, I'm not a good dancer, I'm warning you now."

"Thats alright, most of dances are usually just jumping around." Lilith assured. "Only a few slow songs. then we have the make out songs but you dont need to worry about those."

"The what?" Harry countered. 

"When your father and I went to the dances, we spent hours snogging in the astronomy tower." Lilith admitted. 

"Dont tell him such things." Severus countered. "Dont give the boy ideas."

When Lilith told Harry and Aria that she was having a baby, Aria asked if she could name her new baby sister, Harry hugged her. Harry was always her sweet boy while Aria was her sassy princess. 

"Why do they always have to travel in packs? How are you supposed to get one alone to ask them..." Harry questioned watching a pack of girls pass.

"Blimey Harry, you slayed dragons. If you can't get a date who can?" Ron countered.

" I think I'd take the dragon right now." Harry murmured. "Mum!'

"Hi baby," lilith answered hands perched on her stomach, she was growing like crazy, she assumed twins from the size of her stomach. 

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, harry, you sound like your father." Lilith added. 

"I was thinking that Dad and I search the room of requirement from now on, I dont want you getting hurt." Harry added. 

"Did your father put you up to that?" Lilith questioned incredulously. 

"No, maybe, but I want to help." Harry assured. "Mum, let me help. He is after me, i dont want to sit back and do nothing. I want to bring him down."