My Gift To You

Chapter 23

Severus and McGonagall felt their mouths hang.

Hermione looked at them, neither of the two making a move.

"Sev?" She asked painfully.

"Yes?" Severus asked in a trance.

"Get me to the fucking infirmary!" She screamed at him.

Severus felt a jolt go through him as he ran to pick her up gently.

"Okay, okay. Let's go," he said as he scooped her up and made his way to meet Poppy.

When the doors burst open and Poppy saw the two of them, she got ready to scold Severus again until she saw his face.

"What is it, Severus?" Poppy asked as she rushed to his side.

"She's in labor," he growled as he made his way to the bed.

"What? Her time isn't until next month!" Poppy cried. 

"Well Bree has other plans," Severus said, sounding worried.

"Bree..." Poppy tried to remember who he was referring to.

"My daughter!" He said,"now get her out please!"

Poppy sparked around so as to prepare for Bree's birth. McGonagall had joined sometime just after Hermione had been put on a bed.

The nurse and professor ran around while Severus was the lucky winner of holding Hermione's hand.

He winced every time she got a contraction, where she would squeeze his hand. Damn, she was strong!

McGonagall helped keep Hermione still as Poppy checked her progress.

"Okay, Hermione you'll be able to start pushing soon. You're eight centimeters dilated. Just another two to go," said Poppy as she finished up.

Hermione's groaned painfully as she squeezed Severus' hand again. Soon her groans turned to Screams as she neared the time to push.

Severus stood by her all the while. When Poppy said she needed to push, Hermione did the best she could.

After only twenty five minutes, Bree was born. Hermione and Severus cooed over her as Dumbledore rushed in, followed shortly after by Harry, Ron and Ginny.

"She's adorable!" Ginny said excitedly.

"Yeah," Ron said as he looked at the babe, "she has your nose Mione."

They all laughed.

"Wait," Severus said,"is that why you came?"

Ron snickered and Harry punched him in the arm.

"No," said Harry,"but people have been talking."

"People?" Severus snapped.

Harry and Ron looked at each other. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea.

"Yeah, you know. But we just wanted to come see her. We're her uncles now, in a way," said Ron as he smiled uncertainly.

Severus lifted an eyebrow but said nothing further. He had professors to show. Well, those that knew anyway.

Dumbledore and McGonagall took turns cuddling with Bree as the day wore on.

It was the happiest they ever saw Severus. And they were happy for him. For them.

McGonagall smiled as she thought of the wedding that was to come. It would certainly be grand. That she knew. Severus would want to give Hermione the best.