Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Before daybreak the following morning, Severus's instincts woke him.
His dark eyes cracked open.
He furrowed his brow as he sat up to stare down at Harriet.
Although she slept soundly, a telltale frown rested on her lips.
Careful not to disturb his wife, Severus slipped an arm under the many blankets of Harriet's nest and spread his hand over her belly.
He waited for several minutes.
The drowsy tranquility of the early morning would have lured some back to sleep, but Harriet's newly-sweetened scent forced him to stay awake.
It happened gradually, slowly, subtly as it crawled across his wife's flesh.
Severus's black eyes widened while his mate's womb tightened under his fingers.
As deftly as a creeping cat, he rose from the bed and stepped out into the hallway to wake Healer Margot and Rabbie.
Although Harriet continued her slumber, Severus thought it wise for her assistants to prepare themselves for the day.......it promised to be a busy one.
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He had nearly made it back to his bedroom door when a voice stopped him, "........Dad?"
Severus stopped abruptly before he turned on his heel to face his unknown inquirer.
"Rabbie is busy dressing herself." Maggie frowned as she slowly rolled her chair towards him, "........Is.......Will today be-......?"
"Your mother will most likely give birth today......yes." Severus nodded.
He said nothing else as Maggie frowned into the uncomfortable pause.
"Has Mum.......decided?" She asked, "If she'll allow me to be in the room?"
"I imagine your mother will make her final decision when the moment comes." Severus nodded, ".....Though I expect......that once she wakes......She'll at least permit you to sit with her for a while.......if she's able."
"Brilliant!" Maggie nodded with a sweet smile, "I understand. I'll.....I'll be in my room, then, if you need to come and tell me anything, once she's up."
Severus nodded in return before he slowly turned back around to continue on his way.
".......Dad?" Maggie asked a second time.
Severus halted again just before he whirled to face his eldest child once more, with his black hair falling into his face.
"Even if Mum says no, will you....will you let me know she's alright?" Maggie frowned.
"Of course." Severus vowed as he mirrored his daughter's expression. His dark eyes flickered briefly to Maggie's bedroom door as he urged her, "Go back to sleep....for now.......It may be hours yet before anything changes......You are young, my dear, you need your rest."
Maggie gave Severus a wry smile before they went their separate directions.
Once she returned to her room, she eagerly struck up a serious discussion with Rabbie about what to expect and what she may very well witness.
Severus let out a soft sigh as he reentered the bedroom he shared with Harriet and found his mate still sleeping peacefully.
His anxiety crescendoed as he contemplated what would come next.
Although their environment and timing was much better than it had been during Maggie's arrival, Severus nearly trembled with nervousness.
His omega had never delivered three babies at once before, nor had he ever dealt with outside enthusiasm during one of his wife's births.
What if Maggie became lightheaded and needed him alongside Harriet?
What if he ended up failing his mate because his daughter begged for comfort?
Harriet grimaced in her sleep as she rolled over and pressed a hand on top of the mound that her abdomen had become.
In one swift motion, Severus glided across the room and rejoined her in her nest.
He placed his fears aside as he held his bride in his strong embrace.
Eventually, Harriet woke with a whimpering sigh.
It broke Severus's heart as she reached for him, only to drape her arms over his shoulders and push her cheek against his chest.
His eyes widened as he realized Harriet had stiffened while she rode out a fresh wave of pain.
".............My love?" He whispered.
He had no real need to ask.
Beyond the fact that he could smell it in her sickeningly sweet scent, he could see it in her mind by using a single touch of wandless Legilimency.
".......I think today will be the day." Harriet whispered in a gasping sigh.
"I have you, my love." Severus reassured his darling in a deep, rumbling purr while he held her through the contraction's assault, "I have you."
As soon as the spasm ended and Harriet settled, Severus was on his feet.
She tried to relax as she watched her husband race out of the door.
Harriet blew out a breath, closed her eyes, and listened to her mate's low voice echo from the hallway while he alerted Healer Margot and Rabbie.
An irritating ache in her back caused her to turn her body to alleviate the mounting pressure.
Harriet sighed as she glanced up at the ceiling and contemplated the work ahead of herself.
Her heart swelled with gratitude for her previous night of deep, restorative sleep.
She knew she would need her strength for the upcoming task.
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Conscientious of not offending her daughter, Harriet fought to find a solution that would let Maggie be involved while allowing herself to concentrate on her work.
Labour was work.
Harriet suspected that triplets required even more effort than a single baby.
Healer Margot came in and performed an exam shortly after her patient woke.
At Severus's request, Disencan took Little Sev out for a day in the forest and agreed to only return once Severus had sent him the enchanted signal they had agreed upon.
Maggie sat and chatted with Harriet for a few minutes until her mother's breath suddenly hitched.
"Ooh.....sorry, give me a moment, sweetheart....." Harriet gasped as she sat up against the pillows.
Severus instantly launched himself from his vigilant perch next to her bed to move behind her.
He slipped one supportive hand into hers and the other onto her back as he used his languid voice to calmly instruct, "Breathe, my love......That's it, in and out.......in and out.....There you are, it will end soon."
Maggie frowned as she watched.
It bothered her to see Harriet in pain, but Severus's attentiveness made her smile.
Her stoic father seemed almost.......
"You're very sweet with Mum, Dad." Maggie grinned.
Harriet laughed as she leaned back against the pillows while Severus removed his hands and bristled at his daughter's compliment.
Harriet drew a deep breath as she explained to Maggie, "Your Dad can be brilliant, sweetheart.......He's the one who guided you into the world. I was terrified and hurting......I hurt so bad, but there he was, ready to help." She finished as she cast Severus an appreciative smile.
"He's always been ready to help." Harriet added as she reached up to affectionately clutch his hand.
Severus gazed at his mate as if she had slapped him.
His impressive career had not completely eroded the scars of his past.
Although he had served as Minister for Magic and received exaggerated praise from many, Severus still became mortified by his wife and daughter's accolades.
"Be that as it may......." He began as his dark eyes moved from Harriet to Maggie, "Your mother's work will only increase from this point on......Perhaps it would be best for you to return to your room now, my dear...........I'll gladly call Disencan back.....You're welcome to join your brother on his woodland adventure."
"May I not stay with you instead, Mum?" Maggie frowned at Harriet.
"You'll make your mother anxious!.....Her comfort is of the utmost importance!" Severus snapped.
He rarely ever raised his voice to his children, but with his mate in labour and triplets on the way, his patience had grown unusually short.
"SEV!" Harriet snapped as she shot him a reprimanding frown.
Severus balked for a second before Harriet recovered herself and nodded, "Sorry......Maggie isn't bothering me. She won't make me anxious."
He maintained a respectful silence as Harriet looked at their daughter and explained, "Sweetheart, you're welcome to stay, but what happens may frighten you. Having one baby isn't easy, I'm certain having three is even less so." Harriet chuckled, "I may be a bit loud at points and sweaty.......maybe even mean. If you want to stay, just remember you're free to leave whenever you like, alright? I don't want you to be afraid."
"Thanks, Mum!" Maggie smiled, "Don't worry about me! If I want to leave, I will."
Harriet managed to flash a curt grin before the colour drained from her face as another pain took hold.
Severus resumed his position to see his mate through her next agonizing wave, but to his surprise, he was no longer alone in his efforts.
He held one of Harriet's hands as he whispered the reassuring words she relied on to guide her through the contraction while Maggie loyally held her other.
It touched Severus to notice the loving concern in his daughter's eyes as she frowned at her labouring mother.
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Severus knew his daughter would eventually leave the room.
Once Harriet's labour intensified, she didn't really mind if anyone was there or not, as long as Severus stayed close.
During each spasm, she relied on his smooth voice and loving embrace to fight through the pain.
Severus remained her support system as he had through their daughter and son's births.
It may have been his tender care that kept Maggie in the room.
As Severus guided Harriet, for the first time, Maggie realized the depth of the great love that existed between her parents.
The reality brought her to tears, as did watching Healer Margot place each of her three newborn brothers on top of her mother's bare chest.
"Oh, Mum, they're adorable!" Maggie gasped as she watched Harriet try to cuddle all of the newest Snapes at once.
Severus's jaw ached from grinding his teeth but proud relief flooded his heart as he watched his mate snuggle their three youngest sons.
Each baby boy had his black hair and dark eyes.
"You did so well, my love." He whispered as he bent down and placed a sweet kiss on Harriet's lips. Once he pulled back, he looked at Maggie and nodded, "As did you, my dear."
Harriet sighed as she glanced over at their daughter and smiled, "Thank you, sweetheart. I'm sorry for the noise and the mess, but that's what it is, you know? I'm shocked you weren't placed in Gryffindor, you've been brave these past twelve hours.....and strong too!"
"Mum, you're the strong one!" Maggie gasped as she leaned over and kissed her mother's forehead, "I wasn't frightened at all! I thought it was fascinating! You were absolutely brilliant and....... look at them! Aren't they perfect?!"
While Maggie admired her newborn brothers with loving fascination, Severus contented himself that his only daughter had a long and successful career ahead of herself, perhaps as a healer or a midwife one day.
Harriet already knew the truth.
In Maggie's wide eyes, she saw the softness, the compassion, and devoted fierceness that would one day make her little girl a truly great mother.