Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
By Katia
Elle_2637@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Summary: We all know Severus and Hermione are meant to be, but they don't. This shows all their past lives when they tried to love, while they struggle in the present for it to work.
WIKTT Challenge 'It's All been Done' by CynthiaWeasley@yahoo.com. One rule for the story is that it must have a recurring item in each vignette, try to see if you can find the one I picked! Please go to WIKTT read the rest of challenge rules.
Legal stuff: I don't own anything. It's all JK Rowling's and Dean Martin's!
~~~~~
Everybody
loves somebody sometime
Everybody falls in love somehow
Something in your kiss just told me
That sometime is now
Everybody finds somebody someplace
There's no telling where love may appear
Something in my heart keeps saying
My someplace is here
~~~~~
'Severus, don't do this!' Hermione cried to him across the dungeon room.
'Do what, Hermione? End something that never started?' He spat at her.
'Never started? So when we kissed, you felt nothing? You felt nothing when we made love? Is that nothing to you?' Tears were running freely down her face now.
'It is better this way, Hermione. Just leave and forget about me.' He turned his back to her, so she wouldn't see him fight back the tears that threatened to ruin his façade of not caring.
'Severus, every time we kissed, I felt shivers. When we made love, it was amazing. It's like we were meant to be together. Why can't you say that you feel it to? I know you do!'
'Leave now Hermione. You will miss the train if you do not go now.'
'Severus, please, don't do this.' Hermione was now freely sobbing.
'Leave. There is nothing here for you.' His back was still turned from her as she slowly left the room, wiping the tears off her face. 'There is nothing here for you,' he whispered as the tears finally spilled onto his face.
~~~~~
France, 1351
'Chantal!'
'Coming, mama.' Chantal sighed as she raised her skirts and began the long walk to the main room in the castle. Her maid scurried behind her, panting as Chantal easily floated down the many staircases, trying to set Chantal's hair right.
'This is a big day, my lady. Please do try to behave yourself.' The maid whispered as they neared the main hall.
'In all the many years you have been serving me, have you ever once seen me disappoint my father? I will do what I must for my father, even if that means marrying some old man who has already have five wives and ten children.
'My lady! Please, do not speak like that. What if someone heard?'
'Then, at least they'd know my true feelings about all of this.' Chantal said as she swept down the last set of staircases, and began to walk more slowly down the last hallway.
'You haven't even met the young man yet. Maybe he will be handsome.' The old maid said.
'Mother simply tells me that it will be a great match for the kingdom, so that means it's another fat, old man.' Chantal quickly replaced the sneer on her face with a sweet smile as she approached the doors.
The maid opened the door for Chantal to pass through with a whispered 'Watch yourself, my lady.' Chantal swept into the room gracefully, and slowly approached the front of the room where her father and mother were seated. The room was full, but as Chantal had entered the room it had grown quiet, and everyone stared at her.
Chantal raised her head high, and kept her eyes on her father. "I'm doing this for father, and only for father." She repeated to herself in her mind. Her long, full skirts swished around her as she floated forward, and the jewels and golden thread woven into her skirt and her hair made the light dance in the room. She knew she was beautiful, but it had never mattered before. She had simply been a child before, and now her golden hair always had to be done up, and her simple dresses had been replaced with beautiful gowns.
She approached her father, and bent down to kiss his hand. He smiled at her and nodded toward the empty space beside his seat. She quickly rose and stood in her place. Then her father began to speak.
'My friends, we have gathered here today to witness as my daughter,' He looked at Chantal quickly. 'And my closest ally's son are betrothed.'
The people in the room applauded, and there was some cheering from the back of the room where Chantal could see some less savory men had managed to get in.
A man dressed in silver and green walked forward and stood beside Chantal's father. They spoke quietly to each other for a moment, and then the older man motioned to another, much younger man, who came forward, bowed, and kissed Chantal's father's hand.
'My lord.' He said in a commanding voice that held everyone's attention, without him having to yell. 'I am very happy to receive your daughter as my betrothed.'
"Ah," thought Chantal. "So this is the man who is to be my husband." She looked him over carefully, making sure no one could tell what she was doing. "He's tall enough, and doesn't look bad at all. He is older than me, but not so old as to be my grandfather, as I was fearing."
The young man then came forward and bowed before Chantal who made a deep curtsey. He kissed her hand lightly. 'My lady, if you will accompany me and my father to our home for the next fortnight, we would truly enjoy your company.'
'Of course, my lord. I would be delighted.' Chantal said, graciously. This was all to be expected. His family simply wanted to make sure that his future wife was not insane, and by having her at their estate they could ensure that before the marriage took place her father could not end the betrothment by attacking their estate.
~~~~~
Their estate almost rivaled Chantal's home. She was amazed at how large it was, and had never expected anything like it. Her maid had let out a squeal of delight when they had first been able to see the estate from their carriage. 'Oh, my lady. You will be happy here. Imagine how rich they must be!'
'Shush, money certainly will not be a problem, but does money have to do with my happiness?' Chantal said quietly.
'Oh, everything, my lady! You will want for nothing here.'
'Except love.' Chantal whispered to herself.
~~~~~
The family had welcomed her with a large banquet. The mother was kind, but Chantal could see under all the outward happiness she was anxious to see her only son married to a girl she would hardly know. Chantal put up with the mothers questions, and tried to smile through it all, but it was hard. She was seated next to her betrothed during the banquet, and he seemed genial enough, but would only speak when she would first start a topic.
That night she could hardly sleep in her strange surroundings. She had elaborate rooms, with elegant furniture and many fireplaces so she would be warm, but something was missing.
The next day Chantal accompanied her betrothed and his father and mother on a ride through their land. It was very vast, and Chantal could hardly keep her excitement from being noticed beyond what was expected when she saw the beautiful gardens and lakes they owned.
'Pierre,' her betrothed's mother called to her son. 'Why don't you show Lady Chantal one of the towns?'
'Of course, mother.' He replied. 'My lady, if you would follow me, there is a town near to where we are that I think you will find pleasing.
Chantal followed him, and soon she could see the small lines of smoke from chimneys and then the thatched roofs of the town. It was very quaint, but not by any means a small town. It was nearly as big as the town near Chantal's home.
Pierre was nervous with his betrothed. She seemed intelligent enough, but sometimes she would lapse into silence. He could never seem to say anything to her, unless someone prompted him to. She was beautiful, and she did seem to like his home, but he couldn't tell if she was coming to like him as well.
As they entered the village and rode up it's main street, many of the people stopped what they were doing to bow to Pierre and Chantal. Chantal found this all very embarrassing as she had never really rode through a town before while dressed as the royalty she was. The last time she had been into her father's town was when she had been much younger and wearing a simple dress with her hair loose. She began to turn red when a baker, seeing them approaching him, had stopped so suddenly all his bread had fallen off his tray. He didn't even seem to notice, but bowed deeply.
Pierre noticed the baker, and reigned in his horse. 'If you will excuse me, my lady,' he said as he dismounted. He strode over to the baker, who bowed again deeply. 'No need for that, my man. I hear that you are the baker who delivers the bread to my home. I would like to personally thank you.'
The banker stammered something. Pierre then quickly picked up a few of the loaves of bread. 'How much for these?' he asked the baker. The baker stood silent, stunned. Pierre reached into his purse that hung from his belt and put into the bakers hand more than he normally made in a month. 'Thank you for your help.' Pierre said and then remounted his horse.
'What shall you do with that bread?' asked Chantal. She was stunned at what she had just seen. Her father hardly ever went out into the towns, and when he did it was to tell the people to be strong through the next war, or to make sure to continue to pay their taxes. Never had he spoken directly to a townsperson.
'I believe that up that next street there is a family that could use some extra food. If you permit, I would like to give the bread to them.' Pierre said, closely watching Chantal.
'Of course, my lord.' Chantal said, and followed him to the house. It was very ramshackle, and the woman who sat outside of it was very old. Pierre once again dismounted.
'Madame, I was wondering if you could use this extra bread today? I heard that your son is ill again.'
'My Lord,' she said as she tried to stand up, but feel back down after struggling for a moment. 'We would be honored.' She accepted the bread. 'Please excuse me not being able to accept your gift properly, but I am having some more back problems, my lord.'
'I understand. Please do not trouble yourself by worrying.' Pierre said. He then quickly wished her the best with her health problems, and then mounted his horse again.
They rode back out of the town after finishing their tour of it without speaking again. As they rode away from it back towards the estate Chantal couldn't repress her questions anymore. 'My lord, I have to express to you my surprise towards your actions in town. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone talking to their townspeople, or wanting to know about them individually.'
'It is not common at all. In fact I will have to tell you that I normally cannot do that.' Pierre was being careful, wanting to know if his future bride would not want to occasionally get her hands dirty, or if she was one to sit in his estate and spend his money while doing nothing. 'My parents disapprove, but I feel that the occasional contact with the townspeople helps keep them loyal to our family.'
'Of course, my lord. I'm sure that they look up to your family. I am sorry if you misunderstood me. I did not mean that I also disapproved. Far from that, but I was simply surprised.'
Pierre nodded, and they finished their ride to the estate in silence.
~~~~~
The day that Pierre and Chantal were to be married was soon approaching. Chantal no longer woke up every morning fearing the day that she would become Pierre's wife. They had never talked again in private as they had the day that they visited the town, but occasionally she felt that she could feel what his true feelings were on a topic when his father would bring up his opinion at dinner. Sometimes she caught him staring at her, but it no longer unnerved her. She felt that she might someday come to love her betrothed.
Pierre was sure now that Chantal was the correct choice for his wife. He had caught her once in their immense library, one of the only that he knew of, and certainly the only one that Chantal had ever heard of. She had been standing there, just looking at all the books without ever toughing one, but he could feel how much she had wanted to read them. He was glad that he would not be marrying a dim-witted woman who would only be useful for bearing children. Pierre felt that he was coming to love his betrothed.
~~~~~
They were married on a beautiful fall day. Chantal had looked radiant on her gown, and Pierre found that he could hardly tear his eyes away from her. They did come to love each other, and hardly were they to be found apart. Chantal was obliged to stay in the estate whenever Pierre left, but she always felt that she was with him in spirit.
They had not been married more than a few months when Chantal first realized that she was with child. It was early winter, and Pierre was out in one of the towns when Chantal was told by her doctor that it was not a cold as she had feared, but that she was expecting.
Chantal was ecstatic, and sent for Pierre to return soon. He did, and they had a large banquet to celebrate the impending birth of their baby.
In late winter Chantal was becoming rather large. Pierre had just returned from a trip to visit one of Chantal's father's towns. Their peace treaty still lasted, and had become even stronger since Chantal had become with child.
Pierre had lain down to rest, so Chantal decided to go to the library until he awoke. It had become her favorite room in the estate. She didn't know how Pierre had know that she would enjoy it, but one day he had brought her there and shown her how to find the book that she wanted.
She was just sitting down to continue a book she was reading, when her old maid rushed in. 'My lady!' she gasped. 'Please, come with me! Your husband is ill.'
Chantal rose quickly, which was hard with the large bulge from her stomach. 'Ill? How?' She said to herself. Then she began to hurry to her husbands rooms.
It was a long walk from the library, and Chantal had to stop many times because of her state. They finally approached the rooms, and Chantal walked forward to enter.
'No, my lady! You must not go in!' Her maid cried out.
Chantal whipped around, almost losing her balance. 'Why mustn't I?'
'The doctors do not know yet what he has, but they fear it is the Black Death.'
Chantal fainted onto the hard stone floor.
~~~~~
He did indeed have the Black Death, and Chantal was forbidden to see him. They said after a few days he was nearing the end. That night Chantal snuck out of her room and into the one where he was being kept.
He was pale and hardly seemed to notice that she was there until she was right next to him. 'Mon amie.' She said quietly. 'Oh, my darling, how different you look.'
'Chantal.' He whispered.
'Yes?'
'Je t'amie.'
'And I you.' Chantal whispered back.
He took a deep shuddering breath, and then his eyes seemed to stare into infinity.
Chantal let her head fall onto his chest, a single tear dropped down her face as her body began to shake with suppressed sobs. The doctor's rushed in and pulled her off him.
He was dead.
~~~~~
The next morning Chantal went into labour. It was early, and the baby was born a still birth. Hours later, after the midwifes had tried to help her, Chantal passed into the next world.
They said that she had died of a broken heart, and that it was better this way. The family now lived together in heaven.
~~~~~
A/N: I hope you like this story so far. I know it is very sad, but I can promise there will be bits of happiness throughout the stories. There will probably be about 8-9 little vignettes in this story. Each will take place in a different time period, and at the beginning of each new vignette there will be a little more of the Hermione and Severus story, which isn't over yet. The other characters are supposed to represent Hermione and Severus, please tell me if you think they are getting too far away from cannon.
Also, this is not meant as a historical story, but if you see anything wrong in each vignette, please tell me and I will try to see if I can fix it!
Don't forget to look for the reappearing thing in each vignette!
As always, please R&R!!!