The Love of a Woman
"Have a seat, breakfast is almost ready." She told him.
"Did you bring us coffee too Mr. Severus?" Lilla asked eyeballing his cup.
He frowned good naturedly and pulled his cup closer to his body, "children are not allowed to drink coffee." He said.
"Why not?" Roman asked.
"It's illegal."
"No, it's not." Lilla argued.
"How do you know?"
"Because you drink it." She said as if it were the only answer
"I'm an adult."
"What other things are illegal for children and not for adults… besides fire whiskey?" Roman asked.
"Coffee."
The twins huffed and Hermione giggled, "Besides coffee… and fire whiskey." Roman clarified.
"Apparating."
"How old do you have to be to apparate?" Roman asked.
"I can apparate." Lilla said.
"You must be 17 years old to obtain a license to apparate, otherwise it's illegal." Severus said.
Gasp!
"I'm telling!" Roman sung to his sister, "…and you're gonna go to jail and I won't have to listen to you sing in the bath tub anymore!"
Gasp! (Lilla)
"Roman that wasn't nice. How would you like it if Lilla told you she wanted to send you away?" Hermione asked him
"She has told me! She told me just the other day that she was going to create a spell sending me to little brother land!" he whined.
Severus snorted.
Hermione turned her head to contain her laughter and Lilla kicked at the floor.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Still, not nice. No more of that. You're siblings, take care of each other."
"I always take care of her." Roman said insulted his mother would feel the need to remind him.
"No you don't." she whipped back.
"Yes I do."
She harrumphed, "I wish I was an only child."
"No you don't." both Hermione and Severus said at the same time.
Both children silenced, plopped on the chairs ready to eat breakfast, "Did you have a nice time yesterday?" Severus asked Hermione
She smiled and nodded, "Did you?" she asked.
"Yes it was very nice."
"What do you think of him?" Severus asked taking a bite.
She smirked, "Are you playing match maker?"
He looked affronted, but she witnessed the humor in his dark eyes, "No."
"Right."
"I enjoyed being around him yesterday, but this is for the kids. To make sure they know where they came from. He has no interest in the Merry Mudblood." She whispered (so the kids wouldn't hear her) in herself deprecating sense of humor.
He sniffed and put his fork down, "I don't appreciate your tone nor do I appreciate the word. Don't use it again around me." he said staring intently at her.
She got the message and nodded her head.
They finished eating in silence and told the kids to take of their plates and go wash up.
"Can I offer you the grand tour?" she asked hoping he the light mood would come back.
He nodded stiffly, "I'm sorry, Severus, I don't know why I said it." She apologized.
He nodded again, "Your lab?" he asked.
She smiled and they walked downstairs, two flights, to the basement.
It was a windowless room, which was well ventilated with pipes running this way and that; he could also feel the air and saw the large air filtration system in the corner.
It was immaculate.
Three long tables holding three cauldrons each with her ingredients on a shelf clearly labeled and in alphabetical order. He read each ingredient; when he turned to her, "You brew wolfsbane?" he asked.
She nodded, "I have a good system of timing so I'm not brewing for 72 hours straight, but the down side is that it's first come first serve and I run out quickly. The only one I set the potion aside for is Remus."
"How many werewolves can you handle?" he asked.
"I'll have 100 vials ready five days before the full moon and another 100 a day before."
He nodded, "I can only brew enough for 60 vials once per month. I need a better place to brew." He said more to himself than her, but she tilted her head, "You can brew here. I have another table that would fit nicely, just there. I just don't have the hands to use three additional cauldrons."
He looked at her for a moment, "I have four cauldrons. I will rent your space." He said.
She looked at him like he was crazy, she wanted to scoff at him and tell him no, but she knew he would never agree if he couldn't pay, "fine." she said and he looked relieved.
"Together we can increase the number to right around 600 vials and decrease the cost slightly, what do you say?" He asked.
She smiled and nodded enthusiastically; it was exciting to her that she may be able to help more magical beings and work closely with a respected colleague.
***across the street
"There's no news." Magna whined.
"So what do you want me to do about it?" Lorman asked.
"Something. We can't keep sitting here and wishing something would just walk by, I have a familiar to feed."
Just then a tall blonde aristocrat strode by.
"Hey is that Lucius Malfoy?" Lorman asked sitting up straighter.
Magna looked across the street, "Yeah, he's talking to the Creation door." She said
"Wards." Lorman explained.
They watched him smile and disappear inside the shop, "Who owns the shop?" Magna asked.
He shrugged, "Some Spanish witch."
"A mistress?" Magna asked her eyes narrowing with lewd excitement.
"He's a widower, so if he was engaging in relations, she would be his girlfriend." Lorman said.
They watched the store front for another 40 minutes before the door opened, "Hey here he comes." Lorman whispered though it was unlikely Lucius would hear they were across the street.
"Wait is that Severus Snape?... and Dear Sweet Merlin, we hit the jackpot, Hermione Granger!" Magna exclaimed.
Lorman squinted his eyes, "Holy shite, you see those kids? They look just like…Malfoy."
"You don't think she had some sort of affair with Malfoy and he hid her and those kids away, do you?" Magna asked excitedly.
"How old do you think they are? When did Narcissa die?" Lorman asked quietly pulling out his camera.
"Turn the flash off!" Magna hissed wanting to get as many pictures as possible.
The camera clicked four times before they got a front-page worthy picture. Severus leaned in and kissed Hermione Granger. All they could see was her leaning up as his body leaned down, his hair draped their faces and she smiled at him before he pulled away. Lucius Malfoy looked on stoically and nodded at Severus when he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
***45 minutes earlier
The wards indicated someone at the front of the store, both Severus and Hermione felt it. She got up to press the intercom, "Yes?"
"It's Lucius, May I come in?"
She looked to Severus to open his wards for Lucius to pass, "Just one moment, Mr. Malfoy."
Once Severus opened them Lucius walked in and turned to set them back. Hermione thought once again she would need to learn those wards or have him dismantle them before he left.
She opened the door and smiled, "Good morning, would you like some tea?" she asked letting him inside.
"Yes, that would be lovely." He said
He paused when he saw a smirking Severus sitting at the table, "Lucius." He greeted seeing the jealous irritation in the wizards' stormy gray eyes.
"Severus."
His eyes shifted to his grandchildren; Lilla was smiling. It was a strange smile, knowing and excited, he wondered what she was thinking… luckily, she was her mother's daughter and told him in the next moment, "Are you here to see mama?"
Severus snorted and Roman looked at him, no emotion expressed on his angelic face.
"I'm here to see all of you." Lucius responded.
"Did you bring a gift? Mama likes chocolate." Roman said in a business-like fashion.
"Roman, that's enough. Your grandfather is here to see you and Severus and I are business partners. There's no need to let your imaginations roam." She chided.
Severus shot a curious look to her and Lucius swallowed not wanting to disagree with her in front of the children.
Severus had no such aversion and spoke, "I only agreed to our business arrangement this morning, Miss Granger; aside from that we are… friends and before that I was your Professor. Do not trivialize the depth of emotion I feel for you for the sake of the children. I do not enter into any relationship, business or personal, lightly."
Roman and Lilla eyes shot to their mother who was standing there sufficiently humbled and duly chastised, "of course. I'm sorry." She said quietly.
Lucius almost laughed at the shocked faces of his grandchildren, "Aren't you gonna hex him mama?" Lilla asked
Severus' eyes stared intently at Lilla, his best glare for first year Hogwarts dunderheads directed on her. It had been effective in reducing firsties to quivering, stammering jelly fish for years… it didn't work, and she narrowed hers in return.
This time Lucius did laugh, "You're losing your touch, Severus."
Severus looked at a proud Hermione, "Hardly, she just comes from good stock." He said and Hermione grinned at him.
They all sat and finished breakfast. Roman hadn't said much, but now his curiosity was bubbling over, "Mr… Grandfather, why are you here?"
"Roman, that was impolite, please remember to temper your curiosity with tact." She told him and looked to Lucius for the answer. Truth be told, she was curious as well.
He cleared his throat.
He didn't want to offend her or make her angry, but his desire to introduce the children to tradition and custom was strong. He came over this morning to propose a few things to her hoping she would allow him to engage the children in some activities that Draco and Lucius himself participated in as a child. He looked at her again, she was a muggle born and probably wouldn't understand, he would need a logical argument as to why she should let them, but the only argument was 'tradition' and he was pretty sure she wouldn't buy that one.
"Lucius?" Severus asked recognizing the internal argument he was having.
"Yes, my apologies. Miss Granger…"
"Hermione." She corrected.
He gave her a tight smile, "Hermione; I was hoping you would allow the children to engage in etiquette classes." He paused, but rushed on as to not give her the wrong idea, "Their manners are fine, it isn't about that exactly.
It's a custom to most wizarding families to send their children to Etiquette class. It not only gives the children a foundation of formality for entertaining, but goes over wizarding practices, traditions and history – far more detailed than Hogwarts.
In fact I have lobbied the Governors of Hogwarts to allow Etiquette classes be introduced to muggle students in order to help them acclimate into wizarding society." He finished leveling her with a slightly curious, but mostly stoic expression.
"I always loved that Draco was such a gentleman, his manners were impeccable. As are both of yours; Severus did you participate in an Etiquette class?" she asked
"I did for a short time. My father was not a fan." He answered.
She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, something she never would have done in the past, and nodded at Lucius, "I think that would be marvelous. Thank you for asking and thank you for wanting them to know tradition." She said, "So what do I do, what's the first step? Is it a class with many children or a tutor with just them? Will they be together? Can we sit in on some of the classes?"
Severus laughed, "Always need to know everything, swot." He teased and she glared at him taking the comforting hand away as punishment.
Lucius released a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding, "I took the liberty of contacting Draco's instructor. She is kind and patient with the children. The classes are not with other children." He said distastefully, "We are Malfoy's after all; and some classes will be just Roman and/or just Lilla depending on the subject matter of the lesson. You can sit in if you like, but it's been my experience that the children learn better when they are focused on the instructor and not the parent."
"From experience?" she asked smirking.
"Yes, Narcissa had the same idea you have; Draco spent the entire time trying to impress his mother instead of paying attention to what was being taught." He said with a smile.
She turned to the kids, "I would like you to do this, but if you are violently opposed I won't force you."
"I want to." Lilla said and glared at her brother. He sighed, "I'm out numbered again, fine." he said and harrumphed.
"It's not that bad, Roman. You may find that you even like some of the lessons." Severus comforted.
"Like what kind of lessons?" he asked.
Lucius answered, "Dueling."
Romans eyes lit up and Hermione rolled hers and then frowned; she leaned down close to Severus, "They don't really…"
He shook his head quickly and she stood relieved.
"When can we meet her?" Hermione asked.
"This morning." He said.
She jumped into action, "Roman, Lilla go brush your teeth and wash your face. Roman, Navy blue dress pants and white button down shirt, comb your hair with water." She said very specifically.
He grumbled.
"Roman Abraxas, what did you say?" Hermione said in a very motherly tone that made the hairs on both Lucius and Severus' neck stand on end.
"Yes ma'am"
"Thank you, now get going." She said and looked to her daughter currently awaiting instruction, "Lilla, yellow sundress white sandals bring the brush and a hair tie."
"Yes ma'am" the little girl answered and hopped down to skip to the bathroom.
"Excuse me while I go do something with my hair and change." She said to the wizards at the table.
Once she was gone Lucius turned to his friend of 20 plus years, "What's the business arrangement?"
Severus smiled, "I'm going to rent space in her lab and we are going to brew wolfsbane. Together we can serve hundreds more than we can apart. We'll also be able to reduce the cost for them."
Lucius nodded thinking it was a good arrangement and wondered if they would need more space, he had the entire dungeon… but he was pretty sure Hermione wouldn't want to set foot in there… ever.
Severus was up and clearing the table when the three came out looking pristine, "thank you Severus." She said and looked at Lucius, "Ready?"
He nodded.
She was wearing a baby blue silk pencil skirt that fell just above her knees and had a two inch slit on her right front thigh. It hugged her small waist rounded hips and firm bottom. She wore white silk stockings and Navy blue heels.
Her sleeveless silk top was tucked into her skirt and had ruffles from the neck to the bottom button centered over her bosom and stomach; on the sides of the shirt Lucius could clearly see the curve of her breast.
Her arms were toned and slender ending in feminine hands and long fingers.
She wore no jewelry save a pair of sapphire earrings. Her hair was in a low bun with long bangs tucked behind her ears, giving her a less severe appearance.
Lucius wanted to push up that skirt and find out what color knickers she was wearing.
He opened the door and let Hermione and the children pass; Severus came up behind him and whispered, "easy." When he saw the desire claim Lucius' eyes.
Lucius nodded and walked out behind Severus.
Lucius dismantled his wards and Severus walked out first, followed by Hermione the kids and Lucius.
He closed the door and turned to see Severus lean down and place a soft kiss on Hermione's cheek, "thank you for breakfast." He said and pulled away, she smiled at him, "thank you for coffee."
He nodded to Lucius and spun around leaving the Malfoys alone.
Lucius held his elbow out for her to take; she tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and he covered it with his other.
She was struck by how warm and soft his hand was; as well as how incredibly masculine it seemed. Large and proportioned, perfectly manicured, but calloused on his quill finger, she decided she liked his hands.
Behind them Roman mimicked his grandfather and tucked Lilla's hand in his elbow, then gave her the most charming smile to which she returned. They followed their grandfather and mother to the apperation point.
***The Daily Prophet
Snape-Granger-Malfoy Triad!
Hermione Granger, war heroine, best friend of boy-who-lived, was seen yesterday in the company of with wizards of a dubious nature, Severus Snape, spy extraordinaire and Lucius Malfoy notorious dark wizard.
Pictured below are scenes from yesterdays endeavor; Severus Snape kissing the princess of Gryffindor; Lucius Malfoy tenderly caressing the lioness' hand.
Questions you readers may ask yourself, why did Malfoy hid the children away, so evidently Malfoy heirs. This reporter is curious to know whether Malfoy fathered them because of his only sons' unfortunate demise or if the pregnancy was an accident that resulted from a secret affair.
Do Potter and Weasley know that their best friend has broken ranks? What will their reaction be?
Never fear, my loyal readers, I will get to the bottom of this!
