Chapter 9 - Unexpected

Tuesday, August 23, 2005.

When the first rays of sun reached Samantha's bedroom she woke up. Her eyes hurt from crying and she felt rather uncomfortable. She realized that it was because she had fallen asleep in the arms of Harry Potter. She jerked up and shrugged. She wanted to get Potter out of her bed. She could not understand how she had let something like this happen and was grateful that they did not go further. Samantha decided to let him sleep for awhile, and went to get some cold water on her eyes. Samantha took the charm off the door and opened it.

She was startled when she saw her father sitting opposite her door on a rather uncomfortable chair with his eyes fixed on her door.

"You have broken my heart. I would have never believed that my daughter would sleep with Potter. I cannot take it," he said and his voice broke. He looked truly hurt and Samantha realized that what she had done was unforgivable. She had not thought at all about her family.

"Daddy, I didn't," Samantha started; however, Snape did not listen to her. He got up and ran to her bed where he found Potter asleep and started strangling him. Harry woke up immediately and was terrified.

"Daddy, stop! Stop!" Samantha yelled and got Snape's hands off Harry.

"How could you do this?" Snape yelled at Harry. "You took advantage of my fragile girl!"

"I did not!" Harry said. "We did not do anything wrong!"

Snape grabbed his neck again. "You have a very special view about what is right," Snape said. He took a potion out of his pocket and gave it to Samantha.

"I don't need the potion," Samantha said.

"You do!" Harry heard for the first time Snape raise voice on one of his kids.

"We didn't do it father," Samantha said again. "I swear!"

"Do you want to say that everything that I see is an illusion and Potter is not naked in your bed?" he snapped.

"He is just without a shirt," Samantha told. "You don't have to worry."

"How can I not worry?" Snape asked surprised. "You're the most precious that I've got."

"I am sorry," Samantha said.

"You will come with me!" Snape told Harry and pulled him out of the bed. He led him to his office again. "I am warning you. If you will ever get near my daughter again, I will kill you!" Snape said venomously, "I am dead so I do not risk with anything."

"What do you have against me?" Harry snapped. "You have protected me all your life! Shouldn't you at least have learned to bear me?"

"I protected you because you are Lily's son and I did that only for her. It has nothing to do with you. She died because of you! And I hate you because you are not my son!" Snape yelled.

"But you did not want children," Harry said.

"I would have done everything for her," he said. "And now I will do whatever it takes to protect my daughter."

"You did not want her and you left her, but now you pretend to be a loving father," Harry snapped and received a slap from Snape.

"How dare you!" Snape yelled. "The kids were unplanned. It was a big mistake. I always make big mistakes, but it was the best mistake I have ever made, and I would have never left my kids if it was not for you."

"You are a phoney!" Harry snapped. "You are telling me how you love your kids; however, you don't even love your wife, because all this time you were doing everything not for her, but for my mother."

For that Harry received another slap, which was fiercer than the previous one.

"I lost my head for Priscilla. I almost forgot your mother. However, the love I have for your mother has no substitutes. I cannot erase it, and Priscilla accepts it. You have no right to judge me," Snape said. "Get out!" he told to Harry. This time he finally obeyed.

***

Hermione woke up from a loud banging on her door.

"Open the door, Hermione," she heard Harry say.

"Give me a minute," she shouted.

Alexander had woken up and was getting out of the bed and searching for his clothes. Hermione got up as well.

"How do we meet again?" Hermione asked. "I cannot go to your house."

"I'll send you my owl," he told her. "Goodbye," he said, kissed Hermione and Disapparated.

Hermione opened the door and let Harry in. She noticed that he was both incredibly angry and sad. His left cheek was a little red.

"Did you do it?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry said.

"Thank god!" Hermione sighed.

"But we almost did, Hermione!" Harry yelled bitterly. "How can I look Ginny in the eyes now?"

"You should tell her, I guess," Hermione said and was incredibly relieved that she would not have to live with that.

"Then she will leave me for sure. We are hardly getting along! I don't want her to suffer. Please, promise that you will not tell Ginny. Please!" Harry pleaded.

Hermione was hesitating. As a friend of Ginny, she should let her know. However, Harry was right. It would be much easier for them if Ginny did not know. Hermione thought that it would not be hard for her to keep it secret. She doubted that Ginny would speak to her after she left Ron.

"All right," Hermione said. "I won't tell."

"I hate myself now. I have a wonderful wife and a child. Why did Samantha attract me so much?"

"You will just have to get over it," Hermione said.

"I can't!" Harry yelled. "You are at fault," he suddenly said. "Ginny told you to look after me, but you have pushed me right into trouble instead."

"I am sorry, Harry," Hermione sobbed. "I could not know."

"I know, but I am angry anyway. I will have a burden of guilt on me forever."

"I don't feel guilty. I did not make you look for Samantha and Apparate to her bedroom. You should have thought about the consequences yourself!" she snapped.

"Thank you! A lecture from you was just what I needed," Harry said sarcastically.

"You are welcome!" she snapped.

"I will go back home," Harry said.

"No!" Hermione said. She did not want to go back yet. She had to remain with Alexander. "I am not going anywhere."

"I said that I am going, not you. I am using the Portkey, but you can go when you will find a way to get there. I want to be alone."

"Fine!" Hermione yelled.

"Goodbye!" Harry said and went out of her room; however, before closing the door he said, "I am sorry that everything turned out like this."

Hermione broke down and cried after he had left. She was really at fault. She had almost destroyed two relationships. However, she could not fully be sorry for Harry, as she was happy for herself. Even if it sounded very selfish, she thought that it was worth the happiness which she received.

***

After an hour, Hermione heard tapping on her window and saw a black owl. She opened the window and let the bird in. The beautiful owl landed gracefully on a back of a chair and raised its leg, asking for a letter. Hermione simply wrote "I am waiting for you" and sent the bird back. It took five minutes for Alexander to Apparate to the hotel. He was dressed-up.

Alexander hugged Hermione and asked, "Where's Harry?"

"He went back home," Hermione said.

"Poor guy," Alexander said with compassion.

"How's Samantha?" Hermione asked.

"She's not in the mood," Alexander said shortly and Hermione decided no to question more. She could imagine how Samantha felt.

"How long are you staying?" he asked.

"I should be home on Friday," Hermione said.

"What do we do after that?" Alexander was desperate to know.

"I have a good job at the Ministry," Hermione said and paused, waiting for a comment from Alexander.

"I understand," he told. "I work much from home. I could go to England."

"What would your father say about that?" Hermione was concerned.

"He will be very angry, but he is angry anyway. This time I don't want to sacrifice anything for him. I have given up much already," he said determinately.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"I did not want to become a Potions Master. I wanted to do something different. However, father needed me to do potions."

"I thought that you took up potions because you wanted to be like your father."

"No," Alexander answered, to Hermione's surprise.

"Why then?" Hermione asked. She was confused.

"Father needed someone in the family to continue his work. He could not do anything under his name, as he was considered to be dead."

"Why you?"

"I knew that Samantha would not do potions, and I could not let him down."

"I don't understand," Hermione said. "She could let him down, but you could not?"

"I did not believe that he would ever come back to our family. It was me who convinced mother to marry another man," he said sadly.

"You feel guilty?" Hermione asked.

"Very," Alexander said. "I would have never forgiven me if I were him. However, he has given very much to me. He wrote some books, but they are all published under my name. This helped me to pursue my career very quickly. I should be grateful to my father and I know that I do not deserve it."

"It's not only because of your father. He would not have let you make a career in potions if he knew you were not capable," Hermione said.

"I can never know what I have achieved because of my own talent and what is only because of the work of my father."

"So you don't mind coming to England and being away from your father?" Hermione wanted to be sure.

"I want to be with you," he said enthusiastically.

"Oh! I'm so happy!" Hermione said and threw her arms around his neck. "I'll let you know when you can come."

"All right," he said and smiled.

"What will we do today?" Hermione asked.

"Would you like to go to Paris?" Alexander asked unexpectedly and surprised her.

"Yes!" she exclaimed.

"Then you should change into something nice," he winked.

Hermione changed into a skirt and a red blouse and was ready.

"Take my hand," Alexander said and Hermione did so.

***

Hermione opened her eyes after Apparition, and saw that they were in a fancy apartment. It seemed like a Muggle lived there.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"This was Philippe's apartment. He was mum's second husband," Alexander explained.

"Yes, I know," Hermione said.

"We got it when he was killed," Alexander said sadly.

"Was he a Muggle?" Hermione asked, because she was confused.

"No, but he was integrated into the Muggle society. He knew many influential Muggle people, so he kept this apartment to meet them."

"But you lived in another place?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. He was rich and could afford to have many properties. It was a glamorous life with him."

"Oh," Hermione sighed. It was a pity that he was killed. "It the yacht his?" she wondered.

"Yes," Alexander laughed.

"I just could not imagine Severus owning a yacht."

"Sure," he laughed again. "Father hates it. He did not want us to have anything from Philippe. He wanted to show that he has earned enough to support us. However, luckily mother left it the way she wanted. The yacht is great. It is slightly modified. I think you noticed that it does not require anyone at the steer. This apartment has become very handy, too. I spend some time here while being at conferences in Paris. By the way, I have to attend a conference the day after tomorrow and also do some preparation. You will have some time to rest from me," he said.

"Great!" Hermione joked. She went to the window to see where they were, and was surprised to see a familiar place.

"Is that the opera?" she asked.

"Yes," Alexander told. "Philippe really was rich."

Hermione looked around the apartment. It was rather large for a place where no one lived constantly.

***

Five hours later, Hermione and Alexander were sitting in a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. He had some good connections and got a table very quickly. Keeping valuable contacts was what he had learned from Philippe, and Hermione thought that the man had given much to the family. When Hermione had been in Paris with her parents, she had not enjoyed it so much; however, this time she really felt the spirit of Paris. Love and money was necessary for full enjoyment and she had both. Before coming to the Eiffel Tower, they had strolled through the city. Hermione remembered places which she had once seen, and also saw many new insights, which only someone living there could show. After tasting food that was completely new to her, Hermione and Alexander took a long walk back to the apartment.

***

Hermione was exhausted when they got back. She came to the living room and fell on the couch. Her feet were tired so she put them on the coffee table. There she noticed a stack of newspapers. She looked closer and noticed that among them were also some English newspapers, including The Daily Prophet.

"You read English newspapers?" Hermione asked.

"Sure," Alexander said. "I like to be informed."

"I thought Severus was buying them," she said. "And burning," she added after a pause.

"I buy my own papers to read whatever I want," he said.

"Then how did you miss me and Harry on the news?" Hermione was astonished.

"I did not," he said calmly and smirked.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"I knew who you were."

"What?" Hermione gasped.

"I realized it when I saw Harry; however, I was still unsure until I got home and looked you up in the newspapers."

"Why did you let this happen? You knew that your family did not want to meet us," Hermione asked. She was very confused. For a moment she thought that is was some kind of a conspiracy.

"I wanted my father to meet Harry and face his fears. I thought that these two men have something to talk about and this is the only chance. I wanted my sister to get to know Harry. I knew that she loathed him all her life, and I thought it was wrong. And of course, I had fallen in love with you at the first sight. That's why I did not want you to come to my house at the first time. I thought that my mother would recognize you and then you would never meet father."

"Well, you have got nerve," Hermione said relieved.

"I am able to do much when I think that it is right. Now I am ready to do anything to make you mine," Alexander said confidently.

"Nothing else is needed," Hermione smiled.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005.

"Hermione, wake up!" Was what she heard first in the morning. Alexander placed a kiss on her lips and urged her to get up. "We should not waste the time that we can spend together by sleeping," he said.

"Yes," Hermione said in a sleepy voice.

"I have made breakfast," he told.

"Oh," she said. "That's very nice of you; however, I don't think that I should eat anything."

"Why?" Alexander asked. He had not noticed her being on any kind of a diet.

"I'm feeling bad," she said.

"What do you mean?" Alexander asked.

"I'm feeling nauseous," Hermione revealed.

"Again?" Alexander exclaimed.

"Yes, I don't know what the matter is," she said. "I thought that it was because of Portkeying, but I haven't done it for some days."

"You are not pregnant, right?" Alexander asked suspiciously.

"No, of course not!" Hermione retorted. "Stupid idea."

Alexander was revealed. "All right, then I'll get you some juice and let's go for a walk. Fresh air might help you. We haven't been to the Luxembourg Gardens yet, and on the way there, we can go to the Notre-Dame and ask God to watch your health," he laughed.

"Sounds good," Hermione answered, much to Alexander's surprise. She got ready and soon they were walking through the streets of Paris again. They passed the opera which was seen from the windows of the flat, and soon reached the Louvre.

"Maybe you wanted to go to the Louvre?" Alexander asked.

"I don't think so. It will take too much time and I have been there with my parents anyway," she said.

"It was a long time ago," Alexander remarked.

"Yes, but I still remember the magnificent paintings."

"I have never learned to admire Muggle paintings," he said. "They are not moving, not alive."

"Can you imagine how loud it would be there if all those paintings were talking?" Hermione laughed.

"You are right, but I like Wizard paintings better anyway."

"We cannot really know if all of those are Muggle paintings," Hermione said. "People say that they have a feeling that Mona Lisa is watching them. I have read that there is some speculation that Leonardo da Vinci was a wizard. What if Mona Lisa is alive and really is watching people?" Hermione teased him.

"Let's go and look!" Alexander said enthusiastically.

"Not the right time. We won't be able to get close enough for long enough."

"All right, another time. We will have a lot of opportunities, right?"

"Of course!" Hermione said and smiled.

***

In the evening, they had Apparated back to Hermione's hotel. Everything had gone fine. They had visited Notre-Dame and Hermione loved the Luxembourg Gardens.

"I will have to leave you now," Alexander said. "I have a conference early in the morning and I have to do some preparation."

"I understand," Hermione said sadly.

"You should better get a good night's rest as well."

"Yes, I can't get one with you," Hermione laughed.

"Sorry!" Alexander chuckled.

"When do we meet again?" Hermione asked.

"We could meet tomorrow at three at the harbour to go for a sail," he offered.

"All right!" Hermione said and kissed him before he left.


A/N: There is only one chapter left. How do you think it will end? I would really like to receive some reviews.