"Everything inside the house was incinerated, and the house itself is only partially left standing...I'm so sorry Hermione"
Hermione was doing her best not to break down, though she could not prevent the tears from falling freely down her face, or the tremors that shook her body.
Everything was gone; her home, her possessions, her memories. Gone.
Despite her spell to muffle the noise from the conversation, Rose was not oblivious to her mother's distress and she began to panic.
The precocious 3 year old began to cry when she saw her mother's tears, recoiling fearfully from the man who'd frightened her mother so much.
Still crying, the child turned and grabbed his arm. She was trying to pull him, and the protection he represented, towards her mother and herself, to keep them both safe.
"I think it best that you leave Kingsley, perhaps it is also worth checking on and freezing Miss Granger's account at Gringotts, in case Mr Weasley attempts to access it? Make the Goblins aware of the situation, they will be discreet."
Kingsley could do nothing but offer them a sad nod, and leave the grieving woman.
oOo
As soon as Kingsley had left, instead of going to them, Severus instead pulled Hermione from the arm of the chair into his lap, bringing Rose along with her.
Distraught, Hermione had buried her face in his neck and allowed herself to weep for her losses. Severus held them both closely and cancelled the spell around Rose, when she was not calming despite the man's departure.
"Don't be scared Miss Rose, Kingsley brought some bad news for your mother that made her very sad"
Her tears quietened a little at that, and the fact that the frightening man had gone away, but he knew it would not be enough and made the decision to tell the young girl what had happened. Even at 3 going on 4, She was too precocious to try and keep in the dark about things. He though it better to tell her, and let her grieve the loss rather than coddle her about it.
"Kingsley came to tell your mother about an accident, there was a fire at your old house Miss Rose, I'm afraid everything was destroyed"
He decided not to tell her that her father had been the cause of it.
Rose began to cry in earnest then, She was still on Hermione's lap but she buried her face into his neck, holding tightly to his hair with one hand and Herman with the other.
Sitting back into the chair, a wordless enlarging spell gave the three of them a bit more room.
He had a girl buried in each side of his neck, each arm holding onto one of them as they sought his strength and support.
He wasn't one for mumbled platitudes and other meaningless words, for all they were worth. 'Don't worry, it'll be alright, everything's fine'
So instead he stuck to facts and truths.
"I have you now. You're here with me, you have a home here for as long as you need, I will look after you I promise"
oOo
When they had cried themselves out, they still held onto him tightly and sat in a heavy silence, just absorbing the news they'd received.
Eventually they fell into an exhausted sleep, and Severus allowed them the short respite.
When Hermione woke , still buried in his arms she spoke softly into the skin of his neck, so as not to wake Rose.
"I'm sorry Severus" She whispered "It looks like we may be imposing on you longer than I thought"
"You're not imposing witch, you're more than welcome here for as long as you wish to stay..." He looked at the little girl that still had a steadfast hold on a lock of his hair "...the both of you"
"You're so good with her, really. And you always have been, since she was a baby." The words were spoken softly into his neck, and it gave him goosebumps. "Do you ever think of having children of your own?"
He snorted at that. "I had never considered myself father material. But even if I were fortunate to find a woman both insane and delusional enough to be willing to tie themselves irrevocably to my miserable arse..." He blushed a little and looked away "...I cannot have children"
She looked forlornly up at him, "I'm sorry Severus, I shouldn't have pried, I had no idea"
She placed a soft kiss on his cheek and he cleared his throat. "Yes...well, It is of no concern. And nobody knows. Other than yourself"
She wrapped her arms more around him, so she was pretty much hugging him from the side.
"A woman wouldn't need to be insane to be with you Severus, look at you"
Another snort from him. "I have, that's mostly the problem"
She swatted his chest with her hand and he mock scowled at her.
"Severus, you're probably my best friend so I feel like I can be candid with you. You're a handsome, intelligent and honourable man, and a war hero to boot! Any woman would be lucky to have you"
He wasn't too sure what to say to that, other than quelling the voice that wanted to ask, what about you? until she added wryly.
"Thick skinned...but lucky"
He dug his fingers into her ribs then and it made her laugh out loud.
Rose awoke at that precise moment, and took in her mother laughing and smiling as Severus smirked down at her.
She smiled and buried her head further into his neck, feeling his arm curl around her in support.
All she could think was how pleased she was that her mother had her happy man back.
Hermione stood, taking Rose with her to go shower.
She sent Rose off first to use the bathroom and poked her head around the corner
"Oh and Severus?"
"Hmm?"
She gave him a cheeky smile
"Your arse may be miserable, but it's damn fine"
The last thing he heard was her laughter rounding the corner, as she giggled her way up the stairs at the blush on his face from her words.