Chapter 11 – New Beginnings
There was a fantastic view down the alley from the window of George's flat above his shop. It was two days after Christmas, mid-morning. Diagon Alley was busy but not crowded. It was easy to make out the happy faces of people as they drew closer and hear the happy chattering as they passed under the window.
Ron was sitting in the window seat, a sullen expression on his face. Charlie was sitting on the sofa reading the latest edition of The Quibbler. Ron was glad of that, at least. It was much better seeing the lead singer of The Weird Sisters smiling out at him from the front cover rather than that morning's headline from The Daily Prophet:
SNAPE WILL NOT BE CHARGED: ALLEGATIONS PROVE FALSE
"Anything interesting in there?" asked Ron. He had come to hate the silences provided by his brothers in the last few days. He often felt as though he was being babysat during the day—one of the Weasley men was always on hand. Of all of them, he had found Charlie to be the most genial of his minders.
"Interesting is a good word to describe this. You're friends with Luna Lovegood. What the hell is a Nargle?"
Ron chuckled as he shook his head. "I don't know, mate. Sometimes it's just easier to nod your head and agree. Ginny could probably tell you." Ron's momentary cheer evaporated as he thought about his sister. He turned his face to the window again in an effort to redirect his thoughts.
As he focused back down on the cobblestoned alley, he wished he had kept his thoughts where they were. Coming directly towards him were Spawn-Girl and the Ferret. She was wrapped up in a cream coat with a pale pink scarf and cap. Her face was tinged pink from the cold and her black hair was flowing around her hips in a brilliant contrast to the light colours she was wearing. He was wearing a fine wool navy blue winter coat looking every inch the rich, handsome, confident young man he was. They were laughing about something and slipped their arms around each other as they walked. A happier couple would be hard to find. Ron punched the window sill and turned away again.
"What's wrong?" asked Charlie, thinking he was upset about Ginny.
"Nothing, there's just a person down there I wish I never had to see again. She's the reason my life has turned to shit."
Charlie sighed as he put his magazine down. "Is she really? What has she done?" Charlie could take a lucky guess at who Ron was talking about.
"She lied to me. For years she made me think she was interested in me then when I was ready for her she just threw my feelings back in my face. I thought she was testing me, getting back at me a bit for making her wait so long but then she goes and brews some potion and everything changes.
"Suddenly she's a half-blood, not a Muggle-born. She goes from being this plain, boring bookworm to being this beautiful woman. Now her mum's rich and even though her dad died she has another one just waiting there to pick up the slack and then to top it all off she gets together with the enemy! A year ago he would have been happy to see her dead! And there they are now, just down there all cosy and lovey-dovey with each other."
Charlie let Ron rant himself out. At least there was a snippet in there to start with. For days, he and his brothers had been speculating as to what could have caused Ron to fall off the rails like this. Everything from post-war trauma, to a stray curse or potion ingestion, or even just facing up to the possible truth that he was, in fact, a complete dick, had been put forward and analysed. 'Jealousy it is,' Charlie thought.
"OK, let's look at a couple of things. Now, I know you have been told this repeatedly. Please listen this time. Hermione did not know who her real parents were. As far as she was concerned, she was Muggle-born. Now maybe she could have told you all she was adopted, maybe you could have speculated about the identities of her parents. None of that would have mattered because her looks were not reflective of her mum and dad.
"At the end of the day, does it really matter? So she's a half-blood. You and I are pure-bloods. There are half-breeds and Muggle-borns and quarter-bloods and one-eighths-bloods and fucked if I know... fifty sixth and three sixteenths Veela-fae-dragons-bloods if you listen to the shit some people spout.
"We are all human beings. We are magical, Muggles are not. That is as far as the distinction goes. We just fought and won a war that was caused by one man rallying one group and essentially scaring the shit out of them that their whole way of life was about to go down the crapper so they would flock to his pure-blood banner. And the bastard fuckwit was a half-blood! One of the very same group of people he wanted to eradicate!
"Let's look at your relationship with Hermione from the start. Were you always friends?"
"Well, no. She was a right pain-in-the-arse at first. Always spouting off the answer to every question and always being the first to do spells and stuff. Always nagging us to follow the rules and generally being a little goody-goody."
"What changed?"
"The troll. Harry and I saved her from the troll and then we became best friends."
"Just like that?"
"Yeah. She was good to have around. She helped us with homework and classes and stuff."
"So you became friends and had all your little adventures. Were you always good friends?"
"What do you mean? We were always best friends."
"So no fights or anything?"
"Well, there was the time I thought her cat was trying to kill my rat. But then it turned out my rat was Peter Pettigrew in disguise. Then she dobbed Harry's broom to McGonagall because she thought Sirius Black sent it to him. That was when we still all thought he was a murderer. Of course it turns out he did send it, but he turned out to be innocent, too. I was pissed when she didn't tell us about the time turner.
"Then when Harry's name came out the Goblet of Fire, she believed him that he didn't put it in there but I was sure he did. Of course he didn't, that was Crouch. She went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum which was a total betrayal of Harry. She spent fifth year telling me I was a git with no emotions. She got into Slug Club and ignored me in sixth year so I started going with Lavendar, you know, to show her I could get a pretty girl. 'Course that didn't work out," Ron was listing everything he could think of. 'Did she ever fight with Harry?' he thought.
"She got really pissed when I left during the horcrux hunt. But then in the Final Battle she kissed me! Full on snogged me and then she says it was just the heat of the moment and she was happy I thought of someone else for a change. I was ready to have a relationship with her!"
"So even though she was your 'best friend', you fought with her heaps, and never listened to her opinion even though most of the time she was bang on the money. You thought she was plain and got together with a 'pretty girl' to show her you could and then after you abandoned her and Harry during the most important and dangerous time of your life, you expected her to just turn around and have a long-term relationship with you?"
"It's what everyone expected!"
"Merlin! She would have killed you within a year! Tell me, what do you know about Hermione? Her personality?"
"Well, she's smart, she likes to follow the rules, and she likes to read and ummm..." Ron trailed off as he realised he couldn't say anything else about Hermione.
"What's her favourite colour?"
Ron looked at Charlie blankly.
"What's her favourite food?"
More blankness.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Her favourite book? Her favourite band? What does she want to do when she leaves school?"
"Oh, I know that one. She wants to be an auror," Ron stated confidently.
Charlie shook his head as he answered. "No, Ron. Even I know she wants to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Sit and think for a bit. Think really hard about everything you know about Hermione. Forget about everyone else and what they expect. Focus on you, I know it won't be difficult," he said drily. "Is she who you want to live your life with?"
There was silence for a long time. Charlie picked his magazine up again while he waited for his brother to have some sort of epiphany.
"No." Charlie looked up, startled by the strong voice coming suddenly from the silence. "You're right, one of us would snap. It probably would be her. I annoy her pretty easily for some reason."
"So what's the next step for you?"
"I don't know."
"Perhaps apologising?"
"For what?"
Charlie put his head in his hands and groaned. He stood up and walked over to the window seat. He slapped Ron in the back of the head as he passed and took a seat at the other end to where Ron was seated.
"For being a complete arse? For tormenting her for the last couple of months? For going to Rita Skeeter and getting her to write that article!"
Ron hung his head. "I can't."
"Of course you can."
"No I can't, because I'm not really sorry. I don't want to be her friend anymore. I thought we could be more and if we can't then I don't want to be anything."
"You can still apologise."
"Maybe, but it won't change anything that's already been done. All I can do now is promise I won't cause any more trouble."
Charlie looked out of the window sadly. For a minute he thought his younger brother had really come around. 'At least he is being honest,' he thought. 'That's a change.' He noticed Hermione emerge from one of the shops, Malfoy following closely behind her. "What do you think when you see her down there?" he asked Ron.
Ron looked down again at Hermione's figure as she crossed the alley and stopped in front of a window display, examining it closely. Malfoy came up behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder. She leaned back into his chest. Ron felt a spasm of anger surge through him.
"I think she deserves to have hurt feelings. I think her little life is just peachy and I want to beat a bludger straight into it. I want everyone who is close to her to desert her and then maybe she'll be as miserable as me," he said his voice a sad monotone. "Nothing's changed to how I felt a week ago except that now I know doing this is going to cost me, not her. I already lost my sister. Most of my family doesn't have a civil word to say to me. I've lost all my friends. I still want her to hurt though."
Charlie was shocked. 'How has he come to this?' he thought sadly. The two sat in silence for a while—Ron still brooding over everything he had revealed and Charlie trying desperately to come up with a solution before Ron either did something to really piss off Harry and Severus—enough to finally cause him lasting, physical harm—or before Ron did something to himself.
"Well, I think it's pretty clear you can't go back to Hogwarts," Charlie began. Ron raised an eyebrow and gave a small toss of his head as he let a breath out of his nose, evidently agreeing. "I might have a solution. The courses you're taking are all ones I took. Come with me back to Romania next week. Between the two of us and a couple of the other guys on the Reserve we should be able to get you ready enough to pass your NEWTS. You can take them in Romania.
"We always need workers on the Reserve and you passed your Care of Magical Creatures OWL which is the minimum requirement for grunt work. The pay's not great, but room and board is included and it's decent enough if you're not extravagant. In time, and with a passing NEWT in Care of Magical Creatures, we can train you up to be a dragon-handler. You need to get away from here and there's as good as anywhere. At least you know me. The other guys are from all around the world. If you keep your nose clean, you won't have any trouble with them and none of the shit you've pulled here will follow you."
Ron looked up, a spark of hope entering his eyes for the first time in a long time. He had always been fascinated by Charlie's stories of working with the dragons. Those few days his brother was at Hogwarts in fourth year for the first task of the Tri-Wizard tournament had been great! He had spent some time watching Charlie and the other handlers and it looked like fun. He had just gotten side tracked after that with the war and the dream to follow Harry to the Auror Corps. His face fell a bit as a thought hit him. "I'm not taking Care of Magical Creatures as a NEWT," he said.
"No matter, with a bit of hard work and dedication, you can get caught up. If there's one thing we all are on the Reserve, it's experts in that branch of magic. You need Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration and Charms to be a handler. Those are all good short term goals and you only need to pass, you don't need to be the highest scorer. An acceptable in all those subjects won't be beyond you and you'll have the advantage of actually being exposed to the dragons before you start your actual training.
"Who knows," Charlie continued. "In time, you may come to regret your actions and be able to offer Hermione, Severus and Harry an apology. Maybe you will do enough to be able to be called 'brother' again by Ginny."
Ron felt excitement bubbling up from his stomach for the first time in a long time. This could work out. Charlie held up a hand. "I need to owl my boss and make sure it's okay about the job side of it, but you can come with me either way. If for some reason you can't work on the Reserve, you would be able to find employment of some kind easily in the local village." Charlie stood and held his hand out to Ron. Ron took it and Charlie hauled him to his feet. The two brothers shared an embrace, grateful at last that there was some chance for redemption of the younger man.
Charlie stood back. "I'll go talk to Mum and Dad and let them know. We'll get all your stuff together in the next few days. We'll leave on the second."
Ron nodded in agreement once more as Charlie left through the floo back to the Burrow. Yep, this would be good. A chance to start a new life.
.
The rest of the holidays passed—mercifully—uneventfully. Severus had been cleared immediately upon presentation of the report of the Muggle investigation into the gas explosion that killed Michael Granger. He had selected the three most prudish, uptight conservatives on the Wizengamot panel and they, along with Kingsley Shacklebolt and the Head of the DMLE, viewed the pensieve memory of the night Hermione was conceived. Severus started the memory from the moment he woke following Lily enervating him, until the moment he guided his manhood into her. He figured further evidence of his spying could help paint him in a good light so he wanted to include the details he had imparted that night. Copies of the three letters Lily wrote were also presented as further evidence.
Although he still bristled at having to provide visual proof of such an intimate, private moment, he was secure in the oaths that had been extracted and felt the need to make the two older women and the one gentleman from the Wizengamot panel as uncomfortable as possible. The wording of the oath had been decided upon with input from Gerard Westin whom Severus had retained on behalf of his—family, he supposed for want of a better word. There was no wriggle room in the oath, no loophole from which to escape. After viewing the memory the five members of his judging panel had no choice but to clear him of any suspicion of the alleged rape of Lily Potter.
Westin made sure to have the panel's judgement on this in writing to provide to the Daily Prophet and also to enter as evidence in the libel suit against Rita Skeeter. He had wished to include Ronald Weasley in the suit, as well, but his clients were adamant that judgment was already being passed on him in the form of the loss of family members and friends.
Westin cleared up a few other legal matters for the group. He went through Emily's affairs and made sure her monetary inheritances were secure and working for her future. She was surprised to find that although she would not be filthy rich, she would have a nice, comfortable life. Her great aunt and uncle's house had been left to her, rented out until such time as she either lived there herself once more or sold it. All the possessions from her family and her great aunt and uncle were securely stored for her whenever she needed them. She had gone through them with Mary and removed a few favoured items.
Westin set up Mary's identity in the wizarding world. He also secured her accounts and arranged for all her legal correspondence in the Muggle world to come through him. He made plans to meet with her Muggle lawyers in the New Year to ensure a speedy resolution to the class action suit against the gas company. There were a few other basic legal requirements he set up for all five of them. Severus was very happy with the choice he had made.
Christmas had been a cheerful day which was rather unexpected considering the lead-up. Ginny had returned to the Burrow after Ron's departure from it and the residents of Grimmauld Place were invited there for Christmas lunch, Molly wishing to thank them for their support of Ginny just after she disowned her brother. Ginny returned with them to Grimmauld Place for a quiet dinner when Ron came to spend time with his family.
There had been many thoughtful presents exchanged from Severus presenting Hermione with a platinum silver necklace and Mary and Emily with diamond stud earrings (he even grudgingly gave Harry a silver signet ring with the Potter crest engraved on it) to Emily presenting Harry with a picture frame containing two chocolate frog cards—the front and back visuals of his.
O – Flashback – O
Harry unwrapped his present, seeing his framed chocolate frog cards presented lovingly behind the glass. "I decorated the frame myself so you would remember it came from me," Emily stated shyly. "Those are the only two chocolate frog cards I've ever gotten and they were both of you. I thought that was funny," she explained.
Harry examined the frame. It was made of wood and painted the same shade of green as his eyes. On the wood were stuck all sorts of buttons. Under the glass the cards were mounted on a pale green backing sheet. It was rather unique. Harry grinned at her. "You've only ever had two chocolate frogs?" he asked.
"Yes, I know you're supposed to collect the cards but if I only ever get you, then there's no point is there?" she asked him cheekily. The others all laughed from amongst the wrapping paper. Harry dug through his presents, coming up with a new chocolate frog package, one of several sweets sent to him by Neville.
"Here you go, Button, this one is bound to be someone else so you can start your collection," he said as he tossed it across to Emily. They all watched as she opened it, deftly catching the frog before it could escape. She groaned as she extracted the card from the wrapper and held it up.
"It's you, again," she said in exasperation. Harry turned red in embarrassment while Hermione and Mary both dissolved into hysterical giggles. Even Severus looked amused. Harry gestured at a wizarding stationery set that Mary had received from the Malfoys. He asked if he could borrow a quill and ink. He signed the card and handed it back to Emily.
"Here, this one is probably worth keeping now. Only Ginny and Hermione have cards that are signed by me. All the important women in my life have them now," he winked at her. Mary put on an insulted face as Emily beamed.
"What about me?" she mock pouted. Harry floundered for a few seconds, terrified he had truly insulted the woman he was coming to think of as another mother. Hermione dug through a couple of her own chocolate frogs that she had been given until she found and handed over another card of Harry. She went back to examining the presents she had received. Among the usual books, clothes and vouchers was the book of poetry she had been coveting in Hogsmeade during her first date with Draco. 'The sly Slytherin.' She thought he had picked the book up for himself but he had obviously seen her looking at it. In any case she was glad it was now hers.
Most surprising had been the gift from his parents. It was a platinum silver pendant with the same spray of roses as her hair clip. Scattered amongst the roses were tiny chips of sapphires, rubies, diamonds, amethysts and emeralds. It was truly beautiful. Hermione thought they may have conspired with Severus as it fit and matched her new necklace perfectly. Both were currently gracing her neck.
Harry quickly signed the chocolate frog card and passed it to Mary. She smiled as she examined it closely. Harry looked at Severus enquiringly. Before he could even say anything the potions professor sneered at him. "Do not even think about it," he warned. Harry nodded contritely.
"What about you Severus? How many women have a signed card of you?" Hermione asked cheekily.
"None," he hissed.
Hermione smiled, letting up on her teasing. Later that night, when they were all preparing for bed, Hermione, Mary and Emily all found signed Severus Snape chocolate frog cards on their pillows.
O – End Flashback – O
New Year's Eve had been spent at Grimmauld Place. The Malfoys joined them again, as did all the Weasleys minus Ron, of course. The residents of Grimmauld Place had been happy to hear from Arthur that Ron was going to move to Romania and stay with Charlie. Hermione really did not know what was going to happen if he returned to Hogwarts. The issues with Ginny aside, she felt Ron had been escalating in his behaviour and it would not be long before he did something that would bring the wrath of Severus and Harry raining down heavily on him. Not to mention Draco and his father, and probably Neville and a few others too. The sensible thing was for him to leave England. She was glad he was still thinking clearly enough to continue to prepare for his NEWTS. Education was everything in her eyes.
Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Professor McGonagall also attended. The night started a bit awkwardly as the Weasleys and Malfoys were slightly distrustful of each other at first. Arthur and Neville doggedly kept up conversation between the groups until everyone was at ease and they all had an enjoyable night. At the stroke of midnight, Hermione and Draco were able to enjoy a quite lusty kiss, as did most of the couples in the room. George loudly smacked a kiss on Emily's cheek to her embarrassment.
No one noticed but in the flurry of New Year's greetings and kisses amongst the entire group Severus and Mary had leant in to give each other a friendly kiss on the cheek. They each misjudged the approach of the other and their brief peck ended up being on the lips. Both were startled and quickly covered it up, but both were also acutely aware of the feel of their lips against the other's, even for that briefest of moments.
.
Before long it was time to pack up and return to Hogwarts once again. It was Sunday January third. The group was due at Kings Cross later in the morning but owing to the combined organisational efforts of Mary and Hermione, everyone was packed and ready to go quite early.
Mary and Emily were sitting in the kitchen having a cup of tea and some biscuits. "Have you enjoyed your holidays, Button?" Mary asked.
Emily nodded vigorously. "Ever so much, Mary. I haven't had this much fun since before my family died," she nervously looked up. 'What if they didn't have as much fun with me here?' she thought.
Mary smiled relieving Emily of her worries. "I'm so glad. When we discussed it, we said this would be a trial run. Do you think you might like to live with me on a more permanent basis?" she asked.
Emily jumped up from her chair and reminiscent of when she accepted this invitation in the first place, threw her arms around Mary's neck and emphatically said "YES! Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Mary laughed as she arranged the two of them more comfortably and returned the young girl's embrace.
"Oh, Button, thank you. I'm glad you have the confidence to stay with me. Hermione is thrilled that you might want to be a member of our little family. Severus has already said your presence in our chambers 'might be tolerable'," Mary lowered her voice in imitation of Severus's deep voice. Emily giggled. She too found the man vastly different outside the classroom than in. "And Harry, too, is ecstatic you will still be around. I will speak with Professor McGonagall when we return, then I'll meet with Mr Westin, and we can get everything organised officially."
"So will we live here when we're not at school? Will you live here when Hermione leaves Hogwarts?" Emily asked.
Mary was thoughtful. "You know, I really don't know. I don't know if Severus wants me cluttering up his guest room forever and Minerva may be expecting me to leave at the end of the school year. I'm sure Harry will be amenable to us staying here during the summer, but perhaps by then we should look at purchasing a house for the three of us – four of us I should say; we need to remember Winky too. We will worry about that later. For now, we will live at Hogwarts and here."
Emily shrugged and nodded. She had learned it mattered not where you lived, as long as it was warm and dry. It mattered with whom you lived. She would be more than content if the five of them spent every holiday together. Once Professor Snape had thawed, even he had been genial company. He still tended to quiz her occasionally but it was only while she was doing her homework, not randomly. She had felt comfortable enough to ask him questions regarding all her coursework and the resulting discussions had left her with more knowledge and references to look up than she started with. He had even set her some additional assignments and essays to challenge her further.
Hermione and Harry were fast losing their positions as Emily's primary female and male role models and slipping into a more brother/sister type role with her. Questions she would have previously directed to Hermione regarding growing up and emotions, she was now directing to Mary and Professor Snape was who she was starting to look to for ultimate protection – seeking his side or back in situations that made her nervous.
"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss in regards to this arrangement?" Mary asked.
"Ummm, no. Oh, wait are there any rules I have?" Emily asked.
Mary smiled. "Rules? Well when Hermione was your age her rules were to be as well behaved as she could, try her hardest at her schoolwork and she had to help me on house cleaning days. I think those rules will suffice for you as well. I know we don't have house cleaning days here because of the elves but I think you can be responsible for keeping your room tidy at all times. Does that sound reasonable to you?"
"Yes, that was pretty much the rules I had at home and at Great Aunt Elki's. At home, I also had to help look after Eric. I can help look after Hermione and Harry," she said cheekily.
Mary laughed with her. "Oh, Button, I will need all the help I can get there. Those two have definitely proven they are trouble-makers."
"Who are trouble-makers?" Harry asked, as he and Hermione entered the room.
"You are! Guess what? I'm going to live with you and Mary forever!" Emily said excitedly as she rushed across the room and flung her arms around Hermione's waist. Hermione's face lit up into a huge grin as she hugged the young girl back.
"Oh, Emily! That's fantastic! I'm so happy," she exclaimed as she rocked them back and forth in exuberation. Harry looked on happily although with a tinge of wistfulness on his face as well. Mary noticed it and got up from her chair, coming to stand beside him.
She placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "You know, I always wanted a son as well. You're my daughter's brother and even though you're an adult now, I think everyone needs a mum for as long as possible." Harry's face crumpled with emotion for a few seconds before he composed himself.
He turned and hugged Mary tightly. "Thank you," he whispered gruffly, a tightness in his throat. He pulled back and took a few deep breaths. Hermione and Emily came over to where Mary and Harry were standing.
"You know, for a woman who couldn't have children I am now blessed with the three best there are," Mary said feelingly. All four of them joined into a big hug. Severus walked into the kitchen at that moment.
"Have I missed something?" he asked.
"Mum is now all our Mum," Hermione said happily.
Severus gave a small smile. "A better mother the three of you could not find. Look at the wonderful job she did with you," he stated.
Hermione broke away from the group and came to give Severus a hug. "But let's not forget the good job you're doing now as my father." Severus looked awkward under the praise. He returned Hermione's embrace though and cleared his throat.
"It is nearly ten o'clock. We should start to make our way to King's Cross." The rest of the group murmured their agreement and started to make their way to the door.
"Oh, by the way," Harry said. "Hermione and I are not 'trouble-makers'."
"No, but trouble seems to know exactly where we live," added Hermione.
"And he knows how to suck the two of you in," finished Severus sardonically.
.
There was a flurry of greetings on Platform 9¾ as all the students arrived. Harry and Severus got all their luggage stored away and came back to find Mary giving Emily a lengthy hug. They were right at the back of the platform, away from the hustle and bustle of the main crowd.
"You do realise you will be seeing each other again in a few hours, do you not?" asked Severus condescendingly.
Mary looked at him with exasperation. "When you're a mother, it doesn't matter how long you are saying goodbye to your children for, you are still saying 'goodbye'," she replied with a sniff. She squeezed Emily one more time before letting her go and turning her attentions towards Harry.
"It's alright, Professor. You don't have to say goodbye if you don't want to," Emily said matter-of-factly as she stood beside him.
Severus looked down at her, furrowing his brow slightly. He looked around the platform but no one was paying particular attention to them. He reached around Emily's shoulders and pulled her slightly into his side. "Goodbye, Button, I will see you when you reach Hogwarts this evening."
Emily reached her arm around his waist, hugging him briefly in return before letting go. "Yes, sir," she replied with a grin.
Severus cleared his throat. "As you will be in my presence more often, and as you are now my daughter's sister, you may also call me Severus. Just remember it is still 'Professor' or 'Sir' around the other students."
Emily beamed with a smile once more and quickly reached her arm around for another hug. "Okay, Severus. I'll see you tonight." She waved at Mary once more and happily skipped off to one of her friends who was just boarding the train.
Severus shook Harry's hand and gave Hermione one last hug before they, too, boarded the train. He turned his head toward Mary who was waving at her children as the train departed, tears in her eyes. He found himself in awe of the woman. It was obvious she loved the three of them with every fibre of her being. He had never seen a woman so devoted to children that were not her own. In this case, if he did not know otherwise, he would swear all three had been borne from her body. He was envious he had never been able to elicit the same depth of feeling from the woman who had borne him.
He turned back to the train and nodded at Hermione, Harry and Emily as they passed. Once the train had left the station he waited while Mary wiped the stray tears from her eyes. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy approached them, Narcissa looking like she was similarly affected. "It is never easy, is it?" she asked Mary, patting her arm tenderly.
"No, it's not," agreed Mary. "It's the first time I've said goodbye to Harry and Button as well. They both agreed this morning they would like for me to act in their own mothers' steads."
Narcissa's face lit up upon hearing this news. "Mary, that is wonderful news! Oh, I am so pleased for you. Well, this calls for a celebration. Lucius, perhaps we may take Mary and Severus to The Green Garden for lunch?" Lucius acquiesced to her request. The four apparated from Kings Cross to Diagon Alley, Mary travelling side-along with Severus.
The four shared a pleasant lunch, the women discussing their favourite topic—their children—while the men discussed the current state of affairs at Hogwarts and in the Ministry. After their dessert, the Malfoys departed, Mary and Narcissa making plans to meet up again in Hogsmeade the next week for tea and shopping. Mary and Severus prepared to depart for Hogwarts.
"What is our portkey this time?" Mary asked curiously. She loved seeing all the different things that magic could do. So far she had portkeyed twice—once with a newspaper and the second time with an old hat. She was an expert now in using the floo, even if she had to travel with a magical person each time. Severus shook his head.
"I thought we might apparate back to Hogwarts," he said. Mary nodded happily, that was even better. Severus looked at her, some awkwardness appearing in his expression. Mary looked at him quizzically as he cleared his throat. "It will be easier over such a long distance if I embrace you rather than you just hold onto my arm," he explained, a hint of pink tinging his cheeks.
"O-of course," Mary stammered, her mind immediately remembering back to the brief kiss they shared during the New Year's celebrations. 'If his kiss felt that nice, what must it feel like to be held in his arms?' she thought. She gingerly rested her hands against his chest and stood as close to him as possible. He drew his arms around her firmly and rested his chin against the top of her head. They were a perfect fit. Before she could ruminate on it further she felt the familiar squeezing sensation as the apparition began.
The squeezing sensation faded and the two stumbled slightly upon landing. Severus tightened his hold to help them regain their balance, his breathing quickening slightly. As they recovered, they looked each other in the eye, each once again recognising that similar spirit as they had the week before. This time though, they did not pull away. Their faces started to draw together. Mary closed her eyes and was just starting to pucker her lips slightly when a loud CRACK! rendered the air. Mary and Severus jumped apart, startled as Professor Miller appeared about three yards away from them.
"Wow, that jump takes a lot out of you. Oh, hello," Professor Miller said as he spotted the two of them. He was breathing heavily as though he had just run a great distance. "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," he greeted. Mary returned his greetings happily while Severus nodded politely in return.
"Did you have a nice holiday, Roman?" Mary asked.
"Oh yes, wined and dined the lovely ladies of Paris, I did. I got back to England this morning, and just met up with a friend before apparating up here. I say, I've never attempted a jump that far before. Knocks you about a bit," he commented as they began the trek up to the castle.
"Yes, we came from Diagon Alley and stumbled a bit on our landing," Mary agreed.
"Diagon Alley?" Professor Miller asked in astonishment. "But you're a Muggle."
"I know," Mary said with a hint of condescension. "Severus apparated the two of us."
"Yes, that's what I mean! I've just apparated myself from Carlisle, and that was exhausting. You've come from London which is twice the distance and with two people. Impressive, Severus," he explained with admiration.
Severus accepted his colleague's praise self-consciously. He changed the subject. "Are you prepared for the new term?" he asked. He listened as Professor Miller began to talk excitedly about his plans for his classes this term. He tuned him out slightly as they walked along while he thought about what had just nearly transpired outside the gates.
'Is it a bad thing to desire a woman so recently widowed?' he queried in his head. 'She does not seem to be angry or disturbed by what happened. How do you discuss something like this, though?' he continued to brood, even after they had separated from Professor Miller and made their way into their own quarters. Severus faced Mary nervously, waiting for some form of rejection from her. She simply squeezed his arm and standing on her tiptoes, reached up and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek. He turned his face towards her as she drew away. There was a small, slightly sad smile on her face.
"I can see where this is going Severus, and it is not unwelcome" she said softly. "Can you just give me a little more time?"
Severus's face softened and his eyes showed understanding. "Of course, I do not wish to rush anything," he relied equally as soft. He bent to place a similarly lingering kiss on Mary's cheek.
Her smile brightened slightly and she squeezed his arm once more before turning and disappearing into her room.
"Time," he said softly to the empty room. "I can give you all you need." He turned and made his way into his classroom to begin work.
.
Hermione and Harry stood outside the Head Boy and Head Girl's private cabin on the train. Each of their eyes held a challenge as they tried to place dibs on who should retain the right to use it for privacy with their respective partner for the journey. Ginny and Draco exchanged a look as they observed the pair.
"A galleon says we win," offered Draco. Ginny snorted.
"Do I look stupid? One puppy dog eyed glance from her and he will fold like a cheap chair." Sure enough just as Ginny whispered this information to Draco, Hermione offered up the most pleading face she could manage. Harry did indeed immediately give in with a resigned air. Hermione's expression changed to one of triumph and she grabbed Draco's arm, dragging him into the cabin with Ginny's "told you so," following him.
Harry looked at Ginny apologetically. She just rolled her eyes and affectionately smiled. "Come on, Sap," she said in mock exasperation. "I put a notice-me-not charm on a cabin just down a bit; we'll have that one to ourselves." Harry's expression immediately brightened and the two went and made themselves comfortable.
During the ride, the Head Boy and Girl and all the prefects remembered the duties they were to perform. Like the ride at the end of term, this one went smoothly. Hermione and Draco returned to their cabin following one of their patrols and made themselves comfortable once more. Draco set some privacy wards before he sat down, Hermione snuggling up to his side. They began to kiss and lightly pet each other. Several minutes had passed before Draco firmly guided Hermione to sit astride his lap, the position allowing both of them to run their hands freely over the other's torso and through their hair as they kissed deeply.
Before long, despite his best intentions, Draco's baser urges took over and he thrust his hardness up, grinding it slightly into Hermione's groin. Both moaned at the sensation, repeating it a couple of times before they both seemed to come to their senses at the same time, realising they were not exactly in the right location for activities such as these. Hermione reluctantly removed herself from astride Draco's lap and he quickly excused himself to the restroom. While he was gone, Hermione forced herself to calm down and took the opportunity to change into her Hogwarts robes. She waited outside briefly when he came back so he could change as well.
When she returned inside the cabin, they sat next to each other again, their hands intertwined. Draco was rubbing his thumb back and forth across the back of her hand. He smiled softly at her as he reached his other hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," he whispered into her ear, softly kissing the lobe before withdrawing once more.
Hermione squeezed his hand in reply. "I wasn't uncomfortable. I'm just not quite ready to take it to that next level yet and even if I was, I really don't want our first time to be on a train full of people," she giggled nervously.
Draco exhaled a breath as he ran his hand through his hair. "No, I don't want that either," he replied.
Hermione continued, "I worry sometimes that I'm not as physical as you might like," she stated with a small amount of trepidation.
"Why? You're very open with your affection and I love kissing you and touching you," he responded as he gently ran his hand over the swell of her breast.
"Thank you. I love the kissing and touching as well but I know with your experience you might get tired of my virginal ways."
"I would never want to ruin the feelings we have for each other by rushing you into something you aren't ready for," he took a deep breath; ready in this moment to shatter the belief she was labouring under. "Besides, you aren't the only one in this relationship who is... inexperienced."
Hermione looked up in surprise—shock even. "You are a virgin?" she asked incredulously.
"Don't say it like it's a bad thing," he remonstrated affectionately. "You just finished telling me how you were one, too."
"Yeah, but..." she trailed off.
"Yeah, but... what?" he echoed after it appeared she became lost in thought.
"I just... you hear so many stories you know? I mean aren't you the 'Slytherin Sex God'?" she asked with a humorous sneer.
"Well," he hedged sheepishly. "You know how it is; I have a reputation to keep up. It adds to my mysterious persona." He winked at the end of his sentence.
"I don't understand though. I know girls who have deliberately sought you out to be their first experience. The general consensus is that you know how to treat a girl right and can make her first time really satisfying and a memory they would be happy to carry through their lives rather than an awkward tumble with some guy who knew nothing about sex except how to make it good for him. I know of two who returned to the dorm with doe-eyed expressions of bliss that certainly suggested their needs had been taken care of," she said sceptically. She eyed Draco askance; she had no reason not to trust his word but the last several years had been peppered with stories of his prowess and stamina in the bedroom. Ginny had been speculating with her for most of the holidays about what delights would await her once she entered the lair of the serpent.
"It's a bit embarrassing; I know exactly what you're talking about," he stood up and sat on the bench opposite, facing her. "Let's play a little game," he said. "Pretend you're one of those girls and you've found me in an empty corridor, out of the way and you want to lose your virginity to me. I'll show you how I react and why those girls have 'doe-eyed expressions of bliss' on their face."
Hermione sat up straight, mirroring his position opposite him. "OK," she closed her eyes and shook herself a bit, preparing as an actress would before taking the stage in another character. She opened her eyes and with exaggerated innocence exclaimed "Oh, Draco, I have found you. Please, take me to a broom cupboard and make me a woman, you gorgeous hunk of a man!"
Draco fell to the seat in laughter. Hermione looked at him and quipped, "Smooth, definitely smooth. I'm sure all those impressionable young girls were convinced by you laughing at them that you were their best choice to lose their virginity." She soon joined in his mirth, giggling as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
"No one has ever propositioned me like that!" he stated, the last of his laughter finally dying. He looked at her with a stern expression. "Now, be serious, young lady," he said. "How can I show you how honourable I am if you mock me?" The twinkle in his eyes belied his serious expression. Hermione giggled one last time and then, curious to what Draco wanted to show her she soberly followed his earlier instructions.
"OK, ahem," she cleared her throat and shook her hands once more. Schooling her expression into one of nervousness she said, "Draco, I want to experience sex but I want it to be with someone who will take care of me and show me a good time. All the girls say you are the one to do that. Will you help me?"
"Oh, Sweetheart, do you know what you're asking of me?"
"Yes, I want to do it."
"Your first time is a magical experience and you should do it with someone you care about. I think you are incredibly hot and normally I wouldn't hesitate, but I actually do respect you. I know I have been insulting to you in the past and everything but I have to maintain my position and if—people—in my house knew how I really felt about you, they would have my head."
"We don't have to tell anyone, it could be a secret."
"A secret?" he reached out and stroked a finger down her cheek. "I could never do that to you. It's not just my head they would be after but yours as well, if anyone found out. I would want to shower you with gifts and attention after you gave something so precious to me. I would love to help you but I respect you too much to callously take your innocence and then cast you aside. Please don't ask it of me and I promise I will never speak of this to another person. You should go now before something happens we will regret," he finished a look of sadness, longing and a tiny bit of lust on his face.
Hermione blinked, her heart had actually begun to swell as he spoke the gentle words of refusal to her and she could see why those girls had been swept away by him. What she had naively thought was post-orgasmic bliss was actually the result teenage romance-book worthy rejection. Draco smirked, his features once again falling into the lines she so loved. "Good, huh?" he said confidently, all traces of concerned potential lover gone from his face.
Hermione laughed as he resumed his earlier position next to her. "Very smooth," she conceded. "I almost believed it myself. Why did you never take a girl up on it though?" she asked curiously. Draco mused on her question as they once again laced their fingers together, his thumb resuming its path across the back of her hand as he thought about his answer.
"When I was given 'the talk' I was told it was an intense experience that shouldn't be shared with anyone I didn't have strong feelings for. I'll be honest, I do see us heading in that direction, soon I hope," he said with a small grin as he looked down. He hooked one arm behind his head and turned towards her. "I do feel strongly for you, feelings I have never felt for a girl before. When we are both ready, I would like nothing more than to share my first time with you. We can learn together."
Hermione was moved by his words. She turned her head as well in order to give Draco a kiss. "I feel exactly the same way. We'll just keep going as we are and when the time is right, we will know," she smiled and kissed him again. After these revelations, the conversation between the two turned to lighter subjects in between their patrols for the remainder of the journey.
.
Mary sat down on the chair in front of her dressing table. Winky had already unpacked her belongings as she had returned to Hogwarts immediately upon their departure from Grimmauld Place that morning. The dressing table and matching chair were a recent purchase and very similar to the one she had had in Oxford. It was one of her favourite places to sit and think. 'And boy, do I need to think,' she picked up her hairbrush and started to run it though her hair as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
'Is it too early to desire a man like this? I lost my husband only two months ago and I loved him desperately. I always will love him. But he is never coming back. And I know one day when we are in the same place again, he would be the first to remonstrate with me if I didn't take an opportunity to be happy.
'When Hermione said we had to move away, we discussed the possibility of one of us not making it back. Even then we agreed not to wallow and deny ourselves another chance at love. But two months? Would Michael have waited longer?' the hairbrush halted its movement through her hair. She placed it back on the tray. There was really no answer to what Michael would or would not have done. She sighed.
'And what about Hermione? What will she think about me replacing her father with another man so quickly? With her natural father at that. I suppose that is sort of a natural progression. And Harry and Emily as well. Severus would need to understand that the four of us are a package deal. Take me, take them.
'Two months, two months, two months. What is two months? So society says you have to wait longer. How much longer? Twelve months seems to be the consensus but even then there are those who say that is too quick. Then there are those women who mourn their man for the rest of their life. I can't do that. Life is for living, and I am a person who has to love. Whether it's my children or a man or even a friend.
'We share a lot of interests. I am enjoying learning of wizarding culture and all the magic he has been showing me he can do. He seems to like that I can help him with his ingredient preparation and my medical knowledge has helped him a few times. At the moment there is not much I enjoy more than the two of us in the sitting room of an evening reading and sharing a bottle of wine. It is so comfortable and peaceful. I don't even miss the telly and that wizard radio has some good music.
'And I love living here. I don't want to stop. Not that that would be a reason why I would pursue a relationship with Severus, it would just be a nice side bonus. And I would get to stay with Button all the time, I missed her early years obviously but her teenage years are just as important and I really missed a lot of Hermione's. By the time Button is an adult, between the two of them, I would have fully raised a young woman.' Mary grinned at this thought.
'Off track. I'm supposed to be thinking about Severus. His looks, okay, he's tall, which I love. Admittedly, at first, he seemed a bit unattractive but I'd just lost my handsome husband, any man would have seemed unattractive at that point. Come to think of it, I remember thinking at breakfast that Kingsley was a very handsome man whereas I'd not thought so at Michael's funeral. Severus's looks have grown on me now, he keeps himself clean and well groomed for a man. Not as much as Lucius or Draco, more like Harry, I guess.' She chuckled.
'He dresses well, very appropriate for a man of his station. His voice, oh his voice! If he put a mind to it he could charm the birds from the trees with that voice. I shudder to think what it could do to a woman in the bedroom.
'Oh, the bedroom. I didn't even think of that. That's what comes after the kissing and the romantic nights on the couch. I won't deny I am a bit sexually frustrated. It's been two months. The longest I've gone without sex since I became active was two weeks. And that was hell! And let's continue to be honest. The head of the fantasy man has started to turn dark.
'So looks, check. Personal appearance, check. Voice, oh check, check. Personality, definite check. The big question, can you see yourself with this man in twenty years? Yes. I don't want to pursue anything that will be short term and I can't see him only wanting a fling. If we do this, it's for the long haul.
'Who is society anyway to dictate how soon it is before I have feelings for another man? The only people's opinions I should be concerned with are my children's. I won't do anything before I talk to them.' Decision made, Mary turned her attention back to her hair, tying it back into a pony tail. She quickly scrawled a note and left it on the coffee table for Severus, informing him she was going to explore and would be back in time to get ready for the feast. She called for Winky and the two headed off as usual for their mini-adventure.