My Parent's Mistake
Chapter 14
After spending the day together, Draco and Aubrey joined Severus and Lucius for dinner. Dinner was a full on feast, Lucius always made sure that his guests were well fed. Aubrey who didn't eat a lot always found it hard to finish a plate of food at the Manor and after their picnic lunch she wasn't too hungry for dinner.
'Severus and I were discussing going away in the summer.' Lucius said. 'I'm thinking the beach house in Spain; we haven't been there since Draco was a boy.'
'I believe the last time we went there Lucius, Draco didn't come with us.' Severus replied with a slight smirk.
'Of course. I remember now.' Lucius said smirking.
'Okay you two we don't want to hear about your holiday romances.' Draco said laughing.
Next to Draco, Aubrey froze. Holiday romances? She didn't want to hear about her father's...sex life. To be honest she didn't want to think about him with anyone else but her mother. It felt like he was betraying Hermione.
For the rest of the meal, Aubrey pushed her food around the plate, occasionally taking a bite but not much. Severus was aware that Aubrey had suddenly gone quiet.
After dinner had finished, Severus excused himself and Aubrey saying he felt unwell. Aubrey said a quick goodbye to Lucius and Draco and flooed back to Hogwarts with Severus behind her.
As soon as they arrived in Severus's living room Aubrey made her way to her bedroom.
'Aubrey.' He called away her which made her stop and turn and look at him. 'What's wrong?' He asked.
'Nothing.' She mumbled turning to walk to her bedroom but Severus followed.
'There's something wrong. You went all quiet when we were talking about taking a holiday. I thought you'd like it if we went away and Draco would be coming as well.' Severus said as he leant against her door frame.
'As much as I would like to go on holiday I wouldn't want to cramp yours and Lucius's style for catching ladies.' She said as she grabbed her night shirt from the cupboard.
'Aubrey, look at me.' He said and she did. She slowly turned to look at her father trying not cry. It was stupid really; her mother had, had boyfriends so why couldn't her father.
'I just don't want to know about your girlfriends.' She said.
'I don't have a girlfriend Aubrey. I haven't been in a relationship with someone since your mother and I don't wish to be in one soon.' He replied. 'Is this what you're upset about?'
Aubrey only nodded weakly. 'I don't know why it upset me but it just did.'
'And it's okay if it did.' Severus said walking towards her.
'But it shouldn't though. Mum dated and it never bothered me.' She said as she sat on the end of her bed.
'That was before you knew you had a dad out there somewhere. I bet when you were little you wish to have both your parents together, a happy family?' he said as he sat next to her.
'Always.' She replied as she looked at her hands. 'I wanted a family like Harry and Ginny's. I wanted brothers and sister so I wouldn't get bored.'
'Well you won't be getting siblings now I'm afraid.' Severus said with a smirk.
'Dad.' She said as she looked at him 'Ewww'
Severus chuckled and put his arm around Aubrey and pulled his into him. He placed a soft kiss on the top of Aubrey's head.
'I want you to speak to me if something upsets you Aubrey. I don't want secrets between us. I have missed sixteen years of your life, very important parts of your life and now I want to be involved every way I can.' He said as he looked down at Aubrey.
'Okay. She said softly and she placed a kiss on his cheek. 'Promise me if you get a girlfriend you'll tell me.'
'I promise but I doubt that will never happen. I like my own company too much.' He said as he stood up.
'Would you have married Mum?' she asked.
'What if I had known she was pregnant?' he asked.
'No, I mean like if you hadn't had broken up and she wasn't pregnant with me would you have married her later on?' she asked.
'Most probably. If I'm honest she was the only one for me.' He said as he walked towards the door.
'What about Lily?' she asked.
'Lily was never mine.' He said as he walked out. 'Goodnight Aubrey.'
'Goodnight Dad.' She said.
Aubrey got undressed and slipped her night shirt on and climbed into bed. She laid down on her king sized bed and sighed. She closed her eyes and thought of what it would be like if her mother was still alive. Maybe her parents would have got back together? Maybe they would have had more children? She always knew that her mum wanted three but would her Dad have more?
As her head whizzed around with thoughts she heard her fireplace activate and she heard a deep voice call her name.
Aubrey sat up in bed and looked towards the fireplace. In the ash she could make out Draco's face. She hopped off her bed and rushed towards the fireplace.
'What are you doing?' she asked as she sat down in front of the fireplace.
'Seeing if you were alright. You were quiet at dinner.' He said.
'It was nothing I just don't want to hear about my father with other women.' She said as she sat back on her heels. 'I don't want to know about his sex life thank you very much.'
'Aubrey he's been a lone for a long time you can't expect him to be celibate. A man has needs.' Draco said smirking.
'And I'd rather not know about them.' She practically shouted back. 'You're not making me feel any better you know.'
'Sorry.' He replied. 'But what did you think about the holiday?'
'Sounds good.' She said.
'Father's already booked the time off work and I'll do the same tomorrow.' He said. 'Father just sent an owl to Severus to say we're leaving next week. School finishes next Friday so we'll get a portkey and leave from Hogwarts.'
'I've never used a portkey.' Aubrey admitted.
'It's alright you just have to hold on.' He said softly.
Aubrey nodded and yawned. She sat down on her bum and looked at Draco. 'Where are you?' she asked.
'In my room at the Manor.' He replied.
'Do you live at the Manor?' she asked.
'Sometimes and sometimes I live at my apartment.' He said. 'I'll take you to my apartment one day.'
'You mean when the vow is over don't you?' she said smiling.
'Not necessarily.' he said. 'We could come here and have dinner or just hang out.'
'Maybe then.' She said as she yawned again.
'Get into bed.' He said softly. 'I can talk to you from there.'
Aubrey got up and climbed into bed. She laid down and pulled the duvet over her and smiled.
'Draco?' she said.
'Yes.' He replied.
'I wish you were here with me.' She said with a smile on her face. She heard Draco hold back a groan in the fireplace and giggled slightly.
'Stop it.' He said with a warning tone. 'Now go to sleep.'
'Are you going?' she asked.
'I'm not reading you a bed time story.' He said laughing. 'I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Will you?' she asked.
'We're going to Diagon Alley, I need to pick up a few bits and I bet you'd like to do a bit of shopping and then we could go to lunch?' he said.
'Sounds good.' She said sleepily.
'Goodnight Aubrey.' He said softly expecting a reply but Aubrey was already asleep.
The next morning Aubrey awoke to shouting. She turned onto her back and sat up. She recognised those voices shouting. One belonged to her father and the other her Uncle Harry. Aubrey quickly scrambled out of bed and ran into the living room in her night shirt. As she reached the living room she saw the two men standing very close to each other each holding their wands.
'Stop!' she shouted and both her father and Uncle were thrown to opposite ends of the room.
Harry immediately stood up and looked at Aubrey knowing she was the one to do that. Severus stood up and looked at his daughter slightly shocked.
'Why are you arguing like school boys? Can't you act your ages and talk to one another.' She said angrily with her hands on her hips just like her mother used to do when she scolded Harry and Ron.
'Pack your things Aubrey you're coming home.' Harry said.
'No.' She replied. 'I'm staying with Dad.'
'He's not your Guardian. Get your stuff and come home.' Harry said through gritted teeth.
'No.' She said again. 'I want to stay with Dad.'
'Only because he's letting you see that scum.' He said.
'By that scum you mean Draco I take it. Dad took the mature way of handling things. No wonder Mum never told you about her own relationship because you would have acted like this.' She said. 'I'm not coming home right now. I'm staying with my Dad and next week I am going on holiday with him and if you don't like that tough.'
'I am your legal guardian Aubrey; he has to get my permission to take you out of the country. Until you turn seventeen I am your guardian.'
'Well then Dad doesn't need your permission because I'm seventeen thanks to the time turner.' She said.
Severus looked at his daughter. A time turner? How the hell did she get one of those?
'Mum gave me hers.' She said as she knew both men were confused. 'It aged me a year. I'm seventeen.'
'Fuck.' Severus mumbled.
'I can't believe she let you use that.' Harry said as he rubbed his face. 'Shit.'
'Exactly Potter.' Severus agreed.
Aubrey looked confused between the two men. 'What? This is a good thing. I'm legally an adult.'
'Exactly.' Severus said as he sat down in his arm chair.
'So you know longer need a Guardian then.' Harry said as he sat on the sofa.
'No but you'll still be there for me Uncle Harry.' She said as she sat down next to him. 'It doesn't change anything.'
'It changes a lot Aubrey.' Severus said. 'Next year you'll go into your seventh year not you're sixth.
'Okay well that doesn't bother me.' She said smiling. 'Actually that would be good.'
Severus rubbed his face. This changed more than Aubrey's year at school; she was now an adult and his vow with Draco would end. Shit! Severus looked up at his daughter; so much like her mother he thought. Shit even worse.
Harry kissed Aubrey's cheek and left swiftly leaving Father and daughter together.
'I know what you're thinking.' Aubrey said. 'I had a vision about this.'
'Great.' Severus said as he looked at her.
'I promise you Dad I won't.' She said softly.
'Don't promise me something you can't keep Aubrey.' He said. 'You are very much like your mother and from my own experiences lust takes over quickly.'
'I know.' She said. 'I've read mum's diaries, she wrote everything and sometimes a bit too much.' She said cringing. 'I'm not going to make your mistakes Dad.'
'No you'll make your own.' He said as he stood up. 'I will admit Aubrey I wasn't too happy about this thing you have with Draco and now I am starting to like it less and less. He is too old for you and I know that I am a hypocrite for saying this but he is and he is not a good man. Yes his heart is in the right place but other parts of him aren't bothered and your heart.'
'He's not like that.' She said as she stood up.
'Only time will tell.' He said as he walked out of the living room and into his office.
AU: Severus's true feelings came out! Now she's seventeen what will happen? How will Draco take the news? xx