Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: Please read and review.
Chapter 21
"Now remember, no screaming once we get to grandma's and grandpa's house in case Cassie is sleeping," Hermione reminded Lexie one more time before they all stepped into the floo.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Lexie shouted, stepping out of the floo with Hermione and Severus, carrying Dessa right behind her.
"Lexie, what did I tell you," Hermione scolded.
"Oops, I forgot," Lexie said, looking around nervously expectantly.
Hermione listened as well but didn't hear a crying Cassie either.
"Grandma, Grandpa!" Lexie shouted a little louder.
"I told you they were here! I'd known my granddaughter's voice anywhere," Regulus said, stepping out of the hallway.
"Guess what, Grandpa," Lexie exclaimed happily.
"I don't know...what," Regulus said, picking Lexie up in his arms and holding her.
"I had the best time at my sleepover last night," Lexie said.
"That's good, sweetheart," Regulus said. "Your mummy told me that you will be hosting a sleepover at your house soon too," he added encouragingly.
"Maybe," Lexie said with a shrug.
"Why maybe," Izzy asked, walking into the room with the gurgling Cassie. "Hi, sweetie," she said kissing Lexie's cheek.
"Go on, Lexie, tell Grandma and Grandpa what you did," Hermione said.
"I got mad and pushed Dessa off the couch," Lexie said, looking down at the floor.
"You shouldn't have done that, sweetie," Regulus said, shifting Lexie in his arms.
"And it's going to depend on Lexie's behavior as to whether or not she gets a sleepover," Severus said firmly, sitting the squirming Dessa down on the floor.
"I see," Izzy said, putting Cassie in her bouncy seat. "Lexie, sweetie, can you be a dear and go fetch Cassie's pink blanket from the crib," she asked.
"Yes," Lexie said, scrunching up her brow and pointing her hand towards the stairs. Seconds later, a pink blanket came soaring through the air.
"Lexie!" Hermione gasped out, shocked.
"Lexie, we talked about this," Severus said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You said I couldn't use my magic in front of muggles; Grandma and Grandpa aren't muggles," Lexie pointed out.
"I believe I also told you to use your wand and no wandless magic until you were older," Severus said.
"Oh yeah," Lexie said, looking bashful.
"Come here, Lexie," Izzy said, finishing tucking Cassie into her bouncy seat. "What did you do at your sleepover?" Lexie went into the detailed story about her sleepover. "So you had fun?"
"Yeah, and my sleepover is going to be even more fun."
"Tell you what, let us talk to your mummy and daddy and baby sister for a while, then you can tell us all about it," Izzy said.
"Ok," Lexie said.
"There are biscuits laid out for you in the kitchen," Regulus whispered with a wink.
Lexie didn't need to be told twice as she raced off for the kitchen.
"So, how did everything go at Aunt Victoria's today," Izzy asked, noticing Severus had sat down in the chair close to Cassie, as Dessa began trying to climb into the bouncy seat with Cassie. Apparently Dessa thought Cassie's bouncy seat belonged to her and was jealous of the fact Cassie was in it.
"I'll tell you later," Severus said, redirecting Dessa once more.
"That bad, huh," Regulus said.
"Well it was interesting, I have to say that," Severus said.
"So what did bring us for supper, mate? I'm starving," Regulus said.
"Fish and chips with smash peas," Hermione supplied.
"Good, let's eat," Regulus said.
"What is your hurry," Izzy demanded to know.
"It's Thursday," Regulus said as if that said it all.
"I know what day it is," Izzy bit out testily.
"Sweetheart, the sooner Sev and I eat the sooner we can leave for our boys night out. Not to mention the fact that I'm starving," Regulus repeated once again.
"How long has it been since you've fed him, Izzy," Severus chuckled, standing up.
"Only since this morning and it's his own fault he didn't have lunch. He refused to eat what I fixed saying he was saving room for supper tonight," Izzy commented, levitating Cassie's bouncy chair towards the dining room/kitchen.
"How did you know we were bringing something you liked," Severus questioned, looking at Regulus as they started down the hall.
"I know my daughter and she wouldn't dare come without making sure there was at least one thing I liked on the menu," Regulus said, smiling.
****S&H****
There wasn't a lull in the supper conversation as they all caught up on everything they all had been doing.
"Papap," Dessa cried out, reaching for Regulus.
"Hello, sweetie, you want to come over here and see Grandpa," Regulus said, picking Dessa up out of her highchair.
"Can I go watch the telly in the den," Lexie asked after supper was finished.
"Of course, come on Grandma will turn it on for you," Izzy said.
"Hey, she forgot to finish telling us about her plans for her sleepover," Regulus commented as soon as Izzy and Lexie disappeared into the den.
"Don't remind her. I've heard about both sleepovers almost nonstop since Mum brought her to Septimius and Victoria's this afternoon," Severus groaned.
"Is anything wrong, Hermione," Izzy asked as they all settled into the living room.
"Wrong," Hermione questioned dazedly.
"Yes, you look a million miles away," Izzy commented.
"Hermione..." Regulus questioned, concerned as he held Dessa on his lap, who was flipping through a cardboard book on letters.
Hermione stated the first thing that came to her mind other than what she wanted to tell them. "Septimius is dying. That's why he's insisting on Severus taking over the throne sooner rather than later."
"I knew there was more to it than anyone was saying," Izzy said almost knowingly. "How's Aunt Eileen and Aunt Victoria taking the news?"
"Mum and Victoria are taking it rather hard, I'm afraid," Severus answered. "Victoria harder than Mum," he stated.
"I expect she would. She's only been married to the man for nearly seventy years…." Izzy said, trying to think how long they had been married.
"Well, unfortunately, Hermione was just using telling you about Septimius as a stall tactic. I'm afraid she has something else to tell you as well," Severus said, prodding Hermione into divulging the rest of the reason they were there to begin with.
"Hermione, what is it, sweetie," Izzy asked.
"Well, I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first," Hermione countered.
"The bad news. That way the good news will soften the blowout," Regulus answered.
"I met with Pius and Anastasia last evening," Hermione said.
"That's bad news," Regulus questioned, looking at Izzy.
"How did that go?" Izzy questioned.
"It was awkward, but I guess that was to be expected give the circumstances. I did at least find out the answer to a few of my questions."
"Which were?" Izzy questioned, gripping Regulus's free hand in a bone crushing hold.
"Pius never knew about me before last night, and that the only person Anastasia told besides the two of you was Pius's father and he's the one who kept Pius from finding out," Hermione answered simply.
"That doesn't surprise me," Regulus said. "Adeodatus Thicknesse was worse than my parents spouting off about blood purity," he recalled quietly.
"That's what Anastasia said, along with Pius." Hermione commented.
"So how does that make you feel about Pius and Anastasia now," Izzy questioned.
"I don't know how I feel about Anastasia...I honestly don't. It's obvious she's still hiding something and until I know what it is I just don't think I can allow myself to feel one way or the other about her," Hermione admitted softly, looking at Izzy for some reaction.
"I hope you aren't allowing my feelings to influence your decision one way or the other," Izzy said firmly.
"Oh, believe me, she is," Severus interjected before Hermione could deny it. "She has this crazy belief that you two are going to feel that she's ungrateful for everything you've done for her if she allows a relationship with Pius and Anastasia."
"Hermione that is nonsense!" Regulus burst out.
"I quite agree. You should get to know them both. They are part of who you are. It's their blood flowing through your veins and without either one of them you wouldn't be here," Isobel said.
Severus eyed Izzy suspiciously considering the woman just did a 360 on her opinion of Hermione getting to know Anastasia, it was worth wondering why all of a sudden. He looked to Regulus for some kind of explanation.
"How do you feel towards Pius," Regulus asked as he gave Severus a light shrug of his shoulders.
"I think he genuinely wants to have some kind of relationship with me," Hermione supplied, looking conflicted.
"Hermione, do you want a relationship with him," Regulus questioned, seeing the wheels turning in Hermione's head. "Don't worry about me and my feelings. I know that it has nothing to do with how you feel about me or whether or not you still consider me your father. The question is...what do you want?" he questioned.
"In all honestly, I do to some extent. I mean, I don't want to get to know either of them as parents because they could never be my parents. I only have one set of parents and that's all I want, but I think maybe Pius and I might be able to become friends eventually, and maybe with Anastasia eventually."
"You said you felt that Anastasia was hiding something. Any idea what it could be," Izzy asked nervously.
"No…." Hermione responded, only to hear the floo activating.
"Now, who the hell is that?" Regulus questioned, only to see Pius and Lucius step out of the floo. "Oh, it's you," he grumbled.
Pius and Lucius both looked at Regulus confusedly.
"Were we not supposed to meet you here," Pius asked.
"Hello, Pius, Lucius," Izzy greeted warmly.
"Izzy," Pius and Lucius both greeted at the same time as they both hurried forward to kiss Izzy's cheeks.
"Some things never change," Regulus said with a shake of his head.
"Now is that any way to greet an old friend," Lucius chided.
"That depends on the friend," Regulus said, looking at Pius as if he could determine his mood with a look.
"Don't start anything, Pius. Not now," Severus warned.
"Whatever do you mean, Severus?" Pius asked, looking at Hermione nervously clutching Severus's hand.
"You know what I mean," Severus growled out.
"I think I missed something," Lucius said, looking between his three friends that were ignoring him.
"Well, I certainly hadn't expected this, but it is a wonderful surprise. I'd be happy to get any opportunity to see my daughter and my granddaughter," Pius said, looking at Dessa sitting comfortably on Regulus's lap. He had already come to accept the fact that he was never going to be his daughter's father or his granddaughters' grandfather, but he would gladly take advantage of any opportunity he could get to spend time with them.
"Why don't you and Lucius go wait for us at Diablo's Star, and Reg and I will be there shortly," Severus said.
"It's Pius's turn to pick the pub," Lucius said, even more confused.
"You wouldn't deny me the chance to see my daughter, now would you, Severus," Pius quipped out.
"At the moment…." Severus started, only to feel Hermione give his hand a light squeeze.
"Hey, what do you say we get going so we can get our guys' night out started," Regulus interjected, sensing the tension starting to rise between Pius and Severus.
"Yes, I think that is a good idea," Lucius added, still confused but figuring a few drinks might get some answers as to what the hell was going on considering Regulus was a lightweight and Pius was as well to a certain extent. Severus and him could drink them under the table in no time. "It would be nice if we could visit a little while first though," he added, looking at Izzy.
"Not now, I'm afraid! These two beautiful ladies have ordered us to get out from under foot," Regulus supplied, keeping his eyes firmly on Pius.
"Yes, they're worse than the children getting in the way," Izzy stated with a laugh.
"Ok, Izzy, we'll go, but I expect you to have me over sometime soon so we can all spend some time catching up," Lucius said, not really buying what Regulus and Izzy were telling him.
"Of course I will, Lucius! Maybe we can plan something for sometime next week," Izzy said, smiling sweetly.
"I will have Cissy contact you so you can coordinate our social schedules," Lucius informed her with a curt bow of his head.
"Good, now that we have that settled, let's go," Regulus said.
"Hermione, should I meet you back here or at home," Severus asked, looking at her.
"I think I'll just stay here and visit with Mum for a while, then I'll head home," Hermione replied curtly.
"Ok, I will see you back at home in a few hours then," Severus said, kissing her softly on the forehead.
"Ok, have fun! You too, Dad," Hermione said, smiling at Regulus.
"Thanks, honey," Regulus replied with a hug to his daughter.
"Goodbye, dear," Izzy said, kissing Regulus's cheek.
While Regulus was saying goodbye to Cassie, and Severus went to say goodbye to Lexie, Hermione cornered Pius. "If either one of them are hurt, I'll be coming after you," she warned in a hiss.