Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: So sorry for the delay in the updating. Real life got in the way.
Chapter 25
"Anyone home," Hermione called out as she stepped out of the floo.
"Hermione, what are you doing here," Izzy asked, coming out of the kitchen.
"Hi. Mum, have you been crying," Hermione gasped, noticing Izzy's red splotched swollen eyes.
"It's nothing to worry about. Tell me what brings you by?"
"I came to tell you that Pius knows where Anastasia is and he should be talking to her as we speak," Hermione said.
"Well, that was fast," Izzy said, sinking back down onto the couch. "So, did Pius say anything about his visit here earlier," she probed softly, wondering what Pius had told her daughter.
"Not much," Hermione said, watching Izzy's odd behavior.
"You mean he didn't tell you about my big revelation," Izzy burst out, shocked.
"No, why? What was he supposed to tell me," Hermione asked, looking at her obviously nervous mother.
"Remember that intimate moment I told you that I witnessed between Anastasia and Donatus? There was a little more to it than what I told you about last night," Izzy said, grabbing Hermione's wrist and tugging on it gently to get her to sit down.
"Like what?"
"A kiss that was more than just a friendly goodbye between friends. It was obvious from the way Donatus was looking at her that he wanted her," Izzy explained, hoping that Hermione would see the logical side in the matter.
"Did you ask Anastasia about it?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, and she swore that nothing was going on between them," Izzy said with a wave of her hand, not wanting to go into details as to when or how she confronted Anastasia about that kiss a few weeks after it happened.
"So what has that got to do with tea in China?"
"I used it to blackmail Anastasia into letting us adopt you," Izzy stated simply
"How could you!" Hermione shouted, jumping up from her seat on the couch.
"I was desperate. Surely you can understand," Izzy pleaded.
"No, I can't." Hermione shook her head, completely befuddled.
"Hermione, please," Izzy pleaded.
"Why did Anastasia allow herself to be blackmailed if she wasn't cheating on Pius?" Hermione's logical brain caught up with her hot headed emotions. It couldn't have worked if Anastasia wasn't guilty of cheating, unless she was already married to Donatus at the time.
"That is exactly what I pointed out to Pius earlier. So you see, Anastasia is just as much at fault as I am, maybe more," Izzy said wearily.
"You took advantage of the situation for your own selfish reasons," Hermione bit out, stunned. She knew…well, she understood how one's insecurities could play on one's emotional and mental states to weaken them to where they really couldn't see straight. She had her own insecurities about Lily and she could only imagine what it would have felt like if anyone had played on them to get Dessa from her. It would have been hell.
"I suppose you could say so," Izzy said with a shake of her head. She still didn't feel any remorse for what she did to Anastasia.
"And to think I defended you. Here I was so worried about how you would feel about my finding Anastasia and Pius and having some sort of relationship with them and now I find out it's your fault I never got to know them to start with!" Hermione shouted. "I even tried to get Pius to take a Wizard's Oath that he wouldn't say or do anything to upset you because I was so concerned with protecting you from being hurt. You're despicable," she shouted, jerking her wrist free of Izzy's light hold.
"Hermione, wait," Izzy pleaded once again.
"No, I have nothing else to say to you," Hermione said with a turn as she Disapparated away.
****S&H****
"I want you to leave," Anastasia said, walking away from him.
"Of course you do. What a surprise that is? Now that we found each other again…now that we slept together again, you want me to leave. How very original of you!" he spat out angrily.
"This is clearly your problem, not mine," She quipped back just as heatedly.
"No, you know something? I don't have a problem. What I have is a moment of clarity and I want to take this opportunity to say to you what I should have said years ago," he fumed angrily.
"Oh, well, if this is some accounting of a Pius goodbye speech, spare me because I've already lived one version of it," Anastasia bit out.
"I didn't leave you. You left me," he said, staring her down.
"Oh well, let's argue that point at another time, because you were just as gone as I was," she huffed, starting to walk past him towards the desk.
"You left me," he growled out, grabbing her roughly by the arm.
"You left me long before I left you!" Anastasia shouted at him.
"WHAT!" Pius shouted, exasperated. He couldn't believe she was blaming him for graduating.
"Melinda Hawkins, Morgana Simpkins, ring any bells," Anastasia said, tilting her head to the side.
"WE WEREN'T EVEN TOGETHER THEN!"
"What about your arrangement with Mary Vane?"
"I can't believe you; that was years ago," he huffed out, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Ha, so you do admit something did happen between you," she accused, pointing a finger in his face.
"Nothing happened between me and Mary Vane, then or ever. What about you and Christoph Arnesen?" he counter accused.
"Oh you would bring up Chris…."
"You bet I would, I walked away and gave you time with him so you could figure out what you wanted, remember?" he questioned, not really expecting an answer. "Well, guess what, this time I'm not going to be the bigger man. I'm not going to be the one who turns around and walks away. Not this time," he swore obstinately.
"Oh really? What are you going to do? Fight your brother? Take on the Ministry?" She looked straight into his eyes with her sultry look, challenging him to make his intentions clear this time around.
"Nothing!" he gritted out. He couldn't duel his own brother over her and she knew it. It was against the Wizard code. Wait, one minute she asked me to take on the Ministry, which could only mean one thing. She was affected by the marriage law just like him, he thought with a smile. "You, my dear, are stuck with me this time," he said, smiling looking into her eyes.
****S&H****
"Hermione, what happened? You've been crying," Severus asked with concern as Hermione apparated straight into the living room and plopped down on the couch, sniffling and wiping at her eyes.
"I found out the truth, that's what happened," she said in a muffled voice as she used a tissue to blow her nose.
"The truth about what," he asked, moving over to sit down beside her, grateful that Dessa was still upstairs napping and Lexie was out in her garden to play.
"Remember before Pius said that Mum omitted some of the details from what she told me last night," she sniffled out, vanishing the used tissue and conjuring up a clean one to wipe her eyes with.
"Yes," he said, conjuring up a box of tissues and handing them to Hermione. It was a lot easier than conjuring them up one at a time like she was doing.
"Well, it turns out that what she didn't tell me was that she blackmailed Anastasia into letting her and Dad adopt me," Hermione said, starting to tear up again out of anger.
"Izzy did that," he asked, shocked. He could see blackmail coming from Regulus easier than he could Izzy, but then again, Izzy was Albus's daughter so it really wasn't that far of a jump.
"Yes, Izzy did that," Hermione shouted angrily.
"Ok, just calm down," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder to keep her sitting on the couch. Maybe he was being a bit overprotective, but he wanted to make sure she did not become overly upset, therefore endangering the health of their unborn child without sufficient reason. "Now, just exactly how did Izzy blackmail Anastasia," he questioned, trying to follow along with Hermione but she really wasn't making too much sense at the moment.
"Mum saw Anastasia and Pius's brother Donatus kissing shortly before Anastasia left Hogwarts to hide the fact that she was pregnant with me. Mum threatened to tell Pius about Anastasia and Donatus if she didn't sign away her rights and allow her and Dad to adopt me," Hermione spelled out with a huff as she wiped at her eyes once more.
"Hermione, considering we just found out that Anastasia is married to Donatus…."
"That's all you're going to say? You mean you're not outraged to learn what your cousin did," Hermione snapped out.
"I admit that I didn't think Izzy was that much like Albus that she would play with people's lives like that, but at the same time I think I can understand why she did it. Didn't you just request of Pius earlier to try and remember what Izzy had already been through up to that point in her life and go easy on her," he said pointedly.
"Yes, but I never expected anything like this," Hermione said, still flabbergasted that her sweet, loving mum was actually a cold, calculating, manipulating woman. Her mum was actually worse than Dumbledore and Dumbledore was a manipulating fool, but at least he didn't jerk children away from their parents to use them for the "greater good".
"Did it occur to you that there was some truth to the matter or Izzy wouldn't have been able to blackmail Anastasia so easily," he questioned, applying logic to the issue.
"Yes, but that still doesn't get her off the hook. She's the reason I...I...I don't know who I am anymore," Hermione shouted, getting up from the couch and starting to pace.
Severus had to hide his smirk as he noticed her acting just like Pius when he was frustrated beyond belief, when her words finally sank in. He got up in one swift move and moved to stand in front of her. "I will tell you exactly who you are." He cupped her shoulders, halting her pacing. "You are Hermione Jean Granger Snape, Reg and Izzy's daughter, my wife, Lexie, Dessa and baby Snape's mother and future Queen of the wizarding world," he said firmly.
"Am I really Reg and Izzy's daughter now that I know the truth," she philosophized.
"To them you are, and if you're being completely honest with yourself you are in your heart of hearts as well, no matter how they came to be your parents. Can you honestly say that you could ever feel the way for Pius and Anastasia that you do about Reg and Izzy," he countered, knowing what the answer was. She would never love Pius and Anastasia as much as she loved Reg and Izzy, but once she accepted them into her life she would be as loyal as a sheepdog guarding his flock.
"No, but that still doesn't excuse what she did," Hermione burst out.
"I'm not trying to make excuses for Izzy, I'm just trying to make you see that when it comes right down to it, Izzy and Reg are the best parents you could have ever had. I hate to think what would have become of you, an innocent child, had Anastasia kept you with her if what she says about being on the run were true. No child should ever have to live that way," he argued. He wasn't sure Anastasia was telling the truth about being on the run, but then again, he hadn't been privileged enough to know everyone his fellow Death Eaters had been ordered to dispose of either, so he was willing for now to believe that it could have happened.
"I guess you are right about that," Hermione sighed out in agreement. Life on the run for one year had been torture enough for her. She couldn't imagine what life would have been like trying to run with Dessa in tow.
"So, what now," he asked, letting go of her shoulders to walk over to the tea service tray that was set up on the high round end table.
"I guess I go and see Anastasia and Pius and get the rest of the answers I need from her, then figure out who's the less of two evils; her or Mum," Hermione shrugged.
"I can already tell you it's Izzy. Anastasia was never one who could be trusted, whereas I think Izzy just let her grief blind her," Severus answered simply, pouring himself a cup of tea. "You want one?" he asked, holding up a cup.
"Yes, please," she said, sitting down. "You know she actually told me last night that after the miscarriages, she and Dad were in such a bad place in their lives that it almost destroyed their marriage," she commented, sitting back down on the couch as Severus brought her over a cup of tea.
"Izzy was desperate. I can't fault her for that. I would have done the same thing if it meant not losing you," he said thoughtfully as he sat down beside her.
"You would really use blackmail in order to get a child," Hermione gasped out, arching a disbelieving brow at him.
"If that's what it took, yes." he answered without any qualms about the deceit he would cause.
"Well, lucky for you, you don't have to stoop to such tactics," Hermione said, lightly putting his hand on her belly.
"Yes, it is. So, how was Reg taking all this," he questioned, absently running his thumb over her stomach.
"I don't know, he wasn't there," she sighed out.
"Still, I figured he would have been home by now," Severus said.
"You don't think he'd file for a separation over this, do you?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I can stop by Headquarters and just check on things," Severus said, wanting the reassurance with his own eyes.
****S&H****
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Stuck with you," she said, waving a hand in the air, trying to figure out just what the hell was going on.
"Oh sure, you do too know what I mean," he said simply. "We aren't going to do a repeat of my sixth year. You aren't going to lead me by the nose and trot me out for a run because it's convenient for you," he said.
"What!" she cried out, shaking her head.
"Meaning how you have me jumping through hoops just to please your arse to make sure you don't leave and you use the promise of sex…."
"Oh of course, I forgot, here we go, what happened between us was all my fault, wasn't it? You, of course, spared no actions..."
"I know exactly what my part in this is! I know exactly what it is! It's allowing myself to love the most obstinate, infuriating, manipulative woman God ever put on the face of the earth!" he shouted at her.
"How dare you?" she cried out.
"How dare I? Loving you has been the biggest mistake of my life," he spat out.
"Oh no, the biggest mistake of your life was not being able to hold onto me, yet your brother could," She hissed, rubbing salt into the wound.
"What!"
"Look, I didn't hold a wand to your head and force you to have sex with me. You came to me and drug me into the nearest hotel room, had sex with me, then took me to see our daughter only to take me to your house afterwards and once again have sex with me."
"Fair enough," he agreed with a shake of his head. "Let's just not start thinking that this was something more than what it was."
"What was it, Pius? What exactly was it that brought us together?"
"A moment of weakness, but that's past."
"Oh has it?" She arched a brow as she looked at him.
"You bet it has. We both know what's going on here, Stacia…"
"Yes, we do, you are just jealous at the thought of me being with another man, especially your brother."
"What…you…I'm not jealous."
"I know you're jealous."
"Stacia, when I'm around you, believe me, jealous is one thing I'm not."
"Prove it," she challenged.
He looked straight into her dark amber eyes that seemed to go on forever, losing himself in the process. He clenched his teeth together. He could let her walk away. He could do it. Damn her, he couldn't let her leave. By God, he couldn't let her go again. Unable to resist the chemistry pull between them his mouth descended ardently down upon hers, seizing her lips in a fierce, hungry kiss.
****S&H****
"What are you looking for," Severus asked, watching Hermione search for something.
"That paper that had Anastasia's whereabouts on it. I think I'll just go and see her and Pius," Hermione said after a few minutes.
"You were standing right there, Hermione. You saw what it said," he said, looking at her.
"Don't play games with me. Where is it?" she rolled her eyes as she continued to look.
"I don't know," he said, looking at her with his head tilted. The woman had a photographic memory for crying out loud. "You honestly don't know what it said," he asked with disbelief across his features.
"No, I do not recall exactly where it said she was; I was a little preoccupied. All I know for sure is that it was in Evanscoe, Scotland," Hermione grumbled, getting down on all fours to check under the couch.
"So, should we ask Sophia to watch Lexie and Dessa while we're gone," Severus questioned.
"Obviously that bastard took the paper with him," Hermione said.
"I'm not surprised," Severus chuckled, knowing Pius had taken the paper so Hermione wouldn't get any bright ideas.
"Well, unfortunately for him, he forgot who I was," Hermione said, picking up the paper that had Dessa's information on it.
"Hermione, don't you think he did it for a reason," he questioned, watching as she pricked her finger and performed the same spell Pius had earlier with perfection.
"I don't care," Hermione said tartly as her information started to appear on the paper. Name- Hermione Jean Wilkerson-Thicknesse- Granger Snape, born September 17th, 1979 of Wintervale Manor, Hampshire, England. Biological Parents: Anastasia Wilkerson Thicknesse of Durough Manor, Evanscoe, Scotland. Head Department MLE Pius Evander Thicknesse, Sirenchester, Devon, England. Adoptive Parents: Isobel Kendra Dumbledore-Black- Granger Kenton, England and Regulus Arcturus Black- Granger of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Married to Master Potions Professor Severus Tobias Dumbledore-Snape, of Amortentia Solariega, Strathpeffer, Scotland.
****S&H****
"Pius," she gasped out, pushing against his chest as she stumbled backwards from him. "We can't…" she gasped out breathlessly.
"Yes, we can," he said, pulling her back into his embrace and kissing her just as passionately as before.
"No, we can't do this," she said, turning away from him, trying to stay focused and remember any one of the kids could walk in on them.
He grabbed her hand and spun her right back into his arms as he kissed her with all the passion he could, telling her everything he wanted to tell her but couldn't voice.
"This can't be happening," she said breathlessly as she broke the kiss, shaking her head.
"But it is," he said, holding her hips firmly against his.
"Pius, please," she pleaded.
"Do you honestly want to stop this," he questioned, staring straight into her amber-brown eyes.
She couldn't speak so she just shook her head, only to have his mouth crash back down on hers. "This isn't supposed to be happening right now."
"I know." he said, letting her turn her back to him and take a couple steps away.
"It's the last thing I ever planned," she said, fiddling with her hair that was now mussed up by his fingers.
"I know, me too."
"I'm sorry I ever started this…"
"No," he said, catching her by the waist and turning her back around to face him. "You didn't start this. This thing starts itself," he said, cupping her face before kissing her tenderly and softly after the storm of their previous kisses.
"This is just so wrong," she whispered against his neck as she tried to catch her breath.
"No this thing is not wrong," he swore as he cupped her shoulders, pushing her back so he could look her in the eye. "How can it be wrong when it feels so right, huh?" he said as she walked away from him a few steps. "Stacia, this feels right, you know it does. You tell me this doesn't feel right and I'll leave."
"We have to get ahold of ourselves."
"All right, we can put the brakes on."
"I don't know what this means for us? Maybe it doesn't mean anything," she said, giving him a come hither look. "I can't make you any promises, Pius."
"I don't want any promises; all I want is you now…." he implored, pulling her back against him.
"No, no, no!" she tossed her head in furious distress while he pulled her back against him.
"Stacia, shush…" he murmured close to her ear.
"I will not be quiet. You think that you can make love to me after…." she raged loudly as she pounded her fist on his chest.
"Stop it, Stacia," he groaned as he captured her wrists and twisted them around behind her and held them there with one hand.
She opened her mouth to speak again, but this time he found a more direct route to stop her. He closed her mouth with a kiss. It was a deep and searing and tender kiss.
"Pius, no, we can't!" she whispered, remembering in a cloudy haze that there was some reason they couldn't just give into the passion but she'd be damned if she knew what that was at the moment.
"I promise we'll talk later….tonight. After what's happened, I'm not going to let you run away again."
"No, you don't understand…" she groaned out, as thoughts of one of her kids walking in and finding them in a very compromising position flashed before her eyes.
"What is there to understand, Stacia? You want me and I want you," he declared simply.
"Pius, come on. You don't-" He cut her off with another kiss, and she felt his warm hands slide under her shirt and under the material of her bra. She let out a sharp gasp and her bones turned to butter under his urgent, heated touch. She was now putty in his glorious hands.
Anastasia gasped at the long awaited intimate touch, and instinctively moved in closer to him. He groaned and squeezed her lightly, drifting his hands down again to her flat stomach and under the lower edge of her t-shirt. In one swift motion he lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside on the floor. His eyes fixed on the lacy green bra she wore. Pius traced the lace edging with the tip of one finger as he said, "Slytherin green, huh?"
"I thought it was appropriate."
"It is, and any other time I would love having you model it for me, but right now it has to go," he said as he made his way to the center clasp and slipped a finger beneath it.
His eyes locked on hers, he lifted the clasp and with a flick of his thumb opened it. The lacy cups clung to her breasts, allowing her one last moment of modesty before he brushed them aside, sliding the straps down her arms as he stood before her. He stepped back to admire the view and sucked in his breath.
He cupped her breasts in each hand, pressing his hips forward, desperate for her to touch him. He brought his lips up to the hollow of her neck and down along her collarbone, and she closed her eyes as she felt him roam lower along her chest. She felt tremors pulsing through her, and she suddenly gasped as his mouth closed around her nipple. He lingered for a moment before moving to the other one, playing idly with his tongue. Anastasia could not control the whimper that left her lips, and tried desperately to control her erratic breathing as Pius continued to suckle her as he reached for the button on her pants and deftly opened it. He drew the zipper down as he scraped his teeth lightly over her nipple and then caught it between his teeth, biting gently. Anastasia's gasp turned into an aching moan as she gyrated. Unable to resist, Pius pressed his hand to her, cupping her sex over her clothes as she thrust against it wildly. Pius released her breast and stood up, his chest heaving as he looked at her, his eyes smoldering with desire. He reached for the waistband of her pants and began to pull them roughly down over her hips. He snagged the elastic waistband of her green bikini panties as he pulled her pants down over her thighs, pushing them down her legs. He reached for her calf and lifted her leg, hurriedly unzipping her boot and letting it fall to the floor with a thud. He stripped the pants and panties over her foot and yanked her sock of by the toe. Carefully keeping his eyes averted, he repeated the same steps on the other side, only lifting his eyes as the last scrap of clothing fell to the floor.
Pius licked his lips as he let his eyes slowly travel up her toned legs, his knees weakening as he saw the triangle of dark curls that stood in sharp relief against her milky white skin. "Anastasia," he rasped as he gave in to the impulse and dropped to his knees. He ran his hands over her thighs, kneading the soft skin with his fingers as he worked his way higher. His eyes stayed riveted to those dark curls as he parted her legs, licking his lips as he pressed her legs further apart. He pressed his lips to the glistening pink flesh and inhaled deeply. Anastasia's hips jerked as she bucked up off of the table, and Pius pressed her legs up, bending them until her heels rested on the edge of the table.
Pius stroked her clit softly with his tongue, noting with satisfaction as she groaned and pressed against him. He teased her; gently stroking her clit with teasing glances of his tongue, nuzzling her with his nose, raking his tongue the length of her demandingly. He used his tongue to circle her entrance, pressing into her tauntingly and then retreating to her clit, drawing it into his mouth and sucking fervently. Anastasia undulated against him, whispering words of encouragement, moaning his name, whispering pleas for release. Pius drank her in, pressing his tongue into her, thrusting rhythmically.
He reached for the buckle of his belt, and opened his pants, seeking relief from the intense discomfort of his jeans. He reached to readjust his straining erection in an effort to ease the ache, and then pressed his fingers to her entrance. He drew her clit into his mouth, circling it slowly as he slipped two fingers into her heat.
"Oh, yes," Anastasia cried as he thrust his fingers into her. "Oh, oh," she breathed as he stroked her mercilessly, driving her higher and higher. Anastasia cried out as she peaked, calling his name loudly as she grasped for him desperately. Pius continued to stroke her until she slowed, her moans subsiding to soft sighs as she came down.
"Incredible," Pius said in a deep throaty voice, pressing soft kisses to the insides of her thighs.
"Oh, yes," Anastasia agreed, propping herself up on her elbows to look at Pius.
"Enjoy it?" Pius asked, grinning as he stood up, taking her ankles and wrapping them around his waist. He bent over, sliding his splayed hands over her stomach and cupping a breast in each hand as he pressed his lips to the valley between her breasts.
"Pius," she moaned. Slowly, she moved her hands to his pants. She had felt him when he'd moved her to the desk. She undid his buttons and slid the pants down his over his hips, freeing his aching arousal. She ran her hand up and down Pius's long, thick stick and desperately wanted it inside of her. Recognizing her desire, he laid her back down on the table. Eager for the next step, she spread her legs and watched his face. She saw the fire light in his eyes as he looked down at her, as he gently pushed himself into her.
They were a perfect fit. For several seconds they lay unmoving, frozen in time, by an incredible sense of wonder. After all these years, this was what it meant to finally be part of each other.
"You like?" she asked breathlessly.
"Love," he corrected, murmuring the word against her skin.
"Pius, please, we don't have much time," Anastasia whispered in his ear, as she began to kiss his neck. Pius nodded and he reacted in kind as he began to move his hips, slowly thrusting in and out of her. She pressed her breasts up against his chest, reveling in the feel of his skin rubbing against her nipples. Panting with longing, she moved her hips against him, speeding up the pace of their lovemaking. Pius groaned into her hair as she snaked her hands down to his well-toned arse and pulled him deeper inside her. She kneaded his muscular flesh as she pulled him into her in firm, deliberate strokes. "I love you," she said into his ear in a broken whisper. "Oh, Pius, I love you so much! I've waited so long."
"I know, I'm so sorry, Stacia." He raised his head up and looked her in the eye, "I love you." He kissed her softly and looked at her again. "I'll always love you."
Anastasia's eyes welled up with unshed tears, and Pius held her eyes as he moved in and out of her with passionate fervor. Anastasia felt herself close to the edge and she matched him thrust for thrust. Pius's face twisted in an expression of pure pleasure. And he captured her mouth one more time, muffling their cries as they tumbled over the edge together. Pius collapsed on top of her, completely wrung. He had no idea how he was going to be able to keep his composure long enough to get up, and go.
****S&H****
"What are we going to do about the girls, since we are both leaving," Severus asked.
"Your mum," Hermione suggested.
"I'll floo call her," he said, going to the floo. He tried to floo Eileen, only to get no answer at the house or the Hog's Head. He even tried her Muggle phone number, only to get no answer. While he was trying to get Eileen on the telephone, Hermione was floo calling Victoria, but she was unable to watch the girls. Severus tried to floo call Minerva, but she and Albus were out of the country on holiday, Poppy had told him. Teresa wasn't home.
"Who else," he asked, kneeling in front of the floo, only to see Hermione on her cell phone.
"Thanks, Harry," she said, hanging up the phone as she looked at Severus and the floo flared green. "I thought Ginny and Ron were coming with you," Hermione gasped out, surprised to see Harry and Pansy standing there.
"Believe it or not, somehow Ginny and Malfoy…Draco," he amended after getting an evil eye from Pansy, "made plans to go to his parents for lunch to get better acquainted," he stated, rubbing the back of his neck bashfully.
"Hmmm, that is strange," Severus said with clearly audible sarcasm.
"It's a good thing, so where's Ron?" Hermione asked, smacking Severus's arm lightly for his snarky banter.
"He was going to come, but I think he had a better offer," Harry said, blushing slightly, not wanting to be in between his best friends anymore.
"What do you mean a better offer," Hermione persisted.
"Susan asked him to go with her to talk to her parents," Pansy supplied. "I hope you don't mind, me tagging along with Harry," Pansy said, looking straight at Hermione.
"Of course I don't mind, Pansy," Hermione said, actually thrilled that Ginny and Ron and even Harry were at least trying to get along and get to know their intended spouses.
"Look, Dessa is napping and shouldn't be much trouble at all and Lexie is in her garden playing. Just make sure she doesn't wander off and tell her we'll both be back as soon as we can," Hermione said firmly.
"Sure, no problem," Harry said, looking at Pansy.
"Mister Potter, be advised that I am holding you and Miss Parkinson personally responsible for the safety and well-being of my children. If anything happens to them under your watch, I am going to make you wish you had never been born," Severus threatened in his trademark "Professor-Bat-of-the-Dungeon" persona.
"I'll protect them with my life," Harry said, unfazed.
"Shall we, love," Severus said relaxing his stance.
"Yeah, I think I'm ready," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at him for acting like the big mean professor.
"I will see you to Anastasia's, then head for Grimmauld to have a talk with Reg," he said softly.
"I can go myself," Hermione stated evenly.
"I know, but I would just feel better knowing you arrived safely," he argued.
"Ok, if you say so," Hermione said, not wanting to waste time arguing over something she was perfectly capable of doing herself.
"I do," he said, taking her arm as they spun away with a loud pop.
****S&H****
He didn't want to break their connection just yet, so his mouth traced her lips her cheeks her ear. He nibbled her earlobe. She kissed his cheek, his neck, his mouth. "I love you so," he murmured breathlessly. He moved again.
She gasped. She was still sensitive, and those tiny motions were so sweet. "So I see,' she whispered rakishly. "You think you're up for more," she whispered, pulling his hips closer to hers.
"We're about to see."
****S&H****
"Oh my God, I didn't need to see this," Hermione said, throwing a hand over her eyes.
"What the hell?" Pius shouted.
"Sorry, I was just trying to find you both and…." Hermione stammered out, keeping a hand over eyes as she searched for the door knob to close the door once more.
"Well, you found us, now get out!" Pius shouted at her over his shoulder.
"Right," Hermione said, latching onto the knob and pulling it firmly towards her.
"Good grief," Pius growled out. He winced as he pulled away from Stacia, yanking his briefs and jeans up quickly. He looked away as he tugged his zipper up, not allowing himself to think about his cock, still sticky and wet with her juices pressing against his stomach. He looked up at last and ran a tired hand over his face, tugging lightly at his bottom lip as Anastasia stared back at him apprehensively. "I hate kids!" he fumed, buckling his belt.
Anastasia laughed at him. "Welcome to parenthood," she smirked out, straightening her jeans and panties… as she hurriedly tried to get redressed.
"How the hell did she find us? I took the damn paper I used to find you with me," he asked in a muffled voice as he started buttoning his shirt.
"I don't know, why don't you ask her…" she said, paling visibly.
"Stacia…what's wrong?" he asked as she bolted from the room, fully dressed and barefooted.
****S&H****
It was with mixed emotions that Severus stepped through the floo into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, intent on finding Regulus.
"What are you doing here, Snivellus?" Potter asked from where him and Sirius were sitting at the table.
"Sev, what are you doing here," Regulus asked, coming into the kitchen.
"Hermione finally got smart and tossed him out?" Sirius stated hopefully.
"Hey, bro, that's your future king, show some respect," Reg said roughly.
"It's a shame I can't have people beheaded," Severus said with a smirk.
"Hermione might just toss you out if you tried that," Regulus laughed.
"No, only if I did it to her, Potter and Weasley," Severus said, chuckling. "I could always slip them something if I wanted, but I'm going to have too much fun after the second making their lives hell," Severus said with a smirk.
"Severus, what are you doing here?" Regulus repeated.
"Hermione."
"What about her?"
"She's worried that you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life."
"Did Hermione tell you?"
"Yes, and I was a little surprised at first myself and I'm not trying to justify what Izzy did, but...from what I understand Izzy was very emotionally distraught when Hermione came into your lives and well...I think that is what drove her to do what she did. I don't think if she had been herself and thinking more clearly she would have done such a thing," Severus said, trying to be vague in his responses since Potter and Black were both sitting there hanging on every word.
"I was hurting too, but I never considered stealing someone else's child, let alone my best friend's child!" Regulus shouted out angrily.
"Oh come on, Reg, she's a woman and she's Albus's daughter. It really isn't that far to jump. Most women alone seem to take things concerning matters of the heart to the extremes, and Albus is famous for going to extremes."
"How is Hermione handling this?"
"She's taking it badly….how did you expect her to take it," Severus bit out sarcastically. "She needs answers because she can't reason it out."
"She and Izzy were so close when she was growing up...We all were. I can remember Izzy and I canceling our appointments and taking the day off just so we could spend time together as a family. We would go to the park or for a long drive out into the country and find us a nice secluded little spot just right for a picnic. In the fall we would go out into the country and look at the leaves changing colors," Regulus said, moving to sit down.
"Sounds as if you had a wonderful life...the kind of life I hope Hermione and I have for years to come," Severus said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Let's hope yours isn't based on lies and deceit and that you never have to come to the realization that the woman you have lived and loved with for years is not the woman you married," Regulus replied with a bitter edge to his voice.
"Perhaps now that the truth is out, you and Izzy can rebuild your relationship...for Cassie's sake," Severus hedged lightly.
"Not likely. I'm going to the Ministry tomorrow and filing the necessary papers to obtain a legal separation," Regulus said.
"You can't be serious," Severus said in a low hiss.
"I know she's your cousin…."
"I'm not worried about Izzy! I'm more concerned with how this is going to affect Hermione and the baby, not to mention Cassie, or did you forget about them in your inability to see past Izzy's mistake? Remember your vows for better or worse. Well, this is the worst."
"Now, Severus, don't go passing judgment on me."
"I think I had better go, before you do something stupid. If you file a separation with the Ministry right now it'll be taken as a divorce and you and Izzy will both be affected by the marriage law, so you better be damn sure you want to go that route."
"She brought it on herself!" Regulus shouted.
"You are just full of yourself, and I better go before I forget you and I are friends," Severus sneered out.
"I'm not finished," Regulus shouted.
"Izzy deserves someone better than you," Severus said, disappearing through the floo.
****S&H****
"So, what do we do now," Harry asked, looking at Pansy, totally lost in what to do.
"Well, I guess we should check on the kids. Come on, we'll check on Dessa first, and then we'll go find Lexie," Pansy said, grabbing his hand and starting to lead him upstairs.
"But who's going to watch Dessa while we're outside checking on Lexie," Harry asked worriedly. He didn't want anything to happen to Dessa or Lexie because if Hermione didn't kill him Snape would.
"Well, if she's still asleep it won't be a problem because we'll be back before she wakes up and if she is awake, then we'll just take her with us," Pansy said, reassuring him.
"Pansy," Harry said, starting to flush beet red.
"Huh," Pansy asked, approaching the nursery door.
"Thanks," he whispered softly, not wanting to wake Dessa
"For what," she asked in a low voice.
"Helping me watch the kids," Harry said admitting that he really didn't know how to deal with children.
"Well, the way I see it, it's good practice for when we have kids of our own, and besides, it's also a good way to put what the Professor and Hermione were talking about earlier into practice," she replied softly, getting ready to poke her head into the nursery.
"I know something else that's good practice," he said, taking a deep breath as he gathered up his courage to make his next move.
"What's that," she asked, turning to look at him.
"This," Harry said, brushing his lips lightly across hers, before drawing in her bottom lip and nibbling it softly. He slowly started to press her back against the wall and kiss her more heatedly when they heard the giggling coming from the nursery. "What the…" he murmured as they broke apart, and they both stepped into the room to see Dessa's stuffed animals floating around in a circle around the room.
"Dessa," Pansy said, smiling brightly just as all the stuffed animals rained down onto the floor.
***S&H****
Hermione hurried down the hall after that embarrassing encounter. She should have stayed put when Severus escorted her through the floo, but no, she just had to find Anastasia and Pius. She should have known no good would have come from rushing headlong into anything. Seven years of following blindly behind Harry should have taught her that. She hadn't made it far when someone grabbed her arm.
"Hermione, wait," Anastasia said as she grabbed her arm and turned her around.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in on you like that. It's just that I didn't see anyone when I got here so I decided to take a look around. I mean, if I had known that you two were...I never would have done it," Hermione burst out, flushing red with embarrassment.
"Just don't ask me to apologize for what happened between Pius and I just now because I'll never be sorry it happened," Anastasia said, looking at her daughter seriously.
"Nor will I," Pius said, wrapping an arm around Anastasia's waist. "So, did you speak with Izzy and Reg," he asked as Anastasia started leading them back into the office where they had just made love.
"Yes, well, I talked to Mum, Dad wasn't home," Hermione said, following them, unaware that Pius had winced at her reference to Reg as Dad.
"Yes, and I was shocked. I never dreamed that Mum could do such a thing," Hermione said, taking the seat Anastasia directed her towards.
"Now you know how I felt learning that my own so-alled best friend would do that to me and that she would use my insecurities against me," Anastasia stated, sitting down on the lounge beside Pius.
"What do you mean use your insecurities against you," Hermione questioned, surprised. She hadn't thought about Anastasia having insecurities.
"What I mean is that Izzy knew how scared I was of losing Pius and she played on those insecurities, saying that if Pius ever found out about Donatus he would never want anything to do with me again and that he would find someone else. I just couldn't stop myself from picturing Pius with any number of girls who were better suited to him and who weren't me! So I signed the papers relinquishing my parental rights in exchange for Izzy's promise that she would never breathe a word of what she knew about Donatus and me," Anastasia stated evenly as Pius reached out to hold her hand. "It's more complicated than that," she said, ducking her head. "Donatus always wanted what Pius had..." she started hesitantly, looking from Pius to Hermione.
"A sort of sibling rivalry," Hermione questioned as Pius snorted.
"Yes, and almost from the time Donatus found out about Pius and me, he pursued me," Anastasia said with a slight shake of her head towards Pius.
"Pursued you how exactly?" Hermione questioned.
"I think we don't need to go into details," Anastasia said, noticing Pius was sitting more rigidly than before.
"I think we do," Pius said firmly.
"Fine, whenever I was alone and he would say things...naughty things, he would kiss me and touch me, and make me aware of his growing need for me," Anastasia said in a bare whisper as she looked down at her and Pius's clasped hands.
"Why didn't you just tell Pius?"
"Yes, Anastasia, why didn't you tell me Donatus was harassing you," Pius demanded sharply.
"I was afraid he would turn it all around and make it seem as if I was the one who was pursuing him, then I would end up losing you, but I lost you anyways, so what does it matter now," she murmured, looking up at him as he slowly released her hand and stood up.
"You didn't have much faith in me or my love for you back then, did you?" he questioned, startled to realize she really had very little faith in him.
"No, you never said anything to make me more certain of our relationship. I do now, but it's too late to do anything," Anastasia replied honestly.
"Not exactly, but we are running out of time. We have to get our heads out of the clouds and put my plan into action right away if we are to accomplish our objective before anyone at the Ministry is any the wiser," Pius said, starting to pace once again.
"What are you talking about, Pius," Hermione questioned.
"I am talking about Anastasia's possibly being pregnant again with my child," he said, continuing to pace only to stop when he heard Stacia and Hermione gasp. "What?" he questioned, turning around to look at them only to see a little girl about eight standing in the office doorway.
"What did you need, Miranda?" Anastasia said, recovering her tongue.
"Can Audrey and I have some biscuits for our tea party," Miranda asked softly, playing with the hem of her shirt.
"Yes, you may, but you have to share with the others too," Anastasia warned softly. "Understood?" she asked, wanting the clarification.
"Yes," Miranda said happily.
"Good, now run along and get your biscuits and I'll come check on you in a few minutes," Anastasia said, putting a hand on Miranda's shoulder and gently guiding her towards the door. "Have fun," she said, giving Miranda a kiss on her forehead. "And don't make a mess," she called out as an afterthought as Miranda skipped away happily.
"Who was that little girl, Anastasia?" Hermione questioned curiously, noticing Pius was staring icily at Anastasia.
"Yes, tell us who she was and just what exactly you meant by the others?" Pius demanded coldly.
"Miranda is my daughter and the others I was referring to are her brothers and sisters," Anastasia said simply, waiting for the onslaught to begin.
"WHAT!" Pius raged.
"How many brothers and sisters?" Hermione questioned, watching Pius out of the corner of her eye as he began to pace the length of the room.
"Including Miranda, there are three girls and four boys," she answered, following Pius's every rotation.
Pius halted in his pacing to look at her. "Please tell me you're joking," he bit out acidly.
"Do I look like I'm joking, Pius," she retorted just as bitterly.
"And just when were you planning to tell me about this," Pius shouted at her.
"I was going to tell you the first chance I got, but you didn't really give me much chance to tell you anything. There was no time for explaining earlier before you started making love to me," she pointed out heatedly.
"You could have told me when you told me you married my brother!" Pius shouted at her as he stood right in front of her. Toe to toe, nose to nose, eye to eye.
"Excuse me," Hermione said, getting up off the lounge and stepping in between them. "I don't need a repeat performance of earlier," she said looking straight at Pius.
"Fine," he gritted out, backing away from Hermione and Stacia.
"Thank you," she said, turning her attention to Anastasia. "I'm assuming from his reaction," she nodded her head over towards Pius, "that they are Donatus's kids."
"Yes."
"I see," Hermione said.
"You see!" Pius shouted. "You understand why she gave you up but kept the others!"
"No, Pius," Anastasia cried out. "Hermione, please, I don't want you to think that I wanted any of them more than I wanted you because that isn't true. I gave you to Izzy and Reg to raise because I knew you would be safe," she pleaded with Hermione, begging her with her eyes to understand.
"Safe from what exactly? Death Eaters? Donatus has the mark. What the hell were you protecting her from?" Pius questioned angrily as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the desk.
"The Death Eaters who were chasing me, You Know Who, and Donatus," she answered knowing she was more than likely going to have to give them the full story.
"Wait a minute, why would you have had to protect me from my own uncle," Hermione questioned, confused.
"Donatus might have been a lot of things, but he never would have hurt a child…not even my child," Pius argued.
"Not even if he saw your child as a threat to the life he wanted with me?"
"What threat was I? You were already in his bed, his wife, so tell me, Stacia what threat were Hermione and I to the life he wanted with you?"
"You were right, Donatus might have been a lot of things but stupid wasn't one of them. He knew that as long as Hermione existed there was a chance that we might eventually find our way back to each other, and that I could never truly be his wife," she sighed out, plopping down in a chair.
"So you purposely let Izzy blackmail you into letting her and Reg adopt Hermione," Pius shouted, outraged.
"Yes! But, I thought when she said she knew that Donatus and I were together and that she could prove it that she knew we had Audrey…." she said, seeing confused looks on Hermione and Pius's faces. "Donatus's first born and I thought she knew that we had gotten married shortly afterwards," she stated, looking at Pius, not missing a single facial expression.
"You married him right after you had his daughter, but you couldn't bother yourself to tell me about mine…" Pius grumbled, enraged.
Hermione ignored Pius's mumblings and looked at Anastasia. "Instead, Mum was referring to the kiss she had witnessed years before at Hogwarts," she summarized, seeing Anastasia nod her head in agreement.
"Yes."
"So did Izzy know the true extent of your relationship with Donatus?" Pius questioned, surprising both Anastasia and Hermione with his hostility.
"No, I think she only assumed, but she played it like a true Slytherin," Anastasia answered honestly.
"I see," Pius grumbled out.
"Pius, just stop it," Anastasia bit out snappily. "Yes, I gave up our daughter. Yes, I didn't tell you about her. Yes, I married Donatus, and yes, I bore his children, but I can't change the past, so either knock that damn chip off your shoulder or leave. Right now I truthfully don't give a damn about what you do." Anastasia stood up and looked at Hermione. "Do you want to meet your brothers and sisters?" she asked hopefully.
"Yeah, sure, but I have to know one thing first. If you're married to Donatus, how is it that you came to be lovers with Pius once more?"
"Donatus is dead." Anastasia said with no emotion.
"How do you know," Hermione asked.
"I received this in the mail three days ago," Anastasia said, moving over to the desk to pick up a letter that had come with the questionnaire along with the death certificate.
"Dear Mrs. Thicknesse,
The Ministry regrets to inform you of the death of your husband during The Battle of Hogwarts on May 2, 1998. Due to this untimely death and the passing of the Marriage Act 280-83 we have enclosed a questionnaire which you must fill out promptly so that you may be paired with a magically compatible husband. Once your husband has been selected by the Ministry, you will then have thirty days in which to marry and one year from the date of marriage to produce a viable magical heir. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your case worker Melanie Forthright at the Department of Magical Families," Hermione read out loud. "You're affected by the law as well," she stated more than asked. For some reason it hadn't even occurred to her that witches over twenty were affected.
"Yes, we both are," Anastasia said, looking at Pius. "Now are you two ready to go meet the children," she questioned, looking at Pius.
"No, but I suppose we might as well get it over with," Pius conceded. He didn't want to meet the proof that Stacia had been involved with his brother. He hated knowing that she allowed Donatus to put his hands all over her….He wasn't going to think about that right now.
"Then shall we?"
"Lead the way," Hermione said, slipping her arm into Pius's as they started towards the door.
****S&H****
"Mum!" Severus shouted, stepping out through the floo into his mother's salon.
"Severus, what's the matter," Eileen said, walking briskly out of the kitchen with a towel in her hands.
"Where's Aberforth?" Severus questioned without preamble.
"He's down at the barn, I think, why, what's the matter," she asked again.
"I just need to talk to him," Severus said, turning on his heels and striding purposefully out the back doors towards the barns.
"What am I going to do, Dad," Teresa's voice rang out as he neared the barn doors.
"I don't know," Aberforth said simply.
"Perhaps you could talk to Uncle Albus and have him sway them in a better light," she pleaded.
"I'd ask your brother before I would Albus," Aberforth huffed.
"This is Sirius Black, Dad, Sev would kill him."
"As tempting as that offer may be, why would I risk Azkaban, to kill that mutt," Severus asked.
"The Ministry in all it's glory paired your sister and Sirius Black together for this damn marriage law," Aberforth answered before Teresa could.
"If I can't get my godson out of being paired with the Weasley girl, how am I to stop them from pairing you up with Black? Granted killing him would be easier but the mutt can't stay dead, plus it isn't worth losing my freedom and my family over."
"You're no help," Teresa bit out huffily. "Dad," she pleaded.
"My hands are tied, Teresa, nobody can stop this damn law," Aberforth ranted. "Minerva even had to prove she was no longer fertile. So you see if it weren't for the fact Minerva can no longer bear children, she and Albus would also be forced to comply with the law as well. For once, the Great Albus Dumbledore cannot manipulate things to his advantage. Hell, the only reason they aren't pressuring Eileen and me to reproduce again is because it's detrimental to her health," he ranted, looking at both his children.
"That's just sick!" Teresa gagged out.
"What do you mean it's detrimental to Mum's health," Severus demanded.
"That's for your mum to answer," Aberforth said firmly, pressing his lips together into a tight line.
"What are you here for anyways," Teresa asked.
"I needed to talk to Mum and Aberforth," he answered.
"Oh, about what," Aberforth asked, looking at Severus.
"It's private," Severus said. As he had been yelling at Regulus for walking away from his family he realized why he was so angry with all of Hermione's parents. He needed answers as much as Hermione did at the moment.
"I was just leaving anyways," Teresa said, taking the hint. "I'll see you both later at my funeral."
"Bye, sweetheart, I'm sure it won't be all that bad," Aberforth said.
"He's a big spoiled brat."
"I'll teach you a few hexes you can use on him, and if worst comes to worst, I'll help you castrate him," Severus offered helpfully with a smirk.
Teresa snorted. "Between you and Dad he better watch his bullocks," she said giving them both a kiss on the cheek before she disapparated.
"Let's head up to the house so you can tell us this something private you wanted to talk to us about," Aberforth said, starting towards the barn doors.
"Why?" Severus questioned.
****S&H*****
After seeing to Dessa's nappy, they headed down to the kitchen to get her a sippy cup of juice and a snack that she and Lexie could split. "Hey kiddo," Harry said, seeing Lexie coming into the kitchen.
"I thought you left," Lexie said, looking at Harry and Pansy holding Dessa.
"We did, but we came back," Harry said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Your mum and dad had to go out for a while. That's why we came back because they asked us to stay with you and Dessa till they get back," Pansy said softly, putting Dessa in her highchair.
"Yeah, but they said to tell you they'll be back just as soon as they can," Harry said simply.
"Ok, I came in to get a juice box," Lexie said, looking at Harry.
"Ok, I'll get it for you. How about a snack before lunch?" Harry asked, seeing Lexie nod her head. "Ok, what would you like," he questioned.
"Better yet, what would mummy allow you and Dessa to have," Pansy asked.
"I know," Lexie said, smiling brightly. "Ailith!" she shouted, startling Harry.
"Hey, warn a wizard next time you do that," he said, smiling.
"Yes, Mistress Lexie," the elf said.
"Ailith, we want a snack," Lexie said laughingly.
"What would Mistress Lexie like?" Ailith asked.
"Chocolate mousse with extra chocolate and gummy bears and M&M's!"
"Moose!" Dessa squealed happily.
"Yes, Mistress Lexie," Ailith said, starting to fix Lexie and Dessa their chocolate mousse.
"I don't know about this," Harry said as he looked at Pansy who just shrugged her shoulders looking as confused as Harry did.
****S&H***
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Hermione asked as they followed behind Anastasia into the living room.
"You can ask, but that doesn't mean I'll answer you," Pius replied curtly.
"Are you willing to take on your brother's children as your own to have Anastasia?" Hermione asked as they stood there staring at each other.
"Donatus may have always tried to one up me on everything, but he forgot one thing; I love Stacia more than anything. She's everything to me and they are part of the deal. Besides, it's not their fault who their father is."
"That doesn't answer my question," she pointed out.
"I always wanted children, Hermione, but I wanted children with Stacia and only Stacia, but it looks like my brother beat me to that punch."
"Hasn't there been anyone else in all those years that you could have seen yourself having a life with," Hermione asked as they started walking towards the living room.
"Never," Pius said as they stepped into the open living room.
"So what are you going to do?" Hermione asked as they stepped into the living room.
"John, stop pestering Angus, Bastian give Leo back his truck. Miranda, Livia has legs, let her walk, Audrey stop reading," Anastasia said sternly as Pius and Hermione joined her.
"Uhum…" Hermione stared at the seven children wide-eyed.
"My thoughts exactly," Pius whispered in her ear.