Spider Cracks on the Glass
Chapter 27
They crept down the stairs, fingers intertwined. He was tugging her closer the whole way down, and she happily obliged, pressing herself against his back and giggling into his shoulder when she tripped on the last step and stumbled, pushing them both into the kitchen.
"Hush, Red, you're gonna get us both in trouble."
"Just make the hot chocolate, Ferret," she giggled again. "I'll get the berries."
"We could have had Nippe do this," he grumbled, while quietly pulling down mugs and mixing the chocolate drops and warm milk.
"This is better… doing it ourselves," she whispered into his ear, startling a bit when he turned his head and captured her in a kiss.
"I love you, Red," he said, his voice low, as he turned to meet her.
She ran her arms under his and tucked her head under his chin; her ear was pressed against his chest, right over the picture of Barny the Bat, and she could hear the thundering of his heartbeat.
"I love you, Draco," she finally said, feeling his chest relax and the rhythm of his heart slow.
A muffled thump caused them both to raise their heads and peer around the kitchen.
"Let's hurry back upstairs before we're stuck answering questions," he muttered, grabbing the mugs and holding the door open with his foot, as she scurried in front, a bowl of fresh strawberries and raspberries in her hand, along with a large slice of leftover wedding cake. He gave one last suspicious glare around the kitchen before following her quietly back to their bedroom.
XOX XOX XOX XOX XOX
"That was close!" Molly scolded a rather chastised looking Narcissa, as she removed her disillusionment charm. "You have to remember to muffle the sound of your feet AND disillusion yourself!"
"This is my first snoop, Molly," Narcissa sniffed, leaning up against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over her chest. "You've had six boys to practice on! But moving on, we need to decide what to do next."
"What to do next?" Molly raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, next. When do we want them to be engaged?"
"They're sixteen and seventeen…"
"Hermione is seventeen."
"She's been betrothed to Severus for over thirty years!"
"Molly, you're brilliant!"
"I am?"
"We betroth them. Arthur can file the paperwork tomorrow."
"Shouldn't we ask them first?"
"You're a Pureblood, Molly, whether you wish to admit it or not. And Purebloods rarely get to choose their spouse. They should feel lucky they fell in love before we cast the spell."
"But –"
"Do you love Arthur?"
"Yes, but – "
"Does Bill love Fleur?"
"He doesn't know," she answered stiffly.
Narcissa burst out laughing.
"You never told him that he's actually been betrothed to Fleur Delacour for fifteen years? Ever since Arthur met the family on a business trip to France? Does she know?"
"No." Molly said, a bit miffed at the undignified chuckles coming out of Narcissa, who at this point was sinking into one of the kitchen chairs. "Since we've only promised two of the children, and Bill worked out so wonderfully all by himself, we were hoping to avoid the topic altogether."
"And the other child you've promised?" Narcissa asked, leaning forward. "Do tell, Molly."
"Ronald," she sighed. "Though, we had a loophole in his contract, should he actually fall in love with another girl."
"Let me guess… Lovegood's daughter?"
"They're our closest neighbors, and her mother was such a sweet woman," Molly tried to explain. "It just seemed right to have Ron stay close by, and he's the only one close to her age."
"So, if you've not told Bill and Ron, why would you feel the need to tell your daughter?"
"You would keep this from Draco?"
"My dear, dear Molly. I've kept much greater things from my son…besides, this is simply a bit of insurance."
"I'll have to talk to Arthur – "
"Of course you will," Narcissa agreed, a bit quickly for Molly's tastes, but her doubts were assuaged by the genuine smile radiating from the other woman.
"What do you think Severus and Hermione are doing right now?" Molly broke the silence, as she puttered about the kitchen, cleaning up the crumbs Ginny had left when she cut the cake.
"Sleeping, I'd wager…it's almost 3 am."
"Do you think she'll get pregnant?"
"I've never known Severus to botch a potion."
"She'll be a good mother," Molly said, wiping her hands on the dishtowel.
"He'll be a good father," Narcissa answered, brushing away a tear with a perfectly manicured fingertip. "He deserves the chance to be a good father."
"I know," Molly agreed, patting Narcissa on the shoulder. "I know."
XOX XOX XOX XOX XOX
He awoke early, earlier than was even his usual custom, and slid himself carefully out from under his new bride. She gave a small mew and moved closer to the warm spot he had left, reaching for his pillow and cradling it in her arms as she continued to sleep. Tying a knot in the belt of the robe wrapped around his body, he moved quietly to the large French doors, opening one just wide enough to slip outside to the enclosed porch that was outside the room.
A few moments later, Trune popped into existence next to Severus' elbow, a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a plate of toast in the other.
"Does Master Snape wish for Gaies to begin preparing breakfast for Master and Mistress?"
"No," Severus waved his hand distractedly, sending a smattering of crumbs from the toast down onto Trune's head. "Hermione will sleep for a while."
The patient house-elf wiped the bits off his forehead and bowed low, before disappearing, leaving the brooding man to his musings.
After staring into the darkness for far too long, he had to squint when the first pinks and oranges broke over the forest trees. The problem that had presented itself the day before had yet to be resolved, and he resigned himself to the conversation he didn't want to have with his new wife. He turned, leaning back against the railing, and watched as she began to wake, stretching her legs and arms and rubbing her eyes.
Hermione sat up in bed, one bare leg bent at the knee, the rest of the sheets held tight at her chest by her pale hand. His heart twitched with an unknown emotion as her wedding band caught a morning sunbeam and sparkled.
"Severus?" she called, looking around.
"I'm out here," he replied, pushing himself off the rail and moving towards her. She smiled and reached out for him, the sheets dropping to her waist.
"Come inside, we only have a few hours before we are expected back at Headquarters."
Perhaps the conversation could wait until later, when she would have her friends for support.
XOX XOX XOX XOX XOX
The table was packed with cheerful Order members, the only empty space available being the two places set for Severus and Hermione. Narcissa still wasn't sure that the pair would show up, but Minerva was confident that the Snapes wouldn't be gone longer than they had promised. Remus and Tonks were involved in a conversation with Arthur about how safe it would be reinitiate an outreach to the werewolves, Tonks having had the brilliant idea to use Arthur's information from the Ministry to try and locate the families of the werewolves.
Draco was extolling the virtues of owning a premier box seat at the Ballycastle Bats Quidditch Pitch to Harry, causing little bits of drool to accumulate with food scraps at the corners of Ron's mouth, which Ginny pointed out disgustedly.
Molly and Narcissa were planning out the rest of the summer with Minerva, going over which subjects were left for each student to take NEWTS in. Molly wanted to do another evaluation of Draco's proficiency in Ancient Runes, and offered to help Narcissa brush up on the developments that had been made in the field in the last decade, for her own professional growth.
So when Hermione and Severus came through the front door into the foyer no one noticed. Even when Severus opened the door to where everyone was eating and ushered Hermione in, only Narcissa looked up at the sound of the door.
"Hermione! Severus!" Her face lit up at the sight of her friends, and quickly faded as she stared at Hermione.
Severus narrowed his eyes and shifted in front of his new bride, his movement drawing the attention of the rest of the group.
"How dare you bring her ba – " Narcissa's words were cut off when Severus drew his wand and aimed it at her across the table.
"You will cease speaking immediately," he snarled.
Instead of being intimidated, she quickly stood and pulled her own wand out, advancing on him.
"You know how dangerous it is to have her here right now! How could you put them at risk?" she retorted, ignoring the stunned faces of their friends and family.
"They are not at risk," he bit out, his teeth clenched and his wand not moving.
"Severus?" Hermione tentatively asked. She was prevented from stepping towards him by Draco, who had risen and his own wand drawn on her. "Draco?"
"Move away from her, Draco," Severus growled.
"Listen to him, son, you can't touch her."
"That's why I have my wand out, Mother," Draco retorted. "Take her to the library, Severus."
"Instantly," added Narcissa.
"Severus?" Hermione asked again. "What are they talking about?"
"She doesn't know?" Narcissa answered, her voice rising with each word, until it reached a high-pitched crescendo that sent Crookshanks running from the room, abandoning his dinner. "You stupid…imbecilic…brainless…Hufflepuff-idiot of a man!"
"Severus?" Hermione repeated, growing desperate. "What is going on?"
"Take her in the library, now!" Narcissa practically bellowed, her polished mask of civility slipping. "Ginny and I will follow shortly."
"They are not at risk – " Severus tried to repeat, but at the glare on Narcissa's face he grunted, shoving his wand back into his sleeve and swooping around to gently push Hermione back out the door and down the hallway.
"What in the bloody hell was that?" Remus asked.
"Slytherin politics," Draco answered, looking to his mother for guidance.
"Everyone except for Molly and Ginny needs to Floo to either the Burrow or Hogwarts for the next few hours," Narcissa spoke directly to her son.
"Will that be enough time?" he asked.
"It has to be," she sighed. "Minerva, can you house everyone overnight if necessary?"
"At least until breakfast," Minerva answered, both eyebrows raised. "Are you going to explain what the problem is?"
"No, I will not. Severus will, when he's ready."
Minerva nodded as if this was a perfectly normal answer and called for a couple of house-elves to move everyone's dinner to the Great Hall.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked Draco, softly, as they moved to the Floo, Ron leaning in to hear his response.
"Everything will be fine," Draco replied. "Eventually. Hermione isn't at risk, we were. Mum will explain it later."
XOX XOX XOX XOX XOX
Ginny sat alone at the table until Narcissa re-entered the room, eating the clementine that had been sitting in the fruit bowl.
"Are you gonna tell me what the issue is, or wait and let Snape tell me?"
"The word is 'going', Ginevra. Malfoys, even future Malfoys, speak correctly."
"Fine," she said flatly. "Are you going to tell me what the issue is or wait and let Snape tell me?"
"I'll tell you, but Severus is going to have to tell her."
Fifteen minutes later, with tears in her eyes, Ginny followed Narcissa to the library to talk with Mr. and Mrs. Snape.
XOX XOX XOX XOX XOX
"Tell me, Severus!"
"I will, as soon as your friends arrive."
"I don't want them to tell me, I want you to tell me what's wrong. Am I sick? How can I hurt Harry? Or Ron? Or Draco?" She turned her head as the door opened.
"Sit down, dear," Narcissa said quietly, placing her hands on the shoulders of the pacing woman. "You need to rest."
"I don't need to rest, I need someone to tell me what the matter is!"
"I promise, Severus will tell you everything now that we are here," she motioned for Ginny to take the seat on the other side of Hermione. Severus drug one of the armchairs directly in front of his wife, and took her hands in his. After a few uncomfortable moments he spoke.
"Hermione, you're not pregnant."
She gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle.
"That depends on how you look at it, Severus. I mean, it can take up to six days for the embryo to form a blastocyst and implant in my uterus, but I'm already pregnant."
"No, Hermione, you're not. But because you took the potion, no man except your husband can touch you until you are pregnant or it's been 48 hours."
"I researched the potion, my pregnancy should register within an hour of the fertilization. Everyone is safe."
"What Severus is trying to say," Narcissa interjected, "is that something is wrong and you aren't pregnant at all."
Hermione wrenched her hands free from Severus and clutched her abdomen.
"Is it the potion? Did you brew the potion incorrectly?"
"This isn't my fault! The potion was perfect!"
"Are you saying this is my fault? That somehow I have lost my ability to have our children?"
"I've already preformed certain diagnostic spells, and the problem does not lie in my physical state." He crossed his arms over his chest.
"You mucked up the potion, because you didn't want to have children! And now you're trying to blame me!" She rose to her feet, leaning over her husband and poking him in the chest with her forefinger. "Well, brew another batch and get it right this time."
"I'm a Potions Master, and I didn't fuck up the potion, and there is nothing I can do about this!"
"Ginny! Calm her down!" Narcissa grabbed Severus by the collar and pulled him to a corner of the room, leaving Ginny to convince Hermione to sit down and breathe.
"That is not the way you tell a woman she is infertile."
"I waited for you and Miss Weasley," he answered, almost pitifully. "What am I supposed to say?"
"She thinks she's losing her world over there, and you're trying to place the blame somewhere. She doesn't want you to fix it – no matter what she says – she just needs you to be there for her."
He looked over her shoulder to the sofa, where Ginny held a sobbing Hermione.
"Hermione?" he asked softly, kneeling beside her.
"Go away."
"I've run the spells on both of us…all I can determine is that something has happened during your time at Hogwarts."
"Is it a curse?" Her muffled voice came from Ginny's shoulder.
"No, love, it's not a curse," he answered, causing a fresh wave of tears.
"Jus' eve' 'e."
"Excuse me?"
"Just leave me," she enunciated through her crying. "Minerva can handle the annulment."
"No," he answered firmly. "I didn't marry you to gain children, Hermione. I married you to gain a wife, a companion, and a best friend. I lost you for more than twenty years… I'm never leaving you, Taioyu. Ever."
Her distress only intensified and rain began to fall, the clapping thunder sent Crookshanks scurrying under the sofa to hide. Narcissa silently moved about, still limping slightly from her injuries, lighting candles and the fireplace. The dancing glow illuminated Ginny on one end of the sofa, Hermione almost completely stretched out, her face still buried in her best friend's shoulder. Severus was kneeling at her feet, carefully undoing the laces on her shoes and sliding them off.
He cautiously moved to where he could reach her back, she was turned away from him, every few moments her entire upper body would heave with her sobs.
"I love you," he whispered, stroking her spine until her body stilled. He looked up expectantly at Ginny.
"The rain has stopped and I think she's asleep. Try and lift her up."
He cradled her in his arms, tucking her head under his chin, and bid the two women goodnight.
Narcissa closed the door behind him, moving to sit on the sofa next to Ginny. They embraced, sitting wordlessly in prayer for their friends. The minutes drew into hours, and Ginny jumped when Harry's head popped through the floo, his words bringing forth hope that had been slowly fading.
"Gins! Mrs. Malfoy! Wake up! We think we've found the last Horcrux!"
A/N: Oh, goodness, where to begin? Some of my readers have suggested I write a blog or have a livejournal so I can explain why some things take so long, but if I'm going to find time to write – it's going to be fic. Just know my youngest caterpillar is still having hearing issues (processing issues, actually), my oldest caterpillar is being homeschooled by me, my fiancé is trying to study for his CPA exam, and I'm trying to plan a wedding, work full time, go to Grad School full time, and volunteer 5-10 hours a week. But I PROMISE I will never abandon this. I love writing, and ya'll, so very much. Thank you for remaining patient with me. Lone Butterfly )i(
