More fluff than a build a bear workshop. And some death eater drabble.
Next chapter will have some smut and a big announcement. Heh.
I love your pms and reviews.
Juliet didn't let Severus go back to work till the following week. She kept a close eye on him and didn't let him near anything made of glass or knives because it made her nervous. He mistakenly pointed out he didn't need a sharp object to do it again and she nearly took his wand from him. She made him promise that he would never hurt himself again. Her tears were more than enough for him to agree wholeheartedly. His conscience was heavy with guilt and he was ashamed of himself. He swore he wouldn't to down that road again when he got the dates tattooed on the old scars. It didn't stop her from cutting up his food for him and practically feeding him. He loved the attention.
She didn't want to go out to dinner or leave the castle anymore, it made him worry. Did she not want to be seen with him now knowing he made a fool of himself In Diagon? She told him she just didn't want to leave their home so soon after being gone for so long. It was only two days but it was eternity for them. She did however, like sitting outside on the balcony with him watching the snow fall.
He pulled her closed on the cushioned stone bench with a strong warming charm. He wrapped her in one of his thick sweaters and shared a "balcony blanket", which was different than all the other hundreds of blankets in the house, and tucked her head under his chin. His arms tightly around her shoulders and her arms around his waist. They shared a cup of her special hot chocolate that had crushed peppermint and pieces of dark chocolate in it. She added marshmallows this time and made her swear to secrecy after he confessed that he liked the pink marshmallows best.
She made all sorts of food for him. He was in heaven and in a food coma. When he tried to eat food while she was gone it tasted like ash in his mouth. It wasn't the same, no food will ever be the same as the food she made with love for him. There were desserts of all types coming out of that oven and he was there ready with an open mouth. One night she made roasted Cornish hens with veggies, his new favorite. She sat on his lap at the dinner table and fed it to him, he was salivating for two reasons.
They still hasn't discussed the elephant in the room, children. She seemed to drop the issue entirely but he knew it was bothering her. The didn't know how to approach the subject. Since she had returned they hadn't been intimate, it bothered him more than he believed it should have. It wasn't that he wasn't getting any, it was that she would clench up whenever things got remotely close to intimacy. He didn't want her to be afraid of him or be uncomfortable at all. But discussing anything about sex or children was like walking on egg shells.
When it came time for her to take her monthly contraceptive potion he didn't give it to her. He thought that was clear enough of a sign that he on board the baby express. Yet she didn't bring it up. She had thought he forgot and didn't want to chance him blowing up about children again. Square one all over again.
Having children didn't bother him any more, he just wanted to make her happy. He was ecstatic that she was back, it meant he could hold her, love her and never let go. He had an idea that would make it all clear for both of them. He started brewing in his lab.
April came and the snow melted but the cold winds grew stronger and the rain came. He went back to teaching and Juliet went back to her spell creating. Albus was hounding him about his task and the lack of response from Draco was concerning. Though they had turned their back Garrick, it didn't mean he stopped making Severus' life hell. He was blocking all Death Eater activity and infiltration in the ministry. The Dark Lord was pissed. Severus was never called during the week and this time he was called well before nightfall, meaning he was going to miss dinner with Juliet and Robbie.
He stood by the fireplace before leaving, she fastened his death eater robe and pulled him down for a deep kiss. "I love you" she whispered against his lips and sent him through the floo.
The hall he stepped into was unusually empty, normally this was where they held there gatherings since it was the largest room without furniture. He heard the call of his name from the hall and followed.
"Nott." He greeted.
"Snape. You're looking better than when I last saw you." Nott tilted his head for him to follow.
"Of course, last time you saw me you drop kicked me into a fire." He growled
He chuckled lightly "How's the wife?"
His Death Eater mask reflected in the moonlight, it's sunken cheeks and nearly non existent mouth asking Severus a mundane question. The mask that had been the last thing many muggles had seen before their lives were terminated. A mask that had been so covered in blood it was unrecognizable who was under It, asking if his wife was doing well.
Were the man and the mask two people? Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde fighting for dominance? The mask for Severus was a persona he had to wear, a character to step into. Was it really? His quick to rise anger and short fuse temper had always been who he was. The same dark thoughts travelled through his mind when thinking of certain people he would like to hurt. Though none were directed specifically at muggles. It was general hate for all populations really, unless it was Juliet.
"She's where she belongs." He said curtly.
Nott stopped suddenly and turned towards him with square shoulder. For a second Severus thought he was going to punch him. Instead, Nott reached his hand out to grip his shoulder "I'm really glad to hear it. We may be some twisted fucks and you may be an asshole, but you're our asshole and we do care about you. We've all known each other since we were kids, became brothers together…" he looked down at his covered dark mark. "we've survived together this long. I wouldn't want to be brothers with any other asshole." He said and tilted his head. His expression hard to read under his mask.
Severus tilted his own head "I'm not entirely sure if that is a compliment or an insult."
Nott barked out a laugh suddenly that made Severus flinch. "Me either, Snape."
He turned and opened the door to the study and let Severus enter first. The Dark Lord stood at the head of a large desk in the center of the room. Malfoy Sr., Yaxley, McNair and Avery stood around the desk without masks or robes.
"My Lord." Both men entering greeted and bowed.
He looked at them and waved them over without proper greeting "Remove your masks and robes. We have work to do."
He shoved both in his pocket and took his place at the table next to Nott and Avery. There was a large map laying out on its flat surface with a large X written over one of the houses. On the margins of the map were the target name, picture and details of the home, schedule and routines.
"Rufus Scrimgeour was playing by our rules, under the guide of Ollivander. Now, the wand maker no longer falls in line. Your brothers tell me you lost your wife, and in the process the wand maker." The Dark Lord said and made a fist around one of the whiskey glasses on the desk.
"My Lord, there was…. A misunderstanding with my wife and I. But she has returned to where she belongs. Ollivander tried to annul our marriage under one of the sacred 28 marriage contract laws, she disowned him and this is his retaliation." He explained cautiously. Just because the Dark Lord allowed in informal setting did not mean he could address him as such.
"Humph. The wand maker will pay, for his insolence to go against me and his wrong doing to you and yours. We need Scrimgeour under our thumb and placed as the new minister. You will go with your brothers and take care of it. Make sure he's under Yaxley's control. He will be the easiest to access him at all times." He explained. He didn't reach for his wand, which surprised the hell out of Severus. Normally he would be curled up on the floor in his own filth for breathing wrong.
They planned well into the night and would start their stake out on Friday night. He needed to warn Garrick about the Dark Lord planning a retaliation. Even though they were on the ones Juliet would never forgive him if anything happened to him.
Juliet made sure to prepare for Severus' mission on Friday night. He would miss dinner yet again and he knew it bothered her. The gift he brewed for her was ready and wrapped in his pocket but he didn't want to give it to her before he left. It would make too many questions push them further apart. He would give it to her when he returned. She packed him lunch and dinner to go and kept it in a warming charm safely in his satchel.
"I won't be gone that long. You didn't have to." He said awkwardly. He didn't want to let her down but be didn't want to be coddled in front of his fellow death eaters. He would never hear the end of it if and when they found out he was packed a lunch.
'You get grumpy when you're hungry. Here take your mittens and scarf, it's still cold outside.' She handed him his knitted gifts.
"Can we not call them mittens…." He grumbled.
'Fine. Here are your gloves. I put as thermos of hot chocolate and a thermos of coffee- oh and one of some chicken noodle soup. I labeled them.' She smiled lovingly at him.
He pulled her closed and kissed her forehead "I'll only be gone for a few hours, Princess."
'Just in case. And there's some of those mini apple pie cookies you like.' She kissed him.
"Apple pies you say…" he smiled.
He kissed her back and sighed as she swiped her tongue across his lips. She tasted like vanilla and honey, she was the one who deepened the kiss. Her teeth caught his bottom lip and tugged on it, he felt himself harden and instinctively pushed himself against her.
"The princess is playing with fire." His voice husky with desire. She shivered.
"The Dragon likes it." She whispered and slid her hand over his straining bulge. His breath hitched and he trusted against her hand.
Now?! She wants to finally do this now? I'm going to be late. He cursed mentally.
Her lips kissed their way to his jawline, her tongue outlining the lipstick tattoo from their past. He gulped loudly, he could be late. Then her teeth scraped the same patch of inked skin, he growled and lifted her off the ground. He backed her up onto the sofa table and spread her legs around him.
His mark burned his skin, it's sting went from his elbow to his shoulder. That was a warning. He hissed and flinched in pain, closing his eyes tightly and gritting his teeth. Her hands cupped his face and her thumbs rubbed gently circles on his cheeks.
"Go, I'll be here waiting." She whispered.
He kissed her like it was the last time. Hands buried in her hair, stroking his tongue with hers, sucking away some breath from her lungs. He pulled back and saw her swollen lips and flushed face.
"When I come home I will have you." He promised.
He detached himself from her and adjusted himself to ease the strain in his pants. With one last look at his beautiful wife he stepped into the floo and went to work for the Dark Lord.
She had been right, it was cold as fuck outside. Their breath seen trailing behind them. The men had met at their rally mark in a nearby forest. They had to hike through thick wet brush to their vantage point due to apparation wards around the property. No one was prepared for it except Severus, thanks to Juliet of course.
"This is bullshit. I just bought these robes!" Malfoy said as he looked down at the mud and snow on himself
"This is a covert mission. You really think high tailored robes were the best choice?" Severus sneered as he hiked past him wearing the dark green scarf and gloves Juliet made him. He silently thanked her for making him bring them, she enchanted them with her new everlasting warming spell.
"You stick out like a Hufflepuff in a Knockturn brothel. Everyone is wearing black but you." McNair scoffed as he fought to free his cloak from a bush he was stuck in.
"Unlike you mongrels, I like to add color to my wardrobe." He said haughtily in his dirty green and grey robes.
"Little bit of camouflage never hurt. You look like a Slytherin totem pole." Yaxley snorted.
Severus snorted and quickly turned it into a the clearing of his throat when Malfoy glared at him. "You're one to talk, Snape. You're wearing a purse."
Avery started laughing so hard be had to lean against a tree to support himself. His scratchy voice rich with genuine laughter "It looks pretty on you."
"It's a satchel. It's got supplies I might need." He snapped and slid the strap so the bag was behind him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Satchel. What could you possibly need to bring on a simple covert mission?" Lucius said.
Severus didn't look at him, he kept his eyes ahead on the ground in front of him as they moved. "Well?" Nott asked.
Severus mumbled something under his breath. They all looked at each other then ganged up on him. "What was that? I didn't catch that, mate." Avery asked and cupped his large hand to his ear.
"My wife packed me food." He said quickly and started walking faster.
Yaxley's deep voice was heard first from behind him. "Ha! She- you- I can't believe- a fucking lunch!" He started wheezing with laughter, his smokers cough interrupting it.
"That is so….. " Malfoy strained as be tried not to laugh. "Adorable."
"Piss off." Severus sneered and flipped them off.
"Did she lay your clothes out for you to wear too?" McNair laughed and tugged on his green scarf as he passed Severus. He swatted him away.
"So when's your curfew?" Avery said sarcastically.
"You are all just jealous that my wife takes care of me. Do your wives even know how to cook?" He growled and clutched the strap of his bag tightly.
"Alright, enough. We're coming up on the property line. Snape, disabled the wards. Rest of you, spread out on the perimeter. Malfoy….just keep looking pretty." Yaxley ordered and moved to the west of the property.
They made it to their next check point and set up their base camp in a clearing close to the house. Avery and Malfoy set up privacy wards and the rest kept watch. They were under two large trees and surrounded by thick brush but it didn't keep the cold or the rain out from their hideout. Yaxley was rubbing his hands together and blowing hot air though them to keep warm, Malfoy casting warming charm after warming charm while pacing back and forth and Avery was shivering while sitting on a large rock. The other two sat huddled close together for warmth on a fallen tree, hoods pulled up over their heads.
"Are you two cuddling?" Severus asked from his warm cozy spot near the trunk of the tree. He had his warmth enchanted scarf snuggly around his neck, pulled up to his ears and his same enchanted gloves, also known as mittens, on his hands.
"Bugger off." McNair said through chattering teeth.
"Looks like you two already are." He smirked and took a sip of his nice warm hot chocolate. Steam coming from his small thermos cup and caressing his face. He silently thanked her for not putting the pink marshmallows in it.
"Why isn't the fucker home already? Yaxley, you said he's home at this time every day." Malfoy complained.
Yaxley pulled his hands away from his face, his nose had turned red in the cold "He usually is. Every weekday he's home by 9."
They all snapped their attention to him "Friday is the start of the weekend. Where does be go on the weekend?" Avery asked.
Yaxley paled at the words. "Oh shit."
Nott picked up a pine cone and threw it at the back of his head. It got stuck in his long dirty blond hair and he struggled to get it out. "He usually goes to see this woman. Sometimes she comes here alone and sometimes he brings her."
"What does she look like?" Severus asked.
"Never seen her. She usually wears a cloak. I think it's a whore." He threw the pine cone back at Nott and missed.
So they waited for another two hours in the cold and wet. Scrimgeour had to come home at some point. The men were complaining about being hungry and missing dinner. Then they heard Severus opening his packed meal. Like hungry hyenas they licked their lips and watched.
"Oi, is that steak?" Avery asked as he smelled the air.
"If you must know, it's prime rib." Severus said and shoved a piece covered in mashed potatoes and gravy in his mouth. Juliet had cut it into small cubes for him and put it into a container with small dividers. Steamed potatoes, carrots, zucchini and broccoli took the other little square. She packed him a whole loaf of homemade bread cut into thick slices, half meant for his main meal and the other to dip into his chicken noodle soup. Merlin, he loved this woman.
"Its impolite not to share." Malfoy said expecting him to open his satchel of goodies for them.
Severus snorted and shoved another fork full in his mouth. He didn't need to justify that with a response. They all watched him hungrily and he shoved the steaming food into his mouth.
"We can kill him…" Nott muttered to McNair.
He agreed "Eat him too."
"I can hear you." Severus hissed and put his now empty tin away.
"We're brothers, Snape. You could have at least offered." Yaxley said.
"Fuck off, you called me a lost cause back at the party." He said and took another sip of his steaming cocoa.
"What was that song he was singing? Friends in lows places?" Avery teased. Severus' cheeks flushed red and he pulled his scarf up.
When he finally had enough of their whining and gave them some of his mini apple pie cookies. "Just fuck off already." He grumbled as he handed them off.
They ate them like starving animals, moaning and licking their fingers as they ate them.
"Hmmmm oh my…. She made this?" Malfoy asked as he ate it without his pureblood proper etiquette, crumbs on his chin and robes.
"Is it a pie or a cookie?" Yaxley asked.
"Both. It's a pokie, or a coopie." Avery said trying to suggest a new name for them.
Severus rolled his eyes and ate his second one. "Yes. She makes everything from scratch."
"No wonder you don't want to let that little witch go. Lock her away in your dungeons- hah or your kitchen!" Yaxley said.
"Better than a house elf…" Nott trailed off as he stared at it before taking another bite.
McNair had been oddly quiet as he ate his, staring off lost in thought. Nott nudged him to thank Severus and compliment his wife's cooking.
"Good shit. Only had one witches cooking that was just as good. Molly Weasley." He said and stared off in the distance again, blue eyes hazing over as he recalled the painful memories.
Silence. Just the wind and the rain filled the void that hung in the air. No one breathed.
"What the fu…" Severus whispered to himself.
Yaxley seemed to snap out of it first "Wait, wait, wait. Hold to floo. You had Molly Weasley's cooking."
They all stared at him for the answer. "Yeah."
Then they all started to uproar on how and why that happened. A death eater eating the food of a known order member and muggle loving blood traitor.
"You ate Arthur Weasley's lunch from the break room. Had to be it." Avery said in disbelief.
"You better start talking now." Severus threatened.
"What? We used to date back in the day, right after graduation. She was a Prewitt then. Her and Weasley were on the outs and we met in a coffee shop in Godric's Hollow. She would bring me lunch and treats to the office at the ministry." He said and looked away sadly.
They all stared at him like he'd grown two heads and told them he was into muggle soap operas. Malfoy tilted his head and said "You're joking. You were a death eater at that time. She was pregnant with the first born."
McNair shook his head "I hadn't been initiated till a few months after she left me. She didn't get pregnant till after she got back with Weasley. Turns out she used me to make him jealous."
Severus choked on his cocoa "She used you?" Learn something new everyday, he mused. He just couldn't see it. Sweet old Molly Weasley nee Prewitt once upon a time led on Walden McNair. No…. Grumpy, old, tattooed, sour faced, killer of kittens and all things fluffy Walden McNair. Severus wasn't in the same social circle as him in school, he was a few years older than him, but he knew he wasn't anything like the gentle and loving of all things muggle Arthur Weasley.
"I was convenient, I worked in the department next to his. I was in Magical Animal Control at the time. I didn't see it then, she would show up with her basket of deliciousness and hang all over me. Then one day she started walking those tasty packages to the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office instead. Didn't say a word to me, just waved goodbye in passing." He said sadly.
Severus scowled and looked out towards the house they were scouting. Molly was the push that sent McNair into the arms of the Dark Lord. McNair loved her, he could see it. She had him wrapped up in her and he would have turned to the side of the order if she asked him to. The only reason he knew is because the same thing happened to him. He wondered how many of his brothers and sisters fell down the Dark path because of a lost love. Too many.
Avery had told him before that he was married to Pandora Lovegood, that Quibbler trash writer's wife. That was right out of school and before he had taken his mark as well. He said she was crazy, beautiful but crazy. Severus hardly remembered her though, perhaps having his family annul their marriage was something he didn't want. He knew his family wanted him to trade up for someone of higher standing with the Dark Lord. Pushed down the same path as he and McNair?
"Holy shit…" Nott cursed under his breath and scooted down the log farther away from him.
"Oi, what about you Snape? Get your little witch pregnant yet?" Avery asked suddenly, trying to change the topic.
He glared back and his lip turned up in disgust "That's none of your business.
"Come on, Snape. Your juicy life details are so much better than my old boring ones." McNair said.
"I bet after all this time he finally said yes to a baby and he can't knock her up!" Yaxley barked with laughter.
"I can and I will!" He nearly shouted, rising to the bait.
"Well if you can't, I'll gladly lend my services." Yaxley wiggled his eyebrows and winked at him.
Severus stood instantly and pulled out his wand. Avery and Malfoy jumped up and held him back. "Alright, touchy subject. Yaxley, shut up." Malfoy said.
Severus pulled out the wrapped gift and looked at it intensely "We haven't started trying. We never talked about it. So I brewed her a fertility potion, I'm going to give it to her when I get home."
Malfoy made a soft cooing noise. "Aww."
The glare that Severus sent him shut him up immediately. Yaxley signaled that there was movement ahead and they all quieted and got into position. Scrimgeour was walking down the hill with a short squat of a woman on his arm, loudly flirting with each other.
"Is that…." McNair trailed off.
"Umbridge." Lucius whispered in disbelief.
Severus threw up a bit in his mouth and put his hand to cover it. Avery leaned over and pat him on the back lightly. "I'm going to be sick."
"What now?" Lucius asked Yaxley.
"Same plan, stun her and obviate her afterwards. Maybe we could imperio her as well." He answered and looked around for a volunteer. No one answered. "Don't make me draw quills." He threatened.
Their plan had gone without a hitch and Severus apparated outside of Hogsmead then floo'd home. Juliet had stayed up the whole night, well into the early morning when he returned. She jumped up from her spot on the chaise lounge by the window, blanket forgotten and dropped to the floor and ran to him.
He dropped his satchel by his feet and caught her when she jumped towards him. Her legs and arms holding him in a death grip he welcomed in return. He buried his cold nose into the curve of her neck and breathed her in. She grabbed him by his cheeks and pushed him away slightly, giving him a look over for injuries.
"I'm not hurt. I'm safe." He assured her.
She let out a sigh of relief and pressed her lips against his face, kissing him with their warmth all over. Maybe he should go on missions more often, he smirked. He set her down and kissed her properly.
"I have something for you." He said and reached into his inner robes.
He swore her eyes started to sparkle with excitement when he told her. He held the small wrapped box out to her and let her lift the lid. She looked from the small phial to him and raised her eyebrows in question.
'My monthly potion?' She signed sadly.
He shook his head "No. Your new monthly potion. It's a fertility potion." He expected her to smile or hug him, not lower her gaze and remove her hands. "Is this not what you wanted?"
'No. I want to share a life with you happily. I don't want to force you into something you don't want-'
He pulled her flush to him and tilted her head up to his "I do want this. It took me a long hard time to realize that. Please don't toss your dream aside because I was an ass."
'Are you-' he grabbed her hands and stopped her.
"Positive."
She pulled her hands out if his and pushed the gift back to him. He panicked, she didn't want to carry his child anymore. He fucked up bad.
'I want your baby. I don't want any outside push or assistance. I want our baby to come from just us. I want it made from love.' She smiled at him.
So he didn't fuck up? He was so confused. "You don't want the potion?"
She shook her head no. 'No. I want to have a baby with just me and you. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, then I won't be disappointed or love you any less.'
He nodded slowly in understanding "So… how…. I mean…. Now what?" He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly.
She gave him a brilliant smile and signed 'We start trying.'
He blushed and cleared his throat "You mean…"
She grabbed him by the front of his robes and dragged him to their bedroom and slammed the door behind them. He was going to have a long weekend full of hard work.