Probably the shortest chapter I have ever written yet a very eventful and important one.

Also a horrible cliffhanger there, I am sorry in advance, guys!

Love you all!

CHAPTER 79

Severus was standing by the white cradle, fascinated and not being able to pull his eyes away from the tiny bundle that was resting peacefully in it. She was so small and yet so perfect and beautiful and he couldn't stop marveling at her, constantly, for the previous six days - in other words, ever since she had been born.

Eileen. That was how her mother had insisted they name her and he could only agree, touched by her gesture to name the little girl after her grandmother. Still, he supposed that even if Hermione wanted to call the baby indeed Mantichore, he would agree too - there was absolutely nothing he would deny her at that moment. Ever, in fact.

The little girl twitched her tiny hand and he felt himself being drawn to her even closer, compelled to take and hold her. He did exactly that, cherishing the girl as he held her gently in his arms, rocking her lightly.

In a few seconds, he heard the door being opened.

Hermione.

He offered to watch the baby so that her mother could rest and sleep for a bit but obviously they didn't negotiate that point with Eileen very well.

"Did she pull you to her too? Again?" he asked her apologetically as he watched her stiffing a yawn.

She nodded, a weary smile already on her face as she got nearer to stroke the baby's cheek.

"Yeah. It really feels like Accio on times... She is going to be really strong one day," she whispered as to not rouse Eileen even further.

"I can only agree with that. It took her only a few seconds to subjugate us both into total obedience," he remarked quietly, joking.

Well, maybe not really joking.

"What else could she be with the best Potion Master in this country cooking every single meal for her ever since she was conceived?" she asked rhetorically and he knew she was teasing him too.

He chuckled, something he did alarmingly often as of late.

But it was the sixth day though. He had to tell her, there was no delaying it any further. He hated himself for that.

The smile vanished from his face with no trace and he felt her eyes on him, watching him with worry at the sudden change in him even as she was still looking so open and happy, half-expecting him to only pull a trick on her now, some theatrical jape.

Merlin...

He inhaled deeply and looked away lest he wouldn't be able to say what he had to.

"There is no way to break the Bond," he said quietly but seriously.

She froze and he was glad it was him holding the baby for she looked ready to faint.

"W-what? Severus what are you-?" she began asking, pale and startled, and he could see she had all but forgotten about the Vow she had made him swear nearly a year ago.

He nodded, hating himself for hurting her so even more when faced with her fear and shock.

"I swore to break it. It can't be done, I researched it well enough. You can check the books too if you feel like it but it's permanent, cancelled only by the death of one of us. I have only a few days more to live. The bound women who were rescued from the Fortress will have been dead by tomorrow evening," he summed up in simple terms what had been bothering him for the last few weeks.

"But there must be a way around it! I can take it back! I can-" she stammered again, tears at the edge of her beautiful brown eyes.

He shook his head.

"No, you can't as you are well aware of. It can't be broken nor taken back. I researched everything; chopping my hand off to get rid of the source of the curse would not work. getting myself rid of my magic wouldn't work either as it would still remain in place in you. Even ridding us both of our magic would not work as even my dying for a few seconds didn't do the trick," he informed her and saw the tears finally fall on her cheeks, rolling down her face. He pressed his lips together to brace himself.

Eileen stirred at that moment and it helped him overcome the emotions by diverging his attention to her. He stood up to pace with her in his arms as she liked.

"So... So we did all of this, destroyed the Horcruxes, defeated Voldemort, survived just about everything to... lose each other in the end? So that you would die because of me and the Vow I made you..." she whispered, her voice broken and he felt his heart burn at her words and tone.

He placed the sleeping baby back into her cradle and went to Hermione, stroking her cheek gently with his hand to lessen some of the pain he saw in her eyes.

Fuck. All of this was his fault...

"Not we, it was you who defeated him, you who told me where to look and what to do with the Horcruxes. You who fixed me after every one of my mishaps," he hugged her as she still eyed him, doubtful and desperate. "I always thought you would be the one to save the world. I just never supposed you would be saving me too," he whispered the truth into her hair soothingly and felt her start sobbing.

Damn him.

"Besides, I don't intend to die because of the Vow. I have different plans for the end of my journey if you would agree," he told her in his last attempt to console her.

One teary eye looked up to him through the few curls of her hair that got pushed into her face and over her forehead.

I really am sorry!

The next chapter is nearly done and I will do my best to publish it within a week. This one will get dedicated to whomever gets the closest to what is about to happen! Let's see how well you can see into my head, guys!

I would love to hear what you think, as always!