Hermione almost choked on her coffee at the sight of Lord Lucius Malfoy wearing a Weasley Jumper, when his words finally caught up with her around the same time Severus's mug crashed to the floor.
"You're Moving Scorpius to France? "
There was so much actual, honest to gods hurt in Severus's voice that it almost took her breath away. She couldn't recall a time outside of his breakdown in her arms, that he had ever sounded so damn vulnerable in front of another person.
"That was my intention..." Lucius spoke calmly and quietly, silver eyes assessing Hermione, Severus and the broken mug at the Severus's feet which had pooled tea around the floor, but was a true mark of how much Severus had been affected by his words, that he still stood gaping like a fish at the elder Malfoy, mouth working up and down as though he couldn't find the words to express the enormity of his feelings on the matter.
"What?" He looked to Hermione, beseeching and wide eyed like a child would, searching for an adult to tell him that it wasn't so. Hermione could only look and feel helpless. It killed her to do so, especially after the lengths that Severus had gone to for her and Rose, but there was nothing she could do here. Lucius was well within his rights to take Scorpius, and while a new life in France wasn't what Severus obviously wanted for the boy, it wasn't abuse nor neglect and they had no leg to stand on, he'd been Draco's godfather but not Scorpius's, the boy had never had any chosen, which had been a point of contention between Draco and his wife and Severus wasn't technically family, despite the close bonds he shared with them.
"Severus..." She said quietly and forlorn, putting a comforting hand on his arm, but he shook his head and shook her arm off.
"No!" he said to her "No!" he repeated to Lucius, who simply raised an eyebrow at his audacity. "You can't! France Lucius? That's international travel!, He's a minor, he's not allowed to do it more than twice a month until he's of school age! There and back that's, one visit a month!? You can't..."
Lucius said nothing, and a defeated Severus slumped back against the counter.
"Please Lucius... please you can't take him away from me, from Rose, from any of us. Goddamn Hermione's mothered him more that Astoria ever did!"
She'd never heard him beg before. He was shaking, she noted and the grip he had on the counter behind him was white knuckled. She looped her arm around his waist, running a soothing hand up and down his back, her own tears tracking down her cheeks.
"Indeed the international travel is tiresome, though we shall suffer through it once a month for a visit with Scorpius I am sure." Lucius sniffed haughtily. "Perhaps once every two months even , Narcissa is not keen on returning frequently, if at all"
Severus was almost hyperventilating, his gaze was now fixed on his feet and the muscles in his neck and arms corded with the strength of his grip on the counter behind him. It was only when he inhaled sharply and pressed his face into his hands, a sure precursor to tears, that Lucius sighed and rubbed his face.
"Cease with the Hufflepuff theatrics Severus, I find them extremely tiresome. I believe you missed the past tense in my statement"
Severus looked up sharply then, his gaze searching and his chest tight with emotion.
"I said that was my intention, but it is no longer. If you'd given me a moment to explain before exploding like a Hufflepuff being told he can't have any supper, I would've told you"
Having the good grace to look somewhat abashed , Hermione grabbed his hand with hers, a hopeful look on her face.
"What are you saying?" She asked Lucius , because Severus seemed to overwrought to speak. "Please speak plainly Lucius"
But the two men were staring at each other, silent and assessing. Vaguely she wondered if some sort of legillimency was going on , before Lucius broke his searching gaze and seemingly finding what he was looking for, leaned back into the chair he was sitting in , until his posture was almost regal, the epitome of Lord of the Manor.
"Narcissa and I decided..." Hermione held back a wry snort of amusement, because it was clear from the way Lucius was speaking , that Narcissa had been the driving force in the this discussion, even if he had agreed with the decision. "We decided that Scorpius would be happier, here with you. And as such, we have no intentions on relocating him to France with us, and instead will acknowledge you as his legal guardian."
Once again Severus was gaping like a fish at the man before him.
In a moment of weakness, she suddenly saw Lucius's posture change as he dropped all pretence, leaned forward in the seat and scrubbed his face with his hands.
"I love my Grandson Severus." He spoke plainly, and there was heavy emotion in his tone. "But I am tired...we...are tired. I feel like an Old man. I have almost 6 years on you, and each one of them weighs heavy on me. Plus I feel that I have aged a century for each day that madman was in my home and in my life. What I am trying to say, Severus, Is that Narcissa and I love our Grandson, but he is just that, our grandson. We are Grandparents. We have already had our shot at being parents, and we do not have the fortitude to do it again, let alone with a toddler. We discussed it and agreed, that Scorpius would have a better life with you, that it was high time you got the chance to be the father you never got to be."
Severus was still silent, his eyes searching Lucius's until the man rose an eyebrow. "If you'll have him of course?"
Broken out of a trance, his eyes widened and she once more saw the exuberance of youth bloom in his features as he turned to her, and her heart warmed that even in his excitement he still turned to consult her, that she mattered to him so strongly. Of course she nodded and smiled instantly and this smile she gave him was nothing to the one he gave in return.
"Yes" he declared exuberantly , excitement clouding his tone and Lucius quirked his lip in amusement as Severus cleared his throat, and in his usual composed manner, repeated the affirmation. "Yes, but of course."
Snorting in shared good humour, Lucius stood and grasped Severus's hand in his. "You'll be a good father Severus, better than I ever was or would be" Chancing a look towards the stairs where both Rose and Scorpius slept in the bedroom, he added on "You already are"
"Take care old friend" Lucius turned to leave, before he paused for a moment seemingly in consideration and placed his hand on the pocket of his robes, before eventually turning and pulling out a piece of parchment and handing it to Severus.
"For what's its worth , Draco thought so too"
A look of confusion decorated Severus's face for a moment while he skimmed over the parchment, before his eyes widened in shock and sudden comprehension.
"Draco named me...Scorpius's godfather. You were never going to be able to take him to France, because legally he was always mine?" He looked at Lucius with confusion "Why wasn't I notified?"
Lucius simply shrugged. "Because he was already here, in your care. The Ministry didn't need to inform you to collect your charge because he was already under your protection."
Severus's look turned to one of barely restrained anger, as he held the parchment tightly in his shaking hands. "All that about you and Narcissa...you knew and you let me believe..."
"I did." Lucius acknowledged without any shame.
"Why?" Severus spat out , "You put me through all that because -"
"Because I wanted to be certain. Because I needed to see what he saw. And I did"
Severus's anger deflated then, and he simply sighed deeply and nodded in acknowledgement of the man.
"Also, again for what it's worth. The discussion with Narcissa wasn't a lie. She thinks I am here to offer you guardianship of Scorpius. She doesn't know that Scorpius was never entrusted to her in the first place, and was always going to be yours."
Again he wiped his hand across his tired face.
"I doubt it will ever come up in conversation , but do me a favour old chap and don't ever let her realise otherwise? I think that it would crush her to know that she wasn't Draco's first choice... no offence"
"None taken" answered Severus calmly. "You have my vow" he added and Hermione was quick with her affirmation also. "And mine"
Nodding, Lucius turned to leave and Severus called out over his shoulder.
"Take care of yourself old friend"
"Don't be a stranger" Hermione added and the Slytherin smiled at her , and it was the most honest and warm expression she'd seen from the man.
"Wouldn't dream of it" And with that, he was gone.
oOo
Later that night as they prepared for bed, Severus was still bouncing about with pent up energy and she could tell that he had a burning question on his mind that had been plaguing him since Lucius's departure.
"Hermione? May I ask you something"
It seemed she was about to find out what it was.
"Of course" She answered him without hesitation.
He came up to her and held her hands in his own, taking a deep breath and looking down on her.
" When I asked you to wear my ring , it was with the intention of becoming a family. I already love Rose and consider her my own. But I would like to make this real. Hermione, I would like to officially adopt Rose and Scorpius and perhaps you would consider adopting Scorpius too. We can be a real family together Hermione, what do you say?"
His smile was boyish and hopeful and she cupped his face with her hand gently, tears burning in her eyes.
"I love you Severus... but No."