Chapter 37: The Crumbling Of An Uneasy Alliance
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{"And I want to rip his heart out...Just for hurting you...And I want to break his mind down...Yes, I do...And I want to make him regret life...Since the day he met you...Yes, I do...And I want to make him take back...All that he took from you...Yes, I do"}Just For, Nickelback
The Potter Residence, The Burrows, Wizarding World...
Harsh blue eyes met those of icy obsidian as Ron Weasley got into the face of Regulus Snape. The plan to ambush the masked wizards in Knockturn alley where they had been so fond of ambushing Order Members had gone array as Ron's increasing mistrust of Regulus Snape got the better of him, especially where Hermione had been concerned.
The ever crude Junior Snape had been slightly drunk from his encounter with a few bottles of firewhiskey and simply spoke what was on his mind. Hermione had known about the American wizard's vulgar mindset for months since their first encounter, mostly due to her walking in on him bedding Ron's favorite whore.
Regulus knew Ron would be angry about his recent liaison with Lucy at the brothel but he couldn't say much about it given he was suppose too be Hermione's husband.
"You got something to say Weasel boy?" asked Regulus knowing all too well the knowledge of him bedding Lucy was eating away at the red head wizard.
"Nothing you haven't heard before greasy git junior." countered Ron.
Regulus narrowed his eyes at the offending wizard.
"What's the matter Weasel afraid I fucked your favorite whore better than you could?" said the raven haired wizard.
Ron attempted to keep a lid on his boiling temper.
"This is not what we came to discuss." he said fixing his glasses.
Regulus turned his attention to Harry Potter.
"Well...well..." he said in a mocking tone. "The Head Geek speaks."
"Knock it off Regulus." said Harry lowering his eyes at him.
"And just what are you going to do if I don't?" asked Regulus shifting his focus to Harry.
"Listen...it's been a long night and you boys are getting a bit testy..." began Ginny.
"Stay out of this Gin." said Ron balling his fists. "Apparently, this git needs to learn some manners."
"You want to rumble freckles?" asked Regulus not at all impressed by the so called display of toughness on the part of the red head wizard.
Hermione noted the intense rage behind Regulus' eyes and grabbed him by the hand. She pulled him out of the house and into the open field. Embittered about his wife's closeness to this strange wizard, Ron stormed out of the house after them.
"Icarus!" shouted Hermione.
Regulus looked at the beautiful witch confused.
"I'm sorry." he said feeling a bit of shame at his drunken behavior.
Hermione touched his cheek.
"It's fine." she said with a sigh. "Ron can be really thick at times...he doesn't realize the damage he's caused to our marriage so he tries to pretend it's someone else's fault."
"Why stick around?" asked Regulus confused. "He clearly doesn't deserve or respect you."
"I'd have to say at this point that it's mostly for the children." she said sadly. "It wouldn't do for them to be burdened with the workings of my failed marriage at such young ages."
Regulus nodded.
"I get that." he said. "I really do...possibly more than you know given what happened with my parents."
Hermione found herself intrigued by this.
"If you don't mind me asking...what was your mother like?" she asked. "I've always been curious to the sort of person Professor Snape would have been interested in enough to start a family with."
Regulus sighed.
"She was a good woman." he said finding sadness creep into his tone. "She never stopped loving him not even on the day she died."
"I'm sorry." said Hermione sighing as well.
"Don't be." replied Regulus with a sad smile. "I wish you could have met her."
"So do I." agreed the slightly saddened witch.
Regulus looked up at the clear night sky.
"He was always different when he was around her." he said. "Sometimes, I'd watch them for hours trying to understand how two completely different people could wind up together and be so in love one moment then Dad would go out of his way to distance himself from her."
"Perhaps he was simply trying to protect her." replied Hermione knowing all too well how some of her former Potions Professor's antics came into question over the years.
"She wasn't magical." admitted Regulus almost fondly. "But she did her best with us."
"I wouldn't doubt it." replied Hermione politely.
The great beating of wings had gotten their collective attention as Icarus landed.
Regulus sighed looking over Hermione once more.
"I'll still help you, you know." he said. "But coming back here is only a waste of my time...Geek Boy wants to be the big boss and Freckles has a stick up his ass about me being around you."
Hermione tried to keep from laughing.
"That's not very nice Reg." she said.
"Not like I give a shit." he replied with a lazy grin. "If you and Red need me...I'll be there."
Hermione nodded.
"Thanks again." she said.
"Anytime Gorgeous." he replied before hopping on the back of his Leviathan Thunderbird and taking off into the night.
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The Snape Residence, North America, Unknown World...
Regulus had been unsure what to make of his father's drunken rant as he stood in the center of the living room unsure whom he should question first. He had never been to the wizarding world in England nor had he spent very much time there in America. His mother had not spoken a word to him since the drunken elder Snape vanished into the night. She kept to herself cleaning the house for his father's return.
Being told that he had been little more than a mistake on the part of his father not destroying the witch he had taken up with that night was a little disconcerting. A part of him wished to understand why his father had become so cold and the other was simply hurt by the admission long kept from him.
Taking off into the woods, Snape had not known what to think concerning his life at this point and found himself getting acquainted with his old man's stash of firewhiskey. The socially awkward young wizard had taken to the partying scene finding himself confused and unable to get passed that night.
Regulus had taken up with a few "so called friends" in a bid to avoid going home. He had not seen his mother in two years before the news broke that his father had been murdered. He had been getting drunk as per the usual and bedding his fair share of whores when one of them fresh in from England carried a copy of The Daily Prophet.
Half drunk and half guilt ridden, Regulus stumbled into his jeans and took off in the middle of the night in a bid to get to his mother.
The young wizard crashed into the front lawn and raced into the house. At first his mother didn't seem to recognize him believing him to have been his drunken father finally returned to them.
"Severus..." she said pleased to see him return.
"I-It's only me, Mom." said Regulus almost sick from having to be the bearer of terrible news.
"Regulus?" she said confused noting his lengthy raven hair and half naked form.
His obsidian eyes had been filled with so much sorrow it was hard to tell the difference.
Elaine smiled briefly at her son.
"Regulus..."she said softly. "Come...get something to eat.. you look like you've been starving yourself."
The saddened younger wizard shook his head.
"Mom...listen...I'm sorry I took off..." he began.
Elaine simply stroked his cheek.
"Oh no harm done sweetheart, you needed to see the world anyhow." she replied. "I've just been here waiting for you and your father like always...you magical men are always such a mystery to me...always so restless."
"Mom." said Regulus trying to find an easy way to say what he needed to say.
"I'll be he'll be starving when he comes home as well." she continued babbling on. "You know he never really eats at that school and with the war going on for a second time...he's probably as thin as you are by now."
"Mom...please." attempted Regulus. "There's is something I have to tell you."
"I should get everything ready...you know he rarely shaves these days..." continued Elaine seemingly miles away. "And his favorite drink...he'll be so pleased when he comes home."
"Mom, he's not coming back." said Regulus not sure he wanted to end her fantasy so soon.
This seemed to have gotten Elaine's attention.
"How can you say that about your father?" she asked narrowing her dark eyes at her son. "He was simply drunk the last time...he'll come around...he always does when the guilt isn't so bad...he loves us."
Regulus sighed.
"Not this time." he said softly. "Mom...he's gone...the papers say he was killed by Voldemort in the final battle at Hogwarts."
Elaine suddenly fell silent as if her son had given her confirmation on her worst fear.
Against his better judgement, Regulus showed her the paper to further drive home his point. She took it upon herself to read it over and sure enough she came to the small section where it mentioned the list of casualties of the second wizarding war.
{Subsequent traitor and murderer of former Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfic Brian Dumbledore, Severus Sebastian Snape, current Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, listed among the dead at the hands of his own master Voldemort...Harry James Potter among those that witnessed his brutal murder via slashing of his jugular vein and the sicking of the serpent Nagini on him...Potter says Snape was Dumbledore's man despite what rumors of the contrary portray him as...whatever your belief the man whom had single-handedly ended the life of Albus Dumbledore is also dead...}-Rita Skeeter, The Daily Prophet
Elaine dropped the paper onto the floor and it seemed as if all life had been drained from her at that point. Regulus caught his mother before she collapsed onto the ground.
"Severus." had been all she said before losing consciousness.
"Mom." said Regulus frantic as he attempted to rouse her. "Mom please...I can't lose you too."
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Open Sky, Wizarding World...
Regulus had tears streaming down his sallow pale cheeks as he attempted to shelve his memory of the day he found out about his father's murder. He didn't understand why any of it happened given that his father spent so much time appeasing this dark lord and now he had killed him.
Even as a boy, Regulus had never trusted his father's well-fare in England. He was often plagued be night terrors of something terrible happening to the wizard before he reached home again.
Hermione Granger came to mind once again and Regulus found himself calming.
There was no way he'd let Arcturus hurt Hermione the way his father was hurt by Voldemort. He had been a clueless child then unable to protect those he loved as they slipped away one by one. First his baby brother, then his father, and now his mother.
Hermione wouldn't be the next even if it cost his life, he'd ensure that she wouldn't be killed by yet another wizarding world fanatic even if he believed the fanatic had a valid cause in defending his late father's memory for those that mocked and scorned him.
Working with the likes of Potter and Weasley had been a small price to pay to ensure Hermione and Ginny's safety.