Chapter 50: Sympathy For The Dead
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
{"When you lose the one you love...You heart goes through changes...Especially when your sweet memories...Still hold their thrill...And just when you think...The pain is all gone...Don't fool yourself...'Cause here's the deal...That's the way love works...You've got to hurt before you heal..."}You've Got To Hurt Before You Heal, Bobby "Blue" Bland
The Potter Residence, The Burrows, Wizarding World...
Regulus Snape landed in the open field of the burrows. He had been quite nervous as he made his way toward the Weasley residence. The conflicted American Wizard had not known if he should have brought flowers during an occasion such as this or if he should have remained empty handed. It was a rather unnerving time given that he had no love loss for Ronald Weasley but he knew Hermione and her children would be hurting.
Truth be told he knew the whole family would be hurting. The younger Snape had been like his late Potions Master father in that he was no stranger to grief, Severus Snape was murdered nineteen years prior and the pain from that still never went away. His late mother's passing had not been any better as given the circumstances but he hoped to help at least Hermione and her children in their time of need.
Out of respect, he had not spoken much to Rose or Hugo Weasley, due to their freckle-faced asshole father, but he had been dead now and Hermione was going to need all the support she could get and so would they.
As he reached the front porch, Regulus had never considered how his coming to pay respects due to Hermione would look to anyone else. He had not made any real friends aside from the amber eyed witch since he arrived and the Malfoys were family. He figured the least he could do was knowledge her grief.
Taking a breath as he knocked on the door once it opened, Regulus had been treated to a room of somber faces as they gathered around each other in mourning. The awkward American wizard had barely gotten out a word before Hermione had come running toward him and threw her arms around his neck as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
Regulus closed his eyes taking in the familiar scent of jasmine in her bushy hair. He tried his best not to become too caught up in the moment, as it was only taking place due to her idiot husband's death.
The eyes of the grieving Weasley clan fell upon him and he suddenly pulled back not wishing to appear rude. Ron Weasley was not his favorite person but he meant no disrespect in the wake of his arrival.
The narrowed eyes of Molly Weasley fell upon the strange looking young wizard as she noted the distinct familiarity of his appearance.
Without warning she drew her wand aiming it at the rather confused lad with an intent behind her eyes that did little to foster hope in the Hogwarts house of Gryffindor.
"Severus Snape you have some nerve showing up here after all you've done...especially to my Ginny!" She said angrily.
Regulus' eyes widened in confusion. He had no idea why this strange woman had been so upset by his appearance or what it had to do with his father, but Ron Weasley's suspicion of him was starting to make sense.
His father had apparently done a good deal of harm to these people and it was because of that, they seemed to have a mistrust of all things Snape.
Hermione turned to meet her mother in-laws fierce gaze.
"This isn't Professor Snape." she said sadly. "It's..."
"I'm his son." replied Regulus meeting the eyes of Molly Weasley with no fear or shame in being the spawn of a wizard so despised by those he once fought along side.
"Son?" asked Arthur Weasley stunned at the implication. "S-Severus had a son?"
Regulus nodded meeting the eyes of the Weasley family Patriarch.
"How in Merlin's name did he manage to have a child and remain in Dumbledore's custody?" asked Molly Weasley looking the younger wizard over. "An have him be a yank at that?"
Regulus rolled his eyes, apparently this was where Ronald Weasley had gotten his brand of manners.
"He and my mother married young." replied the raven haired wizard.
"I'll say." replied the Weasley Matriarch doing the math. "He must have been about eighteen when you came about."
Arthur Weasley couldn't believe his eyes.
All this time, Severus Snape had been no different than any other wizard whom had been fighting those long wars. He had a wife and a child to protect as well and it propelled him to do the unthinkable in the hopes of saving them from future harm.
"Well it seems you are quite familiar with our Hermione." he said eyeing Regulus closely after recalling their earlier embrace. "Did you know our Ronald as well?"
Regulus nodded not wishing to speak ill of the recently dead younger Weasley wizard.
"He and I were...acquainted." he said as politely as he could manage.
Harry Potter had not known what to say about anything truth be told. He had still been in a state of absolute shock upon finding Ron had been killed once he and Hermione returned from the Forbidden Forest.
The so called "dark wizard" Arcturus had made this war personal when he decided to kill his brother in law and old friend Kingsley Shacklebolt. Now, Harry Potter had intended to ensure he knew just what happened to those before that had taken it upon themselves to attack people that he loved.
"I...I should leave you all to your mourning." said Regulus feeling even more out of place the longer he stayed. "I know what it feels like to have to plan a funeral."
He took his leave without any fuss or fanfare from the Weasleys or Potters. It was an altogether somber experience being among them in the wake of Ronald Weasley's death. A sickeningly embittered feeling filled the raven haired wizard as he took off well into the night. The losses he has suffered in the form of his parents had never stopped hurting and the heartbroken Regulus found it difficult to push back the rapid fire memories of such harsh and emotionally crippling experiences. In any case, it was just as well that he left them to their grief, he had never cared for Ron Weasley and his death meant nothing to him.