Note: In chapter 1 part 1 it was a bit confusing but the
main thing you need to know is that for these next few chapters and that one
these are simply back round info stuff. When I'm finished writing all that I
will most likely make a big sign saying Part2. Ok that's it! Enjoy!
4 years Later
Maxamilliana Jamie Potter stared up at Hermione with her big warm brown eyes. Her black hair glistened in the sunlit glow of Heaven. Her innocence was captured like a picture in the way she laughed and smiled. She held so much of Harry in that musical laugh. She missed him every day.
They sat together, mother and daughter, on a sunny Sunday afternoon playing with Maxas winged ponies. She giggled light heartedly as her favorite pony, Apple, licked her. Hermione smiled. A real smile, that is. The kind that she only smiled when she was with Maxa. For that was the only time she was really happy.
Of course Maxa was her reason. Her reason to stay. And of course Hermione remembered. The night was cold and the air was crisp…
4 years earlier
Her glass shattered against the marble floor. She made no move to clean it up. She surly hadn't heard right. WE??? No way were they having a baby. And instantaneously she knew. It was hers and Harry's child. And all at once she was happy, sad, furious and many other things. This was what Harry and her had always dreamed off. A child of their own. But because of this evil man she knew she'd have to raise it on her own. With him. And at that moment she made a vow. She wouldn't let Claude be the child's father. He would play no part. She owed that to Harry. He owed that to Harry.
So that night she returned to her room. And she did wait for Claude to sleep. But she didn't jump. She cried herself to sleep. She loved Harry, but from that second she knew there was a life in her, she knew she couldn't leave. She loved it…it was her motherly instinct. And she knew the jump would kill it.
But that was over with now. Now there was at least some happiness to her tragic life in heaven. When Maxa had been born she named the little girl right away. Claude had tried in every way to but in…play some role in father. But she cut him out. She named the girl with her fathers' last name. She never addressed Claude as daddy in front of Maxa. Instead she become even more distant, and addressed him as Master Richards. He hated it, but what was he to do?? He tried desperately to weasel his way in, and to Hermiones disgust he won. She called him daddy…
1 year earlier
The afternoon was late. The sun was hot. And Hermione was tired. She'd suffered through many endless days. She was happy of course, but dead tired. She laughed at her own pun…dead tired. But even laughing was hard to accomplish. Maxa was sick and therefore restless. But now Hermione escaped to the peace and quit of the riverside for a stroll. She was leaving Nanny Katherine to watch over Maxa. Katherine of course was chosen as her nanny. She had grown to love Katherine…the only real person she could talk to, about almost everything.
Now she strolled along the quit riverside sorting out her various thoughts. She had recently found a way to track Harry's whereabouts and well-being. But she couldn't communicate to him. After all she still was the devious Miss. Granger. Miss. Granger. The thought stuck in her head. Exactly 4 years ago this day she was supposed to become the Devious Mrs. Potter. That dream however, had fluttered out the window. But then again another dream had fluttered in. She smiled slightly.
Harry was…well she couldn't really say ok. He was sad, and devastated. And to Hermiones relief single. He had taken up a career in music. His band was quit a hit actually. That was her next project. Tracking a mortal radio station so she could hear his music. He must be great, she thought. Well he'd be perfect in my eyes. Other than that success, he was miserable. He couldn't live without Hermione. In a small, awful way she was happy about this. But then again she wanted Harry to be happy. She drifted off in her thoughts….
Meanwhile back at the castle Claude made his swift and awful move. Katherine realized that things hadn't been going to well in there relationship. They weren't married, and for what reason Katherine would never know. So she made a quick and brilliant decision. Claude wasn't exactly playing much of a roll as father and Hermione was always sad. So, Katherine thought, I'll cheer her up! I'll help Claude become a father. So she came up with a quick alibi and left the young Maxa with Claude. Brilliant, she thought, brilliant!
It seemed her plan was going to work for Claude seemed exceptionally happy when Katherine left Maxa with him. She smiled to herself and waltzed off to the market.
Hermione reached the edge of the river where it led into the forest, and decided she should head home. Little Maxa wasn't used to being away from her this long. So she turned and headed back. When she reached the castle entrance she took a turn to the left, and headed towards Katherines cottage. When she arrived no one was there. She walked around to the garden where Maxa loved to play and checked, but no Maxa! She felt her heart pound, and her head spin. She ran to the stables and yelled Maxas name out in panic. There was no reply. Simply the thudding sound of her beating heart.
She tried to calm down and think the dilemma through sensibly but all she could think of was the many awful possibilities: She's fallen in the lake and can't swim, she got loose in the dragon cage… and worse of all but definitely not possible Claude has her. No, she told herself, Katherine wouldn't. Yet she ran the whole length to the castle.
She came bursting through the front doors yelling Maxas name. It echoed after her. Silence. She ran up and down every corridor breathing hard and tearing up. And a last a reply echoed.
"Mommy? Mommy?"
Hermione gasped.
"Maxa, Maxa! Where are you! Maxa, Oh God, answer me!" Where was that voice coming from?
"Mommy! I'm here! I'm here!"
"Where sweetie! Where?!"
"I'm with daddy"
Hermiones heart stopped. She felt the absence of its quickened beat.
"Maxa…" She stuttered "what was that you said?"
"I'm with daddy! We're ok! Don't worry! We're in the library!"
There was a long steady silence and a door slammed.
"Mommy?"
Hermione ran. She ran faster than ever before. She didn't know where she was going but she ran as far as she could from the castle where her daughter lay in the hands of a monster. Tears streaked her face. She fell down and lay there for what seemed forever. She sobbed quietly into the silent night.
********************
Hermione sat gazing at her daughter, while she rambled on unawhere of the watchful eyes. Across the table Claude ate his food not once looking at the little darling speaking. Hermione rolled her eyes…that was the difference. She didn't care if her daughter spoke nonsense forever, she'd listen. That was the motherly love she possessed. But Claude couldn't feel that way. He wasn't a father, as hard as he may try to play the role. After all even the awfulest man could be a father if it were his true child. But Claude just sat eating not listening to a world maxa said. Hermione heard everything.
"…then I said to Petey that I didn't care if he did have the finest ponies in all of Heaven I still loved Apple better!"
"More"
"What?"
"I said more…you say more not better"
"Oh…ok! But then Petey said that I was a stupid girl and I didn't know anything, so I kicked him!"
"You what!?"
"I kicked him!"
"Maxamilliana Jamie Potter! Why'd you do an awful thing like that?! You know very well not to retaleate! And specialy not in such a violent manner! I'm surprised at you!"
"I'm sorry mommy." She frowned "But he did deserve it!"
Hermione giggled
"well…ok …but next time just ignore little Petey You know he thinks very highly of himself….just remember that!"
"Ok!" she smiled and continued on. Hermione smiled but stopped her daughter.
"Maxa as interesting as this all is you haven't touched any of your food and I'm not sending you to bed on an empty stomache!"
"Ok! Well then I just won't go to bed!" She giggled at her clever solution.
"Very funny! Now eat!"
Maxa smiled and obediently shuvled down her food. Hermione returned to her own plate, where she had absentmindedly been spreading her food about. She smiled thinking about the times she'd do that as a little girl when there was something she didn't particularly like. Now she piled the lasanga back up and ate it quietly.
"Ok I'm done! Whats for desert?!" Maxa looked around excitedly
"Desert? Who said anything about desert?"
Maxa frowned.
"We always have desert!"
"Yes and we always work poor Mistress Silvia to death!" Hermioen smiled "I gave her the day off1"
"But then how will we get desert??" Maxa asked not grasping the concept.
Claude, finally rejoining the group chuckled and said "I'll take you for some icecream1"
Hermiones eyes turned cold.
"You'll do no such thing!"
"But mommy—"
" No 'Buts'! I've made a nice fruit salad with whipped cream. You may have some of that."
"But I want icecream!"
"Maxa did I tell you we were having fruit salad or not!?"
"Yes, but I want—"
"Young lady you have two options, fruit salad or bed?"
"But mommy that's not fair!"
"Alright I suppose it will have to be bed! Hurry on upstairs and get your pajamas on. I'll be up to tuck you as soon as you brush your teeth."
"MOMMY! That's not fair!" Maxa yelled tearing up.
"Maxa I am not going to listen to your whines. Now scat!"
"Mommy! I don wanna!" She whined, her face screwing up into a tearful mess.
Hermione gave her a look and she left the table in silent sobs.
"What was that for?"
"What was what for!?"
"Oh come now you know what I mean!"
"I'm afraid I don't!"
"Oh Hermes all the kid wanted was some real desert! Fruit isn't any treat!"
"First of all don't call me 'Hermes'!" Hermione said standing up and raising her voice "And second you are NOT her father! The child needs some discipline in her life! Not to mention health! Having fruit one night out of 7 every week could only help! And last I am her mother. I will raise my child the way I wish and if you dare interfere…" Hermione gave him a deathly look.
With that she stormed out of the dining hall.
********************
That night Hermione sat on the edge of Maxas bead combing out Maxas long silky hair. Her daughter had been abnormally quite since dinner.
"You know I can't appolagize to you Maxa." Hermione stated gently.
There was no answer.
"I love you and I'm sorry you can't always get what you desire most but you need more discipline in your life. You're a great girl and so I don't have trouble with you, but when I put my foot down you need to accept it."
Maxa didn't answer and Hermione sighed.
Then a quite timid voice squeaked out "I love you too, mommy"
Hermione stopped brushing and walked around to face her daughter.
"Well good. And remember I always will. No matter what. You're my only family and I need you. Now it's time for lights out. Hop on in bed."
"Sing me a song?"
"Ok, a short one." Hermione answered pulling the covers up around little Maxa.
Hermione sang softly as Maxa slipped into a deep sleep.
********************