Disclaimer: JKR owns everything. *sigh* Lucky her.
A/N: Again, extreme apology for the lateness of this chapter. Work, weddings, holidays, OH
MY!
The song included in this chapter was written and performed by JORDAN!!!! *Jordan from The
Destructive Duo* Oh the Irony of it all... You can find a clip of the song here:
http://141.154.216.90/lietoyou_clip.mp3
ENJOY!!!
Jordan hurried through the darkened corridors, barely dodging various teachers and *ahem* nasty
cats. Bursting into Gryffindor Tower, he ignored the curious stares, disappearing behind the door
to the dormitory he shared with the other fifth year boys.
Falling to his knees, he extracted from beneath his bed the one thing that would calm his nerves.
His guitar.
Slinging the strap over his shoulder, he touched the pendant hanging from his neck and recited
the charm to make himself - and the guitar - invisible.
Silently, he crept back out the portrait hole, heading for The Astronomy Tower.
Being the middle of winter, it was guaranteed to be empty. After all, snogging in freezing cold
weather and harsh, biting winds wasn't exactly appealing to most students.
Climbing the last step, he entered the cool air, moving to sit on one of the larger ledges. Pulling
the guitar over to lie on his lap, he strummed a few chords. They were angry, violent sounds;
everything he was feeling at that moment. Letting out the frustration he was feeling; whatever
bitterness lay beneath his icy skin.
Stopping abruptly, an anguished cry escaped his shivering lips. He felt tears begin to slide down
his cheeks, freezing over before they fell to the earth. Violent sobs racked through his body, and
he found himself powerless to stop it.
"MERLIN DAMN YOU, SEVERUS SNAPE!" He screamed into the bitter winter night. Mere
seconds after the words escaped his lips, he heard a shuffling of frenzied feet on the stairs to the
tower he was occupying.
Holding his breath, he wished the intruder away.
'Does no one listen to prayers and wishes?' He thought bitterly to himself as he watched his father
cross the threshold. The pale light of the moon danced on the older man's face, displaying an
array of emotions for Jordan to see.
Anger, confusion... regret? Guilt, perhaps?
'Well, that's certainly a change.' Jordan mused, raising his eyebrows. Throwing caution to the
wind, he began to strum out a light, eery melody.
~You blame me for everything,
It doesn't matter if I did it or not.
I can't change the way you feel,
I can't admit that I'm wrong.~
Severus spun about on his heels, trying to find the source of the music. Jordan moved gracefully
off the ledge, walking silently across the room. One advantage, besides invisibility, that the
pendant had was the ability to walk through solid objects. Including his father.
~We're just too different,
But they don't see it.~
Severus shivered as he felt something sharp and icy move through his body. Turning around, he
followed the sound of the music out of the tower and down the stairs.
~I didn't lie to you,
I just did exactly what you told me to.
I didn't try to abuse
The knowledge you gave me now I fear I'm falling away.
Away, yeah yeah!~
"Jordan?" Severus whispered in inquiry, while following the traveling music to the dungeons.
"Bloody hell," he murmured when he got no response. "He's gone and hexed me!"
Jordan stifled a laugh at this comment, continuing with the song.
~I don't understand you,
I don't understand myself sometimes.
They say I'm just like you too,
But I'm not understanding why.~
Jordan walked through the brick wall that led to his father's private study. Hearing the music now
in his study, Severus lifted the wards and stepped through the door.
~We're just too different,
I just can't see it.~
Moving along the many rows of bookshelves, Jordan began tipping books from their places.
Severus' eyes grew wide in horror, flinching in pain when one of the books hit him square in the
head.
~I didn't lie to you,
I just did exactly what you told me to.
I didn't try to abuse,
The knowledge you gave me now I fear I'm falling away.
Away, yeah yeah!~
Picking up the offending book, he read the title. "Parenthood for Dummies." It was the book
Hermione had given him when she announced she was expecting Taryn.
"Jordan." He called out tentatively. "Jordan, this isn't funny!"
Barely ducking in time to avoid another flying book, Severus watched with fascination as it fell
on the binding, opening to the center page. It was Jordan's baby book, and the page it had opened
to was a photo of himself with his newborn son.
Glancing up from the picture, Severus stared into the empty air. The music was fading away
quickly. Soon, it was gone completely.
"Oh, for the love of Merlin!" He muttered in exasperation, fighting the tears that threatened to
spew forth. Picking up both books, he hurried from the room; intent on reaching Gryffindor
Tower in under 3 seconds.
Satisfied, Jordan hurried through various walls and halls, until he entered his dormitory. Slipping
the guitar back into it's hiding place, he chucked off his cloaks and shoes, slipping silently into
bed.
He closed his eyes just as the door to the dormitory creaked open once more.
Severus stared at the slumbering figure that was his son. Guilt washed over him. Exiting the
room and closing the door softly behind him, Severus leaned against the doorframe.
"What have I done?" He choked out, closing his eyes as wave after wave of guilty pain ripped
through his aging body. Sighing heavily, he hurried from Gryffindor Tower before anyone found
him.
He was almost at the foot of the dungeons when he was stopped.
"Severus!" Albus beamed, embracing the forlorn Potions master. "I must thank you!"
"For what?" Severus muttered, anxious to escape to the confines of his empty study.
"For finally installing the music charm in the corridors!" Albus' eyes twinkled merrily. "The one I
asked you to do 3 years ago..."
"I did?"
"I heard it, and followed it here." Albus frowned slightly, scratching his head in thought. "But
then it stopped. Are you working on it?"
"Well- I..."
"Simply beautiful!" The Headmaster cut him off, smiling proudly. "Where ever did you find such
a song?"
"Albus! I didn't put anything up! I-"
"You didn't?" There was a heavy pause, followed by a twinkle of delight in Albus' eyes. "Waiting
for my birthday, are you?" He grinned knowingly, patting Severus on the shoulder, moving
slowly up the stairs. "Well, I'll just pretend to be surprised when it's finished!" He called out with
a hearty chuckle, leaving Severus alone in the dark.
Sighing wearily, Severus entered his study.
"Hermione?" His wife was curled up in one of the large, leather armchairs by the fire; a large
tome on music charms settled in her lap.
"So you've finally decided to work on that music charm for Albus." She stated, flipping
absentmindedly through the worn pages. "It's been, what? Three years? What made you decide to
start now?"
"I just...No!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. There is no charm - music...THING!"
"Severus Snape. How dare you snap at me." She scolded gently, before grinning and moving out
of her seat to embrace him lovingly.
"'Mione." He murmured, falling into the chair behind his desk. "I'm terrible." He rest his head in
his hands, allowing the long, gray streaked, black locks fall into his sullen face. "It's all my fault."
"What do you mean?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, moving to sit in the chair opposite his
own. "I thought it sounded lovely."
"No!" He snapped in irritation. He instantly regretted it, and shot an apologetic glance at his wife.
"You, Taryn...Jordan. Jordan especially...I've let you all down!"
"What brought all of this on?" Hermione cocked her head to the side, a worried expression on her
care-worn face.
"Jordan hexed me."
"HE WHAT?!"
"Or guilt...Maybe it's me. Maybe it IS guilt." Finally he looked up, staring into Hermione's eyes; a
pained expression on his face. "I've lost him, love." Severus sighed in defeat, reaching across to
hold Hermione's hands. "And I don't want to lose you and Taryn too."
"Severus, You're not making much sense."
"Well sense never made much." He lifted himself from his seat, moving to stand before the fire.
Staring into the dancing flames, he folded his arms across his chest and let the tears run freely.
"Maybe you should talk to him." Her voice was gentle, the warm hand on his shoulder insisting.
"And if you need us, Taryn and I will be there for you. Like we always have been, like we always
will be."
"I know what I have to say, but I don't know if I can say it."
"Is it that hard to admit that you love him?" Hermione wiped the tears away from her husbands
eyes. "Severus?" She kissed him gently, resting her head on his shoulder and letting her arms
encircle his tall frame.
"No." He whispered in response, shocked at the truth of it all. Placing a kiss on Hermione's head,
he smiled through the tears. "I love you." He added, walking with her into their bedroom.
"I know."
The lights in the room dimmed, the muffled sounds of love moved through the night air.
And for the first time in three months, Severus Snape found himself not sleeping on the couch.
~*~
A/N: Again, extreme apology for the lateness of this chapter. Work, weddings, holidays, OH
MY!
The song included in this chapter was written and performed by JORDAN!!!! *Jordan from The
Destructive Duo* Oh the Irony of it all... You can find a clip of the song here:
http://141.154.216.90/lietoyou_clip.mp3
ENJOY!!!
Jordan hurried through the darkened corridors, barely dodging various teachers and *ahem* nasty
cats. Bursting into Gryffindor Tower, he ignored the curious stares, disappearing behind the door
to the dormitory he shared with the other fifth year boys.
Falling to his knees, he extracted from beneath his bed the one thing that would calm his nerves.
His guitar.
Slinging the strap over his shoulder, he touched the pendant hanging from his neck and recited
the charm to make himself - and the guitar - invisible.
Silently, he crept back out the portrait hole, heading for The Astronomy Tower.
Being the middle of winter, it was guaranteed to be empty. After all, snogging in freezing cold
weather and harsh, biting winds wasn't exactly appealing to most students.
Climbing the last step, he entered the cool air, moving to sit on one of the larger ledges. Pulling
the guitar over to lie on his lap, he strummed a few chords. They were angry, violent sounds;
everything he was feeling at that moment. Letting out the frustration he was feeling; whatever
bitterness lay beneath his icy skin.
Stopping abruptly, an anguished cry escaped his shivering lips. He felt tears begin to slide down
his cheeks, freezing over before they fell to the earth. Violent sobs racked through his body, and
he found himself powerless to stop it.
"MERLIN DAMN YOU, SEVERUS SNAPE!" He screamed into the bitter winter night. Mere
seconds after the words escaped his lips, he heard a shuffling of frenzied feet on the stairs to the
tower he was occupying.
Holding his breath, he wished the intruder away.
'Does no one listen to prayers and wishes?' He thought bitterly to himself as he watched his father
cross the threshold. The pale light of the moon danced on the older man's face, displaying an
array of emotions for Jordan to see.
Anger, confusion... regret? Guilt, perhaps?
'Well, that's certainly a change.' Jordan mused, raising his eyebrows. Throwing caution to the
wind, he began to strum out a light, eery melody.
~You blame me for everything,
It doesn't matter if I did it or not.
I can't change the way you feel,
I can't admit that I'm wrong.~
Severus spun about on his heels, trying to find the source of the music. Jordan moved gracefully
off the ledge, walking silently across the room. One advantage, besides invisibility, that the
pendant had was the ability to walk through solid objects. Including his father.
~We're just too different,
But they don't see it.~
Severus shivered as he felt something sharp and icy move through his body. Turning around, he
followed the sound of the music out of the tower and down the stairs.
~I didn't lie to you,
I just did exactly what you told me to.
I didn't try to abuse
The knowledge you gave me now I fear I'm falling away.
Away, yeah yeah!~
"Jordan?" Severus whispered in inquiry, while following the traveling music to the dungeons.
"Bloody hell," he murmured when he got no response. "He's gone and hexed me!"
Jordan stifled a laugh at this comment, continuing with the song.
~I don't understand you,
I don't understand myself sometimes.
They say I'm just like you too,
But I'm not understanding why.~
Jordan walked through the brick wall that led to his father's private study. Hearing the music now
in his study, Severus lifted the wards and stepped through the door.
~We're just too different,
I just can't see it.~
Moving along the many rows of bookshelves, Jordan began tipping books from their places.
Severus' eyes grew wide in horror, flinching in pain when one of the books hit him square in the
head.
~I didn't lie to you,
I just did exactly what you told me to.
I didn't try to abuse,
The knowledge you gave me now I fear I'm falling away.
Away, yeah yeah!~
Picking up the offending book, he read the title. "Parenthood for Dummies." It was the book
Hermione had given him when she announced she was expecting Taryn.
"Jordan." He called out tentatively. "Jordan, this isn't funny!"
Barely ducking in time to avoid another flying book, Severus watched with fascination as it fell
on the binding, opening to the center page. It was Jordan's baby book, and the page it had opened
to was a photo of himself with his newborn son.
Glancing up from the picture, Severus stared into the empty air. The music was fading away
quickly. Soon, it was gone completely.
"Oh, for the love of Merlin!" He muttered in exasperation, fighting the tears that threatened to
spew forth. Picking up both books, he hurried from the room; intent on reaching Gryffindor
Tower in under 3 seconds.
Satisfied, Jordan hurried through various walls and halls, until he entered his dormitory. Slipping
the guitar back into it's hiding place, he chucked off his cloaks and shoes, slipping silently into
bed.
He closed his eyes just as the door to the dormitory creaked open once more.
Severus stared at the slumbering figure that was his son. Guilt washed over him. Exiting the
room and closing the door softly behind him, Severus leaned against the doorframe.
"What have I done?" He choked out, closing his eyes as wave after wave of guilty pain ripped
through his aging body. Sighing heavily, he hurried from Gryffindor Tower before anyone found
him.
He was almost at the foot of the dungeons when he was stopped.
"Severus!" Albus beamed, embracing the forlorn Potions master. "I must thank you!"
"For what?" Severus muttered, anxious to escape to the confines of his empty study.
"For finally installing the music charm in the corridors!" Albus' eyes twinkled merrily. "The one I
asked you to do 3 years ago..."
"I did?"
"I heard it, and followed it here." Albus frowned slightly, scratching his head in thought. "But
then it stopped. Are you working on it?"
"Well- I..."
"Simply beautiful!" The Headmaster cut him off, smiling proudly. "Where ever did you find such
a song?"
"Albus! I didn't put anything up! I-"
"You didn't?" There was a heavy pause, followed by a twinkle of delight in Albus' eyes. "Waiting
for my birthday, are you?" He grinned knowingly, patting Severus on the shoulder, moving
slowly up the stairs. "Well, I'll just pretend to be surprised when it's finished!" He called out with
a hearty chuckle, leaving Severus alone in the dark.
Sighing wearily, Severus entered his study.
"Hermione?" His wife was curled up in one of the large, leather armchairs by the fire; a large
tome on music charms settled in her lap.
"So you've finally decided to work on that music charm for Albus." She stated, flipping
absentmindedly through the worn pages. "It's been, what? Three years? What made you decide to
start now?"
"I just...No!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air. There is no charm - music...THING!"
"Severus Snape. How dare you snap at me." She scolded gently, before grinning and moving out
of her seat to embrace him lovingly.
"'Mione." He murmured, falling into the chair behind his desk. "I'm terrible." He rest his head in
his hands, allowing the long, gray streaked, black locks fall into his sullen face. "It's all my fault."
"What do you mean?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, moving to sit in the chair opposite his
own. "I thought it sounded lovely."
"No!" He snapped in irritation. He instantly regretted it, and shot an apologetic glance at his wife.
"You, Taryn...Jordan. Jordan especially...I've let you all down!"
"What brought all of this on?" Hermione cocked her head to the side, a worried expression on her
care-worn face.
"Jordan hexed me."
"HE WHAT?!"
"Or guilt...Maybe it's me. Maybe it IS guilt." Finally he looked up, staring into Hermione's eyes; a
pained expression on his face. "I've lost him, love." Severus sighed in defeat, reaching across to
hold Hermione's hands. "And I don't want to lose you and Taryn too."
"Severus, You're not making much sense."
"Well sense never made much." He lifted himself from his seat, moving to stand before the fire.
Staring into the dancing flames, he folded his arms across his chest and let the tears run freely.
"Maybe you should talk to him." Her voice was gentle, the warm hand on his shoulder insisting.
"And if you need us, Taryn and I will be there for you. Like we always have been, like we always
will be."
"I know what I have to say, but I don't know if I can say it."
"Is it that hard to admit that you love him?" Hermione wiped the tears away from her husbands
eyes. "Severus?" She kissed him gently, resting her head on his shoulder and letting her arms
encircle his tall frame.
"No." He whispered in response, shocked at the truth of it all. Placing a kiss on Hermione's head,
he smiled through the tears. "I love you." He added, walking with her into their bedroom.
"I know."
The lights in the room dimmed, the muffled sounds of love moved through the night air.
And for the first time in three months, Severus Snape found himself not sleeping on the couch.
~*~