Chapter 12

Death Becomes Her


***

The Daily Prophet

Katerina Malfoy Murdered!

The wife of Hogwarts Graduate, Draco Charles Malfoy, was found murdered today outside of the Hogwarts School grounds. Katerina Elisabeth Malfoy, was the daughter of the famous french wizard, Jonathan Steelford, and his wife, Adriana Melborn Steelford. Katerina leaves behind her husband, Draco, and one son, Lucius Draco Malfoy, and recently a baby daughter, Andrea Jennifer Malfoy.

The young Mister Malfoy seems to be well despite his recent loss. He has been seen in the company of several young beautiful witches. Mainly most of the Hogwarts female staff.

Word has it that the young wife of Harry Potter, who is a new Professor at Hogwarts, has caught his wondering eye. Hermione Granger Potter and Harry Potter have been married almost five years now, and have no children of their own. Perhaps young Mrs. Potter has been holding out for the attention of Draco, hmm?

Only time will tell us.

***

"Oh, I'm going to be sick."

Severus grinned as Hermione tossed back the gossip rag at him. "It's a shame about Katerina though." He murmured sadly. "She was a good student."

"I met her before she married Draco in my sixth year," Hermione replied, then mentioned as an after thought. "By the time we were nineteen she already had little Luke. He was so adorable, Severus. You'd never think he was a Malfoy."

Severus grinned again. But there was a new sadness on his face.

"What?"

"You really want a child, don't you?"

"I do." She said.

"Then why don't you have one with Potter?"

His question shocked her in more ways than she could have dreamed of. What the hell is he thinking? I do want a child, but my marriage is insane right now. I don't even know if I love my husband, and he's telling me to have his child? What the fuck?

"Severus, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm an old man, Hermione," Severus began gently in a whisper beside her in the Great Hall, and gave her a knowingly look. "I'm in my late forties Hermione, and you are barely twenty-two. You have a young man who loves you, even though you don't want to see it because of your feelings for me, and he wants to have the family you've always wanted now. Be happy, Hermione. Go and see him in London."

Severus got up to leave the table but she grabbed him hard on his left arm. She wasn't going to just agree and walk away so easily.

Not without knowing what brought on the sudden change of heart.

"Severus, why are you saying this?" She hissed, her voice hushed. "I thought we were getting closer again. Why do you want me with Harry?"

"Tonight I'm going on a raid with Voldermort." He whispered sadly, sitting beside her again, as they were getting more than afew stares. "It's- for the best you go home. Potter will take care of you."

"Voldermort?" Hermione nearly cried, his hand muffling her mouth.

"Yes, be quiet!"

"But Harry killed him five years ago." Hermione cried, her voice frightened.

He grasped her now shaking hands with his under the table.

"He's stronger, Hermione." He said back. "He has a new body. Just trust me when I say go home."

"No." She protested passionately. "I want to help you. He'll hurt you like before."

"Please, my love." He whispered in her hair. "Calm yourself. People are looking at us."

"I don't care anymore." She hissed through her tears. "I love you, dammit!"

He grinned at hearing those lovely words. "And I love you. But we've always known that. It just took us too long to see it. That's why you must give Potter the chance he deserves. You've held yourself back from him out of your love for me. I don't want you to do that anymore."

"You can't order me who to love."

"Hermione." He whispered, not resisting anymore. He touched her face. "I'm likely not coming back. The Dark Lord likes his main Death Eaters close. If by chance he's discovered I'm a spy, and this is a trap, I know I won't be back. That's why you must agree to move on, love. For me."

"Okay..." She choked.

He gave her the briefest of kisses on her soft lips and swept out of the Great Hall.

Every eye in the room was on him. Before you knew it he was gone.

***

The forest was dark. It was nearly three in the morning when Snape reached the new clearing.

He had carefully avoided Hermione for the rest of the day.

If he had to bid her another good-bye, he was certain it would have killed them both.

"Severus." a voice said.

It was Lucius Malfoy.

"Malfoy, where are the others?"

"In due time, Severus." Lucius sneered. "The Lord wanted you to be the first to see his new body. He is quite proud of it."

"Well, where the hell is he?"

"Here, Snape." a dark and evil, yet familiar voice said.

Severus turned and nearly fell over from his shock.

It was Potter.

***