DISCLAIMER: Okay, let's go. I do NOT own any of the characters recognisable here. HOWEVER, Astrid, Tarquin, Nova, Niall, Roman and Pat Keelin I DO own. The rest of the Harry Potter gang all belong to JK Rowling and I am not that lucky to actually own any of them, drat it.
AUTHOR: Calex/Darryl/L88er-az, Aida. Whatever you know me as.
RATING: PG-13
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sigh. I'm thinking of possible abandonment of this fic. It isn't doing so well and I'm preoccupied with my other stuff (check out 'Slytherins and Redheaded Gryffindor Girls', 'Artistry With Words' and…some other stuff. Roman is a main character in AwW). Slytherins is doing great, which is cool. Great as in good enough for me and stuff.
DEDICATIONS: To my faithful beta, Silveretta. Lunatic Ladybug, a newbie but who's already wrote loads. Your stuff's great, Nicki. Can't wait for more. I'll call and we'll talk Draco/Faith pairings. She also writes on AdultFanFiction.Net under BlackButterfly.
LAST WE SAW OF OUR HEROES: Right. Draco, Ginny and Niall come into the picture. Draco reveals that Blaise was killed by Death Eaters led by Bellatrix Lestrange. She's almost inconsolable about Blaise, but Draco comforts her and she noticed something strange. Last chapter-ish:
She stared at Draco in the eyes and what she read in them made her jaw drop. A hand lifted, shaking, to cup his face. Then she stood on tip toes and gently kissed him on the mouth. There were horrified gasps and she heard a hoarse no! from a familiar voice. She pulled back and looked at him. Draco had not moved, his eyes steady. It confirmed her fears, his mouth had softened automatically on hers, had moved familiarly over hers. Only his mouth. And the arm that was now wrapped around her waist. She turned to Bill.
"Don't despair, love. Can't I kiss the father of my child?"
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Chapter 6
Nova was propped back in her bed, sipping delicately from a glass as she watched the proceedings with dark amusement. Her statement had been met with stunned silence. Then chaos had reigned supreme in which Bill had tried to join his fist with Draco's face. Ginny had screamed and Niall had tried to pull the two away while Nova was trying to drag Bill away while shouting at him to stop being an idiot. The doors to the Infirmary had banged open and three very stunned faces peered at the chaos inside. Professor McGonagall, Professor Roman Snape and Professor Severus Snape were in attendance.
"Break it up, the both of you!" Roman had roared as he flung himself between the two of them, only to howl in pain as Bill's fist met with his nose instead.
"Bill!"
"Roman!"
"You idiot!"
They had been screamed or shouted at the same time as the watched in horror the blood that seeped down Roman's, er, Roman nose (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). Pat had burst out of her office right as Roman slugged Bill who doubled over with a howl as Draco had simultaneously rammed his head into Bill's midsection.
"What is the meaning of this?" Pat had shouted.
"Roman!"
"Draco!"
"Bill!"
"Wonderful to see that adults can be our mature role models," a voice had drawled. They turned around to face the smirking face of Tarquin and the impassive one of Astrid.
"Tarquin," Draco smoothed his clothes, his tone one of adult authority. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"Professor McGonagall bade us to come to the Infirmary, father," Astrid said, quietly.
Draco had shot the headmistress a look of pure irritation. He cleared his throat, then cleared it again. Shot Ginny a look of plea.
"Aren't you going to give your aunt a hug?" she chastised gently as she saw two pairs of eyes swivel to her and guilt travel into them. Astrid reached Ginny first and gave her a small hug, breathing in the older woman's scent. Ginny hugged her back fiercely. Astrid had always tugged at her heart. There was something in the girl that called out to her maternal instincts.
"I've missed you, Aunt Ginny. You look well."
"You look tired. Are you working too much again?"
"You know the answer to that already."
Ginny sighed. "Yes, knowing you. Darling, being a prefect does not mean try and kill yourself. I was a prefect once and I still had the time to, uh, enjoy myself."
"Stir up trouble, more like," McGonagall snorted.
Ginny flushed. "Yes, that too."
"Oh, don't be too harsh on Ginger, Minnie. All of us were equally as bad. At least we weren't the Weasley twins, eh?" Draco grinned.
"Sometimes I'd like to beg to differ," McGonagall shot back. "Fred and George were bad, but you had Gryffindor courage, Slytherin cunning and Ravenclaw's detached cool-headedness on your side. And you put that to full advantage if I remember correctly."
"You do," Niall grinned at the woman. McGonagall merely rolled her eyes and muttered something about white bearded old buggers and odd revenge plans and how she'd be tempted to kill him if he weren't already dead.
The living members of the Indefinables roared with laughter. The rest grinned as well. Pat helped to get Roman, Bill and Draco onto beds to check them out. Tarquin placed a hand on Ginny's arm as she moved to her brother and she turned around, surprised. He gave her a hard hug, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around, surprising a laugh from her.
"Put me down, you incorrigible git!"
"Aunt Gin, I'm hurt. Don't you love me anymore?" Tarquin pouted with mock hurt in his tone. Ginny laughed.
"You know better. Come on, give us a kiss."
Tarquin obediently bent down and bestowed upon her a smacking kiss on her cheek that set her off laughing once more. She cupped his face in her hands and placed light kisses on it while he groaned and wriggled half heartedly in her grasp.
"How's my boy been doing?"
"Horribly in Transfiguration," McGonagall put in just as Tarquin opened his mouth. "As usual."
"Is it his performance, or is it merely innate laziness on his part?" Draco asked, all parent, now.
"Oh, he can perform. He's a natural. But he doesn't work, doesn't pay attention… In fact," a wicked look now on her face. "He rather reminds me of someone when they were in school. Hmm…let's see. Ah yes, you."
"I was not bad!"
Nova snickered. "Ah, yes, love. Yes you were."
"Talk about calling the kettle black! How about your performance in potions, young lady?"
"We're not speaking about me, dear Dragon heart of mine," she retorted. "Besides, I was a wonderful potions student."
A loud snort came from the general direction of Snape Snr. Nova looked rather put out.
"Oh, of course you had talent in that aspect!" Snape now looked exasperated. "You just never worked towards that talent! Except to cause trouble."
"And yet you liked me," she returned mockingly. Snape smirked.
"Naturally."
"As interesting as this is," Niall cut in, clearing his throat. A few people shot him incredulous looks and he shrugged. "In all politeness."
"Get with it, O'Rourke."
"I was about to "get with it" when certain gits stopped me," he said, glaring at Draco. He shrugged. Niall sniffed. "As I was saying, we've got some things we've got to clear up. Certain…revelations distracted us from the task we were going to do, tonight. That is to say, we have some questions to ask you, Nova."
"Out with it, then. What do you want to know?"
"How much of the past will change with you being here."
Those words put a damper to everyone. Some had forgotten this little thing. Some had overlooked it. Some simply didn't know. Either way, his words had the lightning quick effect of sobering the crowd.
"I…I don't really know," she admitted. "I mean, it hadn't happened yet. Shouldn't you be the one telling me of the consequences of my actions. Yet again? I mean, the last thought I had of you guys was that I'd never see you again. Yet I find out that, yes, I will. Have, in fact. That one of us is dead. That Lestrange is leading a revolt, so the hard work that we've put in to fell Voldemort has been absolutely pointless. That I have a son. Or a son AND a daughter. This is too much for me, I'm only 16. I haven't even thought about marriage, much, let alone children."
"Oh, Noe," Ginny's eyes teared up. "I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this. You're still so young, yet you're being put through all of this. I'm so sorry…"
"Hey," she said, gently. "Buck up. It wasn't you who brought me back, was it?"
"No," Ginny sniffed.
"You didn't help Lestrange lead the revolt, did you?"
"Of course not!" she looked indignant, now.
"You didn't put the crucio and killing curse on Blay, did you?"
"I'd never do such a thing," she said, horror colouring her eyes.
"You didn't make me pregnant, did you."
"It's not possible. And no."
"See," Nova's lips curved in a small smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, Cinn. What do you have to apologise for?"
"I…" lost for words, she looked at Nova. Then slowly smiled back. "I guess nothing."
"I can second that," Nova said, quietly. "No, you didn't do anything to apologise for. Nothing at all."
"She's right, Gin. This isn't any of our faults. We might not be able to stop wanting to kick ourselves, we have no reason to. We're blameless. Except for Draco," Niall shot his friend an amused look. The blond merely raised an eyebrow. He sighed.
"This is touching and all," Roman cut in drolly, "but some of us would actually like to be treated sometime soon." His nose sounded blocked and blood still poured out of it. Draco was sporting a bruised jaw and Bill was sporting a busted lip. Pat flushed and immediately began bustling to find potions and whatnot. She paused only long enough to wave everyone off except for the three and Nova. As Tarquin passed her bed, she placed a hand on his arm and he turned around.
"We need to talk, you and I," she said, quietly. "Some things have recently brought into light that I'm hoping you know more about than I do."
"Unfortunately, that might not be the case. However," he added with a smile at her fallen expression. "You're right. We do need to talk."
"Come and visit me, sometime."
"I'll be sure to."
Tarquin made to move again, but her quietly calling his name made him turn back once more.
"Tarquin?" she asked, almost timidly.
"Yeah?"
"Astrid," she hesitated. "Whose child is she? Is she…is she mine?"
"I…I don't know." Tarquin looked troubled. "As looks like father, so there are no clues. But she's a year younger than I am, and that'd be impossible. I just…I don't know."
"Will you bring her to our talk as well?"
"You'd like to have her there?" he sounded surprised. Nova nodded hesitantly.
"I think it would benefit all of us if she did."
"I…I'll tell her that."
"Good. Thank you."
He smiled, bent down to kiss her cheek. "It's no problem…Mum."
What they didn't know was that as Tarquin left, both wore identical silly grins on their faces.
"Professor Snape," a student called out as he ran into the infirmary. "Headmistress McGonagall requests that you come to her office at once."
"What's the problem?" Roman asked, already jumping out of the bed.
"Apparently you have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Roman looked confused and surprised.
"Yes. Apparently her name's-"
"Get the hell out of my way! My son's been hurt and I damn well will see him, even if I have to tear this place down, brick by brick, so help me God!"
Roman let out a tired sigh as the Infirmary doors slammed open and shut. A figure stormed into the room and stopped only when she saw him. Then she ran and the next thing everyone knew, Roman was being enveloped in a hug by a gorgeous older woman.
"Oh my poor baby! Where does it hurt? Who the hell did it? Do you want me to break his bones for you?" she cooed, stroking Roman's hair. Roman released a long suffering sigh.
"Ma, I'm fine."
"But-"
"Ma, I said I was fine!" he snapped. Then sighed again as an outraged looked crossed her face. He pinched the bridge of his nose. The other three occupants and student looked in fascination as the cool young Professor lost his famous calm and became frazzled.
"Ma, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude. Ma, talk to me. Ma. Ma, the silent treatment doesn't work anymore. Ma!"
"Don't take that tone on me, Roman Raquel Ares Snape!" she snapped. "I'm your mother and I can still take you over my knee."
"Such concern over my welfare," Roman said, drolly. "Ma, I said I was sorry. What are you doing here?"
"Fine greeting I get from my own son," she sniffed. "I heard you were hurt. I also heard one Nova de Mornay was back. My husband spoke highly of you."
"Thank you," she looked bemused. "It seems you have an advantage over me."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. My manners are atrocious. Nova, Bill, Malfoy, my mother: Venetia Camden Snape. Ma, you know Nova. That's Bill Weasley and Draco Malfoy."
Venetia smiled and regally inclined her head. the three merely echoed the gesture bemusedly. There was something very regal and commanding about the woman. They certainly could see why Snape married her. she was nothing short of gorgeous.
"Now that that's dispensed of, why don't you tell me your real reason for being here?" Roman asked, dryly. Venetia looked innocent, but Roman merely raised an eyebrow.
"What?" she asked, defensively. "Can't I visit my son when he's ill? Can't I visit my husband?"
"You forget that I know you far too long, mother. You taught me all your tricks, wench."
"And methinks you're too impertinent, boy," she sniffed. The young man raised an eyebrow.
"You do realise that I'm 34, right?"
"Of course I do, you nitwit," the woman snapped. "I gave birth to you. I suffered through 24 hours of agonising pain over you. I'd like to think that I know how old you are, at least."
"Sorry, ma'am," Roman lowered his head. She nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Now, you must be Nova."
Nova was startled from her amusement of watching Roman squirm. The woman's question brought her away from her comfortable place on the sidelines and she found herself the object of a piercing gaze. She had to swallow.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you're supposed to be from the future?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"My husband taught you in school?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She couldn't help but feel like a very young girl being interrogated by the headmistress. Even then she was never meek. She had been respectful towards Dumbledore, but she had never been meek.
"You were in Gryffindor."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you enjoyed potions."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you were good at it?" there was a sceptical tone in the woman's tone that made her bristle.
"I'd like to think that I am," she said, deliberately using the present tense in an apposition to the past tense that the woman had used. She'd expected perhaps a reprimand for being impertinent, like Roman had been. But she merely nodded, face neutral.
"Tell me, what was his behaviour like towards your housemates?"
Ah. How was she going to answer that?
"Do you want an honest answer?" she asked, frankly. She could swear the older woman was trying not to smile.
"If you will."
Nova nodded, took a deep breath. "Well, he wasn't very pleasant. In fact, I do believe he acted like a complete arsewipe. Hope you don't mind my language."
"No, not at all. Go on."
"Well," she hesitated. "As much as I respect the Professor, he had an entirely biased view of Gryffindor, especially the Boy Wonder, Harry. He completely hated them. Me, however, he was okay with since I hung around Draco and Blay. And I didn't act like the other sods in Gryffindor. And I'm actually competent in Potions without being a complete show off, know-it-all like Granger was. He always did say that he thought I should have been in Slytherin instead. His treatment towards my house was utterly appalling. He would look for the most miniscule of reasons to take away house points, especially from the Dream Team."
There was a pregnant pause where everyone seemed to hold their breaths. Then, Venetia started laughing. Nova let out a breath she hadn't realised that she had been holding. She grinned.
"Oh dear," Venetia said, wiping her eyes. "That did sound like him. Well," she smiled at them and then at her son. "I must be going, now. I'll see you soon, I need to talk to your father. Going to the grave, tonight?"
"I'll be there."
"Good. Your great-grandfather would want you to be there."
"You don't have to try and guilt me, mother," Roman rolled his eyes. "I was already planning on going."
Venetia merely raised an eyebrow and leaned down to kiss Roman's forehead. She smiled at the rest of them and swept regally out of the room. Before the door closed, however, they could hear her voice as it travelled through the room.
"Husband! Get your skinny white noble ass over here. We have things to talk about, you and I."
"Woman, the last time you wanted to talk, I had several bruises to contend with."
"If you don't, I'll make sure that bruises are the least you'll be contending with…"
Roman sighed. "My parents. The epitome of great parenthood, the ever absent, ex-Death Eater father, the flighty, powerful, impassioned and hot-headed Head Mistress of a mother. A father I had hated and rarely saw, and a mother I adored and chose to leave."
"Complicated."
"You don't know the half of it."
"So…" Nova turned to him. "Great-grandad. Who is he and why is his grave on or near Hogwarts."
"Possibly because he loves this place more than anything."
"Why would they allow it?" Bill asked, confused. A look of understanding dawned in Draco's eyes. He looked at Roman with something akin to horror on his face. And sympathy.
"Only one reason is there that people are buried on Hogwarts grounds," Draco said, slowly. "It's if they are the Head Master or Mistress of the school. Your great grand father was Dumbledore, wasn't he?"
All faces swung to face Roman, looks of curiosity on their faces. Roman shrugged.
"Yeah?"
The three looked at each other. Then at him. Then back at each other. Then burst out laughing. Roman rolled his eyes and sighed. Crossed his arms and relaxed back onto the bed, riding out the much needed laughter. They didn't notice the door slowly closing, almost silently, and the figure moving away from the Infirmary with a smile on her face. She straightened and met the amused gaze of Severus Snape.
"Not a word."
"Really, wife. Did you need to use those voice charms?"
"It was effective."
"I'm sure it was."
"I'm worried about them, Sev," she said, walking over towards him. "I don't know if they can handle what's coming."
Severus saw the tired look on her face and was instantly concerned. "You okay? Did you get a vision?"
"Yes."
"Blood and gore?"
"Enough to make me worry."
"Oh, Venetia," he sighed, wrapping his arms around the still slender woman. "I wish I could protect you from all of that. You're my wife and the fact that I can't do anything to help you…"
"I'm alright, Sev. I can handle it. I took it to grips when I realised that I was a seer. I needed to. I would have gone insane, otherwise." She leaned against his chest. "But sometimes…"
"I know. I know."
She sighed again. "I love you, Sev."
"I love you, too."
"Bed?"
"Thought you would never ask."
