Chapter 2 - " Love reigns eternal."

Hermione and Severus where sitting in front of the fire on the couch in Severus' room. The fire was blazing and the room was warmer than it looked. Its stone walls and dark furniture made it appear cold, much like its proprietor.

"Severus how did you cope all those years apart? I was ready to give up at anytime, but seeing so much of you in Diana kept me sane." Said Hermione quietly as she looked at Severus from the opposite end of the couch and sipped her coffee.

"I don't know, I didn't dwell on it. I suppose I thought you regretted me; I pushed you from my mind. It was easy to do during school hours; I mean I had so much work. It was when I let my mind wander that I fell into the despair of missing you. Hermione I never stopped loving you, but I didn't think you were ever going to walk back through my door, so I gave up the thoughts and got on with it. The pain has always been here but after some time it became a dull ache rather than the searing pain I had been harbouring. You see, I have already lost so much, this just seemed to add to the long list of things I ought not have in life." Severus mused as he stared into the flames.

He looked up at Hermione, who had been reduced to silent tears at the end of the couch.

"Why are you crying? It is me that has had the pain, not you. I drove my family away with words of hate and mistrust. You have kept all your friends and family with the words of love you uttered even in the most difficult situation." Said Severus almost admirably.

"I know Severus, but I added to the pain, maybe you would have been a changed man if you had known you had a daughter, I mean I know you wouldn't suddenly become a cheery and jolly man but still maybe a bit less formidable." She said through her tears.

Severus chuckled darkly. A bit less formidable, maybe he could try. Hadn't it always been his dream to have a child of his own? To be able to treat them with the love his family had never given him? Hadn't he always wanted a child to watch as they grew? Well he could have it all now.

"Hermione were have you been living all this time?" Severus asked after a long silence.

"Erm you won't believe it. It's ironic really. We found a place in a village called Snape. It's really pretty. We live at 5 Meadow Lane." Hermione said as she watched Severus facial expression change.

"Do you know it?" she inquired.

Severus looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he laughed rather darkly.

"Yes I do know it. Do you know if the big mansion is still standing?" he asked in interest.

"Erm yes it is, true it is covered in ivy and the grounds are becoming a bit unkempt, but it's still there. Why do you ask?" she said as she took a mouthful of coffee.

"Because it is mine. I was hoping the godforsaken place had fallen to the ground!" he said and seeing the look of puzzlement on Hermione's face he continued. "It was my childhood home, I mean residence. My father was the owner of the estate, and in his will he left it to me. I was exiled from it after I brought shame on our family by becoming a death eater. Actually I was exiled when I was found out to be a death eater. Because people knew it was shameful, truth was both he and my brother were death eaters too. I never knew this until he died and when I found out I hated him even more. When I was exiled all the estate and the house was given over to my brother and his family, but Voldemort murdered him before he had a child. So being the only member of our family left, the estate was given to me. I hate it. It reminds me how my father cared more about public opinion than about his son."

Severus bent his head down and looked into the depth of his coffee.

"Severus, I'm sorry, I never knew." Said Hermione quietly. "But why don't you sort the house out and re-sell it, I'm sure you could get money for it, quiet a lot in fact."

"Actually Hermione I was thinking of sorting it out, and maybe asking you if you wanted to live there? I have seen how small the houses on Meadow Lane are, I wouldn't want you or Diana to live there." Said Severus hopefully.

"But Severus! You have only just found us again after 11 years how can you ask us to do something like that? I mean it is one thing to ask me to stay the night here in your rooms at Hogwarts, but quite another to ask me to move into a mansion that you are doing up for us!" said Hermione shocked.

Severus got up and walked to the window while still holding his mug. He thought about what Hermione had said. Maybe he was asking too much too soon. After all she had managed for 11 years without him, why would she just drop all this independence for him?

"Well would you at least spend some time with me while I am getting to know Diana?" Severus asked hopefully.

"Severus I would love to but," Hermione paused, "Severus I have been alone for 11 years, well not quite alone, Severus I am, I am married." She said as she watched Severus' face.

He looked out of the window and without turning round he said, "Who is he Hermione?"

When the answer didn't come he turned to look at Hermione but she was no longer on the couch. She was standing right in front of him.

"I'm sorry Severus, but I didn't know if you would want us." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Do you love him?" Severus asked. All feeling had left his voice and the monotone was worse than if he had been shouting.

"I thought I did, but I don't know anymore." She looked at Severus; she knew what he was waiting for. She continued, "Its Harry, Severus, I am engaged to Harry."

"Oh. Yet again, Potter gets the girl and I get nothing." Said Severus and turned his back to Hermione and looking out across the grounds that had grown dark.

For several minutes they stood there in silence. Then Hermione walked over to the table and picked up her bag that lay there. She walked towards the door and opened it. Before she walked out she turned back.

"Severus, I love you." She said and went to leave, but she saw Severus turn round.

She stood there and watched Severus slowly turn to face her. His face was contorted in anger.

"Hermione! How can you do this?" he was shouting. "You tell me you are engaged and that you are forbidden ground to me and leave me with no hope, only to turn round and then tell me you love me! Are you trying to see me break down? Are you intent on seeing me become and insane broken man? Leave! Get out now!" he advanced on the door. Hermione ran down the corridor, as the door was slammed shut with such force that the picture, of a girl in a yellow silk dress, fell off the wall.

Severus leant against the door he had just slammed. Why had he done that? Al she had ever done was love him and try and care for him and protect him and her child. Maybe he wasn't worthy of having a child.

With resignation he walked in to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. His face was slightly flushed with anger and his eyes threatened to spill his soul out of them. It was years since he had become so consumed with emotion. No it was years since he had let himself become consumed with emotion. He had prevented this for years. He ran some cold water and splashed his face with it.

"Pull yourself together!" he scolded himself.

"Why don't you just admit your human and have feelings?" asked his reflection.

"Shut up!" he growled in a deadly whisper.

He walked into the main room again and slumped on the couch. Staring into the flames he let his mind wander. It wandered right back to the night Hermione had left, the last time he had felt this sad and upset.



He had fallen asleep that night with Hermione lying safe in his embrace. But when he awoke about midnight he was hugging air. On the pillow next to him was a single red rose with a necklace twined round it. It was the locket Hermione had always worn. It was a silver chain with and oval pendant on it. The pendant was silver with turquoise

embedded in its centre. Under this rose there was a letter.



Severus got up and walked over to the desk where he had kept the letter along with the rose and necklace. He had not opened the letter for 10 years. He opened it and he could still smell the vanilla on it. Hermione had always worn a vanilla perfume.

He read the parchment for about the 100th time in his life.

Dearest Severus,

I have had to go. Please don't worry or search for me. I am fine, but you will not see me anymore. I have to do something. Please remember that I love you. And keep this necklace as a reminder of me, for I will always be with you, even if you can't see me.

Love Hermione.

How could she have destroyed his love of life in so few words?



He awoke the next morning with a stiff feeling in his neck. He found that he had fallen asleep on the couch with the letter still in his hand. He sat up slowly and looked at his clock. It was 6.30. Looking out of the window he could see that dawns grey fingers had barely penetrated the darkness. He got up and went in the bathroom. Discarding his clothes he stepped into the shower. Letting the hot water wash over him he began to feel better. He let the water run through his hair and down his back. Feeling it almost washing him clean of emotions. Helping him get back into the usual unfeeling Severus Snape he was used to.

He stepped out of the shower and reached for the towel hanging next to him. He dried himself and then wrapped the towel round his waist. He wandered into the main chamber and walked over to his wardrobe. Pulling out his usual black attire he got dressed. He was just debating whether to go down to the potion classroom when there was a knock on the door. Opening the door he saw the small frame of Diana.

"Good morning sir." She said looking at him.

"Erm good morning Diana. Can I help you?" asked Severus somewhat taken aback.

"I think so sir. You see my mother stayed in the castle last night. I know it wasn't with you. She stayed with Professor McGonagall. But I want to know why you won't forgive her? You do love her don't you?" asked Diana earnestly.

Severus just stared at the form in front of him. Here she was asking a simple question and he couldn't answer it. Why couldn't he forgive Hermione for doing something as natural as protecting herself and her daughter?

"Is it because she is married to Harry? Is that why?" Diana persisted.

"Diana, I love your mother very much and I want to be there for her and you when ever I can. But child you must remember I have not known her since she left me before you were born and when she finally comes back she tells me she loves me but then tells me she is engaged to be married. But even worse than that she then tells me she loves me again and it gives me a false hope. I cannot forgive the way she acted last night. It was so stupid and thoughtless, so unlike her." Said Severus.

Diana nodded and her brow furrowed for a moment.

"Sir did anyone in your family posses the power to foresee the future?" she asked pensively.

Severus was confused for a moment, why had the child suddenly changed the subject?

"Erm my grandmother did why?" he asked confused.

"Because sir, I inherited the gift. I knew what you would say before you said it. And I also know my mother will try and meet with you, you must accept the invitation." Said Diana as she looked into the eyes of her father.

"And sir can you not tell my mother about this supposed 'blessing' for I know that she rather sceptical of the gift."

Severus nodded and watched as the child began to walk off towards the entrance hall.

He closed the door and went over to the couch. Collapsing on it he thought about how much that child reminded him of Hermione. Her tone of voice, her posture and her polite manner. As he contemplated this, an owl swooped in through the window and dropped a letter on his lap. He opened it.

Severus,

Can you please meet me at the three broomsticks tonight at about 10pm? If not send an owl back please.

Hermione.

How had that child done that? He marvelled at her. Was she really his child?