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?
