Disclaimer: This doesn't belong to me. Shocking, ain't it? Don't sue, it's bad for your health and well-being.
A/N: Thanks for the great response to my last chapter. I know it's been awhile, but I've been busy and sick, and this has been a really difficult chapter to write. I should have the next instalment out soon, due to holidays. What can I say? I love reviews. I'm a review whore. So review! :)
Cake and Cookies
Chapter Three: If You Build It, They Will Come
It was early. It usually was when the small child decided it was time for them to get up. Yawning, Hermione trudged to the bathroom, her small daughter close on her heels, jabbering on about one thing or the other. Not that Hermione was awake enough to pay attention to the small girl's musings about whatever it was - some TV show, this time? She had attempted to ponder where the girl got her love for television. She had never loved it, and neither had Abby's father as far as she knew. The only one in the house that loved the television was Fred, perhaps that was it? Hermione smiled softly as she brushed her teeth, Abby pulling on her nightgown for attention.
"Mommy! Mommy! Are you listening?"
"Yes dear, but can Mommy brush her teeth?"
With a humph, Abby said "Fine," before marching off to find Ginny.
Today was the day they were to go to the meeting place, the Snape Manor. They had decided to bring the majority of their possessions they planned on keeping with them, so that they would not have to risk a second venture to and from the Snape residence to Muggle London. That did, however, entail using magic that they were all undeniably rusty at by now. Like riding a bike, you never forget how, per say, but you can't go as fast or for as long if you haven't ridden for awhile.
Hermione had already gathered most of her and Abby's belongings into one corner before she went to bed that night, for they had to meet with her old Professor fairly early, and assuming he had changed relatively little, he would still be expecting the same punctuality he had in her school days. It still felt odd, to be meeting him after everything that had happened, even though they had grown a little closer after Abby's birth. Shaking her head to clear her mind, Hermione went to work.
After a quick shower, Hermione tied her hair into a braid, which she had found to be the only way to keep it manageable later on in the day if she didn't plan on blow-drying it or using some other technique on her untameable hair. Stepping out of the bathroom in her robe, she smiled to find Molly feeding Abby, who was quite happily eating her cereal (the sugar-coated one, the one she had bought for the toy had certainly not satisfied the girl's sweet-tooth).
"Everything okay in here?"
"Of course it is. I didn't raise seven children to be beaten by one toddler, did I?" Molly said with a smile.
"Of course not, Molly. Mind if I go get dressed quickly and go pack?"
"Of course dear, don't worry about Abby and me."
Smiling still, Hermione made her way to her room, which to her gratitude was quite empty, and quickly changed into a simply knee-length skirt and blouse. She had hoped to look semi-formal for the meeting that day, and that was the best she could do, due to time restraints. Throwing on the minimalist make-up job she had acquired when she was in her forth year, she went over to the corner she had laid all of her and Abby's belongings into.
And what a corner it was. Not only was there an abundance of toys and various belongings she as well as various Weasleys and other well wishers had bought for Abby; there were her books, which had been previously stored beneath her bed as well as a fair few stuck in her portion of the closet. She wasn't quite sure which amounted to more, Abby's toys, or her books. Despite that, she did have a fair idea which weighed more.
Cursing softly as she checked her watch, less than half an hour until they had planned to leave. Pulling her wand from her sleeve, which Hermione, even after all this time living in the muggle world, still kept on her person, she began to shrink their belongings into two manageable suitcases, with a third quickly filled with clothing and other necessities, the contents of all three having been shrunk quite a bit.
Nodding at her work which had turned into three fairly neat looking suitcases, all of which sat on her bed neatly shrunk to comfortably fit into her coat pocket, she went in search of her old cat, Crookshanks. Though he was getting older, he was still a fairly young cat, and usually lurked around, looking for food around breakfast time, especially morsels that Abby would drop intentionally into his waiting paw.
She sighed softly as she headed out of the room in search of the cat. Today would certainly be an interesting day.
~*~
Severus Snape sighed softly as he shut the door to one of the rooms in his manor. He was silently surprised by how many people had showed up to his letter. Already there were more than ten and it was still well before noon. He headed back to the front room of the house, where he had been waiting for arrivals all morning.
Already several of his old students and colleagues had arrived, including Remus Lupin, Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood, and to his displeasure Sybil Treelawney and Neville Longbottom. Along with them were several other Order members, including Tonks and Hestia Jones, as well as the one time auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Lowering himself onto one of the sofa's in his den that was quite atrociously covered in various displays that resulted from someone's hunting, he reached for his firewhiskey. As much as he had hoped for this to work, it was at least slightly unnerving. Most of the people here were very wanted by the Dark Lord and his followers. If any of his Death Eater 'colleagues' were to find out about whom he was housing not only would his guests be in severe danger, so would he.
But then again, he was no stranger to putting himself in harms way. He had done so countless times before Voldemort's victory, in both his first and second rising. And each time, it had been for the very 'cause' as he still fought for. Damnable ideal really, world peace. If Voldemort wasn't threatening it, someone else soon would be.
Alas, that was not his decision to make. He was simply carrying on his mentor's work in the shred of hope that the very same man could take up his struggle once again.
~*~
The walk up the long pathway to the Snape residence was a solemn one between Molly, Ginny, Charlie, Fred, and Hermione, while Abby managed to chatter on about anything that came to mind. The well-trodden pathway meandered between large, overgrown willow trees that had undoubtedly stood on the land for as many years as the ancient Snape manor had, if not perhaps longer. The long branches created something of an archway up to the door, shrouding all light from touching the ground where they walked, despite it being midday with the sun at the height of its cycle.
Upon reaching the door, the party glanced at one another, sharing a silent agreement that this was what they all chose. It had taken Fred some convincing, but he had decided to come. This was their cause, and they had agreed to fight for it in the beginning, each had all continued to fight in the Final Battle, and each would continue now. Fred reached out, gently tapping the metal knocker against the heavy mahogany wood of the door way, releasing a resounding boom. Even Abby's incessant talk ceased with the sound.
After a good few moments of unnerving silence, the large door slowly swung open, leaving only a very minute and elderly house-elf. After motioning them in, it silently led them through a rather elaborately decorated hallway with various doors and hallways leading off of it.
"Master Severus, Mabby brings more visitors, sir," the house-elf muttered quickly before scurrying off to another room. Severus stood up to greet the group, nodding slightly as he saw them.
Extending a hand, he simply said: "Molly," as both shook hands in a solemn sort of agreement of their cause. He then glanced at Ginny, Fred and Charlie in turn, barely nodding at them with a slight sort of acknowledgment. However, when he saw Hermione holding the small child who had seemed to know to quiet sufficiently, he paused slightly.
"Miss Granger," he said softly, eyes not moving from her, except when they moved to Abby, who buried her face into her mother's shoulder, peaking out at the dark man addressing her mother.
"Professor," Hermione said lightly.
"I hadn't realized you were - you were living with the Weasleys," he said softly. She only gave a small nod, before Severus cleared his throat slightly. "I'll show you all to your rooms."
They were quickly led up a few flights of stairs and through more corridors and hallways. Everything in the building screamed of pureblood riches. The slightly Victorian style of decor within large rooms and grand spaces gave the entire place a sort of cold demeanour. Pictures lined hallways, from the look of things the majority were Snapes.
Finally, after several sets of stairs and passages, they came to a hall. From the looks of things, it was one of the brighter places, for there were several windows that allowed light in. Only one side held doorways, each a fair space away from the next and each as grand as the one before it.
Hermione followed towards the rear of the group, watching silently. The simple decorations that adorned the walls were of amazing quality, yet still so cold. The intimidating look of even the brightest hallway in the manor still seemed to overtake a person. She could feel Abby holding onto her more tightly than she would of normally done, and even Molly and Ginny were sticking closer to Fred and Charlie than they usually did.
She avoided looking at her ex-Professor. It had been hard enough when their eyes had met for the moment when they first saw each other. The fleeting disbelief in his eyes told her she had done her job well. He hadn't known she had found a way throughout the final battles and the days following. She could only imagine the death tolls; fellow classmates, teachers, elders, everyone. She didn't want to know how many had fallen in those days. He had thought she was one of them, and she was glad he had. It had been protection, for all others to think she and her daughter had perished.
"Misters Weasley, your rooms," Severus said, motioning to two doors, both near to one another. He then showed both Ginny and Molly their rooms, next to one another and two doors down from Fred and Charlie's. "Dinner will be at six. Everyone is to gather then. I'll leave you too unpack."
The group left, leaving only Hermione and Abby standing near Severus.
"Professor.." Hermione said softly, unsure.
"I have a room downstairs. It's conjoined to a smaller room you can use for your daughter," he said simply.
She gave only a small nod, saying softly "Thank you."
Severus nodded, leading the way to a corner of the house. "Your rooms are there. Around the corner is a small library you may use if you wish. I assume you didn't have many resources in muggle London?"
She nodded slightly, "No, I didn't. I mostly used my books I had from before and muggle books." After a small pause she looked back at him with a faint trace of a smile, "Thank you, for letting me use your library."
"I'll see you at dinner," he said, nodding and turning to leave, but not before giving her one last look, as if he had to ensure she was really there, and then he was gone, leaving Hermione to watch him leave.
~*~
To my Reviewers;
Nocturnus: Hermione joining the resistance is something I think she would do, and since it didn't put her family in any more risk than it already was in, I doubt she would have talked herself out of it. More will be revealed in the story later. Draco, however, I haven't gone into the motives behind his character, yet. I plan to in the upcoming chapters. I will do that for most of the characters. I know it's quite a jump from canon Draco, but it has been a few years, and even if the circumstances hadn't been as trying as the ones in this story, a person would change. Thank you for the review!
Gelsey Greeneyes: No, not telling who's Abby's father yet. It'll come though, in the next few chapters. Any guesses?
Kittypilla: Thanks!
Crookshanks Girl: Thank you very much! I was hoping that the dark overcoming light wouldn't be too cliched or anything. Glad you like it!
deborahfr: Yes, I'm afraid Harry is dead, at least mostly. Other than that, you'll have to read to find out!
Distinct Vagueness: Yes, you will find out more about Draco in the upcoming chapters, though I can't promise too much in the next chapter. Thanks for the review!
A/N: Thanks for the great response to my last chapter. I know it's been awhile, but I've been busy and sick, and this has been a really difficult chapter to write. I should have the next instalment out soon, due to holidays. What can I say? I love reviews. I'm a review whore. So review! :)
Cake and Cookies
Chapter Three: If You Build It, They Will Come
It was early. It usually was when the small child decided it was time for them to get up. Yawning, Hermione trudged to the bathroom, her small daughter close on her heels, jabbering on about one thing or the other. Not that Hermione was awake enough to pay attention to the small girl's musings about whatever it was - some TV show, this time? She had attempted to ponder where the girl got her love for television. She had never loved it, and neither had Abby's father as far as she knew. The only one in the house that loved the television was Fred, perhaps that was it? Hermione smiled softly as she brushed her teeth, Abby pulling on her nightgown for attention.
"Mommy! Mommy! Are you listening?"
"Yes dear, but can Mommy brush her teeth?"
With a humph, Abby said "Fine," before marching off to find Ginny.
Today was the day they were to go to the meeting place, the Snape Manor. They had decided to bring the majority of their possessions they planned on keeping with them, so that they would not have to risk a second venture to and from the Snape residence to Muggle London. That did, however, entail using magic that they were all undeniably rusty at by now. Like riding a bike, you never forget how, per say, but you can't go as fast or for as long if you haven't ridden for awhile.
Hermione had already gathered most of her and Abby's belongings into one corner before she went to bed that night, for they had to meet with her old Professor fairly early, and assuming he had changed relatively little, he would still be expecting the same punctuality he had in her school days. It still felt odd, to be meeting him after everything that had happened, even though they had grown a little closer after Abby's birth. Shaking her head to clear her mind, Hermione went to work.
After a quick shower, Hermione tied her hair into a braid, which she had found to be the only way to keep it manageable later on in the day if she didn't plan on blow-drying it or using some other technique on her untameable hair. Stepping out of the bathroom in her robe, she smiled to find Molly feeding Abby, who was quite happily eating her cereal (the sugar-coated one, the one she had bought for the toy had certainly not satisfied the girl's sweet-tooth).
"Everything okay in here?"
"Of course it is. I didn't raise seven children to be beaten by one toddler, did I?" Molly said with a smile.
"Of course not, Molly. Mind if I go get dressed quickly and go pack?"
"Of course dear, don't worry about Abby and me."
Smiling still, Hermione made her way to her room, which to her gratitude was quite empty, and quickly changed into a simply knee-length skirt and blouse. She had hoped to look semi-formal for the meeting that day, and that was the best she could do, due to time restraints. Throwing on the minimalist make-up job she had acquired when she was in her forth year, she went over to the corner she had laid all of her and Abby's belongings into.
And what a corner it was. Not only was there an abundance of toys and various belongings she as well as various Weasleys and other well wishers had bought for Abby; there were her books, which had been previously stored beneath her bed as well as a fair few stuck in her portion of the closet. She wasn't quite sure which amounted to more, Abby's toys, or her books. Despite that, she did have a fair idea which weighed more.
Cursing softly as she checked her watch, less than half an hour until they had planned to leave. Pulling her wand from her sleeve, which Hermione, even after all this time living in the muggle world, still kept on her person, she began to shrink their belongings into two manageable suitcases, with a third quickly filled with clothing and other necessities, the contents of all three having been shrunk quite a bit.
Nodding at her work which had turned into three fairly neat looking suitcases, all of which sat on her bed neatly shrunk to comfortably fit into her coat pocket, she went in search of her old cat, Crookshanks. Though he was getting older, he was still a fairly young cat, and usually lurked around, looking for food around breakfast time, especially morsels that Abby would drop intentionally into his waiting paw.
She sighed softly as she headed out of the room in search of the cat. Today would certainly be an interesting day.
~*~
Severus Snape sighed softly as he shut the door to one of the rooms in his manor. He was silently surprised by how many people had showed up to his letter. Already there were more than ten and it was still well before noon. He headed back to the front room of the house, where he had been waiting for arrivals all morning.
Already several of his old students and colleagues had arrived, including Remus Lupin, Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood, and to his displeasure Sybil Treelawney and Neville Longbottom. Along with them were several other Order members, including Tonks and Hestia Jones, as well as the one time auror Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Lowering himself onto one of the sofa's in his den that was quite atrociously covered in various displays that resulted from someone's hunting, he reached for his firewhiskey. As much as he had hoped for this to work, it was at least slightly unnerving. Most of the people here were very wanted by the Dark Lord and his followers. If any of his Death Eater 'colleagues' were to find out about whom he was housing not only would his guests be in severe danger, so would he.
But then again, he was no stranger to putting himself in harms way. He had done so countless times before Voldemort's victory, in both his first and second rising. And each time, it had been for the very 'cause' as he still fought for. Damnable ideal really, world peace. If Voldemort wasn't threatening it, someone else soon would be.
Alas, that was not his decision to make. He was simply carrying on his mentor's work in the shred of hope that the very same man could take up his struggle once again.
~*~
The walk up the long pathway to the Snape residence was a solemn one between Molly, Ginny, Charlie, Fred, and Hermione, while Abby managed to chatter on about anything that came to mind. The well-trodden pathway meandered between large, overgrown willow trees that had undoubtedly stood on the land for as many years as the ancient Snape manor had, if not perhaps longer. The long branches created something of an archway up to the door, shrouding all light from touching the ground where they walked, despite it being midday with the sun at the height of its cycle.
Upon reaching the door, the party glanced at one another, sharing a silent agreement that this was what they all chose. It had taken Fred some convincing, but he had decided to come. This was their cause, and they had agreed to fight for it in the beginning, each had all continued to fight in the Final Battle, and each would continue now. Fred reached out, gently tapping the metal knocker against the heavy mahogany wood of the door way, releasing a resounding boom. Even Abby's incessant talk ceased with the sound.
After a good few moments of unnerving silence, the large door slowly swung open, leaving only a very minute and elderly house-elf. After motioning them in, it silently led them through a rather elaborately decorated hallway with various doors and hallways leading off of it.
"Master Severus, Mabby brings more visitors, sir," the house-elf muttered quickly before scurrying off to another room. Severus stood up to greet the group, nodding slightly as he saw them.
Extending a hand, he simply said: "Molly," as both shook hands in a solemn sort of agreement of their cause. He then glanced at Ginny, Fred and Charlie in turn, barely nodding at them with a slight sort of acknowledgment. However, when he saw Hermione holding the small child who had seemed to know to quiet sufficiently, he paused slightly.
"Miss Granger," he said softly, eyes not moving from her, except when they moved to Abby, who buried her face into her mother's shoulder, peaking out at the dark man addressing her mother.
"Professor," Hermione said lightly.
"I hadn't realized you were - you were living with the Weasleys," he said softly. She only gave a small nod, before Severus cleared his throat slightly. "I'll show you all to your rooms."
They were quickly led up a few flights of stairs and through more corridors and hallways. Everything in the building screamed of pureblood riches. The slightly Victorian style of decor within large rooms and grand spaces gave the entire place a sort of cold demeanour. Pictures lined hallways, from the look of things the majority were Snapes.
Finally, after several sets of stairs and passages, they came to a hall. From the looks of things, it was one of the brighter places, for there were several windows that allowed light in. Only one side held doorways, each a fair space away from the next and each as grand as the one before it.
Hermione followed towards the rear of the group, watching silently. The simple decorations that adorned the walls were of amazing quality, yet still so cold. The intimidating look of even the brightest hallway in the manor still seemed to overtake a person. She could feel Abby holding onto her more tightly than she would of normally done, and even Molly and Ginny were sticking closer to Fred and Charlie than they usually did.
She avoided looking at her ex-Professor. It had been hard enough when their eyes had met for the moment when they first saw each other. The fleeting disbelief in his eyes told her she had done her job well. He hadn't known she had found a way throughout the final battles and the days following. She could only imagine the death tolls; fellow classmates, teachers, elders, everyone. She didn't want to know how many had fallen in those days. He had thought she was one of them, and she was glad he had. It had been protection, for all others to think she and her daughter had perished.
"Misters Weasley, your rooms," Severus said, motioning to two doors, both near to one another. He then showed both Ginny and Molly their rooms, next to one another and two doors down from Fred and Charlie's. "Dinner will be at six. Everyone is to gather then. I'll leave you too unpack."
The group left, leaving only Hermione and Abby standing near Severus.
"Professor.." Hermione said softly, unsure.
"I have a room downstairs. It's conjoined to a smaller room you can use for your daughter," he said simply.
She gave only a small nod, saying softly "Thank you."
Severus nodded, leading the way to a corner of the house. "Your rooms are there. Around the corner is a small library you may use if you wish. I assume you didn't have many resources in muggle London?"
She nodded slightly, "No, I didn't. I mostly used my books I had from before and muggle books." After a small pause she looked back at him with a faint trace of a smile, "Thank you, for letting me use your library."
"I'll see you at dinner," he said, nodding and turning to leave, but not before giving her one last look, as if he had to ensure she was really there, and then he was gone, leaving Hermione to watch him leave.
~*~
To my Reviewers;
Nocturnus: Hermione joining the resistance is something I think she would do, and since it didn't put her family in any more risk than it already was in, I doubt she would have talked herself out of it. More will be revealed in the story later. Draco, however, I haven't gone into the motives behind his character, yet. I plan to in the upcoming chapters. I will do that for most of the characters. I know it's quite a jump from canon Draco, but it has been a few years, and even if the circumstances hadn't been as trying as the ones in this story, a person would change. Thank you for the review!
Gelsey Greeneyes: No, not telling who's Abby's father yet. It'll come though, in the next few chapters. Any guesses?
Kittypilla: Thanks!
Crookshanks Girl: Thank you very much! I was hoping that the dark overcoming light wouldn't be too cliched or anything. Glad you like it!
deborahfr: Yes, I'm afraid Harry is dead, at least mostly. Other than that, you'll have to read to find out!
Distinct Vagueness: Yes, you will find out more about Draco in the upcoming chapters, though I can't promise too much in the next chapter. Thanks for the review!
