My Gift To You
"Severus. I've been assured you'll know how one of these work So here goes; Happy Christmas my sweet, sweet man. I hope you haven't opened this early because my gift to you Is too special for you to know before." Hermione stood transparent, bathed in a multitude of colours. Severus sat on the floor, weeping. He should have known better. It was a Storaball. He'd heard of them, but he had never seen one. Japan, she'd been to Japan. That's where the ball had been made. Her hair was lank, tied back roughly. Her robes were torn. What had happened. "Don't worry." She said, as if she had known what he was thinking. "I had to save Oliver from a dwarf. Who didn't take kindly to a woman fighting a man's battle. I taught him a thing or too, but Oliver isn't too pleased, I hurt his pride. Believe me it would have been safer to have Neville here with me." She paused for a brief chuckle. "Hey, Andromeda sweetie. If you're there; no doubt you will be. Daddy's probably letting you eat too many chocolates." She smiled. "Happy Christmas my darling. I hope you like your gift. I'll see you soon my sweet, do you mind leaving mommy and daddy alone for a moment?" She waited, enough time for Severus to have guided Andromeda out. He wished she was there. "Severus? Are you sitting down?" She questioned. He nodded. "Your gift. Is this!" She turned to the side, lifted up her robes to reveal a bump. Severus cried softly into his hands as she fixed herself again. She then knelt. "We have a son Severus. The Japanese Medic are really advanced. They even gave me the date of conception." She winked. "You really did make sure I'd miss you." She wiped a tear from her eye. "I'll be home New Years eve. Whether I find Albus or Not. I can't carry on searching for him while I'm carrying your child. I need to be safe in Hogwarts so we can protect him."
Severus stood weakly and moved towards the projection. He stroked her face, his hands fell through the hologram. It flickered off instantly. Something had happened, if she had intended to be there, with or without Albus, there was something wrong. She had been injured, captured or even killed. Severus needed to find her.
In his urgency to get out of his room to inform Minerva that he was leaving to find his missing wife, he tripped on the chunk of the storaball and knock himself out cold on the bedpost, voiding himself of the memory of his unborn child.
Severus awoke to find himself in the hospital wing. Andromeda at his side, sniffling. She saw her father was awake and threw her arms round his neck.
"Are you people trying to send this poor child to an early grave." Madame Pompfrey came into Severus' restricted vision. "She found you this morning."
"I'm sorry Andy." He hugged the girl trying to sit up. His head ached. What had happened last night. He didn't have a clue. Hero had been round, they had fought, he'd gone after her and tripped. And that stupid paper weight of Hermione's had broken. As if she heard her name being called, Hero appeared in the doorway. Holding a letter. A letter for him.
"This was at the table at breakfast." She explained handing him the parchment. "I'm sorry Severus.... Happy Valentine's." Why was she apologising? The thought was answered when she handed the letter over. The seal was broken.
"You read this?!" Severus asked sceptically.
"We didn't know who is was for there was no name." Hero explained. "I'm the only one who read it."
"Go away." It was clear to Severus that it wasn't a Valentine's card. He tried to open the letter, but couldn't because Andromeda was a dead weight on his arm. "Andy, off for a minute." She nestled deeper into him. Scared that if she let go, she would loose him. "GET OFF ME!" He screeched, alerting the attention of Madame Pompfrey in the process. Andromeda didn't understand. Why was he so upset? She just looked at him with pure venom. It wasn't her dad she saw before her.
"Come on Andy. Your dad needs some time alone." The medi-witch picked the girl up from the bed.
"He needs something." She remarked coldly. Severus hadn't heard her, his concentration was on the letter. A Dear John letter. His heart sunk with no memory of the previous night. His lips mouthed her venomous words. Each one stabbing his heart with precise aim. Luckily it was a short letter.
"Severus.
I have fallen in love with Oliver. Well in truth I have always loved him and I can't live a lie anymore. We are going to settle in America, where we plan to start a family. I hope you can get on with your life. I'll be back for Andromeda's birthday to take her away from the war. Voldermort hasn't reached here yet and so she will be safe. Yours sincerely Miss Hermione Granger" There was another parchment, divorce papers, signed by Hermione. Her handwriting was unmistakable. He had lost her. He was about to loose his daughter. Then it dawned on him, he'd lost her. He'd raised his voice to her. Never had he shouted at his daughter. She would never look at him in the same way again.
He wouldn't loose her. Hermione wouldn't take Andromeda away from him without a fight. His thoughts were interrupted by a pregnant Ginny.
"Professor Nightingale has just told me you've heard from Hermione." Ginny sat at a seat by the crumbling man. Draco followed in moments later. Ginny grabbed Severus' hand. "What is it?" Severus stared at Ginny's stomach. How he wanted another baby with Hermione. He revealed the divorce papers. Ginny grabbed them. "No! Oh no. This is bullshit." Ginny threw them down on the bed and ran out.
"That's what I've been trying to tell myself." Severus sobbed into Draco's offered arm.
"I'm going to break her neck." Harry roared throwing his broom against a tree once Ginny had found him in the grounds and explained the letter to Severus. The broom shattered into pieces "What is going wrong in that girls head?"
"Harry. Are you going to go after her. Like we planned?" Ginny asked, supporting her bump. She had a worrying feeling she was carrying more than one Weasley. He just starred her down. You can't hit a woman, let alone a pregnant one Harry reasoned. "Harry, she's your best friend."
"And he's a good man." Harry growled pointing dramatically towards the castle. His feelings had grown for his old professor over the past few months. He was a good loving father, and a good friend. However this transformation would not have been possible if it wasn't for Hermione. How long would it take for him to return to his old self.
"So your just going to let her do this to him. She's coming to get Andromeda. If you don't go and talk to her, she'll take her away. You can make her see sense!"
"What if I don't want to. What if I just want to leave her to rot. She's played Severus for a fool these last few months. This idea must have been in her head the moment she saw Oliver. I knew something was going to happen the moment I saw him get on the train. He could break her, he could win her heart."
"Harry, it was a little crush she had on him," Ginny explained. "There was nothing more to it. She would never give Severus up for him. I swear to you."
"Then what's with the divorce papers?"
"And how's the injured solider doing?" Hero returned to Severus side, later that day. He looked at her sourly. "Hello to you too honey." She stooped down to kiss him. He backed away quickly. "You know what Severus, you're like a dodgy shower. What me to bring in a plumber?"
"Just because my wife has been unfaithful. Doesn't mean I'm going to be unfaithful." Severus explained.
"Oh, I get you. Not much fun when your not breaking the rules and being naughty. You weren't complaining last night. Till you freaked out." She hissed.
"No, it just she's made me realise how important she was to me. How important fidelity and our marriage was to me. I would win her back if I could, And in my defence. I was drunk. I would have accepted Harry Potter if he laid it on a horny plate like you did." He hissed back.
"You'll be back. I can see it in your eyes. You want me!" She left leaving Severus feeling lonely. Had his wife really left him for Oliver Wood, playboy and number one in the top ten quidditch bachelors?
A month before Andromeda's birthday, Severus found himself dragging his daughter across the grounds in the middle of a rain storm to spend time with her grandparents. It was the first of June, it should have been sunny. However the clouds hung over the castle. Hand in hand they reached the cabin, Severus would not carry his daughter like she had asked no matter how many times she had stumbled. He wasn't allowing her to carry on being reliant on him. Or was it more of a protection for him? They were greeted by cheerful Remus when he opened the door on the warm and inviting cabin. His eyes lit up when he saw the child who smiled weakly, as if it was frowned upon to smile.
"There's my little star." He scooped the perfectly dry youngster in his arms. "And how are you today."
"Fine." She replied solemnly. Since her father's outburst almost two months previous she had become quiet subdued. Remus, hoping to prompt a giggle from the girl, tweaked her nose. All it provided was an expression of pure annoyance. It appeared that Andromeda could not prevent Severus returning to his fully fledged bat form. He stood in the doorway, scowling at nothing and everything. He had given up on his fight for Andromeda, if she would have to choose between him and Hermione. Andromeda would pick Hermione because of his actions. He now wanted her to leave. He had even offered her to stay with her grandparents until Hermione arrived to take her away. They refused and were prompting him to rebuild the trust between father and daughter.
"Go and see Gamma." Remus put her down. She ran off into the depths of the cabin and out of sight. "You look terrible man." Severus just growl and made to leave. "No word from Hermione?"
"Even if I did I wouldn't read it. I'd obliterate the letters very existence. The way in which I would like to obliterate Hermione." Remus placed a loving hand on his arm. "Please refrain from touching what you can never aspire to be. You are a worthless man, you bring down the name of wizards by being married to a muggle with no trace of witchcraft in her veins-"
"Now wait a minute." Remus began.
"No, you wait. That crow in there spawned that mount of flesh, who's soul purpose was to rip my beating heart from my chest. I wanted nothing more from her, than a loving family and protection. She is taking it all from me. She is killing me in the worst possible way, and people are still asking about her."
"Surely you can see this does not sound like Hermione-"
"No but this does sound like Oliver. He may have enchanted her like the many women before her, but I have neither the strength nor the patients to fight for her."
"Then you deserve to loose her. You are blinded my your own self pity. Your dear Andromeda is suffering as a consequence. Do what you want with your own life. But I won't have you harm that child." Remus warned. Severus shot him a glare of such distain. He left to trudge across the field without another words. Remus feared that Severus was too far gone to comprehend what he had said. Time would only tell.
Halfway up the slop toward the castle, Severus had been met with a furious Hero Nightingale. She stopped him dead in his tracks. The rain that thundered on her head went unnoticed.
"HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed.
"What?!" He answered idly, wanting nothing more than to squish her annoying face into the muddy lawn.
"You reduced my Griffindors to tears." She folded her arms definitely. Clearly she had no intention of taking this fight elsewhere. "They are almost eighteen years old and you turned the entire of confident wizards into first years."
"Oh that." He rolled his eyes, laughing at the statement. "I'm rather proud of it myself."
"You wasted man." She mocked, her robes of pale summer blue beginning to droop with the heaviness of the water they were absorbing. "It would be an accomplishment if it was something spawned from you. However it's from your hatred of your wife. It's nothing to be proud of. Acting like a spoilt brat because of a pitiful mudblood." She'd said it. She didn't even know Hermione but she had said it. Severus vowed never to hit a woman. However this was no woman. She was his enigma, sent to destroy him completely. No sooner had he pushed her to the ground and she flipped him over onto his own space of grass and mounted him. His clothes were muddy, his breathing was hoarse and his anger was giving way to his desires. There was, as he reasoned, a thin line between love and hate. Why did he still feel like he was doing something wrong? "Mudblood. She was a filthy mudblood and you deserve better. She undid his outer robes to reveal a cotton undershirt. "You deserve me!" She claimed his lips, and he gave in to his lust.
"Your Griffindor's?" He asked once he had reclaimed his lips, panting for breath. How intoxicating the woman on top of him was. But in such a different way to Hermione. Hermione it was willing and comforting. Deep down with Hero, he didn't want this. He was just accepting. He wasn't taking great pleasure in it, there was no heat or passion. She was nothing more than a distraction to him. He was a toy to her, he knew this and didn't like it. Oliver Wood had met his match in the woman who's thighs were firmly pressed at either side of Severus' torso. All of a sudden was all too aware that anyone in the north tower of the castle would get a sight of their compromising position, and he decided there and then he would rectify it. Within seconds he had succeeded in dismounting Hero and righting himself on the sloping verge. Leaving a very disarrayed Hero looking up at him. "Answer the question." He applied coolly.
"Minerva has given me charge of the house. She has had to go away to the ministry. She deemed me the most suitable candidate." Hero picked herself up. Her robes slick with mud and her hair now a distinct brown. He didn't really care. His face showed as much. "You're playing with me. I'm tired of it." Severus laughed deeply at this.
"I rather think it's the other way around. You have said from day one that my wife was no good for me. You don't even know her."
"I know her kind. You were a great man, a legend. And she turned you into a pitiful father. Tied you down with that excuse for a child. Be thankful that she's left you, and even more so that she's taking that thing with her, You can get your li-"
"-LET ME MAKE ONE THING CLEAR. I HAD NO LIFE WITHOUT HER. I HAVE NO LIFE WITHOUT HERMIONE." Her name echoed around the grounds as he stormed confidently into the castle. The spell was broken, he would fight for his child. He would fight for Hermione. And he would hold the best birthday party for his daughter. He agreed with himself as he arrived at Draco and Ginny's room. She answered with a stony expression. Her windows overlooked the grounds. She would not let him enter. "Don't do this Ginny. Please. I haven't done anything wrong, Hermione's left me-"
"I don't believe it."
"She kissed me." He defended. The excuse didn't wash with Ginny.
"You kissed her back. She has done nothing but blacken Hermione's name since she got-" Ginny winced as the baby kicked. Relenting her anger as Severus led her to the couch. He performed a cleaning spell on himself before he sat. "I'm sorry Severus." She noted the pain in his eyes. Ginny realised that he had done nothing wrong if Hermione had in fact left him for Oliver. "What were you here for."
"I realised, that even if she doesn't return the feeling, I still love Hermione and I want to win her back. I want to throw Andromeda the best birthday party." He answered determinedly.
A/N: Still suffering with Writers block. Only one more chapter to post and then you are up to speed with me.
queenbonnie: I wish the Goblin King would take me away as well. Yes, she is related to Vanessa/ Rebecca. hmmmmm, corny ending.... I'll see what I can do. lolololol Although you can't kill Hero, who do you think should? mwhahahahahahaha
NeopianClayniac: Hope you're still reading. I know, I'm playing too much to the rules with this one. I hope the ending will make up for that.
Anarane Anwamane: :-)
bunnyrabbit228: This is a longer chapter to make up for it. Your questions have either been answered or will be addressed in an upcoming chapter. (Once I get over my writers block that is. lol) Hero is not the sister of Vanessa, but they are related
poetrychik: And you're such a good reader to care so much. :-)
Crimson Regret177: She will be, just not sure about who by.
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"No mommy! Daddy and I still love you; you can't stay there. Please come home. Please come home. Please come home." Andromeda pleaded to the darkness, Severus began shaking her awake. "He's dead. He's dead. He's dead. He's dead."
"ANDROMEDA!" Severus shouted, his daughter in his arms. Her frightened, cold eyes shot open and Severus lit the room with his wand. "What happened?" The girl was drenched in cold sweat.
"Severus. I've been assured you'll know how one of these work So here goes; Happy Christmas my sweet, sweet man. I hope you haven't opened this early because my gift to you Is too special for you to know before." Hermione stood transparent, bathed in a multitude of colours. Severus sat on the floor, weeping. He should have known better. It was a Storaball. He'd heard of them, but he had never seen one. Japan, she'd been to Japan. That's where the ball had been made. Her hair was lank, tied back roughly. Her robes were torn. What had happened. "Don't worry." She said, as if she had known what he was thinking. "I had to save Oliver from a dwarf. Who didn't take kindly to a woman fighting a man's battle. I taught him a thing or too, but Oliver isn't too pleased, I hurt his pride. Believe me it would have been safer to have Neville here with me." She paused for a brief chuckle. "Hey, Andromeda sweetie. If you're there; no doubt you will be. Daddy's probably letting you eat too many chocolates." She smiled. "Happy Christmas my darling. I hope you like your gift. I'll see you soon my sweet, do you mind leaving mommy and daddy alone for a moment?" She waited, enough time for Severus to have guided Andromeda out. He wished she was there. "Severus? Are you sitting down?" She questioned. He nodded. "Your gift. Is this!" She turned to the side, lifted up her robes to reveal a bump. Severus cried softly into his hands as she fixed herself again. She then knelt. "We have a son Severus. The Japanese Medic are really advanced. They even gave me the date of conception." She winked. "You really did make sure I'd miss you." She wiped a tear from her eye. "I'll be home New Years eve. Whether I find Albus or Not. I can't carry on searching for him while I'm carrying your child. I need to be safe in Hogwarts so we can protect him."
Severus stood weakly and moved towards the projection. He stroked her face, his hands fell through the hologram. It flickered off instantly. Something had happened, if she had intended to be there, with or without Albus, there was something wrong. She had been injured, captured or even killed. Severus needed to find her.
In his urgency to get out of his room to inform Minerva that he was leaving to find his missing wife, he tripped on the chunk of the storaball and knock himself out cold on the bedpost, voiding himself of the memory of his unborn child.
Severus awoke to find himself in the hospital wing. Andromeda at his side, sniffling. She saw her father was awake and threw her arms round his neck.
"Are you people trying to send this poor child to an early grave." Madame Pompfrey came into Severus' restricted vision. "She found you this morning."
"I'm sorry Andy." He hugged the girl trying to sit up. His head ached. What had happened last night. He didn't have a clue. Hero had been round, they had fought, he'd gone after her and tripped. And that stupid paper weight of Hermione's had broken. As if she heard her name being called, Hero appeared in the doorway. Holding a letter. A letter for him.
"This was at the table at breakfast." She explained handing him the parchment. "I'm sorry Severus.... Happy Valentine's." Why was she apologising? The thought was answered when she handed the letter over. The seal was broken.
"You read this?!" Severus asked sceptically.
"We didn't know who is was for there was no name." Hero explained. "I'm the only one who read it."
"Go away." It was clear to Severus that it wasn't a Valentine's card. He tried to open the letter, but couldn't because Andromeda was a dead weight on his arm. "Andy, off for a minute." She nestled deeper into him. Scared that if she let go, she would loose him. "GET OFF ME!" He screeched, alerting the attention of Madame Pompfrey in the process. Andromeda didn't understand. Why was he so upset? She just looked at him with pure venom. It wasn't her dad she saw before her.
"Come on Andy. Your dad needs some time alone." The medi-witch picked the girl up from the bed.
"He needs something." She remarked coldly. Severus hadn't heard her, his concentration was on the letter. A Dear John letter. His heart sunk with no memory of the previous night. His lips mouthed her venomous words. Each one stabbing his heart with precise aim. Luckily it was a short letter.
"Severus.
I have fallen in love with Oliver. Well in truth I have always loved him and I can't live a lie anymore. We are going to settle in America, where we plan to start a family. I hope you can get on with your life. I'll be back for Andromeda's birthday to take her away from the war. Voldermort hasn't reached here yet and so she will be safe. Yours sincerely Miss Hermione Granger" There was another parchment, divorce papers, signed by Hermione. Her handwriting was unmistakable. He had lost her. He was about to loose his daughter. Then it dawned on him, he'd lost her. He'd raised his voice to her. Never had he shouted at his daughter. She would never look at him in the same way again.
He wouldn't loose her. Hermione wouldn't take Andromeda away from him without a fight. His thoughts were interrupted by a pregnant Ginny.
"Professor Nightingale has just told me you've heard from Hermione." Ginny sat at a seat by the crumbling man. Draco followed in moments later. Ginny grabbed Severus' hand. "What is it?" Severus stared at Ginny's stomach. How he wanted another baby with Hermione. He revealed the divorce papers. Ginny grabbed them. "No! Oh no. This is bullshit." Ginny threw them down on the bed and ran out.
"That's what I've been trying to tell myself." Severus sobbed into Draco's offered arm.
"I'm going to break her neck." Harry roared throwing his broom against a tree once Ginny had found him in the grounds and explained the letter to Severus. The broom shattered into pieces "What is going wrong in that girls head?"
"Harry. Are you going to go after her. Like we planned?" Ginny asked, supporting her bump. She had a worrying feeling she was carrying more than one Weasley. He just starred her down. You can't hit a woman, let alone a pregnant one Harry reasoned. "Harry, she's your best friend."
"And he's a good man." Harry growled pointing dramatically towards the castle. His feelings had grown for his old professor over the past few months. He was a good loving father, and a good friend. However this transformation would not have been possible if it wasn't for Hermione. How long would it take for him to return to his old self.
"So your just going to let her do this to him. She's coming to get Andromeda. If you don't go and talk to her, she'll take her away. You can make her see sense!"
"What if I don't want to. What if I just want to leave her to rot. She's played Severus for a fool these last few months. This idea must have been in her head the moment she saw Oliver. I knew something was going to happen the moment I saw him get on the train. He could break her, he could win her heart."
"Harry, it was a little crush she had on him," Ginny explained. "There was nothing more to it. She would never give Severus up for him. I swear to you."
"Then what's with the divorce papers?"
"And how's the injured solider doing?" Hero returned to Severus side, later that day. He looked at her sourly. "Hello to you too honey." She stooped down to kiss him. He backed away quickly. "You know what Severus, you're like a dodgy shower. What me to bring in a plumber?"
"Just because my wife has been unfaithful. Doesn't mean I'm going to be unfaithful." Severus explained.
"Oh, I get you. Not much fun when your not breaking the rules and being naughty. You weren't complaining last night. Till you freaked out." She hissed.
"No, it just she's made me realise how important she was to me. How important fidelity and our marriage was to me. I would win her back if I could, And in my defence. I was drunk. I would have accepted Harry Potter if he laid it on a horny plate like you did." He hissed back.
"You'll be back. I can see it in your eyes. You want me!" She left leaving Severus feeling lonely. Had his wife really left him for Oliver Wood, playboy and number one in the top ten quidditch bachelors?
A month before Andromeda's birthday, Severus found himself dragging his daughter across the grounds in the middle of a rain storm to spend time with her grandparents. It was the first of June, it should have been sunny. However the clouds hung over the castle. Hand in hand they reached the cabin, Severus would not carry his daughter like she had asked no matter how many times she had stumbled. He wasn't allowing her to carry on being reliant on him. Or was it more of a protection for him? They were greeted by cheerful Remus when he opened the door on the warm and inviting cabin. His eyes lit up when he saw the child who smiled weakly, as if it was frowned upon to smile.
"There's my little star." He scooped the perfectly dry youngster in his arms. "And how are you today."
"Fine." She replied solemnly. Since her father's outburst almost two months previous she had become quiet subdued. Remus, hoping to prompt a giggle from the girl, tweaked her nose. All it provided was an expression of pure annoyance. It appeared that Andromeda could not prevent Severus returning to his fully fledged bat form. He stood in the doorway, scowling at nothing and everything. He had given up on his fight for Andromeda, if she would have to choose between him and Hermione. Andromeda would pick Hermione because of his actions. He now wanted her to leave. He had even offered her to stay with her grandparents until Hermione arrived to take her away. They refused and were prompting him to rebuild the trust between father and daughter.
"Go and see Gamma." Remus put her down. She ran off into the depths of the cabin and out of sight. "You look terrible man." Severus just growl and made to leave. "No word from Hermione?"
"Even if I did I wouldn't read it. I'd obliterate the letters very existence. The way in which I would like to obliterate Hermione." Remus placed a loving hand on his arm. "Please refrain from touching what you can never aspire to be. You are a worthless man, you bring down the name of wizards by being married to a muggle with no trace of witchcraft in her veins-"
"Now wait a minute." Remus began.
"No, you wait. That crow in there spawned that mount of flesh, who's soul purpose was to rip my beating heart from my chest. I wanted nothing more from her, than a loving family and protection. She is taking it all from me. She is killing me in the worst possible way, and people are still asking about her."
"Surely you can see this does not sound like Hermione-"
"No but this does sound like Oliver. He may have enchanted her like the many women before her, but I have neither the strength nor the patients to fight for her."
"Then you deserve to loose her. You are blinded my your own self pity. Your dear Andromeda is suffering as a consequence. Do what you want with your own life. But I won't have you harm that child." Remus warned. Severus shot him a glare of such distain. He left to trudge across the field without another words. Remus feared that Severus was too far gone to comprehend what he had said. Time would only tell.
Halfway up the slop toward the castle, Severus had been met with a furious Hero Nightingale. She stopped him dead in his tracks. The rain that thundered on her head went unnoticed.
"HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed.
"What?!" He answered idly, wanting nothing more than to squish her annoying face into the muddy lawn.
"You reduced my Griffindors to tears." She folded her arms definitely. Clearly she had no intention of taking this fight elsewhere. "They are almost eighteen years old and you turned the entire of confident wizards into first years."
"Oh that." He rolled his eyes, laughing at the statement. "I'm rather proud of it myself."
"You wasted man." She mocked, her robes of pale summer blue beginning to droop with the heaviness of the water they were absorbing. "It would be an accomplishment if it was something spawned from you. However it's from your hatred of your wife. It's nothing to be proud of. Acting like a spoilt brat because of a pitiful mudblood." She'd said it. She didn't even know Hermione but she had said it. Severus vowed never to hit a woman. However this was no woman. She was his enigma, sent to destroy him completely. No sooner had he pushed her to the ground and she flipped him over onto his own space of grass and mounted him. His clothes were muddy, his breathing was hoarse and his anger was giving way to his desires. There was, as he reasoned, a thin line between love and hate. Why did he still feel like he was doing something wrong? "Mudblood. She was a filthy mudblood and you deserve better. She undid his outer robes to reveal a cotton undershirt. "You deserve me!" She claimed his lips, and he gave in to his lust.
"Your Griffindor's?" He asked once he had reclaimed his lips, panting for breath. How intoxicating the woman on top of him was. But in such a different way to Hermione. Hermione it was willing and comforting. Deep down with Hero, he didn't want this. He was just accepting. He wasn't taking great pleasure in it, there was no heat or passion. She was nothing more than a distraction to him. He was a toy to her, he knew this and didn't like it. Oliver Wood had met his match in the woman who's thighs were firmly pressed at either side of Severus' torso. All of a sudden was all too aware that anyone in the north tower of the castle would get a sight of their compromising position, and he decided there and then he would rectify it. Within seconds he had succeeded in dismounting Hero and righting himself on the sloping verge. Leaving a very disarrayed Hero looking up at him. "Answer the question." He applied coolly.
"Minerva has given me charge of the house. She has had to go away to the ministry. She deemed me the most suitable candidate." Hero picked herself up. Her robes slick with mud and her hair now a distinct brown. He didn't really care. His face showed as much. "You're playing with me. I'm tired of it." Severus laughed deeply at this.
"I rather think it's the other way around. You have said from day one that my wife was no good for me. You don't even know her."
"I know her kind. You were a great man, a legend. And she turned you into a pitiful father. Tied you down with that excuse for a child. Be thankful that she's left you, and even more so that she's taking that thing with her, You can get your li-"
"-LET ME MAKE ONE THING CLEAR. I HAD NO LIFE WITHOUT HER. I HAVE NO LIFE WITHOUT HERMIONE." Her name echoed around the grounds as he stormed confidently into the castle. The spell was broken, he would fight for his child. He would fight for Hermione. And he would hold the best birthday party for his daughter. He agreed with himself as he arrived at Draco and Ginny's room. She answered with a stony expression. Her windows overlooked the grounds. She would not let him enter. "Don't do this Ginny. Please. I haven't done anything wrong, Hermione's left me-"
"I don't believe it."
"She kissed me." He defended. The excuse didn't wash with Ginny.
"You kissed her back. She has done nothing but blacken Hermione's name since she got-" Ginny winced as the baby kicked. Relenting her anger as Severus led her to the couch. He performed a cleaning spell on himself before he sat. "I'm sorry Severus." She noted the pain in his eyes. Ginny realised that he had done nothing wrong if Hermione had in fact left him for Oliver. "What were you here for."
"I realised, that even if she doesn't return the feeling, I still love Hermione and I want to win her back. I want to throw Andromeda the best birthday party." He answered determinedly.
A/N: Still suffering with Writers block. Only one more chapter to post and then you are up to speed with me.
queenbonnie: I wish the Goblin King would take me away as well. Yes, she is related to Vanessa/ Rebecca. hmmmmm, corny ending.... I'll see what I can do. lolololol Although you can't kill Hero, who do you think should? mwhahahahahahaha
NeopianClayniac: Hope you're still reading. I know, I'm playing too much to the rules with this one. I hope the ending will make up for that.
Anarane Anwamane: :-)
bunnyrabbit228: This is a longer chapter to make up for it. Your questions have either been answered or will be addressed in an upcoming chapter. (Once I get over my writers block that is. lol) Hero is not the sister of Vanessa, but they are related
poetrychik: And you're such a good reader to care so much. :-)
Crimson Regret177: She will be, just not sure about who by.
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"No mommy! Daddy and I still love you; you can't stay there. Please come home. Please come home. Please come home." Andromeda pleaded to the darkness, Severus began shaking her awake. "He's dead. He's dead. He's dead. He's dead."
"ANDROMEDA!" Severus shouted, his daughter in his arms. Her frightened, cold eyes shot open and Severus lit the room with his wand. "What happened?" The girl was drenched in cold sweat.