Defying the Fates
Chapter 7
Hermione walked swiftly down the hall towards their rooms. Her body was tingling in anticipation and she hummed softly, happiness flooding her soul.
"Good day," she addressed the portrait. "Sir, if my children should happen to come tonight please inform them that their mother and father are occupied and will see them tomorrow."
The blacksmith smiled and nodded knowingly before allowing the door to open.
"I'm home," she called. She grinned broadly as she saw him sitting on the sofa. Her grin faded and concern filled her. He sat with his elbows on his knees, hands pressed together, head bowed.
"Severus?"
"Who was he, Hermione?" Severus asked, his voice deadly calm and quiet.
"Who was who?" Hermione asked confused. "What are you talking…"
"Who is Alex's father?"
An eerie stillness filled the air as Severus looked up at her. She gasped softly at the look of unbridled fury on his face. The last time she had seen that look was during her third year in the Hospital Wing when he had found out that Sirius had escaped.
"Severus, what are you saying?" she asked shakily. "You are Alex's father."
"Do…not…lie…to…me," he growled. "Unless you fucked a man little more than a corpse, I did not sire that boy."
Her knees began to tremble and she grasped the back of a chair to keep from falling. "Severus, why are you doing this? Maybe you don't remember. We made love that day…"
"I remember everything." The words hung in the air like a bell chime.
Hermione felt fear flood over her and she sunk down in the chair, pressing her hands together hard. "Luv, I don't know…"
With swift steps, Severus was in front of her jerking her chin up and staring deeply into her eyes. "Do not lie," he whispered. "Alex is not my son, is he?"
Tears filled her eyes as the minutes ticked by. His eyes bore into hers, searching for the truth. "No." she said brokenly.
"Is he Potter's?" came the swift question.
"NO!" she shouted jerking away from him but not before he saw the truth in her eyes.
"Then who?"
Hermione felt the sobs in her throat. "Severus, you are Alex's father…the only father he will ever have. You must understand…I had no choice."
"No choice? No choice? Were you raped?" Severus' lips curled in a cruel sneer.
"No," she said feebly.
"Then you had a choice," he said in a dead voice. "If you had taken a lover later, I would have understood. But Alex is only a little over ten months older than my son. You played the whore within days after I was hexed."
"No," Hermione sobbed. "It was never like that…"
"I see. Someone offered you comfort and you fell into his bed?"
"No."
Then tell me how it was!" he shouted, kicking a small table and sending it flying across the room. "Tell me how you could fuck someone within hours after you thought you lost your husband forever! Tell me how you love me and waited for me!" He gave her a look of pure loathing. "Was it guilt that made you stay? Are you as pathetic as Potter and decided to martyr yourself because you were unfaithful?" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Tell me, wife!" The word sounded like a curse.
Hermione was trembling all over now, her eyes wide with fright. "I… I can't."
Releasing her, Severus stood over her a moment. Turning on his heel he strode towards the door.
"Severus, please," she begged rising.
Without a word, he left.
"Harry?" Remus was surprised to see him standing at the door.
"I got the weekend off," Harry explained with a half smile. "Thought I would drop in if that's all right."
"Yes, of course, come in." Remus stepped to the side to allow Harry entrance. He grinned as he ran a hand through his hair. His robes were streaked in grime and the faint smell of something astringent emanated from him. "We have been doing a thorough house cleaning. It is going fast, nothing like it was when Sirius and I first moved in."
"We?" Harry asked curiously.
Remus eyes lit up in delight. "Yes. There are four residents living here now. We were just about to sit down to a late supper. Come, I will introduce you."
Entering the kitchen, Harry saw three people, two men and a woman sitting at the large table. "Friends, we have a guest for the night," Remus said. "This is Harry Potter and this is Robillard McCallaugh, Gavin Kendrick and Regina VanDerrick."
A hump backed, bald headed old man gave Harry a large toothless grin. "Folks call me Robby, Mr. Potter."
"I remember you, Potter. You visited Mr. Weasley in the hospital. That is where I first met Remus," said Gavin Kendrick.
"Harry," Harry corrected, remembering the man in the bed next to Arthur's during his fifth year and how Remus had went over to speak to him.
"Harry Potter, Remus has spoken of you often," said Regina, a very pretty woman in her mid twenties with shoulder length dark blonde hair. Her voice was soft with a hint of accent.
"Have a seat, Harry," Remus instructed, as a plate and cutlery flew to the table with a flick of his wand.
"I thought you said there were four," Harry said, blushing slightly as he took a chair next to Regina.
"Ah, yes," Remus pursed his lips and whistled. A half grown shaggy black pup came bounding out from under the table, his tail wagging with enthusiasm. The pup's fur was matted in places and even through the tangled mess Harry could see he was very thin.
"Robby found him in an alley yesterday. He was so weak from starvation; he couldn't hardly walk."
"We will wish he couldn't," said Gavin irritably. "He has already chewed the rug under the table to tatters."
Harry scratched the pup behind the ear as it sniffed his trousers.
Dinner was a pleasant affair as Harry learned each person's background. Like Remus, each had found it impossible to earn a living. Robby had no living relatives to help him, while Gavin's and Regina's families had disowned them.
"I was tainted," Regina said calmly, her brilliant blue eyes shining in the light. "I had been groomed to wed the best match my father could make. After the incident, he threw me out without a knut."
Regina came from a very wealthy family in Russia and her journey had been a long, hard struggle, as she had no skills to fall back on. She had wound up in London after following a Wizard who had promised her marriage only to break it off when he learned of her condition.
After the others had retired for the night, Remus asked Harry to stay for a bit.
"Coffee or whiskey?"
"Whiskey," Harry said with a grin.
Remus brought a bottle of whiskey and two glasses over to the table. He sat down beside Harry and poured. "I heard about Severus' miraculous recovery. It really is intriguing. Every healer I spoke with during my travels agreed that someone of the same bloodline could only break a blood curse."
"I know, Harry agreed. "Dumbledore guessed it just wore off."
"Really?" Remus looked shocked. He ran a hand through his hair. "I suppose it is possible although highly improbable."
They sipped their whiskeys in silence for a few minutes before Remus turned to Harry. "How are you dealing with it, Harry?" he asked gently. "About Severus."
"I'm delighted and very happy for Hermione. You should have seen her face. And the boys are beside themselves…but I do miss them."
"Harry, it is all right to feel disappointment. I suspect that you thought of them as your family."
Harry nodded glumly.
"Hermione loves Severus, Merlin only knows why, but she does. And she loves you, but only as a dear, close friend. You will always be important to her and to Alex and Adrien. Don't forget that."
"I know."
"Can you honestly say you were in love with her or were you in love with having a family?" Remus prodded.
Harry shrugged his shoulder and grinned sheepishly. "Moot point now, isn't it?"
"Your feelings are never moot." Remus smiled warmly at him
The shaggy pup came out from under the table and stretched before going over to climb on Remus' leg for a pet. "We gave him a bath; if it's one thing we don't need around here it's fleas," Remus laughed, "but he does need a good clip."
"I agree," Harry said, snapping his fingers. The pup went over to Harry and began sniffing his legs. "You never told me what his name is."
"We haven't named him yet," Remus replied, blushing slightly. "I wanted to stay out of it because I was sorely tempted to…well, to call him Padfoot."
"I think I have a name for him," Harry said, scratching behind the pup's ears. "I think Sirius would agree that his name should be Snuffles."
"I think it's brilliant," Remus agreed. He raised his glass. "To Snuffles."
"I thought I might find you down here."
"Go away, Albus," Severus growled.
Dumbledore stepped into the room, allowing the door to close behind him. Where a door had been there was only a wall. Walking over to a table, Albus ran a finger over it, leaving a trail in the thick dust. "I will inform one of the House Elves to tend to this," he said.
"Don't bother," Severus said testily. "I won't be here that long."
The room was large with a comfortable bed, several chairs and a writing desk. It had been Severus' private sanctuary. Albus had shown it to him when he had first started working at Hogwarts and only he and Severus knew of its existence. There were two hidden entrances to the room, one through the dungeon quarters that Emma now occupied and the other at the base of the South Tower. It was through here that Severus had slipped out of the castle without detection when going to Voldemort's summons. The room had also been used as a quiet place for Severus to recover when one of those summonses had resulted less than favorably.
"If you were leaving, you would have gone by now," Albus said knowingly, taking a seat. "Every couple has spats from time to time."
"I suppose the entire castle are wagging their tongues about that fact," he snarled.
"No. One of the portraits informed me of the little tiff you and Hermione had." Severus snorted. "And I gave strict instructions to the portraits that no one else need know."
"You know about Alex, don't you," Severus accused.
Albus twisted a lock of his beard around his fingers. "I do. When young Alex was born, his name, his real surname, appeared in the Hogwarts Registry."
"Who is his father?" Severus demanded.
"That is not for me to tell you. And I would only be making an educated guess at best," Albus said calmly. "Do not bother to look at the Registry. I took care to hide the name."
Severus sneered. "Always interfering, aren't you, Albus. Damn it! I deserve to know."
"There is a woman upstairs who deserves to have you listen to her. Hermione did what she thought she had to, for you."
"For me?" Severus asked sarcastically. "Being unfaithful was for me? How do you come to that ridiculous conclusion, Albus?"
"Severus, you are an extremely intelligent man, or use to be," Albus smiled. "And yet you have not questioned what kind of curse Bellatrix used on you."
"Don't change the subject," Severus said. He frowned. "I was told it was a variation of the Victumus Necorum Curse.
"Could not a capable Wizard reverse the curse regardless of the variation?" Albus asked, bemused at Severus' look of irritation.
"A powerful Witch or Wizard could, yes. I am surprised that you couldn't, Albus," Severus said snidely.
Albus chuckled. "I believe I could dispel that curse no matter what the variation was; however I can not dispel a blood curse."
His eyebrows knitting together in surprise, Severus stared at him. "A blood curse?"
"Yes, Bellatrix used a family artifact and included a blood curse when she hexed you."
Pacing, Severus rubbed his chin as he walked. "If that is true, why didn't Adromeda or Tonks remove the curse? And what kind of artifact was used?"
"They tried," Albus said. "Apparently the artifact, which was a crystal of some unknown origin, did not recognize them as blood relatives. It seemed anyone hexed off the Black family tapestry was exempt and everyone that is listed on the tapestry is dead. Draco Malfoy was the last of the Black bloodline to die or good as. He was given the Dementor's Kiss hours after Bellatrix attacked you. The Ministry felt it would serve as a warning to any other remaining Death Eater that had not been caught if they executed all those Death Eaters held in Azkaban." Albus shook his head sadly. "Had he not been, I am sure we could have convinced him to aid you."
Severus stopped pacing, turning swiftly to look at the older wizard. "A blood curse does not just dissipate," he said quietly.
"No. Someone was able to activate the artifact."
"Who?" Severus asked shakily.
"I do not know. However, I believe your wife does."
Walking swiftly towards the rooms, Hermione was thankful the day was over. She had barely contained the tears that were hovering near the surface during classes. It hadn't helped that she had to lie to Alex and Adrien when they had greeted her enthusiastically during the lunch hour. They were anxious to see Severus and she had told them he had taken a few days off to see old friends. Adrien's disappointed look had sent her running to the staff loo to cry.
She had spent the weekend worrying until Albus had stopped by yesterday evening to inform her that Severus was still in the castle. That bit of information had given her hope that perhaps he would come back and yet she dreaded the confrontation that would surely follow. She had to tell him.
Stepping through the portrait door, she started when she saw Severus sitting on the sofa.
"Severus," she sighed, wishing she could fling herself into his arms. His steely expression made her shiver as she sat her briefcase down on the kitchen table. "I am very glad you are here."
He didn't say anything but followed her every movement with cold eyes. "I am very sorry about everything," she said slowly, moving to sit in a chair opposite of him. "But you must understand…"
"Who cast the counter curse, Hermione?" he asked quietly. "Or are you going to tell me you don't know? I am here for answers only. Do not waste my time with more lies."
Hermione rubbed her arms, feeling chilled. "No, Severus," she said resolutely. "I will tell you everything. Albus loaned me his Pensieve. He thought it might be easier if I showed you."
Severus grunted. Getting up, Hermione retrieved the Pensive from a cabinet, then removed something from the writing desk. She sat the Pensieve on the small table between them and handed him the crystal.
Gingerly, he held the dull crystal up, examining it carefully. "This is the artifact Albus mentioned, the one Lestrange used?"
"Yes."
"Who was able to activate it?"
Rubbing her forehead Hermione withdrew her wand from her robe pocket. "Severus, you asked who Alex's father was. I will start with that and then you will understand. I…I want you to know that everything I did, everything, was because I loved you and I couldn't leave you in the state you were." She looked at him, her heart in her eyes, begging him to forgive her as she began placing silvery strands of memories into the Pensive.
"Proceed." It was the only response he gave her.
"First, you need to know how desperate I was. When I found out the truth of your situation, that you had been hexed by a blood curse, that could only be broken by a blood relative of Bellatrix's father and that Andromeda and Tonks had already tried, and failed, I felt that my life had ended.
"We tried, Harry, Dumbledore, Lupin, everyone, to find someone, anyone, but the answer was always the same. There was no one left alive capable of reversing the curse." Hermione drew a shuddering breath. "I threw myself into researching blood curses to no avail.
"I sought out an old friend of yours, Henry Lecher." Severus shifted slightly in his seat at the name of the ex Death Eater who dealt on the black market. "I purchased the use of a Time Turner for forty eight hours. At first I thought to only go back to the time before they executed Draco. He would have been able to release you. However, it had been two weeks and the Ministry had been overhauled, Fudge thrown out of office and it seemed for the better. How would I explain knowing about your curse before the healers had deduced what was wrong with you?
"So I decided then to go back to that evening, to stop you from meeting Harry. Even if I had to hex you I was going to make you stay at home. As I calculated the amount of turns I needed, a foreboding flooded though me. I suppose it was silly women's intuition but I couldn't stop thinking that even if I stopped you that night, what about the next time? Lestrange wouldn't have stopped until she got to you.
"I knew then what I had to do, or at least attempt. It seemed the safest way. I wouldn't be altering events and no one would ever know." She gave a nervous laugh. "Foolish, I see now. You figured it out and so did Albus, at least to a degree."
"I have figured out nothing except that Alex is someone else's bastard," he said coldly.
Hermione flinched but continued. "I used the time turner to go back a week, to make the Fertilitas Potion. I needed to take it for several days before going forward to the current time. I made use of that time, learning what I needed to know. Searching the Hogwarts records I found the exact time I needed before returning to the present.
"I knew I had to be careful. It wouldn't due for anyone to recognize me in the future. I dyed my hair black and bought blue contacts to change my eye color."
Severus looked puzzled. "They are Muggle devices, soft lenses you place on your iris. Many Muggles wear them instead of glasses. They are also used as cosmetic enhancements, allowing a person to change their eye color." Severus snorted skeptically.
"I asked Molly to watch Adrian for me then I walked to a small cave on the hillside near Hogsmeade. Using the Time Turner I went back twenty four years."
"Dear lord!" Severus exploded. "Foolish woman, didn't you know how dangerous that was? Time traveling into a spot in history before you were born is forbidden. You could have ceased to be."
Blinking back tears, Hermione smiled slightly at his concern. "I knew the risk," she said softly, "But you were worth any risk."
A sneer appeared on his face. "And what of your son? Did Adrien mean so little to you that you would leave him an orphan?"
"Damn it, Severus. I did what I thought best!"
Their eyes met, each glowering at the other. "Stupid," he growled.
"Yes, I was stupid! Stupid and in love!" she sniffed and then squared her shoulders. "If you want to know the truth, the rest I have placed within the Pensieve."
With a look of disdain, Severus leaned forward over the stone bowl. Slowly he put his face into the swirling silver liquid…
Severus was standing in the corner of the Three Broomsticks. He saw Hermione sitting at a table reading a book. Though her hair was slicker and dark, he would have recognized her anywhere. This was his wife, the wife he had remembered all those years in his coma like state, young, slightly plump, with a love of life. Looking closer he noticed how strained she look, a tightness around her mouth belied her youth.
A barmaid came over. It took Severus a moment to realize that this was Madame Rosmerta. She had flaming red hair and was much younger, just as she had been when he had come into her establishment on Hogsmeade days when he was in school…
"More tea?" Rosmerta asked, holding a steaming pot. Hermione nodded. "It will be crowded in here in a few minutes," she chatted, filling Hermione's cup. "The students from Hogwarts will be flooding in here for butterbeers."
"Really?" Hermione asked innocently. "I didn't realize."
As if on cue, students began entering the bar, many of the younger ones exclaiming in delight over the animated Christmas decorations. Hermione was watching the entering students covertly over the book. Severus stiffened as he realized what year it was. Twenty-four years in the past, his sixth year. That meant…
A sneer appeared on his face as he saw Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew enter the now crowded bar. He looked at the nemesis of his childhood, feeling the old stirrings of bitterness and hatred.
The four boys sat down at a table not near enough to Hermione's for him to hear what they were saying and for that he was grateful. Severus felt a finger of icy trepidation run across his spine as he realized that Hermione was staring at the table. He knew what was about to happen or rather what had already happened. Forcing the irritation down, he waited.
Hermione signaled to Rosemerta who was moving through the crowd taking orders. "If you want more tea you might have to wait," she said hurriedly.
"No," Hermione said quickly. "I want to buy a butterbeer for that young man over there with his three mates. The good looking dark haired one."
Rosemerta's eyebrows shot up. "You serious, Miss? Those are Hogwarts students and may I add, a bit young…"
"You may fulfill my request," Hermione said firmly.
"Yes. One butterbeer to the table. Do you mean the one with the glasses?" she asked testily.
"No, the other one," Hermione said handing Rosemerta the money. "And please let him know who sent it."
Giving Hermione a condescending look, Rosmerta hustled back to the bar. She took a tray over to the table where Potter and the others were. Sitting down five butterbeers, two in front of Sirius, Severus could see Sirius asking her about it. Rosmerta jerked her head in Hermione's direction and left to deliver the next table's drinks.
Severus moved closer to the boys' table.
"Way to go, Sirius," Potter said, slapping Black on the back. "Got the women buying you drinks now."
"And she's an older woman," Pettigrew said in awe. "You know what they say about older women."
"No, what do they say?" Remus asked in an innocent tone.
Peter blushed and stammered, "You…know, they like…you know…to shag."
"I like to shag," Sirius laughed, "And I am not an older woman."
"Take it easy on him," Potter teased. "Peter hasn't had the chance to experience anyone but 'Rosie Palmer'."
Black and Potter laughed at Pettigrew's red face as Lupin blushed and smiled.
"You should go thank the lady," Potter suggested.
"Sirius, do you think that would be wise?" Lupin asked.
"Go on, I dare you," Potter said. "Maybe you can ask her about 'older women'."
Chuckling, Sirius stood up. "Can't resist a dare and I do owe her a thank you."
Severus followed Sirius over to Hermione's table. "Hi," Sirius said.
Hermione looked up from the book. "Hello," she said pleasantly, smiling.
"I just wanted to thank you for the butterbeer."
"You are more than welcome. Please, won't you sit?"
Sirius turned to look at the others as he pulled out the stool. Severus heard Potter's whistle and his frown deepened.
"I am Janice Ballard," Hermione said holding out her hand. She had used her mother's maiden name.
"Sirius Black," Sirius said taking her hand and lifting it to his lips. Severus growled inwardly. "I haven't seen you in Hogsmeade before."
"I am just passing through," Hermione said smoothly, her voice becoming lower. "And I am glad I did. It gave me a chance to meet you."
Sirius laughed softly. "I see. Well, I am here with my mates," he nodded towards the table. "We are students at Hogwarts." He grinned at her.
"Surely a student soon to graduate."
"Afraid not. One more year to go."
"Then you are seventeen?" she asked innocently.
"Sixteen," Sirius answered, a challenge in his tone.
"We are in Scotland," Hermione said evenly. Sirius laughed loudly. They talked for a bit trading suggestive innuendos that made Severus' blood boil.
Sirius finally stood. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Ballard, but I have neglected my mates long enough."
"Fair enough. I will be staying here this weekend. I have taken a room at this pub, number five," she said suggestively.
Sirius grinned. "Remember I am a student and we have this little thing called a curfew. Not allowed out of our houses after nine pm."
"I'm sure that a clever person such as yourself could find a way around such a minor thing."
Smirking, Sirius nodded. "Perhaps."
"If you are interested, Mr. Black, you know where to find me."…
Images shifted and swirled and Severus found himself standing in a small bedroom. Hermione was opening a bottle of wine. She was dressed in a dark blue negligee, the wispy gown hiding little. 'Hermione', Severus groaned, knowing she couldn't hear him. 'Don't do this.' He was clenching his fists so tightly he felt his fingernails cutting the skin.
There was a knock on the door and Hermione took a big swig of wine before she went to open it. Sirius stood there wearing a confident grin.
"Mr. Black," Hermione greeted him, relief in her voice. "Do come in."
Black was eyeing her up and down, thoroughly appreciating the picture she presented.
"You didn't think I would come," he said simply, a devilish smile on his face.
"I didn't assume anything," she said, smiling weakly at him.
"Would you have been disappointed?"
"Yes."
Sirius laughed and flopped down on the bed. He leaned back against the headboard his hands behind his head. "Funny, I don't take you for a lady who picks up boys in bars."
"You are very astute, Mr. Black," Hermione said. "That is an admirable quality. As far as being a boy, I thought you were of age. If not then I will thank you to leave…" He grabbed her robe and pulled her down on the bed, encasing her in his arms.
"I am of age and definitely not a boy," he growled laughingly. Grasping her hair, he lifted her face to his and kissed her. Sirius broke the kiss and began nibbling down her neck, his hand cupping her breast. Hermione raised her hand to touch his hair. Grabbing her wrist Sirius stared at it a moment.
"What game are you playing?" he asked nonchalantly, though his eyes flashed dangerously at her. "Are you miffed at your husband and want to prove a point?"
Hermione opened her mouth and then closed it. "I don't know what you mean," she finally said, trying to wrench her wrist away.
"Don't lie. I see the imprint of the wedding band you probably have in your cloak. Not that I really mind, I just don't want a jealous man hunting me down later because I shagged his wife."
"It isn't like that," Hermione said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Then enlighten me," Sirius said, releasing her wrist and moving off her. Hermione took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.
"My husband was struck down…by a Death Eater," she said, watching Sirius' face carefully. "I…I miss him. You are right. I have never done this before; in fact I have never been with another man."
"Why now? Why me?" Sirius asked, his voice soft, the flashing dark eyes now gentle.
"Because you remind me of him," she said truthfully. "And I wanted…I wanted to forget, if just for a little while." Hermione swallowed, playing the final card. "If you want to leave, I will understand."
Sirius looked at her a small smile on his face. Slowly he reached out and took her hand, bringing it to his lips. Hermione moved into his arms and their lips met, the passion building and growing as hands touched and explored…
The silvery liquid swirled and Severus saw Hermione standing in the small loo. She was carefully pouring a small vial of red liquid into a jar of urine. The mixture turned a bright blue and she breathed deeply, pouring the urine into the toilet.
Severus followed her into the bedroom where Sirius slept soundly. The sky outside the window was just beginning to turn a light blue. Hermione dressed quickly and leaned over the sleeping young man.
"Thank you," she whispered, kissing his forehead. She pulled out her wand. 'Obliviate'...
The liquid swirled and Severus found himself in the Hospital wing at Hogwarts watching Hermione give birth. He heard the name she gave the baby. Sirius Alexander Snape before the liquid swirled once more...
He watched as Hermione secretly taught a very young Alex spells, coaxing the boy to continue even when he was near exhaustion, telling him that he was the only one capable of helping his father. Severus felt a protective anger rise in him as he watched how hard she pressed Alex to master the complex spells...
Then he was standing beside Hermione and Alex in the Room of Requirement, listening to Alex perform the incantation on the crystal. He walked with them to the Snapes' rooms and held his breath when Alex released the crystal over his still form...
Slowly Severus felt himself lift out of the Pensieve. Hermione was staring intently at the silvery liquid, tears falling slowly down her cheeks.
She looked at husband and took a step backwards. His lips pressed together tightly, he was shaking with rage.