A/N: Thanks for all the prompt reviews. Sorry if these chapters are coming slow. I hadn't planned far enough ahead for after the timeturner bit and so needed time to brainstorm.
For any confusion on the title of that last chap: it was in reference to the fact that Snape's father is a jerk, and Hermione's father is being stupid about the wedding. Both characters had a line where they thought "Damn Bloody Father."
Fanflutewitch: No I hope I am not evil. But sometimes my muse is. Occasionally Voldemort seems to take over my brain and insists that I make them miserable. Snape is just insecure and needs a woman's touch in his life before he can accept children. As to Hermione having children ...uh... it will all be explained in the first scene.
To everyone else: Thanks for your reviews and I hope you enjoy this chap.
Thanks to my wonderful beta BadBugz.
Chapter 23: Predicting the Future
Previously
The girl stopped crying at the sudden touch. She peered blearily into Hermione's face as she wiped her runny nose on a sleeve. To Hermione's surprise the girl suddenly smiled and threw herself into Hermione's lap, squealing an enthusiastic, "Mommy!"
Hermione tentatively hugged the girl she tried to make her brain focus on what the child was saying, "...sorry, Mommy. I never touch the silver thingy again. I'se promise. It was scary. It was dark and swirly. It made me feel sick. It was Alexander and Anthony's fault. They's made me do it. They said...they said they's would put a curse on me iffin I didn't. I'se sorry." The child ended this speech by clutching Hermione around the waist in a tight hug and burying her small face in the fabric of the robes.
Hermione could only stare at the girl in shock as she gently rubbed the girl's back. This is my daughter. But how? I'm not even married yet. I'm still a virgin, for Merlin's sake. Who is the father? She looked at the girl more closely. The child had a head full of ebony curls. Her skin was pale but not overly white, more ivory. She looked to be about four or so. She wore a child's version of wizarding robes.
When the girl finally let go, Hermione said in what she hoped was a confident yet comforting voice, "It is okay. I'm not mad at you. Which silver thing did you touch?" The girl pointed to an object on the floor behind her.
Remembering that the girl had said she had come here by touching the thing, Hermione levitated it closer so she could look at it. It was oddly shaped, almost like an old sundial placed at an angle. She looked closely at the face which was covered in runes. There were three rings surrounding what look like an ordinary clock face. The outer ring had the numbers 1 through 9 spaced evenly around the circle with four arrows pointing towards the digits. The middle ring showed the months of the year with one arrow pointing towards the writing. The inner ring had numbers 1 through 31 carved around its circumference, with one arrow pointing towards the digits. The clock face looked like any other clock except the hands seemed to be frozen on a specific time. The device currently pointed to June 14, 1997 at 2: 35. Today's date and the time of the girl's appearance.
Hermione's brain made the instantaneous connects that she was known for and concluded that this was some sort of time traveling device, thought not one she had heard of, and that it had transported this girl...her daughter...to the past. Well, until she figured out exactly how the thing worked she might as well as the child a few questions. She was the key to answering some of the largest problems.
She turned to the girl once more and was momentarily startled to see onyx eyes looking at her. She smiled and said, "I'm sorry you were frightened. Would you like to play a game to make you feel better?"
The girl's face lit up and she clapped her hands merrily as Hermione led her to one of the empty desks. As they both sat down Hermione said, "Okay. This is a question game. I want to see how much you know about your family and home. If you answer most of the questions right you get a treat, okay?"
The girl squealed happily and said, "Yes, Mommy."
Here it goes, Hermione thought. "What is your name?" she asked.
"Elisabeth Anne Snape," the girl replied.
This answer momentarily sent Hermione into shock. Well, I guess we know who the father is. I can't believe she's named Elizabeth. Fighting to keep her surprise from her face she asked, "How old are you?"
"I'se four years old."
"Do you have any brother's or sisters?"
"Yes, silly."
"How many do you have?"
"Uh....," said Elizabeth. She paused to count but seemed to be having difficulty. Finally she said, "I dunno. I knows their names. There's Alexander and Anthony... then uh...Eleanor and Adrianna. Then I have my brother Saren and my sister Desdemona. Everybody just calls her Mona.
This information sent Hermione into shock for a third time that afternoon. With a giddy kind of adrenaline she thought, At least I know that the marriage worked out. Obviously he got over his fear of ...physical contact. She continued the question game since Elizabeth seemed to enjoy it. She knew that she was cheating by finding out about her future this way but it was just to interesting to give up.
"Where do you live?"
"Hogwarts, of course."
"What do Daddy and I do for work?"
"You'se teaches the stupid people magic," Elizabeth said flippantly.
Hermione frowned and said, "It's not very nice to call people stupid. Rarely is anyone stupid."
"I'se sorry. I didn't means it," she replied.
"That's okay. I have one more question though, and then you can have your treat," Hermione said. "When were you born?"
The girl smiled knowingly and said, "August 4th, 2005."
Hermione smiled at her future daughter and summoning the chocolate frog from her book bag gave it to Elizabeth. While the girl ate, Hermione contemplated the time traveling device. It was the only way to send the girl back. Based on the girl's description of her traveling, it being 'dark and swirly' and the after affect of nausea and falling down, it was a bit like using a portkey. But rather than a taking you where you want to go, it takes you when. You could travel to any specific when you wanted to forward or back. And you could jump months and years rather than just hours like with a timeturner. It was simply ingenious in Hermione's view.
She needed to reset it to the future time, but she dared not touch it. She didn't want to accidentally send her self to the future or something. She suddenly had an idea. She drew her wand and pointed it the device, saying, "August 4th, 2005 2.30 am." To her delight the arrows and clock hands began to spin and after a couple seconds came to rest in the requested date and time.
She turned to Elizabeth and her smile faded when she realized that she had to say goodbye to the child she had barely known, but loved none the less. Restraining the urge to hug her daughter, she asked, "Honey, do you know the date and what time it is?"
The girl frowned, lines appearing around her chocolate smeared mouth. Finally she answered, "It's after lunch, because I had icky roast beef that Daddy made me eat. School been out for ...um...two weeks. I don't know nuffin else. Can I go play with Daddy? He said he would let me hold the 'gredients for his potions today."
Hermione smiled at that plea. She had a feeling that Elizabeth was Daddy's Little Girl. Won't Severus just die when he finds out he's going to have seven children. Just as suddenly as she thought that, her feelings reversed and she decided that this was something that no one should know, least of all Severus. I have to let him get used to me before I spring on him that he will be a father whether he likes it or not.
Coming out of her thoughts, she set the timeporter, as she had come to think of it, to the proper date and time ("July 4th, 2009 1:30 pm"). To Elizabeth she said, "Sure you can, honey. But first I need you to do one more thing. I need you to touch the silver thing again. I know it was scary. But I promise you won't be in trouble and it won't hurt you. If you do this for me I'll let you go straight to Daddy's office. Okay?"
Elizabeth looked at her, trust for her mother showing in her onyx eyes. Severus' eyes, Hermione thought. She gave her daughter a final hug and watched as her daughter disappeared as she touched one finger to polished silver. With tears in her eyes, and hope in her heart, she whispered, "Goodbye, Elizabeth. I'll see you soon."
It was a beautiful day for a Graduation. The proceedings had been moved out door too accommodate everyone who had come to see the Boy Who Lived graduate. Streamers and flower garlands levitated in midair to create the illusion that everyone stood under a canopy.
From his position leaning against a tree, Severus Snape surveyed his surroundings with a mix of contempt and regret. The contempt was for the dunderheads that had somehow manage to pass their N.E.W.T.s and had just graduated. The regret was that the year had ended and he was that much closer to being inexplicably tied to a female Gryffindor know-it-all friend of bloody Harry Potter.
He had to stop himself from watching her progress through the crowds of parents and well wishers. He hated himself for having this unholy wish to want to go and talk to her and wish her well in her future. The problem was he could not wish her well since a large portion of her future was now with him. Five years, five bloody years or until they smarten up and revoke this hideous law. I only need to last that long, he reassured himself. Once again he had to force himself to look away when he realized he had been watching her talk to her friends.
"I wish he would stop doing that. It's creepy the way he keeps watching you," Harry commented. "It's bloody rude."
"No kidding mate. If he weren't you're betrothed, Hermione, I would go and give him a piece of my mind," commented Ron.
Hermione just rolled her eyes. She was sad that the best seven years of her life had ended. Yet she was relieved that it was over as well. She was glad to escape the tormenting of the Slytherins, the taunts of those who didn't understand why she was marrying their potion's professor, the pain of having your own roommates turn on you. She was glad to just have it be over with, so she could get on with her life, with or without Snape.
She had been light hearted this last week, much her friends' confusion. She did not worry over her N.E.W.T.s as she had for the O.W.L.s. She had been confident in her knowledge, which was partially helped by the knowledge that she already had a job lined up. She wasn't all that worried about her upcoming marriage either. Having seen and heard proof that the relationship between Severus and herself had improved help greatly. Her only worry was that her father would continue to be stubborn and not attend the ceremony. For once, I wish I could predict the future, she thought. Sighing inwardly she put on a smile as her mother came over to tell her there was going to be a meeting about her wedding.
"No, absolutely not!" Severus exclaimed. He glared hatefully at Dumbledore and spat, "I will not be part of this foolishness. It is not necessary to throw a grand ball. The basic legal ceremony is fine. What is the point to making a mockery of a wedding? It would only embarrass the participants and jeopardize my role as a Death Eater. What you are suggesting would bring half of England to Hogwarts for a wedding I didn't want in the first place."
"I agree," said Hermione. Everyone turned to her in surprise, including Severus.
"But Hermione, dear," inserted her mother. "I realize that the wizarding world is different from ours, but every girl wants the wedding of their dreams. Don't you?"
Hermione replied, "Yes, but like Professor Snape said, there just doesn't seemed to be any point. Dream weddings require you to be marrying the guy of your dreams. No offense meant Professor." Especially as you are my dream guy, she thought. "I would be perfectly happy with the basic ceremony." Though internally she wished that she could have her dream wedding. She only planned on doing this once.
"I realize your arguments are valid. But I must insist. Do it for me if not for your selves," Dumbledore said. "Very rarely do we have such joyous occasions like this to celebrate. I insist. I will not accept anything less for two of my colleagues."
"I hate being fussed over," Hermione grumbled half to herself.
Alison Granger laughed merrily and smiling, said, "But Mione dear, you are a bride. You are meant to be fussed over for your wedding. I know these are not ideal circumstances, but you must make the best of them. And so we will. So who's going to be in charge of what? I have no idea how you organize a wizarding wedding."
McGonagall said, "It is similar to a muggle wedding but with only a few differences in ceremony. I will take care of decorations if no one else minds."
"I nominate myself and Mrs. Granger to be in charge of the guest list," Dumbledore said. Alison smiled at him in thanks.
Mrs. Weasley piped in from the back of the gathering, "I will plan the reception."
Ginny, who was sitting next to Hermione said, "If Hermione does not object I will be the maid of honor and get her dress."
"Thank you, Ginny. Of course, I don't object," said Hermione.
"What can we do?" asked Harry, indicating himself and Ron.
"You boys can help me plan the reception," said Mrs. Weasley.
Dumbledore looked around for anyone left out and spotted Lupin in a back corner. "Ah, Remus, I think you should have the place as best man to Severus," he said.
Remus looked stupefied and Snape said, "I hardly think that is necessary. I will be perfectly fine on my own."
"Nonsense, Severus. Every groom needs a best man. I would do it myself, but I will be conducting the ceremony. Remus is just the fellow. I insist," the Headmaster said.
Looking around at the animatedly talking group, Severus scowled, knowing he was beaten. Only Hermione and Dumbledore noticed when he left the room.
A/N: Hehehehe. Wedding time! Yay! For anybody interested the timeporter was invented by Hermione later in her career. It does indeed use a combination of timeturner dust the time potion she used to return and the portkey charm. It will mostly likely not make another appearance I just thought it would be interesting. Elizabeth and all the other children will be in future chapters, well maybe one or two. Anyway, hope you liked it. Please R&R! Thanks.
