What's the time, seems it's already morning
I see the sky, so beautiful and blue
The TV's on but the only thing showing is a picture of you
I get up, and make myself some coffee
I try to read a bit, but the story's to thin
I thank the Lord above that you're not here to see me
In the shape I'm in
Roxette – Spending My Time ©
Hermione was crying. Big silent tears were dripping down her cheek, into the bath water that was slowly turning cold.
"Oh Ron, my dear Ron. If only you were here!"
She sighed and got out of bath. Her tears keep flooding she was not paying attention to them. When she looked in the mirror, she saw how terrible she looked. A mess. A terrible mess.
"Why am I here? What am I doing here? What was I thinking?" she thought as she walked into her bedroom. Anthony was sitting straight up in his crib, silent but watching his mother. Hermione walked down on him and took him in her arms for a hug.
"Oh Anthony, I'm so sorry you'll never get to know your real father!" she whispered.
She walked down to her bed and sat down. Anthony lifted himself up using the bed post and started tumbling around the room. He had just learned how to walk, and when he wasn't sleeping, he wanted to walk. Hermione couldn't keep up the number of times her adventurous son had walked out on her. Such a brave kid.
Hermione smiled as she watched little Anthony and slowly started to dress herself. Anthony was merely the reason she kept going. She had someone to take care of, he relied on her. It was her responsibility towards her son and towards Ron. Mrs. Weasley had suggested to leave Anthony at the Burrow when Hermione went for Hogwarts but Hermione wouldn't want that. Then she would suffer a total breakdown, she knew it!
For a moment she wondered whether or not she should wear her robes, but then again, it was a hot day and her robes were heavy and warm. Instead she chose for a simple black tank top and some baggy jeans. She told herself she would go for a walk after dinner with Anthony. It wasn't until she was doing her hair before she noticed how silent her quarters had become. Where were Anthony's cheers?
She hurried towards the living room, and was stunned. Anthony had managed somehow to open the front door and had left their quarters. Hermione raised one eyebrow.
"God, Molly could have warned me about the perks having a Weasley for a child!"
With a sigh she reached for her wand and left her quarters, on search for her two year old adventurer.
"Albus was right! A bath can be a magical thing!" Severus thought to himself as he relaxed in the hot, steaming water. He had been in there for the past thirty minutes, thinking of nothing, just relaxing. He felt drowsy and wondered if he could skip the Dinner. On the other hand, he knew Albus would kill him if he did so. He would have to run away then and even if he did, Albus would hunt him down and kick his ass. Dumbledore could be pretty scary when it someone tried to escape his habits.
"You should try this, Rascal!" Severus said to his white cat. The cat had been sleeping on the cupboard next to the bath and was now looking at him as if he thought his boss had gone mental.
"I'm serious! You'll love it!" Severus reassured his cat but Rascal just jumped off the cupboard and walked into the bedroom, with an air of arrogance.
Severus smirked. "Stupid cat!" he thought before he got out of the bath himself and slowly started to dry himself. Afterwards he wrapped his towel around his waist and entered the bedroom. Staring into his closet, he wondered he would go as Professor Snape tonight or as just Severus. Knowing the heat still lingered on outside, he eventually chose just Severus because his robes would be to hot, even in the Great Hall, which was usually really cool.
Dressed in a dark blue polo shirt and baggy jeans, Severus decided he did look pretty good tonight.
When he was in the bathroom to put his hair in a ponytail, he heard something coming from the living room. Noises, like somebody was talking.
Severus stuck his head out of his bathroom door and listened.
"When did you learn how to talk, Rascal?" he shouted, assuming his cat was making the noises. There was a laughter and Severus raised his eyebrows. Did he really own a talking white cat?
"What the-." He said while he swept into the living room and got stunned with what he saw.
There was a small child sitting in front of his fire, with Rascal in front of him. The child was making noises as if he was talking to Rascal and for some reason, Rascal seemed to listen to everything the kid said.
Severus walked down to the child and crouched next to it. "Hey, champ. How did you end up in my living room?"
He noticed how the front door seemed to be open and looked down on Rascal. The cat had a nasty habit of trying to open every door in the house and sometimes succeeded.
Severus gave his cat a nasty look before paying his attention on the child again. "So, who are you then?"
The child just looked up and made one of those noises a two-year-old makes.
"Can't talk yet, can you!" Severus chuckled. The child kept laughing and his big hazel eyes gave him a look that reminded him of someone, although he couldn't quite remember who.
He picked up the child. "Alright then, champ. You got a name?"
"Ga!" the child blurred and spittle dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Severus scowled. "Yeah, didn't think so!"
He started walking towards the front door. "Let's go and see if we can find your mummy."
They stepped outside and Severus looked at the child. "Alright, where did you come from?"
The child raised his hands and then waved them in each another direction.
"You really should work on your short-term memory if you don't want to get lost in this castle again!" Severus sarcastically advised.
"Alright, left or right."he murmured to himself. The child kept talking to Severus in his own funny language as Severus made his way down to the exit of the Dungeons.
Hermione started to feel pretty tired from her search for little Anthony. The worries seemed to have taken control as well as she literally flew through the castle, calling out Anthony's name every five seconds.
She had just stopped on a corner to catch some breath when she heard a baritone voice talking.
"You know, it might come in hand if you could at least tell me where you came from!"
She heard a child gabbling something and immediately recognized Anthony's voice. She wanted to rush into the corridor but something made her wait and listen to the conversation.
"Yeah, that's what I thought! You haven't got a clue. Well, I think it's best if I take you to Dumbledore's office. Do you know Dumbledore?"
Some gabbling.
"He's got a nice long beard, you should try to pull it if you have a chance! I've been wanting to dothat for a long time, you know!"
Again some gabbling.
"Yeah, you're right. It's not a very decent thing to do!"
Hermione waited as she heard the voice coming closer to her.
"I'm really curious about your mother. I cannot remember anyone from the Staff being pregnant, or maybe Albus finally knocked up Minerva!"
Just as Hermione decided to walk around the corner, a tall man descended from the other side. They stared at each other for a few moments, until Anthony broke the silence and reached out for his mother while babbling some unknown words that indicated he recognized his mother.
"I can assume this child, that invaded my living room, belongs to you?" Severus asked nicely. He knew this woman but couldn't really place her.
Hermione simply nodded. She could not believe she was actually standing in front of her old Potions master. He looked really good.
"I believe he is the first child that ever invaded your living room then." Hermione chuckled when she finally could talk again. "The only child who invaded and lived, that is!"
Severus got more curious about this woman. He thought she was gorgeous.
"Do-. Do I know you?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. "I'm sure you do. I'm Hermione Granger!"
For a moment, Severus was stunned. "Hermione Granger? Is that Hermione Granger? Wow! There were no other words for her, just wow!"
"Well well, miss Granger. You have… grown, I see!" he scowled.
Hermione nodded. "You're looking good as well. Can I have my child?"
Severus realised he was still holding the boy and wanted to give him back to his mother but as soon as the boy noticed his mother was taking him, he started to scream and cry and reaching out for Severus.
"Maybe it would be better if I just hold him for a little while?" Severus managed to asked between the screams and Hermione nodded.
"Great Scott, stubbornness runs through his vains!" she muttered and Severus grinned.
"Let me escort you to your quarters, miss Granger."he said and Hermione nodded.
"Please do call me Hermione! And yes, you can join us. I wouldn't want to drag Anthony all the way back. He can be such a pig sometimes!"
Severus smiled as they started making their way to Hermione's quarters.
"So, are you going to tell me when you returned to Hogwarts, and why perhaps?" Severus asked after a few silent moments.
Hermione gave him a startled look. "Oh, I'm sorry. My mind wandered of for a moment." She gave him a faint smile. "Uhm, well, we arrived today and I'll be filling the position of Transfiguration teacher this year."
Severus nodded. "Well, well, Transfiguration. I've been wondering when Minerva would retire and who would fill her spot. Didn't think of you actually."
"Well, professor, I didn't think to end up here myself but under the circumstances I think it's better for Anthony." Hermione admitted.
"If you insist on calling me professor, I will insist on calling you miss Granger. Otherwise, please do call me Severus!" Severus said. He thought it would be wise not to ask about the circumstances. For some reason, he felt a little worried about Hermione. "Why do I feel worried? I shouldn't feel worried? I'm only walking with her because that dunderhead of a kid won't shut up!" he thought.
"Alright then, Severus." Hermione answered a little shakily. "I'm sorry, but I've got to ask. What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" Severus asked surprised. "There's nothing wrong with me, is there?" he quickly thought and cursed the boy in his arms because he now was unable to check if he didn't forget to put on his shoes by accident.
"Well, yeah!" Hermione admitted. "You look different. More … human … And I heard you talking to Anthony … as if youare … well human."
Severus started to laugh. "Hermione, I can assure you I am one-hundredth percent human."
"Yeah well, you always behaved like a giant bat and something of an… you know … ass hole!"
Severus started to laugh even harder. "My my, Hermione. You still haven't lost your need for information and the terrible ways to receive that, have you?"
Hermione started to blush and was utterly surprised by her old Potions master. The words just flew out of her mouth when she asked it and he responded … nice. He laughed over it. What the hell was wrong with him?
Severus still chuckled over Hermione's questions. In all the years he had not seen her, she turned out to be a mother and a good looking witch. "But she still has her brutality!"
Hermione stopped at a portrait of an old landscape. "Welll, this is us!"
Severus smiled and gave Anthony a hug. "Listen up champ. I'm going to give you to your mama now and there's no reason for you to shout or cry or whatever because I'm sure I'll see you again soon! Is that okay?"
Anthony, who was almost asleep, blabbed something quietly and with a smile that contained certain amounts of tenderness, Severus handed Anthony over to Hermione.
"I guess I'll be seeing you at the Dinner later tonight." Severus asked and Hermione nodded.
"Well yeah, I'll just put this little pig in bed and head for the Great Hall afterwards. I'll see you there!"
Hermione muttered the password and entered her quarters where she sank down on the couch. "What the hell had just happened?"
Right outside, Severus leaned back at the wall, looking most confused while he kept thinking: "What the hell had just happened?"