MARRYING SNAPE- mypseudonym
Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing
AN: Here it is the War and Peace of all chapters. I'd like to thank you guys for all the great reviews. I'm averaging between 6 and 7 reviews for chapter and I couldn't be more thrilled. I haven't gotten a single flame either! I'm so glad you are all enjoying the story so much.
Chapter 7
Hermione got out of the shower the next morning to find Daisy and Quinn sitting on her bed, clearly having just stopped jumping on it. Hermione was briefly glad she had bothered to wear her fluffy white bathrobe out of the bathroom.
"Good morning, girls. Did you need something?" Hermione asked.
"Good morning Aunt Hermione. We came to ask if you would fix our hair." Daisy said carefully. Quinn nodded enthusiastically.
"Doesn't your Mum usually do that?"she asked, not wanting to encroach on the territory of her future sister-in-law.
"Yes, but she's not feeling well this morning. Daddy said we could ask you." Quinn said.
"Okay then. How would you like to have your hair today?" she asked.
"Pig Tails!" Quinn cheered.
"French braid." Daisy said
"French braid!" Quinn changed her cheer, bouncing lightly on the bed.
"Pig tails." Daisy said angrily.
"How lucky for you that I know how to do French-braided pigtails." Hermione said, ending the argument. She quickly braided both girls' hair, fixed her own hair, and got dressed. Hermione emerged from her dressing room in a pale green sundress. She wasn't sure what Alex wanted to do today, but it was sunny and warm, perfect sundress weather. Finally dressed and ready, Hermione looked at the clock to see that it was only 7 in the morning. She thought for certain it would be later than that. With a shrug, Hermione walked downstairs with the goal of finding some breakfast. She was mildly surprised to find everyone but Alex and Julia already dining. Hermione sat quietly in her same seat from dinner, beside Quinn this time, and bade them all a good morning.
"Good morning, Hermione dear. As you can tell, breakfast around here is very informal. Just ask Forchette for whatever you'd like." Annick explained, noticing Hermione's confusion to see no spare dishes on the table and everyone eating something different.
As if on cue, a house elf appeared.
"What can Forchette make for you, miss?" the elf asked.
"Tea and toast please, Forchette. And some strawberry jam to go with the toast." Hermione said.
"Right away, miss." The elf replied before popping away. Hermione stopped to look at what the others had chosen for breakfast. Severus was halfway through a stack of pancakes. Jordan and Charles both had scrambled eggs and bacon. Daisy was munching away at a bowl of cereal. Annick had a cup of fruit and a dish of yogurt. Beside her, Quinn was waging war with a Belgian waffle. The occupants of the table were either eating quietly while staring into space or reading at the table. Seeing that Severus wasn't going to notice his young daughter's silent war, Hermione gently guided the girl through the actions of cutting the waffle into small squares. Quinn smiled at her gratefully, finally able to eat. Before long, Hermione had finished her tea and toast. She followed the lead of several others before her and got up. She had it in her head to go sit on the balcony and read for a while. She had just sat down when a knock came at the door. It was Severus, carrying Morgan and a stuffed dragon.
"Hermione, could you do me a huge favor and watch Morgan for a while? I'm working on a potion to help Julia feel better. Alex isn't awake yet and Mother and Father went into town." He pleaded.
"Sure I'll watch him, but what about the older ones?" she responded, taking Morgan as he reached for her.
"They will be fine. Forchette knows where to find me if you need me for anything. Thanks again, Hermione." He said, trotting off down the hall. Hermione looked at Morgan and went back into her room. She left the door open this time so that she could hear if the older ones caused a ruckus. She set Morgan down on the floor of the balcony with his dragon and settled down again with her book. Morgan quickly toddled over to her, the dragon lying abandoned on the floor.
"Book?" he said, pointing. Hermione smiled at him.
"Yes, do you like books?" she asked, not really expecting an answer.
"Vread?" the little boy asked.
"Yes would you like me to read to you?" she asked. Morgan's response was to climb into her lap, facing the book, then look up at her expectantly. Hermione read for nearly an hour about the formation of the Wizengamot. She had expected Morgan to get bored quickly and return to his dragon, but he settled into her and listened as though he actually understood what she was talking about. Hermione looked up after a while and saw Alex leaning in the doorway, watching them.
"Good morning." He said when she smiled at him.
"Morning." She replied.
"I have to occupy the kids today, so I was going to take them to the beach. Would you like to come?" he asked.
"Sure, do you need help getting the little ones ready?" she asked.
"Nope, I'll just take this big guy from you and leave you to get ready." Alex said, plucking Morgan from her lap. "We'll meet you in the foyer in a bit." He said, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Hermione took off her dress and transfigured her undergarments into a swimsuit and her dress into a sarong. She then made flip flops and a floppy straw hat from dress shoes and some hair ribbon. She warded her skin against the sun and grabbed her sunglasses before heading downstairs. Alex and the children were waiting, all similarly attired. She could feel Alex watching her through his sunglasses. They were scrambling to figure out who would carry what. Eventually, it was decided. Hermione lucked out. She only had Morgan, Morgan's diaper bag and Quinnie's hand. They headed down the walk, but turned onto what looked like a drive. Hermione was mildly shocked to see a Muggle car sitting in the driveway. The kids piled into the back seat of the car while Alex loaded gear and toys into the trunk. Hermione released Quinnie, telling her to climb in the backseat with her siblings. She went to the passenger seat and sat down with Morgan settled snugly in a carrier in the middle.
Once everything was in the car, Alex drove them a few miles to the beach. Everyone got out and took up their same loads. Alex carried a huge beach umbrella and a large blanket. Jordan carried the bag of beach toys and the first aid kit. Daisy carried the picnic basket that held their lunch. A stack of towels remained in the car for when it was time to go home. The group walked onto the beach and set up camp. There were lots of people on the beach, but they still had plenty of room. Once everything was settled, the kids all ran to play in the water while Hermione and Alex sat under the umbrella. The tide was high, just right for the kids. Morgan stepped into the water, but screamed wildly as soon as the first little ripple splashed against his legs. Hermione laughed as she and Alex went out to play with them as well. Hermione took off her sarong before the left. Alex went to jump in the waves with Daisy, Jordan, and Quinn while Hermione stopped to comfort the teary toddler. She scooped him up and headed back toward the water. They tried to 'make friends' with the water, but ended up going to play in the sand. Morgan was quite happy shoveling sand into one of the beach bucket. Soon, Quinnie got bored and joined Hermione and Morgan's game, stacking the full buckets to build a castle. They played for a while longer before they were covered by the shadows of Alex, Daisy, and Jordan.
"We thought it might be a good time for lunch." Alex said.
"Mmmmm, lunch! Let's eat! I'm hungry!" Quinnie exclaimed jumping up and running for the blanket. They had sandwiches, fruit, and potato chips for lunch. They decided to save the fresh baked cookies for later.
After lunch, Hermione went to play in the ocean with Quinnie and Jordan while Alex and Daisy took Morgan seashell hunting. When they came back ashore later, Daisy, Jordan, and Quinn decided to dig at the shoreline for clams. Alex was sitting under the umbrella with a sleeping Morgan stretched out across his legs. Hermione joined her fiancé.
"Hello. Are you enjoying the day?" Alex asked her as she sat down.
"Very much. Are you?" she asked.
"Oh yes." He answered. They looked deep into each other's eyes for a moment before a camera flash interrupted them.
"What the hell!" Alex exclaimed under his breath as they turned to see an older woman looking at them.
"Zut! Je regrette. Uhhhh, Parlez-vous anglais?" (Damn! I apologize. Ummm, do you speak English?) she asked in broken French. Hermione had learned earlier that the manor was in Provence, France, explaining why there was so much French-ness around.
"Yes, we do." Hermione said.
"Oh good, I wasn't sure how to explain this in French. I'm an American photographer and I'm shooting for a page spread in a magazine about Provence and the beaches here. You three were just too perfect to resist." she explained.
"Thanks, I guess. You really should ask before you take someone's photo though." Alex said.
"I'm so sorry about that, but I was so afraid it would ruin the moment." She said. "Anyway, could you tell me a bit about yourselves and your growing family?" she said, pulling out a notepad and a stub of a pencil.
"Well, I'm Alex Snape. This is my fiancée Hermione Granger and my nephew Morgan. I live around here, but Hermione is from England." Alex explained.
"Well, that's certainly not what I was expecting, but it will do." The reporter said. "Do you come here regularly?"
"Every now and again. The kids love the beach, so I bring them when I can." Alex said.
"Kids?" the reporter asked, scribbling away furiously.
"Yes, my nieces and nephews." Alex answered. Morgan decided to wake up at that moment. He cried and reached for Hermione. She took the little boy as Alex stood up and whistled for the older ones.
"Is it cookie time?" Quinnie asked as she ran up. Daisy and Jordan jogged up right behind her.
"Would you guys like to have your cookies now?" Hermione asked.
"Yes!" Quinn exclaimed, jumping into the air.
"Please." Daisy said. Jordan nodded, eyeing the reporter warily.
"Everyone, this is…" Alex trailed off.
"Joyce Roberts." The reporter supplied.
"This is Joyce Roberts. She's a reporter and photographer. Miss Roberts has been talking to Hermione and me." Alex said, while Hermione handed out the large homemade cookies. The kids sat on the blanket and munched away. The photographer snapped a few more pictures and talked a bit more before she thanked them and left. The children finished their cookies and went off to play for a little while longer. Hermione and Alex returned to being engrossed by each other for a moment, long enough to share their first kiss.
"I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to leave you tomorrow." Hermione confessed.
"I don't want you to go." Alex confessed, kissing her neck softly. Their quiet moment was interrupted by Morgan's scream as he fought against Quinn, who was trying to pull him into the ocean. Alex jumped up and ran over there, pulling Quinn away from Morgan. Morgan fell backwards into the shallow water, bawling wildly. Alex scooped up Morgan and pulled Quinn along by the wrist back to the shore. Morgan fought against his uncle, forcing Alex to set him down rather than drop him. Morgan ran across the blanket and straight to Hermione, still bawling. While she soothed the littlest Snape, Alex decided it was time to go. He called the older ones in from the water and loaded everything up. They walked back to the car. When Alex handed out towels back at the car, Hermioen wrapped hers around her shoulders and bundled Morgan lightly in his.
When they got back to the house, Alex ordered everyone to bathe and change for dinner. The children headed upstairs tiredly. Alex took Morgan and dropped Hermione off back in front of her room, this time with a quick kiss on the lips. Hermione showered and changed quickly while contemplating this new relationship. Dinner was a quiet affair and Hermione realized that there was something they weren't telling her. After dinner, she camped out in Alex's study, determined to get an explanation. Alex entered a few minutes later. He was shocked to see her, sitting angrily in one of his armchairs.
"Hermione! What are you doing in here?" he asked, surprised to see her.
"I came to find out what it is that you aren't telling me." Hermione responded standing and crossing her arms across her chest.
"I wanted to tell you, but I needed to see how you would react first, Hermione. Please don't be angry with me, it's not really my business to tell anyway." Alex said moving to stand across from her.
"Tell me, Alex. I deserve to know if there's something going on with my family." Hermione said coldly. Alex moved away and leaned against the fireplace, facing away from her.
"It's Julia. She's sick." He said quietly. "She's dying and we can't stop it. She's got untreatable leukemia." He finished, his body hanging heavily. Hermione instantly felt guilty for her earlier anger and wrapped her arms around him from behind. He spun and pulled her into a deep, emotional kiss. She responded to the kiss. They snogged in Alex's study late into the night and ended up falling asleep on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms.