Ch.17 Wands exposed
Laina and Camron sat at the table staring at Renee oddly now, meanwhile Severus and Harry were on the verge of heart attacks and Renee's nervous laughter wasn't helping any. Laina then joined Renee in her nervous laughter "I'm sorry, I must have something crazy in my ear because I thought you just said Harry and Severus are wizards". Renee's laugh hit a new range of nervousness as she nodded "Yep...that's what I said...wizards...funny, huh? But true...".
Camron fell out of her seat now, blinking owlishly at her Aunt "Wha?", Laina burst out laughing "You're joking, right? I mean...wait, wait, wait...". Laina leaned closer to Renee "Are we talking renaissance festival gig or...?", Renee stopped laughing now and looked back at both wizards.
After Harry and Severus gave in and demonstrated their wizardry, they were then bombarded with many questions like Renee had asked. Also, like Renee, they seemed fine with this new discovery "It's just...not the usual thing we hear...or see..." Laina and Camron laughed. "That explains that photo album I saw when you moved in, right? Because, I mean...those were old pictures and we were talking about new technology...".
After things calmed down about Harry and Severus being wizards, the attention was back on Renee and her pregnancy.
"I can't believe I forgot to tell you..." Renee chuckled slightly then quickly turned to Severus with concern "You're ok with this, right?".
In all honesty, Snape didn't know if he were alright with this or not, he had never once thought of himself ever becoming a father. He stood there the entire time, silent in shock, thinking to himself about how different things have become for him 'Would this have happened with Cecelia, had I not screwed things up?'. His attention snapped back to Renee, realizing he hadn't answered her question and feeling all eyes on him, he racked his mind for an answer..."Yes...of course...I'm ok...".
A week has gone by now since his unenthusiastic answer to whether or not he was 'ok' with having impregnanted his new fiance, Renee.
"Why couldn't I have just said 'Yes, of course I'm ok. In fact, I'm rather excited about this'?" he slumped down at his desk, letting his face hit the surface with a loud 'thunk'.
"Because, You are not the type to become excited over much..." came a familiar, annoyingly wise voice from the entrance of his room. "Then again, you have become a different man over the past few months, Severus...would you like to talk about what happened that has you in such a depression?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he allowed himself into the room.
Severus groaned, he still hadn't looked up from his desk but knew who it was and that the old wizard would be seated across from him within a minute. "It's not any of your business, you know...then again, you like to make everything your business...mainly my business" Snape muttered into the wood surface his head lay on.
"Yours and Harry's actually, but yes, like you said..." Dumbledore smiled, although Snape swore he heard a faint giggle from the old wizard. "You do know I will not leave you alone until you get this weight off your shoulders, so you might as well-" Dumbledore was then cut off, he couldn't help but smile now.
"Oh bloody buggery hell, fine! I'll tell you!" Snape sat bolt upright in his chair now, glaring at the old wizard sitting across from him with a sickeningly serene air about him. "As you already knew, I asked for Renee's hand in marriage-", "And she declined?" Dumbledore interrupted, looking slightly amused. "No! She accepted!" Severus snapped "And don't interrupt me! I asked for her hand in marriage, then told her about my being a wizard..." he paused to see if Dumbldore would interrupt with another negative assumption.
"By all means, Severus, continue..." Dumbledore smiled warmly, as if he would never dare interrupt or make a negative assumption, 'Damn occlumency' Snape inwardly cursed before continueing.
"She was fine with everything...then I find out that she's...well, I happened to...you see..." Snape was now finding it difficult to tell is old mentor and colleague that...
"You're going to be a father?" Dumbledore was now grinning from ear to ear, Snape blinked few times before nodding "Yes...exactly...". Dumbledore nodded "Yes, well...you know, Severus, you could've simply said that yourself. You didn't have to worry about saying something like 'Renee and I have had sex on numerous occassions and now she's become pregnant' or whatever it was you were thinking".
"For Merlin's sake, Albus!" Severus slammed his fist on the desk "Have some decency! A little respect and manners! And how did you know?".
Dumbledore simply smiled "Well, you said it to yourself just a minute ago...'Damn occlumency', I believe was the exact wording, hmm?". "How about you just get to what's bothering you, I guarantee you'll feel better talking about it" Dumbledore smiled once again.
Severus sat there glaring at the HeadMaster "Why bother? Why not just search my mind a little more? While you're at it, why not find some other private thoughts to quote?". Then it hit him, he realized that all his worrying about what happened between him and Renee about her pregnancy has allowed him to let his guard down, all his defenses. How else would Dumbledore have been able to read his thoughts so easily, when for so long he was able to block anyone and everyone before? "Alright...I'll talk...but no more reading my mind, it's rude you know" Severus straightened in his seat, Dumbledore nodded "Of course, Severus...continue now...".
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"Renee?" Harry knocked on his flat-mate's bedroom door "Renee? I'm off to work now...I'll be back in time for dinner, alright?". A muffled sound from the other side of the door let Harry know she heard him, he sighed, shaking his head as he walked away from the door.
Renee had pretty much holed herself up in her room since Snape's 'comforting' words of "Yes...of course...I'm ok..." said in such a dull, careless, monotone voice. The only person who had even managed to see Renee this week was Laina, who would break in to her sister's bedroom using a butterknife and fork from the kitchen.
"Why couldn't he have been even a little excited? What an idiot!" Harry sighed and shook his head again as he apparated off to his Auror training.
Renee lay sprawled across her bed, dully staring off in one direction, Dart curled up at her side staring at his owner as if trying to find a way to comfort her. Renee finally let her head lull to the other side, now her and Dart were eye to eye, she reached up to scratch behind the husky's ears "I'll be fine..." she mumbled reassuringly to her dog. Dart nuzzled Renee's neck, his grey eyes looking apologetic, Renee stared at Dart's eyes for a moment "I knew another dog with grey eyes before...no wait, it was a guy...". She paused before laughing at herself "Wait, who did I ever know with grey eyes? And how could I mistake them for a dog?" she ruffled Dart's fur and winked "Maybe he drooled alot".
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"I see, Severus...you were distracted by thoughts of the past and ended up seeming less than pleased with the discovery of yours' and Renee's future" Dumbledore seemed to have listened to every detail Snape had told him. Severus nodded miserably "Yes, exactly...and now I-", "Now you have to go and talk to Renee. Apologize for your rudeness before and make sure you still have a bride" Dumbledore smiled, eyes twinkling like always. Severus narrowed his eyes at the old wizard "You make it sound so easy", "Are you saying that Renee is not the forgiving type? Would she so easily forget about you and move on without giving you a second chance?".
Severus sat there 'Why would he even ask that? She would forgive me...right? Of course she would! Why am I even asking myself that?' he stood up "I'll be back...". "Where are you going, Severus?" Dumbledore grinned as he watched Snape head out of the room, "I'll be back by dinner time!" Snape answered, trying to be vague, truth was he was on his way to Renee's house. "Atta boy, Severus...I told you, you would feel better if you'd just talk to me about it" Dumbledore nodded to himself before getting up and returning to his office.
Severus apparated into Renee's entrance hall, he had been informed about her locking herself in her room and not answering the phones or front door. He quickly marched his way to her bedroom door and knocked, there was no answer "Renee...it's me, Severus...I came because...well...". He sucked in a deep breath "I want to apologize for my reaction the other day. I am ok with this. With us. I've never been happier in my life than right now. With you. Please don't hate me. Move on from me. Forget me...". Still no response came from inside the room, he leaned his head against the door "Renee...", "Do you really mean that?" came a quiet voice from behind him.
Turning around, he saw Renee in her usual smock get-up, spattered with paint, Dart right beside her spattered with paint as well. She bit her lip and pulled at her clothes "Had a sudden insipration...I just had to-", "Yes..." Severus suddenly blurted out, Renee raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I meant every word that I just said...to your door..." he added lamely, feeling stupid now, Renee snickered a bit but then latched onto him "Thank goodne..." she paused, slowly releasing him.
"I just got paint all over you..." she pouted, Snape looked down to see his usual black robes now covered in splotches of blue, green, orange and pink. Sighing deeply and shaking his head "Nothing a cleaning charm can't fix, come here" he pulled her back into his arms, Dart started barking and jumping around them as if for joy.
When Harry arrived back at the house that evening, he smelled something he hadn't smelled for the past few days..."Dinner? Renee?" he called out. He was very suprised to see a smiling Renee, merrily cooking one of her own made recipes "Before or after, Harry? What do you think?" she asked suddenly. "Before or after what?" he asked back, unsure of what she was talking about, "Do you think Severus and I should marry before or after the baby is born?" she grinned.
Thank you for reading! I'm sorry to say that I'll be very...umm...late on updates because...like I said before, this story is almost over and I really don't want to end it...it's my favorite story so far:cries: I'll miss you Forgotten Love! BUT, in the mean time...why not check out my other story Life, Rewritten? It has Cecelia in it! Read it while you wait for my next chapter of Forgotten Love! Yeah, that's right, I'm shameless and I know it! Well, anyways...please review!
