Someone You Loved
Chapter 3 - I never...
'Can I come in?' Severus asked.
'Yes…yes please come in.' Hermione said opening the door wider. 'I thought it was Harry.' She said as Severus walked past her. 'Just through there.' Hermione pointed out to him.
Hermione followed Severus into her kitchen. Severus stood awkwardly in her kitchen not doing what to do or say.
'How did you find out where I…where we live?' She asked learning against the door.
'Lucius has contacts.' He replied. 'May I?' He asked pulling out the chair.
'Please.' She replied nodding.
'Have you lived here long?' He asked looking around the modern grey kitchen. He noticed a picture on a shelf of Hermione with Potter and Weasley. He knew exactly where that picture was taken and when. He remembered it well.
'About two years.' She replied moving towards the table. 'Would you like a drink? Coffee? Wine?'
'Coffee.' He replied. He couldn't possibly have another drink he had already downed three whiskeys for courage.
Hermione opened the cupboard and took out a mug and started to make coffee.
'Do you still take it the same?' She asked looking at him.
'Yes.' He replied as she watched her make the coffee. 'Are the children here?' He asked.
Hermione turned around and looked at Severus. 'Yes, they're asleep. They go to bed around 7pm.'
Hermione poured Severus and herself a coffee and placed the mug in front of him. Hermione took a seat opposite Severus and moved her books and laptop out of the way.
'You're studying?' he asked as he looked at the books she was moving.
'I'm in my last year at university. I've been doing it part time whilst the twins are at pre-school.' She replied. 'I should graduate in May next year.'
'Potions?' he asked.
Hermione nodded.
'When were they born?' Severus asked as he watched Hermione play with her hands nervously.
'12th April.' Hermione replied. 'Silas was born first, then Piper.'
Severus nodded taking in the names of his two children.
'Why didn't you tell me?' Severus asked as he looked into Hermione's large brown eyes, which he once found himself getting lost in.
'You didn't want to hear from me…remember?' She said looking up at him. Before he could reply she continued. 'I left on that day like you said and I went to go and get on with my life but life had other plans for me.'
'When did you find out?' He asked.
'The day I was due to start University.' She replied remember the day. ' I was already 8 week by that point.'
'You didn't think to come and see me then?' Severus asked.
Hermione nodded which surprised Severus. 'I went to Spinners End.'
'You did?' He said sounding surprised.
'You weren't there. I discovered you had sold it.' She replied. 'I didn't know where you were. You were gone.'
'I was at the Malfoy's.' He replied.
Hermione shrugged.
'Where did you live?' He asked wanting to know where his children were brought up.
'I….we lived at Grimmauld Place with Harry and then Ginny when they married.' Hermione replied. 'Harry and Ron helped me massively with the twins when they were born. For the first four months I had the boys camping on the floor of my bedroom helping me with the night feeds and changes.' Hermione said as she smiled remembering the memory.
'I….I wish I had known.' Severus replied.
'Really?' Hermione said as her voice raised slightly. 'You told me you never wanted to see me again that I was….
'That you were destined for greater things than me.' He replied.
"Exactly' She replied remembering those haunting words. 'It wasn't your decision to make what I was destined for or what I wanted.'
'No…you're right.' Severus replied. 'I just thought you deserved better than me. Someone younger, someone who could give you a future, children.'
Hermione scoffed. 'Well you certainly gave me that Severus and twins at that.'
A small smirk appeared on his lips at Hermione's comment.
'I wanted you, I didn't want anyone else.' Hermione replied as she looked at Severus.
Before Severus could reply a little dark haired girl appeared at the kitchen doorway. Hermione noticed Severus' eyes flicker towards the door and turned quickly to find Piper stood there staring at her mother and the dark haired man.
'Piper.' Hermione said as she stood up and rushed to the little girl who was wearing pink nightdress. 'What are you doing up darling?'
'I heard you speaking. Who is that?' She asked as she looked towards Severus.
Hermione picked up the little girl and returned to her seat at the kitchen table with Piper cuddled into her ample chest.
'I'm sorry darling. We didn't mean to wake you. You didn't wake your brother did you?' Hermione asked.
'No.' Piper replied. 'Silas is still asleep. He's snoring Mummy; he sounds like Uncle Ron.' She said with a giggle.
Hermione pressed a kiss on Piper's head and looked up towards Severus who was staring intently at the pair. Piper followed her mother's gaze and smiled up at Severus.
'What's your name?' Piper asked Severus as she wiggled off her mother's lap.
'My name is Severus Snape.' Severus replied as the little girl walked towards him.
'Snape?' She asked as she turned to look at her mother. 'Mummy he has the same name as us!'
'Same name?' Severus asked as he looked at Hermione.
'Tell Severus your name Piper.' Hermione said as she leant forward.
'My name is Piper Ruby Granger-Snape.' She replied with pride.
'Granger-Snape?' Severus said in surprise as he looked at Hermione who was smiling at her daughter.
'I wanted them to know where they came from. I wanted them to have both.' She replied leaving Severus speechless.
'Now darling, let's get you back off to bed.' Hermione replied as she stood up lifting the little girl.
'But I want to speak with Mr. Snape more.' She replied looking at Severus.
'Professor Snape will come back again I'm sure of it.' She said kissing the girl's head.
'Goodnight Mr.' Piper said as she waved at Severus as her mother took her up the stairs.
Severus sat alone in the kitchen with his thoughts. He had now become a father of two in the last 8 hours.
'Severus.' Hermione said as she walked back into the kitchen noticing him deep in thought. 'I understand if this is too much for you.'
Severus stood up shaking his head. 'No.' He replied. 'I want to be part of their lives.'
'You can't pick and chose which bits Severus, if you wish to be part of their lives it has to be everything.' She replied staring up at him.
'Of course.' He replied moving to stand in front of Hermione. 'I wish to apologise….'
'Don't.' Hermione replied. 'What is done is done.'
'Hermione, I want you to know that I never stopped….'
'Please don't finish that sentence.' She replied closing her eyes feeling the tears welling up. 'I think it's best you left. I will write to you tomorrow to organize for you to visit the twins.'
Severus nodded seeing Hermione clearly struggling. 'I will await your letter.'
Hermione nodded and turned on her heels showing him out the front door.
'Goodnight Hermione.' Severus said as he walked out of the house.
Hermione closed the door and turned learning against it. 'Goodnight Severus.' She said as she slipped down the door letting the tears fall.
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