Chapter 50: Aftermath Of The Prince's Fall
{A/N: I know...but I did warn you remember?}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Lucius Malfoy's Study, Malfoy Manor, Wizarding World...
Lucius Malfoy paced the darkened confines of his formerly elegant and well maintained study. A glass of firewhiskey clasped into his trembling pale hand. He had not known if it had been his fifth or fifteenth. The heated liquid had done little to ease the ache in his increasingly bitter heart as his emotions warred back n forth with each other. He had taken to drink a great deal with the crushing loss of his "little brother". It did little to restore the once vast fortune of his family line that Voldemort had carelessly spent funding his little war effort with bribes, whores, revels. The entire Malfoy vault at Gringotts was near bare by the end of the war. The future of the family who had nearly been wiped out by a war they never wanted had been all secure. In desperation Lucius turned to drink to ease his already troubled mind, although did little for his temperament and status. He spent his days confined to the small room where he had many a chat with his only true friend.
As dismal as his life had become, Lucius had not been the only one severely affected by the loss of Severus Snape. All around the dismal mausoleum that had become of Malfoy Manor in the wake of the second wizarding war, tears were being shed.
Draco had refused to eat, and spent a great deal of his time with his head buried in every known spell book he could get his pale hands on. He became obsessed with all sorts of spell work and how to counter-act each and every spell he read about. Lucius had figured Draco's new found sense of study was a direct reaction to his godfather's murder at the hands of Harry Potter. It seemed the boy was determined not to let history repeat itself.
Narcissa had been in tears for weeks and then finally numb to all the pain coursing through her in the wake of the tragic loss of their oldest and dearest friend. She had been so terrified and vulnerable when she had been forced to live among the degenerate death eaters that took over her once happy home. Fear of what would happen to both her husband and only son the only thing securing her facade of loyalty to the snake faced despot. In the darkness of those seemingly endless hours Severus Snape had been the only guiding light that ensured they would all survive. Now his life was extinguished before she could find a way to thank him for everything he had done to protect her family.
Of all those grieving at Malfoy Manor, none had been more shattered than Bellatrix. The deranged witch had not participated in the final battle and avoided going while she was being looked after by her younger sister at Malfoy Manor. It had never crossed her mind to attend as she was no longer forced to feign loyalty to the despot and her thirst for vengeance was sated thanks to the father of her deceased child. She spent her days locked in the stone crypt that Lucius had spent the rest of his family's fortune building. He spared no expense when it came to the black marble sarcophagus either. Snape had not been born a man of wealth but Lucius would ensure that everyone believed he died as one. The Potions Master was given his own crypt on the Malfoy property where he would at last be at peace.
On the day of the funeral, Hermione had come draped in black to honor her fallen husband's memory. The Malfoys had all been present and looked their best despite not feeling it when it came to the occasion. Snape was their family and as such they honored him in private. Despite pleas from the staff of Hogwarts, only Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick were allowed to attend, per Hermione's orders. She had not wanted to see Dumbledore nor her former friends. She had known that Professor McGonagall was like a mother to Severus, and Flitwick was as close to him in friendship as anyone on the staff could get.
It was a very somber ordeal and one of the more rare times when Draco was seen out of his room and away from his books. Lucius had even put off his habitual drinking to honor his friend properly. Narcissa and Hermione chatted some after the service. Bellatrix kept her distance given the nature of her hatred for Hermione but even she remained on her best behavior for the sake of honoring her former lover.
Once the ceremony had been done and Hermione as well as the others gone, Bellatrix crept into the crypt. She spent a good deal of her time just being near Severus' sarcophagus. Her descent into madness had been long over due but the death of her lover only made it that much more tragic. She obsessed over the fallen wizard to the point of Narcissa having her committed for her own sake. The already heartbroken witch had already lost Severus she did not feel she could recover from the loss of her elder sister.
Both Draco and Hermione returned to Hogwarts, though the two of them had become more bitter and hardened from their experiences during the war, Draco was determined to keep his vow to protect and look out for Hermione to the best of his ability for the sake of his godfather. Narcissa and Lucius both made it clear that she was as much apart of their family as Severus had been. They looked upon her as though she were indeed a younger sister.
Days Later...
Hermione Granger-Snape awoke to find herself in the infirmary. She had not recalled being there when she first fell asleep, overcome by grief and wishing to be with her husband she had gone back to his quarters. The young Gryffindor witch felt the eyes of the newly restored Headmaster upon her as she sat up bitterness filling her once more.
"Why am I here?" she asked not at all suppressing the rage in her tone.
"Hermione..." began Dumbledore with unmistakable sadness in his voice.
"That's Mrs. Snape to you." she snapped.
Dumbledore understood the young witch's fury.
"As you wish, Mrs. Snape." he said. "Poppy, has brought it to my attention that you have not been taking proper care of yourself."
Hermione folded her arms across her chest and gave The old Headmaster one of her husband's trademark sneers.
"What business is it of ours?" she asked bitterly.
Dumbledore had not known what to make of the new attitude that Hermione was giving off. He knew she was made with grief but it was unnerving to see her becoming as twisted in her rage and bitterness as he late husband.
"Poppy has informed my that you...Mrs. Snape are pregnant." he continued.
Hermione arched any eyebrow at this again the gesture was much like that of her husband.
"What?" she asked seemingly caught off guard.
Dumbledore gave her a sad smile.
"It appears, Mrs. Snape that you and your husband have managed to reconcile prior to his tragic loss." he said. "Poppy says that you've been carrying for at least a month."
Hermione's eyes widened. She had been pregnant for a month and had not even known it. What was worse had been the fact that she couldn't even tell Severus about it. He was gone and there was nothing she could do about it.
Tears streamed down the bushy haired witch's cheeks as she thought back to the last night she spent with her husband. She could have sworn he knew something when he leaned down and kissed her belly. She had not been entirely asleep when he had done so.
"Mrs. Snape...your husband has left behind an incredible gift." continued Dumbledore. "Ensure that you do not squander it."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the old coot trying to play wise old sage. She had every intention on ensuring that this baby would have a happy healthy life...like the one she and Severus always envisioned for their first child.
Later...
Lucius made his way briskly down the corridors. His gray eyes had been wide with a combination of both fear and anticipation. He entered the infirmary with purpose as he stalked over toward a resting Hermione. The senior Malfoy's gray eyes softened as he approached her. She seemed to be glowing as she layed there feigning sleep as he got closer.
"Little Sister?" said Lucius in his usual charming drawl.
Hermione opened her eyes not at all surprised to see Lucius Malfoy standing before her.
"What took you so long?" she asked. "I told Draco about the baby three hours ago."
Lucius smirked at her.
"Well before I was able to fly here I needed a bit of a pick-me up." he replied. "However, it is good to see you little sister...you look positively radiant."
"Doesn't feel like it." replied Hermione.
"Well that's to be expected." said the senior Malfoy. "I do believe it's time for you to come home...one never knows when an enemy will strike and you being pregnant with my brother's child means you are practically guaranteed them."
Hermione gave the blond wizard a small smile and held out her hand.
"Home it is then." she said.
Lucius carefully scooped the expecting young Gryffindor witch into his arms. Already he had been fiercely protective of Snape's unborn child. Hermione smiled as the wheels began to turn in her notoriously crowded mind.
"What are you smiling at?" asked Lucius with an arched eyebrow.
"You are quite entertaining Malfoy." replied Hermione with a grin. "What would you say about becoming a godfather?"
Lucius and Hermione left Hogwarts before anyone could hear the senior Malfoy give his answer to her question.
Much Later...
Lucius and Narcissa had been more than pleased when Hermione asked them to be the godparents for her unborn child with Severus. She spent a good deal of time at Malfoy Manor despite it not being the prestigious personification of elegance it had once been, it was almost like a second home. She had been pleasantly surprised when a lawyer arrived at the manor on behalf of her deceased husband.
It appeared that Severus was quite a wealthy wizard, given the number of patented potions he had created, his supply of such potions, as well as saving every cent he earned as a Professor at Hogwarts all those years. His frugal spending habits only increased his miserly stored wealth. Upon notice of his death, his lawyer an Abe Schwizler was tasked with locating his wife and "other family members", meaning The Malfoys, the closest thing to family that the wizard had.
No one was more stunned than Lucius to hear that for ever potion patent Snape released he arranged for 10% of the residuals to be put aside for the Malfoy family. It had been his way of ensuring that Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco would want for nothing if things went sour during the fighting. In short Hermione Jean Granger-Snape was a very wealthy witch and the Malfoys had more than enough money to double the size of their former fortune and expand their manor.
Also included was a message to the Malfoys from Severus pertaining to his young wife.
"Take Care of Them."
Hermione had been confused when the lawyer told her them what it said.
"Them?" she asked.
"Yes." replied Abe. "He specifically said "Take care of them" meaning..."Hermione and Phaeron."
Phaeron.
There was that name again.
Hermione had been stunned by this news more so than when he told her she was a wealthy witch.
He knew about the baby. But how? Maybe it was wishful thinking. We aren't even sure it will be a boy yet.
ONE YEAR LATER...
Hermione Granger-Snape's amber eyes met those of obsidian once more as she looked into the sweet innocent face of her young son. He had looked so much like his father, same raven hair, pale complexion and inquisitive gaze that clearly held much more intellect than what met the eye. Lucius had been about as proud to be a godfather as he had been to become a father in his own right. He had been fiercely protective of his young godson but careful never to coddle him like Snape had been when it came to Draco. The senior Malfoy proudly showed off his godson to any and all who's attention he could acquire, going so far as to babysit him whenever Hermione had been at school. .
She had located her parents, told them about her subsequent marriage to her former Professor and how he had died saving them all from Voldemort, she left out his murder at the hands of Harry Potter in a bid to smooth over the tension her father had about her being supposedly taken advantage of by her former teacher. Hermione defended her late husband and her late marriage to the point of threatening to walk out of her parents lives for good this time taking their grandson, whom they've never met with her.
Mr. Granger backed down if only to appease his wife and daughter. Hermione reconnected with her parents and at long last introduced them to their only grandchild.
The young Gryffindor witch had surprised everyone all by returning to Hogwarts and finishing her education just after having the child. Draco's academic up turn had stunned everyone as well. He and Hermione had taken to studying together for every test and he did his utmost to soak up as much knowledge as he could. The two had a small rivalry when it came to showing off new found knowledge to their peers.
Hogwarts was given a new Potions Professor in the form of an old master, Phaeron Aurelius. A man of refined age and exceptional talents. It was rumored that he had once been the man that first trained a young and ambitious Severus Snape before he became a Potions Master. He drew the curious attention of both Draco and Hermione because of this.
It seemed to make a good deal of sense to Hermione why her husband had wanted their son to share that name. Phaeron Aurelius was an extraordinarily talented wizard, more so than Severus himself. Unsurprising as he had been his greatest teacher. As the days passed young Phaeron Severus Sebastian Snape grew and reminded everyone so much of his father.