Chapter 58: Roots Of Animosity

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

The Infirmary, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Phaeron had been out cold was he layed in the infirmary bed. Potter had fared no better as Dumbledore put him to bed. Madam Pomfrey looked over the boys and shook her head. She of all people had been very familiar with the antics of both James Potter Sr. and Sirius Black when it came to Severus Snape during their time at Hogwarts as students. She patched up an emotionally distant Severus during most of their more violent confrontations. Setting to work, she dismissed Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy and concentrated on healing the young boys. Dumbledore set to work in forming the parents of the altercation knowing just how combative Hermione Granger-Snape had been since the death of her husband, he wasn't particularly looking forward to telling her about her son's condition. Then there was Harry Potter. The Headmaster had not wished to have to endure Harry Potter's perception of what was fair in terms of his son either. Both were head strong Gryffindors and both mistrusted him greatly given his actions during the second wizarding war.

Phaeron remained unconscious but he appeared to be having intense night terrors as he made his slow recovery from injury. Both boys received quite a few visits from their friends and a couple of well wishes from their respective houses. Draco came by to check on Phaeron ever so often. As did Dumbledore looking in on both boys from time to time.

The Corridors, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Cold Amber eyes took in the familiar sights of Hogwarts as Hermione Jean Granger-Snape made her return to the school she spent a good deal of her youth attending. She made her way toward the Headmaster's office her pace as brisk as her late husband's once had been upon his journeys through the corridors and her expression a mask of coldness that made even the most dedicated of Hufflepuff think twice about approaching her. She wore her usual ebony robes, a fondness for the color black apparently due to the issue of mourning her murdered husband.

Mrs. Snape had been quite a formidable witch in terms of battle and remained as nasty with a hex as her husband when crossed. Many potential suitors found out the hard way when they attempted to gain her affections after she refused their efforts and they did not take "no" for an answer. Phaeron had thought his mother had a few screws loose in terms of behavior but soon found out for himself that many people were just insufferable.

During her final year at Hogwarts, Hermione had given birth to Phaeron under special circumstances and was allowed to retain her husband's quarters whenever she came to the school, it had been Dumbledore's way of keeping a promise to help Hermione any way he could considering what he had put her through during the war. During that time she had refused to step foot in the Headmaster's office knowing full well that her husband's portriat would be there.

She had no desire to look upon it especially with all the rage residing within her. The image of the man she was suppose to have a child with would have only put a strain on her already taxed system a cruel marriage in place of the wizard she wanted. Now she had no choice but to enter this office that had also once been his during the war knowing that he would be watching her, only it wouldn't really be him, just another illusion of her heartbreak.

The witch steeled herself and entered the room not forgetting to use the ridiculous muggle candy phrase password for entry.

The Headmaster's office, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Hermione entered the room with the same coldness she possessed in the halls. It's very nature caused a sitting Harry James Potter to shudder as he turned to see the girl who had once been his closest friend in the form of a very bitter and angry mother who's son was put in the infirmary over the antics of his son.

Her son being the last living aspect of her marriage to Severus Snape, The Potions Master whom Potter himself killed during the war. The green eyed wizard got to his feet not knowing what to say when his eyes met hers. The coldness seemed to only increase over these passed years and she showed no sign of forgiving him. Likewise Severus Snape's portrait had been staring rather coldly at Potter when he first arrived. The young wizard tried for the thousandth time to offer up an apology for his antics in the past but Snape only glared murderously at him. Not even deeming the man worthy enough to insult.

"H-Hi Mione." said Harry trying in vain to make conversation.

Hermione glared as murderously at Potter as her husband head.

"Where is my son?" she asked turning her attention to Dumbledore.

"He's in the infirmary Mrs. Snape." replied the old wizard. His blue eyes still holding that unnerving twinkle as he took in the sight of the young witch who had once been so full of innocence and unshakable courage during the war.

He noted how she had become so much like Minerva in the wake of her husband's death, serious and focused on her goals which included raising her newborn son without a father. She completed all her N.E.W.T.S with a score coming only second to Severus himself despite her not knowing it at the time.

As Harry Potter became more infamous for his role in ending the reign of the dark lord, Hermione began to take on her late husband's bitterness. She seemed unable to actually process her grief over his loss and began lashing out as a result. It wasn't long before she became as cold as Severus and as strict as Minerva an odd blend of her main influences if one asked Dumbledore but they were a big part of her life for quite some time.

"Either you take me to him or I'll go myself." said Hermione in a cold tone.

"W-wait a minute we have to discuss..." started Harry.

He was met with a very swift turn and immediately felt a wand pressed against his neck.

"I suggest Harry Potter, that you keep your twisted little brat away from my son." she said still in that same cold tone. "We wouldn't want any "accidents" to start happening to your precious family members now would we?"

Harry's eyes widened.

Dumbledore and The Ministry of Magic had billed Snape's death in the eyes of the public as a heroic sacrifice. Few people knew what truly happened and those that were still apart of the order and had not been present when the Potions Master died were told it was merely an accident instead of outright murder in a bid to protect Harry and keep him from going to Azkaban.

Hermione became furious at the injustice done to her husband yet again and this time with him in the grave.

"I-I...there was a fight..." said Harry trying foolishly to appeal to her Gryffindor nature. "Y-Your son almost killed my son, Hermione."

Hermione much to Harry's surprise simply smirked a rather twisted little smirk.

"I'm sure almost killing him was a simple "accident." she said deliberately taking a jab at her former friend.

Her rage at seeing him again after all those years of living alone with the truth about why her husband couldn't come home to her and Phaeron made press her wand further into Harry's neck.

"One could hardly blame Phaeron, considering how utterly "accident" prone you Potters are." said the enraged witch.

The intensity of her magic taking on a dark aura alarmed both Harry and Dumbledore.

"Mrs. Snape perhaps you should try and keep calm." said the old headmaster not wishing to incur her wrath either.

Hermione simply glared murderously at Harry who had been doing his best to keep his mouth shut lest he say something else that would get him killed. He did however resent the off-handed comment about his dead parents. Given the situation he let it roll off his back like water on a duck.

"Hermione." came a voice that made everyone fall silent.

The witch closed her eyes taking in the familiar deep baritone that belonged to only one wizard in her distant memory.

"Hermione." said Snape trying to get through to his wife via his portrait.

She refused to look in his direction. He had known better than anyone what this was doing to her but he couldn't risk her losing her temper and killing Potter. The arrogant little git wasn't worth her going to Azkaban and no one else could reach her as she was now. No one else but him.

"Let him go witch." instructed Snape. "As pathetic as he is, its not worth Phaeron losing his mother to Azkaban."

Seeing the wisdom in her late husband's words Hermione lowered her wand.

Her amber eyes softened as she finally looked up at her husband's portrait. He had looked the same as he always had though capable of movement and speech in his current form he still wasn't alive nor was he able to go anywhere outside the Headmaster's office. The only reason he consented to the portrait in the first place was because it had been mandatory for new Headmasters.

Feeling her heartbreak anew, Hermione turned away from him and made her way out the door toward the infirmary. She needed to see her son and that had been the more important than her own grief.

Snape said nothing further as he stared at the door when Hermione had gone. Harry found himself feeling lower than he had in a long time seeing the pain of his past actions still have a profound effect on his former friend and the late Headmaster.

The Infirmary, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Phaeron Snape had been locked in what appeared to be a deep sleep when his mother entered the room. Madam Pomfrey smiled pleasantly at Hermione who returned her smile if a bit wearily out of politeness. She had not seen the old Med-witch in years and recalled how it had been Poppy Pomfrey that took care of not only her during her pregnancy but her husband since he was a child. The old witch was always fond of Severus and even fonder still of Hermione. She was one of the few people that could get Hermione to smile when it was necessary.

"Hello Dear." said Madam Pomfrey drawing Hermione into a much needed hug. "I was wondering when you'd show up...and my goodness is this one a looker like his father, rest his poor soul."

Hermione returned Poppy's hug as the two women conversed about Phaeron and his time at Hogwarts thus far. Every instinct in Hermione wanted to take her son home and keep him as far away from Hogwarts and The Potters as possible. She had not wanted anything to change the boy nor had she wanted to lose him for something so stupid as a little boys inability to get over himself.

The now tired witch walked over to her sleeping son and softly stroked his sleeping face as she had his father on occasion when the dour wizard had been much too tired to complain. Phaeron would complain if he caught her, much like his father often going so far as to remark that "he wasn't some animal at a petting zoo."

Watching the boy sleep with his lengthy raven hair covering the soft white pillow and his pale frame more in contrast with the bed sheets that covered him, she thought of how many times she came into this very room and saw his father layed out this way from one thing or another.

"Don't you worry one lick about it, my dear." said Poppy with a smile. "This boy is as resilient as his father and twice as grouchy."

The light hearted comment prompted a genuine smile from Hermione, a rare occurrence as of late.

"I guess he gets that from us both." she said stroking his forehead.

Phaeron shifted some beneath her touch and before she could react a slight groan escaped him.

"Mother please, I'm not some animal at the petting zoo." he said wearily.

Hermione smiled again.

The boy stretched and then lifted his pale eye lids. Obsidian met Amber as the boy's vision focused on his now scowling mother.

"Phaeron Severus Sebastian Snape." she said narrowing her eyes at him. "Just what did you think you were doing?...haven't I told you to steer clear of all things Potter?"

Phaeron sighed. He should have known this was coming. His head was pounding and he felt like vomiting and here was his mother to give him the scolding of a life time.

"Mother please...my head's pounding already." replied the boy. "I wasn't anywhere near Potter...I was on my way back to the dungeons..."

"Dungeons?" asked Hermione with an arched eyebrow.

"Don't look so surprised Mother, I am the son of the former Head of Slytherin." replied Phaeron unable to resist a quip.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She had been well aware of her son's wit. He was just as sarcastic and cynical as his father.

"Care to tell me what actually happened?" she asked arching an eyebrow once more.

"Like I said I was on my way to the dungeons when Potter attacked me and I was giving as good as I got for a while an then everything went blank." explained Phaeron.

"What do you mean everything went blank?" asked Hermione. "Did he hit you too hard?"

"No." replied Phaeron trying to focus on the detail. "I-I remember being hit but not that hard...not to the point of falling unconscious."

"I've been told that you nearly killed Potter." said the angry witch folding her arms across her ebony clad chest much as he husband use to mostly when he was annoyed.

"I remember fighting Potter." said Phaeron trying to recall everything "I also remember father's voice in my head."

Hermione seemed to be caught off guard by this.

"Y-You spoke to your father?" she asked.

"Yes." replied Phaeron.

"And you didn't mention this in your letters because?" asked the witch.

Phaeron sighed.

"I didn't want you to get upset and start acting weird." replied Phaeron. "I wasn't in any trouble or anything, I went with a friend to the headmaster's office it was no big deal and Dumbledore wasn't even there at first."

The angry witch narrowed her eyes at her son once again.

"Watch your tone Mr. Snape." she said coldly.

"S-Sorry mother." replied Phaeron correcting his being short with his mother. "M-My head just hurts really bad...and I don't understand why I can't remember what happened next."

Hermione sighed.

"Apology accepted." she said. "Why don't you lie back and get some rest...I'll be here when you wake up."

"Y-Your not returning home?" asked Phaeron.

"No." replied Hermione. "Not until your well enough to look after yourself here."

Phaeron nodded slowly not wishing to further agitate his already pounding head.

"W-Where will you sleep?" he asked.

"Right here at Hogwarts of course." replied Hermione. "Don't worry I have accommodations."

She kissed him softly on the cheek and let him have his peace. This business about Phaeron not being able to recall what else happened during the fight had her puzzled. Her first instinct was to conclude that someone had oliviated him. Then she recalled him complaining about his head ache. It might have been possible for the blows to the head to hinder his ability to recall the facts.

The former young Gryffindor witch sighed.

She made up her mind to get to the bottom of this, whatever it was.