Chapter 96: Witchy Woman
{A/N: Here's Another Update...took a while to put this together best I could do...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
{"Raven hair and ruby lips...Sparks fly from her finger tips...Echoed voices in the night...She's a restless spirit on an endless flight...Wooo hooo witchy woman see how...High she flies...Woo hoo witchy woman she got...The moon in her eye..."}Witchy Woman, The Eagles
Unknown Location, Unknown World...
Unable to see even his hand in front of his face, Severus Snape staggered through the tall grasses of the abandoned muggle field. He had woken some time after Bellatrix departed and due to the intense level of pain and inability to properly control his muscles, he could not go after her. The Potions Master knew that he had been out long enough to cause Hermione to worry. His scuffle with Bellatrix had proven what he had feared would happen in terms of his condition. If he had been in better health he would have easily overpowered the insane witch. His apparent weakness further displayed in his inability to hold off the deranged witch's attacks.
The Potions Master had been pleased to find that despite his own bodily harm, Bellatrix had not damaged the potion he was to retrieve for his pregnant wife. Scrambling to his feet Snape took a breath and focused on his next point of apparation. The throbbing aches from his scuffle had become second place in his mind as images of the home he shared with Hermione and Sidney flooded them.
The faint sense of magic swirling about took hold and Snape found himself at the safe point of apparation close enough to his home in Muggle London. His vision blurred once more but not before he reached the front door. He had known out of habit to change his attire once apparation had been complete, and with good timing too as he stumbled passed a few spectating muggles on his way up the steps toward Hermione's flat.
The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Phaeron had been stunned to find Draco Malfoy standing on the edge of the forest with a stern look in his gray eyes. He walked over toward his god-brother with a look of concern etched across his pale face. The younger Snape had done his best to keep the whereabouts of his recently expelled girlfriend a secret as she ducked behind the trees leading into the forbidden forest. The raven haired Slytherin had been a little caught off guard by Draco's sudden appearance and of course he had been unnerved by the former death eater's flight.
"Phaeron...what are you still doing out here?" asked the Slytherin Head of House.
"I-I believe I lost track of time." said Phaeron thought not a smooth in cover as he had hoped.
Draco arched an eyebrow at him much as Snape use to do to him whenever the young Malfoy had been caught unawares. The irony of doing the same thing to his former professor's child was amusing to say the least.
"Well get to the dungeons." instructed Draco. "I'm not the only one who has rounds tonight...wouldn't want to be caught out of bed by one of those damned Gryffindors do you?"
"No." said Phaeron gathering himself. "We can't have that, we both know father would never let me live it down."
Draco chuckled some amused.
"I would imagine Uncle Severus would probably hex whatever Gryffindor dared give you detention first." he said amused. "of course your mother would be the first to hand out the hexes."
Phaeron shook his head. Draco had been an amusing guy when in private.
The obsidian eyes of the young Snape found Ursula had been gone. His knowledge of her present condition did not seem to help matters as he tried his best not to let Draco in on his concerns. He knew he would be seeing Ursula again, though he would spend the remainder of the night tossing and turning as he thought about her.
Phaeron had been curious about the information Ursula had given him concerning his father, and Draco's mysterious aunt. He couldn't fathom either of them being related, Draco would have said so at the beginning of first year, unless of course he had been unaware of the relation. Ursula herself seemed like she had only recently come across this information via their mutual aunt.
"Come along Phaeron." said Draco putting a hand on the younger Slytherin's shoulder. "We wouldn't want you getting lost on your way to the dungeons again."
Reluctantly, Phaeron accompanied his god-brother into the Slytherin Dungeons. Apparently his discussion with Ursula Black would have to wait.
The Snape Residence, Muggle London, England...
Hermione had been pacing the sitting room when Snape finally arrived. She had not known what had taken him so long. He looked to be no worse for wear when he arrived and appeared to be a moody as ever when traveling in the muggle world. The concerned pregnant witch let out a sigh of relief and made her way over to her husband.
"What took you so long?" she asked immediately throwing her arms around his neck.
Muggles are incredibly nosy." said Snape annoyed. "If not for their constant need to stick their collective noses into my business then I could have possibly made it here much sooner."
"That explains why we never could get anything over on you at Hogwarts." said Hermione not at all masking her well placed concern.
Snape narrowed his eyes at the bold witch in his grasp. He did his best to conceal the agony that had been ripping through him as he looked into Hermione's ever inquisitive amber eyes.
"Very funny witch." he said trying to keep his bored tone in place.
Not arousing her suspicion had been the main objective for the moment, followed by obtaining his trusty potion to quell the searing pain.
Hermione had been much quicker on the draw than Snape had ever given her credit for and she immediately deduced that all was not well with her husband despite his valiant efforts to convince her otherwise. It seemed the time she spent living alone with Phaeron as a child had given her keen insight into her dear husband's psyche.
"Severus." said Hermione running her hand along his chest noting the effort in keeping his face from betraying how tender his muscles were in that area.
"Yes witch?" asked Snape trying to keep his voice from portraying the pain he felt.
"Are you going to tell me what happened to you or are you just going to keep drawing this out?" she asked narrowing those same amber eyes at him.
Snape fought the urge to smirk at her perceptiveness.
"I ran into an old friend." he admitted. "It was a very enlightening experience to say the least."
"Is that why you seem to be in a good deal of pain?" asked the pregnant witch.
Snape shook his head.
"I stand by my previous comment." he said in a bored tone.
"Git." said Hermione noting how he reversed her comment about not getting anything passed him at Hogwarts due to his muggle heritage. "Alright let's see the damage."
Snape gingerly took off his suit jacket and shirt. Hermione insisted on examining him fully noting the scars and bruised purple flesh that had once been pale. Gingerly she massaged the sore places on his torso and rubbed her delicate fingers across his ribs. Snape grimaced a few times but loved her touch all the same.
"Stupid git." she muttered as she massaged him. "Did you really think you could hide this from me?"
Snape groaned as she pressed more into the bruise noting the collection of blood beneath his skin. With a sigh she left him taking her soft touch with her as she ventured into the bathroom.
"This old friend wore heels didn't she?" she asked fishing about in the medicine cabinet.
Snape loosened his belt and moved over toward the couch and his trusty briefcase. He quickly opened it and took out the small black phial that he had seemed to become dependent upon in the last few months. Master Phaeron had warned him not to exceed his usual dosage and he kept that in mind as he drank some down. He knew that he would have to tell his wife and his children the truth about his current condition but he had not wanted to worry her, especially given that she had been pregnant.
He hardly wanted her to know about the attack let alone tell her he was ill.
Quickly re-stopping the phial and placing it back into his briefcase, Snape sat down on the sofa. Hermione returned with a health potion and her wand. She instructed him to drink down the health potion and cast a few light healing charms. The Potions Master began to heal rather rapidly despite the still apparent soreness from muscles.
"See." said Hermione looking into his obsidian eyes with her amber ones. "Isn't this better than being in pain because you want to hide it from me?"
Snape simply nodded.
"Now." said the pregnant witch sitting on his lap with her back pressed into his chest. "Are you going to tell me who attacked you or am I going to have to follow you around until I get an answer?"
Snape sighed.
This witch had been like a muggle blood hound. As incessant in her questions as if she were still back at Hogwarts looking up at the projection for the newest lesson.
"Bellatrix." he said almost bitterly.
Snape watched as Hermione's face twisted into a grimace of pure rage.
"She's still on the loose!?" she exclaimed nearly jumping out of his lap in her combined shock and rage.
"I was a shocked as you are about it." he replied still in a bored tone. "But you need to remain calm."
"REMAIN CALM!? shouted Hermione narrowing her amber eyes at her husband. "HOW CAN I REMAIN CALM WITH THAT NUTTER BITCH ROAMING ABOUT ATTACKING MY HUSBAND AND WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE HAS PLANNED FOR MY CHILDREN!"
Snape sighed once more. He knew she wouldn't be taking this well. Hence his lack of interest in telling her about his recent encounter.
"Hermione, I understand your rage and even your worries." he said calmly. "But do take into account witch that you are with child and I do not want you or the baby having any complications..."
The amber eyed witch took into account the worry on her husband's face and tried her best to relax. She knew he had been right about her and the baby needing her to keep a clear head. She had been nearing the end of her pregnancy and he had been as concerned as ever. Still, the very thought of Bellatrix LeStrange being anywhere near her husband made her blood boil. She had not forgotten the horrid witch nor her obsession with Severus.
The fact that Severus had been with her before their marriage only made it worse in terms of her own insecure thoughts. He had been weak for the deranged witch before, even going so far as to break his vows and bed her during the war. There was no way she was going to let her come anywhere near Severus now...they had two children and a real life together outside of the wizarding world and their war hero reputations. She had almost lost him once due to Harry Potter's arrogance, she was not about to turn him over to Bellatrix, that was for damn sure.
"Alright." she said calming herself. "I'll try and keep my temper."
"Good." said Snape looking her over once more.
He placed a his large pale hand on her protruding belly.
"I'm still trying Severus." she said sounding exhausted.
"I know." he replied rubbing her pregnant belly. "I had no other contact with her."
"I believe you." said Hermione not looking at him.
She had been far too busy trying to keep from seeing the images of him and Bellatrix from inciting her temper.
"I love you witch." he said leaning into her ear.
"I love you too wizard." she replied stroking the hand that rubbed her belly.
After a few moments of silent contemplation, Snape noted how tired Hermione must have been. He watched her yawn and reciprocated it on impulse.
"Come on." he said taking her hand and starting to get to his feet causing her to slide to her feet as well. "Time for bed witch."
Hermione gave little protest as they headed toward their collective bedroom. A thought came to him and he stopped before entering and looked at his sleepy wife.
"Sidney?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.
"My mother's." said Hermione sleepily. "He's apparently staying for the weekend."
Snape nodded and proceeded to lead her into the bedroom.
The Master Bedroom, Snape residence...
Hermione sat on the edge of the bed as Snape removed her slippers massaging her aching feet in the process. She had been having a lot of problems with her feet this late in her pregnancy due to her impulsive need to be on her feet for long periods of time. He used his wand and spelled off their collective attire and pulled back the comforter and sheets on the bed. Hermione's head hit the pillow and she was out cold before he could utter a word of good night. Snape slowly eased his way into bed beside her with his mind clouded with the events of the day. He had been keeping a great deal from her, his illness not withstanding but the fact that Bellatrix was bedding their eldest son, bedding Phaeron...Hermione would no doubt hex Bellatrix on sight and him as well for the atrocity being under her radar. She would have a few hexes for Dumbledore and Phaeron alike in this matter. The witch was definitely formidable when she got going. Oddly enough it was something he had always been proud of in terms of her fiery personality.
Drifting off to sleep due to extreme exhaustion, Snape's thoughts drifted to his son and the up hill battle he had brewing against Bellatrix in order to keep his family safe. He wondered about the nature of his son's attachment to Bellatrix at this stage in the game, his own attachment at that age had been quite frightening so much so that it took the combined efforts of Albus Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy, and Hermione Granger to break her hold on him and it still wasn't as completely broken as he would like to have thought.
He had been with Bellatrix consistently since he was seventeen years of age. Their sexual history and her knowledge of how to push his buttons like no other was dangerous weapon in her arsenal and she knew bloody well how to use it. He did not doubt she had the same sort of set up when it came to his young son. Snape had wished for lack of anything better to do, that his son wouldn't inherit his darker appetites but given his temperament and preference for Bellatrix LeStrange between the sheets. The boy it seemed had become something of a spirited copy of him. Minus the self-loathing and hellish background.