CHAPTER TWELVE—What Severus Overhears
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The common room was packed the day after Christmas with children, Weasleys, and the smell of oranges, but the boiling excitement of Christmas surprises had dissipated. Minnie and Mona colored kittens and cats the wrong colours, using their crayons all up. Luna and Luna's da taught Septima where to search for Nargles.
"They like to hide in mistletoe," Luna's da explained.
Septima looked at the ceiling, searching for the white berries with her SpectreSpecs.
Sevvie wandered from bookshelf to bookshelf, standing behind couches and armchairs, knowing he was too tiny to be noticed. His mouth knew to stay clamped shut when he was being sneaky.
"What about cobbing?" Rolanda demanded. Ron and Bill sat hunched over 'Landa's miniature Quidditch pitch, prodding little figures back and forth.
"That's never okay," Bill explained.
"But what if they blurt me?"
"Then the referee should catch it before you have a chance to respond," Ron said. He pulled the referee figurine over to the fight. "That's their job."
"That don' sound as excitin' as playin'," she huffed, crossing her arms.
"Maybe you'll change your mind when you're older," the wizards laughed.
Sevvie snuck to the fireplace, acting like he wanted to see Minnie's colouring book. She and Mona were both swinging their feet.
"I love cats, I love cats, meow meow meow, meow meow meow," Minnie sang. Pomona hummed off-key, doodling flowers next to Minnie's cat. "I am a cat, I love cats, I say meow, meow meow meow…"
Enough of that, Sevvie thought. He crept to the snack table, where Fleur, Ginny, Walter, and that Harry boy were talking.
Sevvie kept his eyes down, like he wanted to pick the best biscuit from the trays. That Harry boy watched him while Ginny was saying, "I don't think she or Harry's too young."
"What if you two would rather see the world than settle down in a long slough of a career so quickly?" Mr Walter replied, snatching a chocolate biscuit without even looking in Sev's direction.
"She's seen quite a lot of ze world." This was the first time Sev had not seen a baby in Fleur's arms. "Forests and beaches and—" She paused to glance at their little eavesdropper. "Merlin knows what else."
"And Australia," Ginny murmured in that Harry boy's ear. The two of them cuddled all the time, or held hands at the very least. Ginny had her red hair flowing over that Harry's shoulder.
"I just think it's a lot of pressure," Walter said. "For the both of you."
"It feels like the right thing for me to do," that Harry said. "If it's right for 'Mione…"
Sevvie frowned.
"Well, it felt right to offer."
Severus picked up a custard cream to nibble on. He turned to watch the rest of the room, acting like he was walking away.
He heard Luna and Luna's da say they were going to talk to Hagrid 'concerning his Blast-Ended Skrewts and whether or not they posed a threat to the dwindling Crumple-Horned Snorcak population' down in his hut.
Mrs Molly was tidying up; Mr Arthur tried to get her to stop. Then he swiveled back to P'ofessor Flitwick.
Behind him, Sevvie heard Fleur ask what exactly an education minister would do.
That Harry boy tried to explain but Severus couldn't follow. Words like examinations and curriculum were just too big, so Sevvie went to find something easier to listen to.
"They float in space—without magic," Mr Arthur told P'ofessor Flitwick.
"But why?"
"To broadcast TV waves."
"I didn't know television required such…finery." P'ofessor Flitwick was as tall as Rolanda and Minerva.
Mr Arthur made sure his scarf stayed on at all times. Sevvie stood back, trying to see through the thick woolen scarf, get even a glimpse of the snakebite underneath.
Does it look like mine? The biscuit crumbs prickled in his throat.
"Oh yeah. Muggles are always thinking up new things." Mr Arthur liked Muggles. A lot. Severus wondered if he'd ever meet a Muggle, besides his da.
Septima snuck out from behind Mr Arthur's chair. "Do we have satellites here?" Some of her scaredness had worn off.
The babies started crying, one right after the other. Sevvie hoped he could help—the wailing made his head hurt. And their crying might make all the other girls cry.
Neville panicked, trying to swing both swings at the same time, but not too hard.
Hermione picked up the smallest baby to pat her back and make shhshh noises. Severus watched her and twiddled the biscuit crumbs off his fingertips.
By the door, Mr Filch watched the babies too. He held his scary cat to his chest, almost like a creepy Hermione with a furry Sybill. Madam Meanie-Head hadn't come in to pester P'ofessor Flitwick today.
"I hope they don't stay like this for much longer," Hermione said to Neville.
"You mean you don't like babies?" He squatted next to Aurora, holding a bottle to her tiny mouth.
"I like them better as teachers."
Severus's eye twitched followed by a stinging ring in his ears.
"Feeling alright?"
Severus jumped at the slightly familiar voice right above his head. George peered down at him, watching too closely for Severus's comfort. But he nodded anyway.
"'Mione said your head hurts sometimes." George took a step back then knelt down to look into Sevvie's eyes. Sevvie turned away a bit, his elbows bending up in a shrug.
"Only a little." Sev turned pink-cheeked.
"Anything else hurting?"
Sevvie shrugged.
"Like your joints?"
"Joints?"
George pointed to his knees and knuckles and elbows. "Where your bones meet to bend."
"Not really."
"Do your eyes water?"
"No." Did 'Mione tell George he cried, too?
"How about your ears?"
"My ears don' water," he mumbled.
George's eyes widened before he chuckled. "Still funny."
Did 'Mione say he was funny? He turned red again.
"How do you feel about Potions?"
"I'm not allowed to play with 'Mione's potion stuff wiffout her."
He leaned forward. "I bet you kept trying to look at 'em though, didn't you?"
Sev bowed his head but George kept grinning so Sev grinned too.
"Do you remember how to use your wand?"
"I'm too young to use it. P'offessor F'itwick said so."
George reached across his body into his jacket pocket. Between his freckled fingers he held a tiny gray box. "Christmas cracker?"
Sev hesitantly took the gift. George urged him to open it. Sev cracked the lid—confetti popped out. He dropped the box when a marching band of ants crawled over the rim, clanging cymbals and blowing trumpets.
Everyone was looking at Severus. The ant-band circled around his bare feet.
Aurora crawled over, trying to catch an ant. It turned to smoke in her pudgy hand. Hermione laughed and picked her up.
"Boxed Joy for everyone!" George declared, standing up and tossing the boxes to the clamoring children.
Owls fluttered out of Septima's box; a dry waterfall tumbled over Pomona's hand.
"Those are amazing," Hermione said, balancing Aurora on her hip. "When did you make them?"
"Fred worked out the kinks—same thing he did for the fireworks." George chuffed his hand through his flaming red hair.
It got quiet around the two of them, except for Aurora who kept wiggling.
"Oy, George, let's get some of those over here!" Ron called.
George and Hermione gave each other sad smiles before he moved to the other side of the room.
"He just can't stand to see anyone upset," Hermione sighed.
Severus looked up at her. He tentatively grabbed her hand. She looked surprised but didn't tell him to let go.
"Who's Fred?"
"Fred is George's twin brother."
"Why isn't he here? Is he busy making more boxes?"
Hermione shook her head. Aurora stuck one of Hermione's curls in her mouth. "Fred passed on."
"Pass' on—oh." Severus looked at his shuffling feet.
He heard Hermione sigh above him. "That's not very happy talk. Let's go look at those nails, hmn?"
"I can't figure them out!"
As 'Mione read her guide to becoming an Animagus Severus tried to pull his mind bender apart. Lavender and her parents tried to make Sybill stand up, but her little legs were like Jelly-Slugs.
Madam Pince strode into the room and handed Hermione a folded newspaper.
"Miss Granger is in the newspaper," Madam Pince remarked to the room at large. The librarian didn't bother to stay in the room and join the "party."
"Oh, joy," Hermione muttered, tossing the paper onto the table. The holiday edition of the Daily Prophet was printed in festive green, gold, and red ink. The photographs splashing the front and back pages were printed in color.
Sevvie looked up when he heard the slap of newsprint on wood. "Wha's wrong?"
"Nothing." 'Mione was sighing her words now.
Brown and Weasley: Winter's Hottest Couple graced the top of the front page in giant, red letters. The byline beneath it read, Granger Left Out in the Cold.
A fire crackled in the hearth, illuminating Minnie as she chased Rolanda and Pomona around the common room.
"'Mione, tha's you in the picture!" he said, snatching it up.
"Yes, it is, isn't it?" she grumbled.
"You don' look very happy in this picture," Severus observed, frowning. He hastily dipped his quill into the ink and hunched over the paper, scribbling something. Hermione tried to see what he was doing, but he shied away, giving her a suspicious, sideways glare. Hermione chuckled, and backed off.
The little boy shoved the paper towards her after he was done. He had drawn some squares wrapped with bows. A little, angular Christmas tree was in the corner of her photograph. Ink-Hermione looked all around her, looking at the presents and the tree. She cracked a smile and laughed. The real Hermione did the same.
"Now you'll be happy."
She ruffled his hair. "You, Severus, are silly."
"Don' presents make you happy?"
"Sure they do. But it's the thought that counts, you know." Aurora plopped face first onto 'Mione's book and wiggled.
Severus cocked his head at her. "It is?"
Hermione nodded.
"Can you put thoughts in a box?"
Hermione laughed. "No. But you can put them in a bowl."
Severus cocked his head again; this time, one of his eyebrows went up.
"I'll tell you when you're older," she giggled.
"Hmph!" He crossed his arms.
Mrs Molly held out her arms for Aurora. "How are you doing, dear?"
"I'm…keeping busy," Hermione laughed, nodding towards little Severus.
She slid into the chair across from 'Mione. "Ron and Ginny said you didn't feel like coming to the Burrow for the hols."
Hermione flattened a dog-eared page.
"I know it's not the same as being with your parents," Molly said, her eyes consoling. "But we have always thought of you as a Weasley. You know that, don't you?"
Hermione nodded. "I know."
Severus kept his eyes on his mind bender but he wasn't doing anything more than twiddling the nails in his hands.
"You've seen how big the house is—you always have a place." The mother put her calloused hand on top of Hermione's. "We're always here for you."
"I know." 'Mione's eyelids were shivering. His mum's eyes used to shiver.
"You weren't able to locate them at all?"
Aurora stuck her toes in her mouth.
Severus watched 'Mione pull her sleeves down.
"No. I only had two weeks. Australia is quite large."
"I'm sure you could ask Harry, or Kingsley to send someone to help you…"
"I can't burden them like that—they're busy doing important things." Hermione felt the textured weave of the table cloth beneath her fingertips. "I'll just have to go back again next summer." She shrugged. "That's all."
Molly patted Aurora's back. "They don't have those fellytone books?"
"They do—I just didn't know where to start. I guess that will be the first thing I do, next summer."
Severus saw that Hermione was not making eye-contact. She was not liking this talk at all. Aurora reached for him.
"Can I hold her?" Severus asked, looking at a spit bubble forming in the corner of Aurora's mouth.
"Aren't you precious."
Severus held the baby tightly in his lap, Aurora facing him and reaching for his lips. "What does pesh-ous mean, 'Mione?"
She ruffled his long, black hair. "Mrs Weasley is saying you're cute."
He scowled and turned pink. "I'm not cute," he mumbled, blushing at Aurora. Hermione and Mrs Weasley giggled.
"On the contrary, little Severus, I think you're the cutest future-professor I've ever seen," Hermione laughed, poking his cheek.
Severus turned a brighter red. "Who says I wanna be a p'ofessor?" Aurora stood up in his lap, clutching his collar.
The women exchanged glances, trying to keep the smiles off their faces.
Mrs Molly stood up. With her arms out, she said, "I need to make sure Arthur and I are all packed. I'll take Aurora over to Neville."
"I'll be righ' back," Severus said, hopping up and flitting off.
"Oh, okay…" Sev didn't see Hermione watching his back.
Severus looked at the spines of every book he was tall enough to see. He tugged on Ron's sleeve when he walked past.
Ron blinked down at him.
"Where are pictures of countries?" he mumbled, his nose pointed towards the ground but his eyes angled up towards the bigger wizard.
"In an atlas," Ron said. He pried one off one of the higher shelves. "Here ya go."
"Thanks," Sev mumbled. He clutched the book to his chest and waited for Ron to walk away. Sev watched Ron sit down next to Lavender before he felt safe enough to relocate to a table with his atlas. "Ah-strail-yuh," he murmured. Did that start with an A?
Finding Australia in the book was much harder than he thought it would be.
Lavender held out her fingernails to paint them bright pink. "Hey, Ron, why didn't any Grangers come to the castle?"
Severus peeked over the edge of the atlas.
"Is it because they're Muggles?"
Ron shook his head. "They're in Australia."
"Are they on vacation?" Lavender gasped. "They went without Hermione?"
Ron scooted closer on the couch. Severus let the book sit flat on the table.
Why would 'Mione's parents leave her here for Ch'ismas?
"'Mione had to Obliviate them and send them to Australia with new names."
Severus could barely hear Ron.
"She hasn't been able to find them yet."
Lavender covered her mouth.
"Is that why she's so sad all the time?" Severus blurted out.
Ron and Lavender turned, both surprised to find Sevvie talking to them. Ron's eyes darted down to the map of Australia. He nodded.
The good byes started sounding throughout the room. Mr Luna's da had a ratty guitar case packed full of his clothes. Mr and Mrs Lavender's parents came over to hug Lavender and shake Ron's hand.
Mrs Molly hugged everyone at least twice, then swooped in on the little ones. Severus shyly stepped forward into her arms.
"You take care of yourself," Mr Arthur said, patting Sev's shoulder.
Fleur clung onto Bill. Hermione hugged that Harry boy, then Ginny grabbed him again.
Everyone began hording toward the door and down the stairs. Sevvie darted between Minerva and Pomona to get to Hermione. He followed behind her because she was with that Harry boy still.
"So, what's the plan if they don't return to normal?" he asked.
'Mione shrugged. "Find some people to cover, I guess."
"Where're you gonna find all those people who can teach?"
"Maybe we'll have to use the Weasleys," Luna suggested. Sev could see the radishes in her ears.
"There's just so many of them," Harry laughed.
The crowd paused in the Entrance Hall. Some snow blew in through the cracked doors. Sev tilted his head back, trying to see the ceiling. It was dark up there.
The big kids exchanged hugs again and the little kids hung back.
"You keep those kids warm!" Mrs Molly demanded.
"You let me know when Dumbledore gets back, alright?" Mr Arthur asked P'ofessor Flitwick. The shorter man nodded.
George shook Flitwick's hand next, nodding with his father. "I wouldn't worry too much."
Madam Pomfrey came down to wave but said she "had too many potions to brew." She looked right at Sev when she said it; he skittered closer to Hermione.
Her hand was warm on top of his head. "Keep me updated." She said to that Harry.
"You know I will," that Harry said back with a grin. Hermione sighed loudly, but was smiling too. Ginny gave Harry a big kiss then sent him out the door with everyone else.
"Time to get zese wee ones to bed," Fleur said, holding Aurora up into the air. The baby giggled and kicked.
"Race you upstairs!" Rolanda yelled. Pomona and Septima begged her to slow down. Minnie tugged Sevvie's hand but he let go before they reached the Grand Staircase. He wanted to walk with 'Mione.
The rest of the group trudged past.
"'Mione, my shoe is untied," he said. She knelt down to fix it for him. Sev watched everybody else get further up the stairs and Mrs Norris saunter after Filch. "You can find them, 'Mione."
Her hands stopped moving. Finally she raised her head, eyes wide.
Sev didn't know what to say, so he nodded.
'Mione's eyes trembled. Nice 'Mione was not supposed to be sad. Severus sat on his knees and hugged her arm. "You wan' me to help you get them?"
Her lips were tightening as she looked down at him. Severus didn't let go of her arm.
"That's very sweet of you," she whispered. Hermione stroked Sev's hair without saying anything more. She wiped her eyes a few times. Severus looked at the floor where he knelt.
Hermione stood up and Severus followed. He pulled at 'Mione's arm, uselessly, since she was much bigger.
"Where are we going?" she mumbled, wiping at her wet eyes again.
He tugged her towards the Great Hall. "You hafta cheer up."
She still frowned, but let him lead her.
"I'm gonna make you," he said as he held onto her wrist and tried to open the doors to the Great Hall.
She helped him shoulder open one of them. "What are we doing?"
"We're going to swing!"
"Oh, Sev, I don't want to—"
He pushed her forward, his little hands in the small of her back. Some torches lit up as they made their way to the other end of the cold, cavernous room.
"It'll make you feel better."
"I doubt it," she mumbled.
He made her sit down on a swing. He hopped up into the other swing and started flinging his legs out. "C'moon," he urged.
Hermione sighed and gave a few little kicks.
Sevvie started swinging higher, swerving a bit because he kept looking at Hermione. She started to kick harder.
Nobody can be sad when they're swinging, Sevvie thought.
Hermione laughed and blew some curly hair out of her face. No matter what she did, it kept flying back into her mouth and sticking to her wet cheeks.
"You're only going higher because you're smaller than me," she teased.
Severus stuck out his tongue.
