Chapter Fourteen: Tear stains

Weeks went by. Valentine's Day passed by, no one in the mood to celebrate. The Death Eaters were gaining more and more power. Bridges blown up, muggle towns destroyed, and so many dead. Not to mention the rise infiltrators in the Ministry of Magic. And with Dumbledore gone, Hogwarts could easily go downhill too. The good thing is that Minerva is very well trusted and plenty of wizards and witches are scared to fight her. The bad thing is that if Hogwarts falls, Minerva could be murdered by either side.

As for the simple things at Hogwarts, everything was going well. If you ignored the war. Richard had healed and gone home. I'd been spending nights at my quarters with Ginny. Harry asked her out for Valentine's Day and she accepted. They had a good night and are now dating. Severus and I have been making plans for the wedding. I have to write out all of the invitations. I grabbed some parchment and started writing. When I got to Ron's, I added an extra message.

Dear Ron Weasly,

I suggest that you come back to London and talk to Hermione. She's barely been able to look at someone with a relationship without throttling them and trying to kill them. You don't kiss someone and act like you love them and then run off with someone else. It's not right! I just hope you don't do the same to Lavender. Also, you're invited to Severus and my wedding on Saturday, June twenty-third. It will be at Hogwart's grounds at three o'clock. I'd also love for you to come on April thirtieth to talk to my fifth, sixth, and seventh year students with Harry at twelve thirty until five about your time running from the Death Eaters and a bit about what the auror business is like for the kids who are interested in joining after school. Harry already agreed to come.

Sincerely,

Samanthera Lechen

I sealed the letter inside of an envelope. Margaret, my owl, who had seen me writing, was waiting for me to finish writing the letter in my office. I handed it to the barn owl and she flew out the window.

"Wedding invitation?" Ginny asked from her desk.

"Yes, and a little side note that told your brother to get back here and talk to Hermione." I said with a smile and a wink. Ginny smiled back. She wanted Ron to make up with her friend. It was weird to see the Hermione Granger falling apart. I continued writing wedding invitations. I wouldn't send them for a few days, since it was only the middle of April. There was still time to spare till the wedding. In the meantime, I have classes to teach, a daughter to raise, and a battle to fight. When I got through the rest of the work I had needed to do, I went into my quarters with Matilda in my arms. Minerva had to drop her off early, so I put some of her toys down on the floor and had begun my work. Now, I set Matilda in her crib, sense it was around eight and she was tired. I stayed up a bit longer to finish the book I had started.

"Goodnight, Sam." Ginny said as she went into her room.

"Goodnight." I said. I closed my book and glanced at the clock. It was ten thirty. I changed into my night gown and went to bed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Sam,

I would love to come and talk to the students and come to your wedding. As for me, Hermione, and Lavender, I have things under control. If you really want me to, however, I'll talk to Hermione. I doubt it'll do anything, but I'll try. I do have two question. One, how could you marry a greasy git like Snape? And two, is your real last name really Riddle?

Sincerely,

Ron Weasley

I gave my owl a treat before tucking the letter away. Glad he finally responded. It was only about an hour before the class starts. I headed to my classroom and started grading my papers there. Matilda was with Minerva today since my mum couldn't watch her. Ginny was already there. About a half hour later, Harry and Ron came in loudly laughing about something.

"Hello Harry. Hello Ron." I said. I got up and gave them hugs.

"Hi Ron. Hi Harry!" Ginny said. She hugged both of them too.

"Hi guys." Both of them said simultaneously. They looked at each other and laughed, causing Ginny and me to laugh. Harry and Ron took a seat in the two chairs I had waiting for them by my desks.

"What are you two planning to talk about?" I asked.

"Well, the auror business, of course." Harry said. "And being on the run from Death Eaters and the spells and charms we used to keep hidden."

"Not to mention the dragon and finding the horcruxes!" Ron said. "And basically stay away from any people with the Dark Mark and who are related to Voldemort." I stared at him with an eyebrow raised before sticking my tongue out at him. All four of us started laughing. The students came in a couple of minutes later, surprised to see me laughing and having a good time with two of the golden trio.

"Okay." I said once everyone was there. Nobody ever missed Defense against the Dark Arts, well, except for those who are sick and George Hindburger, but he's another story. "This is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, two of the members of the golden trio. They are here to tell you about what it was like being on the run from Death Eaters and all the stuff they had to do. Gentlemen, the class is yours." I watched them teach about their adventures. They explained about their quest for horcruxes, the dragon they rode, and hiding in the woods. Pretty soon, the hour was up and class was over.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I was back at my quarters with Ginny and Matilda. I was mentally exhausted. The wedding was in two weeks and I also had to prepare my students for finals. Matilda was trying to talk, but her mouth muscles didn't know how to form the words, so she made little noises every now and then.

"So, who are the other bridesmaids?" Ginny asked. We were sitting in the living room, playing with Matilda and her lion, eagle, snake, and badger toys.

"I can't remember." I said. "Some of my family and friends and Severus's family and friends make up most of it."

"Is your mum walking you up the isle?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah. There's no other parent to walk me up. Well, except for my grandparents, but that would offend my mum." I said, standing up. "Come on Matilda, let's give you a bath!" She tried to say something before running to the bathroom. Every once in a while, she'll make me catch her. I'm glad it's not one of those days. When I got to the bathroom, she had pulled off her dress and was trying to take off her diaper.

"Come here, Matilda. I'll help you get it off." I said. Matilda waddled over to me, as she had messed up her diaper and couldn't walk the right way, and I picked her up and turned her on her side. I took off her diaper and started the bath. She climbed into the tub and grabbed for the nearest bottle of shampoo. Sadly, her arms weren't long enough and she splashed in the water.

"Mumdy!" she yelled, clearly frustrated. "Mumdy! Mumdy! Mumdy!"

"Yes, mummy. I'm your mummy." I purred gently, grabbing the shampoo bottle and squirting some onto my hand. She said her first word! I rubbed the shampoo onto her before rinsing her off. I dried her off and dressed before she led me to her room.

"Mumdy." She said, pointing at me.

"Ginny!" I called. "Matilda said her first word!" Ginny came rushing in.

"Mumdy." Matilda said, hugging my legs and looking pleased with the attention.

"Very good, Matilda!" Ginny said.

"Yes, very good. I'm so proud of my little sweet heart!" I said. I picked her up and set her in her crib. Ginny turned off the light as she left, leaving me in the dark with my daughter. I quietly sang until she fell asleep. I got up quietly and went to the door to my room. I opened it before pausing.

"Good night, Matilda. May your wishes come true." I said before stepping into my room.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I woke up once more to the sound of crying. I got up before it registered; that wasn't Matilda crying. I quickly sprang to my feet and got dressed while trying to figure out where the crying was coming from. I thought it was from the kitchen, so I headed there. I was shocked once I got there. There was Hermione, sobbing into Ginny, who was trying unsuccessfully to calm her down.

"What happened?" I asked, cautiously stepping forward.

"Ron." Ginny stated simply, anger showing in her voice. "He talked to her and said that he was sorry that she thought he liked her and that she should treat others with respect even though she's suffering. Not to mention he said Lavender's better than her, only in worse words. The monster."

"I can't believe him." I said, going over to hug both of them. That was when I noticed that Ginny was in tears too. Matilda, who I'm assuming Ginny took out of her crib, came over and hugged Ginny's legs. After a few minutes, we broke apart.

"Th-th-thanks guys." Hermione said. She had stopped crying, but hadn't calmed down completely.

"It's nothing. Now, I don't know about you two, but I'm hungry. Who's up for breakfast?" I asked. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"You're always hungry." She said with a sigh. "Come on, Hermione." Ginny waved her wand and all traces of Hermione's tears. I picked up Matilda and her day bag and walked out the door with Ginny and Hermione right behind me. I slowed down and walked right beside them in silence. We got to the Great Hall in no time and sat down next to each other. I was on the end, next to Poppy (as usual) and Hermione.

"Good morning Sam!" Poppy said with a bright smile on her face. Something was up.

"Good morning Poppy. What's with all the enthusiasm?" I asked.

"Oh, just excited for the wedding!" Poppy said in a very shrill voice. "I just can't wait!"

"Of course you can't. None of us can." Said Ginny. "Like they say, first comes love, then comes marriage-"

"Then comes Ginny shutting up." I said. How annoying could they get?

"I'm pretty sure that's not how it goes." Ginny said with a smile.

"That's how I learned it." I said.

"Sam, Minerva would like to see you in her office at six." Fillius said before walking away.

"Thanks, Fillius." I said.

"Wonder what she wants." Said Poppy.

"Yeah." I said. "Me too."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I walked up the stairs to Minerva's office. Seeing the door already opened, I walked in.

"Minerva, are you there?" I called out.

"Ah! Sam!" said the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. "I haven't talked to you in a while."

"Yeah." I said. "I've been busy."

"With the wedding, I assume?" he said, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Along with the end of term."

"Just, please be careful in the next couple of months. I have a feeling this war will be over sooner than the last."

"I will be, don't worry." I said with a grin.

"You can get reckless at times."

"I'll be fine."

"Good. I don't want Matilda losing her one and only parent, even though she's going to get a new dad soon."

"Don't be like Poppy. That's all she ever talks about now."

"Well, she has been trying to get you two together for a while."

"She was bound to be right once in her life."

"True, true." He said, the familiar twinkle in his eyes.

"Well, Minerva wanted to have a meeting with me. Do you know where she is?"

"You never get off track, do you?"

"Nope. Where is she?"

"She's… in her rooms. Should be out in a minute." Albus muttered, looking away from me.

"What's wrong with her?" I demanded. "Minerva! Are you okay. A sob answered my call. I ran into her rooms and found her lying on her bed.

"S-Sam." She sobbed. I ran over to her. I sat down next to her and pulled her into a sitting position while gently rubbing her back.

"What in the world is wrong?" I asked, trying to get the older woman to calm down.

"H-h-he still won't accept it!" she screamed.

"Accept what? And who are we talking about?"

"Albus!"
"Oh."
We were quiet for a few minutes. Minerva was still sobbing into her hands and I couldn't get her to stop. Finally she calmed down enough to speak.

"H-he won't accept that we were married at one point. Well, at l-least his p-p-portrait won't! A-and staring at that portrait and hearing his voice is m-making me feel so g-guilty! I sh-should've stopped him from planning his ow-own death."

"None of us knew what he was doing besides Severus. And you know that Severus did everything Albus asked of him. Even this."

"That's what I hate!" Minerva bellowed, making me jump up from the bed. "He convinces everyone his ideas and plans are the best and then leaves them after they've done his work for him, even if they're distraught and empty inside!"

"Minerva," I whispered, sitting back down on the bed. "I hated that part of him too. The part that was always plotting and planning, even if it was for our side. It scared me. But he knew everything would work out. And it did. His plan worked. And remember, he was going to very slowly die anyway."

Minerva stopped crying. After a moment or two she turned her head and looked me in the eye. Her eyes were red, showing that she had been sobbing, but the red hot anger was still there.

"Everything worked out?" She bellowed. "He's dead! Sirius is dead! Countless others are dead! And you say his plan worked out?"

"I didn't mean it like that!" I shouted, shocked at her sudden outburst. Her eyes narrowed.

"Oh, you didn't mean it like that, did you?" she snarled. "How about you figure out what you meant by 'everything worked out' out of my sight!"

I got up and left without another word, or glance at either the mourning woman or the confusing portrait.