A/N This is a follow on from Getting Answers which has been posted. If you don't like this sort of thing, then please move on.
14-year-old Ciara Snape -Potter loved Hogsmeade village, with its quaint shops and cobbled streets. She loved the hustle and bustle of the small village and the smiles it seemed to being to everyone's faces. She especially loved it at this time of year, when the leaves were changing from green into brilliant red, orange and yellow, loved how they crackled beneath her feet when she walked. Ciara stepped out from Honeydukes sweet shop, with a few shrunken parcels tucked into her robes, weaving her way through the hordes of students that filled the streets. It was always busy during a Hogsmeade weekend, when the students of Hogwarts would descend on the village celebrating a few hours of freedom, despite being watched carefully by whichever Professor had accompanied them.
Ciara had been looking forward to this weekend for sometime, not only for the chance to peruse the shops and their favours, but because she got to see her extended family. Grandma Molly and Grandpa Arthur were meeting her at the Three Broomsticks for lunch that day. It would make a change she thought as she wandered along the street towards the pub, being in a room where people were happy to speak to one another without scowling. Her Fathers were in the midst of someone sort of argument and hadn't spoken to each other for close to a week. Her Dad was staying in his old quarters and her Papa was hiding in his dungeons. This didn't worry Ciara, she knew her parents were prone to tiffs and disagreements and they had never let it effect her in anyway, always remaining civil when she was in their company. They were also two of the most stubborn people on the planet and neither would relent and apologise first (hardly adequate role models!) somehow they always seemed to gravitate towards the other and after a time the argument would be over and they were back to being sappy and mushy again.
Pushing thoughts of quarrelling parents from her mind, she entered the Three Broomsticks and looked around for Molly and Arthur. Ciara loved her grandparents, Molly with her kind heart and warm hugs and Arthur with his quirky nature and love of all things Muggle. She spotted them at a table near one of the fireplaces and made her way to them.
"Hello love" Molly smiled, standing and pulling Ciara into a bone-crushing hug
"Hi Grandma" Ciara said, kissing Molly's cheek
She gave Arthur a hug and kiss then settled at the table, giving them the sweets she had bought from Honeydukes knowing they were their favourites. Molly fussed and said she shouldn't be spending her galleons on them, while Arthur just gave her a mischievous smile, while tucking the sweets into his pocket. While they waited for their food to arrive, Ciara told them about school, classes and about her parents arguing. She told them about the new plants her Uncle Neville had received in the Greenhouse, Herbology was her favourite subject and she could often be found helping her Godfather after class and on the weekends. Molly was especially intrigued as she was always looking for another plant to fill her already over flowing garden with.
The food arrived and Ciara tucked in, it had been a while since breakfast, she been up before sunrise helping Neville in the Greenhouse before coming into Hogsmeade. The door to the pub opened and her Aunty Ginny walked in, fixing her windswept hair and hanging her coat on the hook just inside the door. Molly saw her youngest child and waved her over. Ciara was fond of her Aunty, but sometimes she got on the 14 year olds nerves. Ginny was working for the Daily Prophet in the Magical Games Department. She had once played Professional Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies, but after being injured during a game a couple years ago she had, had to give it away. Ciara remembered her Dad telling her that she was hoping to make the team again this season and had been attending practice sessions before the tryouts.
"Sorry I'm late" she said, sitting down bedside her Father "meeting ran over"
"No worries love" Molly smiled "I had Rosmerta keep your lunch warm, ah here it comes now"
The owner of the Three Broomsticks delivered Ginny's lunch with a smile and bustled off back behind the bar. As she ate, Ginny filled them in on what she had been doing at work and how the practice sessions with the Harpies had been going. Ciara thought she seemed over confident that she would be allowed to play again, but decided to keep her opinion to herself. Ginny asked Ciara how her classes were going and how her parents were (how her Dad was anyway, she had never really been fond of her Papa)
"Are they talking to each other yet?' she asked Ciara
Her Dad had obviously been talking to her Uncle Ron, Ciara thought before she answered "Not yet, but I have no doubt peace will be declared soon enough"
Ginny nodded and went back to her lunch.
The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly and Ciara enjoyed the time spent with her extended family. She didn't get to see them all that often since being at Hogwarts, only during holidays and special occasions. Before leaving the Three Broomsticks, Ciara visited the bathroom. She had just exited the stall and was going to wash her hands when she saw Ginny fixing her hair and makeup.
"Are you Ok?" the redhead asked Ciara
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" she answered, perplexed by the question
"I just wondered, what with your parents fighting and all, thought you might be a bit down" Ginny countered
"It's nothing major, they'll get over it sooner or later" Ciara said nonchalantly "Not the first time they've had a fight"
"For your sake I hope they do" Ginny said
"What do you mean?" Ciara asked, feeling her annoyance rising
"Well they haven't spoken for over a week, Harry is staying in his old quarters and is avoiding your Father and we all know how unreasonable he can be"
"My Father is not unreasonable," she said stiffly
"I'm just saying it might be a little more serious than a simple argument. I hope for your sake it doesn't end with them parting ways for good" Ginny shrugged as if she were speaking of the weather
"I hardly think they are going to get divorced over an argument" Ciara said stiffly "they love each too much for that"
"People fall out of love Ciara" Ginny said pointedly "maybe it's happening to them, after all they did get together rather quickly, too quickly in my opinion"
"They won't" Ciara snapped and left her Aunt standing in the bathroom grooming herself, what she didn't see was the satisfied smirk on the redheads face.
Ciara pushed her eggs around her plate, her appetite long since run off. It had been 5 days since she had seen Molly, Arthur and Ginny in Hogsmeade and try as she might, she couldn't get the conversation she'd had with Ginny in the bathroom out of her head. Her Fathers still weren't speaking or staying in the same room. She'd tried to broach the subject with both of them, only to have the subject changed or completely ignored. Her Papa had been grumpy in potions and had taken more points than he normally did these days, the same went with her Dad, and he had given out extra homework and barked at anyone who looked as though they weren't paying attention.
It was a ridiculous notion that her parents could possibly part ways over whatever this argument was about, she had never known two people who loved each other more, apart from Molly and Arthur than her parents. She looked towards the staff table and noted that neither of her parents were there and her stomach sank. Moving her plate away, Ciara got up from the table and left the Great Hall, going back up to Ravenclaw Tower to collect her books. She had Herbology first, so at least that was something to look forward to. She trudged down the hill towards the Greenhouse a short time later feeling the cool breeze on her face and began to feel marginally better.
By the end of the first hour Professor Neville Longbottom was quite concerned about one of his students, who just happened to be his Goddaughter. Never had he seen Ciara so quiet or withdrawn as this, especially considering how much she enjoyed the subject and how well she excelled at it. He kept a close eye on the girl during the last hour of the lesson and made a note to speak to her when class ended.
"Miss Snape -Potter could you stay behind please" Neville asked, after the bell had gone and the students were filing out from the Greenhouse
"Yes Professor Longbottom" Ciara nodded and sat back down at the work bench
When all the students had left, Neville pulled a stool and sat beside his goddaughter. "You seemed a bit distracted today, anything the matter?" he asked
Tears she didn't know were there begun to fall, Neville pulled her to him and let her cry. When the tears subsided, Ciara told her godfather about the conversation she'd had with Ginny at the Three Broomsticks and her worries ever since. The normally reserved Professor became visibly angry, although not with her. He reminded Ciara of how she came to be and that a bond like Harry and Severus shared was something rare and precious and certainly couldn't be broken as a result of a simple argument. Knowing his goddaughter as he did, Neville sent a note excusing her from her next class and they spent time working in the Greenhouse and talking. She felt better by the time she went to her afternoon classes, with the promise that her godfather would meet her later and they would talk to her parents together.
Harry was marking 3rd year essays when his daughter and Neville walked into the room. He noticed immediately that his little girl didn't look happy and that his long time friend looked even less so. Setting his quill down, Harry stood from his desk and walked around to greet Ciara.
"What's wrong bug you ok?" Harry asked, hugging his daughter
"Yeah I will be" Ciara said quietly "I need to talk to you and Papa"
"Papa's down in the dungeons, but I can…
"Actually I'm here" Severus' deep voiced announced
Harry looked up and saw his husband standing in the doorway to his classroom. He realised in that moment how much he had missed the man. They'd barely spent significant amount of time apart in the last 14 years, making the last week and a half quite hard to bear.
Ciara ran to her other father and wrapped her arms around him. Harry saw the familiar smile cross his husbands face as he hugged their daughter. "Hi Papa"
"Hi angel" Severus said, kissing the top of her head
"We need to have a bit of a chat," Neville said firmly, and they moved into Harry private room. Once they were all seated, Neville gave his goddaughter a nod and she cleared her throat and asked the question she'd been dreading the answer of for the last week.
"Dad, Papa I need to know if you are going to get a divorce" she said bravely
"What in Merlin's name makes you think that!" Harry said loudly
Ciara took a deep breath and told her parents about the conversation she'd had with her Aunty Ginny at the The Three Broomsticks. Harry looked as if he might explode at any moment and Severus like he would hex the next person who dared open their mouth.
"Sweetheart listen to me very carefully" Harry said, trying to quell his anger "Just because your father and I have had a fight doesn't mean we are getting divorced. I love your Papa very much and nothing would make me so angry that I would consider ending our marriage"
"But you haven't spoken in nearly two weeks" Ciara pointed out, tears rolling down her cheeks
"That's because your dad and I are foolish and stubborn and let things get the better of us sometimes" Severus admitted, coming to sit beside Harry on the sofa and taking his hand "I love your Dad with all my heart and have no intention of leaving him"
"What about what Aunty Ginny said?" Ciara asked
"She had no right to say those things to you Ciara or make you worry like you have been" Harry told her
"Is it because she has always had a crush on you Dad?"
"There are a lot of reasons bug, but that is one of them yes" Harry said honestly "We will sort it out don't worry"
"I'm quite angry at her," Ciara said
"You have every right to be" Severus countered
Molly, Arthur, Ginny and Ron were sitting around the kitchen table at the Burrow, when the floo flared and Harry and Severus stepped through.
"Harry, Severus to what do we owe the pleasure?" Arthur said jovially as the pair sat at the kitchen table.
"We needed to have a word with Ginny" Harry said evenly
"No worries, we'll leave your to it then" Arthur replied and made to get up from the table
"Stay" Harry insisted, "You need to hear this too"
"OK" Arthur said and sat back down.
"What gives you the right to tell our daughter that her family may be breaking up?" Harry seethed
"What's this?" Molly asked, looking from Harry to Ginny
"When Ciara met you last week in Hogsmeade for lunch, your daughter told her that Severus and I would likely be getting a divorce as the result of an argument. She has been worrying herself sick about it for the last week and a half. She confided in Neville as she was worried what the answer would be if she asked Severus or I"
"Is this true Ginny?" Arthur asked sternly
"I meant nothing by it" Ginny said dismissively "Ciara took it the wrong way"
"No she didn't" Severus in the low dangerous tone he reserved for errant students "you meant every word you spoke"
"It's bound to happen sooner or later, I am just preparing her for what's to come" Ginny said smugly
"Are you that deluded that you think after 14 years of marriage, not to mention the fact Severus and I are soul mates, literally, that a meaningless argument is going to spell the end of our marriage?" Harry raged
"Like I said it's bound to happen sooner or later"
"What you thought if it did, I'd come running to you?" Harry quipped
"It would be the smarter choice" Ginny smirked
"You listen to me and you listen carefully," Harry hissed, "You speak to or come near Ciara again, and I will take you apart. It is no ones fault but your own that your life has not turned out the way you hoped. Do not drag my daughter down in your bitter and twisted world. Molly, Arthur, Ron I apologise for the intrusion"
"No apologies needed Harry" Arthur said, "I am quite ashamed of my daughter"
Severus and Harry left the Burrow with Molly and Arthurs shouts echoing as they vanished in green flames. Back in his quarters Harry packed his things and took them back down to the dungeons, where he and Severus spent some quality time with their daughter. Before she returned to her dorm, they vowed they would spend more time as a family and not let silly arguments get in the way of what was important.
"If it's not blonde gits trying to break us apart, it's bloody redheads" Harry countered later that night as they lay in bed.
"Lets not talk about them now" Severus said, "We have far more important things to be getting on with"
"And what are those Mr. Snape?" Harry asked, as Severus crawled beneath the covers and began to remove Harry's boxers
"Allow me to show you Mr. Potter" came to muffled reply
Harry could only moan in response as Severus took him into his sinful mouth and demonstrated exactly what he meant by more important things.