OMG, I'm so sorry!
My exams were in May and I had to study or well, my mum would have blown a gasket.
Again, I am so very sorry!
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Molly's question was met by a stunned silence. Therefore, she asked again, her voice very loud and shrill, "Well, What is going on here?"
Draco stood, glaring, and spat out "Why don't you go ask your son?"
Molly, taken aback, retorted, "What does my son have to do with Hermione not arriving at the Burrow!"
Lucius also stood and, despite Molly's hostile stance and tone, replied in a calm yet firm voice "Mrs. Weasley, I must ask you to keep your voice down or you'll wake the children."
"And where are my grandchildren?" Molly's voice hadn't lowered a decibel. It was still as shrill and loud as the moment she'd arrived.
Minerva was pulled from her shock and attempted to defuse the situation "Molly please, Hermione and the children have had a most troublesome day and it all trails back to your son's actions." Molly was getting close to exploding, so Minerva carried on, "Molly, I also suggest you sit down. Everyone is on a short fuse at the moment and you need to know what's happened today."
Lucius motioned for Molly to take his seat but she declined. "I want to know what happened to prevent Hermione's visit, however, first things first. Why are we all convened in Severus' chambers?"
Gazing round the room, Hermione decided she had better explain. As she was explaining, Molly interrupted.
"He hit you, again?" Molly gasped, utterly appalled by her son's actions.
"Again?" Both Draco and Lucius echoed at this, sounding enraged and so very much like father and son.
"Yes, now can I continue?" Hermione was rather irritated at being interrupted. Getting a nod from everyone, she let out a breath, sat back against the couch, and finished reiterating the trying events of the day.
An eerie silence followed, allowing everyone to process the information. However it was interrupted a second time by the floo. This time Poppy came through, wand in one hand and bag in the other. "Miss Granger, must you always have a multitude of people with you." This made everyone smile, excluding Molly, so Poppy continued, "Now, I have some potions and salve for you and if Sebastian is calmer I can fix his wrist."She placed her bag on the coffee table and looked around. "Where is the young man?" queried Poppy.
Hermione stood and announced, "I'll go get him," but Poppy blocked her path. "...Or not." Hermione sat back down.
Draco instead got up in Hermione's place and left the room, returning a few minutes later carrying Sebastian with Scarlet trailing groggily behind him. As he walked over to the couch, Draco exclaimed, "Special Delivery, one very sleepy Sebastian for a Madame Pomphrey!" This made everyone laugh; Molly remained silent obliviously, still soaking in the information.
Scarlet clambered into Severus' lap and snuggled into his chest. The man glanced down to find Scarlet clutching his shirt with her left hand and resting her head on her right. Lucius chuckled and said, "You know it's funny, Draco used to do the same thing; it seems you are still any child's comfort" Lucius reminisced, before announcing, "Anyway, I must be off as Narcissa and I have dinner reservations at half six and it's now…" Looking at his watch, "half two." Lucius walked over to the floo, called out 'Malfoy Manor', and disappeared into green flames.
Poppy was tending to Hermione and had just turned her attention to Sebastian, who was nestled in Draco's lap, when Molly regained her voice, "I can't believe my Ronald did this to you and his children, it just sickens me to know that he's capable of it." Molly stood and rushed over to Hermione, pulling her into a hug. As she clutched Hermione to her chest, the Weasley Matriarch kept chanting 'I'm so sorry'.
Hermione returned the hug fully before pulling back and told Molly in a soft yet firm voice, "Molly, you have nothing to be sorry for. You raised Ronald with as much love and care as humanly possible. No-one except Ronald has anything to be sorry for." She resumed hugging her and murmured, "I promise that I will be round tomorrow and I will bring the children, if I can part them from Severus that is."
Poppy had finished treating Sebastian -after much squirming on his part- and announced, "Well, now that all the medical business is out the way, does anyone know why Mr. Weasley is behaving this way?"
It was Draco who answered, "I think it's due to Ginerva passing away, he needs to be close to his family and with Hermione and the twins seeking comfort with us Slytherins', he feels like he's going to lose them also."
Everyone-minus the children- stared at Draco with wide eyes, mouths open and with looks of not-so-polite disbelief.
The first to recover was Hermione and she answered him with, "I knew you were smart Draco but…I didn't realise your could analyse people so well!" Her eyes trailed over the room and she smiled when she saw that Severus had dozed with a sleeping Scarlet still clinging to his shirt. And what was more intriguing was she was smiling.
Something that never happened when she slept on Ron's knee, she smiled on everyone else's but never Ron's. "Molly, what I said about parting Scarlet and Sebastian from Severus…" she gestured for everyone to look and you heard Molly, Minerva and Poppy murmur a soft 'aww'. "I don't think that'll happen as they both have now used Severus as a pillow and Scarlet doesn't look like she's going to let go anytime soon."
Severus roused from his slumber, when Sebastian moaned, "Hey, that's not fair! I get to sleep on Batman's knee, she sleeps on mummies!" Severus smirked and decided it would be best to go back to sleep and shifted so that Scarlet was safe enough.
Everyone chuckled quietly and was oblivious to the fact that Severus had woken and then went back to sleep. Draco now explained to Sebastian, "Hey, I used to sleep on his knee when I was little and it's only fair that your sister sleeps on his knee as you already have, and what's wrong with sleeping on your Uncle Draco's knee?"
Sebastian scrambled off Draco's lap and stood to say, "You snore and plus Batman's better cause he doesn't be mean to mummy." Sebastian walked over to Severus and stole his other knee to sleep on.
Severus had fallen back asleep and shifted slightly, his arms cradling the children, subconsciously. "Where's a camera when you need one!" whispered Minerva, smiling at the site. "Hermione, I would usually advise on waking him but under the circumstances, I believe it would be very unwise."
Molly noticed Scarlet's smile and asked, "Hermione, has Scarlet ever smiled when sleeping on Ronald's knee?" Hermione shook her head and Molly muttered, "Well, it looks as though she's a good judge of people."
Draco heard Molly say this and added, "Depends who you ask. Hermione, I have a feeling that you'll be staying here tonight...If this is anything to go by." Smiling Draco stood and gave Hermione a hug. "Well, I'm off but I'll do a quick scout about for Weasley and send a message along if I see him." Draco left and closed the door behind him.
Hermione and Minerva started chatting about what was to be done about Ron. Molly jumped into the conversation and put forth her idea, "Ronald will be at the Burrow tomorrow so, why don't you bring Severus with you. He'll make sure that you and the children are ok." Hermione sat deep in thought for a couple of minutes but then nodded her head. "Ok pet, I need to go and make dinner for everyone so I'll see you tomorrow." Molly hugged Hermione and Minerva and flooed back to the Burrow.
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Severus had been faking sleep for about fifteen minutes now and had heard the conversation.
'Great, I'm going to the Burrow tomorrow. Ah, maybe if the Weasley boy starts everyone else will know what I've known since I met the boy.'
Hermione bid Minerva goodnight, as the older woman had loads of 'work' to do. After hugging her surrogate mother, she closed the door and turned. A smile quickly appeared on her face.
'If someone told me, that my children would fall asleep on Severus' knee and he would join them in their slumber, then I'd have taken them straight to St. Mungo's. But after seeing this, well, he's certainly much better with them than Ronald is.'
Plucking up her Gryffindor courage she walked, very quietly over to the three huddled in the armchair, sleeping. She lifted Scarlet off Severus' knee and sat on the couch. Severus "awoke" at this movement and groaned.
"How long have I been asleep?" Severus asked with the perfect inflection of grogginess in his voice. He glanced down at the sleeping child on his lap and snorted.
"About an hour and those two have been asleep for about two," Hermione smiled and shook her head. She sat on the couch and smiled, "You know it's funny they've only just met you and yet they like you more than Ronald." As she said this, Hermione ran her fingers through Scarlet's hair.
"I can't imagine why…" Severus looked upon the young boy asleep in his lap and smirked. "Why do children insist on falling asleep on me?" he asked looking back up to Hermione, who was smiling down at her daughter while running her fingers through Scarlet's flaming orange hair.
Hermione looked up and smiled, "No idea but it's getting late and these two need their dinner and bath before bed." Clutching Scarlet to her chest and stood. "Severus, could you help me get these two back up to my quarters please?" queried Hermione, giving him a pleading look.
Rather hesitant about them being so far away, Severus nodded albeit reluctantly. He felt the need to have Hermione and the children much closer, where he could assist them more easily.
'Why do I feel so protective over them? Come on, just help her get them up the stairs and you can read that potions book and drink some firewhiskey.'
Severus stood and watched as Hermione flood to her chambers. Cradling Sebastian, Severus did the same. Once in Hermione's living room, he stepped out the fire and looked around for her. Remembering where the children's bedroom was, Severus walked into the twins' room and placed Sebastian in the bunk opposite Scarlet. He turned to see Hermione kneeling down and brushing some hair out of Scarlet's face and kissed her daughter tenderly on her forehead. Severus felt his chest constrict slightly as he watched.
Shaking off the uncomfortable sensation Severus cleared his throat, which seemed to bring Hermione back to the present.
Hermione stood, turned to face Severus and gave him a warm smile. She then walked over and motioned for them to leave the room.
Once in the living room Hermione sat down and let out a tired sigh. She smiled and looked up from her seat to Severus and said softly, "Thank you Severus, you've been great through this," flashing him a smile.
"No thanks necessary, I do have one question: Why are your children suddenly so fond of me?" Severus was puzzled by the children's almost immediate attachment to him. Thinking about it, there wasn't really anything about him –that he thought- was child-friendly.
Hermione took her time answering this, she wasn't entirely sure either. "You treat them differently. Ronald would always talk to them as if they were stupid, you don't. He would shout at them and be nasty to them when he was angry, you haven't done that, you did tell Scarlet off but the next day she knew that it was justified." Pausing she thought about the way he behaved with the Scarlet and Sebastian. "You let them sit on your knee and fall asleep on your knee, they did that with Ronald but he never let them cuddle in, so other than that I have no idea." Smiling she let out a giggle and said, "You must just have a comforting air about you that children like."
Severus was looked confused by this. "Did Mr. Weasley often shout at them?"
"Never in-front of me or anyone else but when I hear him I confront him about it or catch him. He just says they were misbehaving."
"Then why they aren't wary of men is beyond me."
"They have Arthur and all the other Weasley men spoiling them rotten. But I thought they wouldn't take to new men but you and Lucius are proof that they don't really have a problem."
"I suppose, while we're on the subject of The Malfoy's; and please excuse to sudden swing of conversation, but it is something that has been bothering me for a while, and as you are so close...have you ever suspected that Draco exhibits some…flamboyant tendencies?"
The girl looked puzzled for a moment. "Flamboyant? Well yes, it is Draco after all" she reasoned.
"Yes but I mean…have you ever expected he might be…" the man seemed to falter as he gestured absently with his head. Hermione let the man squirm a few more minutes before she laughed. Seeing her reaction Severus knitted his eyebrows together briefly.
"Are you asking me if Draco's gay?" she asked coyly, receiving a silent, curt nod.
'This man never misses a trick'
Once she calmed down she answered, "Yes, Draco is about straight as a circle. Whether Lucius knows this is another story. Draco's sick of Lucius setting him up with all those women."
"Now everything makes sense, sort of." Seeing Hermione confused expression, he elaborated, "Draco hasn't told me he's gay or Lucius for that matter but he's defiantly gay."
"Absolutely, Draco just feels pressured to produce an heir and he wants me to look up if magic can allow a man to have a baby."
"Lucius doesn't want the Malfoy name to end with Draco; he's more concerned about that than his own son."
The clock on the mantel chimed and both of the adults gaze was drawn to the time, over two hours had past and it was now half four.
"I'll let you get back to it," Severus stood nodded and walked over to the fireplace before he flooed away, Hermione spoke up.
"Severus…erm…would you…um…if you wouldn't mind…um," Hermione trailed off, flustered that she couldn't ask what she wanted to.
"Hermione if you're asking if I'll go to the Burrow with you, Scarlet and Sebastian, the yes I shall go," Severus smirked at Hermione's look of confusion and surprise.
"How did you know that's what I was going to ask?"
"I was a spy for the majority of my life, Ms Granger, I am a very light sleeper" the man smirked, silently indicating he had heard Mrs. Weasley inviting her to the Burrow and Minerva -being her usual self- suggesting he go too. "I will make sure Mr. Weasley doesn't do anything to harm you or the children," Severus assured her, watching, as Hermione's facial expression became one of understanding.
"Ah…um ok, Thank you for agreeing to come with us, Ronald won't try anything with you and Molly there."
"I hope so or it won't just be Mrs. Weasley he'll have to worry about."
"Yeah, well you'll be there and then there are all the other Weasley boys, so I'm as safe as can be."
Just as Severus was about to speak a shout from the children's bedroom was heard, "'Bastian, give me my blankie!" "This is my blankie!" "It's mine!" "Gimme me it!" "NO!" "YES!" "NO!" "YES!" RIP "You ripped it!" "I'm telling mum!" The sound of footsteps could be heard running to living room.
Severus looked to Hermione who was taking a few deep breaths. Sebastian appeared and had tears streaming down his face. He sniffed and looked up at his mum, "Mummy *sniff* Scarlet *sniff* ripped *sniff* my *sniff* blankie." Fresh tears poured down Sebastian's cheeks.
Scarlet ran into the room and declared, "Mummy, 'Bastian's lying. I didn't do anything!"
Hermione looked to Severus with a look of 'do-you-see-what-I-have-to-deal-with'. Severus smirked and walked over to Sebastian and Hermione.
"Sebastian do you have both bits of the blanket?" Severus asked gently, crouching down to the boy's level. Sebastian nodded and held out both pieces. Severus took them and muttered, "Reparo." The torn edges of the blanket jerked and wove itself back together, in seconds, it was mended and Sebastian launched himself into Severus' arms. Severus looked up to Hermione and she motioned for him to wrap his arms around the small boy. He did and Sebastian snuggled into Severus' chest.
Scarlet was still protesting that she didn't do anything and Severus watched as Hermione stood and just gave the young girl a certain look and she instantly caved. "Ok, fine. I ripped the blankie but it's not fair! He has his and I don't have mine!" Scarlet whined, who then decided to pout.
Severus smirked at Scarlet's behavior and let go of Sebastian, whom was looking at Hermione with a very sad look on his face.
Taking one look at the look on her son's face and sighed. "Scarlet, can you apologise to your brother please?" looking imploringly down at the pouting redhead.
"Sorry 'Bastian," she mumbled and slunk off back to her bedroom to play. Sebastian hugged Severus one last time before running after his sister.
Once the children were out of earshot Hermione groaned and flopped onto the couch, placing her head in her hands.
Severus snorted at her behavior and sat down but in a more dignified manner of course. He then chuckled at the sight of Hermione Jane Granger, defeated and frustrated by twin four year olds.
"What?" came the muffled query from the woman, slumped on the couch.
"Nothing, it's just that they seem so different compared to the Weasley twins."
Hermione straightened and sat up looking into the fireplace as she spoke. "They are. Sebastian is very sensitive and loves hugging people. Scarlet isn't a big fan of physical contact, she only hugs people when she's upset. However, Scarlet is more like Ron." Taking a moment to evaluate her children's personalities, she eventually continued. "She's short tempered and can say rather hurtful comments when extremely angry, however that's not happened for a good couple of weeks. Sebastian loves spending time with Draco and me. He's a lot like me in retrospect, he feels he needs to prove he's worth the love and attention he gets…" Hermione trails off, thinking about her son and how fragile he was.
"Draco was like that as a child. Constantly seeking approval, Lucius and Narcissa showered him with love and gave him anything he wanted. Sebastian will grow out of it but will probably keep him sensitive and caring nature," Severus explained his eyes wondering the room.
"Mummy my wrist's really sore," whimpered Sebastian as he walked over to Hermione.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Shall I meet you at the gates?" asked Severus standing and walking over to the fireplace.
"Yes. That would be great thanks. Is half one ok?" asked Hermione while tenderly examining her son's wrist.
"That's perfectly fine. I shall see you tomorrow. Goodbye Sebastian, Hermione." And with that Severus flooed back to his chambers.
"Now, let's take care of this wrist huh?" whispered Hermione, gazing at her son's face that was clearly showing how much pain he was in.
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I am soooo sorry! I've been having real trouble with this story and Trust In Me. I have writers block but cause I'm on my summer holidays I'll try and update a.s.a.p. I've posted a vid on YouTube to get some help with chapter 7. Please comment on the vid.
Remember, Reviews inspire me to keep writing and let me know that people actually like and read my story.
Link to the Vid:
.com/watch?v=Jdq6m4ErPbc