Hermione sat in the large library on the couch watching the orange, yellow and blue flames dance in the large marble harp in front of her. The room had two different floors full of books with a study area near a large window that over looked the garden, a sitting area with a couch, loveseat and two armchairs and a coffee table in the center all resting on a deep red, flower outlined rug.
"I'm an orphan Mr. Snape." said Hermione when she saw Tobias sit down in the armchair next to the roaring fire. "They killed my parents right in front of me." She told him her gaze not leaving the flames. "I told them to do what they wanted and to leave my parents alone."
Tobias looked at the broken woman in front of him. He saw her scars on her body from her thin strapped night gown and saw the word, "Mudblood," craved in her arm.
"I was tortured, whipped and raped in hoped to save my parents, but when done with me like a new toy wanted be broken they killed them." Hermione rested a hand on her growing belly. "Mum was two months pregnant. I was happy. I was going to be a big a sister. I always wanted a little brother or sister." She looked at the man in front of her. She saw sorrow in his black eyes. "Now look at me, a beaten and broken woman no one will ever want me," She said dully.
Tobias rose from his seat and got down on his knees in front of Hermione, and he saw her shake slightly. He grabbed the blanket that laid draped over the back of the couch and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Sweetheart, me and Eileen want to help you in anyway we can if you will let us. I know things are hard and you're scared. You have been through so much over the past five months." Hermione closed her eyes and let the tears that swelled up in her eyes fall down her cheeks. "And if you will let us we would love to be apart of John's life. You are in a way apart of the Snape family." He smiled gently and placed his hand on Hermione's belly. She stiffen slightly but slowly relaxed, "John is our grandson."
She looked down at his hand that rested on her stomach and looked back up into a pair of kind black eyes. "I've forgotten about John being your grandchild. It's just-I-I," and she threw her arms around Tobias's neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
Tobias wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. He ran his hand over her hair soothingly. "It's all right my dear girl. It's all right."
She pulled back and Tobias moved to the couch and turned and faced her. "I want my parents here. I want them here." she cried and began to him in his chest. "They're dead because of me!" She hit him over and over again letting out her pain and anger. "I failed them. I lost my wand! It's my fault!"
Tobias gently grabbed Hermione's wrists and pulled her into his arms. She struggled to break from his slightly firm grip. "Hermione, Hermione dear it is not your fault. Do you hear me? You must stop blaming yourself."
"Daddy what's going on?" said a soft famine voice.
Tobias looked over to the doorway and saw his daughter, Sarah. She had dark brown hair, black eyes, fare skin, slightly thin lips and slender hourglass figure that showed tastefully by a knee length dress. He had forgotten his daughter was coming home tonight to spend the holiday during her break from school.
"Go downstairs dear, your mother will explain." said Tobias gently.
She nodded and left the library wondering who the woman was in his arms. She had seen the melt down and the stranger hit her father over and over again. She was surprised he was letting her do it.
"Hush. Hush," whispered Tobias rocking Hermione side to side.
Hermione claimed down and rested her head down on his chest. She closed her eyes letting him hold her for awhile. Tobias kissed the top of her head and pulled the blanket snugger around the young woman.
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Sarah sat with her mother, older brother and with an elderly couple she had only just met. Severus got up and paced in front of the roaring fireplace. He turned on his heels and his black robes twirled around his ankles. Sarah knew something was terribly wrong if he was pacing unable to sit still. He stopped and turned to the group.
"Mother, Albus, Minerva please leave I want to speak to Sarah alone. Where's Hermione?"
"She's in the library with your father." said Eileen. He nodded his head and the trio left for the kitchen.
Sarah patted the cushion on the couch next to her. Severus sat down on the couch. She took his hand into her own.
"I've don't something horrible Sarah. I can never forgive myself." whispered Severus.
"It can't be that bad Severus." she said to him trying to reassure him.
He shook his head and laid his head on his sister's shoulder. Sarah ran her fingers through his hair and she felt tears fall onto her shoulder. "I had to save her life. I had to do something so horrible that it changed her life. I made her afraid of men."
Sarah's eyes widen in shock. "Oh gods Severus." She pulled him back and cupped his face with soft hands. "Please, please Severus tell me you didn't have to rape her."
Severus body shook and nodded his head. "I had to mark her and then claim her." He swiftly got up from the couch and turned to the fireplace. He rested his hands on the mantle and looked at the dancing flames. "She's pregnant Sarah." He grabbed a vase that sat on the mantle, "Damn it!" He threw it against the wall causing it to shatter landing in a thousand pieces on the hard wooden floor. He fell to his knees in defeat and hung his head. Sarah quickly sat down on the floor and pulled him into her arms. Severus pushed her away. "Don't touch me Sarah!" and he rose to full height and swept from the living room.
She got up off the floor and stared at the door that her big brother and swept out of. She walked over to the broken vase and began to pick up the broken pieces.
"Sweetheart don't worry about the vase." said Eileen who was knelt down in front of her daughter.
"He's broken just like this vase Mum." said Sarah. "I've never seen him like this Mum. I'm afraid he might kill himself."
Albus held out his hand to the young woman and he helped her to her feet. "I've already had to take his wand from him the night it happened. Hermione and Severus are both broken my dear."
Sarah ran from the living room and down the stairs to the basement were the potions lab was located. She knew that her brother didn't need to be alone. He needed someone near him.
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Sarah ran into the lab to find Severus with a potion in his hand about to drink it. "Stop Severus what are doing?"
"It's only a calming draught. Sarah calm down." said Severus seriously.
Sarah leaned forward resting her hands on her thighs trying to catch her breath. It was a long run from the living room to the potions lab that was deep under the manor. She ran over to Severus and quickly pulled him into her arms bringing his head to her shoulder.
"You scared me Severus. Please don't do anything like that again. I don't want to loose you. I love you too much." she whispered in his ear. "The pain will pass in time I promise. It will stay with you, but it will pass." said Sarah, who was rape victim herself at the age of twenty. "You helped me and now I'm going to help you and what's her name?"
"Hermione Granger." said Severus after he had pulled from his sister tight hold.
"I'll help Hermione. I'll let her sleep and I'll meet her in the morning." said Sarah. She stood on tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Are you ok alone?" He nodded his head. "Are you sure, because I'll stay and watch you brew."
"You can stay. I'd like to have the company." He told her.
She sat down on a stool nearby. She loved watching her brother brew potions. He had taught her since he had entered Hogwarts. She was studying to be chemists. It was the closest thing to studying potions.
Severus looked over at Sarah and smirked. He playfully shook his head. She stuck out her tongue. He raised a brow and turned to cutting daisy root. She slid off the stool.
"What are you making?" asked Sarah.
"It's vitamins. It will strengthen John's magical core while Hermione's pregnant." he told her. "Here you can crush the moonstone make sure it's nice and thin."
Sarah beamed at him. It had been a long time since they had made a potion together. He asked about her classes and they talked throughout the night catching up on each other's lives.
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Hermione sat down at the kitchen table with a steaming cup of tea clasped in both of her hands. She lifted the red mug to her lips when Sarah entered the room. She watched the woman that really didn't favor any of the Snapes' until she saw her black eyes when she sat down at the table.
"Hi I'm Sarah." She said with a smile.
Hermione lowered the cup slowly and said, "I'm Hermione."
"Nice to meet you." the girls said at the same time.
Hermione let out a small laughed and took a sip of her tea. Sarah could tell that Hermione had been through a lot in her life. She couldn't help but notice the carving in her arm. Hermione lowered her sleeve from Sarah.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
"It's all right. I've started getting use to the stares and rumors about me." She told Sarah.
Sarah's brow frowned at the woman in front of her. She tucked at strain of hair behind her ear, and the room callused into an uneasy silence.
Minerva entered the kitchen and kissed Hermione on top of the head. She walked over to the stove and poured herself a cup of tea and joined the girls at the table.
"How are you this morning Hermione?" asked Minerva. She sighed heavily when she only received a shrug.
Hermione got up from the table, "I want to be alone." She told them when she saw Minerva rise from her seat.
Minerva sat back down at the table and watched her leave the kitchen. She closed her eyes not knowing what to do to help the young woman she loved as granddaughter.
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Hermione sat down on the patio with her cup of tea. She saw her Potions Master enter to room. She bit her bottom lip when he sat down across from her in the wicker chair.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." he told gently. "I need to speak to you. It's very important. It concerns you and John. Please hear me out before you speak." Hermione only nodded her head.
"The Dark Lord wants you. He wants to well, bed you as an elegant way to put it. I can offer you protection from that ever happening. I don't want him touching you. It makes me sick just thinking about it." He took a deep breath, "I've already caused you so much pain. Gods if I could I would take it all back. It's my fault this has happened."
"What type of protection can you offer us Professor?" asked Hermione wanting to get to the point of the conversation.
"The Snape and Prince family lines are old and study ancient customs. Those Customs we still follow and perform today. The only way I can stop the Dark Lord from having you is to marry you."
"What? Did I hear you correctly?" said Hermione stunned at the statement.
"Yes Miss Granger, marriage is the only way." He rose to feet and began to pace the floor. "I don't want the Dark Lord to touch you. He's vile and much more." He stopped and turned on his heels. "I will not let him touch you or my son." He feel to his knees in front of Hermione. "Please, please Hermione I'm begging you marry me so I can protect you." Severus laid his head down in her lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Gods please let me protect you."
Hermione looked down at the man that had torn her world apart that was now on his knees begging to protect them. She lifted a shaky hand and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Ok Professor." whispered Hermione. Severus head snapped up, "I'll marry you only for the protection of John."
He nodded his head and laid it back down in her lap. He broke down into tears relieved that she had agreed for his protection. Ever since he had seen John he had to protect him. He had to protect them both. Hermione looked down at the man that was sobbing in her lap.
Hermione ran her fingers through his hair now realizing that the man that was in her lap was too broken. He was in pain just like her. She though that Severus Snape was a man that could never break. She had only seen the brave man that had protected her over the years. He was there every time she was in danger. He was always saving her life one way or the other.
"Professor," whispered Hermione. He lifted his head and looked at the young woman. "I'm sorry. I didn't put your own pain into account. I was only thinking about my own pain. I should have known." He shook his head. Hermione took a deep shaky breath and pulled his head towards her and laid his head onto shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Severus held her closed and his body shook with sobs. He didn't realize he needed her comfort and apology so much. He let every hard wall fall down. He had seen her break now it was his turn to show her his in hope to slowly to forgive himself.
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