"But Severus if the wards are down enough for a muggle to get through.." A look of Horror crossed both of their faces before a scream echoed from the back garden where the children were playing. Rushing outside they were confronted with the sight of a crying Scorpius…but no Rose.
Hermione had run, as quick as she was able, but Severus had twisted himself into a rapid apparition the likes of which she'd never seen and he was already outside and cradling a panicked Scorpius when Hermione had just made it out of the back door.
"Rose!?" The desperation in her voice was choking her, though that could have been her heart that was lodged in her oesophagus, and her stomach that had dropped to her shoes, leaving her body an empty cavity that filled with dread and nausea where all her vital organs used to be. But she was surprised by how calm Severus appeared, soothing the crying Scorpius.
"She's fine" He whispered to her, pulling her into his arms. "Take Scorpius to the cottage, Rose will be there"
"How can you be so calm, how can you be sure…!" The words tripped over themselves but he calmed her with a touch. "She used her bracelet Hermione, she's at the cottage, Take Scorpius and I will meet you there later, she'll have had a fright I'm sure and will need her mother."
"What are you -"
" I have something to attend to first"
Something dark passed over his features, it made something creep up her spine and gave her the shivers, but at the same time a warm flame stoked low in her belly for the dangerous man before her, a flame of desire that she didn't want to admit to.
"Should I send for Kingsley?"
There seemed to be a fight going on behind his eyes, some unknown battle that only he knew.
Placing a gentle hand on his arm when he didn't answer, she spoke quietly as though soothing a wild and feral beast. "She'll want you too Severus"
His expression softened somewhat and he held her hand.
Her unspoken statement was clear between them.I know what you're doing, I know what you're planning, I approve, but don't do something that means you can't come home to me.
"Send for Kingsley… in 30 minutes"
She frowned. A wizard of his strength could accomplish a lot in 30 minutes. It didn't assuage her fears any.
"10 minutes," she countered cautiously. She wanted justice , vengeance even. But she would not lose him for it
"15" Was his answer, eyebrow arched as he obviously followed her chain of thought but was amused by her bartering all the same and after a hesitant nod, she apparated away with Scorpius, no more words needed to be spoken between them.
He left a note for Kingsley, set the timer to his wand, stretched his back and cracked his neck and his knuckles, and with a haughty sniff, apparated away himself.
oOo
Rose was exactly where Severus said she would be, she was sitting in her 'Magic' Bed in her new bedroom in the cottage, cuddling with Herman, Severus' childhood bear. The vintage steiff bear hadn't left her possession since Severus gave it to her that first night, and though Rose was not rough or naughty with her toys, the mohair was starting to get a little flat from time spent tightly cuddled in Rose's grasp, eventually it would wear away altogether no doubt as mohair was want to do. Severus had seen Hermione cringing when Rose had offered some jam and toast to the white bear and Severus had only chuckled once more, "Relax woman, cleaning spells exist for a reason, besides his value is more than just his monetary worth Hermione, as I have said before, he is a teddy bear and it is his life's purpose to bring comfort to children. It makes me happy to see him bring comfort to Rose, the same way he comforted me. Besides, he's not lonely and sat in a dusty cupboard anymore, so what if he gets worn and frayed around the edges, he has a family now"
Hermione had kissed him senseless, marvelling at the gentle soul that no one else had cared to look for, beneath the sneering mask.
Rose's face was tear streaked, but she wasn't as frantic as Hermione thought she'd be, not even as frantic as Hermione herself was. Scorpius stopped crying the instant he saw Rose, and was now once again happily seated by her. Hermione sat on the edge of the bed beside Rose. She wanted nothing more than to pull her into her arms and never let go, though knowing how averse Rose could be to tight embraces, she had to suffice herself with stroking her hair gently.
"Are you alright baby?" She prided herself on keeping the waver from her voice…mostly.
She nodded.
"Are you hurt ?"
She shook her head, no. Showed the bracelet on her wrist.
"Daddy. Safe"
"Can mummy please give you a hug?" This time she couldn't keep the waiver out of her voice, nor the tear that had broken free and slid down her cheek. She was practically vibrating with the need to go to her daughter.
Thankfully, Rose nodded once more.
With a barely concealed sob, Hermione pulled herself into the magic bed and dragged Rose into her lap, hugging her to her chest and breathing in her hair. After a couple of moments, she pulled Scorpius into her embrace also, feeling the small swell of her stomach, pressing against the two children who were each sitting on one of her legs. She didn't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or just the fright she'd just had, but all she knew as she dragged Scorpius into her embrace was that she needed to feel all of her babies in her arms right now.
It wasn't often two toddlers would stay so still for so long, but Hermione rocked gently and quietly sang a lullaby as she held them in her arms. Even Scorpius, who was usually an unrepentant fidget seemed intuitive enough to stay in perhaps he was just touch starved for maternal affection, because Merlin knows he'd received more affection from Hermione than he ever had his own mother.
They must have been there for longer than she realised , because Severus was walking through the room. Instantly, Rose reached a hand out towards him beseechingly and instead of picking Rose up, he lifted Hermione into his lap, effectively moving all 3 of them onto his knee. Hermione pressed her face into his neck and with a shuddering breath kissed him, and Rose reached up and kissed Hermione's cheek, then his immediately after
" Luv mummy, luv daddy"
Severus let out a shuddering breath that she didn't realise he'd been holding and held them all tighter to his chest.
" I love you all, so very much" He whispered, kissing all their heads in turn. Hermione just closed her eyes and pressed her face into his chest.
They all hugged for a moment longer before a cough came from the doorway. Kingsley Shacklebolt stood, looking as sheepish as a man of his stature could, and beside him stood the Auror Green, now sans one eye.
"I hate to disrupt, but we should take Rose's statement now. Then all loose ends are tied. There is too much damning evidence to require a trial, so the Wizegamot will likely move straight to sentencing. If we get it done now, we won't have to call upon her again."
Severus turned to Hermione for approval and she wiped away her tears and nodded.
"Honey, Mister Shacklebolt has a couple of questions for you about today, why don't you show him some of your drawings downstairs while you talk, and I will make us all some tea?"
"I luv to dwaw !" Scorpius exclaimed, bouncing up from the bed with all the exuberance he could muster "Wose is really good" he grabbed a hand of both Kingsley and Auror Green, leading them to the living room while keeping an excited commentary going.
Smiling shyly, and after a parting squeeze from Severus, Rose followed Scorpius's lead as Hermione and Severus trailed close behind.
Grasping Severus's hand , she was grateful for the way he squeezed her hand in his own, before lightly ghosting a soothing palm across the small bump on her middle.
Hermione was pleased to note when they got downstairs that Severus must have enlisted the help of Kingsley and Green, because the remainder of their possessions were stacked in the living room.
She was grateful that the kitchen was open plan with the living / dining room area, meaning that as men sat in the room with the children, Hermione could still see them from the kitchen. She went to set the kettle boiling and Severus came beside her, "Go sit down, you are not a 1950s housewife, you don't need to serve all us men with libations and today has been a big shock" He pressed a kiss to her forehead and ushered her out, she went gratefully and sat on the sofa behind where rose was sitting on the floor, and she ran a gentle hand through her hair as if reassuring herself of Rose's presence here in front of her.
Kingsley and Green were likewise sat on the floor with the children, for their part playing along with the books and drawings the toddlers had decided to share with them. Friendly as they were , Hermioen hadn't missed the recording charm on Kingsley's wand, nor the charmed quill that Green had set aside. She was thankful that they had the presence of mind to make this as easy for Rose as possible.
"So Rose, I understand you had a bit of a fright today?"
Rose simply nodded.
She noticed Greene quietly narrating to the quick quotes quill, "The witness nodded in confirmation"
"If it's ok with you, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions. You don't have to answer me, but if I ask you a question, do you think you could nod your head yes or shake your head no?"
She nodded.
"Thank You Miss Rose, that's very helpful"
"I answer too ! " Scorpius cried out , bouncing on his hands with a smile and Kinglsey had chuckled in response. "That would be most helpful Master Scorpius"
" So, what were you two doing in the garden at your old house today?"
"Playin" Was Rose's quiet response whereas Scorpius hurtled into a description of exactly what they'd been playing and how long for which made Kingsley smile as Rose nodded along to Scorpius's description.
" And whilst you were playing , did a man come into the garden with you?"
Rose nodded in confirmation and Scorpius shouted "Uh-huh! He appa-potatoed!"
Hermione snorted quietly and Severus smirked in amusement. Green didn't have as much luck at concealing his amusement as Kingsley did, and had to turn his chuckle into a cough so as not to upset or offend the eager Scorpius…who clearly had not yet mastered how to pronounce apparated.
"And what did this man do? Did he try to take you away from the house"
Rose looked up under her lashes and said a quiet "Yes" into Herman's fur that was only a little shaky.
"He gwabbed wose! She says no and I kicks him but he push me aways and I fell down and he appa-pa-potatoed with wose!"
Hermione pulled him into her lap when he mentioned his fall, noticing the soil marks on his knees and pulling up his trouser leg to reveal his scuffed knees. Scorpius, upon seeing the scratches for the first time, sniffed loudly as fat crocodile tears ran down his cheeks. "Ouch" he stated, as though he hadn't realised he had hurt himself until he saw the scuffs himself.
"Don't worry, Severus's potion will fix that right away" Hermione soothed him gently with a hug and with a reassuring touch to Rose, Hermione picked up the now sniffling Scorpius and walked over to the kitchenette, sitting him on the counter while she fixed his 'ouch'.
"Miss Rose, do you know the man who tried to take you away?"
She nodded.
"He wasn't a stranger?" Kingsley repeated.
She shook her head.
"Was it your daddy?"
"No"
The answer was very emphatic and took them all by surprise. Looking at Severus she reached out her arms to be picked up, and without hesitation he pulled her into his lap, wrapping protective arms around her as she rested her head on his chest, though the confusion was clear in the faces of them all.
"If it wasn't your daddy, can you tell me who took you Miss Rose, please?"
She looked into Severus's eyes, before turning to stare at Kingsley as she answered.
"riffraff"