10th May 1998
Severus eyed the pale faces sat around the table with concern, even in his limited experience he knew they were not normally like this, his Mya looked sad and he didn't like it. Silently, he shuffled over to her, wrapping his tiny arms around her waist as far as they could go. "You sad, my Mya," he mumbled.
"Oh sweetheart." she sighed, pulling him onto her lap. "We have to go and say goodbye to someone today and that makes me sad because I don't want to."
He frowned, "They going away?"
"Something like that," she agreed, "They…they were very brave and helped us when some bad people wanted to hurt us all. But she got hurt and we couldn't help her, so the angels took her."
"Tell them to give her back," he demanded, looking so sure of himself that she laughed even though she was close to tears.
"That's not how it works," she whispered, snuggling him close.
"Is he staying with Winky?" Harry murmured quietly, not really wanting to interrupt.
"No!" Severus protested immediately, pulling back from Hermione. "I stay with my Mya!"
"Severus, sweetheart, it's going to be a long day, wouldn't you rather stay here with Winky and your toys? She'll play with your dinosaurs with you."
He looked momentarily torn before a stubborn look stole over his face. "No!" he protested.
Remus interrupted before Hermione could reply, "Then you will have to be very quiet." he pinned Severus with a look when he twisted so he could see him, "There will be people who are upset and crying and a man who is going to tell stories about Penelope and we have to be very good and listen without interrupting. We also have to stay still and in our seats."
Severus nodded solemnly. "I can be good."
"Oh of course you can, darling, but you'll be bored," Hermione replied, her hands cupping his face.
"I stay with you," he repeated with a stubborn tilt of his chin.
"Very well," she sighed, not having it in her to fight him today, "eat your breakfast then, and then we'll get our robes."
Satisfied he wasn't being left behind, he went back to his breakfast, not protesting when he was placed back down on the bench.
The service was held in a muggle church near Penelope's home in York. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. Her mother sobbed throughout, several rows behind, Percy Weasely stood pale-faced and stoic, their year mates and Professors dotted throughout the rows. Severus, true to his word, behaved impeccably, his teddy, now called Ted, clasped in one arm, the other looped through Hermione's.
"We need to go and speak to Mrs Clearwater now," Hermione murmured as the service drew to a close. The family had requested a private burial, her mother too shattered to consider any sort of wake. Solemnly, he nodded, clutching her hand.
She followed Harry, Remus and Sirius behind them. "I'm sorry for your loss," Harry murmured, as the woman eyed him blearily. "Harry Potter," he supplied, "My sister, Hermione Granger."
Miriam Clearwater eyed them, "Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." she repeated softly, her face clearing as recognition filled it. "My Penny mentioned you. Said you saved her life once with a mirror."
Hermione flushed, "She was unfailingly kind after that," she murmured, "My third year was…challenging, but Penny always had time for a chat. I…I owe her my sanity for that year, Mrs Clearwater. I..I am so very sorry for your loss."
Miriam nodded, her eyes tearing, "it's...I can't believe she's gone. I can't explain it to most of the family, I'm muggleborn, you know? It's just… inconceivable that she's not going to walk through the door, exhausted from a shift and St Mungos. But she's not, I know she's not but Merlin I wish she would."
Doing the only thing she could, Hermione let go of Severus' hand, trusting that one of the others would watch him and hugged the sobbing woman tightly until someone, she assumed a sister based on her looks, pried her gently off. "There's some other people wanting to speak to you Mir," she murmured, shooting Hermione a pained look before guiding the woman away.
"Let's…let's go home." Harry voiced, sounding lost.
Catching it. Hermione grasped his arm, checking Sirius had Severus contained. "It was not your fault," she hissed, "None of it was your fault."
"It feels like it. They died because…"
"An evil man with delusions of grandeur was making all our lives hell. Even without you, we'd have fought, All of us. He was hunting people like me, like Penelope's mum. It was our fight as much as yours."
He slumped, pulling her into a hug. "Alright," he agreed softly, "Now can we go home?"
"Are you going to see Fred?" Remus ventured into the silence as they all congregated in the living room following an almost silent lunch.
"I…yes," Harry replied decisively. "Yes, we are."
"We?" Hermione asked sharply.
"We." he nodded, "We need to."
"What about…."
"We'll be here." Sirius cut in. "We'll keep him for a bit."
"If you're sure,'' Hermione murmured reluctantly.
"Absolutely," Sirius grinned, "we're out of Lego, we'll take him to the toyshop. It'll be fine."
"Now,'' Harry commanded, "I think we need to go now. Before we talk ourselves out of it."
Hermione's eyes darted to Severus where he was engrossed in his duplo before she nodded, moving to crouch down in front of him. "How would you like to help Sirius and Remus pick out some more Lego?"
He paused, turning that over in his head, "More dinosaurs?"
"Maybe. Why don't you go and see?"
"Yes!" he agreed with a grin.
"Go and get your shoes then."
"Your shoes too?" he checked.
"Well. Harry and I need to go and see a friend quickly but I'll be back in time to see your new dinosaurs."
"No." he pouted.
"I can't take you for dinosaurs, the Headmistress said I wasn't allowed on my own," she tried.
He paused, seeming to consider that, his eyes darting between her, the dinosaurs and Remus. "You come back?" he demanded.
"Always," she promised, "I'll be back before you know it."
He frowned but nodded with clear reluctance, his eyes still on his dinosaurs. "OK."
She stood quickly before he could change his mind, making it two steps before he barreled into her knees, his arms wrapping around one of her legs. "Soon?" he checked.
"Soon," she agreed, bending to pick him up so she could hug him, "by the time you come back from shopping we'll be here."
He nodded solemnly as Harry mouthed "patronus" to Remus. "Right then, the sooner we go the sooner we're back." Harry stepped in as Remus took Severus from Hermione.
"Shoes then young man," he instructed, "And we'll go and see what dinosaurs we can find."
"Go," Sirius commanded, seeing the indecision on Hermione's face. With an eye roll., Harry tugged her towards the floo.
"How nice of you to drop in." Fred attempted a grin, "You timed it well, Dad made Mum go home."
"How are you, Freddie?" "Hermione murmured, taking in how battered he still looked.
"I'll live." he rasped. "And the pain potions are fun. I saw writing all over the walls last night. Had some great ideas for new products, of course, I couldn't bloody remember any of it this morning."
Harry grinned, "They're giving you the good stuff then?"
"Yes! I never realised Pomfrey was holding out on us. The stuff's magic."
Hermione rolled her eyes but laughed at him reassured that he wasn't in imminent danger of dying. "She only hands it out to people she likes," Hermione teased, "I've had it more than once."
Fred pouted. "Tell me what I've missed," he demanded. "Mums being a bit of a nightmare and keeps shouting at people who tell me anything other than fluff."
"Ah. Penelope Clearwater's funeral was today," Harry replied looking unsure. "There are three tomorrow but we're not expected at those. The families were concerned that us attending would turn it into a circus. There's four the day after that share their concern."
"Merlin," Fred grimaced.
"It was..awful" Hermione whispered, "Her mum looks shattered. Percy was there."
Fred hummed, not surprised by that in the slightest, "And the rebuilding?"
"Is going well," Hermione replied, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness that seemed to suffocate her whenever she thought of the dead. "The castle has lots of volunteers and Susan's commandeering Diagon Alley, she's almost done. I gather she's terrifying."
"Sue's always terrifying," Harry muttered.
"She is not!" Hermione protested.
"Hermione Granger-Black have you met the witch?" Harry demanded.
"Granger-Black?" Fred queried sharply.
"Sirius finally wore her down and adopted her," Harry crowed, shooting a smirk at Hermione. "She now has two new dads and ah," he stopped abruptly looking panicked as he realised he he had no idea if they were allowed to tell anyone.
"And a…" Fred prompted impatiently, his eyes darting between them as if trying to decide who would break under scrutiny first.
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh, shooting a glare at Harry that promised an uncomfortable conversation was heading his way shortly. "Professor Snape had a slight potion mishap." Fred frowned, making a go-on gesture, "He's three." she finished bluntly, enjoying the way his jaw dropped.
"What?" he squeaked.
"He's three," Harry repeated, with a wicked grin, "loves dinosaurs, has a new teddy named Ted and thinks Hermione hung the moon. Has less fond of me, definitely not sure about Sirius but appears to tolerate Remus. He is absurdly cute."
"Snape. Cute?" Fred repeated, sounding bewildered.
"Truly, we'll bring him in to visit next time, I don't think we'll get away with bribing him again."
"Probably not," Hermione agreed with a wry smile. "I wasn't convinced it was going to work this time."
"No," Harry muttered. "Let's hope that there are dinosaurs in whatever shop they end up in or there's going to be a mutiny.
"No. No wait a minute, this has to be the pain potions," Fred interrupted. "We're talking about Snape? Greasy git of the dungeons Snape?"
"Oi!" Hermione protested scowling at him, "Don't call him that Fred Weasley!"
Fred's eyes widened slightly. "Merlin Hermione. You sounded like mum."
"I mean technically she's currently his mum." Harry grinned.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, shoving his arm, trying to dislodge him from his seat. "You're enjoying this a bit too much," she muttered.
"Is he stuck like that?" Fred mused as Harry stuck his tongue out at Hermione and pointedly moved out of her reach.
"We don't know, '' Hermione admitted slowly. "We need Malfoy to get into the house to see what he was up to but he's on House arrest. Kings is meeting us next week but he's swamped."
"He will be, poor bloke," Fred commiserated, "Georgie said he'd been made interim Minister. If he is stuck what will happen to him?"
Hermione hesitated but Harry did not. "I imagine Hermione will officially become his mum. He bloody adores her. It's creepy."
"You'll keep him?" Fred squeaked, "Keep Snape?"
"Probably," Hermione admitted with a self-conscious shrug.
They left a gaping Fred to his next round of potions as the Mediwitch bustled in, silently enjoying the fact they'd stunned a Weasley twin into silence.
"Lavender?" Harry checked, "I'll try Seamus?"
Hermione hummed, stealing her spine. "We can try." she agreed
"Go on then. She's four doors down, Shays three past her. They're keeping everyone from the battle reasonably close together."
"Ah," Hermione murmured, following him down the corridor.
"Go on then," he gave her a slight shove towards the door.
Nervously she pushed it open. Lavender was curled on the bed, her eyes shut but red, having clearly been crying. They fluttered open when the door creaked.
"Oh," she whispered.
"Lavender," Hermione stood awkwardly for a moment before making her decision and shutting the door decisively, moving to the chair next to the bed. "How are you?"
Lavender snorted, "Wonderful" she deadpanned.
"Lavender." Hermione sighed.
Lavender's face crumpled, "Gods I can't stop crying," she muttered the frustration clear in her voice, "And if it's not me, it's my mother or Parvati or one of my aunts." She put on a high-pitched voice, "You used to be so pretty! What will you do now!"
"You're still pretty," Hermione growled.
"I was attacked by a werewolf, and it's rather obvious," Lavender retorted bluntly.
Hermione pulled up her sleeve impatiently, "I was branded by a psychotic bitch. I barely escaped that werewolf. We survived."
Lavender's eyes widened at the slur carved into her arm. "Oh Hermione."
"No," Hermione barked, yanking her sleeve back down. "That bitch is dead. And so is Grayback. We survived."
Lavender blew out a breath, "We did." she agreed, "But at what cost?"
"A heavy one,'' Hermione admitted, thinking of tiny Colin Creevy's funeral that was coming soon. "But so many didn't so I'm…trying to be grateful that I did."
"Well, that makes me feel like a selfish bitch." Lavender muttered.
Hermione groaned, "That wasn't my intention."
"I know," Lavender cut her off," I just….I see him every time I close my eyes, you know? I can feel his breath on my face." Lavender shuddered.
"Yes," Hermione whispered and a grateful look of shared understanding flashed over Lavender's face.
"I suppose you do." Lavender mused, "Ron..Ron mentioned his brother."
"Bill?" Hermione checked, wondering where this was heading.
"Yes. He said he'd been attacked too."
"He was." Hermione agreed, before continuing pointedly, "His stunning veela wife still finds him disgustingly attractive."
Lavender laughed, "Subtlety is not your forte is it?" she asked wryly
"Never has been."
With a loud sigh, some of the tension leached from her shoulders. "It's hard to look in the mirror," she admitted, wrapping her arms around her middle, her expression more vulnerable than Hermione had ever seen it, "I was…the way I looked always defined me. I was…expected to be pretty, not clever. And now, I have claw marks, on my face, on my body….bite marks on my neck. Human bite marks. And they'll scar. And I feel…disgusting."
"You're not disgusting," Hermione protested softly. "You have scars that prove you fought a war. And won. You were the difference between people living and dying. Neville told me you deflected a severing charm that would have slit his throat, that you calmed the younger years down enough that they got most of them out safely, and that you put yourself between the Carrows and more than one student last year to keep them safe." She swallowed audibly, not quite able to stop the tears, "So goddamn it Lavender, hold your head up because you have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Fuck," Lavender hissed, furiously swiping at her own tears, "I would have put money on you not crying!"
"It's been a challenging year, forgive me if my usual coldheartedness is lacking," Hermione sniped, making the other women smile gently.
"You were never coldhearted," she contradicted. "Merlin anyone who has ever heard you rant about protecting firsties from the twins or house elf rights knows that."
Hermione snorted, "In my defence, the firsties had no idea what they were getting into and I got a rather long, pointed lecture about House elves…and now I own one."
"You own one?" Lavender screeched.
"Ugh, yes," Hermione groaned. "She's lovely and I was…not my usual self. I'm really annoyed that they were all right because she looks like an entirely different creature."
Lavender let out a burst of disbelieving laughter at the mulish expression on Hermione's face, "So no taking over the DRCMC to free them all?" she teased.
Pulling a face, Hermione shook her head, "I don't know what I want to do," she admitted, "Sirius suggested setting up a charity, which I might consider. I don't want to work for the ministry."
"Sirius?" Lavender frowned, "Harry's godfather Sirius?"
"That's him," she agreed, "He adopted me recently."
Lavender blinked before a slow, viscous smile travelled over her face, "Gods I want to be there when the prejudiced arseholes find that out. Does that make you the Black Heir?"
Hermione froze, "Ah…no?" she looked at Lavender questioningly. "It…it can't, can it? I mean…no. No, he wouldn't do that without telling me." Lavender gaped at her.
"I mean…he might have just assumed you understood."
Blanching, Hermione shook her head. "No. no absolutely not. I don't want that! I have enough to do without that nonsense!"
"Like?" Lavender goaded.
"Rebuilding! And and…Newts and…Harry and making life decisions and Sirius because Merlin knows he's not a real adult and Severus…"
"Severus?" Lavender interrupted.
"Ugh for fucks sake," Hermione groaned, realising that she was going to have to forgo Harry's lecture. "I didn't mean to say that."
"But you're going to explain." Lavender looked at her expectantly, "Hospitals are as boring as hell, give me something good Granger."
Hermione snorted, "Please don't shout this about, we're not sure of the ramifications yet but Professor Snape had what we assume is a potions mishap and is currently three." Lavender laughed like she was joking, her face slowly falling as Hermione stared back at her. "You're serious."
"He's adorable," Hermione admitted,
"And he's on your list because?"
"He's living with us. He appeared in the Headmistress's office and decided he was staying with me."
"Holy mother of Circe." Lavender breathed, attempting to picture Snape as a toddler and failing spectacularly. "You'll bring um next time?" she begged, "I need to see this! Are you keeping him?"
"For just now," Hermione allowed, "Once we get into his house we can see what he was up to. Hopefully. And I promised Fred I'd bring him so I'll bring him here too. We can't afford to bribe him every time I need to leave.
Lavender snorted, "What the hell do you bribe three year old Snape with?"
"Duplo dinosaurs."
"Duplo?" Lavender frowned. "What in the name of Godric is Duplo?"
"Oh, a child's plastic building brick. They do little themed sets."
"Oh my Merlin tell me you have pictures?"
"I don't actually, '' Hermione mused thoughtfully. "I'll fix that."
Lavender smirked just as someone knocked on the door, Harry's head appearing.
"Mrs Finnegan kicked me out." he muttered, "But we've been here an hour and I figured you'd want to get home before Severus escapes Sirius and comes to find you."
"Ah probably," Hermione agreed standing quickly. "I'll come back…"
"Soon." Lavender interjected, "Don't make me wait to see baby Snape Hermione!"
Laughing, Hermione nodded, "Sure. Ah… Thursday?"
"Early!" Lavender commanded as she walked out the door, shaking her head.
