Severus took a moment to take in the barn they'd apparated into. It obviously hadn't been used for its designed purpose of a home for animals in a number of years. No animals could be seen, and the smell. Well, there hadn't been an animal here in a very long while. At least not a farm animal. He was sure … uninvited … pests had been around. That would be unavoidable in this type of area.
And Eden and Mia both mentioned a dog.
Eden and Mia were chattering. He swore they never stopped. For over two days. He was pretty sure they even talked in their sleep. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad. He had no idea. It had been years since he'd been around witches their age.
"Is all of this stuff your mother's?" he asked.
"Most of it. I mean, some of it's mine." She took his hand, and he followed as she tugged on it, clearly wanting him to follow.
"These are all my skis," she said, pointing to a collection of three sets of skis, ski boots, and poles. "This was my first pair," she said. He watched as she ran her hand along the nose of one of the skis. "I was so bad."
"Obviously you persevered. Your mother mentioned awards being won."
"Yeah. I can wax them myself," she said, gesturing to the area set up near the skis for that purpose. He'd never skied, but he could figure out what went where for waxing purposes in the equipment she had here.
"And these were my first snowshoes." Again, a variety of sized snowshoes were nearby. "Mom kept mine in here for the winter, I guess, since I wasn't home."
"You use them that regularly?"
"Yes. It's about a mile to the mailbox at the road," she said, gesturing in a direction he assumed was where the road was. "There've been days we couldn't get to it otherwise. Mom can apparate, of course, but she never knows if someone will be driving by so avoids it if she can. You get a lot of snow in Saskatchewan, though."
"We do, but I have only been there a couple of years, and I've never thought to use snowshoes. Nor would your sister be interested in such a hobby."
"Oh, it's really fun," she gushed. Severus couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
He glanced around. There was an assortment of winter items that told a story, much as her skis and the snowshoes did. She grew, so new pairs had to be gotten. A pair of skis obviously separate from Mia's that he presumed were Hermione's. He knew she'd skied as a child. He didn't realize she liked it well enough to continue doing it as an adult.
There were ATVs and a couple of snowmobiles as well as some summer equipment. Mia had not been able to teach Eden how to ice fish, because (much to her chagrin) he did not have fishing equipment and no nearby stores had things in stock at this time of the year. He was not going to canvas Saskatchewan for fishing equipment that would be used once.
Here, though, there were fishing poles and nets as well as fishing lines, reels, sinkers, bobbers, and hooks.
A small area was finished off that appeared to have workout equipment: a punching and speed bag could be seen hanging from the ceiling.
"Do you box?" he asked. She, or maybe it had been Eden, mentioned she did a martial art sport, but he wasn't sure he heard that she boxed.
"I do. I haven't since the fall."
"You boxed at Ilvermorny?"
She laughed then. She sounded so much like her mother at this age when she did. He wasn't sure if that was an … inappropriate thing to think or not. It was something he'd deliberately ignored and pushed to the back of his mind with Eden over the years. Though, he couldn't recall the thought of her laughing like her mother occurring to him. Then, he had purposely not thought of such things. And, fact of the matter was, he had known their mum at this age.
"No, not really. I mean, there's no bag," she said, gesturing to the punching bag. "I can work out, though."
"I guess. And you watch your sister?" he asked Eden.
"I do."
"No interest in boxing?"
Eden scrunched her nose. "No. I like my nose not broken."
Severus couldn't help but chuckle.
There was also an assortment of swimming things: floaties (of various sizes), a raft that looked big enough to fit Mia and a couple of friends, a canoe, a kayak, and other gear associated with swimming: goggles, swim shoes, and swimming caps.
"You have friends over often?"
"Yeah. Most of them pretty much live here all summer." She gestured to a tent. "We put that up last summer and four of us slept out in the front yard every night for more than a week."
He wasn't sure Eden would … like that. Would she? Had he failed her by not exposing her to such things? She just had never seemed like a sporty girl. Whatever that meant, but clearly Mia was that.
"There's a shower over there," she said, gesturing to a closed off section off her boxing equipment area. The area with her boxing equipment was finished but still open. "So we can clean off when we're done. Boxing or from the lake."
"Your mother has certainly ensured you're entertained."
She looked at him with a slight frown, biting that lower lip in a gesture so familiar to him. All three of his witches did it. It was … disconcerting to see that transcended any nurturing he had given Eden.
"Her opinion was that busy children stay out of trouble."
"Mm," he said.
He wasn't sure that was accurate, as her mother had been incredibly busy for six years, and still managed to get into all sorts of trouble. He saw the logic, though. And would never disparage their mother in front of them.
He had done some research on this area the past couple of days and while beautiful, there were some hardships that came with living here. Violence, drugs, and so forth found their way to children, some younger than his daughters. So, he understood Hermione's thinking in this. If Mia was busy doing things , she wouldn't have down time to get caught up with the wrong people.
Like her father had done.
He huffed, knowing he was seeing things that weren't there. He doubted he was a factor in Hermione's decision to keep their daughter busy. It was easy to see, though, that if he had activities to keep himself occupied with. Well, he perhaps wouldn't have been swayed to the Dark Lord by the likes of Mulciber, Avery, and Malfoy.
Perhaps.
He'd never know, as extracurricular activities were not an option for him growing up. He'd thought of playing quidditch, but couldn't have afforded a broom necessary to actually excel at the sport. The Hogwarts brooms were all pretty bad.
She tugged on his hand as he spotted equipment obviously meant for hockey and ice skating. He shook his head. Everything in this barn told him a story. A story that had his daughter participating in a number of things from the time she could walk, judging by the size of some of the things like ice skates. Had Hermione taken her to all of these events? From what Mia said, the Grangers lived here, too. Maybe she had help?
"Mom's going to know we're here."
"Right, of course. Lead the way then, Mia."
"It's a lot, isn't it," Eden whispered from beside him. He was a little glad he wasn't the only one to think so.
"It is. I'm not sure I know what all of these things do ."
Most of it, yes, but there were things that he did not recognize. With some time, he'd likely be able to figure it out.
"I sure don't. I was glad Mom didn't, like, quiz me when I got here."
Severus snorted. "Yes, well, know for the next time you endeavor to deceive us. If anyone would quiz you to ensure you were who you were supposed to be, it would be your mother."
"Thanks," she said.
"That was not an invitation to do it again!"
She laughed then, grabbing his free hand with hers. He glanced at her and then to Mia. He wasn't prepared for them both to … touch him. He'd held Eden's hand plenty of times over the years. That's what parents did to ensure their children were safe when they were in public. He'd never held Mia's hand. The daughter in question looked up at him then, offering him a slight smile, as if she realized she'd never held his hand either. There hadn't been much reason to at his house the past couple of days.
He followed them to the door, both having let go of his hand by the time they arrived in front of it. He took a moment as Mia opened the screen door to turn around and look at their yard.
Yes, he could see a child, Mia, being very happy here. A lake right out their door. A good amount of land to explore and play in. Trees to climb. He'd tried to ensure the homes they were put up in gave them room. He preferred living out of cities and not on top of neighbors.
It was easier to homeschool Eden without nosey neighbors wondering why they never saw his daughter at school with their son or daughter. He supposed, thinking about it as he had the past few days. It was also a way to keep him from getting to know anyone else. It was so much easier to remain … alone if he didn't put himself out there to get to know someone he might wish to be friends with. Only to find he couldn't be for whatever reason. (Stupid way of thinking, or not.)
No wonder she knew how to ice fish, and thought nothing of thinking anyone would. She'd literally be able to ice fish right outside her house.
He couldn't see a neighbor from here. Mia said they had some, so he knew they were there. Their property was obviously sizable if, even at this time of the year when trees were barren, he couldn't see the next house.
"Mom," Mia said.
Severus turned then and felt as if he was intruding at the sight of Mia hugging her mum rather tightly. An absolutely stunning German Shepherd, larger than any he'd seen before, was beside her. He, as it was very obviously male (even if he hadn't heard its name was Cooper), wasn't much taller than the German Shepherds he'd seen before, but he had a good fourteen kilograms on others he was familiar with. He looked … strong. Powerful.
He offered his hand to the dog once he had made his way to Severus who sniffed it before giving an almost guttural sounding woof. Eden was very lucky that this dog hadn't given her away. Had Mia even thought he might be a problem?
"Hello, Cooper," he said. "I see that you are more than capable of ensuring all of the witches in this house are safe."
"He is," Hermione said, setting her hand against the top of the dog's head once she'd released Mia and gave him an affectionate pat.
"You certainly have the space for him."
"We do."
"I'm not sure what I was envisioning when you mentioned a dog."
She rolled her eyes. "It wasn't entirely my idea. A friend of my parents is a retired police officer and breeds them," she said, gesturing to Cooper. "Knowing Mia would be leaving for school soon. Oh, about two years ago I guess. My parents thought it wise I get something besides Crookshanks."
"Your familiar is here?"
"He is," she said. "Rambunctious as ever. Old, but still managing. Also a father. Mia has one of his kittens."
"Beanie?" he asked.
A ridiculous name for a pet, but he'd kept that opinion to himself. Wisely. Of course, Crookshanks wasn't exactly commonplace either. That made him wonder where Cooper had come from.
Hermione smiled a bit and he found he liked her smile as much now as he'd grown to like it thirteen years ago. "Yes. They're both around somewhere. I'm surprised, actually, Beanie's not here."
"Perhaps flummoxed that his witch hasn't been here and didn't take her with her."
"Maybe." She nodded, as if not having thought about that. He had a point. As she was still a kitten, and went to Ilvermorny with Mia, Beanie had never been away from her until now.
"Anyway," he said.
"Come in," she said. "I made up the spare bedroom for Eden. Mia's bed is big enough they can both sleep in there if they want."
He would bet money on the fact that they would do exactly that. He'd offered to make a bed for Mia, but neither girl wanted to be separated any more than they had to. He, in fact, couldn't say for certain they'd slept at all the past couple of days. He was sure they must have, but he'd heard talking and laughing well into the night. As well as activity throughout the house at all hours of the day and night, indicative of the fact they were up doing things. As he didn't feel the wards shift to indicate they went outside, he let them do their thing. There was nothing there that could hurt them.
Foreign sounds in his home.
Not that he and Eden didn't talk or laugh, but not late at night. She was sleeping, as growing children were supposed to be doing. For his part, he still enjoyed quiet evenings. There were times when Eden was sleeping that he sat on their sofa, a snifter of brandy by his side for sipping, and just stared out the window. These were things that nearly fourteen years post-war he still did not take for granted having available to him as ways to end his day. He'd had so many sleepless and violent nights that he vowed to always take a moment before bed to enjoy or appreciate something. Even if it was just the newly fallen snow.
"You know the way," she said to the girls who left.
Cooper, for his part, was not leaving his master's side. Smart dog. Effective dog. It made him feel … good that she had the protection. Capable witch or not, she and Mia were in the middle of nowhere here.
"Are you coming in, too?" she asked. He wasn't sure how to read the question. Did she want him to come in? She'd rejected his offer to stay the other night. She did seem to think about it, but ultimately left. To return here. Alone.
"If it's not an imposition."
"No," she said. "Go lay down, Cooper." The dog gave a whimper, licking her hand before doing precisely that. "You got here okay, obviously."
"Yes," he said,
"I'm glad."
"And you've been here for eleven years?"
"More or less. Mum and Dad moved here about eight months after I moved to Australia. A practice opened up that interested them. With their memories restored, they hadn't wanted to stay in Australia."
"So, they came to America?"
"Well, they didn't want to be away from Mia and me."
So it was his fault, essentially, that her parents had moved to America instead of returning to Britain and what was familiar to them.
"It's okay," she said, reaching for his hand. She squeezed it lightly and let go. He wished she didn't. "They're very happy here, Severus. So are we. It's been a good life. I am a human rights lawyer, and there's plenty of work in this area so I'm rarely bored. I have a side job providing some healing items to some of the local people here. I also do some books for a few clients, if their usual accountant goes on maternity or sick leave. So, we have carved a life here. And, really, Mia loves it here."
"Judging by all of the equipment in the barn, you've made it so she would."
"I may have ensured she was able to do whatever interested her. I never expected her to be sporty, Severus. I didn't know what to do with that. Bookish, yes."
"It seems you did just fine, not unexpectedly."
He followed her to her kitchen. A big picture window in front of the table looked out over the lake, allowing for a very nice view.
"No Harry?" he asked.
"No. He went home Tuesday. It turns out Kingsley may be behind Eden not getting into Beauxbatons."
"I surmised that when the two of them shut us into my parlor together."
She smiled a bit at that as she worked on tea. The muggle way. Did she use magic? He'd gotten the impression Harry apparated them to his home. Mia didn't suggest their mum didn't do any magic. He would presume she would have mentioned it if she didn't.
"I think he may have been behind their detention as well."
"Nosy bastard."
"Yes, well," she shrugged. "I think he's miffed they're attending Ilvermorny."
"Ah yes, let's send them to Hogwarts where they can be gawked at like goldfish in a bowl."
"My thoughts exactly. I assume that's why we both agreed Hogwarts wasn't an option."
"Yes."
"Of course, if we'd been living there for the past twelve years…"
"There is that."
She set two cups of tea on the table. His was prepared as he liked it, so he didn't have to do anything to it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. How did the past few days go?"
"They were okay. They are quite chatty."
Hermione laughed softly. "Yes. From my experience, twelve year old girls can be like that."
"You weren't."
"Mm," she said, sipping her tea. "Not how you mean, no. Lavender and Parvati drove me rather crazy with their gossiping when I was trying to study. Or sleep."
"You did sleep then?"
"Occasionally. You should talk. Obviously, I spoke to Harry and Ronald."
"Obviously."
She smiled then, ducking her head a bit as she sipped more of her tea.
"You mentioned bringing them back to school together. Does that mean I'm returning here on Sunday?"
"That would be fine."
"Eden prepared for that, so is packed to return."
"Good."
"If I offended you by offering for you to stay…"
"I wasn't offended, Severus. I just wasn't prepared. For the offer or to stay. I went there expecting to exchange our daughters."
"I'm not sure how we can do that going forward."
"I know," she said softly. "We'll have to figure it out in the next couple of months."
He had some ideas, but he supposed he'd need to hang onto them. For now. She didn't seem receptive.
"And your parents are nearby?"
"In town, but yes. It's about a thirty minute drive."
"They are well?"
"They are," she said, knowing what he was asking. She'd been concerned about their health after altering and then returning their memories as she had. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me for expressing concern about them. They are your parents. Our daughters' grandparents. They have none from me. So my concern is sincere."
"I know. Habit."
He took a sip of his tea, wondering if things would ever get comfortable between them again. Again might be a slight exaggeration. He wasn't sure either of them were ever truly comfortable. He didn't know what to do with his feelings for a witch who'd come to him for a baby and he'd essentially made marry him.
He was not going to produce a bastard child. A child of his would have enough against it without adding that into the mix.
She evidently had developed feelings but had been afraid to say so. Who could blame her?
He had no idea how to express his feelings. He'd never experienced them before, and didn't want her to think he was lying. Or saying what he thought she'd want to hear. (Though he hadn't quite grasped why she'd want to hear those things from him.) Occluding for as long as he did as consistently as it did, left him unsure what to do with those thoughts. Things had not gone well the only other time he extended himself to a witch.
So, no, he supposed they'd never been comfortable. He'd like to have that with her, though. Could they do that? If something came of … this swap their daughters did.
Well, he'd thank them, and send Kingsley a fruit basket.
He chuckled at that thought because he was quite sure Kingsley would be rather confused at such a gesture from Severus. She glanced at him sharply, which made him stifle his chuckle.
"Nothing," he said with a shake of his head.
"Mm," she said.
"Do you support Mia's boxing?"
"Oh, well, she likes it. I think it's an incredibly dangerous sport, but so is quidditch."
"I suppose that is true."
"She knows to be careful, and she always wears headgear when she's sparring. And, well, I can't say that it bothers me that people around here know she is capable of defending herself."
"True," he said, unable to argue that point.
"Not that there are any issues. There aren't, really. It's just, I can't be around her every second of every day. There are times she's been with my parents. Or when she's at school. Kids can be mean."
"Yes, they can," he said.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"No need to apologize. Children can, in fact, be cruel. You weren't exempt from that phenomenon anymore than I was. I, in fact, was cruel to you."
"We've already discussed that."
"I know."
They had. Before he'd agreed to their … arrangement. They'd talked.
//
March 1999
He opened the front door, not at all surprised to see Miss Granger there. He'd extended the invitation for her to visit him this time.
He took her coat, hanging it on the old coat rack that was next to the door, and escorted her to the sofa. He, for his part, took a seat in his armchair.
She said nothing, eventually finding the hands she had clutched in her lap seemingly fascinating. It was then that he knew his decision was a sound one. She was nervous, and it wasn't him making her that way. No, it was the unpredictability and unknown of what was waiting for her if he said no.
"You truly believe Kingsley is not going to be able to get out of this?"
"No," she said softly.
She sounded … defeated. If the Minister for Magic could see her now, could see what this decree was doing to this witch. Well, Severus would like to think he'd change his mind. He didn't know Kingsley well enough to say for certain that the wizard would. And it sounded as if he didn't have much choice.
"I cannot father a child…"
She'd started crying then. Not just the crocodile tears he'd seen from witches over the years either. These were legitimate tears of confusion and fear.
"Let me finish, Miss Granger. I cannot father a child without the bindings of marriage in play. That is my condition."
Her eyes snapped up to meet his.
"I'm sorry?"
"I will agree, but you must agree to be my wife."
"Why?" She didn't look insulted or angry, merely confused.
"Because he, or she, would have enough against them being my child without having been conceived out of wedlock, too."
"Oh," she said. "I suppose, I hadn't thought of that."
"I have. I will not do that to a child. Or to you."
That that … problem hadn't occurred to her was another thing that swayed him toward the side of going through with this.
"Okay."
"So, if you can agree to marrying me, being my wife, then I agree."
"I can."
"Do you want time to think about it? This is more than you presented me with."
"No, honestly, I don't like the idea of not being married either."
He smirked a bit at that. Who knew they'd agree on this?
"I presume you do not have your own home?"
"No, Sir."
"So, you can live here. We'll have to work out how and for how long. A divorce could harm you just as badly as being an unwed mother. So, let's take some time and come up with options for that."
"Okay."
"And if we are to be married and create a child together, I should think the need to call me Sir is no longer in effect."
"Right, of course."
"So, let's meet again in two weeks? We can both do our research on the options available when we choose to disband our marriage and discuss expectations."
"Expectations?"
"You can take two weeks to decide for certain you want a husband, Miss Granger. You say yes today, but let's ensure we're both thinking clearly. I'd also like to find out for myself the chances of this decree passing."
"I understand."
"You are residing with your parents?"
"Um, no. They're in Australia. I was able to return their memories to them, but they are deciding what they wish to do."
"I see," he said. "Mr. Potter then?"
"Yes, at Grimmauld Place."
"Well, normally, I wouldn't claim my home is an improvement over anything, but that can't be a pleasant experience for a muggleborn witch."
"No, it's not. Kreacher is better than he used to be, but he can still be nasty."
He snorted softly. He knew about Kreacher from Regulus.
"So, two weeks? If you are planning on going ahead with marrying me, you can come here, prepared to stay. You'll stay as a guest, of course…"
She blushed at that.
"Until we're actually married. I suspect, given both of our names, that we won't have too much of a wait to get that taken care of."
"No, I expect not."
//
She'd shown up two weeks later, carrying belongings reflective of the fact she planned on staying. He'd thrown in the waiting to divorce until one of them found someone they wished to marry so that their marriage, and the child's birth, would never be viewed with question or scrutiny. One of the things that he had … apologized for was his treatment of her while she was a student. Some of it, yes, was part of his role as spy. Some of it, though, was just surliness and meanness.
She had waved it off, dismissed it almost as if it didn't matter. Except he knew first hand how much things like that did matter. He wouldn't have it said, later, that he thought ill of her when he in fact did not. Until she'd moved in with him, he didn't truly know her to have formed an opinion.
As he'd never anticipated fathering a child, allowing her to keep said child once she'd delivered it had not been a hardship. On paper. He'd run the numbers during those two weeks and, while he was no arithmancy professor, he would be hard pressed to argue with the results pointing to them producing good children. The results also pointed to them being a statistically good match. That had surprised him, because truthfully without Lily in the equation for over twenty years by then. Well, he wasn't sure who would be a good match for him. He'd never stopped to wonder. Or care.
He'd realized long before her coming to him with her proposal that Lily had never been his witch. That wasn't the problem. The problem was how could he have been so completely wrong about everything ? Lily, the Dark Lord, life. All of it. Maybe he wasn't as intelligent as he liked to think. So, he'd just contented himself to live out the rest of his existence as a grumpy bachelor.
They'd married. They'd taken a few months to … get to know one another, in and out of their marital bed, before even attempting for a child. Children in their case.
Contrary to what she likely believed, he had not done any of the things leading to the potential for a child prior to her (or since for that matter). Once, he'd come close shortly after graduating from Hogwarts. He, inadvertently, dipped into her mind due to the excitement of something like that happening to him without money changing hands. Well, it turned out, money had changed hands, just not of his doing.
He'd altered her memory enough to make it seem as if they'd done what she'd been paid to do, and he left. He swore never to let anyone get close to him like that again. That time it had been a death eater friend wanting to help him get over that hurdle. The next time it could be an assassin or someone sent to harm him.
He'd presumed, until this witch, that he was above such things. So the getting to know one another excuse was really for both their benefit. And it had been worth it.
Oh, he wasn't a romantic fool as to claim the first time he'd been inside this witch he'd fallen in love with her. No, it was nothing like that.
It wasn't even the sex, though that was certainly a revelation.
It was the … companionship. The togetherness. The trust. Things he had never been given freely. Things he had never been tempted to give because people were all shits.
By the time he realized it was love, he was left trying to figure out how to tell her. She knew about Lily. She knew his past. Surely she would not believe his claims of affection for her.
And then Easter had come, and he'd inadvertently fucked up. Who knew a twenty year old witch would expect an Easter basket? He still to this day wasn't sure if her … emotions hadn't instigated labor.
And then she was gone.
Harry assumed she went to Australia, but he hadn't known what names she'd sent her parents to Australia under. He hadn't even known where they were living.
And now here they were, their daughters conspiring against them.
Or for them.
They'd truly done him a favor, because he would not be the desperate wizard who sought her out, as much as he might have wanted to.
He refused.
It wasn't even that he wouldn't do it for his own well being and reputation.
No, he didn't want to damage the reputations of Eden and Mia before they even had a chance to establish one of their own. He would not do that to them.
He'd come here earlier than was likely necessary, considering he could apparate them here and then return home. He hadn't wanted to, though. He wanted to see her.
"You are a lawyer with an apothecary as a side business?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
He supposed it wasn't the clearest question he'd ever asked.
"Why are you working as a muggle? Living as a muggle?"
She shrugged. "It suits us for now. Once Mia's done with school, I imagine she'll make a decision, and I might have to make one of my own if she chooses to join the magical world full-time. My parents are here. And, I really do love living here. It's cold and brutal in the winter, but the summers…"
"I can imagine," he said, regarding the view her picture window offered.
"There are quite a few magical people in the area, too, who are happy to have someone local to get potions from. It works for me."
"I see."
"I'm not hiding."
"And yet, no one has heard from you in essentially twelve years."
"Just because my name hasn't appeared in the Daily Prophet doesn't mean that I haven't been heard from. Ronald and the rest of the Weasleys, Neville, Luna, and Harry all know where I am."
"Perhaps that is true, but I have not liked feeling responsible for …"
"You're not responsible for my doing anything, Severus. We're here. I'm here because I came to you thirteen years ago. I could have gone anywhere, but I have chosen to live here. As I do." She glanced at the clock on the wall and then stood. "Do you have a coat?"
"What?"
"I know that you heard me, Severus."
"I do not have a coat, no. I wasn't planning on needing one."
She left the kitchen and he stood to follow her to what was obviously a closet. He eyed the coat she pulled out of it with trepidation.
"It's my father's."
"I was not…"
"Oh, I could see in your eyes that you were judging. Put this on."
"Why?"
"Because I'm asking you to. I'll be right back."
She went upstairs while he did as she asked and put the coat on. He heard her tell the girls that the two of them would be outside because Mom was going to show Dad something.
The girls.
Their girls were here together and likely would be in some way, shape, or form going forward.
How utterly bizarre.
She came downstairs, taking out a coat of her own. He did the polite thing and helped her into it.
"Thank you," she said. She offered him her hand, which he took as she led them out the door and around the house to the front yard. Houses like this, he knew, the front yard was the portion facing the water. Wordlessly, though, no less confused at her abruptness, he followed to a bench.
"The dock would normally be there," she said, gesturing to an area that he could see a dock being appropriate for.
"Are you planning on throwing me in? I can swim."
She laughed. "No. I wouldn't do that to you."
"That is exceptionally good to know. Then what."
"Sit, Severus."
He did as bid, and she sat next to him. She took his hand again, lacing her fingers through his.
"Hermione."
"Tell me, Severus, that that," she said, pointing to the sunset lighting up the early spring sky in vibrant hues that were playing peek-a-boo with trees and clouds. "Isn't magic."
What could he say? She wasn't wrong.
"Rarely do two days go by that I don't come out here and watch the sunset. Some mornings I miss the sunrise," she said and he chuckled softly. "This, to me, Severus, is just as magical as Diagon Alley. And Mia has grown up with this. She's seen this every day of her life. I think her experience living here has taught her to respect nature and the elements. Something city life wouldn't expose her to."
"I suppose you are right."
Silence. She fidgeted a bit and he slid an arm around her, drawing her against him and cast a warming charm around them. He kissed the top of her head, an almost automatic gesture. She didn't draw away or scold him, so he said nothing.
And said nothing further while the sun made its journey in the sky to disappear for the night.
"I have gardens here that I can grow what I need, mostly for potions. Everything she needs is here. Her friends come here because we have the space and their parents know I'm around since I work from home. I have an office in town for appointments. I have an answering service for calls. And as you saw by the barn, I'm more than prepared for grandchildren."
He snorted softly. "It does appear that you did keep everything."
"You'd better believe it. That stuff is expensive! And some of it, like ice skates, she wore a dozen times at best."
"Yet you bought it."
"I did. I wanted her to do whatever she wanted to do. She didn't care for dance or figure skating, but loves hockey, Tae Kwon Do, and boxing."
"Eden has no such interests."
"There's nothing wrong with that, Severus. There's no right or wrong. She's clearly not upset or behind because of it. I mean, clearly, there's wrong. You experienced it first hand, as did Harry. However, you didn't do that."
"You know that how?"
Silence, and he wondered what she was thinking that she refused to answer him.
"Because I knew you would never hurt her, Severus. I wouldn't have agreed to have a child with you, taking it with me at the end of forty weeks or not. There was always the chance I wouldn't survive childbirth. Minimal, I know, but still. I wouldn't have done it if I thought you could hurt one."
"You are one of a few then."
"Again, the numbers and runes…"
"Yes, I know."
He kissed the top of her head again. It was quiet. It was early enough in the season that there were no birds flying about. There were no bugs. She seemed to be far enough from the road or a highway so there was no vehicle noise. It was too early for people to be out on the lake in boats. Other than their breathing and the light wind blowing nearby branches, he heard nothing.
"May I return with you on Sunday after we've gotten them back where they should be?"
"Severus…"
"I'm not asking for anything. I'm not expecting anything. I would like to spend time with my wife."
More silence. Bold of him to say it in such a fashion, but she was his wife. And he very much wanted to spend time with her now that he knew where she was. He hoped, too, maybe to have her want to be his wife.
"I have nothing planned."
He nodded then, settling his cheek against the top of her head. Having nothing planned was certainly a good place to start.
Story ©Susan Falk/APCKRFAN/PhantomRoses.com