Mending Fences

There was very little noise in the room. The only sounds were coming from a rather energetic three-year-old boy, who was repeatedly banging together two brightly coloured wooden blocks and singing tunelessly to himself. He was oblivious to the emotionally charged situation that was taking place between the four adults in the room.

Hermione had her head down, and her hair was covering her face. Severus’s hand was resting gently on her forearm, and his face was etched with concern as he looked at her. Ginny was sobbing and brushing away her tears with a crumpled tissue. Harry was staring at Hermione, his face pale and his eyes hard. His jaw was set firm, and his hands had formed tight fists by his side.

James Potter was bored, and he stood shakily to his feet. He walked over to his father and put the two wooden blocks on his knee.

‘Play, Daddy?’ he asked him.

Harry looked down at James and then up at Ginny and Hermione. They were now both crying softly.

Harry looked at Severus and said, ‘Come and see the garden. James could do with some fresh air.’

Severus looked at the two women and then at Harry. ‘Good idea,’ he said as he nodded.

‘Hermione?’ he whispered softly

Hermione raised her wet eyes to his and smiled weakly. ‘I’ll be okay with Ginny.’

Reassured, Severus stood and motioned to Harry, and they walked through the small kitchen into the neat back garden. They were followed by James, who grabbed a small, motorised broom and proceeded to fly at a low level around the garden.

****

Ginny moved to sit beside Hermione as soon as the men left the room with James. She wrapped her arms around her friend, and they cried together for a few minutes. Eventually, Ginny pulled away and took a deep breath.

‘I don’t know what to say, Hermione. I wish you had come to us sooner. I knew something was happening when you didn’t answer my letters, but to be honest, I thought you had just fallen in love with someone,’ she said.

‘I was in a bad place, Ginny. I still am a little. I wasn’t ready to see anyone, and God knows what would have happened if Severus hadn’t found me. I’m so lucky he did; he’s been very kind.’ Hermione smiled a little.

‘I can’t believe you call him Severus,’ Ginny giggled.

Hermione shrugged and grinned at her. ‘I don’t think of him as Professor Snape, Gin. Severus is a different person, and he’s been a good friend, you know?’

‘He’s still being the hero, isn’t he?’ Ginny grinned at Hermione, and then she stood to lift Albus, who had started to grizzle a little.

‘He’s my hero, definitely,’ Hermione whispered, and her gaze went to the window where she could see Severus talking to Harry in the garden.

Ginny lifted Albus and looked over at Hermione, following her gaze. She raised her eyes at the look on her friend’s face, but said nothing.

*****

‘I’m glad you found her,’ Harry said quietly to Severus as they watched James zoom around on his toy broom.

‘So am I. The thought of what may have happened still haunts me. She is much recovered, but she still has a way to go, I think.’ Severus put his hands into the pockets of his jeans slowly.

‘The Death Eaters she mentioned. Have you any idea who they were?’ Harry looked at him and his eyes were blazing.

Severus held his gaze for a brief moment and acknowledged that Harry’s protective instinct made him want to seek revenge.

‘Unfortunately, no. After your defeat of the Dark Lord, many renegades took on the mantle of the Death Eaters. It gave them carte blanche to rape Muggles and behave despicably in Voldemort’s name. They could have been anyone,’ he replied, ‘but believe me, Potter, I share your need for revenge.’

Harry nodded his understanding. ‘I just feel so fucking useless, Severus,’ he snapped. ‘I can’t believe she had to cope with all of it alone.’

‘She is still strong underneath, and she is still your friend.’ Severus placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘She needs you, Harry,’

Harry looked at Severus in surprise and then smiled at him ruefully.

‘Shall we go and see if they have stopped crying? I don’t know about you but I never know what to do when they start.’ He laughed a little.

Severus surprised Harry even further by chuckling, and a smile spread across his face.

‘Tissues, tea, and a hug, Harry. It works every time,’ he murmured.

Harry grinned at him. ‘I’ll try and remember that,’ he said.

*****

Severus and Hermione were saying their goodbyes to Ginny and Harry. Hermione hugged Harry fiercely, and they promised to meet up again the following week. Severus acquiesced and agreed to hold Albus Severus for a moment. He held him a little awkwardly, but his face softened as he looked down into his enquiring eyes.

‘If the hat asks, say Slytherin,’ he murmured seriously.

Hermione giggled, and Severus caught her eye and smirked at her.

Harry looked at Ginny and nodded slightly at her. Ginny coughed to get their attention as they gazed at Albus, who was now gripping tightly onto Severus’s finger and trying to pull it into his open mouth.

‘Severus, there was something we wanted to ask you,’ she stammered, unused to saying his given name and a little embarrassed by it.

‘Go ahead,’ he said, not taking his eyes from Albus’s face.

‘We, well, em,’ she stammered again. ‘God, you ask him, Harry.’

‘What my wife is trying to ask you so inarticulately,’ Harry said, laughing a little, ‘is if you would consent to be godfather to Albus.’

Hermione gasped and stared at them incredulously, and then she looked at Severus, who had gone as white as a sheet.

‘Me?’ Severus asked them.

‘Please, sir,’ Ginny said, reverting to what was comfortable. ‘We couldn’t think of anyone who would do the job better.’ She smiled at him warmly.

‘What about Ronald, surely he?’ Severus said softly.

‘Ron wouldn’t be the sort of role model we would want for our children, much as we love him. He is more interested in how many women he can bed.’ Harry grinned a little.

‘So you think an ex-Death Eater would be more appropriate?’ Severus smirked, ‘Naturally, I can see why you would choose me. I accept. Gladly.’ He smiled softly at the baby now resting comfortably in the crook of his elbow and stroked his soft cheek with a pale finger.

‘Wonderful,’ Hermione sighed gently and smiled at Harry and Ginny.

Ginny nudged Harry, and he shifted a little uncomfortably.

‘There was something else, before you go. I have something to show you, Severus.’

Severus raised his eyes and handed Albus back to Ginny very carefully before following Harry out of the room. Harry searched a drawer in the kitchen and pulled out what he was looking for. He looked at it for a moment, and then he handed it to Severus.

Severus gazed at the old, faded photograph. There were two people in the frame, one a beautiful young schoolgirl wearing a Hogwarts uniform and Gryffindor scarf, her dark red hair hanging around her shoulders, and her green eyes smiling out at him. Next to her was a shy and pale-faced young wizard with long, black hair and a sullen expression.

‘Where did you get this?’ Severus whispered.

‘I found it when we moved in. The house hadn’t changed much; it had been left exactly as it was. My parents’ belongings were still in their room. It was a little odd, actually, almost as if they had just gone out to the shops or something. Anyway, my mum had a box of school mementoes, and this was in amongst them. I thought you would like to know she had kept it. There were only three photos in the box. This was one of them,’ he said as he smiled softly.

‘Thank you for showing me this, Harry.’ Severus handed the photo back to Harry, his face unreadable.

Harry took the photograph and removed his wand from his jeans’ pocket. He pointed it at the picture and duplicated it.

‘Here. Keep it.’ He handed Severus the original. ‘You’re part of the family now. It’s time you started your photograph collection.’

Severus looked at Harry with tears in his eyes and nodded.

‘Thank you,’ he whispered.