Love is all Around
Chapter 5 of 5
kareliaThe latest murder was executed in exactly the same way as the other two. Hermione decides it’s time to solve the case.
Yule, 2008
“Do you realise this is probably our last outing in this dimension, Sev?” Narcissa asked her companion, looking wistful. “She’s thirty-two weeks now. Birth is imminent.”
“Yes, I do. But I must say I’ve been feeling increasingly comfortable as my body has been growing. They are both so loving, I’m actually looking forward to this life.” He raised his eyebrow at her.
Narcissa grinned. “Promise me one thing. Make sure you don’t forget how to do that.”
Severus frowned. “Do what?”
“That … raising your eyebrow. One eyebrow!”
Severus snorted. “You are aware, Cissy, that we’re highly unlikely to have any memories of anything, aren’t you?”
Narcissa sighed. “Yes, Sev. I’ve done this reincarnation exercise often enough to know.” She rolled her eyes at him. “But if you just concentrate on keeping one memory or one ability, it’ll probably work.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he said.
Narcissa frowned. “Can you feel the pull? I think she’s getting ready to bring us into the world …”
“We better hurry and get back inside then, dear. And since we’ll forget everything, I’ll take the opportunity now and thank you for being a very acceptable companion. May our new lives be showered in love.”
Narcissa smiled. “And I thank you.” She held out her hand. “Come. Let’s go.”
Hermione half-sat, half-lay on the sofa in the living room, her feet in Lucius’s lap. She’d been feeling off this afternoon, but finally felt a twinge of hunger.
As if he’d read her mind, Lucius asked, “Would you like to eat something, love? How about a cucumber sandwich?”
Hermione smiled at him. “I think I’m ready for one.” She sat up. “Help me up, please. I need the loo. Again.” She sighed. “Gods, I’ll be glad when it’s over. I’m feeling like a whale.”
Lucius pulled her to her feet and gently rubbed her stomach. “It’s quite an impressive bump, you know. I think I’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
“Oh, no, you won’t,” she grumbled. “Get used to the idea of having a slim wife again.”
“I have no problems with that, of course. Although, come to think of it … if you were bigger, there’d only be more inches to love.”
Hermione laughed. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Now, you go to the loo, and I’ll organise a cucumber sandwich, and then I’ll read to you until you’re ready to go to sleep. Yes?”
“Oh, yes, please! I’m in the mood for some Austen. Can you pick up Sense and Sensibility on your way from the kitchen?”
“Certainly, my lady. Your wish is my command.”
Hermione trudged to the bathroom, feeling heavier every second. Then the first contraction hit.
It had been, according to Madam Pomfrey, the fastest twin birth in recent history. Five hours after her first contraction, a very exhausted Hermione held a baby boy and a baby girl in her arms. “Welcome to the world, Aimée and Davin.” She smiled from one baby to the other. Both were watching her with wide eyes.
“You’ve done well, my witch,” Lucius said as he sat down on the side of her bed and stretched his hands out. He picked up Aimée and whispered, “Look at your mum. Isn’t she beautiful?” Then he looked at Hermione. “I think she’s just smiled, love.”
Hermione laughed. “They don’t smile until they’re at least five weeks old, according to all the books I’ve read!” She looked Davin over again and suddenly stared. “Lucius, look!”
There was no doubt. Davin was raising an eyebrow. Unable to hold back a laugh, Lucius said, “They allegedly don’t do that until they’re a few years old, love.” Careful to not squash the treasure in his arm, he bent down to kiss his witch. “I love you.” Then he blew a very gentle kiss on Davin. “And I love you.” Turning his head to look at Aimée, he said softly. “And I love you.”
Memories of previous lives and intermittences on different planes faded over time. Love, however, in all its facets, remained.
Fin
A/N: The names Aimée and Davin both translate into the word Beloved
- The most grateful thanks go to machshefa, pyjamarama/pyjamapants, and southernwitch69 for all the help. They held my hand, corrected my writing, listened to me whinge and whine, stopped me from doing silly things, steered me back in the right direction, and were generally there for me. Without you, I could not have written this.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Facets of Love
25 Reviews | 7.84/10 Average
Very nicely done, I love a good whodunnit (and with the additional sub-plots, very engaging!). :D
Thanks for sharing!
Lovely story! Thank you.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
I hope this is not a spoiler. The mystery is unfolding in a rational manner; the romance is proceeding in a believable way; and the ghosts are receiving a light-hearted and deft touch.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Your words have me literally squealing. I've never written this kind of thing before, and I'm not a reader of mystery either. The prompt attracted me, so I decided to write it. I had tremendous trouble, then, trying to write a straight-forward... something. When Narcissa and Severus started to speak, the writing became easier because I found myself on a more confident, familiar ground. :DThank you so much for reviewing. Your kind words made my day!
Yet more intriguing...
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
I'm so glad you think so!
That was a wonderful chapter, I really enjoyed their interactions, it seemed like a joyful holiday.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
I'm so glad you liked it! :D
Hermione really is a bright girl. I hope she finds the murderer.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Oh, she will. With a little help from Cissy and Sev, perhaps.Thanks for the review and the shiny stars!
Absolutely fascinating start - I am really looking forward to following this.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
So glad you like it! And thanks for reviewing and the stars!
All the victims were pregnant Purebloods with a Pureblood husband or lover, check. I know who my number one suspect would be at this point. I'm looking forward to seeing if I'm right. What a great twist having Narcissa helping Hermione solve her own murder. ^_^
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Heh, I thought it might be a bit transparent.Narcissa insisted to be part of it beyond her murder, so what can a writer do but oblige...Thanks for the review! *pats the stars*
Another interesting chapter, this is such a great story, thank you so much for submitting it!!!
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
I'm so glad you like it beyond the first chapter!Thanks for the review! *pats the shiny stars*
This seems familar. Did you have it posted elsewhere? Completed?
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Indeed. It was written for the lmhg_exchange on LJ.
Response from chyara (Reviewer)
of course! sighsi do so love lj.
I like the premise, although the murders are a bit gruesome. And are they going to have to deal with the Weasleys again? It sounds like they were dropped like hot potatoes.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
I find murders in general gruesome, but alas, it was part of the prompt!They were, indeed, dropped like hot potatoes, but I'm sure at least Ron will eventually come around...Thanks so much for reviewing!
Thank you for an extremely interesting first chapter! I have already an idea for who the murderer migth be, and why, and I am very much looking forward to read more and see the pieces added to the puzzle. Brilliantly written!!!!
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Thanks so much,
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
! I'd be interested to read your thoughts on who and why! :D
What an intriguing (not to mention grisly) beginning! Pureblooded women murdered by Muggle means... the obvious thing would be a Muggleborn killer, or someone who wants people to believe the murderer is Muggleborn. Another thing, Lavender was obviously pregnant and Harry made reference to rumors that Pansy was pregnant, so I'm wondering if Narcissa was as well? Hm. BTW, I'm not surprised that Ron turned out to be a prat about Harry's relationship with Draco. I can't imagine he'd handle it all that well. Maybe he's jealous? ^_^
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
*grins* You have a lot figured out already.Thanks for the review!
Although I have read this elsewhere, I wanted send you a big box of chocolates for this intriguing, romantic tale. Very nicely done! :D
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Wow, thank you so much! I'm happy you like it!
That was adorable. I would have loved a 5 hour labor for my one child. 21 hours. 3 hours of hard labor (pushing). Sigh.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Thank you! Wow, that is an awfully long time to be in labour! I guess, though, the result is worth every minute of it. :D
Awwww... what a sweet ending. Picturing baby Severus-Davin raising an eyebrow definitely gave me a giggle. What a mental image! I expect Lucius and Hermione will have their hands full (figuratively and literally) for many years to come with their new twins. What a great story, this is definitely being added to my favorites! 
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
Yes, I'm sure they'll have their hands full with those two, lol.Thank you so much for your kind words!
Yup, I got it. I was pretty sure it had to be Filch... being right there at Hogwarts, he had the perfect opportunity to lay in wait for the victims after their appointments with Poppy. Lucky for Millicent that Hermione was willing to put herself at risk like that. And fortunately for Hermione, she evidently got the right hair this time instead of turning into Cat!Hermione again. 
On another note, it definitely sounds like things are heating up between Hermione and Lucius. And it sure seems like Narcissa knows something about what lies ahead for them. I take it those future twins of Hermione and Lucius' will be the next lives of Severus and Narcissa? If so, they could be scarier than the Weasley twins ever were!
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
*grins* Ah, well. It was the first (and probably only) murder mystery I've written.You are certainly on the right track here. :DThanks for your lovely review!
I can't imagine giving birth to Severus and Narcissa. They would be a handful.
Response from karelia (Author of Facets of Love)
ROFL! Yes, I absolutely agree!Thank you for the review! *pats the shiny stars*
Very sweet ending. Nice to see some lovely happiness. :)
Oh poor Hermione having everyone forget about her wound. Poor Filch. Definitely misunderstood. And very sweet with Lucius and Hermione.
Aw, nice family moment amid all the drama. I love it.
I like all the theories bouncing around and where this is going. Very interesting developments all around.
Oh, my. What a dark start. Great setup for what I hope will be a great story.
Snicker! Well, if Hermione can hear her this should get interesting. And that's not to mention Severus's idea for being reborn... The idea of Lucius and Hermione having Little Sev and Little Cissy is priceless.
Would you believe that I managed to rec this on one_bad_man, thinking it was from this year's exchange, therefore I must have read it, only to find out I hadn't read it at all... And one chapter in, I'm smirking at the ever present fungi and totally enthralled.