FOUR

A/N: Thanks to my beta, peskipiksi, who is brilliant even when I am not! Dabbling, not owning!

Hermione stood in the doorway of her office and watched as Severus read to their daughter. His deep voice soothed the child as she drifted in and out of sleep against his chest. The dozen or so years since the end of the war had ultimately been good to the Snapes, and Hermione could only wonder when it would end. She was shaken from her reverie when Severus got up from his seat to take Cordelia upstairs for a bath and bed. Hermione offered to take her, but Cordelia wasn't interested. "Daddy do it!" she shrieked. Severus rolled his eyes and Hermione shrugged. She let them pass and then went to her desk and tried to get some work done.

"That child drools more than a troll." Severus came back into the office half an hour later, buttoning up his shirt. "I had to change into another shirt." He looked pointedly at Hermione. "You get to read her to sleep next time."

Hermione smiled and leaned back in her chair. Then she sighed. "I'm concerned, Severus. Harry and Ron are out of Azkaban, and when they are allowed to leave Britain, I know at least Harry will start looking for us again."

"We'll be fine, my heart."

"Severus, he almost located us several times in the past ten or so years. Then, he had a job and family to interfere." Hermione was getting agitated now. "If it were just the two of us, I wouldn't care if Harry found this place. Now we have Cordelia and another on the way. I don't want to take the chance that he will hurt one of them to get to you." Her hands went subconsciously to the small roundness of her belly.

Severus watched her hands move in quick circles over their unborn child. Making a quick decision, he went to the roll top desk sitting between the French windows and poured a splash of brandy into a snifter. He pressed it into Hermione's hands and urged her to take slow sips. "This will help calm you." He watched as she took several small sips. "We will keep our family safe. We've at least another six months before we have to start watching."

"We need a plan. I refuse to leave anything to chance."

"Yes, my heart, and I have some thoughts on that."

*****

Harry Potter was planning his next move. He and Ron had been released from Azkaban and were now at the end of serving six month's probation. Ron had returned to the Burrow and could only go between there and his new job with George. Harry refused to go anywhere but Grimmauld Place, and he refused to communicate with anyone other than Arthur, and that only once a week when he and Ron had to check in with the Ministry. Now, it was the day of the final visit to the Ministry, and Harry Floo'd into Arthur's office. He was joined by Ron, Arthur, and Chief Robards.

Arthur shook each man's hand and started the final proceedings. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you have served your time in Azkaban and have now finished your probation. Each of you is now allowed to have the restrictions removed from your wands and your movements. Chief Robards, do you have anything to add?"

The Chief looked at Harry and Ron, then back to Arthur. "Minister, I have nothing to say. These two are officially removed from the Auror ranks, and I'm simply here to supervise the return of their wands."

"Thank you, Chief Robards."

Ron and Harry remained silent as the Chief Auror said his goodbyes and left the Minister's office. After the door was closed, Arthur invited the boys to sit down. "It is time to move on with your lives. Ron, I am proud of you for doing what's been required of you. I hope that you will find your way in your new job. Harry, I don't know what to say to you. Please know that you are always welcome at the Burrow."

Ron nodded to his dad, thanking him for standing by him. "I'll just see you at home then, Dad. I need to go and get ready to leave with George in a few days."

Harry also stood up to leave and stopped when Arthur called his name. "Please, Harry, let us help you. The children, Molly, Ginny, we all miss you."

Harry just shook his head and followed Ron out of the door. He followed Ron for a little way before finally calling out to him. "Ron, wait. I need to talk to you."

Ron stopped and turned around with a smile. "Thank Merlin, I thought you were going to just ignore us for the rest of our lives. Do you want to come back to the Burrow? Mum was cooking dinner when I left. I know the kids would love to see their dad too."

As Ron was rambling, Harry just shook his head. "No, Ron, I'm not coming back there. I do need your help though. I need to know where George has been going. That should give us an idea of where he might be meeting Hermione. Then we can go together and talk to her."

Ron looked at Harry with a frown. "No, I'm done with all that. Hermione is happy, and I'm not interested in making her angry or upset. You need to let this go, and maybe one day she will at least come to visit."

"I am NOT going to drop this. She knows where Snape is, Ron, and I'm going to get what I need with or without your help. I thought we were friends and now you've turned on me just like Hermione." Harry hissed angrily. "You know where she is, don't you? Don't you?"

Ron shook his head fiercely. "No, I don't. I did a lot of thinking while I was in Azkaban, and I refuse to interfere anymore. I'm sorry, Harry, you are my best mate, but I can't help you. I won't help you." Ron watched sadly as Harry stormed off. He followed more slowly, reaching the bank of Floos after Harry had already disappeared. Ron sighed and decided to let George know he needed to watch out for Harry.

Harry Floo'd into Grimmauld Place, wildly angry. He immediately began to throw things and scream at the top of his lungs. "I can't BELIEVE these people. Am I the only one who understands? Snape has to pay for what he's done to me!" As Harry raged, his magic got out of control, and the last thing that he saw was a flash of light before he collapsed to the floor.

*****

The Burrow was dark. It was the middle of the night and Harry found himself standing at the front door. He reached out and tapped the doorknob, muttering, "Alohomora" under his breath. He braced himself for alarms to sound or the wards to flare, but nothing happened. He breathed deeply when he realized the wards were still set for him. He made his way into the house, through the kitchen and up the stairs. He skipped the fifth and eighth steps, the ones that squeaked like mice when trodden on. His first stop was to Arthur and Molly's bedroom. He placed a Silencing Spell on the door to keep them from being alerted as he made his way on up the stairs. As he reached the next floor, he realized Ron's door was open. He assumed it was a result of being locked up for over a year, and he carefully made his way past the room. Down the hall, he stopped in front of Ginny's room. He placed his hand on the door and bowed his head. He let the anger simmering inside him surface for a moment, but then got it under control. Another "Alohomora" and Harry was staring greedily at his estranged wife. Squeezed into the bed with her were Lily and James, both holding tightly to their mother. Harry watched his family until Lily whimpered and turned over. Before he could get caught, Harry was out of the room and the door was shut. Several moments later and Harry was down the stairs, out into the yard and gone – his mission accomplished.

*****

Hermione sat in her office enjoying the fire burning merrily in the grate. Cordelia was at her little table colouring and reading. Severus had gone for supplies, and she was expecting him back at any moment. She was getting close to the end of her pregnancy and was having a hard time getting comfortable. She had just shifted her position once again, when there was a persistent knocking on the front door. Telling Cordelia to sit at her table, Hermione went to see who was there. She opened the door to find Harry Potter standing on her porch.

Harry didn't speak at first, just stared in shock at the friend he had not seen in more than twelve years. "You're pregnant," Harry said.

Hermione snorted. "You took the trouble to locate my home just to tell me that?" The sarcasm fairly dripped from her question. "What do you want, Harry? I'm sure this isn't a social call." She huffed a bit. "Would you care to let me know why you are so far from home? We haven't spoken in years and all of a sudden you want to visit?"

Harry was taken aback by the tinge of hostility edging Hermione's voice. "You've certainly changed, 'Mione." He cringed a bit when he realized how he sounded. "Can I come in?"

Hermione stepped back from the door and gestured for Harry to come in. She turned and walked down the hall and back into her office. Once there, she called to Cordelia and took her to sit in the chair closest to the fireplace. She invited Harry to sit on the sofa opposite her.

The silence was deafening until Harry asked, "Is that your kid, too?"

"Stating the obvious again, Harry?" Hermione cuddled her daughter, who was nodding off on her mother's lap. "Could you excuse me for a moment? I need to put my daughter down. It's past her naptime. I'll be right back, so I would appreciate it if you would stay right here until I return." Hermione pushed herself up and awkwardly carried Cordelia out of the room and up the stairs. While she was in the nursery, she pulled out her wand and sent off a Patronus. "Harry is here," was the message. Now all Hermione could do was stall and wait impatiently.

She made her way back downstairs and into the kitchen. She took her time preparing a tea tray, and then she slowly levitated it back to the office. Harry was at the roll top desk, looking through the brandy bottles, and he started when she came back in.

"Did you find what you were looking for, Harry?" Hermione inquired stiffly. "First you come into my home, unannounced, and frankly, unwelcome and now you are snooping through my things? I hope you have a good reason."

Harry turned furious eyes on his former friend. "A good reason? I have a DAMN good reason. You are hiding Snape and I want him. I suggest you tell me what you know."

Hermione calmly sat back in the chair by the fire and settled the tea tray. She poured two cups of steaming tea, then spoke. "Why would I tell you anything? What would I get in return? My Papa, perhaps? Can you change the fact that you murdered my Papa?"

Harry flinched and then spat at Hermione, "You won't blame that on me. If anyone killed your grandfather, it was you. You were the one who Polyjuiced him so Snape could escape his punishment." Harry got steadily louder. "How could you betray me like that? Snape killed my family and Dumbledore, and it's his fault Ginny and the kids are gone. He took everything away from me. He is going to pay for what he's done!"

"Betray you? This has NEVER been about you. This is about doing what's right, not what's easy. But that's always been your problem, hasn't it? You wanted easy. The only reason you were ever my friend is because of what I could do for you. I kept you from getting expelled because of that troll, and that is the only reason you and Ron made friends with me. That, and I let you copy my homework. As long as I did what you wanted, everything was fine." Hermione steadily got louder and louder. "Well, not this time Harry. I'm done with being used by you."

As Hermione shouted, Harry was looking around the room. Things he'd noticed as he snooped around finally clicked in his head, and he shouted back, "You don't just know where he is, you MARRIED him! That's Snape's kid upstairs and you're having another one! How could you betray me like that, Hermione? Where is he? Tell me now and maybe I'll let you stay here instead of going to Azkaban yourself. If you don't start talking, we'll see how long it takes him to look for HIS family. I'm going to get even with him for killing Mum and Dad, Sirius and Dumbledore. He is going to pay for everything he has done to me." Harry's eyes were wild and his hands were shaking.

Hermione turned white and swayed where she sat. In a deadly, low voice she said, "Harry, if you even THINK about touching my family, I will kill you myself. You are acting like a Death Eater, threatening me to get what you want. Shall I call you 'My Lord'? Maybe you want me to bow before you?" Hermione taunted. "I know the Horcrux in your scar is gone, but I have to wonder if the Dark Lord influenced you much more than we thought. What hateful things did he whisper to you when he was part of you? It stands to reason; you could've picked up more than one of his habits or attitudes since you gained part of his power – including the very rare ability to speak to snakes."

Harry spluttered in anger. "I'm NOTHING like him. He killed people for power and pleasure. He was evil. I've been an Auror and I fought for the Light." Harry paced furiously back and forth across the room. "I am NOT like Voldemort."

"Right, you never kidnapped an innocent man and held him or tortured him, just for revenge. You didn't hate a man because you were an orphan, and you blamed him for it. You didn't hate someone because they were from a specific House or a specific bloodline. What's the difference between you and Draco Malfoy? You hated him because he was Slytherin, and he hated me because I'm a "Mudblood"! I told you all those years ago that you were becoming what we fought."

Harry pulled his wand out and pointed it at Hermione. "SHUT UP!" he screamed. "Shut up; I am NOT like Malfoy, and I am NOT like Voldemort; I'm not him at all. I fight for good, not evil."

Hermione just looked at Harry. "You are exactly like him in a lot of ways. Orphaned, horrible childhood, strength of magic. You told me once that the Sorting Hat wanted to put you in Slytherin. You've become precisely like Tom Riddle!" She took a deep breath when Harry moved closer aiming his wand directly at her. "Your choices are what made the difference. At one time, you knew that. At one time, you made the right choices. That's why you CHOSE Gryffindor over Slytherin. Now, I don't know who you are, and I don't think you know either."

Harry stepped forward again, intent on Hermione, but before he could do or say anything, a wand was pressed into the back of his skull.

"I understand you have been looking for me, Mr. Potter. I suggest you refrain from harassing my pregnant wife any longer or I may forget that I AM one of the good guys." Severus' voice spilled over the tense Hermione, and she relaxed back into her chair as her husband took over the situation. "Please, have a seat."

He took the wand from Harry's outstretched hand and pushed him into the nearest seat. Severus towered over Harry, glaring coldly at the former Auror. Before Harry could react to facing his nemesis at last, two hands kept him seated and he looked up to see Arthur and George standing above him as well.

"Harry, we heard everything. I agree with Hermione, and I am afraid we have no choice but to protect you from yourself."

Harry looked at Arthur. "I told you I would find him. He killed them all! I want him dead! It's Snape you have to take care of. Let me go!"

Arthur looked at George and then said to Harry, "Come on, son, we need to get you home." Harry struggled as they pulled him out of the chair and started for the fireplace. George palmed his wand and muttered, "Stupefy". Arthur cast Mobilicorpus, and George threw Floo powder into the fire. Calling out "St. Mungo's", Arthur and George took Harry and left.

Severus heaved a sigh and knelt beside his wife. "Are you all right, my heart? I am more proud of you than I can say. I know that had to be difficult, but with everything Harry said, Ginny will be able to have him committed to St. Mungo's for treatment. Besides seventeen years of the Dark Lord's subtle influence, I think that having the Horcrux ripped from his psyche the way it was damaged him. Hopefully, St. Mungo's will be able to help." Severus looked at Hermione who wasn't speaking. "Hermione, are you all right?"

Perspiration was beginning to bead on Hermione's forehead. "Severus, you need to get Molly. The midwife is unavailable this week." She started panting.

Severus looked at Hermione in shock. "Are you sure? You still have several weeks... " He could see the pain in her eyes.

"I'm sure. Get Molly."

*****

"Merlin's blessings upon you, George Santiago Snape." The elderly witch gently caressed the sleeping infant's head. She smiled broadly at the group attending the Ritual of Naming and announced, "Now it is time for the good part: Dos Mariposas brandy and plenty of food. Por favor, don't be shy!"

Severus glared after the old witch. He was left alone holding his newborn son as his guests dispersed to partake of said spirits and food. He watched his wife and daughter as they led the others into the house, then turned his attention to his son. "Well, my boy, you seem to have acquired a permanent name. Hopefully, your mother will use it and not one of those ridiculous nicknames she has become so fond of making up."

The baby appeared to agree, waving his arms wildly before suckling fiercely on his fist. Severus chuckled. "So, the old bruja wasn't the only hungry one? Well then, let's go and find your mum."