Joy Found

Confusion at Albus’s statement flickered in Severus’s eyes until he felt the familiar tug at his navel of a Portkey being activated.

“Albus?! I trusted you…”

That was the last thing he said before vanishing. Albus shook his head and tutted in understanding as he popped another lemon drop in his mouth.

Severus was still yelling as he reappeared in a small room that was void of any windows but very cozily furnished and a warm fire burned in the hearth. Through the doorway he could hear light humming coming from another room so he called out.

“Who is here?”

The humming stopped and the little house grew eerily quite before he heard slight shuffling coming closer to the door as if the person on the other side was afraid of attack. Then from around the corner of the doorway two brown eyes were visible making contact with his. Then there was a happy gasp as Hermione came running to him.

“You’re here.”

“But how?”

The two stood there and looked at each other with fear on her part and trepidation on his, then they both spoke at the same time.

“I tried to get to you.”

“I thought you were dead.”

Taking his hand into hers, Hermione walked both of them to the couch and sat down with him. Taking a deep breath she started to explain her side of the conversation.

She had gone to Hogsmead to pick up a book she had ordered to surprise Severus when the attack happened. She had been hit by a curse and knocked unconscious. When she awoke she was here in this set of rooms with only a note explaining that she had been injured and when it was safe someone would come and get her. Until his arrival, she hadn’t seen anyone. The rooms were apparently like the Room of Requirement, providing what she needed when she needed them. She guessed that house elves provided her food, although she had never seen them.

All he could do was stroke her hair in shock. She was here with him! Then a dark flush covered his face as he realized what he had been about to do before Albus had arrived and a lone tear ran down his cheek. This emotional outburst was too much for Hermione to take and she took hold of him tightly as she cried.

“I have missed you so much and I was so worried that I would never see you again.”

Softly Severus whispered into her hair.

“I missed you too. So much I almost made a mistake.”

Hermione had the question on her face before the words but she never got the chance to ask as a whimper came from the other room and a shy smile came to her lips. Standing up she took him by the hand again and walked him to the other room. There in a bassinette waved a chubby hand. As they got closer his eyes soon met ones as dark as his own.

Severus looked at Hermione in surprise. In answer she handed him a book. What to Expect When You Are Expecting was the title

“ This is the book I ordered for you.”

She looked down at the infant who was eying up at them and smiled.

“… And this is Alsatia Joy Snape.”

All Severus could do was wrap his arms around her, afraid that should he ever let go she would be gone. For him the war was truly over and the light had come back to his world and was brighter for the new life that had come from it. Albus had not given him comfort but had had returned his Joy.

A/N: Yes I know that Snape is a little ooc but I think that something like this changes someone at least temporarily.