Chapter 22: Acceptance

Chapter 22: Acceptance

“I don’t have time for your games, Weasley. Now take this money, or the only thing they will find left is your womanish underpants—are we clear?” I threatened.

“Why don’t you do it yourself, eh, Snape?” he inquired, nudging me.

“Your games are tiring me. Besides, can you imagine the most hated warlock in our world save for Voldemort just waltzing into Diagon Alley unnoticed?”

“Which store is it at?” he asked.

“Andromeda’s, the one that’s almost—”

“In Knockturn Alley,” Potter finished. “Why are you sending Charlie to Knockturn Alley?”

“None of your business, Potter,” I hissed. I turned back to the man standing before me. “Can I trust you?”

“I think I’d ask you the same question.” Charlie laughed. He had been instructed, as all the Weasleys had, by Molly to accept me as a member of their “side”. My Order membership had been reinstated. But he, like his brothers Fred and George, had remained skeptical.

“Get on with it.” I shoved the Galleons into his hand, and he walked swiftly out the door. Hermione wandered sleepily in with Juliet resting on her chest. I kissed them both and bade Hermione good morning. She looked at me with an over-perceptive twinkle in her eye.

“Where did Charlie go?” she asked.

“I have no idea. He probably went to sniff some of that powdered dragon—”

“Okay, okay!” she cried. “That’s quite enough.” She attempted to sound stern through her laugh. She so far had been quick-witted enough to not ask me how long I could stay. I didn’t want to think about it myself.

I looked at Potter watching us with disgust from his armchair. He looked weary, and his appearance reminded me of his father in his last years. I didn’t scowl for the sake of Hermione’s presence.

I knew he must be tired since I had carefully tracked his progress on the Horcrux hunt. He only had one remaining. I had watched the Dark Lord’s paranoia rise as the Horcruxes dwindled. He did not know what was happening—at least he did not let on that he did; he was not a man to discuss the status of his soul over coffee.

“Breakfast!” called the youngest Weasley merrily as she skipped into the living room. Potter glared at me before shoving himself out of his chair. What a little prat.

I placed my hand instinctively on Hermione’s back as we filed into the dingy kitchen. Hermione slid onto the bench right next to Remus. I stiffened as he amicably kissed her cheek and patted her back to bid her good day. He apologized for how much he had fretted the night before, and she giggled at his blush.

Molly came by the table to grab Juliet from Hermione. She placed her on a thick quilt on the floor and levitated a mobile over her, which fascinated the girl’s eyes. I smiled in spite of myself and looked back to the table to find everyone laughing at a joke Remus had told. I felt like I would be sick. My grip on Hermione’s back tightened.

The rest of the meal wore on at an obscenely slow rate. What with Lupin drooling over my woman and Potter growling at me between feral bites of pancake, it was all I could do to keep myself from hexing everyone present—except for Hermione, of course—into oblivion. Juliet began to cry, and so Hermione excused herself to feed her. The Disgusting Bastard, formerly known as Remus Lupin, helped her out of her chair, smiling sweetly up at her. I almost blew chunks all over everyone’s meals. I left the room with Hermione, glowering at The Disgusting Bastard the whole way out.

We reached the library, and Hermione took off her Muggle blouse. She then asked for my assistance with her bra. My fingers shook as I undid the clasp. I stared at her well-toned back disbelievingly; it seemed she hadn’t gained a single unnecessary pound during pregnancy. I sat in an armchair across from her and looked decidedly at my lap as she began to feed the child.

“You can look, you know,” she said, irritated.

I ventured a glance at her supple, young breasts and decided it would be best to avoid looking at her, lest something happen. I stood to close the door to the room again.

“It was already locked, Severus,” she pointed out.

“Just checking…” I muttered.

I sat down and struck up a new topic. My leg was bouncing as I looked all about the room. “So, I have to go visit my mother and my brother this weekend. I thought you and Juliet might like to come.”

She placed Juliet in her blanket once more and pulled on her shirt, saying, “That would be very nice, I’m sure. Does your mother know about… us?” She gestured to the baby.

“I see my mother every five years,” I responded heavily, rubbing my temples and slumping into the soft couch next to her.

“Well, don’t you think she’ll be a bit shocked to find out that not only are you dating an eighteen-year-old, but you have a child?”

“Perhaps we should leave Juliet behind,” I said lightly.

“And of my age?”

I had already thought of that. I withdrew an aging potion that I had had her label on our first night working together. She let out a small gasp and took the pink-hued vial from me.

“Ten years for ten hours…” she whispered.

“Dating a twenty-eight year old would be much more pleasing to my mother,” I remarked slyly. “Her name is Eileen Snape. My brother is a squib whose name is Perseus Snape.”

“I look forward to meeting them,” she called over her shoulder as she opened the door to the library.

Autor's Note: Things are getting exciting... and the reviews are great!! **fan love**