New Beginning

Chapter 10

Severus was still standing in the hall before the main door beside Minerva and Albus, the three of them watching the Auror leave. Albus had made the comment about the search being to quick, they didn’t have time to search the whole castle. He agreed with this, the other interesting thing was seeing Weasley with marks on his face. He turned to Albus, “What do you think happen to his face?”

“I noticed that too.” Minerva said.

“I don’t have a clue as to what happen to Auror Weasley’s face.” Albus turned to see the Bloody Barron look out the door.

“Good riddens you filthy womanizing coward.” The Barron yelled at the trio departing.

“Barron, what has gotten into you?” Severus asked him.

The Bloody Barron turned to Severus. “I think you should be asking your son’s mother what as gotten into her.”

Severus narrowed his eyes. “Tell me.” He commanded the ghost.

“You have a mighty powerful son, not yet two years old, but he could defend his mother who was frozen solid with fright.” The Barron grinned, “I told her I wouldn’t say anything, but like anything could happen to me for not keeping my word. She hasn’t quite learned you have to ask me for Slytherin Honor to not say something. I would have been here sooner but I just found you.”

Severus bolted down the hall towards Hermione’s chambers. He’d kill him, if they weren’t safe, he’d kill the Weasel. A protectiveness rose up in Severus, as he rushed down the hall. He said the password to the chambers and rushed in, he looked all over the chambers, Hermione and Darien weren’t anywhere in sight.

“Merlin’s Beard! I’m going to kill him.” Severus took out his wand. “How the hell did he get them out of the castle, and right under my bloody damn nose.”


*******


Hermione stepped inside the fireplace and flooed with Darien to Diagon Alley. It was still warm, so being without a shirt wasn’t to bad. She had covered him up before getting into the fireplace with a baby blanket so he wouldn’t get soot all over him. She had no idea of the trouble she was causing back at the castle, being oblivious to it all. Darien sneezed as soon as they came through the fire at the Leaky Caldron.

Tom turned and looked. “Hermione, how are you doing?”

Hermione smiled at Tom behind the bar, “I’m fine. Just going to do a little shopping.”

“When are you going to let me have a look at that little one?” He asked.

Hermione walked over to the bar and took the blanket off around Darien, Tom grinned at the little boy.

“Mighty handsome son you got there.”

“Thank you.”

Hermione left and headed to one of the children shops in Diagon Alley.


*******


“Point me Hermione Granger!” Severus snarled.

His blood was pumping fast and furious, the wand spun and then held with rigidity at the fireplace. Severus stepped up to the fireplace said a spell and heard the faint command of the last place it was ordered to send its last traveler. Stepping inside, Severus grabbed a handful of floo powder and yelled out the Leaky Caldron. His mind was racing; the three of them had left. Did they make Hermione leave when they were in the room? Or did she leave afterward?

Severus stumbled outside the fireplace and braced himself before he was slammed into the wall. It had been a long time he lost concentration from coming out of the floo network that he wasn’t up right on his feet. He felt a hand reach down and help him up. He looked at Tom.

“Did Hermione come in here?”

“Yes, not too long ago, had the cutest little boy with her too.” Tom was grinning at Severus, “would almost say with certainty that he looked like yours.”

“He is mine. Did they look fine?”

“Yes. I didn’t notice anything wrong.”

“Thank you.” Severus walked hurriedly out into Diagon Alley and did the directional spell again.

He looked up from the direction of the wand and caught sight of the back of her head, he saw Darien looking over her shoulder at everything around him. Severus walked furiously towards her. She left the castle; he could clearly tell that she wasn’t about to tell him what had happened. And he reasoned within himself he wasn’t about to tell her how to get the Barron not to tell him anything. He’d make the Barron swear to him that no matter what she tried he’d tell him anything that went wrong.

Severus reached her as they turned into the little boy’s section; he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here and not back in your chambers? Why didn’t you come to me? You let Darien protect you, do have any clue how dangerous it is for a child to use raw magic?”

Hermione’s arm was hurting in his grasp, her eyes wide with fear. Darien was squirming in her arms. Severus let go, he didn’t know if he was angrier at her for not telling him, or angrier at Weasley for it happening. He took deep breaths to calm himself down, this wouldn’t help Hermione and he felt terrible for putting that fear in her eyes.

“Hermione, I’m sorry I grabbed your arm. Give me Darien before he falls.” Severus reached out and Darien was in his arms. Hermione was still not responding. Severus reached out and touched her cheek, she flinched at his touch. “Hermione.” He said softly stepping closer to her.

She blinked and started gasping for air. Severus conjured a chair behind her and got her to sit down, he knelt down in front of her. Darien was in the middle of them, he reached for his Mama’s hand that was on her lap. Severus watched, as Darien was able to draw her out of whatever she had gone. The tears started rolling down her cheeks and Severus wiped them away.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I was angry; Darien and you could have been hurt. Tell me who hit you, who broke your spirit for fighting back?” His voice was neutral; he had to make sure he kept his emotions at bay.

“I…Merlin I’m such a coward for just standing there.” She was looking back down.

Severus tilted her face up. “You’re not a coward, don’t think that.”

“I didn’t do a thing, I just stood there. Darien chased him off, and I just stood there.”

“Darien chased who off?”

Hermione looked back down, Severus tilted her face back up.

“Who Hermione?”

“Ron.”

“Has Ron hit you?” He knew the answer to this question. Her eyes revealed it. She didn’t say anything but she did shake her head yes. Severus looked down, his anger was stirring within him. This was now the mother of his son, and he be damned if he would allow her to be ever hurt again. Darien loved her, he could tell, and it would kill Darien if something happened to her.

Severus looked back up at her, “He won’t come near you again. I won’t allow it. I’m not going to let him hurt you ever again Hermione.”

Hermione stared at Severus. Those words sounded in her head as well as her heart, she had heard the same words uttered from Harry. Harry had kept his promise, kept it until he turned into Darien, even then he still kept his promise. Ron hadn’t hurt her. She pulled Darien up in her lap and hugged him tightly. She reached for Severus’s hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Severus looked at Darien, “now are you going to tell me why my son is in Diagon Alley with no shirt on?”

He saw her face go red with embarrassment. They spent the next couple of hours getting new clothes for Darien.