Dance With The Devil

dont own nothing
****************************************************************************************************************

Hermione began ripping the parchment up into ten smaller papers. All equal in size. Tibby sipped her tea and looked at the gardens. She was muttering to herself.
“What are you saying Tibby?”
“Oh I is just making list of things that need to be done in the gardens.”
“You do the gardens too?”
“No I is the matriarch elf. I have the honour of serving the master and making sure his home is a good place for him. Gubby needs to pull the weeds, water and plant a few new flowers. I hope you like gardens that bloom all year long. Gubby is very talented and has the secret to making flowers bloom in the winter. He wont tell anyone else how he does it. But I thinks the master knows.”
“That’s wonderful. Flowers in the winter! I look forward to it. Does the pond freeze or stay liquid?”
“Freezes miss, master enjoys ice fishing.”
“Your serious?”
“Yes.”

“Tibby how long have you know Severus?”
“Since he was born. I is an old elf.”
“You don’t look it. How long have you been…employed…under the Snape family?”
“I not know that employ-yed…word but I serve them since I was born, 54 years ago.”
“54 years old! Wow Tibby. Do you have any children yourself?”
“Yes I have four, all working here to please the master.”
“Do you enjoy being a mother?”
“Yes I is loving them. Master says I should have a family. My mate says so too.”
“Mate? Who is your mate?”
“Pinky is.”
“Wonderful. Severus is my mate now and we have to have children.”
“How does miss like that?”
“I am not sure. I have always wanted a family but not this soon. I am only 18, I feel like my life has just started and already I’m jumping into kids.”

“Baby elves are interesting things miss. You live your life and then come a time when you think yes I have baby elves now. And you do and then you realize that you weren’t living your life up until that point. Because everything before that seems to melt away in their eyes. And you know that now you are starting your life, you are truly starting you life as mother. The nothing matters but them. You have not known fear, joy, sadness, regret, pride or love until you are a mother. From the moment you hold them you fear for every breath, When they first go to sleep; you check on them every five minutes. When they start walking you fear for every step. When they say mama you heart swells with unlimited happiness, when they hurt you hurt with them. When they when they go away you miss them terribly and when they find a mate and leave you fear for their hearts, hope for their love and rejoice that they may have their own baby one day.”
Hermione was sniffling. She had never considered it that way. She thought back on to her own childhood and her mother. Yes she thought. Everything the elf was saying rang true.

“Oh Tibby, that was beautiful. This whole time I’ve been thinking of children as a requirement not as another step in my life. You feel all those things for your children?”
“Yes miss. My youngest is walking, every time he gets on his feet I worry he is falling. My next two is learning house elf trades. They are busy all day long and I never see then anymore and my eldest has told me it is time for him to find a mate. I worry he wont pick a good one.”
“Well I hope he does.”

“Yes miss. I also worry for the master. I have know him since he screamed his way into this world. I worry his new mate may hurt him.”
“Me? You worry I will hurt Severus? Why is that?”
“Well you are the only lady ever to be here. Even before you were mated. He brought you here. He took care of you and watched over you when you were ill. I think master has feelings for you and you do not return them.”
”Severus and feelings. I don’t think so. Back at school he is my professor, so he does have a small protective position over me. Plus we were engaged he was responsible for my safety. I think those are the feelings you are perceiving.”
“They must be.” Tibby said. “Go finish your mating acts and put them in the bed room. You can call for lunch when you would like it. Dinner is at 6.”
Tibby hopped of the chair and disappeared.

Hermione sat with her thoughts. She would be spending the rest of the summer here. Severus had said she could have visitors. So she intended to. Harry and Ron this weekend. Maybe the weekend after her parents could come. The possible the week before term started she could go to Grimmauld Place. Hermione and Severus continued the rest of the week getting to know each other. Their evenings often ended with the both of them in the library. Hermione curled up on a couch with a book and Severus at his desk making notes and doing research. He never really spoke about his work and chose to reveal little detail about it. Hermione did feel quite lonely. Although Severus was acceptable company while he was around, he wasn’t her friends or family. She was feeling particularly lonely this evening before Harry and Ron were due to arrive. She missed her cat. Crookshanks was with the Weasley’s because she wasn’t sure how Severus would react to him. She had written Ron earlier in the day to bring the cat. She missed his indirect company.

“What time are Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley due to arrive tomorrow?”
He asked her from his work.
“Noon. We won’t bother you.”
“I have no fear of that. Will you be returning to our bedroom tomorrow night?”
“Severus? Are you asking me if I am sleeping with them?”
“No Hermione I just wanted to expect you. I know they are staying over, I had the guest rooms prepared. I simply wanted to know if you would be doing that sleep over type of thing you do or I could expect you.”
“Oh yes, expect me. Ron snores like a troll.”
Severus snorted and stood up. He walked over to the couch and removed her book form her hands.
“Hey! I was reading that!”
“Come wife, we haven’t fed our carnal desires today and I am feeling particularly active tonight.”
****************************************************************************************************************
Pink Martini