Child of New Beginnings

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Chapter 19



Ronald Weasley was a subject that was never brought up between Severus and Hermione. The day that they received a letter from Arthur apologizing for his son’s behavior, was the day that he was briefly brought up. The letter stated that Ron had been kicked out of the house for his rude behavior since he had been shouting and making up stories left and right about Sebastian. So Ron moved and went to Romania and tried to live with Bill and Fleur. Thankfully, Ron was no longer a person Hermione had to face or deal with again.



Classes at Hogwarts were about to start in two days. Parents, children, and professors were all walking around back and forth into stores in which they could buy the supplies needed for the new school year.



Severus, Hermione and Draco walked along the crowded streets of Diagon Alley. Sebastian was in a dark blue pram, which was being pushed by Severus. It was the first time for him to go out in public in the wizarding world. No doubt, people would stare at him and wonder, most especially since it was Severus Snape the most feared professor in Hogwarts that was pushing his pram. Surely people weren’t stupid enough not to think that he wasn’t the child’s father.



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They were walking inside the biggest toy store in all of Diagon Alley. Severus had Sebastian up in one arm as he carried him through the aisles of toys. Draco and Hermione were not far, watching from a distance. Draco was the one pushing the pram this time around.



“He’s spoiled as it is already thanks to your father,” Hermione said as she turned to Draco, shaking her head.



“That’s father for you,” Draco smirked. “Even Uncle Severus spoiled me when I was younger.”



“Draco…” Hermione started, “I’m sorry about everything, and causing trouble with your parents’ marriage.”



“It’s all right. My fault really. I shouldn’t have accused father of something stupid when I didn’t know the whole truth. Least now, he and mother are having their honeymoon in France.”



“Your father is quite something, and stays true to his word,” Hermione smiled.



“He does,” Draco nodded. He then looked at Severus and then said, “And so does he.”



Hermione too looked at Severus as he and Sebastian started to press buttons on some toy.



“I never thought I’d see him so… happy,” Draco said. “Seriously Granger, you made the impossible, possible.”



“Really?”



“Yes. Uncle is quite a catch really. Just as rich as father. If he was just approachable so to speak or nicer, women would be flocking at his feet. Never though was he attracted to someone, no matter how many dates we set him up with,” Draco explained. He decided to keep his mouth shut with the high class whores. He saw a glint of hurt in Hermione’s eyes. “With you, he acts very differently, like he’s attracted to you.”



“I’m not a pureblood Draco,” Hermione reminded him. She knew that the type of women that Severus were set up with were purebloods. If he was a noble wizard just like Lucius, then it was expected that only pureblooded witches would date Severus. “He can’t be attracted to me. It’s all just an act remember?”



“Is it?” Draco asked. “The way he acts with you, whether he has to fake it or not, is exactly the same. And if I must say so, it’s the same with you. The both of you—you don’t have to fake anything really.”



“We’re not in love Draco. Never were.”



“And it doesn’t mean, never will be.”



Hermione’s mouth slightly gaped open in shock. Was Draco really assuming that there was a possible love connection between her and Severus?



“I may not know my own love life, but it doesn’t mean that I cannot see it between other people. You may be living a lie now Hermione, but don’t deny it later on and lie to yourself because you’ll get hurt,” Draco said. “He loves you; he just doesn’t know it yet. And so do you.”



“Look what we picked out,” Severus announced as he walked towards them. In one hand, he was carrying a basketful of toys.



“I’ll bring them to the counter then,” Draco said as he took hold of the basket.



As Severus placed Sebastian in his pram, he couldn’t help but notice that Hermione hadn’t said a word. It was very obvious that she was very deep in thought since she seemed to just stare blankly at the toys in front of her.



“Love, are you all right?” Severus asked Hermione as he placed a hand on her head, trying to feel her temperature and see if she had a fever.



“I’m fine Severus,” Hermione smiled, snapping out of her thoughts.



Severus leaned down and gave her a small kiss on her cheek. “Shall we?”



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Hermione never took her eyes off Draco as she watched him walk into the café and order food for the three of them. Severus, Hermione and Sebastian were seated outside. People stared at them in surprise and whispered as they passed by.



“You better not be attracted to Draco,” Severus said in a very deep tone into Hermione’s ear as he wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close to him. “I am a possessive man Hermione. What’s mine is mine.”



The way that Severus talked, made shivers go down Hermione’s spine. Hermione didn’t say anything, but turned to look at Severus with sadness in her eyes.



“What’s wrong?” Severus asked as he frowned with worry. Since they had left the toy store, she seemed more silent.



“Draco told me of your stature, just like Lucius,” she answered.



“Yes, I am a Lord, but I do not use the title.”



“I am not a pureblood Severus.”



“And what’s that supposed to mean?”



“I have tainted your name with Sebastian. I know-“



Severus placed a finger on her lips. “Don’t ever say that you have tainted my name,” he said firmly. “You have done nothing of the sort. I am not ashamed of Sebastian, nor am I ashamed of you.”



Hermione gave a nod. It was the truth, but only a part of the whole truth. Was love really possible between the both of them? She couldn’t help but feel pulled into the lie, and deny it like Draco said. How could she have not noticed?



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“What the bloody hell did you tell her Draco?!” Severus asked aloud in anger as he stormed into his living room. He had just dropped Hermione off into her chambers and tucked Sebastian in his crib, who became tired after the trip.



“I didn’t say anything to her,” Draco answered defensively. What was he talking about in the first place?



“You and your pureblooded shit! I am nothing like you Draco, so don’t rub it in on her!” Severus said as he pointed a finger at his godson. He was breathing heavily as his nostrils were flaring. “Don’t you dare hurt her feelings!”



“I did nothing of the sort!” Draco shouted back. “That was barely the topic of our conversation.”



“Then what was?!”



“About the both of you loving each other!” Draco answered.



Severus’s brow frowned as his anger immediately was forgotten.



“See, that’s what I’m talking about,” Draco said as he pointed at Severus. “You love her don’t you?”



“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I care for her, it is as simple as that,” Severus countered back.



Draco snorted. “You care for her yes, but I see how you look at her. There isn’t much guilt on your face anymore when you look at her, not like before. There is more than just caring for her.”



Severus thought about what Draco had just told him. He cared about Hermione, and yes, he didn’t feel as guilty as before with regards to ‘raping’ her. In fact, he was happier when he was around her.



“You two are so blind, you don’t even know what’s in front of you,” Draco sighed as he shook his head. With that, he left Severus, still deep in thought.



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After having a dinner meeting with the staff in the Great Hall, Severus walked into Hermione’s chambers. He knew that Sebastian would most probably be feeding now and wanted to check up on them both.



When he walked into the nursery, he found Hermione with Sebastian cradled in her arms, against her bare breast. He noticed though he was no longer sucking on her nipple, but fast asleep, just like his mother.



Softly and quietly, he moved towards them. He took Sebastian in his arms successfully without waking him up or Hermione. After he set Sebastian in his crib, he gave him a little kiss on his head, and inhaled the sweet scent of his baby powder. Next, he took Hermione up in his arms, as gently as he could so as not to wake her.



“Severus…” Hermione sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Still she was sound asleep as she laid her head on his shoulder.



“Sleep Love,” he murmured against her brow. “I have you.”



When Severus got to her bedroom, he lowered Hermione on the bed and tucked her in. he looked at her sleeping form and for the first time, he felt his heart skip a different beat. He bent down and kissed her brow before turning the lights out.



Draco was right, he did have more feelings than caring for her. The feeling felt so foreign, and he knew it was love. It bothered him though since he thought that a beautiful woman such as her could never love him, after what he did. That is where Draco was wrong, he thought.



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AN – Draco talking to them both about love. Who would have thought? That’s a good mix with Albus meddling I think. Review!