Child of New Beginnings

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Chapter 20



The beginning of the school year had started at Hogwarts. Not surprisingly, Hermione saw Severus’s sour and cold temper yet again when it came to dealing with dunderheads, as he put it. Whenever he would storm into his chambers from class or detention, he always had an angry or disappointed scowl on his face.



The scowl though would automatically disappear when Severus laid his eyes on Sebastian. Severus would carry him up in his arms, and play with him or talk with him saying things like, “You are so intelligent, I’ll bet you can hex all the dunderheads in this school into next oblivion.”



When Severus was teaching classes, Hermione would always be with Sebastian. They were either in her chambers, or walking around the school grounds. The students couldn’t help but smile at the cute little baby boy. They got used to him right away, but were still trying to grasp the image of their potions professor being his father. Sometimes, they just gaped at Severus when they would see him carry Sebastian around the castle.



Sebastian was no stranger to the British wizarding world. The day after his trip in Diagon Alley, his story had already made it into the Daily Prophet, no thanks to Rita Skeeter. The story stated that there was an illicit affair going on with a teacher and a student. Who cared about Sebastian being first born between Slytherin and Gryffindor?



Not Rita, that’s for sure. She tried to ruin Hermione and Severus in her story, including their reputation and images. No one really cared though for that, and knew better. Both of them were heroes of the war, and Rita was just a bad journalist. After a week, thankfully she stopped publishing such false stories.



Hermione felt somewhat alone when Severus wasn’t around. Ever since the discussion with Draco, all she could ever do was question the possibilities of it. Yes, Severus made her feel better when he was around. She really liked when he held her hand, or had his arms around her. She started to hate herself once in awhile and tell her that Severus would never fall in love with her. And with that, she couldn’t deny herself the fact that she was falling for the man himself. She started to wish that they weren’t faking it. She didn’t want to lose it either, fake or not. For now, all she had to do was enjoy the ride, and live the fantasy, that was a lie.



Severus hated it whenever he was in class. He wanted to be with both Hermione and his son. He wanted to hold them and wish that they were truly a family, like he had imagined for weeks, since the talk with Draco. How he hated the boy for pointing out the truth, when he didn’t know it was there. Now he knew it existed and was having difficulty thinking about Hermione. He cursed himself and knew that she would never love him after what he had done. Even though she saw past that, it would never push through. All he had was a lie, a cover up, to show the world and her that he loved her. For him though, it was a reality, and that’s where it hurt, knowing it could never truly be that way.



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“Did you pack up Norbi as well?” Hermione asked from the bathroom as she tied her hair up in a bun.



Severus rolled his eyes as he stood in the living room waiting. “Of course I did,” he answered. “Hurry up because the Weasleys are expecting us already.” Sebastian was in his pram, all dressed and set to go as well, like his father.



“Stop being such a sour puss Severus,” Hermione said as she walked out of the bathroom and started to head to the living room. “They won’t start the party without the birthday celebrant here.” She looked at Sebastian and smiled at him as he started to bite into Norbi’s ear. She pulled Norbi away and shook her head.



“Da!” Sebastian said as he tried to reach out to Severus with one hand.



Both Severus and Hermione couldn’t believe their ears. They both bent down in front of Sebastian and looked at him.



“Did he just say his first word?” Severus asked.



“Bastian, what did you say baby?” Hermione asked. “Can you say it again for Mummy and Daddy?”



“Dada,” Sebastian said as he grabbed hold of Severus’s nose. Soon enough he squealed and started to laugh.



“That’s right I am your Dada,” Severus said as he kissed Sebastian’s head lovingly. He felt very proud for his son and was so happy to hear him speak his first word, most especially since it was ‘Dada.’



Hermione laughed and kissed Sebastian’s head as well. “Yes, that’s Dada with a big nose,” she said. “Can you say Mummy?”



“Dada,” Sebastian said again.



“Don’t push it Hermione,” Severus smirked, “You’re just jealous because he can’t say ‘Mama’ yet.”



“He will soon,” Hermione said as she smiled at Sebastian. Regardless of whatever word, she was happy to be able to witness his first word come out of his mouth.



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“We’re here!” Hermione said aloud as she stepped through the front door of the Burrow. Severus and Sebastian followed soon after her. Within seconds, there were voices and footsteps that were heading towards them.



“Happy eight month birthday Sebastian!” Fred and George said happily before blowing on their small party horns.



Molly shooed the twins off to one side as she and Arthur tried to push between them, and their other kids. She greeted them and then bent down to pick up Sebastian from his pram, who just smiled at her. “You are getting bigger compared to the last time I saw you. You will be as tall as your father I tell you,” she cooed at him.



Severus took of his robes, along with Hermione’s and set hung them near the door. After, he set the pram aside, and took Hermione’s hand in his.



“So glad you could make it,” Arthur said as he shook Severus’s hand and hugged Hermione.



“Well, we must thank you for giving Sebastian his little birthday party,” Hermione said with a smile. As she looked around, she noticed that Lucius was missing, along with Albus. “Where are the Headmaster and Lucius? Lucius never misses Sebastian’s parties.”



Everyone looked around at each other, trying to avoid eye contact with both Hermione and Severus.



“Well?” Hermione asked.



“Arthur, you tell them,” Narcissa said.



“Follow me,” Arthur said as he led them both outside with Sirius following as well.



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Hermione squeezed Severus’s hand nervously as she watched Arthur and Sirius stand next to each other, and lean back on the railing of the porch. Both of them had worried looks on their faces.



“Has something happened to Lucius that we don’t know about?” Severus asked.



“No, nothing bad has happened to Lucius,” Arthur replied. “He’s just in the Ministry with Albus. They are currently looking closely into things with regards to the Death Eaters. They’ll be arriving a little later.”



“What about?” Hermione gulped. That meant that it possibly involved Sebastian, which made her nervous, and stomach turn.



Arthur looked at Sirius and nodded at him, signaling him to answer.



“Last night, Voldemort’s grave had been dug out. His remains are no longer there,” Sirius explained. “We know that my younger brother Regulus was involved since he deliberately left my father’s ring, a family heir loom on top of the grave stone for us to find.”



“Then that means, they really plan to bring him back from the dead,” Severus stated.



Arthur nodded. “All they need now is Sebastian’s blood.”



Hermione felt the blood from her face drain and her knees weaken, Luckily, Severus had an arm around her waist, and pulled her against him with both his arms, before she could fall to the floor any further. Her arms went around his neck, as she leaned into him. “No…” she murmured softly as she looked up at him with fear in her eyes.



“We’ll try our best to track them down. We don’t know where there new hideout is, but we won’t stop searching.” Arthur said. The old Riddle Manor was no longer the meeting place for Death Eaters since the Ministry took hold of it after Voldemort’s death.



Sirius and Arthur both nodded and gave Severus solemn looks as they left him with Hermione.



“Oh Gods Sev…” Hermione sobbed into his neck. “I’m so scared!”



Severus lifted up Hermione in his arms, and walked towards the porch swing. He sat himself down on it, with Hermione on his lap. He held her with an arm around her waist and back as he started to hush her.



“I want to leave this world Severus. We can go into hiding please!” she pleaded looking at him with tears running down her cheeks. “I didn’t want to come back. I didn’t!”



“I know Hermione,” Severus said as he cupped her face in his hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs. “I know.” He knew that if they went into hiding, they would still be found by the Death Eaters. It would be useless.



“I can’t lose him!”



Severus leaned his forehead against hers and then said, “You won’t Hermione, you won’t. Not while I’m still here.” He also feared that he might lose his son, but had to be strong for the both of them. No, he couldn’t lose his son to the dark, and let them be brought up by Death Eaters, not while there was still a breath in him.



“I-I can’t lose you either,” Hermione croaked.



“Never Hermione… Never,” Severus murmured against her cheek.



Hermione threw herself at him and wrapped her arms chest tightly, with her face in his neck as she continued to cry.



Severus held her protectively in his arms. He closed his eyes, and forced himself not to cry as he buried his face in her neck as well.



From inside the house, a pair of green eyes watched them closely through the window.



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AN – Harry and Hermione talk next. Review!