AFTERWARDS

Hermione looked out of the bedroom window at Godric’s Hollow and stared at the Church on the far side of the village. She thought of Harry’s parents and how proud they would be today and turned towards the small family sitting on the bed, smiling.



When Hermione had floo’ed into Ginny’s front room she had been met by an ashen-faced Harry and a flustered Molly Weasley. Sitting serenely with her feet up on the sofa, Ginny was a picture of calm and Hermione had laughed. Seven hours later, James Potter had entered the world with a small tuft of dark hair and a very healthy set of lungs. They had all cried, Hermione wrapping the precious bundle and handing him to Ginny, who had kissed the top of his head and handed him straight to Harry. Hermione thought her heart would burst as she saw her friend cradle his new son, a look of awe on his face.



‘I’m going back to Hogwarts, but I’ll come back again tomorrow. Owl if you need me, OK? I’ll take Crookshanks back with me, see if Hagrid will look after him. You don’t want a cat around with a new baby.’ Hermione lifted her fat, ginger familiar.



‘Thanks for everything, Hermione.’ Ginny smiled up at her, James content and sleeping in her arms.


‘You’re welcome. He’s just perfect, isn’t he?’ Hermione’s eyes misted over as she gazed at James and wondered if she would ever hold a child of her own. It was something she had ever considered but this experience had left her with a yearning.



‘You’ll be next.’ Ginny smiled at her. Hermione shook her head laughing.



‘I don’t think so!’



‘Hermione needs to get a man before she starts having babies, Ginny…’ Harry murmured, his finger clutched in James’s tiny hand.



Ginny grinned at Hermione and winked over the top of Harry’s head and Hermione rolled her eyes back at her.



*****



After saying her goodbyes, Hermione floo’ed back with Crookshanks directly into her own room. He leapt swiftly from her arms and curled up to sleep on the end of her bed, while Hermione shrugged out of her clothes and pulled on her favourite pyjamas. Curling up in the corner of her couch, Hermione pulled the throw over her feet and stared into the fire.



Hermione had intended to visit Severus when she returned to Hogwarts but it was late, she was feeling tired and she wanted to think. Seeing James being born had made her wonder about her own birth. Hermione was an only child and she wondered if she had been as wanted or loved as a baby. After altering her parents’ memories, she knew that they would have no recollection of having a child. The feeling that her roots, her very foundations, just didn’t exist was overwhelming her. She felt that she didn’t belong anywhere or to anyone.



Hermione put her head in her hands and started to sob uncontrollably. She buried her head into her cushion, her body shaking as she cried.



*****



Severus had been pacing his quarters for an hour. It was unlike Hermione to be late and she had been very clear about when she would be arriving. Unable to wait any longer, Severus grabbed a handful of Floo powder and went to Hermione’s room.

As he stepped out of the fireplace, his eyes had to adjust to the light a little before he saw her, her small frame in a tight ball, hugging her head to her knees, the soft sounds of her sobs muffled by her hair. Severus sat next to her and wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her into his firm chest and held her close as she sobbed into the front of his shirt He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head and Hermione pulled away slightly, brushing away the tears with the back of her hand.



‘Sorry, Severus.’ She mumbled as she tried to stop more tears falling, rubbing her eyes with two balled fists. Severus took her hands away firmly, his warm hands caring.



‘Tell me…’ He spoke softly and looked with concern into her sad, red eyes.



‘Oh, I’m just being stupid. I watched Ginny have her baby. Her parents were over the moon and so proud. And now Ginny and Harry are parents. The baby is so beautiful, they were so happy, a little family, you know… it just made me realise how important family is. And I don’t have any family. I just don’t know where I belong, Severus. Oh, I’m not making any sense…’ She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.



‘You make perfect sense, Hermione.’ He looked at her gently. ‘We will find your parents, I promise. And as for where you belong,’ He lifted her chin and stared deeply into her eyes and took her hand, placing it over his heart. 'You belong here.’



Hermione looked at him and her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. ‘I love you…’ she whispered.



Severus leant in and captured her soft mouth in his, before taking her to bed and showing her that he loved her too.







*****



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