Unwanted

Tristyn sat watching Molly cooking, playing with her dollies while the cookies were cooling. She knew from past experience that even though the older witch's back was turned, Tristyn would still get caught if she tried to sneak a warm cookie.

"When's Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny's baby coming?"

"Oh, not for another month or so, dearie. Babies need a long time to grow in their mummies tummy."

"My mummy had a big belly too when I was in her?"

"Oh, yes, she did. Bigger than Ginny."

"How'd I get in my mummy's tummy?"

Molly dropped the cookie sheet on the table in shock then recovered with a nervous little laugh. She was willing to help Severus with the little girl, but there was no way she was going to answer that question. She wouldn't have answered it if it were going to be a normal response, much less the mess that had occurred to create the precious child.

"You should ask your daddy when he comes home. I think that first batch is cool enough. You can have one now." She distracted the girl with the sweet.

"I like your cooking. Daddy burnt the pie we made. He told Uncle Albus that one of the students melted a cauldron so's no one would know."

"I bet your father wouldn't want everyone knowing about that."

Tristyn shrugged and took a big bite of the oatmeal raisin cookie. Molly conjured her a glass of milk to go with it, then a bowl for her kitten which had started winding it's way around her ankles. She really needed to thank Ron for the present to the little girl.

"Can I catch a gnome and take it back to Hogwarts as a pet? Daddy said he'd rather I had one of those than Rover. Rover leaves fur all over Daddy's robes and he hates brushing them off."

"I don't think the garden gnomes would like living in the castle, love. They like living outdoors."

"But isn't it cold in the winter? Do you make them scarves and hats?"

"You're full of questions today. Why don't you go into the livingroom and color, or go outside and make a snowman?" Molly hadn't had such an inquisitive child around since Percy had gone off to Hogwarts. She'd forgotten how tiring it was to have a child following her around questioning her all day and night. And this was only her second day at the Burrow.

"Alright. Oh! Can I go in the attic and look for the poltergeist?" She sat up straight, grinning.

"No. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny have tried getting that ghost and no one has. One little five year old isn't going to have a chance."

"I could if Daddy would let me do magic." she frowned then, from being told no and remembering that although she was in a wizarding home, her father still wouldn't let her perform spells.

"Your father knows best, dearie. Go on into the livingroom and do some coloring. The crayons are in the box near my sewing."

Tristyn hopped out of the tall chair and made her way around the back of the staircase into the livingroom. A workday, the house was empty and desolate. She wandered over to the piano, but Mrs. Weasley's voice came winding through the house.

"Don't touch that piano, Tristyn Snape! Get your coloring out and play quietly for a while."

The little girl sighed and gathered the coloring book and crayons, went to lay on the carpet in front of the fire, lying on her side and filling in the pictures of the muggle book Uncle Harry had gotten her for her birthday.


Through the front door, Hermione gazed at her daughter, coloring so quietly and with determination of getting all the colors within the lines perfectly. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and took three calming breaths, like she had learned in the hospital. She closed her eyes briefly as she gathered her tranquility and let it flow throughout her body and mind. Connor Welson had brought her the nearby village, where his brother was waiting to return him to America. He had to return the borrowed wand and return to his job. His brother would come with him and perform a simple memory charm on the staff of the hospital, making them think that Hermione had been discharged into the care of a family member and not a fugitive from the medical community. Again. Dr. Welson had hugged her tightly and whispered well wishes into her ear.

'She's beautiful.' Hermione sighed, watching the girl still. Afraid to knock on the damn door, was more like it. Determined, she raised her fist and rapped on the glass three times. The girl barely looked up at the door before Molly Weasley appeared in the window, opening the door quickly. Hermione reached up and lowered her hood so the older woman could see her face clearly.

"Mrs. Weasley." She gave a little smile to the shocked witch.

"Oh, my gods!" Molly stood there in shock, her hands folded over her chest, mouth hanging open. Hermione heard the girl come forward in concern.

"Ms. Molly?"

"Tristyn, go upstairs for a few minutes, alright. Find Aunt Ginny's box of dolls in her closet and pick a few out to play with." She turned, blocking Hermione from Tristyn's view, smiling at the girl and pointing up the staircase. The girl grumbled, but trotted up the awkward staircase. Molly turned back to Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing the younger woman hard. "Hermione! It's really you, right? I"m not imagining this, am I?"

"No, it's me, Mrs. Weasley. I got better. Finally." Hermione's eyes filled with tears as the older woman started crying in her arms. She so regretted the pain she'd caused everyone when she disappeared years ago. "I'm so sorry for worrying everyone."

"It's alright now. We realize you were sick then. But, better now, you said?"

"I've been receiving treatment, to help me with....what happened. That was...my daughter."

"Tristyn, yes. Oh, dear, I have to get ahold of Severus! I'll use the magic mirror. It's for emergencies, but if this isn't qualified as one, I don't know what is!" She pulled away from Hermione and led the younger woman in. Hermione hesitated for a moment. "It's alright, Hermione. Everyone understands. Especially Severus. He's in America right now, looking for you. He's been doing that whenever he could since you disappeared. Sit, sit. Tea?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley. I...I think you should use that mirror, before I lose my nerve."

Molly nodded and led the girl to sit in the chair nearest to where Tristyn had been drawing. She grabbed a hand-held mirror and held it to her face. "Severus Snape."

~~Molly? What's wrong? Is Tristyn alright?~~ Hermione could hear the altered voice of her husband, the first time she'd heard it in five years. She almost jumped to her feet and bolted for the door, but she sat there, her fists tightly clenched. She had to see Severus and meet her daughter before deciding on her future.

"Tristyn's fine, Severus, but...Hermione's here." Molly said quickly.

The mirror was silent.

~~It's not April, so this better not be some sort of prank. What do you mean, Hermione is there?~~

"I mean, that about three minutes ago, she knocked on the front door. I think you should return as soon as possible. Tristyn is playing upstairs and only saw Hermione for a minute or two. I thought you'd want to be here when they meet."

~~Thank you, Molly. I'll be there momentarily.~~ The mirror went dark as he tossed it into his bag. He sat on the edge of his hotel bed, shaken. He had just finished eight hours of non-stop apparating in a hundred mile radius of his hotel. He had planned on taking a short nap before continuing his quest. 'Where the fuck has she been?' He dropped his head into his hands and let his feelings wash over him. Relief warred with disbelief. Until Severus returned to the Burrow, he couldn't think of Hermione as found. He took ten deep calming breaths and sat up straight. He gathered his belongings, hurried down to the front desk and checked out. Severus walked out the front door, down the street a bit to an alleyway, then apparated to the road leading to the Burrow. He squared his shoulder and hurried up the front entryway. He entered without knocking, having become a member of the Weasley 'family' in the last five years. Both women turned to look at his entrance.

"Oh, my..." He took another deep breath. He barely noticed dropping his valise as he hurried over to Hermione, seated in Molly's rocking chair. He dropped to his knees before her and bent his head, his posture reminiscent of the times he submitted himself to the Dark Lord. "Hermione? Please, forgive me, for failing you."



a/n~~ HERE SHE IS lol! Now let's see how she deals with a husband and a daughter all of a sudden. hope you're enjoying the story, we're getting close to the finish line...sigh...then what am i going to do? keep up the reviews, i love them and everyone's ideas. later

marti