Forgiveness

This chapter was beta'ed by Jilliane. Any mistakes left are all mine. I'm a little dense when it comes to instruction.

Forgiveness

Chapter 29

February gave way to a blustery early spring that left the compound drenched in torrential rain, sheeted in ice, or stiflingly hot and humid. Severus was used to colder springs, but not the changeable season that Oklahoma presented. He awaited his son and daughter in the pick-up truck, which had gotten a much needed overhaul at the local Wal-Mart the weekend before, after the strange sound in the engine had turned to knocking.

Today, he and the children were going to an Native American Healer so that he could start the process of his own, long awaited healing. He was to be adopted today, and named. Later in the week, after the ceremony was completed, he and Antonia were to marry. Severus repressed the urge to roll his eyes as he contemplated the prospect. He had become soft over the last three years. Somehow, the thought did not seem to bother him. He had hoped that Antonia might see them off, but she had seemed pre-occupied this morning during breakfast. He supposed it was just as well. Joseph Pony had stressed the importance of this ceremony to his people, and had made references that some aspects were not meant for non-tribal eyes.

Joseph Pony and Stella approached in their new clothes purchased for this day. Stella had her hair neatly tied in two plaits, her dress one that Severus had bought for the occasion. She beamed happily at Severus and took her seat in the middle of the cab of the truck. Joseph Pony joined them, carrying his cowboy hat, a black one he had purchased just for ceremony. He looked smart in his new red cowboy shirt and unfaded new jeans. He had his hair tied back in a single, thick plait adorned with his eagle feather. Severus suppressed a smile, remembering how his son had used that feather against him on their first meeting.

"It's gonna be official, Dad," the young man said as the truck roared to life. Severus felt the familiar warmth of belonging as Stella leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm glad. We kind of all belong together, ennit?"

"Indeed," Severus answered, not betraying the warmth of his response.

Stella noted his attire, the robes purchased for her school dance which he had chaperoned. "You look nice, Daddy."

"Thank you, my dear," he answered, still not comfortable in the non-black attire, but convinced by the children that his normal black clothing would be inappropriate. "You look rather dashing yourself, Joseph Pony, Stella."

They drove through several small towns on the lonely stretch of state highway that ran from Heavener to Antlers where the Choctaw medicine keeper lived.

The town was nestled in-between two small rivers and quite picturesque for the area. The buildings were made of the native sandstone and the streets were not laid out on a grid the way the newer parts of the state were. Severus felt at home. They drove through the town to the meeting place designated in the hand-drawn map Joseph Pony consulted.

They stopped at a small cottage and Severus turned off the engine, surprised by the presence of yellow-spotted, curly-tailed dogs. Several greeted the children with solemn sniffs and wagging tails. Stella turned to Severus and took his hand, as Joseph Pony said, "We've got a fair hike to the ceremony site."

They made their way through the stunted, scraggly scrub-oak and Eastern deciduous forest, on an upwards slanting trail that meandered through the woods. Once the three entered the clearing, Severus stopped, thunderstruck by the crowd milling in the area. Antonia greeted him with a kiss and then the remainder of the staff from the compound joined him, shaking his hand before retreating. Miss Dupre greeted him with a shy kiss to the cheek before retreating. Gaius, Robert and Livia Dance greeted him, congratulating him on the adoption to take place. Severus held himself stiff, unable to define the emotions rippling through his mind with increasing strength. The Zabinis came next and Severus was surprised as his former students both hugged him. Blaise said, with voice thick with emotion, "I'm glad for you, Severus. I wish it could have been..."

Zabini turned away, ostensibly to take his wife to her seat, but from the choked tone of his voice, Severus knew he wanted to say more. He had felt at one time that he would have liked Zabini to be his son. Perhaps if the times they shared had been different, he would have been able to act on the impulse.

Joseph Pony introduced several of his cousins, joining the celebration from as far away as South Dakota, their expressions at once diffident and welcoming. All were dressed in their finest, most wearing a combination of traditional and western garb, their colourful clothing complimenting the festive atmosphere. Stella joined the younger members of the clan as Joseph Pony escorted a large-boned older man with flowing white hair, to the fore.

"Dad, this is Melvin Maytubbie."

The old man peered at Severus and jerked his head in gesture that said Severus was to follow him.

&*&*&

Antonia sat on his lap the weekend of his confession of love. She combed her fingers through the fine strands of hair on his chest, her breasts pressed solidly against him. "I've been getting hints from Stella about us setting a date."

Severus hummed through his compressed lips. "She does seem to be stuck on that subject lately."

"What should I say?" Antonia asked just before she began nibbling on his neck, tasting the skin around his scars with a flicking tongue. "We really haven't discussed it yet."

Severus responded with a throaty chuckle, "I do believe both you and Stella are manipulating me."

"What, you don't want to rush into marriage with the first woman who loves you?." Antonia said without heat, her fingers working at the buttons of his shirt, loosening them one by one. "Why is it that I can't get enough of you?"

"I am simply irresistible, Madam," Severus answered with a wry smile. "I feel the same way about you. Shall we adjourn to a more comfortable location?"

"Mmmm." Antonia hummed, her lips against his neck once more. "That sounds good."

Severus hefted her from his lap, feeling suddenly bereft as she stood. "Why not after my adoption?"

"In March?" Antonia asked. "That would be nice, but I don't want you to feel we're rushing things. Are you ready for marriage?"

Severus answered smoothly and without pause,"I believe so."

"God, you're such a smooth talker." Antonia drew him up by his hands. "I'll race you to the bed, last one has to be on top."

Severus responded with alacrity. By using a little bit of Slytherin subterfuge, he was the first to the bed.

&*&*&

In the end, the ceremony had included not only Severus, but the Zabinis as well. Blaise had been as shocked as Severus when the old Healer had drawn them to the circle and pronounced them all family.

Blaise looked thunderstruck as Joseph Pony greeted him as brother and Stella greeted Pansy as sister. "Erm... I don't want you to think badly of me, but how does this affect Pansy and I? I mean, we're not committing incest or anything are we?"

Joseph Pony broke into guffaws and Severus had a hard time containing his own mirth. Stella rolled her eyes as Melvin Maytubbie explained the intricacies of the ceremony and how their marriage was unaffected since their adoption was not really legal, merely symbolic. Blaise flushed and Pansy said, in her high, clear voice, "Oh, I was looking forward to doing something so naughty."

Severus waited as the crowd gathered and was surprised to see the members of both his families assume seats. One of Joseph Pony's cousins began singing, a Muggle song of dubious quality. Severus turned a deaf ear to the lyrics as soon as he realised how inane they were.

Joseph Pony caught his attention. "Dad, I know you were supposed to go to the County Courthouse at the end of the week to marry Toni, but since all the family is here, and you already have the license..."

The young man broke off, scooting the sharp toe of his cowboy boot through the leaf litter. "Well, we'd like Mr. Maytubbie to marry you two today. He's got a state licence and everything."

Severus followed the boy's gaze as he peered outside the circle into the awakening forest. Antonia stood at the entrance dressed in a white wedding dress of antique vintage. The Potions Master's heart sped up as she approached, her eyes cast down demurely. She stopped before him and he took her hand, drawing it to his lips. She asked, "You don't mind, do you?"

"I suspect neither of us have any choice in the matter anyway." He tempered the statement with a wry grin. "It just means we can start on the remainder of the half-dozen children. We're not getting any younger, according to Stella."

Antonia laughed as Pansy approached with a round bouquet of peace roses. "We'll do just that."

"Treat him well. I always fancied him, you know." Pansy thrust the bouquet into her hands and then pulled Severus down to kiss him on the cheek, much to his chagrin.

He felt his cheeks heat. "I suspect your regard for my person had more to do with my position than my charms."

"Oh, no, Lovegood, Weasley, and Greengrass all wanted you. It was your voice, and Patil said you had quite the arse. I just fancied that I might be able to have you." Pansy said with an insouciant sniff and a wriggle of her fingers. "Just take care of him, he's special to me. Oh, and Antonia?"

"Yes?" Antonia's expression was almost comically bland.

Pansy took the doctor's hand, kissing her cheek as she said, "Welcome to the family."

&*&*&

Severus was five and being led to school by his father.. Daddy had been sacked because of the Damned Unions and their Strikes. It meant that Daddy had to take Severus to school during the day while Mummy went to the church charities and scrounged for food, while Daddy cursed a lot and watched more football on the telly. Severus smiled up at his daddy, who smelled funny this morning. The little boy had heard Mummy crying last night, but Mummy cried a lot when Daddy smelled funny. The days were always good after that though, unless Mummy smelled funny too. On those days, Severus either didn't go to school because neither of his parents remembered to get him up, or he had to wait until lunch to eat. Severus hated to be hungry more than he hated wearing someone else's cast-off clothes.

They came to the crosswalk where Daddy usually stopped to let the boy make his way across to the schoolyard and into the modern building with its hissing heat and new book smells. Daddy squeezed his hand. "You be a good boy today. Don't want to hear about you pullin' one o'yer stunts."

"No, sir." Severus answered, still smarting with embarrassment from his last accident. Mummy had said it was natural for a boy like him to make things float when he was bored in class, but Severus never saw anyone else do it, so he wondered.

The little boy, in his ill-fitting clothes that were gleaned from various charities, began to walk away with a shy wave of his hand to his daddy. Daddy waved back, his red eyes bleary and tired. He called, "Son!"

Severus stopped, really not wanting to be late, but conditioned to listen to his daddy. "Yes, sir?"

"You make me proud." Severus' daddy said over the distant rumbling of a lorry. Severus hitched his pants as the belt slid to the side and his shirt popped out of the trousers. He didn't know how to answer. As his daddy turned on his heel and shambled back to Spinner's End, Severus wondered if his daddy was giving a command or making a statement. He thought about his parting words for the rest of the day.

&*&*&

As they repeated the vows, placed the rings on each other's fingers and were bonded, Severus felt content. Joseph Pony stood to his side, beaming as if he had received the biggest serving of the Christmas pudding. Stella stood beside Antonia, with an equally luminous expression. Once the medicine keeper finished the ceremony and bade the bride and groom to kiss, Joseph Pony gave a whoop of delight, the kind Severus remembered from the reservation after they had cornered one of the more reluctant stray cattle. Several men in the gathering, Antonia’s father and brother amongst them answered his cry.

Severus kissed his bride chastely as she giggled against his lips. When he drew away, tears glimmered in her lashes. "You are so handsome."

"You are perfect." Severus answered as he drew one drop of moisture from her lashes with his potions-stained finger.

Antonia snorted as she replied, "It's about time you noticed. Let's blow this joint as soon as possible. I think Mama and Daddy have a reception for us planned at the VFW, but I've got some nicer things in mind for us to be doing."

Severus drew her to him, letting his chin rest on the top of her head. "That sounds marvelous, but what of the children?"

"It's always about duty to you, isn't it?" Antonia said with a smile to ameliorate the bald statement. "I've made arrangements. Mama and Daddy will be keeping Stella while JP, and the others have a nice night on the town. You and I will be occupied for the next six days."

Severus ran his hands up her back, feeling heated and antsy. "Well, we will make our appearance and leave as soon as possible."

Antonia shivered against him. "You know, your voice was the first thing I noticed about you. It is so... Mmmm."

Severus caught Pansy gazing at them with knowing look before she turned to her own husband. "I've been told something similar today by another woman."

"Do I need to worry?" Antonia pulled away, and Severus drew her back with a brief brush of his lips to hers.

Stella said, "Awwww. That's so sweet."

"Imp. Pure and simple." Severus answered, breaking the kiss. "I am not sweet. I am a Potions Master."

He walked arm and arm with his daughter and his bride to the truck, feeling as he had on that long ago day with the yellow table. He was a cowboy, riding into the sunset with his girl seated pillion. He had a world to explore and it was bright and new again.


FIN

There will be a sequel. It will have Harry and Draco. I hope you will look for it. Right now, I'm trying to write on my NaNoWriMo project. You see how well that's going...

Please review. I would love to hear what you think of the story.