The Wrong Time

Settling In

Hermione wrung her hands impatiently. Severus should have been back by now. It had been two weeks since they found out that Severus was Josiah’s father. Lavender had gone to the Daily Prophet, where she worked as an editor and told everyone that Severus was still alive.

Severus had been furious, and Hermione thought it was rather a good thing that Lavender was in Ottery St. Catchpole instead of here when Severus found out. After a barrage of reporters had tried on multiple occasions to break into the villa, Severus agreed to give one interview, and one interview only.


They had decided that since there was already enough scandal surrounding Hermione, that it would be best if he gave the interview alone.


Hermione looked at the clock again. Just then, she heard the door open. She ran to him and threw her arms around him.


“How did it go?” she asked him.


“It was complete bollocks,” he said. “They’re calling the article ‘Back from the Dead’. I suppose if it makes them leave us alone, though--” he trailed off.


“Well the children will be here any minute,” Hermione said nervously.


“Don’t worry about it, Love. It’s going to be fine,” he said, for what felt like the millionth time.


“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she said, looking unconvinced.


Just then, the flames turned bright green and Hugo stepped through, followed by Rose.


“Oh, children!” Hermione exclaimed, enveloping them in her arms.


“You look beautiful, Rose,” Hermione commented, gesturing towards Rose’s glittery sky blue dress robes.


“Thanks, Mum,” Rose said sheepishly.


“And Hugo, how handsome you are,” she exclaimed, as her son tugged at the collar of his dress robes.


“Oh, Mum, you should have seen it. It was simply awful!” Rose exclaimed. “She used a glamour to cover her belly, and she wore glowing white robes. And the way everyone was gushing over her, you would think she was the bleeding Virgin Mary or something!”


“Rose,” Hermione said sternly, trying very hard to suppress a giggle.


“Wow, Mum,” Hugo said. “This place is a palace!”


Hermione blushed.


“Children, I’d like you to meet someone.”


She gestured to Severus.


“This is Severus Snape,” she said, taking his arm.


“You’re joking, right? The Severus Snape? The same man who everyone believe to be dead for twenty three years? The same man who helped Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord?” Rose asked incredulously.


“That’s the one,” Hermione said, noting that Severus looked distinctly uncomfortable.


“Nice to meet you Mister Snape,” Rose said regally, extending her hand to him.


“Likewise,” Severus said, taking her hand timidly. “Although I suppose under the circumstances, you should just call me Severus.”


“The ‘circumstances?’” Rose asked, looking confused.


Hermione wrapped an arm around Severus’ waist.


“Oh my god, are you serious?” she exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand.


Hermione nodded, smiling.


“Wow, Mum. You do a better job than dad of picking them,” Hugo said, his stiff collar now unbuttoned.


Hermione blushed.


“He’s right. Way to go, Mum,” Rose said, looking around again.


“Let’s go sit down,” Hermione suggested, and the kids followed her into the living room, Severus bringing up the rear.


“Is this going to be about why Joe wasn’t at the wedding?” Rose asked nervously.


“Yeah, Dad wouldn’t tell us, he said that you were going to,” Hugo agreed.


“Well, yes, actually. You see, it turns out that your dad is not Josiah’s biological father,” Hermione said, hanging her head.


“What??? But then who???” Hugo said, eyes filled with confusion.


“Me,” Severus said, squeezing Hermione’s shoulder comfortingly.


“What?? How??? Please explain!” Rose said, looking utterly flabbergasted.


“It turns out that Severus has been in hiding for twenty three years under the alias Silvano Scolari,” Hermione began.


“But if you cheated on Dad too, then you can’t be mad for him cheating on you,” Rose said indignantly.


“Please, Rose. Let me finish,” Hermione said, rubbing her temples. “It’s not what you think. Now, I know you are both old enough to understand the mechanics of conception---”


“Duh, Mum, we’re not babies,” Hugo interrupted.


“I had just found out about your father and Lavender, even though it had been going on for about two years by then. He didn’t come home, so I took you two to the Burrow, and I went to a bar to have a drink, unwind, and pretty much just wallow in self pity about the fact that my husband was an unfaithful, lying git.


“I had a little too much to drink, and I can’t remember anything about that night, other than the fact that I was put into a cab the next morning. As it turns out, Severus happened to be in the same bar that night, and he was the one that put me in the cab,” Hermione said, looking at her children expectantly.


“That is so weird,” Rose said, absorbing the information. “But also really romantic.”


Hugo made a face. If his sister was going to start swooning and talking about romance, he was getting out of here.


“So where are we going to stay?” he asked, hoping desperately to change the subject.


“Oh, yes, let me show you to your rooms,” Hermione said, and led them down the hall.


Rose was going to stay in the room that Hermione had started out in, and Hugo was going to be in a room on the other side of Josiah’s room.


“Oh, Mum,” Rose breathed. “It’s so beautiful!”


Hermione grinned. She had decorated the children’s rooms herself, and she was proud of them. Rose had powder blue satin and lace décor with silver stars on it, and Hugo’s room was decked out in the Cannons.


She hoped the kids would like coming here. Christmas was a week away, and the children were going to spend Christmas eve and morning with Severus and Hermione, and then spend the rest of Christmas day with Ron and Lavender. Lavender was nearing her sixth month now, and Hermione was secretly happy that the witch had gestational acne, and had gained more weight than was necessary.


They had quite a day planned tomorrow. Severus was going to take them on a picnic, and show the children the vineyard. Hermione smiled, feeling happy and at ease. She enjoyed the feeling.


A/N: Thank you all so much for reviewing and reading! This story has gained more hits and reviews than I ever imagined it would, so thank you all so much! Now I guess I can tell you the somewhat sucky news. My husband starts his weekend tomorrow…and it is a four day weekend….and as my birthday is on Labor Day, he has a pretty nice weekend planned, so I have no clue when or if I will be able to update before September 4th, so bear with me!