Hilltop Cottage

A/N: I didn\'t want to keep you waiting.

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Hermione’s hands trembled as she held on to the wine glass, and she cried softly as Ginny rubbed her back gently. Harry was pacing the living room with Donovan, trying to stop him grizzling. It was emotional chaos, and he looked at Ginny desperately.



‘Here, I’ll swap you,’ she said, almost laughing at the relief on Harry’s face as he handed over the snuffling child.



Ginny held Donovan on her hip and started to dance with him, singing a Celestina Warbeck song terribly out of tune. Donovan watched her for a moment and started to giggle, much to Harry’s amusement. His wife would be a natural when their child was born, although she didn’t even look very pregnant yet.



‘How you doing?’ he said, gently rubbing Hermione’s shoulder.



‘Oh, I don’t know. I just hoped it would be different, you know. That Severus would love Donovan, and enjoy being a father, and that maybe… maybe...’ she started to weep again, and pushed the heel of her hand into her eyes to stop the tears. ‘I am so stupid.’



‘It’s not stupid to want the father of your child back, Hermione. Even if it is Snape,’ Harry soothed.



‘Well, he’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want us, hasn’t he?’ she sobbed. ‘I was going to help him with finding a cure for Minerva, but I don’t think I could stand to be in the same room with him now,’ she said quietly.



‘I think Donovan might be hungry, Hermione,’ Ginny said.



‘His dinner is in the fridge, I made it earlier when he was sleeping. It just needs a warming charm,’ she said.



Ginny left the room with Donovan, and Harry turned to Hermione and took her hand in his.



‘Listen, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, and you know there’s no love lost between Snape and me,’ he started.



‘Don’t you dare tell me ‘I told you so,’ Harry Potter, or I swear I will hex you into next week,’ Hermione threatened him.



‘I wouldn’t, I promise,’ he said gently. ‘I was just thinking, though. You could come back to work, take your mind off things, and do your own research into Minerva’s illness.’



Hermione nodded and rubbed at her eyes with her sleeve. ‘Do you think so?’



‘Yes, I really do. There will be people around you; you can get your head back into your books. I know you were coming back next month anyway, but there’s nothing to stop you coming back earlier,’ he said firmly.



‘I’ll think about it, Harry. Thank you,’ she said gratefully. ‘Before I do that, I’m going to need a nanny for Donovan.’



Hermione stared into the kitchen, where Ginny was helping Donovan with his mashed potatoes and seemed to wearing more than Donovan was eating. She laughed suddenly, and started to feel a bit brighter. She had good friends, and a wonderful son. What did she need Severus for, anyway?



***



Severus had been too busy to wallow in self-pity. Until now, that is. Part of him wished he were still in his dungeons, because the gloom would suit his mood very well indeed.



It was coming close to midnight, a week after he had left Hilltop Cottage, and he had hardly slept a wink since then. His feelings for Hermione, and for her new life that didn’t include him, were all consuming. He missed her more than he had when she was away. Now that she was closer, he was acutely reminded of what he had missed out on by behaving like a thug and pushing her from him. He ached with need for her, but he had already lost her, that much was clear. She had moved on, with a new man and a baby for good measure.



He took another slug of Firewhisky, safe in the knowledge that it would numb the pain but that he still wouldn’t sleep, because every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was her face.



The hammering on his door did nothing to brighten his mood, and with a growl, he lurched from his chair and wrenched it open.



‘What the fuck… What are you doing here?’ he hissed.



The last person he wanted to see right now was the Boy Wonder, no doubt coming to fight the witch’s battles for her, and yet here he was, looking much the same as always.



‘We need to talk,’ Harry said firmly, walking inside Severus’s quarters uninvited and with air of a man on a mission. He was holding tightly to his wand, tucked beneath his sleeve, and Severus smirked. Perhaps he wasn’t quite so confident, after all.



Severus walked back to his chair and lifted his drink, completely ignoring Harry as he took a sip.



Harry walked over to the fire and stared into it, as if gathering his thoughts.



‘You devastated her, you know,’ he said quietly.



Severus snorted. ‘I have no idea what you’re babbling about,’ he grumbled, taking another slug.



‘Yes you do. I’m talking about Hermione... and Donovan.’



Harry turned and looked at Severus, his eyes beseeching but determined. Severus looked away, unable to bear it.



‘Donovan? What sort of bloody name is that?’ he sneered.



‘It means dark little prince, apparently,’ Harry said, raising his eyebrow.



‘How touching. Why are you here, Potter?’ Severus said coldly.



‘You are incredible, do you know that? How can you not care about this? For some reason, Hermione still cares about you. I can’t get my head around that either,’ he said, shaking his head in disbelief.



Severus stared up at him, his brow creasing. ‘It’s none of my business any more. She’s moved on, obviously. I’m sure they’re all very happy together,’ he muttered, ‘and she has no need for me in her life.’



‘Now you’re the one who’s babbling. What are you talking about, Professor?’ Harry looked confused.



Severus stood up, albeit a little shakily. ‘Look, Potter. I am not here to play guessing games, and I’m not going to crawl back and watch her play happy families with some other man and his spawn,’ he hissed. ‘Not even for Minerva’s sake.’



Harry stared for a moment, and then started to laugh slightly hysterically. ‘Oh, please don’t tell me that you don’t actually know?’ he sputtered.



He ran his hand through his already spiky hair and started to pace, muttering under his breath. Severus stared at him, wondering what the fuck was going on and still not understanding why he had barged into his rooms at such a late hour.



Harry walked back to him, having obviously come to a decision. ‘Professor, I think you should sit down,’ he said quietly, a slight tremor in his voice.



‘Don’t tell me what to do in my own home, Potter,’ Severus snipped at him, standing even straighter in defiance.



‘Very well,’ Harry said, his hands held out, placating. ‘Just promise me you’ll hear me out, okay?’



Severus stared down at him, his face emotionless. ‘Get on with it, Potter,’ he said.



‘Okay.’ Harry said. ‘Firstly, Hermione is single. She isn’t playing ‘happy families’ with anyone. Well, except for Donovan,’ he said softly.



Severus stood stock still, trying hard not to betray any emotion. He failed miserably, and Harry saw the intake of breath and the spark of hope in his eyes, before the mask was back on.



‘The other thing is, she wrote to you from America, and I’m guessing that you didn’t get that letter, am I right?’ Harry asked.



Severus slumped where he stood. She had written to him? Why? To say what? He shook his head.



‘No. I received no letter,’ he said.



Harry nodded in understanding. ‘What a mess,’ he whispered.



Severus’s mind was working overtime, and he sat slowly. The witch had written to him, yes. But she had no idea he was back at Hogwarts, and wouldn’t have thought to send a letter there. He hissed and closed his eyes as the penny dropped. He had been so preoccupied with Minerva and the school, it had been over a year since he had stepped foot in Spinner’s End. He hadn’t been back to check his mail in all of that time.



He stood quickly, his stomach churning with desperation. ‘You know what the letter says, Potter?’ It was a rhetorical question. Of course he knew.



Harry nodded sadly. ‘It’s not my place to say, sir. I’m so sorry,’ he said.



‘No matter,’ Severus sighed. ‘I believe it was sent to my home, not Hogwarts. That is why it never reached me. I must go there.’



Harry’s eyes brightened. ‘Want some company?’ he asked hopefully.



Severus stared at him. He didn’t despise him as he had before, but he was in no hurry to become bosom buddies with him, at the same time. However… He had brought him news. Hopeful news, that the witch was single, and that she had written to him. And the brat had Hermione’s trust. He could well prove to be useful.



‘Very well. Come. But touch nothing,’ he added as an afterthought. He had already turned to the Floo and didn’t see Harry roll his eyes.



‘No, sir,’ he said ruefully. The man had the ability to make him feel like a first year, even now.



Grabbing a handful of Floo powder, Harry followed Snape to Spinner’s End.