Life and Its Mysteries

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Chapter 6



Hermione looked at the entire Quidditch pitch as she remained seated on one the bleacher seats in the Gryffindor area. It was the same seat in which she always sat when she would watch her house team play. Memories of the old games though isn’t what she was thinking about.



She tried to imagine herself in Biff’s shoes dozens of times when she was searching the pitch inside and out. She remembered every single corner and place in the area. The boys locker room was even a room she stepped into. The student, Laurence Harrison, after all was on the Slytherin team.



Maybe Biff watched him dress in room. Maybe he even watched all the players dress at some point. Biff was gone, for months. Perhaps, all the while, he had been studying and watching students all over Hogwarts. He also had to learn how to get around the castle and the grounds.



By the end, she found nothing. There was no other clue that Biff left behind. Hermione shook her head, knowing that she was going to catch him soon. She knew Hogwarts better than anyone else, and the British wizarding world on top of that. Biff had entered into her territory. There was no way he could get away from her now.



Hermione winced as she moved her right leg. She walked from the castle awhile ago, as to look through the grounds. It was a strenuous walk towards the end when she got closer to the pitch. The castle was quite far from it, and the pain just got worse when she searched around the pitch. She knew she had to ice her knee later and ask for a potion from Severus for the pain.



As Severus had crossed her mind, Hermione reached into her back pocket and pulled out his letter. She unfolded the envelope and looked at the letters that were written behind it—‘HG.’ Initials were always used when Hermione and Severus wrote letters to each other.



Confusion of emotions was what Hermione was feeling. She couldn’t see the connection between Severus when he had broken up with her to the Severus now. He still cared for her, and had feelings for her? She couldn’t believe it, and refused to as well. It wasn’t easy just to forget what he had said. Severus’s words had echoed in her ears for millions of times in the past five years.



Her heart was broken by him. All her dreams—dreams that she once shared by him were all forgotten. Feelings on the other hand were different. She could feel them try to push beneath the rubble of the broken heart. She didn’t know what happened earlier exactly, when he touched her, when he held her—she didn’t even try to push him away. It felt good, and always, like before, it made her always feel better.



Would it change the way things were if Hermione went to Severus after Ron raped her, and Harry not believing her? If she ran to him, could he make her feel better, even after he had broken her heart? Would they be back together again? Would Tobi have the father he only knew by name and picture?



Yes, Tobi did know who Severus was. Hermione did have a picture of Severus that she would show him once in awhile. Of course, Hermione introduced him as his father. As to why he never came over to play and make potions with him, was because she said Severus was always a busy man.



Hermione was always reminded of Severus just by Tobi alone. The little one’s interest in potions was very surprising for someone so young. He always loved to play with his kiddy potions set, and even carried a vial or two in his hand. Sometimes it would be filled with a harmless potion, or milk and juice. There was a glint in Tobi’s eyes when he played potions, just like when Severus had in his when he worked with them.



The thought of Severus knowing of Tobi’s existence did frighten Hermione. She was afraid that he would reject his own son, and push him away like he did her. A child didn’t have to live with such pain. Then, part of her knew that overall, Severus was a good man, and would never do such a thing.



Hermione remembered the time that she had found out when she was pregnant. The possibility of it being Ron’s made her stomach turn, and feel sick. When she went to visit a doctor, she was relieved to know that she was two months along, meaning that it wasn’t Ron’s, but Severus’s. If it was Ron’s, she would have no problem having an abortion. She didn’t want to have a child with such a… monster.



The day Tobi was born, was the happiest day in Hermione’s life. Everything in the world seemed to fall right into place. Now though, things seemed like they would fall apart. Her past was catching up with her.



The setting sun over the horizon had caught Hermione’s attention by surprise. She looked at her watch, and noticed that it was getting late. Dinner was probably ready in the Great Hall. With a sigh, she pocketed the letter, and got up.



The pain in her knee had reminded her of the far walk she would have to take. She hopped down the stairs on one leg, and made her way towards the broom room. She was going to fly back to the castle.



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Hermione walked into the Great Hall, limping with her cane. Right away, she noticed that everyone was sitting at the Gryffindor table, and there were a few more familiar faces. “You have to tell Filch that one of the brooms from the pitch is at the entrance hall. I had to fly back here,” she said.



“Cane! Cane!” a little girl squealed, running towards Hermione’s direction.



Hermione stopped in her tracks and looked at the girl as she stopped in front of her. The grayish-silvery eyes and the long straight platinum blond hair made it quite obvious that she was a Malfoy. She looked very princess like with her pink dress, with the little sequins that glittered. “And who are you princess?” she asked as she bent down with a big smile.



“Cane!” she said again. She wrapped her little hands on Hermione’s cane and pulled at it.



Hermione didn’t say anything, but gladly let go of the cane. She smiled and watched the little girl run away, dragging the object behind her.



“Daniela Malfoy!” Ginny Weasley said aloud as she stood up from her seat. “Give Auntie Hermione her cane back, she needs it.”



“It’s alright Ginny,” Hermione said as she started hop towards them. She then sat herself on the closest empty space, which was between Eric and Severus. “I need another potion,” she told Severus.



Severus reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial, handing it to her.



Hermione popped the cork off and drank it all in one gulp.



“Hi Hermione,” Sirius smiled. “It’s good to see you again.



“I am truly sorry for what Ronald did,” Molly said.



“I am too Hermione,” Arthur said softly.



Hermione looked at them, gave a single nod, and then turned away. Ron was not a subject she wanted to talk about again. She reached for the goblet filled with ice cubes and got her napkin, wrapping some in them. With the wave of her fingers and a murmur under her breath, it was easily transfigured into an ice pack. She folded up the material of her jeans on her right leg, just above her knee below the table, and then iced her knee.



“Let me guess,” Johnny said as he looked at Hermione with a shake of his head. “You walked to the pitch, which happens to be far?”



“There was nothing that I found,” Hermione said sternly as she started to fill her plate with food. She then spotted Daniela who then grabbed Lucius’s cane behind his back, running off with both canes behind her as she giggled. “How old is she?” she asked.



“Two years,” Draco replied. “She’s quite a handful.”



“And so are you Hermione,” Dean argued. “You’d better take better care of your knee, or you might not be able to walk again for a week.”



“Then I’ll ice it all night,” Hermione said back at him as she ate some of her mashed potatoes and lamb strips. Sometimes she hated it when they were too over protective of her, plus, she was still her stubborn self.



“What happened to your knee?” Draco asked.



“Flying, broom, tree,” she answered.



“You, fly?” Harry asked, really confused.



“Believe it or not Potter, but yes. Sometimes people do anything just to catch the bad guys, no matter what,” Hermione said in a very serious tone.



Harry shrunk back in his seat, silent and continued to eat his food. He knew what she meant, and he was ashamed to say the least.



The subject around the table them quickly changed to Biff. Hermione was informed that there was going to be a press conference Saturday, in the Ministry, informing the British wizarding world about Biff and the case. Also, the security of Hogwarts and its students was also talked about. The wards were strengthened around the castle, and Hermione and her teammates would be staying in the castle for security purposes.



Hermione felt a patting on her back and turned around, seeing Daniela reach up towards her. Both canes were forgotten on the floor. With a smile, Hermione lifted her up in her arms and sat her on her lap.



“Mash,” Daniela said as she pointed at mashed potatoes on Hermione plate.



“Auntie Hermione, can I have some mash please,? Narcissa corrected her granddaughter.



“Nee… mash,” Daniela said.



“Close enough,” Hermione chuckled as she handed Daniela a spoonful.



Daniela took the spoon with a grin on her face. Then, she placed the spoon on Hermione’s chest, and dragged it across, smearing it all over Hermione.



“Daniela Malfoy!” Lucius scolded angrily.



Daniela’s eyes widened in fear, and started to get teary. She was very afraid of her grandfather when he got mad. Soon enough, she turned away from him, burying her face into Hermione’s arm, crying her eyes out.



“It’s alright Lucius. No harm, no foul,” Hermione said as she wiped the mess off with a napkin. Tobi would also play with his food sometimes and make a mess on her as well. She then started to rock Daniela in her arms, and whisper comforting words to her.



Severus watched her with soft eyes. Inwardly, he was smiling. Hermione looked so natural and motherly. Before, he used to imagine Hermione being the mother of his children. He imagined it again, wishing it were possible.



“I have two daughters of my own, and Hermione does spend time with them a lot,” Joshua informed everyone. It was true. Their children would get together and have a play date regularly.



Hermione pulled Daniela off her arms, and wiped her little tears with her fingers. “You are a little Slytherin princess aren’t you?”



The little girl nodded with a hiccup.



“And I’m sure that one day, you’ll have so many little boys falling for you.”



“Oh, I think not!” Draco objected. “She’s not going to have a boyfriend until… until she’s thirty.”



Hermione shook her head and smiled at Daniela. “You want to play potions now?”



“Play!” Daniela clapped her hands.



“Play potions?” Severus frowned.



“Yes. Harmful ones of course like bubble potions.” Hermione then stood up, and accioed her can in one hand, while she carried Daniela in her other arm. “We’ll just be in the kitchen, and I’ll feed her as well.”



“You don’t have to do that Hermione, really,” Ginny said.



“It’s alright. I want to,” Hermione said as she stuck her tongue out at Daniela who laughed at her. She was missing Tobi very much, and felt the need to play with Daniela. She said her goodbyes to everyone and headed out of the Great Hall.



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AN – Can Hermione fight off her old feelings for Severus? And don’t you think Daniela is a little cutie? Obviously, Draco and Ginny are married. Review!