Darkness Shadows Light 2

Chapter One - Love Is Blind, But Marriage Is A Real Eyener ner

Hermione couldn’t help smiling to herself as she watched her daughter, Ashanti, chatter excitedly with her best friend on platform nine and three-quarters. Ashanti was fairly tall for her age with dark auburn hair that, unlike her mother’s, fell silkily straight to her shoulders. Her companion was shorter with dark, scruffy hair and sparkling emerald eyes. Hermione could almost believe she had gone back in time eighteen years and that it was Harry standing there rather than his son. Except for three significant differences: there was no scar marring his forehead, his vision was perfect so he had no need for glasses, and finally it looked like the poor boy had inherited his other father’s nose after all. Hermione’s only hope was that he might grow into it…

Hermione remembered how relieved she had been when it had become apparent that neither Harry nor Severus had any disinclination for her daughter because of her natural father and had seemed pleased that their son got on so well with her daughter. The children practically grew up together. Their closeness wasn’t a surprise. She could not help wondering what had happened to Ron. No one had ever heard from him after Voldemort\'s death and though she knew it was wrong of her, she was glad that he was not in Azkaban. She had a feeling that Harry felt the same way and also had a sneaking suspicion that it was due to him that the investigation into Ron Weasley had ended as quickly as it had.

‘What are you smiling at, love?’ softly asked a male voice, breaking into her thoughts. It belonged to the tall, dark-haired man standing next to her. Taking his hand, she replied equally softly.

‘I was just thinking how lucky we are that everything turned out so well.’

‘I think that every moment of every day,’ he replied solemnly, his light blue eyes gazing into her soft brown ones, both shining with the love they shared. It had been a rocky road for them, what with their feelings growing at the same rate as Hermione’s stomach. At first he had simply been there for her at Harry’s request, because Harry trying to juggle parenthood, marriage and his teacher’s certificate studies, had simply not had the time to be there himself.

What at first he had considered a rather onerous task quickly changed as they had grown closer and closer, but both bee been too scared to admit their feelings because it seemed ‘inappropriate’ whilst she was carrying another man’s child. D-day had arrived though, when Hermione was eight months pregnant…

Sirius casually knocked on Hermione’s door before walking in, only to find her sitting on her bed, crying.
‘What’s the matter?’ he asked urgently, his mind immediately fearing for the baby.

‘I’m so fat and ugly!’ she burst out. ‘I hate being pregnant!’

‘But you’re beautiful,’ Sirius had protested, so relieved that nothing was wrong with the baby that it came out more passionately than he had intended.

Hermione looked at him, startled.

‘Do you really think so?’ she had asked doubtfully, though the hope in her eyes shone through.

‘Of course,’ Sirius drove on recklessly, sitting down on the bed next to her and bringing out his handkerchief to dry her eyes. ‘You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known and soon you’re going to have a gorgeous baby as well.’ With every word he had found himself drawing closer until he suddenly realised he was caressing her cheek. He snatched his hand away, apologising.
‘I-I’m sorry,’ he stammered. ‘I got carried away.’

Hermione looked at his wonderingly, before blushing and looking away.

‘I like it when you get carried away,’ she admitted in a small voice, staring at the floor. Then she felt a hand on her chin tilting her face up so that she was looking straight at him and the look on his face had confirmed all she had hoped.

There had been many words of love that night and before morning had dawned, Sirius had asked Hermione to marry him and been tearfully accepted.

Of course, if they had thought anyone would be surprised, they were sorely mistaken. It turned out that everyone had thought they’d been an item for weeks!

They had married a week later and neither had ever had a moment of regret. Sirius was a loving husband and the perfect father to Ashanti – and as far as her daughter knew, he was her father.
Hermione’s smile faltered as, with a pang, she suddenly thought of her best friend and was reminded exactly why Matthew was here rather than already at Hogwarts with his parents. Harry and Severus had always had a tempestuous relationship as both had such fiery tempers. Recently, instead of the occasional flare ups followed by intense making-up, they had been in almost constant battle with each other, causing great distress to everyone around them, especially their son. In despair, she and Sirius had offered to take Matthew for the summer and insisted they go away alone somewhere and work things out. She dearly hoped it had worked, but there had been no information in the occasional owls they had received from Harry.

What did worry her was that they had missed the trip to Diagon Alley to pick up the school supplies. She would not have missed the look on her daughter’s face as she waved her destined wand for the world. They had simply sent an owl asking them to make sure Matthew was properly equipped. Matthew hiddeidden his disappointment well. However, Hermione knew he was hurt by his parents seemingly lack of interest in one of the most important events in his life so far.

She loved Matthew dearly; he was a sweet child who did not seem to have inherited either of his father\'s temperaments…or their powers. Hermione found it very strange that after all the furore and worry which had surrounded his conception that he seemed rather ordinary. If anything, her own daughter had shown more talent with magic so faMattMatthew seemed to have little to no interest in testing his abilities.

The whistle of the Hogwarts Express made her jump as it pulled her out of her troubled thoughts. Pasting what she hoped was a realistic smile on her face, she turned to the two children.

‘Well, I guess it’s time for you to get on the train,’ she said, pulling her daughter into a fierce hug.

‘Bye mum,’ Ashanti said in a muffled voice. ‘You can let me go now.’ Reluctantly, Hermione released her daughter who was then swiftly drawn into the arms of her husband. Hermione turned to Matthew who looked nervous.

‘Bye Aunt Hermione,’ he said. ‘Thanks for everything.’

Hermione hugged him, worried at the tenseness she felt in his body.

‘Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be fine,’ she whispered into his ear, fervently hoping it was true.

‘I hope so too,’ he replied in a subdued voice. Hermione’s heart went out to him. She knew how much he loved his parents and how much it hurt him to see them argue. Still, she thought, at least he would be in a dormitory with those his own age now and have plenty of distractions if Harry and Severus had not resolved their differences.

***********

The journey to Hogwarts was fairly uneventful. Matthew and Ashanti found a compartment of their own and spent the journey chatting happily, though carefully avoiding the subject of Matthew’s parents.
Once at Hogwarts, they went with the rest of the first years and Hagrid to the boats. A few of the others looked quite scared at the size of the half-giant. To Matthew, Hagrid was like an uncle and he purposefully only sketched a wave at him. Matthew didn’t want to appear too forward in front of the others.

Professor McGonagall greeted them at the steps and before Matthew was ready, they were in the great hall with hundreds of other chattering students. His heart leapt as he spotted his fathers at the top table, both smiling with pleasure. He managed a weak smile back, but the moment he had been half-dreading, half waiting for, was finally at hand. He was to be sorted.

He watched with anticipation as Ashanti was called to sit on the stool. He knew she was confident that she would be a Gryffindor, as both her parents had been. Therefore when the hat called out ‘Slytherin!’ he was as shocked as she looked. Matthew glanced towards his parents and caught an uneasy look between them. It seemed that they were not too happy either. He couldn’t help but think this was a bit strange what with his Papa being Head of Slytherin. He assumed they were more worried about Uncle Sirius’ reaction.

His mind was in tur. H. He had decided long ago that he wanted to be in Gryffindor with Ashanti. Though neither of his fathers had categorically stated it, he knew they wanted him anywhere but Slytherin. He wasn\'t stupid. He had grown up at Hogwarts and knew the dubious reputation the Slytherins had. He also knew Papa had done some bad things He wasn\'t sure what, but Uncle Sirius occasionally let things slip and by the sounds of it, it had been really, really bad.

Matthew found this hard to imagine from the man who had brought him up. Although they could hardly be considered a normal family, he knew both his parents loved him and though his Papa was a bit strict sometimes and was always giving detentions, he had always seemed a good person to him.

In the midst of these thoughts, he wasn\'t even aware of his name being called until he realised Professor McGonagall\'s eyes were on him. Blushing, he stumbled forward, avoiding looking at the staff table. In the background he could hear a buzz of whispers that hadn\'t been there for any of the other first years

*But then none of them were famous before they were even born.* he couldn\'t help but think bitterly. His parents had done their best to protect him from the publicity. Unfortunately, every time he went out with them, they were all constantly stared at. Sometimes he wished he had been born into a normal family…

\'Ah what have we here?\' the sorting hat said as it was placed on his head. \'A Potter and a Snape? Well, well, this is a bit of a conundrum. I sense you have courage and a strength of will which would make you a good Gryffindor, but I sense a hidden power within you…and ambition. Better be…SLYTHERIN!\'

Harry and Snape looked at each other, their faces carefully masked, as the glue that held their marriage together was declared a Slytherin. Snape tentatively reached for Harry\'s hand under the cover of the table. At the touch, Harry snatched his hand away, his face still expressionless. Snape could not suppress a sigh as he thought of all the things that had brought his marriage to the point where Harry couldn\'t even stand to touch him.

He knew it was mainly his fault, but he had no idea how to fix it this time.

TBC.