Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Her limit was five hundred dollars. Five. Hundred. Dollars.

That’s what Hermione decided on early this evening as she got ready for the biggest event of the season. The Saint Magnus’ Hospital Annual Fundraiser, which occurred every May, was a bachelor auction this year and the offerings were certainly enticing. Thirty eligible bachelors volunteered their time to raise money for the renovation and maintenance of the pediatric ward of the old hospital.

Numbers one through twenty-six were a mix of medical doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, real estate tycoons, businessmen, and one insanely gorgeous firefighter. His name was Blaise ironically, and he made the hospital five thousand dollars with a sparkling smile and a flirtatious wink to the crowd. A well-to-do woman named Ms. Bulstrode, who sat on the hospital board according to Katie, won a date with him after only two raises of her paddle. No one else could compete with those deep pockets. With her gone, the other dates were going for under a thousand once more.

Hermione’s limit was five hundred so why the hell was she bidding one thousand?

Number 27’s name was Sev. He was six foot two, a researcher, and obviously too shy to be up there on this stage. Hermione’s heart went out to him but she also just wanted to meet him.

“One thousand, one hundred!” another woman shouted to the auctioneer, waving idiotically. Hermione rolled her eyes and Susan laughed at her.

“Get him, girl!”

“One thousand, five hundred!” Hermione called, holding the paddle regally. She might be spending a small fortune on a date with a stranger but she still had her dignity.

The auctioneer called for higher bids but none came. 

“Sold to paddle number 191!”

Hermione smiled up at her prize and he smiled back modestly as he adjusted his bowtie. The black tie event meant he was wearing a tuxedo that fit him just right if Hermione had to share her opinion. Sev left the stage and gestured for her to meet him at the donation station where she could submit her contribution electronically.

“I’ll be right back,” Hermione told her tablemates. Susan and Katie acknowledged her quickly before focusing on Number 28, a former model turned luxury car dealer. They hadn’t won anything just yet. Happily, Hermione took her purse and paddle over to the table at the back of the room with a massive green and silver balloon arch. A nearby poster board said: THE CHILDREN OF ST MAGNUS HOSPITAL THANK YOU. Hermione, approaching the table and this man, thought ‘You’re Welcome.’

“Paddle number please.”

“Huh?” asked Hermione.

The woman sitting at the table didn’t look amused. She wore all pink and a look of contempt on her face. Shouldn’t the people working at a charity event for sick children be a little more appreciative? Or welcoming? “Paddle number please.”

“One hundred ninety-one,” she answered, showing the paddle.

“One thousand, five hundred dollars was your bid, correct?”

“Correct.”

The tall, beautiful man next to her exhaled loudly. “What? Are you serious?”

Hermione turned to him with a smile. “You didn’t hear when you were up there?”

“Honestly, the only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat," he said blushing slightly. “That’s an incredible donation.”

“It’s not five thousand dollars,” Hermione shrugged.

“It’s more than I ever thought I’d get.”

The pink woman cleared her throat, obviously irritated with whatever was happening in front of her. “Would you like to pay electronically or use a check?”

Hermione pulled out her credit card. The woman showed her where to insert the card. Once the transaction was complete, she said, “You’re done.”

Hermione blinked twice and said, “So… No thank you for your donation? No little party favors?”

Sighing, the woman tossed a small brown bear wearing a stethoscope onto the table from a bucket on the floor. Snarkily she said, “Thank you for your donation.”

His gentle masculine voice said, “Uh…We should discuss what you want to do on our date.”

Hermione squinted at her with glaring eyes, willing herself not to tear this woman apart verbally. It was a good cause, she reminded herself and took a deep breath. Plus, she got what she came for…

“Sure,” she said with a confident smile, guiding him into the much quieter atrium just outside the event hall. Hermione was wearing a red velvet cocktail dress with a cinched waistline and a slit that went a little too high for a charity event. She felt and looked great. Hermione got the feeling that he felt the same way. The researcher was checking her out as discreetly as he could manage. She let him. Who knows what he might discover?

“I guess I can give this thing to Cara,” Hermione muttered softly to herself, squeezing the little bear toy and stress reliever.

With a timid smile, he asked, “What’s your name?

“Hermione.”

“I’m Sev. Severus, really. Severus Snape.”

“I’m Hermione Granger. Well, Dr. Granger.”

“Really? What kind of doctor?”

“A dentist,” she answered. “You're a researcher? What kind of research?”

“Epidemiology with a focus on chronic diseases.”

“Cancers? Diabetes?”

“Congenital heart defects mainly,” he said with a gulp. “I’m sorry. I’m very nervous.”

“Don’t be,” Hermione told him kindly. “This kind of thing isn’t for you, is it?”

“No,” he said with a chuckle. “Can you tell? My friend begged--well, blackmailed me into doing this. She’s running the fundraiser and needed thirty guys to put in the auction. It’s for a good cause so I eventually caved.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you. Your work hits really close to home. My daughter had a hole in her heart when she was born,” Hermione shared. “Terrifying to hear when you’re pregnant.”

He softened and asked, “Is she alright?”

“Yes, it’s closed now. Thank goodness.”

“I’m glad,” he said earnestly. 

He was so genuine, more concerned than her ex-husband ever was. She met him ten minutes earlier.

“Alright. You paid for a date. It comes with a limo ride and a bottle of champagne if you are so inclined. I can get sparkling cider if you don’t drink.”

“I don't, so I'd really appreciate that actually.”

“No problem. Where would you like to go?”

‘Your bed,’ Hermione thought. Aloud, she said, “I like Italian food.”

“How does Signora Zabini’s sound?” he suggested after a beat. “Do you know it? In Gold Lion Gardens?”

She nodded. “I know it. It’s one of my favorites. I can’t wait.”

“Great,” Sev smiled. He reached out his hand cordially. Shaking his hand, Hermione heard, “By the way, it’s nice to meet you too.”

Chapter Text

Dr. Granger lived well. As the limo pulled up to 1902 Griffin Terrace, Severus was impressed with the mansions that dotted the two-lane street. Each house was really an estate, with extensive grounds and barred front gates. He knew she was wealthy since she dropped a significant amount of money on one evening out that wasn’t worth more than $250 at most. 

The home in 1902 wasn’t lit up like the others which was curious. He confirmed with her the address and the time he would come by to pick her up. Luckily, her gate was open. Not waiting for the limo driver to open the door, Severus soon saw why.

Dr. Granger was just parking her car. Severus chuckled when he read her license plate: SMLE4ME.

That was easy, he thought to himself. The woman was absolutely beautiful. When he told her he was nervous at the auction, it wasn’t because he didn’t like being on stage. It was because she was intimidating as hell. Confidence surrounded her like an aura. She walked like she knew just how gorgeous her curves were and wanted you to know as well. His eyes had followed her all the way to the donation table, and he soon followed like a puppy on a leash. Once Severus could see her up close, he was instantly expecting her husband to appear next to her to let him know that the donation was made and there would be no need for a date. He’d tell Severus that he could go home and cry. But, there was no ring on her finger and she seemed excited to go out with him for some reason. There was no way Dr. Granger couldn’t afford to visit Signora Zabini’s whenever she pleased.

That night, a brilliant, straight white smile graced her features. Long brown waves flowed to the middle of her back, like a cascade, which only complimented the sparkling honey-brown eyes that twinkled when she spoke. He especially loved how she nearly started an altercation with the rude woman collecting the donations. A little bit of passion and drama never hurt anybody. Just a little made life interesting, he figured. 

A woman like her was most definitely out of his league.

Wearing his best, a wool black suit with a dark green dress shirt, Severus stood confidently. She might be used to seeing wealthier men, but Severus knew he looked good. 

“Oh fuck!” she exclaimed and quickly covered her mouth with a giggle. “Sorry. I completely forgot about this.”

“Oh.” Severus said, “It’s okay. You’re just getting home?”

She slumped and leaned against the black luxury sedan. Looking drained, she gently shut her car door. “Yes. A patient had an emergency and I had to turn back. That was two hours ago.”

“You’re tired?”

“I’ve been worse,” she smiled. “I can’t possibly get ready in time to make our reservation. I need a shower and my hair is a mess.”

He surveyed her and saw a head full of curls that looked lovely just as they were. “Your hair is fine.”

She waved him off and said, “I can’t go out like this. I’m sorry I wasted your night. I’m sure you had a long day too.”

He hadn’t. On Fridays, he was able to work from home and there wasn’t much to do. He spent the day cleaning and grocery shopping for Abigail. She liked almond milk with her cereal and he was out.

“So no date?” he asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. He wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. That was a fucking lie.

“I was really looking forward to it, I promise. I just… I’m not tired but the thought of going anywhere right now is too much.”

The limo and a bottle of sparkling cider patiently waited for them. Taking a risk and chance, Severus said, “I have an idea. Feel free to say no.”

“What is it?”

“You paid for a date. After a day like today, you should have a little fun, right?”

She grinned at him through mischievous eyes. “Right. I like where this is going so far…”

Good lord, was she actually flirting with him?

“Uh--We could order something and just have our date here. I know it’s weird and we just met and you might not want me in your house.”

“Sev,” she said. “I would kill for a veggie pizza right now.”

“Pizza? Okay. I’ll tell the limo to go and we’ll order a pizza.”

She walked away and Severus had to stop himself from staring at her backside and made his way to the limo. Grabbing his cider and telling the limo driver that he was no longer needed for the night, Severus schooled himself at her front door before crossing the threshold. 

“You look really nice,” she whined, closing the dark wood front door and flipping on the lights in the foyer. A chandelier brightened above their heads. “I’m so sorry. I’m such a jerk.”

“You’re a dentist and treated a patient. That’s not what jerks do. It’s the opposite, I think.”

She laughed at him and said, “Are you nervous again?”

“Why?”

“You talk kind of fast when you’re nervous. You did it at the auction.”

“Oh. Yes, I’m a little nervous,” he admitted.

“Don’t be,” she said, leading him further into the house. The more switches she flipped, the more Severus could see her home. It was larger than it seemed from the outside. Dark hardwood floors and pristine white walls were the first thing he noticed. Everything was clean and had its place. She placed her car keys in a bowl sitting on a hallway table. 

“Here’s the living room,” she said, walking ahead of him into a large sunken area with a massive sectional complete with pillows and two throws. “Make yourself at home. You can order the pizza. I’m a vegetarian.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll put that in the fridge to keep it cold,” Hermione said, pointing to the cider. “You remembered?”

“I actually don’t drink either so I was happy to get it for you.”

“So you could have some too?” she smirked.

He cleared his throat. “It was a completely selfish act. You caught me.”

“And here I thought you were a nice guy,” Hermione said walking away, presumably to the kitchen. “Get to ordering. I’m starving!”

She was out of sight before he could reply. As someone who ordered food regularly, Severus completed his task expeditiously. The wait time was only forty minutes on this side of town, which was serendipitous on a Friday night. Hermione was moving around her house and he could hear her upstairs, probably changing out of her work clothes. 

Waiting for her to return, Severus explored the living room. One wall was composed of built-in shelves and it was overflowing with books, trinkets, and framed photographs. There was one of her with an older couple. They looked to be proud parents. Another photograph was of a little girl in a bright pink bathing suit at the beach. The child appeared in other photographs too.

“That’s Cara,” Hermione said, surprising him. She had been wearing a pair of slacks and a simple purple blouse earlier. Now, she wore a skin-tight dress the same color as the one she’d worn the night they met. It was a sinful red. This dress, however, came to her mid-thigh. If she dropped anything at all tonight, Severus would not be a gentleman. She’d have to bend over. He needed her to. 

The dress was unnecessary. He knew she had other clothes. Severus saw them so why had she chosen this?

Was she really trying something?

Could he be this lucky?

He should participate in charitable events more often.

“Cara is your daughter, right?”

“Yes,” the proud mother said. “My sweet baby girl. Not a baby anymore. She’s almost five and I can’t believe it. She’s at my dad’s tonight. They’re having a movie night. I think they're watching that old movie, Babbity Rabbity. She loves it.”

“My daughter does too.”

“What’s her name?” Hermione asked.

“Abigail.”

“Her name means ‘father’s joy.’”

“How did you know?” Severus inquired. “I didn’t know until a year ago. We just liked the name.”

“It’s Cara’s middle name,” she said. “Her father insisted and since I picked her first name, I let him have it.”

“So, you’re divorced?”

She said, “We’ve been happily divorced for two years.”

“I like that,” he chuckled. “I’ll start using it. She’s very cute. She looks like you.”

“Thank you. You think I’m cute?” she asked teasingly. 

“I’m not answering that.”

“Why not?”

When Severus didn’t answer, she sighed and said, “I know I am. It’s okay. I won’t make you say it.”

“Thank you,” he said cheekily.

She smiled coyly before sweeping her curls over her shoulder and heading towards the entertainment center. “Wanna watch something until the pizza comes?” Hermione proposed, picking up the remote.

“Sure.”

She opened Netflix and began scrolling through movie titles. Severus didn’t give a damn what she picked so he agreed to the first suggestion, a silly rom-com he’d never watch in a million years. After the first ten minutes, the doorbell rang. She hopped up and went to the door. He watched as she pulled a wad of cash from her bra to give to the delivery person for his tip. The tall young man with long dreads and many piercings made eye contact with Severus and gave him a nod of recognition. Severus would be a liar if he didn’t feel a surge of pride that the delivery person thought she was his or soon would be.

“What was that about?” she asked, letting the door close behind her and locking it.

“What?”

“The nod. He gave you one of those nods guys give each other. He’s proud of you or something.”

“He’s happy for me,” Severus said, reaching out for the pizza boxes. She let him have them and showed him into the kitchen. 

“I don’t eat in the living room,” she explained. “Only the kitchen. I rarely use the dining room. Sorry, I am a little controlling when it comes to cleanliness.”

“I have no reason to judge you. Don’t apologize.”

“So, why is he happy for you?” Hermione asked, fingers tapping on the gorgeous antique brown granite countertops.

Severus smiled and gestured to her. “You’re cute. You’re hot, I guess.”

“You admit it!” Hermione grinned. “So what? What does that have to do with you?”

“You know.”

“I’m not a guy. I have never been a guy. I won’t make any assumptions as to why a stranger is happy for you and what that has to do with me being cute or hot.”

Severus went to open the box but her hand stopped him. 

“Severus?” she sang.

“He thinks we’re together or that we’re on a date or that we’re gonna have sex. It’s probably the last one.”

“I know,” she said. “Are we?”

“Having sex?” he clarified. “Now?”

“Soon,” she replied hopefully. “Are we?”

“Do you want to?” Severus asked, his voice dropping octaves.

She inched closer to him, running her hand up his shirt sleeve. “Why do you think I put this ridiculous dress on?” Hermione asked. “And no underwear?”

“None?”

She shook her head all while biting her lip. “Wanna check?”

Severus wanted to check. He wanted to do research, write a dissertation, and earn a doctoral degree in the study of this woman’s body. Before he could even answer, she was close enough to kiss. 

“Check,” Hermione said just loud enough for him to hear. She took his hand and brought it to her smooth backside. “Nothing?” she asked, looking up at him with sultry brown eyes. 

“Nothing.”

Then, she said, “I hope you weren’t hungry.”

The pizzas sat forgotten. Hungry? Horny. He was horny and he knew that she knew. She had to know.

“I am hungry,” Severus said. She wanted this and he wanted this so there was no need to be nervous. Pulling up her dress firmly, he exposed her bare ass and smacked it gently. 

She gasped and moaned. “Oh, fuck. Harder next time. Hungry for what?”

“Pussy,” he said directly into her ear as he rubbed her reddened skin. Smacking the other cheek, Severus said, “Thirsty too. Is that pussy wet, princess?”

Hermione nodded and looked up at him like she was awaiting instruction. Softly, she said, “Can we go upstairs now?”

Questions.

Not statements.

Sweet submission.

Could he be this lucky? He picked her up, causing her to squeal, and set her on the kitchen table. Confused, she said, “Huh?”

Severus reminded her, “We only eat in the kitchen.”

Chapter Text

“We only eat food in the kitchen,” Hermione told him timidly, looking up at him and specifically his lips. “Upstairs is better.”

Severus’s dark eyes dared her to keep talking. Hermione wondered if he’d punish her for telling him what to do. God, she hoped so.

“She sits here to eat,” Hermione explained. “I just can’t. It feels wrong. Sorry.”

Chuckling, Severus just held out his hand for her as a gentleman would. Hermione took it and hopped off the table surface as gracefully as she could manage. 

“I understand,” he said casually with a kind smile. “So, upstairs?”

Still holding his hand, Hermione led him out of the kitchen. “That’s where the condoms are.”

Flipping the light switch in her bedroom, Hermione immediately apologized for the disorder and clutter. Her closet and wardrobe practically exploded in her rush to get ready for him.

“You made a mess, Princess.”

Turning to face him, Hermione said, “I can make an even bigger one.”

With a raised brow, Severus pulled her flush against his body. “Show me.”

“What?”

“I want to see you make a mess, Princess. Do it for me,” he said. Before she could even agree, Hermione felt him pull the hem of her dress up, not only exposing her ass but the rest of her body as well. She made it easier for him by raising her arms. Severus’ honest reaction to her body let Hermione know she still had it. The way he looked at her nearly erased every nasty thing her ex said about her. He unhooked her bra quickly and threw it across the room. Hermione saw his behavior as dominant and certain, making her excited for what was to come.

“Let me see how wet you are. I’m still thirsty.”

Resting on the edge of her sleigh bed, Hermione scooted back but kept her legs closed. He was still fully dressed and she didn’t think that was fair. 

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” she said. 

“You’ll show me yours because I said so, Princess.”

His tone was enough for her to spread herself open wide. Hermione knew she must have looked wild with her hair fanned out on the messy bed and her eyes heavy with lust. Sliding her fingers from her thigh to her center, Hermione said, “I want to see. Please?”

The man unbuttoned his shirt slowly, teasing her terribly. Hermione would ban all buttons, zippers, and belt buckles because Severus was torturing her. Sign her petition because she’d wanted him since she saw him on that stage and even now, she had to wait. As his pants fell to her carpeted floor, Hermione gasped at the sight of the bulge in his boxers.

He shook his head, saying, “You can’t see until you come… Play with your clit, baby.”

It wouldn’t be hard to get there. He was looking at her like he wanted to eat her alive and palming his hardening cock. She was soaking wet and he’d been edging her since he showed up in that limo. Circling her bundle of nerves, Hermione used her other hand to tweak her nipple, twisting and pulling the way she liked. 

“You’re so wet, baby…”

“Your fault. I was wet when I came home that night. Been thinking about you ever since.”

“Have you been touching yourself like this?”

Hermione bit her lip and closed her eyes. Ignoring his question, she let out a whimper and moan. “I kept trying to imagine you and it wasn’t enough. It’s not enough,” Hermione whined.

What sounded like a growl came from his mouth and Hermione found her hand pushed away. His tongue licked a stripe from her pussy to her clit before attacking her with the tip of his tongue. He licked, sucked, and bit. Hermione’s hand flew to his hair and pulled when her orgasm surprised her. 

“Ahhh!” she cried out. Her thighs were held apart and his assault continued. Shocks of electricity shot from her clit to the rest of her body and she soon found herself overwhelmed. “Sev! Stop! No more! I can’t come again!”

He pulled back, looking cocky. “Good?”

“Yes,” she said giggling. “I like that. I like it a lot.”

Laughing at her, Severus said, “What? You’ve never had someone go down on you?”

She shook her head, feeling giddy. “No. Never. Heard about it but never got to experience it.”

“Get used to it, Princess.”

Was he planning to stick around? This wouldn’t be a one-night stand? Hermione giggled again, even more giddy than before. She was happy and wanted to bask in it. But, he had other plans.

“Where are they, baby?”

Eyes closed, legs open, Hermione replied, “Where’s what?”

“The condoms.”

“Look in the bottom drawer of the nightstand.”

Sitting up on her elbows, Hermione watched him intently. He smirked at her and said, “Am I what you imagined?”

In her head, Hermione thought ‘Better.’ He’d made her come twice already. It was barely nine o’clock. Aloud she said, “You haven’t sucked on my nipples yet so no,” cupping her breasts and massaging them. 

Again, one brow went up and he was on her in seconds. Fingers sank into her heat and he was sucking and biting one of her nipples. Inside her, he fucked into her g-spot with his thick digits. The pleasure-pain of his biting was driving Hermione into the next orgasm. 

“I’m close!”

Without warning, Severus used his thumb to stimulate her clit. His whispers of “Good girl”, “Such a little slut,” and “Let go, Princess,” had Hermione grabbing for the comforter but could not find purchase and ended up raking her nails up his back instead as she came.  She could not do much damage because he was already moving between her legs and lining up with her entrance. Silently, he asked for her permission and just as quietly, she gave it with a nod.

Hermione was so fucking hot and it was like they couldn’t stop. 

They were on their second condom.

 They were on the floor. 

How they ended up there, Hermione could not begin to tell you. She’d lost her voice maybe three positions ago. She rode him and he fucked her like a toy made just for him. He took her from behind, pulled her hair, and called her a slut. She agreed. He kissed her body. She kissed his lips and he let her. 

Severus spanked her when she was bad and kissed her when she was good. Hermione wanted to be so good for him. She was Princess and she loved it.

Sometime around two in the morning, Hermione woke up on her bed, thankfully, in a fully lit room with a man she’d met just a week prior. She didn’t have any rules for this. Her friends might tell her that she was supposed to make him wait and prove himself, get to know him, and see if he was worthy.

He was worthy and worth it.

Her legs hurt in the best way. Her everything hurt. Even her cheeks (on her face) hurt from smiling so much. In the bathroom mirror, a naked Hermione inspected the love bites Severus left all over her neck, shoulders, chest, back, thighs-- he had been everywhere. Her body was a canvas and he was the artist.

“I might have gone too far.” 

Smiling even harder at the sound of his voice and the feeling of him wrapping his arms around her from behind, Hermione met his eyes in the reflection. 

She said, “Your back is all scratched up because of me.”

“Don't worry about it. It means you were having a good time.”

“I was. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said sweetly..

“I didn’t feel you next to me so I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

“A romantic?” she questioned.

“Maybe,” he shrugged, leaning in to peck her on the cheek. “How are you?”

Turning around in his embrace, Hermione faced him. “I feel like I’ve been running a marathon.”

“Poor thing.”

“I’m hungry too,” she said, pouting. “We never ate.”

“I ate.”

“Food, Severus!” she laughed. “Food. There’s cold pizza downstairs.”

Grabbing a short white robe with pink hearts, Hermione covered herself. Severus pulled on his pants and followed her downstairs. Once a few slices were heated up in the microwave and two glasses of cider were poured, their date could finally begin.

“I don’t think this is what the Saint Magnus Hospital Fundraising Committee had in mind for these dates,” Hermione said, taking a sip of the carbonated drink. 

“Hours of sex? No. It’s a Catholic institution. I don’t think encouraging premarital sex was ever one of their goals.”

“I don’t think so either,” Hermione said. “You know something? You were expensive, now that I think about it.”

Severus laughed. “Your donation was sizable. You didn’t buy me. I’m not a gigolo.”

“Fifteen hundred dollars in one night is a pretty good payout. A career to consider,” she said teasingly. “I’m joking. It was for a good cause. So… What are your plans for the weekend?”

“I’ll pick up my daughter tomorrow around noon. We’ll go out to lunch and go bowling or get our nails done. She hadn’t decided yet when I called her yesterday.”

Hermione said, “That’s adorable. What color do you usually get?”

“Clear,” he said, showing her his nails. “See.”

She could see the chipped remnants of a clear gloss. “Next time, get crystal clear. Treat yourself.”

“I’ll ask if they have it.”

“Does she only see you on the weekends?”

“It depends. Our custody agreement leaves some room for flexibility. She’s with me every weekend unless there’s a special event. School breaks or days off, she’s with me. Marlene has her Christmas Eve and I pick her up on Christmas Day. I have her for six weeks during the summer break. We have a family Google calendar to keep up with all of it.”

“Do you like having to share like that?”

“It has its negatives and positives. Since she’s with her mom tonight, I could be here with you. My mother passed away when Abby was two and my dad died about seven years ago. Neither of us have much in the way of family. When I have her, Marlene can get some time to just be Marlene. She says she appreciates how involved I am.”

“You seem to have a good relationship with her,” Hermione said, secretly wishing she could have something similar.

“We’re friendly. Six years and we called it quits. I’m not going back to her if you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t but thanks for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.” The man shifted in his chair. 

“I’m not going back to my ex either,” Hermione offered, trying to make him feel comfortable again. He put himself out there so she could meet him halfway. “We are not friendly.”

“Was it that bad?”

“He doesn’t even speak to Cara. As far as she’s concerned, she has no father.”

“I will never understand how a man can do that. The second I knew Marlene was pregnant, I knew I would be there for my child. It’s baffling. You do everything on your own?”

“I have full custody, legal and physical. If he comes near her, I have to be notified.”

“Does he at least do his part financially?”

Hermione gestured to the room. “I won this house in the divorce. He pays child support and all health and education expenses.”

“Wow. Good. I’m glad.” He looked around surveying the space. “This house is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she said. “There were a few good things to come out of that marriage. Cara is the best thing. This house is pretty nice I admit. I’d never be able to afford one like this. It’s too big though and I think about selling it sometimes. It’s too much to clean. The utilities are insane. I don’t know. After everything he put me through, I feel like I earned it.”

“If it was that bad, I’m glad you got out of it.”

“Trust me. I am too. Being a single mother is hard but I have my uncle. He’s like her grandpa. That’s what she calls him.”

“Are your parents…”

“When I was eight,” Hermione responded. “They were dentists too. They inspired me. Uh--There was an accident on a boat when they were on vacation. They left me with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Rob for the week. I ended up living with them until I was eleven. I went to boarding school for most of the year.”

“How was that?”

“I loved it once I made some friends. I was a scholarship student and they could tell. The first few months were hard. Eventually, I made lifelong friends there.”

“Would you send Cara to the same school?”

“Absolutely not,” Hermione answered. “My baby stays with me. The thought of it--No. She stays here.”

“Will you let her go to college?”

Hermione paused and then said, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. She’s four.”

Severus smiled and told her, “I wish Abby would slow down. She tells me that her classmates have already started ‘dating.’ Using quotes, Severus looked genuinely concerned. “They’re six.”

“They’re just playing,” Hermione reassured him. “Playing house.”

“They need to play sports or something. She’s not dating.”

“Ever?” asked Hermione. “Ever, ever?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” he echoed. “Cara’s four… You were only married for two years?”

“Almost to the day.”

“Damn.”

“It’s over. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay. What are you going to do this weekend?”

“My uncle will drop off Cara tomorrow afternoon. She’s got a swim lesson. We’ll probably just hang out at home after that.”

“Sounds relaxing. Restful.”

“I need to rest. Someone wore me out,” she told him pointedly but gave him a playful smile.

He grinned and asked, “What are you doing next weekend?”

“‘Relaxing’ as you put it. Why?”

“I want to take you to Signora Zabini’s next Friday.”

“On a date?” Hermione asked, pretending to be bashful. “With me?”

“Yes, with you. A real date. No donation necessary.”

Happily, she said, “I’ll see if my friend can babysit.”

“That’s a yes?”

“That’s a maybe--pending a response from a third party.”

“I’ll take it. I just hope you remember it this time.”

“I will,” she promised. “But, no limo this time.”

“You don’t like limos?” asked Severus.

“I like them normally,” Hermione said simply. “But, we’ll have to wait an entire week to see each other again and--Well, limos have chauffeurs.”

“So?”

“I’m not an exhibitionist and we don’t need an audience.”

Chapter Text

Severus and Hermione had to carve out time to see each other since Cara lived with her full-time and he had Abigail every weekend. He could appreciate the fact that she hadn’t introduced him to her daughter yet. He wouldn’t want just anyone in his daughter’s life either. Both he and Marlene understood that they would both move on eventually. Before Marlene introduced her current partner, Joe, to Abigail, she had Severus meet him first. She explained that she didn’t want Severus to wonder about the new man in his daughter’s life. The two men were not friends but they respected each other’s boundaries. On more than one occasion, Severus was able to have a civil conversation with the man. Abigail liked him and hadn’t said anything concerning.

As a single mother, Hermione didn’t have many opportunities to go out with other adults without utilizing a babysitter. Since she didn’t trust strangers in her house or with her child, Hermione mainly leaned on her uncle. If she wanted to see Severus or have him stay overnight, Hermione would make plans with him. Her Uncle Robert was happy to help her and even said he was glad to see her enjoying her life again.

Severus arrived at Hermione’s place and parked in the circular driveway after six since Robert was picking up Cara at five. He wanted to respect Hermione’s boundaries because he knew they had been violated in the past. She had alluded to the dynamic of her marriage but didn’t like to talk about it too much. He wouldn’t push. 

Making his way to the front door, Severus noticed a very expensive, top-of-the-line luxury sedan parked on the road. It was a strange sight considering there were no other cars parked in the lane. Each house had an extensive driveway and garage so street parking was unnecessary and discouraged. Assuming it was someone who was lost or perhaps a delivery person, Severus paid it no mind. He rang the doorbell and was greeted by a smiley Hermione, still in her work clothes. She even had her white coat on. “Hello, Dr. Granger,” he teased. 

She looked down and laughed. “I forgot I had this on. Cara was making things very difficult and I never even got to change.”

“Did she want to stay home? I can g--”

“No. She wanted to take all of her stuffed animals with her. We had a long argument .”

“Who won?”

Hermione just shook her head, and said, “Come in.”

Once she pulled him into the house, Severus carefully pushed her up against the wall of the foyer, kissing her deeply. She submitted to him easily. He could feel her whole body relaxing in his hold. 

Sliding his hands under her blouse, he coaxed a moan out of her. 

“Cold,” she said into the space between their lips. “Warm me up?”

“That’s what I was doing,” Severus replied, pressing his lips to hers again. Not ten seconds passed before the doorbell rang.

Hermione made a face of confusion. “It’s almost seven. Who could that be?”

“You didn’t order anything?”

“Not that I remember. Maybe it’s the wrong address,” she guessed, moving towards the door. With her hand on the doorknob, Hermione looked through the peephole and cursed. 

“What the hell is he doing here?”

Severus came up behind her. “Who?”

“My ex-husband.”

“He’s here?”

The doorbell rang again so Hermione cursed again. “Damn it. He knows we’re here.”

“I saw someone in a car across the road. It might have been him.”

“He’s been watching the house?”

Severus raised a brow. “Do you want me to answer?”

She sighed. “No. I’ll see what he wants.”

Watching her, Severus saw her nervous for the first time. She flexed her fingers and moved a little slower and unsure. As she pulled the door open slightly, Severus stayed out of sight, uncertain. She hadn’t introduced him to anyone except the receptionist at her clinic since he picked her up the day her car was getting serviced.

“Pierce.”

“You look the same,” the man said. “Beautiful.”

“Me? Whatever. Why are you here? If you have anything to say, you usually text or email me.”

“I wanted to see you. Can I come in?”

“What do you want, Pierce?”

“Come on, Sweetheart. Be nice.”

“My name is Hermione. If you have nothing to say, I’m closing the door.”

“I do. I do. I’ve been thinking about you.”

“I haven’t been thinking about you--at all. I have nothing to say to you. We’re not married anymore. We have nothing to talk about. Please get off my property.”

“I bought this house.”

“And my name is on the deed. Get off my property now.”

From where he was standing, Severus could see the door suddenly open wider as Hermione yelped. 

“What are you doing?!” she exclaimed. “Get out!”

The other man forced his way inside, slamming the door behind him and stalking towards a retreating Hermione. Severus moved quickly to get in between the two. Standing tall, Severus made an imposing figure so Pierce stopped dead in his tracks, glaring at Severus. It was then Severus realized just who Hermione’s ex was. He’d seen him over a dozen times in action and sci-fi films, his favorite genres. Pierce Parkinson, also known as Alexander Knight, was her fucking ex. The man was an award-winning actor worth millions. If Severus met him under different circumstances, he would be asking for a signature and picture. Right now, he was just confused. She told him who her ex was but never told him anything about the man, like his career, stage name, or celebrity. Hermione divorced him? All she got was this house? That’s it?

“So this is him?” Pierce spat, giving Severus a once over. “Pathetic. Tragic even.”

Severus stepped forward. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Her husband.”

“Ex-husband,” Hermione sneered. “Get out, Pierce.”

Pierce took a step so Severus did too. “What do you want from her?”

Looking past Severus, Pierce said, “I want to see my daughter.”

“She’s not here,” Severus informed him. “You can go.”

Pierce ignored him again. “Hermione, I want us to be a family again-- Mom, Dad, and baby. Can we try again?”

“No!” Hermione implored him to listen and leave.

Severus said, “Press the panic button.” In Hermione’s foyer was a security panel for the entire house. One of the features was a panic button that alerted the authorities that there was an emergency in the home. “The police will deal with this.”

“That’s not necessary,” Pierce said firmly. “She was mine first. We have a child together. You can leave in that old piece of junk you drove out here.”

Crossing his arms and taking that last step into Pierce's personal space, Severus warned, “Either the cops drag you out or I throw you out. Pick one.”

“This isn’t over,” Pierce vowed, backing away toward the front door. “I know who you are. I know everything about you. Severus T. Snape, age forty. You make almost nothing and you’re in debt. You’ll never be able to take care of them the way I can. Just give up. I know you recognize me. You know that money is not an object for me.”

“I know that you’re trespassing. I know that you’re an asshole and I know that she doesn’t want anything to do with you. Leave now or I’m pressing the button myself.”

The other man seemed to understand that he did not have the upper hand here. Severus inched just a little closer and stared him down. Pierce backed away toward the entrance. Pulling the door open, Pierce said, “Hermione, I’ll see you soon.”

After the door slammed shut behind him, Severus turned to bring Hermione into an embrace. “You okay?”

“I hate him so much. I’m glad you were here.”

“Was it like that? All the time?”

Hermione nodded as her head rested on his chest. “Pierce gets what he wants when he wants. No one else matters but him. I didn’t matter. Cara didn’t matter. Just him. I can’t believe he pushed himself in like that. He knew you were here.”

Severus hushed her and rubbed her back. “He’s gone and I’m not leaving tonight. You’re shaking, babe.”

“I know. I only get like this around him. I stopped shaking once the divorce was finalized. He just-- I hate talking about it. I hate talking about him. I’ll be up all night thinking about this now. Why did he have to ruin this for us? I never see you.”

“Look at me,” Severus said. Her eyes locked with his. “You will not be thinking about him tonight. I can guarantee that.”

“Yeah?” she asked with big brown eyes shimmering with unfallen tears of frustration.

“I promise you won’t even remember his name.”

Smiling reservedly as if she didn’t believe him, Hermione let out a sigh. She left his embrace and went to the massive living room window. “Where was the car you saw?”

“Right outside your gate.”

“He’s gone,” Hermione said to herself before going to the security panel. He watched as she checked that every entrance was not only locked but under surveillance. She also closed the front gate remotely. “This is another reason to sell this place and move. I don’t want him to know where we live.”

“Wouldn’t he be able to look up the new address with your name?”

“I’ll buy one under a company name. My name wouldn’t end up in public records. I’ve thought about this. I know who he is and how he operates. I wonder what triggered this. Severus, I’m sure you figured out that our marriage didn’t end like yours. It was the worst period of my life. What does he really want? What does he want with Cara?”

“I don’t know,” Severus said. “Hey, let’s go to the kitchen. Did you get to go shopping for everything we needed?”

“Yeah. Everything is in there,” she told him, following him into the next room. “Sev?”

“What?”

“Don’t listen to anything he says, okay? I know you.”

“What do you mean? The stuff about taking care of you?”

She said, “Yes. I know you want to spoil me sometimes even though I don’t want you to. Money doesn’t matter to me. I can take care of myself. I just want to be with you. The work you do is so important and I don’t want you to think I look down on it. How much you make is not important to me. Okay? He’s just a pompous asshole who got lucky. I hate his movies anyway.”

Severus chuckled. “Would you be mad if I told you Phoenix Legacy is one of my favorites?”

Hermione groaned. “You’re a fan?”

Grabbing the ingredients for their stir fry, Severus moved around her massive kitchen. “Not anymore. The guy’s a jerk. Why didn’t you tell me you were married to a movie star?”

“I didn’t want you to look at me differently. I was just a normal person. He is the star; not me. I’m afraid that if people knew about my relationship to him, and Cara's relationship to him, they would try to take advantage. You don’t want to be an actor do you?”

“Well…”
“Severus!”

He moved to the sink, closer to her. She took the vegetables and started rinsing them. “No. I’m a scientist. That’s what I like to do. You saw how nervous I got just meeting you, a drop-dead gorgeous woman.”

“Stop…” she said humbly.

After pecking her cheek, Severus continued, “I can’t imagine meeting all those famous people. I’d never breathe again.”

“You did pretty good with Pierce.”

Severus explained, “He was scaring you. For me, he wasn’t a movie star anymore. He was a menace. Fuck him.”

Hermione giggled but soon sobered. “You make me feel safe, Sev.”

Her words were nearly enough to put his mind at ease. This relationship was still new and they were in a honeymoon period. The sex was fantastic, wonderful, explosive, and they couldn’t get enough of each other. Everything else was easy. After the first initial burst of lust, they discovered that they could talk about anything and everything for hours. He hadn’t felt this comfortable with someone since Marlene and he married her. This relationship felt even stronger already. But, they had to contend with their families, their jobs, and life in general. Eventually, the novelty would wear off and Hermione would see him for who he was, who Pierce said he was. 

Severus Snape was a forty-year-old divorcee with more liabilities than assets. He worked for his money. It didn’t sit in the bank, collecting interest. His money was spoken for. He had a child to raise and put through college. He was still trying to figure out how to get her there like most middle-class parents. Severus had to consider retirement too. Severus wondered if, in a few months, would he still be enough.

Chapter Text

The incident with Pierce left Hermione shaken so she spent the week at her uncle’s place about thirty minutes away. Staying with him made her morning commute to Cara’s preschool and her dental practice much longer due to rush hour delays, but she felt safer. Cara had a sleepover that Friday with her friend Nichole from preschool. Nichole’s mother, Alivia, was doing it alone too since she and her wife separated. They only occasionally leaned on each other, willing to help the other get a day out without a little one attached to their hip. This time, however, Alivia was hosting a birthday sleepover for Nichole that would lead to a pancake breakfast the next morning followed by a day of beauty.

As she packed a bag for Cara, Severus called her to tell her that he wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be able to drive over.

“What’s wrong?”

“My head hurts. My face hurts. I can’t breathe through my nose.”

“Your sinuses are probably inflamed. I’m coming over,” she told him, as she zipped the little girl’s backpack.

“You don’t have to.”

“Sev, did you go to the doctor?”

“No. I’ve just been home all day.”

“Do you have a fever?”

He sounded fatigued and so unlike himself. Hermione’s heart ached. “I don’t know. The thermometer isn’t working.”

“I’m coming over. I’m going to pack a bag, drop Cara off at the party, and be right over.”

“You don’t have to. It won’t make a difference. It’s probably a virus or something.”

“Severus? I’m a doctor and I’m coming to take care of you. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Are you able to open the door for me when I get there?”

“You just need a code.”

“Text me the address and the code. See you soon.”

Hermione would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about why Severus never brought her to his home. When she was younger, she was the kind of woman who kept her ‘partner’ or whatever she called him, away from her home just in case he became a problem down the road. They didn’t seem to mind as long as they could still have sex somewhere even if their place was unavailable too. She even became skilled at getting dressed in the backseat of a car without issue. For many years, Hermione claimed that she didn’t want to inconvenience her roommates. During college and dental school, she had at least one roommate. But that was over a decade ago and as far as she knew, Severus lived alone. 

She would also be lying if she said she hadn’t considered his living situation. If he didn’t live alone, who the fuck was he living with and what was her name? For his sake, Hermione hoped she just had an active imagination. 

As she pulled into a quiet cul-de-sac, Hermione fell in love with the neighborhood. It reminded her of the house she lived in with her parents before they passed away. Each townhouse had its own style and personality. Severus’ house had a dark green exterior with a white-trimmed door and windows. His truck sat in the still open garage door which Hermione found curious.

Hopping out of her car, she grabbed her overnight bag and decided to go into the house through the garage. The door was open. 

“Severus? Sev?”

When she heard no response, Hermione put her bag down and went in search of the man. Upstairs in what she assumed was his bedroom, Hermione found him sleeping, snoring loudly.

She hated to wake him if he sounded as sick as he did on the phone. Not wasting any time, Hermione found the garage door switch and closed it. After washing her hands, she went to work preparing a bowl of soup for him. If Sev was anything like the other men she knew, he was completely helpless when he was sick and probably didn’t feed himself or keep himself hydrated. Locating a case of bottled water and the bowls and spoons, Hermione had everything needed for now. 

Once the soup was ready, Hermione brought it upstairs along with some other supplies she gathered from her own medicine cabinet.

Quietly, Hermione placed the small bowl on his nightstand before turning on the bedside lamp since night had fallen since she arrived.

He stirred and opened his eyes with a look of confusion and she said, “It’s Hermione.”

“Hi,” he croaked. “You came.”

“I told you I would.” Hermione used the back of her hand to feel his forehead. He was cool to the touch. “How are you feeling?”

“Sick.”

“I know, baby… Does anything hurt?”

“Everything.”

“Can you tell me exactly where?”

“My head, behind my eyes. My throat. My teeth. Why do my teeth hurt?”

“The infection is causing inflammation in the sinuses and--Never mind. It’ll stop when the infection clears up. Did you eat today?”

“Just some crackers.”

“I brought you something to eat. Can you sit up?”

He pushed himself up and Hermione helped him adjust the pillows behind him. She handed him the cooled-down bowl and said, “Finish the whole thing. How much water did you drink today?”

He pointed to the bottle lying next to him on the bed. It was still half-filled.

“Drink that first.”

“Yes, doctor.”

Happy that he could tease her, Hermione smiled and sat down on the edge of his bed. She handed him two pills. “This will help with the pain and bring down the inflammation. I have a nasal spray in my bag too.”

Without argument, he took them. “How was work? I forgot to ask you on the phone.”

“It was fine. Finish the water.”

Before he took another gulp, Severus asked “And Cara?”

“She’s good. She had a water day at school and a birthday party tonight. She’s gotten so busy these days.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“Thank me by drinking this too,” she said, handing him another bottle after twisting the cap open for him. You must be so dehydrated, Severus.”

“Sorry,” he said weakly.

“For what?”

“Making you drive all the way out here.”

“It’s not that far. Is that why you didn’t want me to come here?”

“What do you mean?”

The sick man closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

“Forget about it. Just finish eating. Please?”

He proceeded to gather noodles on his spoon and she looked around his bedroom. The first thing she spotted was a picture of Abigail. With his black hair and fair complexion, Abigail’s big navy blue eyes were striking. Hermione imagined that as an infant, Abby must have been offered a modeling contract. Eyes like hers were uncommon, especially when juxtaposed with hair that color. His bedroom wasn’t especially large so it felt warm and cozy. He had a few pieces of dark wood furniture and a cream carpet. His room was spotless, Hermione noted. She knew that he hadn’t cleaned up just for her since this visit was completely unplanned and he was feeling so sick.

“It’s not like your place,” he said suddenly, interrupting her train of thought.

“You’re right. ”

“It’s small.”

“This is just enough,” she said. Hermione took the empty bowl from him. “How do you feel now?”

“The headache is going away.”

“Good. That’s good. You know you left your garage door and the door into the kitchen open? It’s a good thing this is a nice neighborhood. You could have been robbed.”

“Shit. I don’t even remember coming home, to be honest. You cooked?”

“I opened a can of soup and heated it up.”

Severus smiled at her and said, “It was divine. You found everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“So, how do you like it?”

“What? Your kitchen?”

“All of it? I know my house could fit inside your house,” he said humorously. “Three times.”

Hermione could hear the truth under his remarks. Pierce’s comments definitely left a mark on him but Hermione knew it was hard for some men to accept if their female partner had more.

Some were perfectly happy living off another person. 

“Sev, I love it. I loved it the moment I pulled up. I grew up in a house just like this. I want something like this. My house is overwhelming and it’s not a home. When I was downstairs, I took a look around. I saw Abby’s height chart in the pantry. She’s tall.”

“She is,” he said proudly. “Takes after me.”

“Is that why you kept me away? The size?”

“Yeah. I mean I don’t have seven bedrooms or a huge backyard. No chef’s kitchen.”

“Why do you think I would care about those things? I thought you knew me by now. If I did, I wouldn’t have filed for divorce. I didn’t want anything from him and I was going to willingly leave it all behind. I signed a prenup before we got married.”

“So how did you get the house?”

“My lawyer hired a P.I. with her own money. We found out that he was cheating and that nullified the agreement. To make it go faster, I was going to give in but my lawyer convinced me to take the house at least so Cara and I would have somewhere to live.”

“Good idea.”

“Yeah. I do not care about money like that. I need it and it’s nice to have. But, it’s not going to be the reason why I choose to stay with someone. When it comes to this house, size doesn’t matter.”

“What about in other aspects of our relationship? Does size matter?”

She laughed. “How are you horny and sick at the same time?”

“You cured me,” he joked. “Answer the question though.”

“Size doesn’t matter,” Hermione teased. “Skill does. Lucky me. You have both.”

A grin soon turned into a pout. “I want a kiss.”

“Big baby,” she soothed as she pressed a sweet kiss to his forehead. “I’m going to clean up downstairs, okay?”

Severus rested his hand on hers. “I love you.”

“What?”

He repeated, “I love you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to let you know,” he yawned.

“I love you too,” Hermione said truthfully. She hadn’t realized it until he said it but she loved him. That was the word for what she was feeling, the need to be with him and hating every moment without him. She had felt this way only a few times in her life. That’s why she didn’t realize it. It was such a rare occurrence, being in love, that she didn’t have the vocabulary for it. 

After more than two months, Severus was her boyfriend of course. But that didn’t seem to say what he really was to her already. What was the word for a man who made her feel safe, valued, respected, satisfied, and now, loved?

Would one word ever be enough?

Chapter Text

Hermione gasped when Severus showed off his new navy suit. “You look amazing!”

“And you could upstage the bride,” Severus told his girlfriend. “You’re gorgeous.”

At the end of the summer, one of Hermione’s friends was getting married so he would be her date to the wedding. Hermione had her hair in long waves--the same style she had when they met for the first time. Just like then, he thought she looked positively gorgeous in the seafoam form-fitting dress. When he went to kiss her lips, she gave him her hand instead. 

“My makeup took too long. You can mess it up later. You like when my mascara runs when I choke on it, don’t you?”

“Do you want to go to this wedding or not? If you keep talking like that we might as well stay home.”

“I’m just teasing,” Hermione smiled mischievously.

“Mhmm… And what do you get for teasing me?”

“If I say it, we’ll never get to the wedding,” she said and giggled. “Let’s go.”

Daphne’s wedding was an hour before sunset, the golden hour. Marlene agreed to keep Abby for this event and he would have her Sunday and Monday instead. Cara stayed with Grandpa, who promised ice cream and a trip to the library. She was definitely Hermione’s child. At five, she was already reading books geared toward children three years older than her. Not even Abby read at that level yet. A trip to the library was enough to erase the pout that appeared when Hermione explained that children were not invited to this party.

Walking in together, Severus kept his uneasiness hidden well. He was normally a stoic, keeping his emotions in check. Being openly nervous the night he met Hermione was a result of his being completely overwhelmed by her. This time, however, he was nervous because her friends were not like his. He’d met Daphne for the first time when they had a double date with her soon-to-be husband, Theo. She was funny and Theo was like him. Both men spent most of the night listening to the women talk about old classmates from their elite boarding school. 

Theo Nott, who she met in college, came from old money-- the type of old money that could trace their lineage back several centuries. Daphne’s family, ironically named Greengrass, made their fortune in lumber.  Despite being some of the wealthiest people he’d ever met, dinner with them hadn’t been too bad. 

Since they were the bride and groom, however, Daphne and Theo wouldn’t be sitting with him that evening so he was anxious about being with more people in the same income bracket. They were okay but, in his experience, Severus didn’t always have pleasant interactions with people like them. 

Pierce Parkinson came to mind.

Hermione’s other friend, Angelina Johnson-Weasley, came over two weeks earlier to pick up a toy her son left behind after a playdate with Cara. The high school assistant principal was friendly and down-to-earth too. Angelina was also in the middle of a doctoral program and seven months pregnant. He had a lot of respect for her. Angelina was another scholarship kid but a year older than her, so Hermione didn’t really get to know her until halfway through that first year. Like Hermione, she was awarded the scholarship purely for high academic talent. In contrast, Angelina came from a family of high-powered attorneys and politicians. She didn’t need the financial award at all but had earned it. Her grandfather once sat on the Supreme Court of California, an incredible feat for a black man who began his law career amid the civil rights movement. Everyone in Hermione’s circle seemed to come from backgrounds such as these. 

“Hey, are you okay?” she asked him, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Angelina’s coming over. Let’s scoot down. We should let her have the aisle seat. When I was pregnant, I was constantly going to the bathroom.”

Hermione gestured for him to move and she followed. “You didn’t answer me. Are you okay?”

“You didn’t give me a chance,” Severus told her with a smirk. “I’m fine. I’m thinking about something at work.”

She took his hand and said, “Leave it until Tuesday. I want you to have fun tonight. Are you going to dance with me?”

“No promises.”

Grinning, she said, “I can’t wait.”

---

Their table sat eight but two seats were left vacant. A stunning South Asian woman named Padma shook his hand, introducing herself as another former roommate of Hermione’s. Severus listened as they caught up. Padma was extremely busy so they didn’t see each other often outside of social media. She came with her husband, Dean, who was a well-established detective. Between her job as a nurse practitioner and teacher at a local nursing school, and his unpredictable work hours, the couple seemed to be very much in love and sync. Thankfully, they were interesting or Severus would be sickened by them. He wondered if he and Hermione looked the same way yet.

“How are the kids?” Hermione asked Padma and Dean as the bread and butter were served. 

Padma took out her phone and pulled up a picture of two little girls hugging one another. One was about five or six and the other was barely two years old. “They’re good. Maya is on the left and Priya, my little baby, is on the right.”

“They’re so cute!” Hermione gushed. “Maya’s toothless smile. Aw… I know I am going to cry when Cara’s first tooth falls out. She is growing so fast. I miss the baby years.”

Angelina scoffed playfully and said, “You forgot about the mountains of diapers and the four thousand dollar daycare bill.”

“I did forget…” Hermione agreed before saying, “I still miss it. Severus begs his daughter to slow down.”

“How old is she?” Padma asked him earnestly.

“Six,” he replied, clearing his throat.

“And gorgeous,” Hermione added. “Show them, babe.”

Severus handed her his phone. The lock screen was a picture of a smiley Abigail, giving heart hands.

“She looks so sweet. You’re right,” Angelina commented. “She’s very pretty.”

“Her eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue,” Padma said in awe. “What’s her name?”

Severus opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a flustered redhead approaching them.

“You would not believe the day I’ve had,” she announced to the table. Her partner quietly took a seat next to her. “One of my clients has been a very, very bad boy and I had to clean up that mess before coming here. We’re so late.”

Severus thought to himself, that much was clear. He knew he already didn’t like this woman, whoever she was. 

“You missed the entire thing, Ginny,” Angelina informed her with a roll of her eyes. “If you’re not going to tell who it is or what he did, shut up.”

“You’re a bitch when you’re pregnant, Ange.”

George, her husband, glared at the woman. “Watch it, Sis.”

Upon hearing that, Severus could see that they were clearly related to each other. When the siblings started to argue Angelina broke it up, saying, “You’re both in your thirties. Grow up!”

Ginny’s silent partner, a man with a pair of circular frames and messy black curls, nodded in agreement. He looked just as nervous as Severus felt.

“Hermione!” Ginny exclaimed. “I didn’t even see you there! How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Who is this?”Ginny asked her, gesturing towards Severus. 

“This is Sev.”

“Oh! Did you get remarried?”

“No,” Hermione said. “We’re dating.”

“Oh okay,” Ginny said, smiling at him in a way that made him distrust her instantaneously. She might be the most odious woman he’d ever met. Severus really wanted her to stop talking. “What do you do?”

“Research.”

“Medical?”

“Yes. Congenital heart defects.”

“So you’re a doctor?”

“No. I am considering getting my PhD later on but for now, I just have a master’s.” 

She blinked and Severus could see her judging him. He could feel it too.

“What do you do?”

“I’m a PR manager. I work in Hollywood mostly. I make sure the rich and famous, stay rich and famous.”

“Interesting,” he deadpanned. “An important service to the world.”

She was quick to school her expression but Severus caught it. He made her angry and won that battle.

“What do your parents do?” was her next question.

Hermione tried to interject but Severus had another surge of bravery. He wanted to know what she had to say. She was interviewing him for some reason. “They passed away. My mother was a fine artist--a painter. She worked as a secretary at a law office too. My father was a long-haul truck driver.”

“Have you ever been married?”

“Yes,” he replied quickly, not allowing Hermione to interrupt. “I have a daughter too. She’s six. Her name is Abigail.”

The redhead simply said, “Oh. Interesting.”

“What, Ginny?” Angelina prodded, annoyed. She moved her long black hair over her shoulder and sat up straighter, daring her to say something out of line. “Speak.”

“I’m starving,” Ginny told her sister-in-law snottily. “I hope dinner is good.”

The conversation at the table shifted focus to one of Dean’s past cases involving some pretty high-profile political figures. It was closed and the defendant was found guilty. Most things were publicized so he could talk about the basics. Again, Severus was glad the man was actually interesting. It allowed him to ignore Ginny who was on her phone constantly and being a general annoyance. More than once, he caught her staring and sneering at him. 

“How did you meet?” Ginny asked Hermione.

His girlfriend proudly said, “At a charity auction at Saint Magnus Hospital. Padma invited me actually. It’s where your students do their clinicals, right?”

“Yes. That pediatric wing is finally getting a renovation.”

“What did you buy?” asked Ginny.

“Me,” Severus smirked.

“He was expensive too,” Hermione chuckled.

“Was there a return policy?” Ginny said cattily.

“Excuse me?” asked Hermione.

“So you could get a refund,” Ginny laughed. “You were saying he was so expensive. I didn’t mean anything by it. New subject I guess…”

Clearing his throat, George said, “I heard H.O.G is having a banquet. They’re raising money to update the athletic facilities.”

“H.O.G?” Severus asked.

“The Hill School at Orion Grove,” Ginny explained. “We call it H.O.G for short. Hermione never told you about it?”

“I call the school by its proper name,” Hermione replied.

“She always does,” Padma said and laughed. “Hermione was always a rule follower… except when she didn’t want to.”

Severus sat up straight when Hermione groaned. “Please don’t tell him.”

“Tell me,” said Severus, with rapt attention.

“Which story should we start with?” Padma asked the other alumni.

“She kept a cat in her room for six months before getting caught,” Angelina said. “Her uncle had to come for it before they sent it to a shelter.”

“You what?” Severus laughed.

“I like cats,” Hermione said softly. “Cara’s allergic. I’d probably have six or seven by now.”

“Oh! She used to sneak out,” George said off-handedly.

“You did too!” she shot back.

“That’s how I knew,” the grinning man said sassily. “The parties we had were crazy. Our little Mione could get wild.”

“You drank?” Severus asked her. “You?”

“It’s the reason why I don’t drink at all now. We all nearly got expelled. It was the worst week of my life wondering what the headmaster would do after he caught us.”

“What happened?” asked Severus.

“We weren’t allowed to go on the spring trip,” Angelina answered. “I didn’t care anyway. I've been to Europe almost every year of my life since my mother’s family lives in Paris.”

“Well, I wanted to go,” Hermione said. “The next trip was to Australia and New Zealand. That was amazing.”

Ginny, who eventually put down her phone, said, “The best one, I think, was our trip to East Asia. China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. Have you ever been out of the country, Severus?”

He groaned inwardly. He was finally having fun. “I’ve been to Canada, the UK, and Ireland.”

She raised her brow and picked up her phone again. “Not too bad, I guess.”

Hermione stood up suddenly. “Ginny, can you come to the bathroom with me? Girl code, you know,” she explained to Severus. Women went to the bathroom in packs. He understood. He also understood that Hermione asked Ginny and not Padma or Angelina, who knew where it was since she’d been twice already since they sat down.

Hermione had been insulted on his behalf. Every dig towards him had been about money in one form or another. He didn’t come from a fancy family like most of them. Hermione had told him bits and pieces about her old friends. It was only now at this event, that he was able to match names to faces. Apparently, Ginny’s silent husband, Harry, was a pilot and the heir to a massive fortune. The Weasleys were nothing to talk about until their father went into public office. He made the right friends at the right time and got lucky on the stock market when they were small children. While many of Angelina’s family members were attorneys, Padma’s family was composed of engineers of all types. Hermione told him that Padma’s grandfather owned several patents that moved the family from the middle class to the ultra-rich. Meeting her this evening was quite pleasant. The only one who acted disgustingly, the way he expected people like them to behave, was Ginny. Even her brother was amusing, if not a little immature. Severus wasn’t like them but the other people at the table didn’t make him feel like he was less than them. 

A few moments later, Hermione returned without Ginny, and told him, “I’m ready to leave.” She was flustered with a red face and tense posture. She wasn’t the laughing, easy-going guest she was earlier.

“Are you okay? We didn’t dance yet,” he said softly. “They’re making the rounds. Do you want to say something to Daphne before we leave?”

“No, Sev. I want to go. I’ve had enough.”

Chapter Text

“Can you tell me what happened?”

They were stopped at a red light. Hermione wished she had magical powers so they could disappear and reappear in her house, in her bedroom so that she could take off this dress and these heels. She just wanted to be home already.

“Hermione?”

“Sev, just drop it.”

“What did Ginny say to you? You’re more upset now than you were before. Was it about me?”

The car jerked forward a bit and they were on their way back to her house, the house Pierce gave her because he could. That’s what Ginny told her. Pierce gave her the world. She gave it up.

“She thinks I should get back together with my ex.”

“Because he’s rich and famous?” asked Severus.

“Essentially yes.”

“Does she know why you divorced him?”

“Not everything. I didn’t tell anyone about the way he treated Cara. Just you.”

“You don’t owe anyone that personal information. I appreciate that you trust me to tell me. What kind of man ignores his baby because she has a heart condition?”

“She was attacking you so that I see that we have nothing in common.”

“Why does she care so much? Is this really about your well-being and happiness? I might understand if she was family and wanted a man who could give you everything and treat you like a queen.”

“You do treat me like a queen, Sev,” Hermione insisted. “He treated me like a toy or a pet. He got bored and abandoned me. Ginny just always thinks she knows what’s best for everyone. You could see she and Angelina aren’t the friendliest.”

“George wasn’t too happy with her either. Why are you still friends with her?”

“We all love Angelina and George. Harry’s cool. We like him too. Ginny comes in the package. Anyway, we had words in the bathroom. She called me delusional. I called her a snob. She called me stupid which I hate more than anything else. I called her a desperate meddling bitch. She just laughed and that pissed me off so I left before I did something I’d regret. I didn’t want to ruin Daphne’s day.”

“What were you going to do to her?”

Hermione smirked. “The next time you see one of the girls, ask them.”

“What did you do, Hermione?”

“I’ll just say that it was the only other time I was facing expulsion.”

“Did you do something that caused permanent damage?”

She shrugged. “They grew back eventually. I’m sure the scar has faded by now. It’s been like seventeen years. She’s fine… I think… I don’t follow her.”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

They were at least an hour away from home because of late-night traffic. There was always traffic in this city, even at nine o’clock at night. As the red lights of the other cars blinked on and off, Hermione thought back to that argument in the restroom. Ginny wasn’t the only one to express disappointment when the paperwork was filed, the case opened and closed, and full custody was granted to her. 

The world didn’t know how he pressured her to say yes. They didn’t know how he tampered with her birth control, something she didn’t discover until he admitted to it in the privacy of their bedroom. The master manipulator convinced her that it was because he wanted her and their children so much. He promised to take care of her no matter what. They would be a family, something he knew would work since she lost her parents as a child. She was fresh out of dental school and already starting a family. Hermione liked to plan. She liked things to be neat and organized. Long ago a therapist said it was her way of controlling a wild world--losing her parents like that traumatized her. Marrying Pierce did too but no one really understood that. Severus was starting to understand the more she spoke about her old life.

Ginny didn’t know that at twenty weeks, Hermione’s doctor told her that her baby had a hole in her heart and that she’d cried about it for hours. She didn’t know that he never comforted her or asked any questions. Later, she would find out from the private investigator that he spent the night with not one but two women. Most people didn’t know that he pretty much moved out when Cara was born and made it clear he didn’t care about her at all. Severus knew. She trusted him so that’s why she said, “I want you to meet Cara.”

----

Severus was in a deep sleep when he felt a soft hand on his arm, shaking him awake. Groaning, he turned over to face the day and this child.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“Hi, Abby,” he responded groggily. “What is it?”

“Miss Hermione said breakfast is ready.”

“Save some for me. I’m tired.”

“She says that we have to eat now or we’ll get there late!”

“We’ll get there when we get there.”

“Daddy!” she whined.

Abigail Michelle Snape had her father wrapped around her little finger and Severus knew it. She was his one and only so of course he gave into her every wish and demand. Lucky for him, she wasn’t spoiled rotten. Most of her requests have always been more social rather than material. Abby didn’t want a new tablet or a cell phone. She wanted days at the beach or the fair and trips to the movies. She just wanted to be near him and bask in his full attention which he was more than happy to give. Severus couldn’t help but agree.

Those blue eyes accompanied by a deep pout pleaded with him to give up. They were convincing. Throwing the covers back, Severus heard her say, “Yay!”

“Yay,” he said, yawning. “What did Miss Hermione make?”

“Omelets. I asked for cheese,” Abby told him, taking his hand and pulling him up and out of bed.

“No vegetables?”

“Spinach,” she said. “I don’t like spinach but you can’t really taste it with all the other stuff.”

“Good point.”

“She’s a good cook, Daddy.”

“Better than me?”

The six-year-old went silent and smiled so he knew her answer. Severus was glad she liked Hermione. They all met for a simple picnic in the park near Hermione’s house. The girls played on the playground and became fast friends.

At the bottom of the stairs, Severus could see when Cara waved to him from the table as she munched happily on a breakfast muffin. 

“I got Daddy!” Abby announced heading over to her seat. 

“Thank you!” Hermione told her as she poured her a cup of juice. “Good morning, hon.”

Severus crossed the small kitchen to kiss her cheek. “Morning. I was summoned?”

Hermione continued serving the children. “We need to leave soon or we’ll miss the tour of the grounds. Ready to eat?”

Nodding in agreement, Severus said, “I’ll make my own.”

“I already got it for you,” she said, gesturing to a plate with an omelet and a small bowl of fresh fruits. “Bell peppers, tomatoes, and spinach. No cheese.”

“Have I told you I love you today?”

Hermione said, “Technically, yes,” with a wink and sat down with the girls.

Severus took a second to appreciate how easy it all was. Hermione was a great mother and treated Abby like her own instantly. Sweet little Cara took to him just as quickly. When they went out together as a group, Cara held his hand just like Abby did. Cara did everything Abby did. If Abby wanted a hug, so did Cara. While it was cute, the behavior left Hermione feeling a little down. Cara spent so much time with her grandpa that Hermione didn’t think she was missing a man’s presence in her life. People told her that Cara would but Hermione didn’t want to believe it. Severus didn’t think that was the case. He figured that Cara was following Abby, an older child who was her model. Kids were impressionable. Hermione said that maybe Cara was following her lead. He makes Mommy happy so he must be a new friend. Two things could be true at once, Severus told her pleasantly.

Cara’s new school, Radcliffe Court Academy or RCA, was having a summer family day with tours for new students, information for parents, as well as carnival-style games. The event was for the school community and a fantastic way to ask for donations. Hermione’s high school did something similar once a year in the spring. It was odd, in her opinion, that institutions with semester tuition rates in the tens of thousands would have the nerve to ask for even more money. At least, Cara would be guaranteed a world-class education or else.

The day before, all four spent a day at the beach and since Severus’ place was closer to the beach, they stayed there for the night. Abby begged to go to the castle (Hermione’s house) but neither adult wanted to drive more than they had to. Instead, Hermione and Cara spent the night in his modest townhouse in a middle-class neighborhood. Severus knew that the big house only made her feel lonely, especially after the Pierce incident earlier that summer. She felt safer here, safer with him. Like she said, his house was a real home. As he looked at her joking with their giggling daughters, Severus could see it.

---

RCA was a large modern institute that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Some students boarded throughout the year and had the most incredible views from their dorm rooms. Hermione had no intention of letting Cara live anywhere else but at home but the tour was comprehensive and it was lovely to see. The campus had three major sections. The elementary school was the smallest and had the least amount of amenities which was a misleading statement. The middle and high school shared an Olympic-sized pool, impressive science labs, and three libraries and resembled a small college campus. The school also offered Mandarin and Spanish for language immersion. Cara’s new class was probably going to have less than ten children, giving her more attention and specialized instruction. There were opportunities for her to explore robotics, dance, cooking, and much more. It was actually a bit overwhelming to see all she could do and all the things she could be one day.

Once the tour was over, the families were allowed to explore the grounds and participate in the various activities and games. It took no time for Abby and Cara to run towards the huge inflatable near the entrance to one of four academic fields. 

“What do you think?” Hermione asked the man next to her. Severus had been quiet since seeing the elementary science labs. He was literally awestruck.

“I’m--I’m lost for words. I mean… is this what money can buy? Abby’s school is great. She’s learning a lot but she’s not getting this. Cara is going to do really well here. I know you’ll like it. You went to a school like this, right?”

“My high school wasn’t this nice. Did you see those libraries?”

“Did you see those labs? I didn’t see anything like that until I went for my master’s,” Severus told her. He held a few information brochures in his hands. “The recording studio?”

“This is southern California. They have to have a recording studio and a full performing arts program,” she joked.

“So, how much is this?”

She opened one of the booklets she held to a page full of figures. “Everything has a cost. Tuition on its own is forty-one thousand. Add another thirty thousand for room, boarding, and activities. We’re not doing that. There are some other things like daily transportation, the shuttle bus to the nearest bus station. They have a meal plan with specialty options. The vegetarian option is over five grand for the year. Damn.”

“This costs more than college. In-state tuition isn’t that high.”

Hermione looked around at the other families. “I don’t think anyone here is concerned about going to a government-funded institution. This is just a drop in the bucket for them. For me too, I guess.”

“It’s really nice. I have to admit, I can see where the money is going. I wish I could give Abby this kind of education.”

“Try for a scholarship,” Hermione told him. “That’s how I got to go to my school. They mentioned them at the beginning. If it wasn’t for a certain man, I wouldn’t be able to afford a school like this. It was something else my lawyer convinced me to take. He will cover all education expenses.”

“Did you pick the most expensive option in the area?”

She smirked. “I might have. He won’t miss it.”

“No,” Severus said. “He won’t. He’s over there.”

Hermione’s head shot up. “Where?”

“Over by the information booth. That’s the director, right? She gave the speech at the beginning.”

Across the field, Hermione could see Pierce in a dark pair of sunglasses, chatting casually with the director of the academy. Inwardly groaning, she shook her head. 

“I knew this was a possibility. He would be paying so he could show up. But why? He never cared about her! Where’s Cara?”

Severus stepped forward and searched. “She’s still in the bounce house.”

Willing her voice not to waver with anxiety, Hermione said, “I’m going to join their conversation before he convinces them that he’s a real father. Watch the girls?”

“Got it. You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

“You’ll just hit him.”

“I won’t.”

In a mocking tone and low voice, Hermione said, “The next time I see him, I’ll kill him.”

“I don’t even sound like that,” her boyfriend denied.

“But you did say it.”

“Fine… I’m watching him too.”

Hermione flexed her fingers as she marched towards Pierce and Dr. McGonagall, the director.”

Pleasantly, Hermione said, “Pierce? I didn’t know you were coming today.”

He stood up straight and put on his most charming smile. Bastard. Slimy, disgusting bastard.

“Dr. McGonagall, I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Hermione Granger. Our daughter gets all her smarts from this woman right here.”

The older woman moved to shake Hermione’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Granger. Your husband was just telling me that your Cara is a talented gymnast.”

“She’s taken a few classes,” Hermione told her humbly. “Just for fun.”

“She’s being so modest. If Cara goes here, I’d like to see a state-of-the-art gymnasium for her and her classmates to use. We could put RCA on the map for gymnastics training. Bring home a gold medal.”

“That’s quite a goal,” the director chuckled.

“What if she likes to play the violin?” Hermione posed.

“An upgraded theater. Anything for my daughter,” Pierce said with a handsome grin. “If she paints, I’ll upgrade the art studio. I want her to excel, Dr. McGonagall, in whatever she chooses.”

“Every parent wants that for their child,” the woman replied.

Pierce pulled out his phone and seemed to be fighting with himself on whether or not to answer it. Rolling her eyes, Hermione had a few guesses as to who the caller had to be: his publicist, his agent, or one of his many girlfriends. Even now, Cara really didn’t matter. It was all an act.

“Excuse me for just a moment,” he said.

He stepped away so Hermione could finally speak to the woman one-on-one. “He’s very excited to see your daughter start kindergarten,” she said, chuckling. 

“Um… How many students go here?”

“About one thousand. It changes from year to year.”

“Oh.”

“Cara will get the best-individualized education. Each classroom in kindergarten has two teachers.”

“That’s not my concern. My concern is security.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I am going to file the necessary paperwork but I am terrified of her father.”

“The man that was just here?”

“He’s not allowed anywhere near her. I have full custody. It was court-ordered. I am not married to him. We divorced two years ago. He’s famous and people love him. They’ll do anything for him. I need to know Cara will be safe here.”

“All custody concerns are taken seriously here. There are many. Our campus is highly monitored. Every guest and their passengers are questioned at the front gate. No one goes past the administration building without an escort. Every exterior door and gate requires a code or swipe card. Submit all your information and if he tries to enter our campus once the year has started, the police will be called immediately. Today is a lax day, as I am sure you can understand. The real school day procedures are significantly different. How do you feel now?”

Hermione said, “Better. Thank you.”

“I’m sorry you’re dealing with something like this,” Dr. McGonagall expressed kindly. “If you have any more questions, we’re here to answer them. We will do our best to keep Cara safe.”

After Hermione thanked the woman again and returned to Severus, she thought to herself: Pierce was escalating. Would their best be good enough?

Chapter Text

“Do you know any good realtors?” Hermione asked, sounding absolutely done with whatever was going on. She was on speakerphone since he was washing dishes.

Turning off the water, Severus said, “Sorry, I don’t. Are you really selling your house now?”

“I can’t take it anymore. I hate it here anyway. Listen, I didn’t want you to worry so I didn’t tell you. He’s been sending me flowers.”

Picking up his phone from the counter, Severus said, “Pierce? Pierce had been sending you flowers? How many?”

“Every day since Monday. This is the third delivery. Roses. I’m going to file a restraining order in the morning but I’m scared to wait and to be here alone with Cara. I’m really trying hard to stay calm for her sake.”

“Do you want me to come over or do you want to come here?”

She was silent for a moment and eventually said, “How long can we stay?”

Forever, he thought. “As long as you want. I want you both to be safe. Abby’s not here so Cara can have her room. Her school is closer to my place anyway.”

“He probably knows where you live too.”

“He also knows that I’ll kick his ass if he comes near me. I was going out to the store. Is there anything I can pick up for you? I know Cara likes Abby’s favorite brand of almond milk.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Hermione,” he pushed with an admonishing tone. She had a bad habit of resisting help sometimes.

“I’ll text you a list.”

“Good girl.”

“Don’t say that,” she said in a whisper, making him laugh. “Sev, stop it!”

“See you soon?”

“Yeah. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.”

Hermione ended up staying indefinitely. She could only secure a temporary restraining order since she wasn’t in ‘immediate danger.’ Hermione was being harassed and annoyed so she had a court hearing in less than a month. In the meantime, she and Cara had an extended sleepover. Abigail, who was used to having her dad all to herself on the weekends, happily welcomed the guests. Hermione made yummy food and Cara was fun to play with. Always thoughtful, Hermione took Cara out on her own Saturday mornings so Severus could still have his one-on-one time with Abby. 

By the time the court hearing took place, the arrangement felt natural. The judge reviewed the evidence of Pierce’s harassment and threats against Hermione’s partner as well as court filings concerning their divorce. She immediately granted a permanent restraining order against the man. A few days later, Hermione still put her house up on the market and the beautiful property had a few offers within hours in a slow housing market. Two potential buyers were happy to take the house fully furnished, saving Hermione a massive headache and expense. She was not attached to most of the items in that house. Pierce’s decorator picked everything. Hermione had no say.

One day, while Hermione took a shower, Cara sat at the kitchen table, working on a math problem, and stressing out. The already studious five-year-old was placed in an enrichment class for mathematics and given work for children two years older. Severus watched her from the kitchen island where he’d been preparing a pot of noodles. She slammed her pencil down and pouted, crossing her arms. 

“What’s wrong, sweetie?”

“I don’t remember how to decompose this number.”

Confused, he asked, “Decompose? Like bacteria?”

“No. Like math,” she whined.

“Let me see.” Wiping his hands on a kitchen towel, Severus approached her and took the paper she held up to him. “Oh! You’re subtracting.”

“I know that but I forgot what to do when I don’t have enough on the top. I’m stuck.”

“It’s alright. Take a deep breath and we’ll do this together.”

She usually looked just like Hermione but even more right now. He wanted to laugh but he didn’t want her to think he was laughing at her. Like her mother, Cara did not appreciate when her intelligence was questioned.

“Alright. You have fifty-one and you need to subtract twenty-nine. Draw a picture. Abigail is learning this too. This says you need a place value chart. Do you know how to draw one or should we look one up?”

“Look it up!” she said enthusiastically, curls bouncing in her ponytail. 

Twenty minutes later, Hermione joined them with a wide grin. “Dinner is almost ready? The whole house smells amazing.”

“It’s ready,” Severus told her, slightly distracted as Cara finished up. 

“What are we working on?” Hermione asked, placing her hand on Cara’s back.

“Daddy helped me decompose!” Cara announced happily, sharing her work with her mother.

Both adults froze. Severus spoke with his eyes. He told his partner that he was just as shocked as she was.

“Decompose?” Hermione asked, ignoring the first, more jarring word, for now. “Like bacteria?”

“No. Math,” Cara told her. “We were subtracting. I couldn’t do it. But, then we made a picture and I could do it.”

“That’s wonderful. You’re so smart because you keep trying. Sev helped you?”

The child nodded. “It’s good?”

“Very good,” Hermione told her, kissing the top of her head.

Severus shrugged when he realized that she wouldn’t address the massive mythical creature in the room. “Hey, Cara? Go and wash your hands, okay?”

“Okay!”

Once she was out of the room, Hermione’s eyes opened wide. “Daddy?”

“Yes?” Severus answered with a playful smirk.

“Shut up! She thinks you're her dad.”

“Abby calls me that. She does everything Abby does. Is that okay?”

Hermione paced the kitchen floor but spoke softly. “I should be asking you that. Did you want to have another kid? I mean, it’s a big deal, right? I never thought she’d call anyone that.”

“We’re serious about each other. I always thought that if I got married again, I’d want more children if she did. Step-children were included in that. I love you and I love her. Your child is like mine.”

“I feel the same way about Abby,” Hermione said. “We’re going so fast.”

He thought about that for a moment. It was over a year before he moved in with Marlene. That relationship was incredibly different and he had to stop comparing them.

“We’re going the right speed for us, I think.”

Cara returned then announcing, “I want noodles!”

“Please,” Severus added for her. He served her at the table in a bright pink Hello Kitty bowl, her favorite.

“Please!” she echoed. “Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you guys know what decomposing is? Grown-ups are supposed to know everything.”

“We’re old,” Severus explained. “They taught math differently in the old days.”

Hermione scoffed. “I am not old.”

Cara giggled at her mother’s facial expression. “Yes, you are!”

---

The day Hermione went to complete the sale of her home, Severus’ department received devastating news. They had lost their funding suddenly, in the middle of a fiscal year. They were to vacate the office as soon as possible. The lease was broken and today was their last day. No need to clean up, a crew would do that after hours. For the small team of seven, this was coming at a terrible time. The economy was in recession and inflation was high. When Severus went to his department head, Horace Slughorn, the man had a smile on his face. He wasn’t concerned in the slightest about losing his livelihood.

“How could this happen?” Severus demanded to know. “No warning. This isn’t even a bankruptcy? We’re funded by private donors. What happened to the money?”

“Severus, just accept it. Start looking for another position. I promise to write you a stellar reference.”

“How can you be so calm? I have a kid and a mortgage. Rosey’s pregnant. She needs her insurance. Tom was going to retire soon. Don’t you care?”

“These things happen, son.”

Grabbing the things that he’d packed away into a box, Severus left his workstation, never to see it again. On his way home, he contemplated many things. He wondered how long it would take him to get another job in his very niche field. Next, he thought about his finances. He had enough to keep himself going for six months if he lived simply. He’d have to tell Hermione. As much as he knew she would comfort him and support him, he didn’t want her to. He wanted to stand on his own two feet and be a man. Severus wanted to take care of her, even though she didn’t need it. At that wedding weeks ago, when Ginny did her best to bring him down, her words were a light breeze compared to the tsunami hitting him right now. When he got home, it took him half an hour just to get out of the car. She wouldn’t know about this. Not yet.

Hermione’s friends organized a dinner for her birthday but because of scheduling conflicts, they had to wait until October. The group was composed of the same friends he’d met before. Padma was sharing a story about a scandalous workplace romance at the hospital when the wait staff brought out her birthday cake. They sang a quick song and the cake was cut. Daphne captured a candid shot of Severus kissing Hermione’s cheek as she laughed. 

“I love this one! Send it to me. I’m going to print it out.”

Daphne moved her fingers across her phone screen. “Sent.”

“Time for gifts!” Angelina announced, handing Hermione an envelope.

Hermione pulled out a gift certificate to Black Lake. “Oh my god! I’ve wanted to go here for years!”

“What is it?” Severus asked.

“An exclusive salon and spa.”

“It’s for two, Sev,” George commented with a wink. “It’s great. We’ve been there a few times. Don’t worry. You can keep your clothes on.”

The table burst into laughter as Sev went red. Hermione whispered in his ear, “You and me in the steam room, maybe?”

“Whatever you just said got a smile out of him,” George chuckled, gesturing to the man’s grin. Severus gave him the finger and George laughed even louder.

“Be nice, boys,” Angelina admonished. “Worse than the kids.”

“My turn,” Daphne said. “I saw this when we were on our honeymoon.”

Hermione gasped. “It’s gorgeous! Thanks for thinking of me.”

She pulled out a luxury handbag the color of peaches. Severus knew nearly nothing about fashion labels but it was fancy and Italian or French. Hermione was in love and thanked her friend graciously. Padma handed her another envelope.

This time, Hermione screamed, getting the attention of other guests. “You didn’t!”

“I did!”

“I can’t believe it!”

She displayed two tickets to a show. “Front row? Padma, how?”

“So, it’s a funny story. I saved this guy’s life about a month ago when I was doing clinical rounds with my students. His wife finds me a week later and asks me if there’s any way she could thank me. I tell her that she doesn’t have to do that but she’s insistent. She says her husband owns a theater in San Diego. I could have tickets to any show. I asked her for those. Enjoy!”

“What show is it?” Angelina asked. 

“Cats!” Hermione grinned.

“Of course,” Daphne nodded. 

Severus turned to her. “Do you think your uncle could watch both girls? If not, we’ll need to get a babysitter.”

“If you can’t find one, I’m more than willing to volunteer to keep them,” Padma said. “What’s two more for one night?”

“You guys are the best,” Hermione told the table. “It’s been a great birthday-- the best in a long time.”

“Wait,” Severus said. “You’re not done.”

He pulled out a gift box from a pocket in his jacket. Hermione took it and opened it with a gasp.

“What is it?” Padma said from the far side of the table. 

“A bracelet,” Hermione answered. “It’s beautiful, Sev.” 

As she inspected the personalized inscription on the bar, Hermione said, “I know this. How did you get this?” A tear fell down her cheek.

“Get what?” Daphne said. “We’re dying here.”

“It’s my mother’s handwriting. Look.”

Theo passed the box to his wife who read it aloud. “Eres mi amor y mi corazón. Te amo, Mamá.”

“This is so sweet,” Padma smiled. “Is this her actual handwriting?”

Hermione nodded. “I recognize it. Aunt Ruth kept a box of all the keepsakes from my parents' house in a special chest. She collected them before they repossessed our house. I used to read this one all the time. It’s my last birthday card from her. Sev, where did you get it?”

“I talked to Robert and he found it for me,” he explained. “Do you like it?”

Grinning through her tears, she embraced him tight. “I love it. I love it so much. I love you. It’s perfect. Best birthday ever.”

As Severus worked to close the clasp on the bracelet, Angelina said, “Your mother spoke Spanish?”

“Yeah. She was half Dominican. My grandmother was born there. I knew a lot of Spanish as a kid but after the accident, I stopped speaking it. Now, I think I’ll give it a try again. I lost that part of me I guess. Sev’s given it back to me.”

She held up her hand to show it off, the gold set nicely against her olive skin when someone new approached their table. 

“That’s pretty,” Ginny said. “I thought your birthday was last month.”

“What are you doing here?” George asked his sister.

Ginny looked over her shoulder. “I’m here with a client. I heard all the noise and, imagine my surprise, I found you all here. Happy Birthday, Hermione.”

She glared at her and rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Be like that. We could be petty twelve-year-olds,” Ginny suggested easily. “I see you're still slumming it. How is it? Being a sugar mommy? Are you paying his bills yet? Is that his gift to you? Cute. That cheap shit will probably turn your wrist green.”

Daphne got up before Hermione could. “You would know, bitch. Get the fuck out of here. Does Harry know that you're probably fucking your client ? My clients never kiss me like yours did. I saw you an hour ago. I was hoping you’d be an adult and just leave us alone. Go away. No one wants you here.”

Thoroughly destroyed, Ginny just huffed, turned on her heel, and left.

“Sorry, George,” Daphne said, taking her seat.

Grinning, as always it seemed, George said, “I saw her too. I’m glad you said it. Our mother would kill me if I talked to her like that. Can you come to the family reunions? I’ll just let you speak for me. That was very enjoyable.”

“It was,” Hermione agreed. 

Severus took her hand. “Are you alright? Still a good birthday?”

“Still the best,” Hermione told him. “Thanks for this, guys. I needed it.”

“Done?” Severus asked her after she pushed his hand away from her clit.  She had lost track of how many times she’d come that night. If he didn’t use his fingers, he used his tongue. If he wasn’t using his tongue, it was his cock. 

In this last position, Severus had her up against the wall. She’d teased him, playfully refusing to return to the bed so he followed her instead. In no time, her ass was red again from the sharp sting of his hand which left her soaking and begging for him. He fucked her and fingered her even after he spilled inside her. His cum made white trails down her thighs as he pulled out.

“Next time, you’ll be up against the window, so everyone can see what a slut you are,” he warned her. “You’re shaking, baby. Too much?”

“No,” she breathed with a sleepy smile. “Just enough.”

Chapter Text

Aunt Ruth once described her marriage as a melding of two souls. Before Ruth died, Hermione watched her uncle provide her with the care she needed. She had end-stage renal failure and the chances of transplant were extraordinarily low. Hermione was not a blood relation but was more than willing to donate. Unfortunately, their blood types were incompatible. The woman had raised her like a daughter. It was Ruth who opened her eyes to how manipulative Pierce truly was. It was Ruth’s funeral he skipped that pushed Hermione to finally make that call to a lawyer’s office. 

From what Hermione could remember, her parents had a strong marriage but she would never know for certain. Uncle Robert and Aunt Ruth were her models. They had arguments-- loud ones--but loved each other. He would get taciturn and she would catastrophize. Nothing and no one was perfect. He wanted a family and she could not have children of her own. They worked through that early on. Ruth’s family looked down on him and his family believed she was controlling. With all these issues and the others that came up in their forty-year marriage, they were still strong. Ruth told her she deserved a husband who cared about her. Pierce didn’t. Her husband shouldn’t intentionally cause her pain or distress. He’d be honest with her and understand. And if he didn’t, he’d try to. He would make her feel cherished and irreplaceable.

Hermione felt when she was pulled against Severus’ body, interrupting her thoughts. “Happy Birthday,” he told her.

She smiled and turned over. “My birthday was weeks ago.”

“I know but every time we celebrate it, we… celebrate.”

“Horny,” she teased, giggling when he kissed her cheeks and neck. “Baby, I’m sore.”

Where she expected to see a pout, she saw a wide grin. “Proud of yourself?”

“I’m happy to make you happy,” was his reply. “What do you want to do before getting the girls?”

“Just lay here for a little,” Hermione said. “It’s cold. We haven’t gotten time to talk in a while. Doesn’t it feel like we’re constantly on the go? We talked more when we weren’t living together. Why?”

“We stopped making dates for it. Maybe we should start again.”

“Like a date night?”

“It’s something to think about.”

She shuffled in closer, seeking his body heat. “How’s work? Did Rosey have her baby yet?”

The team had a very small baby shower for her and Severus asked Hermione to pick out a baby present because he was clueless. While he knew what a parent needed, it wasn’t necessarily what he wanted to give as a gift. A breast pump machine seemed a little odd. Three bibs with pictures of flying insects wasn’t enough. Hermione picked out a humidifier from her registry that doubled as a night light.

“Not yet,” he said. “I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so? Doesn’t she sit right next to you?”

He shifted and sighed. “Something happened last week. You’re going to be mad. Let me just say that I’m trying to fix this problem on my own. I’ve always been that way. It’s just the way I am.”

“And you say I’m resistant to help… What happened?”

“I lost my job last Tuesday.”

“Tuesday? Sev, it’s Sunday. Where have you been going every morning?”

“I would just come back home after you left. I’ve been submitting applications but no one has gotten back to me yet.”

She kept her voice soft and free of judgment. Losing his livelihood and his position must have been killing him. Severus Snape had to work. He had to be something in this world. It was a sentiment Hermione understood well. It was his identity. He was a scientist. He’d die a scientist. “How did this happen? You were fired?”

“We were laid off. Our funding was pulled and when I asked that fucker Slughorn about it, he was smiling in my face. He didn’t care at all.”

“Didn’t he lose his job too?” asked a confused Hermione.

“We all did. I don’t know if he won the lottery or inherited money from a long-lost relative but he didn’t seem phased. Everyone else was on the verge of tears. Rosey was crying actually. Sobbing. Last week, Slughorn mentioned how he couldn’t wait to turn sixty-seven and collect social security.”

“That does not sound like a man who would be happy to lose his job. Oh, Severus, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me the day it happened?”

“Like I said, I needed to fix the problem myself.”

“You have to tell me these things. We’re a couple. We have kids. This impacts more than just you and it’s too much for one person to take on. You have to talk to me.”

He looked away from her. “I know.”

“Is this about the money thing?”

“A little,” he admitted. “I was already making less--You’re a millionaire and I’m broke. This house is worth less now than when I bought it. I can’t even pay the mortgage for more than six months maybe. Do not say you can cover it. That’ll make me feel even worse.”

“I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to say I’ll pay half. That gives you a year. Cara and I just kinda invaded, didn’t we? I’ll cover half the utilities too. We’re partners, aren’t we? If we were married, I wouldn’t expect you to take care of everything. I mean, I don’t know what we’d do but it would have to be fair, right?”

He hushed her and nodded. “I’m an idiot.”

“No, baby. You’re not.”

“Yes, I am. I should have told you. The past few days have been so hard and you find a solution in seconds.”

Hermione said, “Then, I’m an idiot too. We both keep too much to ourselves. We can get through this. I’m not letting you lose your house. It’s awful. It’s a very specific kind of loss. You go through a mourning period too.”

“How do you know?”

“We lost my parents' house when I was little, remember? I don’t remember the financials of it all but my aunt and uncle lived in the garage apartment. We all kind of shared the main house. When they died, they couldn’t afford it anymore. Aunt Ruth told me that my parents' dental practice wasn’t doing that well. They sold it but it wasn’t enough because of the debt they’d accumulated for the equipment and the rent. Insurance refused to pay out because they died doing a ‘high-risk activity.’ The house was just too expensive for two musicians. My college fund was untouchable. The house was foreclosed. We moved into another part of the city. The neighborhood wasn’t the best. Uncle Rob heard about the scholarship to The Hill School. I passed the entrance exam and earned the scholarship. I’m not a princess, Sev. You know that. I know what it’s like to work hard. That college fund only covered my first year’s tuition. I worked through dental school. I told you that. Don’t think I won’t understand what it’s like to see a negative balance in your bank account and hold three bills in your hand at the same time. My friends grew up with people who handled that for them. You and I know the struggle, okay?”

“Yeah. I forgot.”
“A lot of what I have now was dumb luck or misfortune in the case of my ex. I do well. I earned my degrees and certificates. So did you. We’re both professionals. We work for our money. You’ll find something again. Give yourself time and lean on me. I know what Ginny said last night must be on your mind too.”

“It’s like she knew just what to say. How did she know I might need you to pay my bills?”

Hermione recalled the statements in their entirety. She tilted her head in contemplation. “You’re right. It’s weird that she was even there last night. She hates Thai food. Pierce might be behind this,” Hermione figured.

The man next to her said, “What do you mean? He’s behind my department getting shut down?”

Hermione met his eyes. “He throws money at things and people. I’ve seen him do things like this before.”

“My teammates lost everything because of him? Why didn’t he just come after me?”

Sitting up, Hermione pushed the blankets back, getting out of bed. He watched her as he waited for an answer. “We should get ready so we can pick up the girls.”

“What’s going on in your head? If I have to tell, you do too,” Severus reminded her. “Hermione.”

She stopped after pulling a drawer open in the dresser. “He’s doing all this for me. I don’t know what he wants from me. He doesn't love me. I know that for sure. I don’t think he loves anyone but himself. He’s not going to stop as long as I’m with you. He’s got Ginny doing his dirty work somehow. You’ve lost your job. I know he made it happen. He could be blacklisting you too so you can’t find another one. Maybe… Maybe… I should just…”

“No,” he said, leaving his side of the bed and approaching her. 

“But, you have this house and Abby to think about. You have to live too.”

“No. Fuck him,” Sev told her, pulling her into his arms. 

“I’m not worth all of this,” she said, looking up at him. 

“You’re priceless.”

“That’s nice but I’m not w--”

“No. No. No. We’re not even going to finish that sentence. I love you and I’m not letting you go. We’ll find a way to deal with this. Enough is enough.”

Chapter Text

Severus shook the hands of each member of a laboratory team at WolfStar Labs. The interview went well. He was able to answer each question with considerable expertise. Nods of agreement followed every answer he gave. Severus even knew one of the other scientists from the master’s program he took fifteen years ago. He was one of the few people Severus spoke to during those two years. As far as Severus knew, it was a positive and friendly relationship. His name was Kingsley and he caught up with Severus after the meeting.

“You’re a shoo-in, man,” Kingsley told him. “We need someone like you as soon as possible. Analyzing data is a bitch.”

“When do you think I’ll hear from them?”

“I can’t say. It’s Friday and everyone’s trying to get out of here. Next week?”

Severus gave him a grateful smile. 

“How long have you been looking for work?” Kingsley said. “You were laid off. That’s what you said, right?”

“Since the end of September,” Severus told him. “With Christmas coming in a few weeks, I’ve been praying harder.”
“It’s tough during the holidays.” Kingsley looked at his watch and said, “See you next week, maybe?”

“For what?”

“Onboarding and training. See ya, man.”

Kingsley’s positivity and certainty raised Severus' confidence that this would be the one. Feeling lighter already, Severus loosened his tie and made his way to the parking lot. As he approached his car, Severus saw a familiar figure.

“You’re supposed to stay away from us,” Severus told Pierce who leaned back on his thirteen-year-old Toyota Camry. “Just leave us alone.”

“I’m supposed to stay away from Hermione and Cara. Not you.”

“So, you’re in love with me now?” Severus said deadpan. “Get off my car so I can go home.”

“How did the interview go?” Pierce asked with a smirk. “Well? Of course, it went well. They all have. You’re a smart guy. You’d be making a lot more if you applied yourself a little more. Surgeons make quite a bit.”

“I didn’t want to be a surgeon. Why do you know how well my interviews have gone?”

“I asked.”

Severus was three seconds away from grabbing Pierce by the collar and slamming him to the ground. Hermione thought Pierce was making it impossible for Severus to get a new job but they couldn’t be sure.

“You’ve been sabotaging me?”

“See? A smart guy. I imagine you’re draining your savings. California’s not a cheap place to live. The gas prices alone will kill you.”

“What is your point? Why are you telling me this? Hermione is still with me. Leave us alone. It’s not working.”

“Yeah. I’m a smart guy too. I’ve decided to try something new.” The other man’s chiseled features and smile were half-lit but the parking lot street lamps. He actually looked like an evil villain. “I know what it’s like not to have any work for a while. I’m in between roles. It’s unnerving. I’ll make a deal with you. I won’t interfere with this job offer if you kick Hermione out of your house. You have a kid. She needs a place to go when she sees Daddy on the weekends. She’s more important to you than Hermione. Just get rid of her. You’ll get this job. In fact, I’ll make sure of it. I’ll also give you a bonus.”

“A bonus for what?”

“I’m willing to give you fifty thousand dollars if you kick her out tonight. It goes down by ten thousand every night you wait. Think about what you could do with that. Get a new car or put some away for your daughter’s college fund.”

“No.”

“No? I’m giving you the world for her. She’s not worth even that much.”

“Then, why do you want her so much?” Severus said, getting closer and towering over the man. 

“She’s mine.”

“She’s not a toy.”

Pierce eyed him for a moment. “I hear you. What if I give you one million dollars? Name your price actually. How much do you want for her?”

“How can you be so sure she’ll come to you if I break up with her?”

Pierce got closer still, trying to intimidate him. “I know my wife. She’ll have nowhere to go and end up in my arms. So, give me a price. Her pussy cannot be worth more than a million. Come on.”

The next thing to come out of Pierce’s mouth was, “Shit! Fuck!” as he stumbled to his feet after Severus threw him to the ground. “You’ll regret that, asshole!”

“I think if there’s anyone regretting anything, it’s you,” Severus remarked, pulling his door open and getting inside his car. “Before you try to sue me or anything, there are cameras right there. They will see you waiting here and refusing to leave me alone. I said it twice. You were touching my property. I felt threatened because you harassed me. You’re lucky I don’t carry firearms.”

“You can forget about that job, you broke bitch!”

Severus turned on the engine and began pulling out. “I’d rather be broke than pay millions for pussy. It’s not a good look. Seriously. Move on.”

Severus told Hermione most of what transpired in the parking lot of WolfStar labs. He left out the part about Pierce devaluing her body. He felt she didn’t need that. She already lived with enough confidence issues that popped up when she was down. The night Severus met her, he never imagined that she sometimes looked at her incredible body and disliked what she saw. He didn’t agree when she complained about stretch marks and the size of her ears of all things. The more he knew her, the more human and real she became, the more he fell in love with her. The original pedestal he’d put her on was now gone but replaced with real respect and lasting appreciation. More and more, he imagined calling her his wife. He imagined a little boy with her nose and curls and his reserved nature. He liked those daydreams a great deal.

Severus, somehow, got the job and enjoyed working with his team already. As much as he was glad for the job, it meant that Pierce was planning something else. Since neither he nor Hermione could anticipate what he would do next they moved on, focusing on their girls and the holidays. In the back of his head, Severus knew something was coming. It was just a matter of time.

Three weeks before Christmas, Marlene asked to talk to them both while dropping Abigail off at the house. The girl hugged her father before scrambling off with Cara to play something on her tablet.

“Hey, Hermione. How are you?” Marlene said waving to her in the kitchen. 

“I’m good. Do you want something to drink?”

“Water would be great. The air is so dry today.”

Severus led her into his kitchen and sat down. “Everything good? You look worried.”

Hermione handed her a cold bottle of water from the fridge before sitting down next to Severus. 

“Yeah!” Marlene said. “Sorry. I’ve got a ton of things on my mind. I’ve got really good news actually and I have to ask you for a huge favor. Both of you.”

“What’s up?” asked Hermione.

“I’ve been working on this project involving rare plant species that could possibly be used in treatments for autoimmune diseases. Well, those plants are only found in central Brazil. Our team just got a grant to do more research and they invited me to go. Joe’s coming too.”

“So, you need us to keep Abby for a few weeks?” Hermione asked.

“More like three months. I know it’s not what we agreed on and the way things are now has been working really well.”

Severus looked at Hermione who smiled, giving her silent opinion.

“Lee, it’s fine. Of course, we’ll keep her. You’re doing great things. We’ll manage. She’s mine too, remember? We’ll figure it all out.”

“I agree,” Hermione said. “Aunt Ruth really struggled with her health. Anything you discover could only help millions of people. You know I love Abby. Were you really worried, we’d say no?”

Marlene said, “There’s just so much going on. We got the news yesterday. I have to pack and get ready to live in another country. I don’t speak Portuguese. I know some level one Spanish and that’s it.”

Hermione laughed. “I feel that on a deep level. I’m trying to learn again. When are you leaving?”

“Next week.”

“Shit,” Severus chuckled. “Does she know?”

“Yeah. She’s excited. She loves it here so I wasn’t worried about that.” Marlene took a sip of her water before standing up. “I’ve gotta get back. We’re clearing out the fridge and packing up. Joe might come over tomorrow or Saturday with more of Abby’s things. We’re going to leave you with a key, okay? Do you mind just checking in now and then?”

Severus nodded. “You got it.”

It was three days before Christmas when Hermione placed a newly framed photo on the mantle above the fireplace. Severus never used it in the four years he’d been living here so she wasn’t going to attempt lighting it. The photo was of Abby and Cara in white tulle dresses, grinning brightly. The background was a massive green christmas tree, lit with red, blue, and yellow lights. They both had big white bows in their hair. Cara’s loose curls framed her sweet face while Abby wore a half updo. 

“They look like sisters,” Severus commented.

Hermione said, “I sent the digital photo to Marlene. She said the same thing. She loved it.”

“Abby usually gets a picture with Santa every year.”

“She told me Santa is for babies,” Hermione informed him.

“No more Santa? Hmm… What did Cara say?”

“Cara agreed,” she laughed. “She stopped believing when she read a book and one of the characters exposed the truth about Santa.”

“Of course,” Severus chuckled. “So there’s no point in hiding presents anymore?”

“Nah. All done in the kitchen? I’m so tired.”

“Yeah,” he said, flipping the switches for the living room lights. The girls fell asleep fast.”

“A day at the mall will do that to you.”

“True. Time for bed. I’m going to fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.”

“Right…” Hermione smiled and made her way up the stairs.

“Do you have other plans, Dr. Granger?”

“Maybe,” she winked, pulling him into their bedroom.

“Hermione, wake up! Wake up! We need to get the girls!”

“Huh? What?”

“There’s a fire!”

It was then she heard the fire alarm in the hallway. With a gasp, Hermione pushed herself out of bed. Severus grabbed a metal box from beneath the bed as Hermione quickly pulled on a pair of nearby pajama bottoms.

“Grab your phone!”

As adrenaline ran through her body, Hermione searched for a top. Finding one in a drawer, Hermione dressed as she followed Severus down the hall.

He picked up Abby and she lifted a sleeping Cara into her arms. 

“Mommy?” she muttered.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Hermione repeated, making her way downstairs and holding Cara close to her. The air smelled like burning wood and she could see the flames in the backyard.

“Come on!” 

Thinking fast, he grabbed the keys to Hermione’s car which sat in the driveway. Moving quickly through the house and out the front door, Hermione found herself in the front yard. A next-door neighbor ran over to them.

“We called 911 already!” said an elderly woman wearing a nightie and a robe.

Abigail was suddenly by Hermione’s side as Cara coughed in her mother’s arms. Turning to the woman, Hermione said, “Do you know what started it?”

“Not a clue. It could have been anything. It’s been so dry lately.”

Severus ran to the house on the other side of his and banged on the door as he rang the doorbell. In moments the young couple living there and their infant were outside. 

“Thank you! We would have slept right through it!” his neighbor said graciously. She held her baby close, keeping her warm.

The fire spread quickly, from house to house. By the time the fire was contained, six homes were destroyed, either by flame or water from the firemen’s hoses. Six families were displaced and told to find somewhere to sleep tonight.

“You were smart to grab the keys,” Hermione told Severus when they arrived at Robert’s one-bedroom apartment in the next town. “I don’t even have my wallet or anything.”

“I grabbed our important documents. We all made it out,” he said, still holding the metal lock box. “That’s all that matters.”

Uncle Robert’s home was warm and safe. The man was happy to take them in. All they had was the clothes on their backs. Cara was lucky since she left a change of clothes here the last time she spent the night.

Uncle Robert asked, “Do they know what happened?”

“We had a fire,” Cara said sadly, rubbing her eyes. “I don’t like the smoke, Grandpa.”

Hermione caressed her hair lovingly. “It’s been so dry. It might have been arson but it could have started accidentally. Anything could have sparked it. You girls need to get some sleep.”

“I’m not tired,” Abigail said. “I’m scared.”

“Everything is okay,” Hermione told her, reaching out to her for a side embrace. “We’re safe.”

“Did the alarm wake you up?” Robert asked them.

“Sev woke me,” Hermione told him.

“I heard the doorbell,” Severus said. “Someone rang the doorbell and that’s what I think woke me up.”

“Who was it?” Robert asked.

“I don’t know,” Severus answered. “Maybe it was one of the neighbors who saw the flames. I’m glad they did. They saved us.”

Robert picked up a blanket from the sofa. “You can use the pull-out bed. You guys have a lot to figure out in the morning. You better get some sleep. It’s not much space though.”

“We’ll make it work,” Hermione said. “Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you,” Severus agreed. “It’s more than enough.”

Chapter Text

Eighteen Months Later

“Daddy!” Cara waved to him from backstage. “Mommy!”

Severus laughed when her classmate told her to be quiet and dramatically put his finger in front of his lips. Next to him, Hermione had her phone ready to record the performance. Cara and Abby both had a solo in RCA’s elementary school choir’s annual spring performance. The program included all sorts of performing arts. It was a three-hour-long event. Severus was grateful that they let the younger children go first. They had the earliest bedtimes. The teenagers could stay out all night if they wanted.

Wearing their choir uniform, his girls looked professional. With the exception of Cara’s excited outburst, they were very serious performers. For the past two weeks, they sang their songs (loudly) in the car and around the house. Every time they asked him how they sounded, Severus asked for an encore which led to bright smiles. It annoyed the hell out of Hermione and that made him laugh if he was honest. She was the one who signed them up for it.

The very proud mother blocked the view of the parents behind her unashamedly. During the second song, De Colores, Cara came up to the mic and sang the Spanish folk song with the sweetest little voice. She and Abby were blossoming in the Spanish immersion program and it showed when it was Abby’s turn to sing a solo. It was beautiful and Severus tried to hide the water in his eyes. Hermione didn’t hide her emotions, mostly because she was bad at it. “Those are our girls! My babies!”

“That’s great but can you sit down now?” a woman asked behind them.

“Sorry,” Hermione said, taking her seat. “You know how it is…”

The woman gave her a half smile.

“Let’s go,” she said to Severus. “The girls are done. We’ll take them out to dinner.”

It took about ten minutes for them to meet their children amid the chaos backstage. The girls spotted them first, running into Hermione’s arms.

“My babies. You did so well! I’m so proud. You made Daddy cry.”

“Really?!” they both giggled. 

“Yeah. He thinks I didn’t see him.”

He let her tease him because a) he’d get her back for this and b) she called Abby her baby and he loved it when she did.

“Your mom thinks we should go out for dinner. You guys should pick.”

Cara said, “Pizza?”

“Pizza!” Abby concluded.

Hermione said, with a wink, “We just love pizza in our family.”

He knew she was referring to that first date where pizza wasn’t the only thing on the menu. 

But what made him pause were the words ‘our family.’ In the past two years, they had become a family. Together, they survived a tragedy in which they lost nearly everything. The fire ravaged the house, having started in the backyard.

Severus was thankful for a few things. First, they all got out without injury. Next, his neighbors were able to rebuild even though his house was gutted. He had insurance so although there was damage to the other homes, it was nothing that couldn’t be handled over time. He and Hermione had to find somewhere new to live.

The investigation into the fire came back inclusive. It wasn’t clear if the old powerline extending to the house gave off a spark or if someone set the foliage on fire. There was no video evidence from his home or neighbors, which the investigator found unfortunate.

“What doesn’t cost you your life, costs nothing.” 

That’s what Robert told them. Severus understood the sentiment and he agreed but he lost all his mother's paintings. They were one-of-a-kind originals she left behind. He’d never see them again.

At least, that’s what he thought.

The wonderful woman he shared his life with had taken pictures of each piece at some point, sending them in a group chat with her friends. Impressed, Hermione couldn’t help but show off. The next Christmas, a year after the fire, she gifted him ten replicas of his mother’s beautiful watercolor landscapes. She found an artist operating out of Venice Beach who could match Eileen’s style perfectly. Severus wanted to ask her to marry him right then but he knew how she felt about marriage. It wasn’t something to jump into and they hadn't really discussed it at length. There were so many other things to think about.

Severus knew that Hermione was everything he could want in a partner though. She's the one who found the perfect house for them, wherein the girls each had their own rooms while he had a home office. This was a necessity since he worked from home four days a week. Hermione also secured a spot and a scholarship for Abigail at RCA. Both girls were excelling and learning new amazing things every day.

When the news of Abigail’s scholarship came in an email, Severus forwarded it to Marlene who was still in Brazil. Though she was half a world away, he made sure she had a say in what was happening with her child. What was supposed to be a three-month stay became a year-long stay that was extended more than once. At this point, Abby was accustomed to seeing her mom every six months and talking to Marlene on her tablet when she was available. He didn't have to worry about sending Marlene a video of this performance, Hermione sent her everything. Never in all his years had he heard of an ex-wife becoming good friends with the new partner. It must be something that occurs, of course, but he’d never seen it. 

Hermione was a neat freak, a workaholic at times, and quick to anger when provoked. But, she was also humble, empathetic, kind, and quick to love as well. He loved her.

“I want my own pizza,” Cara said, leading the group to the front entrance. “I don’t like the dairy-free cheese Abby gets.”

“You can have your own,” the other girl said, “because I want pepperoni on mine. And, I’m getting pineapple too.”

“Gross.”

“You’re gross!”

Hermione warned them. “We can just go home, ladies.”

“No!” they whined.

“Then let’s have a nice night out without bickering. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Things weren’t always perfect but he’d honestly say that despite all the drama, his life had gotten better since she came into it. 

And the sex was incredible. That could not be overlooked.

Severus went into the lab on Wednesdays for weekly team meetings that had to be done in person. He didn’t mind whatsoever. While working from home gave him so much more flexibility, it was nice to talk to adults outside the family now and then.

One morning, Severus noticed a few new lab techs. Kingsley explained that they were graduate students in a new paid internship program. His colleague introduced them to Severus during the morning meeting. As Severus didn’t work directly in the lab, he had already forgotten their names by lunchtime. So, when one of the female techs knocked on the door of the office he used, he just said, “Hi…”

“Yesenia.”

“Hi, Yesenia. I’m Sev. Can I help you with something?”

“Do you mind if I come in?”

“Come in,” he told her, slightly distracted. A text from Hermione caught his attention. She needed him to pick up the grocery order when he left work that day.

Yesenia closed the door behind her. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“Uh… It’s fine. What is it?”

“Why haven't I never seen you before today?”

“I only come in on Wednesdays and I had a family thing last week.”

“Oh, you’re married?”

“No. I'm not. Why?”

Smiling sweetly, she said, “No reason.”

The young woman couldn’t have been older than twenty-five if that old. She was beautiful with deep dimples on both cheeks and clear olive skin. Her curls, caught up in a bun, reminded him of Cara and Hermione.

“I’m sorry but do you have a question related to your job?” he asked.

“Yes. I know we just met but I was wondering if you wanted to hang out after work. We could get some drinks and see where that takes us.”

His eyes opened wide. “Huh? Are you coming on to me?”

She giggled. “Yeah. I mean don’t make me say it. This is embarrassing. I’m not good at this kind of thing.”

“Me?” he repeated.

“Yeah… So, what do you think? Just one drink. We can get to know each other. Harmless fun." Severus thought 'That was bullshit.' Harmless? Ha!

“The answer is no. I’m flattered but no.”

“Why not? You're not married. You have a girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“She doesn’t have to know,” the young woman said approaching his desk. She was dressed professionally but her blouse had one too many buttons undone. There was no way in hell this girl wanted to jump him after just one minute of conversation that morning.

Or maybe she did? When Severus thought about it, he recalled that Hermione wanted him after just three minutes on that stage years ago. Those sneaky waves of low esteem ebbed and flowed. He was handsome and he was successful, even when he didn’t believe it. But still, this was strange. Maybe she thought he had money to spend because he was older and working in a lucrative field. His salary was only slightly comparable to Hermione's now that he was working in a leadership role.

He'd have to let her down. Severus was many things but a sugar daddy was not one of them. 

“Trust me. She would know. Yesenia, I don’t want to make this more awkward than it has to be. I am not interested in you. I have a serious relationship and we have a family. So, it’s no.”

His phone lit up when Hermione responded to his text, the buzzing grabbing their attention. 

Yesenia had a funny look on her face. “Can I see your background?”

“On my phone? Okay…”

His wallpaper was a picture of Hermione with both girls holding up Valentine’s Day cards they’d made for him. He loved it.

She gasped. “Oh shit! That’s my cousin.”

“Who?”

“Hermione. Our mothers are sisters,” Yesenia said. “Half-sisters. I follow her but she doesn’t post much. Cara’s gotten so big. Wow, they grow so fast.”

“They do,” he agreed, waiting for her to leave. “So…”

“So... Um… I should tell you something. Hermione is family and I can’t do her dirty. Someone paid me to seduce you.”

Remaining stoic, Severus asked, “Someone paid you to sleep with me?”

“No. Just seduce you. You know? Make you like me so that you look like a cheater.”

He regarded her for a few moments, assessing her. "Who paid you?”

“She told me to call her Lily.”

“What does she look like?”

“My height. Brown eyes. Shoulder-length red hair. Kind of intense and a huge bitch. We met at a restaurant and she treated the waiter like shit. She called him a waste of breath and said his mother didn’t love him. It was wild.”

Ginny. It had to be Ginny. It had been so long since they’d heard anything out of her or Pierce. Her ex-husband had a new movie come out a few months ago so he and Hermione figured he was occupied. 

“How much is she paying you?”

“One thousand to start. I get an extra thousand for every piece of good evidence I get. I just need to prove that you’re entertaining me.”

“Like what?”

“Dick pics, voice notes, or text messages. Anything incriminating. Even Cash App receipts.”

“She wants pictures of my--What the fuck? That’s a lot of money and you’re in school. You’re giving it up?”

Yesenia told him, “I know I was willing to do this and I know it’s wrong. A bitch has bills to pay though and it was easy cash. But, Hermione’s family. That means a lot to us. Plus, that Lily woman already paid me the first thousand. I’m good. I wasn’t going to get anything out of you, was I?”

“No.” Severus shook his head slowly. “No way. But, I have an idea.”

“What?”

“Let’s hang out after work. Hermione would be happy to see you again. Her clinic is just down the road. What do you say? I think she should hear this story directly from you.”

“I have nothing better to do.”

Hermione was handing a young patient a toothbrush and toothpaste kit when Severus and Yesenia walked through the entrance of her clinic. The little boy said thank you and his mom led him away. 

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Hermione asked, looking at the young woman next to him. “Yessie?”

“Hi!”

“You’re so grown up! I haven’t seen you since you were like thirteen. How are you? Sev, where did you find her?”

“She found me, actually,” Severus said. “Can we go into your office? Do you have any more patients today?”

Hermione turned to the receptionist station. “Justin, do I have anyone for the rest of the afternoon?”

The man told her, “Your five o’clock canceled. You’re free. Lucky you.”

A few moments later, in her office, Hermione listened to Yesenia’s story. 

“This is insane!” Hermione exclaimed. “Why is she still coming after us? It’s been two years.”

“She never told me why she needed it. I thought she wanted Severus for herself,” Yesenia said. “Break you guys up so she can have him.”

“She insulted me to my face more times than I can count. She doesn't want me,” Severus told her. “When did she approach you with this proposal?”

“The day I got hired. I passed the interview and they hired me on the spot. I went to get coffee at the Starbucks next door and she sat down at my table. She said I was pretty enough to be in movies and she could hook me up with an agent. She showed me pictures of her with some pretty big stars so I took her number.”

“Which stars?” asked Hermione.

Yesenia glanced up, recalling the names. “Celestina, Fleur Delacour, Alex Knight and Viktor Krum.”

Moving fast, Hermione typed something into a search engine. There was silence as she scanned the computer screen with her studious eyes.

“She’s representing him,” Hermione announced, turning the screen towards them. Ginny was standing next to Pierce in a formal gown at a red carpet event. 

“I love him!” Yesenia gushed. “He’s so hot.”

“He’s my ex-husband.”

“You were married to Alex Knight?! Why didn’t you post anything with him? I can’t believe it. The Alex Knight was my cousin-in-law?"

“His real name is Pierce,” Severus corrected. “I guess he’s bored again, Hermione.”

Hermione groaned and rested her head in her palm. 

“What’s going on?” asked Yesenia.

“Don’t worry about it,” Hermione told her tiredly. “The woman you met is named Ginevra Weasely. Not Lily. She’s been a major pain in my ass for too long.”

“Well since she paid me already, I want to do something.”

Severus said, “What?”

“She wanted pictures of me and Severus. She never said you couldn’t be in them too.”

It felt immature but, god, was it fun. A selfie of all three of them giving the finger went straight to Ginny’s phone. The woman began to type her reply, the little circles indicating so, then stopped. It happened three more times but no message came. 

“I think we made her mad,” Yesenia laughed. “Should I tell her we’re cousins?”

Hermione told her, “Sure. She should have done her research before she tried to break up our family again. I cannot stand all this drama.”

Yesenia giggled mischievously. “Girl, I can’t get enough.”

Chapter Text

“Mom’s here! Hermione, Mom’s here!”

Abigail waved excitedly as she looked out the window overlooking their driveway. Cara stood with her watching their visitor make her way to the front door. Severus was already downstairs, ushering Marlene inside from the hot summer sun. The first floor of this house consisted mainly of a two-car garage, a mudroom, and the doors leading to the front lawn and the backyard.

Severus kicked the girls' sandals out of the way, making a note to talk to them again because it was the second time (that week he almost died from tripping over them.

“Watch your step,” he told Marlene lightly.

“Thanks,” she said, moving into the house and letting him close the door behind her. “How’s it going?”

As he climbed the stairs to the living room and kitchen area, Severus said, “Whoever invented summer break never had kids.”

“They’re driving you crazy?” she laughed.

“I’m here all day and they’re here all day so it’s hard to get work done. Summer camp starts on Monday, thank god.”

“Mommy!” Abigail ran into her mother’s arms and Marlene scooped her up, giving her kisses.

“How’s my little blueberry?” Marlene asked, placing the child back on her feet. She called her ‘Blueberry' because of her gorgeous dark blue eyes, which she inherited from her maternal grandmother. Marlene’s blue wasn't quite so dramatic. She made a noise when Abby jumped into her arms, making Hermione stifle a giggle. Marlene hadn’t realized just how heavy Abby was now. 

“Good!” Abby responded.

“Hi, Cara!” Marlene greeted the younger girl. The little one gave her a much calmer embrace. “She’s so sweet. Hermione, you’re home? You’re always so busy.”

“Yeah. I know, right? I had some appointments this morning so I figured I’d take the day for myself. Do you want anything to eat or drink? We’ve got fresh fruits from the farmer’s market. I bet you got better variety in Brazil.”

As Marlene made her way over to the huge blue sectional in their living room, Abby followed her mother dutifully. Studying the woman, Hermione could see that life in Brazil certainly had its benefits. Marlene had a glow about her from an ever-present tan, a stark contrast to how she looked before moving there. Here in the U.S., she was stuck inside, working in the lab. She was more energetic now and happier overall. She was doing what she loved so Hermione figured that had something to do with Marlene’s gaiety.

“Everything is so fresh where I live. I’m fine actually. I don’t need anything to drink. It’s nice to be back. Not much has changed. But this one has to be at least three feet taller,” she said as she tickled her daughter, making Abigail giggle.

“I’m the tallest one in my class,” Abby told her, nodding and making her long ponytail bounce behind her.

Marlene gently pulled Abby to sit in her lap as she said, “That’s all your father.”

“Where’s Joe?” asked Severus. “I thought he was coming with you?”

“He’s at our house,” Marlene explained. “A realtor is coming by to take pictures.”

“Realtor?” Abby asked. “They sell houses. Are you selling our house?”

Eyebrow raised, Marlene seemed surprised that Abby would know that information. The girl was quick and asked questions constantly. Cara was an observer and a researcher. Abby was an interviewer.

“We’re thinking about it.”

“But where will you live?” Abby asked, sounding genuinely confused. Why would you sell your house? “Are you buying a new one?”

“I need to talk to Dad and Hermione about that actually. Can we get some privacy?”

Abby nodded and left her mother’s lap. “I’m gonna ride my bike.”

“Me too!” Cara announced.

“Girls,” Hermione began, “If you go outside, put on sunscreen. I mean it, Cara.”

The little girl groaned.

“Then stay inside,” Hermione told her. “You have choices. Play outside with sunscreen or play inside. Pick one.”

“I’m going outside,” Cara said with a pout.

“Abby?”

“Yes?”

“Help her please,” Hermione asked.”Use the spray one downstairs.”

“Okay!”

The two of them left the adults to talk. Hermione heard the front door open and close. “We’re good. What’s going on, Marlene?”

“A lot. I want to start by saying I appreciate all that you’ve done for Abby. Thanks for being so understanding about the custody agreement. My work is very important to me.”

“We know,” Severus told her.

“But so is Abby. I miss her,” said Marlene. “Being away from her has been hard. She’s my only child. I want to see her more.”

“What are you trying to say,” asked Severus. “You’re selling your house. Are you moving to Brazil permanently?”

The other woman sat up straight. “My research is leading to real treatments and solutions. I was devastated when this year’s grant was denied. We were going to move back. I was already making plans to talk to you about becoming the weekend parent. Abby is doing so well at RCA and everything. I was planning to come home but then we got a private donor out of nowhere. They want to expand our facilities and grow the team. This fellowship will last for the next ten years. It’s my research so I have to be there.”

“You want to take Abby with you? To the rainforest?” Severus asked, tone flat.

“She would go to the English international school. They follow the same curriculum as RCA. We have a house in Amazonas. It would be really good for her to travel and see the world.”

“She can travel,” Severus said. “She can travel during school breaks. This is her home, Marlene. Are you serious about this?”

“Very serious. I want my daughter.”

“We have a custody agreement. You cannot take her out of the state, much less out of the country, without my consent. You agreed to that.”

“We can always change it.”

Hermione stepped in. “Marlene, shouldn’t we ask Abby what she thinks? Does she want to live in another country, change her entire life, and leave behind her sister?”

“I hear you, Hermione. The girls are close and I love that but Abby is my daughter.”

It hurt for Hermione to hear the unspoken words. She’s my daughter. Not yours. “Uh…” Hermione tried her best to hide the betrayal she felt. For years now, she and Marlene understood each other. When Severus explained why their marriage fell apart, he said that it was not due to conflict or misunderstandings. They simply fell out of love and Marlene approached him one day about it. She told him life was too short to be unhappy and they both deserved more. He (eventually) agreed. To Hermione, Marlene was a good friend but now, she wasn’t so sure. This behavior, this speech pattern, was so unnatural. The use of the words ‘me’, ‘my’, and ‘I’ was higher than normal. Marlene was considerate and kind. This wasn’t her. Something must have happened.

“Can we work something out? She could visit you for Christmas, Spring break, and the entire summer?”

“She could visit you for those same breaks,” Marlene countered. “Abby is coming to live with me. That’s it. I’m her mother. I’ve been out of her life for too long as it is.”

“You cannot do this, Marlene,” Severus said firmly.

“I can and I will.”

“We’ve avoided the court system. We’ve always been able to work things out.”

Marlene stood then. “Hermione had a great idea.”

“You’re twisting this,” Hermione refused. “What’s going on? This is coming out of nowhere.”

“You’re a mother. You’ve told me that you’d never let Cara out of your sight. Imagine how I feel not seeing Abby every day. If we can’t come to an agreement, we’ll have to go to court.”

“You’re not going to win this,” Severus said, standing up to face her. “You left her here for three months and it became two years. We found her an excellent school. She’s happy and she’s blossoming. Abby’s family is here.”

“I am her family,” Marlene told him. “I’m done. I guess we’re going to court.”

“We will,” Hermione spoke. “We’ll fight for her, Marlene. We won’t spare any expense.”

“You think you’re the only one with deep pockets?” quipped Marlene.

Hermione knew a few things about Marlene. She was raised by a single mother and had three younger brothers. They lived below the poverty line for her entire childhood and education was her only escape. As a researcher, she lived comfortably but didn’t have money to burn. Since getting her doctorate, Marlene made a little more but she wouldn’t call it ‘deep pocket’ kind of money. She still had a Southern California mortgage to pay after all.

Meeting Severus' eyes, Hermione knew he was thinking the same thing she was.

“Where is this money coming from?” he asked. “Why do you, all of a sudden, have money to throw at me in a custody suit and money to fund your research? What’s going on, Lee?”

His ex-wife said, “Nothing. Joe and I are just doing really well. When we sell the house, we’ll be even better.” Marlene made her way to the top of the staircase.

“Wait! Are you leaving? What about Abby?” Hermione asked. “She was looking forward to seeing you.”

“I was thinking of taking her to the movies. I promised her I would.”

“No,” Severus challenged. 

“I’m not taking her to Brazil today, Sev. I’m just going to take her out to the movies and get her something at the store. You have my word.”

“Your word? I can’t trust you,” he said. “You came in here and demanded to take that girl halfway across the world with no room for discussion. She’s your daughter but she’s mine too! You’re not taking her anywhere!”

Hermione quietly said, “Sev…” while caressing his arm. “Calm down.”

“No! She’s trying to take her away! No, I won’t calm down! Stay out of this, damn it!”

Taken aback by his volume and his words, Hermione shouted, “Severus, that’s enough!”

Chapter Text

Severus had stalked off into his office after shouting in Hermione’s face. She’d told him to take a break and cool off because the girls didn’t need to see him like that. Abby was sensitive to the emotions of others so Hermione urged him to go to their bedroom or his office.

When Marlene was ready to go out with Abby, Hermione asked her, “Are you going to ask Abby how she feels about your plan?”

“I’m the adult and she’s the child.”

Hermione nodded but said, “You know I lost my parents at her age. A sudden change like that was traumatic. I dealt with some attachment issues that led to some less than ideal friendships and eventually my failure of a marriage.”

“Why are you telling me this? Sev isn’t dying. We’re just moving.”

“You’re a smart woman,” Hermione said, turning to her. “Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. To an eight-year-old, moving to another hemisphere without one of her parents can be traumatic. Some children do well with change and stress and they can adjust. Abby might. But, she might not. Why take the risk? After the fire, she slept in between us for two months. Cara slept in her own room. Abby started sucking her thumb again from the anxiety. No one could have known my parents would have that accident. This kind of trauma can be avoided, Marlene. I’m not telling you what to do about the move or custody. I’m asking you to ask Abby for her opinion. She might be excited to go.”

Marlene called out to Abby, “Come on, Blueberry! We’ll miss the movie if we don’t hurry!”

The girl said, “Okay! I have to put my bike back and tell Daddy I’m leaving.”

“Dad’s taking a nap,” Hermione lied. “I’ll tell him where you are when he wakes up.”

Marlene climbed into the driver’s side and Hermione followed her. “Marlene?”

The other woman cleared her throat and grabbed a pair of sunglasses from a special compartment in her SUV. She put them on as Abby entered from the other side.

“Marlene, please?” Hermione repeated.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Thanks,” she told Marlene. Abby said with a big smile, “Bye, Hermione!”

“Bye, sweetie,” Hermione said, hiding her feelings of uneasiness and brewing anger over possibly losing this precious little girl. “Have fun!”

Once the car pulled away, Cara decided to put her bike in the garage too.

“Were you done riding it?” asked Hermione.

“It's not fun if Abby’s not here,” she replied, wiping sweat from her brow. “Mom?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we go somewhere too?”

“Like where?”

Cara paused for a moment. “Bowling maybe?”

“Alright. Why not?” Hermione agreed.

“I’m gonna wake Daddy so he can come.”

Hermione stopped her at the door. “I’ll wake him up. You should grab a pair of socks for the bowling shoes.”

Without acknowledgment, Cara climbed the two flights of stairs to her bedroom. Hermione made her way to the office after checking their bedroom and bathroom. The home office was off the kitchen and overlooked their deck. Looking out the large glass pane, Hermione saw the sun beginning to sink behind the skyscrapers in the distance.

The door suddenly opened and Severus jumped, obviously startled by her.

“Sorry,” Hermione said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He didn’t say anything. He just moved past her, opening the fridge and grabbing the ingredients to make a simple sandwich.

“Hungry? Cara wants to go out bowling. I know you like their chicken wings.”

“I don’t feel like going out.”

“Okay…”

“Where’s Abby?”

“Out with Marlene,” Hermione said quietly. She watched as his fists clenched and heard him count backward from ten. “I’m upset too.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you shout at me like that? I love her too.”

“This is a problem I can’t solve. I hate this. I hate that it’s partly my fault. I dug my own grave. I made my bed.”

“Sev, what are you talking about?”

He looked her in the eyes. “Our custody agreement from when she was four is still in effect. Marlene technically has physical custody five days a week. We never updated it. As far as the courts are concerned, she is still Abby’s primary caregiver.”

“They will know Marlene lives in another country,” Hermione reminded him. “They will see the thousands of texts and emails between all three of us, Sev. I know you said I should stay out of it but I talked to Marlene before she left with Abby.”

He shook his head and said, “Wait. I never should have told you that. I’m sorry. After everything we’ve been through… I know she means so much to you too. I was just so angry. I took it out on the wrong person.”

Hermione moved into his space by the kitchen island and put her hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles. “I understand. If Pierce ever said that shit to me, I’d kill him.”

“Would you let me help?”

“No,” she said.

“Why not?”

“When I get convicted and sent to prison for murder, I’ll need you to raise the girls.”

“Good point,” he said. Severus surveyed the ingredients he pulled out of the refrigerator. “You said you’re going bowling?”

“Yeah,” Hermione said light-heartedly. “The place with the really gooey mozzarella sticks. You wanna come?”

“Are we okay?” he asked apologetically.

“Yeah, we are,” she answered, embracing him and laying her head on his chest. “I promise I’ll stand by you if you’ll let me.”

Barely three days had passed since Marlene announced her plans to pursue custody. Hermione went to work early on Wednesdays for patients whose work schedules made it difficult to come in any later. So, that meant Severus had to get the girls up and ready for summer camp on RCA’s campus. Over the summer, they offered special excursions all over California including overnight trips, surfing lessons, and rock-climbing for those without a fear of heights. Traffic, of course, was terrible so Severus was over an hour late to work. Pulling into his usual space, Severus heard an annoyingly familiar voice.

Pierce Parkinson was standing in front of him for the first time in years. He looked awful, Severus thought. His skin was dry and yellow. It was summer so he wore a pair of shorts that exposed his swollen ankles and feet. He must have lost over fifty pounds since the last time they saw him on TV, getting interviewed by Entertainment News. Severus wondered how he even drove. Pierce’s breathing was uneven when he said, “This is it. I’m--I’m not fucking around anymore. If you want your kid to stay with you, you’ll break up with Hermione today .”

“I knew you had something to do with it,” Severus growled. “You paid my ex-wife to take my daughter from me?”

“I promised the money to her if she did it. Do this and she won’t have the money to take you to court. I’ll pay her off to leave little Abigail with you.”

“Do not say her name. You’re so fucking pathetic. Move on! You’re a fucking movie star. You can get any woman you want and they actually want you. I know it was you who burned my house down, you sick fuck!”

“Fire? What fire? I didn’t do that,” Pierce said looking confused. “That wasn’t me. A fire would have killed her and Cara. I don’t want anything to happen to them. I couldn’t give a fuck about you though.”

He made a good point. A fire set while they were sleeping would be a stupid way to drive Hermione back into his arms.

“Well, I’m not leaving her. I’m late for the morning meeting so…”

“I’ll give you ten million dollars.”

“We’ve been through this before. No.”

“Twenty million.”

Severus turned away, heading inside the building when he felt a hand roughly pulling on his shoulder. He was facing Pierce once again who punched him in the nose without warning. Severus was sent stumbling back but quickly regained balance. 

“You’re dead!” Severus announced, secretly glad to finally have his chance. He’d been harassing his family for years now and today, he would get his revenge.

Drowsily, Pierce swayed on his feet. He didn’t look like he was drunk. He looked ill. Seriously ill. Severus watched him for no more than ten seconds before the man collapsed, gripping his chest.

“Help me. Help me. Please.”

The ambulance arrived five minutes later. The noise of the siren drew a crowd outside. Kingsley and Yesenia came to Severus’ side when they saw him tell the EMTs what happened. The doors slammed shut and the sirens blared. Pierce Parkinson was on his way to the hospital and Severus had no clue what the fuck just happened.

“Who was that?” asked Kingsley.

“Hermione’s ex-husband.”

“Why was he here?” Yesenia questioned. “What happened?”

Severus answered, “He wanted to talk to me about Hermione. He sucker-punched me and then he was on the ground. I didn’t even touch him.”

“Maybe it was a heart attack?” Kingsley offered.

“He looked really sick,” Severus said. “You guys don’t know this but he’s been terrorizing us for years. I’ve never seen him like that. I have to call Hermione.”

“I think you should take the day off,” suggested Kingsley.

Wearing his usual mask of stoicism, Severus said, “I think you’re right.”

Yesenia faced Severus and, with an air of wisdom, said, “Tomorrow too. Something tells me that one day will not be enough.”

Chapter Text

“Hi. Um,  I need to see Pierce Parkinson. He collapsed and an ambulance brought him in.”

A young Latina nurse asked, “Are you family?” 

“I’m his wife,” Hermione said confidently but distressedly. She needed this woman to believe her. Pierce was a celebrity, and anyone could claim to be his family to get information on him. “We’re family.”

“He’s stable but weak,” the nurse told her. She pointed to the right and said, “He’s in room 919.”

“Thank you.”

Turning to Severus, Hermione quietly asked, “Do you mind staying in the waiting room? He might not want to talk if you’re here.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t mind. Text me if you want me to come in.”

“Okay,” she replied.

Hermione left Severus to make her way down the corridor to room 919. This unit was relatively quiet. She only saw the staff moving from room to room or sitting at the nurse's station. She took a few seconds to get her nerves under control. She wondered again why she was even here. They weren’t friends, lovers, or even co-parents. He was her abuser. He was unapologetic and prideful of his crimes against her. Why was she here?

A doctor wearing blue scrubs opened the door just then and nearly bumped into her. “Excuse me.”

She had a blank expression on her face so Hermione could not infer anything about Pierce’s condition.

“Is he awake?” asked Hermione.

Her badge said P. Pomphrey O.D.  “Yes. Are you family?”

“Yes. His wife. What happened?”

Dr. Pomphrey explained, “He has severe anemia. This can happen with end-stage kidney disease. He had a blood transfusion this morning when he arrived. He’ll still be fatigued though. We’d like to get in contact with his primary care physician and rheumatologist. Do you have their contact information?”

Trying her best to hide her shock, Hermione said, “We’re separated. I don’t have them.” Like a prayer answered, an overhead page caught the doctor’s attention. 

“That’s for me. I have to go.”

“Thanks,” Hermione said as Dr. Pomphrey hurried to her next destination. It was time to finally face Pierce and get some answers. Stepping into the room through the glass sliding door, Hermione heard Pierce say, “I thought I heard your voice.”

She slid the door closed behind her before making it to his bedside. His appearance was just as Severus described it. He looked so small which was jarring for Hermione. Pierce was always larger than life. Everything he did was over the top and extravagant. He loved bombed her, giving her the attention everyone said she was lucky to receive.

“How are you?”

He smiled. “Better now that you’re here.”

She ignored that comment, telling him, “Your doctor told me you have kidney failure.”

“She’s not supposed to tell people my personal information.”

“I told her I was your wife. Why are you hiding it? This isn’t sudden, Pierce. You’re not injured or anything. How long have you been sick?”

“About fifteen years,” he said.

“With what? What caused the kidney failure?”

“Lupus.”

Hermione brought her hand to her mouth in disbelief.

“I dealt with it,” Pierce told her. “I was in remission for years. And then, I wasn’t.”

“You were living with this during our entire relationship. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t tell anyone. Don’t take it personally. Not even Pansy knew until recently. It was my business, okay?”

The fact that Pansy didn’t know for years was not surprising. He and his little sister didn’t get along whatsoever. They were one of those wealthy families in which the children were pitted against each other to earn their spot in the will. Pierce won. Pansy did not. She still managed to live the life of an heiress last Hermione heard. Pansy was the reason why Hermione met Pierce. She and Daphne were childhood friends so when Pansy had a big bash for her twenty-fifth birthday in Malibu, Daphne dragged Hermione along. Pierce crashed the event but Pansy, a known socialite used her brother’s fame to meet Hollywood celebrities like him. By the end of the night or the next morning, Hermione was in love.

“Now, it’s my business. Severus says you offered him twenty million dollars this morning. Pierce, we both know you don’t love me. You don’t love anyone. What did you want from me? A kidney?”

“No.”

“Cara’s? She’s a child and she still might not be compatible with you.”

“I know she is.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“I checked. Her blood type is O-negative like mine. I knew when she was a baby.”

“What? Were you planning to-- Oh my god! You knew you were sick this whole time. You messed with my birth control on purpose. You bastard… You wanted to have children just to make sure you had donors?”

“I thought I had more time. At least ten or fifteen years maybe.”

“That’s sick, Pierce.”

“They’d be indebted to me,” he continued to explain. He must have had nothing to lose from the looks of it.

“Cara’s heart condition makes her ineligible for donation, even when she’s older. That’s why you wanted nothing to do with her? Why do you want us back now? I’m A-positive and useless to you.”

“She can give blood. Transfusions are hard. It’s hard to find a match for me.”

Hermione knew that already. If Cara ever needed a transfusion, it would be lucky if her blood type was available. She did her fair share of praying that she’d never need one.

Pierce said, “I’ve already had seven so far.”

“I cannot believe you. You just threw that sweet little girl away. Never mind, I can believe it. So, when you were cheating on me, was that a part of your big plan? Have as many children as possible so you can harvest them?”

“They say you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. Cara is my only child though.”

“You didn’t have any other children? None at all?”

“No. I hoped we could have another baby. You gave me one already.”

“And you gave her back. I would never let you touch me again.”

“Doesn’t matter now.”

Hermione thought about Aunt Ruth. She was in this exact same position when she told Hermione to leave Pierce. She’d never really liked him or trusted him. Pierce couldn’t be found the day of her funeral and Hermione could appreciate the irony. He was destined to the same fate. 

One thing didn’t make sense.

Hermione asked him, “Why didn’t you just buy one on the black market? You have the money for it. Guys like you always do things like that.”

“I thought I had more time but I’m progressing rapidly. I have someone looking for people willing to take the money but O negative is rare.”

“They usually murder people to get those organs. You know that.”

He blinked once as if bored. “Even if I got one, I could still reject it, so that’s why I wanted kids. It’s better when it comes from family.”

“What about your family?”

Pierce gave her a disappointed look. “You know that they're all waiting for me to die.”

Damn her empathy. She felt a little sorry for him but she knew he was evil. He was unashamed in his wickedness. The Parkinsons trained him well.

When Hermione kept quiet, he said, “Pansy’s been taking care of me in the past year. She was going to donate but we’re incompatible.”

“She’s doing it for the money.”

“I know. I want to tell her that she’s not getting a cent of it.”

“You’re dying and that’s all you can think about? Wow…”

“Don’t you want to know who is getting it?”

Hermione shook her head and said, “No, I don’t. Listen, I only came here to get some answers and to make sure you didn’t accuse Sev of hitting you. You haven’t tried to get him arrested yet.”

“I did.”

“When? Pierce, what the fuck?”

“That bitch Ginny Weasely paid a girl to accuse him of sexual assault at his work. It was taking too long so I cut her loose. She’s so fucking useless.”

“That girl was my cousin but she didn’t know. Ginny told her to seduce Severus, not accuse him of something as evil as that. I should kill you but we’re in a hospital and they’d just bring you back to life.”

“You’d lose your license.”

“You think this is funny? You could have ruined his life!”

“I just don’t give a damn anymore. What happened this morning was my last try to save my life. I might die tonight, Hermione.”

“You might not,” she told him.

“Always the optimist. You know, I won’t tell Pansy about the money,” he said. “I’ll let it be a surprise for her.”

Severus checked the time again. Hermione had been gone for a while and they needed to pick up the girls from camp at 4:00. The double doors to enter the unit suddenly opened, revealing an emotionally drained Hermione.

“How’d it go?”

 Hermione’s face showed a mix of anger and acceptance. She rolled her eyes and huffed. “Let’s get out of here.”

“What happened?” Severus wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked to the elevators. 

“He got a blood transfusion. He’s anemic because his kidneys are failing.”

“He’s not making his own blood cells,” Severus commented knowledgeably. “Did you know he was in end-stage renal failure?”

She said, “I didn’t know he had lupus. He kept it a secret this entire time. He’s had it for fifteen years, Sev.”

“Wow,” Severus. The elevator finally arrived and they entered. He pressed LL1 to the main lobby. “You seem upset. Did he say something nasty to you?”

“He admitted to wanting Cara for her blood. She has the same type as him and it’s rare. He wanted our children to give him their organs when his failed. He kept saying ‘I thought I had more time.’”

“If he knew that… Her heart. No organ donations.”

Hermione said, “Exactly. She was nothing more than that. Can you imagine that? I’d take something like that to my grave.”

Stepping out of the elevator, Severus asked, “What blood type is he?”

“O negative,” Hermione answered. “If he needs surgery, they’ll need more.”

“I’m going to make a donation.” 

Hermione stopped in the atrium. “Why? For him? You should hear what else he admitted.”

“Not for him,” Severus said. “He drained the blood bank and some other patient might need it. Like you said, it’s rare.”

“You’re O negative, too?”

“I am,” Severus told her. “Do you think we have time?”

Hermione looked at her phone and said, “The girls will be okay at camp. I’ll call and tell them we’re running late. This is important.”

The blood donation center was located on the lower level of the hospital. They both were healthy and had the appropriate lifestyles to be eligible to donate. Severus finished his check-in before her so he missed when a staff member asked Hermione, “Are you pregnant or have you given birth in the last six weeks?”

As she opened her mouth to answer, Hermione realized that she didn’t know. She always knew. No one was more regular than she was. Twenty-eight days exactly. They’d stopped using birth control, letting nature take its course. Because she was older now, Hermione figured if she wanted another child, she’d have to try again soon. Severus was a great partner and trying was so much fun. When was the last time she'd had a period? She couldn't remember.

The young man named Anthony gave her a pleasant smile. “You okay?” he asked her.

Mouth still open, Hermione snapped it shut, embarrassed. “I--I don’t think I can donate after all… I better not.”

“You’re smiling, so congratulations?” Anthony said hopefully.

All the tension and anger she’d built up from visiting Pierce melted away, replaced by excitement, joy, and gratitude.

“Thank you,” she said, grinning.

“You can name him Anthony,” the young man joked.

“Were you an easy baby?”

He shrugged with that same pleasant smile. “Easy enough…”

Chapter Text

“When I’m older and I make my own money, I’m going to do whatever I want,” Cara mumbled to herself. “I hate it here!”

Severus usually tried to stay out of arguments between Hermione and Cara, unless the girl was way out of line and disrespected her mother. Since their daughter turned eleven three years earlier, they seemed to fight every other day. Hermione was always unfair and never understood anything Cara was going through. The fourteen-year-old knew more than her mother did so she should be allowed to make her own decisions. Hermione wholly disagreed. This latest argument was about traveling to Brazil with her older sister and Hermione would not let up.

Hermione said, “That’s fine,” to the teenager’s outburst. “But you’re still not going.”

“But, it’s not fair! You never let me go anywhere!”

Hermione, who was folding laundry on the floor with Severus, said, “That’s not true. You’ve been to Europe three times. We took you on a Caribbean cruise last year. And, oh! How many countries have you visited in your life? Fourteen, correct?”

“Yeah well, you won’t even let me live at school,” Cara complained, crossing her arms. “I miss everything. Almost everyone lives at school now and I’m missing out! It’s not like we can’t afford it!”

Severus stepped in. “Watch your tone, Cara.”

“But, Daddy--”

“No,” he said firmly. “The next thing out of your mouth is ‘Sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t speak to you like that.’”

Now that she was older, Severus believed Cara looked even more like Hermione. She was a miniature version of his wife with just as much passion, ambition, self-confidence, stubbornness, and love coursing through her veins. The stubbornness is what caused most problems between the two. Abigail was heading to Brazil for the summer as she did every year since she turned twelve. She visited her mother, stepfather, and two younger sisters. Marlene and Joe adopted two children who had lost everything in a flash flood, including their grandmother who was raising them on her own. Thais, age eleven, and nine-year-old Mariela could not wait to see their older sister again. Cara couldn’t wait either. She hated it when Abby left her behind. She was stuck in the house with two old people who did nothing but work every day and their annoying eight-year-old brother, Anthony.

This, of course, wasn’t entirely true. She went out with friends but she had a curfew. Those who lived at RCA had one too but the others didn’t. They had their cars and money to spend. They could do anything they wanted. This was one thing Severus hadn’t really anticipated about sending the girls to a school like RCA. Their expectations of their rights and responsibilities were warped. Both Abby and Cara wanted to be treated like the children of Hollywood stars. A dentist and researcher would not engage. Cara’s friends whined and complained like this and their parents gave in to every whim. They gave them a credit card and the keys to a luxury car but asked no further questions. Not in this house, Hermione reminded them on more than one occasion.

Pulling a towel from the laundry basket, Severus asked her, “And why do you think we can afford to pay almost eighty thousand dollars for room and board? We have two other children to think about too.”

“Ugh! My other dad pays for it!”

Hermione’s head snapped up. “Cara Granger, so far you have yelled at me, spoken to me disrespectfully, and made demands. You are not an adult and you will live in this house and do as I say! You are not going to another country without me!”

“Abby gets to go!”

“She’s going to meet her mother. That’s the agreement between Dad and Marlene. You’re my daughter.”

“Marlene is like my aunt,” the girl whined. “She’d let me visit.”

Hermione stared at Cara and Severus’ brow went up, waiting for the ball to drop. Marlene was not her aunt. After Pierce revealed all of his plans, Marlene revealed hers. All the money for her research obviously came from Pierce, who wanted her to give Severus the ultimatum that would drive him to break up with Hermione. The morning after Pierce's collapse and subsequent hospitalization, Marlene returned to their house to let them know everything she’d said was an act. The movie star approached her the day she landed as if he was waiting for her. He promised her enough money for everything she wanted and more. She’d even have enough to pay for any university Abigail chose to attend. Pierce offered her the money for her research up front which Marlene thought was insane but didn’t question it. 

Marlene explained that she was just going to play the game so that he’d keep handing over more money. She never intended to take Abby away whatsoever. Both Severus and Hermione were livid after hearing the truth. Apologizing, Marlene told them that it was more than just about her and her research. People depended on her for their livelihoods. Her goal was to use that fellowship to keep the research team employed. Severus eventually, somehow, forgave her for scaring the shit out of him. Hermione, however, had not. Marlene could have told them what was happening instead of putting Severus through hell. Once someone wronged him, Hermione could not see them as a friend. The trust was lost forever as far as she was concerned.

“Cara, you’re not going. End of story,” Hermione told her, eyes cold and voice firm. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, who?”

“Yes, Mom.”

The glaring girl turned to stomp out of the room. As she stepped into the hallway, Anthony was walking past and she pushed him into the wall.

“Mom!” he cried out. “Cara pushed me!”

Severus was on his feet first. “I’ll handle it.”

Hermione gave him a grateful but tired look as she held her arms open for her little boy. She cuddled him straightaway and kissed the top of his black hair. “Are you alright?”

Anthony, loving his mother’s embrace, played up the injustice perpetrated against him. “My shoulder hurts,” he said. Hermione rubbed the affected side and told him, “You’ll be okay.”

“Cara’s mean. You should take away her phone,” he suggested. “And her computer.”

With a smile, Severus asked his wife, “What do you think?”

Hermione held her son in her lap, happy to give him the affection he craved. “I like it.”

“Hermione!”

She heard Abby calling her from down the hall. Patting Anthony’s bottom, she coaxed him up. He giggled whenever she did that, causing her to laugh with him. “I have to go see what your sister wants. Coming with me?”

“I’m gonna play Minecraft.”

On the way to Abby’s room, Hermione could hear Severus giving Cara a much sterner lecture to which she had no opportunities to respond. Her friends, Katie and Padma, often complained that their partners let them be the villains and the only disciplinarians, making the children resent them for setting rules and boundaries. Their marriage was different. He always backed her up and she did the same for him. They were united and their children knew it. 

At Abby’s door, Hermione said, “What’s up?”

“It’s Cara’s father.”

The girl showed Hermione an article on her tablet screen. 

ALEX KNIGHT DEAD AT 48

Hermione read the article and gasped. “Oh my god!”

“His sister killed him,” Abby told her. “The maid caught her holding a pillow over his face. Can you believe it?”

Hermione nodded and said, “I was married to him so I can believe that she wanted to kill him. I can also believe that she’d do something like this. The Parkinsons were raised to do whatever it takes. He inherits everything and he’s filthy rich from acting. Pansy was fed up I guess. I think she thought he would have died years ago and she would inherit everything. Then suddenly he finds a compatible match and lives. He lived well. It must have pissed her off... This is insane. He told Dad and me a long time ago that she would never make it into his will. She must not have known,” she said as she skimmed the article. “Sev! Sev!” she shouted when she reached the end of the story.

It took no time for him to seek her out. “Yeah?”

“Pierce is dead.”

“What? Did he reject the kidney?”

“No, Pansy killed him,” Hermione replied, showing him the article.

“Oh shit! For his money?”

“Looks like it,” Abby told her father. “He’s worth almost two hundred million! Sometimes, it’s better to be broke.”

“Sometimes,” Hermione and Severus chorused.

Cara spent her summer in and out of doctor's offices. Her argument with Hermione about going to Brazil was silly in hindsight. For the past two years, Cara suffered from random fevers that came and went. Sometimes she was so tired, she missed school. It was another reason she argued to live at RCA. Cara believed she could still make it to class when she was like that if she lived there. Hermione made the point that if she was that tired, she wouldn’t be able to get herself dressed or get to the dining hall to eat. 

Recently, Cara’s gorgeous curls were thinning. Her hair had always been thick like her mother’s and she wore it long down her back. Now she kept it in a ponytail to conceal a bald spot forming at the crown. Severus thought it might be stress she was manifesting from the news of her natural father’s murder. In a quiet moment between them, Cara revealed to him that she thought about Pierce sometimes and wanted to meet the other half of her family. It was not because he was famous or anything. She explained that they were a part of her identity and she wanted to know more about herself. Her mother never shared details of her abusive marriage so all Cara knew was that they divorced after a failed two-year marriage. Severus knew the girl did her research and found nothing because even the court filings were vague like her mother’s words. They’d said her parents had ‘irreconcilable differences.’ 

While stress brought on by a family member’s murder could bring about hair loss, Cara could not even play her cello anymore due to the new joint pain she suffered from. 

Severus was the one to say out loud what Hermione didn’t want to hear. “It’s Lupus, sweetheart. She has so many of the symptoms. There’s a genetic component too.”

“I know,” Hermione said, willing herself not to cry. Cara was upstairs, taking a nap. She’d had a skin biopsy that morning. Cara was usually the braver one of the two girls but she was getting scared. Hermione did her best to keep her spirits up and distract her before and during all of these tests and appointments. 

“I know. First, the heart condition, and now this! Fuck this! I hate this!” she sobbed, breaking down. Severus quickly brought her into his hold. His eyes were wet too. Their daughter was ill and all they could do was manage it. Whatever the fuck that meant. Her life would change. It already had.

“We’re going to be here for her. We’ll take care of her. It’ll be alright,” he said. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than console Hermione.

She continued to cry, struggling to breathe through it. “She’s o-only fifteen.”

“I know. I know.”

“I don’t want her to suffer.” As she voiced that thought, Hermione felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. “It could be one of the doctors. I can’t…”

“I’ll get it,” Severus said, answering for her. “Hello?”

Hermione waited anxiously for any news on her child’s test results. While they were almost certain it was Lupus, she knew that it could be literally anything else. Symptoms for one disease mimicked another and delayed diagnosis and treatment.

“Can you hold on?” Severus asked the person on the other end. Speaking to his wife, Severus said, “It’s the executor of Pierce’s estate. She says Cara’s been named in his will.”

“Really?” asked Hermione. “I didn’t think he-- Really?”

Severus shrugged his shoulders and put the phone on speaker. The executor, Mrs. Lavigne, explained that the will was finally validated. In the next few months, Pierce’s debts would be settled and his assets distributed to his beneficiaries. 

A few days later, Hermione and Severus met with Mrs. Lavigne to discuss the will and sign the necessary documents. Once introductions were made, the no-nonsense professional got right to it.

“Cara Abigail Granger, age fifteen, is your daughter correct?” Mrs. Lavigne asked. “Do you have her birth certificate?”

“Yes,” Severus told her, pulling out a manila folder with the documents the executor requested. He handed her the certificate. She explained what she was doing as she went along. Eventually, she told them what they wanted to know.

“Cara is the sole beneficiary to the entire estate.”

“The only one?” Hermione asked. “No one else? His mother is still alive.”

“Your daughter is the only one. She will inherit the entire estate.”

“What exactly is the estate?” Hermione asked her, feeling overwhelmed again.

“About two hundred ten million in assets. There are over a dozen properties, art, vehicles, jewelry, stakes in a few vineyards in Napa Valley and the Champagne region of France… the list goes on. Of course, there are fluid assets as well in multiple banks. That is why this took so long. The will was clear but it still takes time to appraise all of it. This is taxed so the number will drop.”

Both Severus and Hermione stared at her in absolute shock. Her teenager was richer than some small island nations. She owned cars she wasn’t legally allowed to drive and she owned vineyards even though she could not drink. 

“Dr. Granger?” the woman said, snapping her out of it.

Hermione blinked and said, “Sorry. We’re-- We can’t believe it.”

“It’s a lot to process. I’ll give you some time. Take a few minutes.”

When Mrs. Lavigne left them in her office, Hermione tried to gauge what Severus was thinking before he said anything. She failed.

“This is good, right?” she asked. “I mean, money doesn’t buy happiness but it does help. Right?”

Severus nodded. “Money pays for treatments and care, even after we’re gone.”

“You’ve been thinking about that too?” Hermione asked. It seemed that neither of them wanted to share that truth. One day, they might be gone and she would still need someone to care for her. Abigail and Anthony loved her and that helped assuage their fear that Cara would be alone. That being said, no parent wants to know that someday they will no longer be there for their child, especially a child who is chronically ill.

He said, “Yeah, I have. This is a lot. It’s the kind of money that changes people. Will this change her? Will this change us?”

Hermione hadn’t considered that. Would it change them?

“I don’t think it will. I hope it doesn’t,” she said. “Can we handle all of this? So much is changing all at once. Abby’s going to college next year. Anthony didn’t want to give me a kiss when I dropped him off yesterday. He’s not a baby anymore. And Cara’s so sick, Sev.”

He took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. “We’ll get through this just like everything else.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course. We’re strong enough.”