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Unquestionable Love	By : CRMediaGal Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 3380 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me. No money/profit is made from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
A/N: Instigation and provoking here, and another family dynamic that will pop up again in the next chapter...

Many thanks to my wonderful beta reader, Brittny.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to and belongs to JK Rowling. I own none of her associated characters. New characters belong to me.

Chapter 17: Inquiries and Accusations

Severus's brooding eyes peered over Hermione's letter several times, his eyes squinting against the harsh, contrasting light of the Potions lab. He only had one candle burning at his desk; the rest of the room was engulfed in darkness, with the temperature near freezing.

Severus's body shivered in protest to the cold atmosphere, and he quickly whipped out his wand and warmth permeated back into the room, though he did not bother to light any more candles. He rather enjoyed the bleak suppression; or perhaps he had just grown accustomed to it after all these years.

Once he could feel sensation and heat returning to his stiff limbs, he glanced over his wife's letter again. He had received it only an hour or so before, surprised to have gotten a reply from Hermione so late. It was nearly one o'clock in the morning and though every inch of the Potions Master's body was screaming for rest, he could not will himself to bed, as usual. He had too many orders to sort through, in addition to a few last minute assignments to prepare for later that morning. He paused in all of that, however, when he received Hermione's letter.

Severus,

Don't be alarmed at the time, I know how you get. Forgive me, I just can't sleep and it's all your fault as always. I miss you. I hope you are well.

You never got around to telling me how Surina's Quidditch practices are going? I know she's busy, but do have her write me when you see her, would you? I'm worried about her roughhousing. You know how ruthless she can be when she gets competitive. She better not be giving any of the other house teams too hard of a time, or she's going to end up a bloody mess! Please keep an eye on her for my sake.

Since when has Lily expressed an interest in James? That's news to me! Why on earth did you wait till now to tell me this? She hasn't mentioned a word in any of her owls! Did you have a talk with her? She's too young, Severus. Give our daughter some more homework, would you? (You can blame it on me for all I care!) I must talk to Harry and Ginny about this. If they already had an inkling and I've been out to lunch on this matter, then I will be very upset with the whole lot of you!

Now what did I tell you about Hailey? I told you she would start to come around. Give her time, love. She won't be mad at you forever, and quit saying that "she must not hate you after all." I've already told you how ridiculous that is. Just don't do anything else to aggravate her, all right? I know with everything going on that it's been a strain and very difficult for you, but do your best. You know I'm here if you need me... You will write if you need me, yes?

Jeannie's been asking for you like mad. She's been practicing some of the mind tricks you taught her this summer. You would be amazed at her progress! I think our little pumpkin is a prodigy! Her abilities are a little unsettling, Severus!

I have a few "insufferable" questions for you. And don't tease me, I know how my mind works, thank you! Did you receive a follow-up from Harry yet? He mentioned getting your response but wouldn't elaborate. Is everything all right? I can't help but worry about what you two are up to. I saw The Daily Prophet this morning. A few more Ministry workers are sick and I just have this really horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Probably why I can't sleep...

Are you well? Better than last time you wrote, I hope? You must take it easy, Severus. Please keep letting Hailey assist you. Don't you dare send her away. I know you're going to hate me for saying this again (tough!) but I'm glad this assistantship was forced upon you. There. Do you despise me now?

You're not invincible, Severus, so your tricks don't work on me, and I daresay they won't work much longer on our children either. So, get over it and be well. I can't wait to see you.

Please write me again soon. Miss you more.

Love,

Hermione

Severus rubbed his bloodshot eyes and heaved a weary sigh before gathering up the letter in his hand, musing over Hermione's delicate, whimsical handwriting. It was always a comfort to hear from her, even if the timing was inconvenient. He hoped she was at least in bed now, getting some proper rest. He hated the idea of that beautiful witch of his sitting up and worrying over a situation that would not change. There was no sense in that to his logical view of things.

As for 'taking it easy,' Severus growled and rolled his eyes dramatically. Hermione knew better than that. There was no such thing in his position...

Severus reluctantly tucked the letter aside and stood up, stretching his rigid frame with care. There were still a few hours of laboring work ahead, so Severus drew a long breath before deciding to answer Hermione later. Hopefully, he considered silently, he could manage a reply later that morning.

"Library later, Surina?" asked Scorpius eagerly, his almost white hair distracting Surina's concentration from the book in her hand. The first year propped himself in her line of vision with his provokingly handsome grin, preventing her from seeing the page properly.

"Move over, you chump!" she snickered playfully, brushing him aside with her arm rather easily.

The Great Hall was filled with bustling students heading in from classes and a delicious lunch had seeped up from the kitchens below only a few minutes before, but Surina could not eat now. She had her first major Transfiguration exam in an hour and needed to prep as much as possible. Scorpius, however, was not having any of it and kept bugging the second year for some of her time.

"C'mon, Surina, you'll be fine. I don't know why you worry so much about Transfiguration. It's a rubbish subject anyway, as is the oaf who teaches it!"

Surina shot the wicked boy a nasty look, her black eyebrows narrowing. "That's mean, Scorpius," she scolded lightly. "He's a great wizard."

"Great?" Scorpius sniggered, running a hand through his spiky hair. "Yeah, right! My grandfather doesn't think so."

"Your grandfather wouldn't think so," she reminded him coolly. "He didn't like Dumbledore's brother either."

"No, he didn't. He's always thought Albus Dumbledore got a lot more credit and respect than he deserved."

Surina put down her textbook, her pale brow furrowing. "My father respected him."

"Your father respects everyone, Surina," the blonde boy uttered with a disapproving shake of his head. "That's his problem. No offense. I mean, I admire your father a lot, so does my dad, but my family says he has changed a lot since the war."

"You mean your grandfather says. And why wouldn't he change?"

"Well, why pretend to be something he's not?"

Surina drew back, eying the confident Slytherin over with heated suspicion. "What are you getting at?"

Scorpius leaned in, gazing at her with an intensity and seriousness that she did not anticipate. "Surina... People know about your dad's past, all right? Just like they know about my dad's and my grandparents', for that matter. My family isn't hiding from it though, so why is yours?"

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about," Surina breathed, genuinely insulted.

Scorpius looked on unconvinced. "His past as a Death Eater... His serving the Dark Lord... Do you really want me to elaborate in more detail?"

"For the record, Scorpius, in the First Wizarding War, my dad was young and naive!" Surina's flushed cheeks brought color to her striking features, her temper mounting. "And in the Second Wizarding War, he was a spy whom everyone pinned wrong. He wasn't anymore a Death Eater at that time than I am!"

Scorpius's angular face scrutinized his dark-haired friend with curiosity. "It's hard to grow out of being a Death Eater, Surina. That Dark Mark will be etched on him for life, you know. My father and grandfather have it, too. It will always be a part of them, a part of my family, and they make no point of trying to hide from it or run away. Isn't that what your dad is doing?"

"Hardly! I think my dad has paid the price for his mistakes long enough, don't you?"

"I suppose..."

"Please don't remind me about it, Scorpius. I already know far more than I care to about his past."

"Well, my grandfather—"

"Your grandfather doesn't know anything!" Surina snapped, unable to stop herself. Her sable eyes glared at him in a sinister manner that rivaled that of the Potions Master.

Scorpius took a bite of his sandwich and eyed his friend apologetically. "Easy, Surina. Calm down. I'm sorry, I was just saying."

"Well, don't!" Surina huffed discretely, before returning her attention to her studies, even though her heightened emotions made it difficult to focus.

She was just settling into the chapter she was scanning when Scorpius blurted out, "Ahhh, there's your sister!"

Surina's peered across the hall at Lily, who was entering with James, as usual, and a few other Gryffindors. She was looking quite lovely as always—her perfect chestnut waves held back by a thin headband—and she received several admiring glances as she glided to her spot at her house table, unaware of the attention she garnered.

"The Great Gryffindor Keeper!" Scorpius prodded Surina's elbow roughly. "You'll show her next weekend, won't you?"

Surina gave her friend a mischievous smirk, showcasing her attractive red lips. "Perhaps," she purred, tossing her shimmering hair to one side before looking back down at her book, not wanting to give any more thought to the touchy subject.

A few other Slytherins at the table, however, had other ideas in mind and began chiming in on Scorpius's jabs at their house revival. They egged Surina and her teammates on about their superior speed, stronger precision, and the fact that the Slytherins would easily "kick Gryffindor's scrawny little arses!"

Surina put down her textbook in defeat. With all the rowdiness, there was no way she was going to get any further studying accomplished. She waved her head back and forth with reserved elation and glances over at the head table, disappointed that her father was not around to hear it all.

Then the jeers from the Slytherin table trickled through the noisy Great Hall to the opposite end, growing louder and less sportive, and caught the attention of the other house tables, including Gryffindor. Lily and James peered over, and Surina knew her sister was searching for her. When their eyes met, neither seemed to comprehend what to make of the other's expression.

Most of the Slytherins were now on their feet, booing, hissing, and cursing at their revivals, but many of the Gryffindors were also retaliating, standing and shouting colorful remarks back. Hailey, Albus, and Hugo giggled at the uproar, not finding much ill-humor in the whole affair, but Lily and Surina sat quietly in their seats and stared each other down, their intense eyes locked and unblinking for a time.

Finally, Professor Longbottom rose from the head table and whisked down the center aisle of the Great Hall, his hands waving in the air with a very cross look on his face. "Enough! All of you! SHUT IT!"

Many students reluctantly slunk back into their seats, and the room quieted down considerably as Professor Longbottom continued to shake his head and wave his arms emphatically. "Those remarks are uncalled for! Gryffindors, Slytherins, you know better! Show a little more common decency and respect for each other, all of you!"

"Fat chance," a fifth year Slytherin hissed, causing several snickers to trickle down their table. Surina's eyes darted away from her sister and back to her book, unmoved by her peers' jabs.

Lily reluctantly tore her eyes away from her sister as well and turned her back on Surina, while James whispered something in her ear. Hailey, Albus, and Hugo watched as Uncle Neville scuffed his shoes angrily and stomped back to the head table in overt ill-sorts.

"He's usually quite calm, Dad is," Tessa piped up airily from a few seats away. "He doesn't normally get so ticked off. Must be a Wrackspurt. Mum's always going on about how Dad gets those."

Hugo's ginger eyebrows rose and came together. "Um, a Wrackspurt? What's that?"

The curly, blonde girl with dreamy eyes turned towards him with a casual smile. "They get in your ears and make your brain go fuzzy. You've never had one? I get them from time to time, but Dad gets them more than I do."

"Erm, what do they look like?" Hugo inquired suspiciously.

"You can't see them, silly. They're invisible."

Tessa gave a breathless giggle before taking a bite of her food, a far-off gaze returning to her face. Hugo glanced from Albus to Hailey, dumbfounded and slightly alarmed at the strange girl's odd comments. Albus, however, simply shrugged and kept eating, and Hailey turned her attention to her sister a few seats down.

"I hope you and Surina will play nice next weekend," she urged, her brow raised beneath her unruly bangs. "I don't want to have to take either of you to the hospital wing."

Lily rolled her fair eyes dramatically, but James laughed and shook his wavy locks, showcasing a magnetic grin that resembled that of his famous father. "Don't worry, Hailey," he chortled, "we've got this. The Slytherins are going to get their brooms handed to them, just wait!"

"How is it that you get to be a Chaser and play for Gryffindor when I'm the better flyer?" Albus narrowed his green eyes, giving his older brother a wry smile.

"Because first years aren't allowed, bro," James retorted, ignoring Albus's challenge, "but I've already told you, we'll need a Seeker next year. You'll be able to try out, I promise!"

"Dad got to play his first year."

"Well, that's because McGonagall allowed it. I don't know if Uncle Neville can make that call. It might be seen as—"

"Favoritism," Albus interjected, looking away with a glum expression. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

Hugo took a large bite of food and glanced over at Hailey. "I bet your sister's pretty good. She made Chaser, right?"

"Yeah, she did. I haven't gone to any of her practices yet to see her play, but she's wicked fast." She turned to James with a raised eyebrow. "She might present challenges for you, James."

James's eyes narrowed and he was about to retaliate when Lily spoke up before he could say a word, "Not if I can help it."

Hailey drew back, staring at the fresh provocation on Lily's pretty face with some surprise. James cackled in response, as did several other Gryffindors at the table, but Hailey continued to stare at her older sister, her dark irises enlarged.

"Just please play nice, would you? I'm sick of how the two of you fight. It's getting annoying, really."

"If she plays nice, then I will," Lily affirmed, whipping her curls back so that they spiraled down her back. "Beyond that, sis, I promise nothing."

Lily promptly took her cup of pumpkin juice to her lips and did not address Hailey again for the rest of lunch. When the meal was over, Lily jumped up and literally ran out of the Great Hall, with James and the others trailing far behind her.

Surina reached the open doorway just as Lily was passing through and neither one made eye contact with the other, but their body language spoke volumes. Surina shot Hailey a positively sinister smile, her long, black hair falling gracefully down her backside, and waltzed away through the throngs of students with a few boastful Slytherins at her side, including Scorpius Malfoy, who stared Hailey down with a smug grin.

Hailey glared back, illustrating equal dislike for the boy. She had never liked Surina's friend, and he had never liked her, for whatever reason.

"Look out," Albus whispered beside Hailey, causing her to startle before rolling her eyes at her friend's playful commentary.

Hugo had also witnessed the exchange between the two eldest Snapes, as well as Scorpius's dark glare. His blue eyes appeared baffled amidst his unkempt red hair.

"Do you think they're out for blood, those two?"

"Oh, definitely," Albus snickered, elbowing Hailey's side as they gathered up their books. "Should be a wicked game next weekend."

Hailey sighed, choosing not to participate, and sauntered between them as they made their way out of the Great Hall to their next class, while Tessa skipped ahead in a trance, her golden locks waving back and forth with her feathery steps.

A/N #2: Slytherin versus Gryffindor in the next chapter...
- 16
- 17
- 18
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Unquestionable Love