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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
- 18
- 19
- 20
A/N: Well... I hope someone at least found that last chapter interesting. Moving right along...

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 19: Snape Reservations

Hailey rushed as fast as she could towards the hospital wing, her mind racing the entire way. She had left Albus and Hugo behind, not even taking a moment to let them know where she was going. Was Lily all right? Why was Jeannie screaming so badly? She heard her little sister's cries as she exited the Quidditch pitch, but plunged ahead rather than go back.

I should have gone down to get Jeannie first, Hailey reflected with a groan as she climbed the marble staircase towards the Infirmary, feeling rather guilty as she progressed.

Once she reached the top of the stairs, she made a mad dash inside and easily spotted the rest of her family—minus Jeannie—gathered around one of the many hospital cots in the room. Madam Pomfrey was visible only by the top of her white hat. Her mother's arm was wrapped around her father's shoulder as a form of comfort, and his black robes were seated on the bed and hunched over Lily. Hailey could not see her sister's face; Surina was blocking her view, standing beside their parents and looking down. She glanced over at Hailey when she heard fast footsteps approaching, and her handsome mouth dropped in some sort of consolation.

"Hailey!" Surina exclaimed, rushing over and throwing her arms around her.

Severus and Hermione peered over, surprised to see the Gryffindor, but then relief swept over Hermione's face and she stared at her bushy-haired daughter with warmth. Severus, however, whipped his head back around towards Lily, still in her unconscious state.

"Surina," Hailey whispered, taking in her pale sister's worry, "are you all right? You were brilliant today, by the way."

Surina heaved a sigh, grateful for Hailey's compliment. "Thanks, sis, but I didn't really do much. And Lily..."

"Is - Is Lily all right?"

"I think so. Madam Pomfrey did a couple healing spells on her and is trying to bring her round now."

Hermione suddenly called out to her daughter, waving her over encouragingly. "Hailey, it's all right. Come here."

Hailey and Surina walked over to the bed, gazing down at their sister in a glum silence. Hermione put an arm around Hailey's shoulder and hugged her close while Surina took a seat in a nearby chair, waiting anxiously for Madam Pomfrey's spells to work.

"She's quite out," the elderly mediwitch declared, agitation seeping through her tough voice.

Hailey saw Severus's hands woven around Lily's in a tight bind, and she peered over at the dark mass seated beside her mother. His scowl was unreadable, but his eyes were glistening and intense as they stared down at Lily with evident concern. Hailey became alarmed at seeing how tired he appeared. He looked unnaturally white and very unhealthy, at least more so than normal. His jaw twitched at Madam Pomfrey's words about Lily's condition, and his fingers tightened around the girl's limp hands.

"She will be all right, Poppy?" the Potions professor asked between clenched teeth, not looking up at the aged nurse.

"Oh, she'll be all right," Madam Pomfrey replied with a stiff upper lip, "and I daresay your incantation was useful, Severus. She would be worse off if you hadn't reacted so quickly."

Severus whipped a few hairs out of his eyes but never took his focus off of his daughter, continuing to hold her hands in his own. Hermione leaned forward and gently rubbed Severus's back as she whispered into his ear, "Sweetheart, let Poppy do her work. Lily's going to be fine."

Severus gave a low growl of protest but did not say anything. Hailey shifted next to Hermione, biting her lip as she took in her family's worried expressions, each reacting in their own way.

"Where did that Bludger come from?" she wondered with uncertainty. "I never even saw it coming her way!"

"I don't know, sweetie," Hermione replied with a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid none of us saw it coming..."

"Surina," Severus grunted as he remained still on the bed, looking over Lily, "did you see anything?"

Surina shot her father a puzzled expression before considering his question carefully, trying to recall the alarming incident that had happened so quickly and without warning. "I - I just remember that I was about to throw the Quaffle when I saw it. Neither of our Beaters were around, and neither were the Gryffindors, actually. I have no idea where they were at, to be honest. It - It all happened so fast, but I saw it coming from behind Lily, off to her right somewhere." Surina swallowed hard, emotion trickling through her usually rough exterior. "I - I wanted to warn Lily to look out... I was about to, but..."

Hermione eyed the striking girl reassuringly. "It's all right, Surina. There was no time. You couldn't have warned her, love."

Surina's dark eyes darted to the floor, her red lips forming a deep-seated frown. Severus did not glance over but continued to dart his eyes between Madam Pomfrey and Lily as the mediwitch uttered a few more healing spells, trying to coax his eldest out of her sleep.

Hailey wanted to comfort Surina, but she was too distracted by Severus. His being was entirely centered on Lily, almost as if he were in a trance, and the astute youth suspected her father might be using his mind to penetrate Lily's, or was perhaps uttering an incantation of his own, something she could not help but admire. Severus had tried to teach her a few mind tricks in the past, but she had never been too good at it. Still, it was fascinating to observe his unwavering concentration, the way he was somehow able to channel magic on a level that few others could master. He was quite brilliant, Hailey concluded as she surveyed him in her quiet way, though a part of her was still too confused and angry to admit to it yet.

Finally, after several more agonizing minutes, Lily began to stir. She mumbled something inaudible, and Severus and Hermione reacted immediately. They leaned in, hunched over her with anticipation.

"She's coming round," the mediwitch stated as she put her wand away. "I will get her a tonic. She will have a splitting headache when she comes to."

Madam Pomfrey hurried away, leaving the Snape family alone. Severus took tighter possession of Lily's hands, his knuckles turning white against his daughter's already fair skin. The remainder of him was still as could be.

Hermione brushed a few hairs away from Lily's face and spoke in a soft, urgent whisper. "Lily? Sweetie, wake up. You're in the Infirmary."

"Mum?"

Lily moaned as she gradually opened her eyes, taking in all of the familiar faces surrounding her. Her brown eyes slowly absorbed her parents and sisters' silhouettes, but the lights streaming in and out of her vision made it painful to focus.

She could feel her father's firm grasp on her hands and tried to take him in, squinting as she scanned the dark wizard in front of her. Severus stared back at her with a fearful intensity she was not used to. As her vision became clearer, she noted with sudden panic that his lips were turning blue and what little color he had was drained from his face. He looked ghostly and gravely ill.

Lily reacted to the worrying sight before her and shot up from her bed, but Severus grabbed her—his eyes alarmed by her sudden movement—and pressed her back down onto the pillow with a force she was too weak to fight. Lily groaned and took one of her hands out of his clutches, putting it to her head in response to the pounding pressure.

"Lily, for goodness' sake!" Severus growled disapprovingly in an unusually raspy voice. "What are you doing? You have a concussion. Lie still. Madam Pomfrey's going to give you something for your head."

"What happened? The match? Surina, is - is she all right?"

Surina sprung to Lily's side, her face inches from her older sister as a few of her long hairs touched Lily's arm. "I'm here, sis. I'm fine. I'm so sorry! I tried to grab you but my hand slipped! And my broom... I - I don't know what it was doing! I'm so, so sorry!"

"Now, now!" Madam Pomfrey huffed as she came running back over to the family, shooing Surina away to inform the Slytherin to back off her patient. "Let the poor girl breathe! Don't smother her!"

Lily continued to squeeze her eyelids shut, moaning at the pain in her head. Madam Pomfrey leaned over and pressed a tonic to her lips.

"Take it, Miss Snape," the nurse demanded, and Lily obeyed.

She coughed at the unpleasant taste in her mouth, but soon her eyes opened again. Eventually, her hand moved away from her head and her face switched from discomfort to relief as her headache gradually subsided. Madam Pomfrey took Lily's altering condition as a good sign and decided to give the family some time alone.

Hermione stared down at her with a relieved smile and Severus let out a prolonged sigh, as if he had been holding his breath for a long time. Hailey saw her mother's arm reach around and squeeze his shoulder. It was rather unsettling to her how worked up he was, when her mother was relatively calm by comparison.

Lily shifted and slowly sat up in bed, this time much steadier than before, and turned to Surina on her right, who was still next to her bed, looking quite put out. Her black eyes were frazzled, her pretty brow furrowed with concern. Lily offered her a genuine smile, something the two sisters had not exchanged in weeks. Any animosity between them from the Quidditch match earlier that day was gone. Surina caught her breath and grinned back, but neither said anything. There did not seem to be the need for words.

"You all right, Lily?" Hailey asked, stepping forward next to Severus.

"Yeah, I'm fine. That tonic really helped."

"I'm so glad you're all right, Lily," Hermione breathed with reassurance, reaching down to kiss Lily's forehead. "You gave us all quite a scare."

Lily peered up at her mother, then eyed Severus, shamefaced. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"You couldn't have prevented it," Severus replied faintly, his weary countenance unchanged as he continued to monitor her improving condition. "That Bludger hit you out of nowhere. There was no time to react."

"Yeah..." Lily rubbed her neck and gazed at Severus with a now quizzical brow. "It almost felt like it was purposely aimed for me? I never even heard it approaching. I - I just saw Surina's face and that was it. I don't remember much else after that, except your broom, Surina..."

"I know. I - I don't know what happened. It wasn't working properly."

"It was jinxed," Severus snarled. "Someone was trying to knock you off your broom, Surina. Somebody wanted you to lose your grip on Lily."

The three Snape children drew back in surprise, their bodies tensed and fearful, and Severus suspected they might bite their lips in response. Needless to say, he was correct and the professor grumbled at the sight of each of his girls performing the unnecessary act.

"Why would anyone do that?" Surina asked in a hushed whisper.

Severus's eyes fell upon Lily again, the intensity and worry still etched on his tired visage. "I don't know."

"Does your head still hurt, dear?" Hermione inquired, wanting to divert them from the troubling subject.

"A little, yes."

"Your head hit the goal post," Hailey stated quietly, recalling the frightening blow. "We could all hear it. It was that loud."

"Really?" Lily's fair irises expanded. "I don't remember that at all. How did I not break any bones? I fell from really high up."

Hermione peered down at Severus affectionately and nudged him a little, but he only had attentive eyes for Lily. "Your father stopped your fall, but you still hit the ground with a lot of force. It's no wonder you're all banged up. You were much worse when you arrived here."

Lily peered down at her exposed arms that were covered in bruises. The back of her head felt dense, almost inflamed, and she reached back to feel dried blood soaking her perfect curls. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The third year Keeper had no idea just how bad her fall was until that moment.

No wonder Dad looks awful, she thought guiltily, eying him over with appreciation.

"Thanks, Dad," she managed, and one of Severus's eyebrows rose.

"There is no need for that." He closed his eyes for a moment, as if to muster some composure.

Lily glanced up at her mother curiously, but Hermione had turned her attention to her husband, an unreadable look forming on her face. Hermione compressed Severus's shoulder and shook him gently. His eyes fluttered open again, startled by her prodding. He seemed to be in a strange sort of daze, much to Lily, Hailey, and Surina's nervousness.

"Hey," Hermione murmured close to Severus's ear, "I need to talk to you. Come away, Severus. Let's give Lily a moment." She turned to the eldest, her caramel eyes fixated on her daughter with care. "You all right if we leave you for a few minutes?"

Lily simply nodded and gave a meek smile, watching as her weary father rose from her bed with some difficulty and slithered away, his dramatic robes trailing behind as Hermione guided him to the far end of the room near the open doorway. Hailey and Surina observed them quietly as well, their curious eyes darting from one parent to the other with trepidation. They could not make out what Hermione and Severus were whispering about, only that the hushed conversation was serious and desperate, whatever it was.

Hermione argued with their father for a time, her arms moving animatedly before she suddenly cupped her hands around Severus's face, interrupting something he was saying, her eyes boring into his with an intensity that was not passionate but afraid. She seemed to be pleading with him over something, and the Potions Master groused in response, undoubtedly protesting whatever was on her frazzled mind.

Then Hermione leaned in, her face hidden from view, and she whispered something in Severus's ear before reluctantly backing away and clutching his hands in hers. She tilted her chestnut waves to one side, waiting for him to respond. Finally, he gave a swift nod and lingered for a moment before strolling out of the room, his somber form vanishing from sight. Hermione stared after the point where her husband disappeared. Then she sighed and returned to her children, markedly put out.

"Where did Dad go?" Surina inquired, her eyes narrowing at her mother.

"Just to his quarters for a little while. He'll be back."

Lily dropped her legs over the side of the bed, feeling her body to determine how stable she was. Her vision felt much clearer now, her balance sturdier than before. Her eyebrows came together as she peered up at Hermione, whose mind seemed preoccupied.

"Is everything all right?"

Hermione looked down at Lily and her face immediately softened. "Of course." She laid a hand on Lily's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," Lily replied pleasantly.

The eldest was about to stand when Madam Pomfrey came whizzing over from behind a curtain to her left, her arms flailing about madly. "Don't you dare, Miss Snape!" she cried, brushing past Hermione and forcing Lily to remain seated. "You have another hour or two in my care before I can let you go. You took a serious blow to the head and need to be monitored for a time yet!"

"But I feel fine now!" Lily pleaded, glancing from the distraught nurse to her mother. Her pretty eyes pleaded for release, but Hermione simply smiled back.

"I must insist!" Madam Pomfrey turned to the girl's mother for backup. "Please, Hermione! Her head trauma was very bad, indeed! You must allow your daughter more time to recover!"

Hermione gave a respectful bow towards the mediwitch. "Of course, Poppy."

Lily's mouth hung open, annoyed by her mother's agreement with the nurse, but Hermione winked once the woman's back was turned. Madam Pomfrey stalked away, her nose high in the air and a glimmer of satisfaction etched in her aged wrinkles.

Hermione turned her attention to her three girls, eying them over attentively. "Surina, would you mind staying with Lily? I will be back in a little while. I need to go fetch your sister. I'm sure she's creating a ruckus for your Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry."

Surina agreed and promptly took a seat next to Lily. Hailey suddenly recalled Jeannie's unnerving cries from earlier and whipped her straggly head up to face Hermione.

"Jeannie was crying earlier, screaming, actually, right after you all left."

"I know," Hermione moaned, her face downcast as she began running her fingers through Hailey's bangs, whisking them out of her eyes. "I heard her too, but we had to get Lily here as soon as possible."

Hailey ignored her mother's touch and unwanted attention towards her unruly hair. She scrunched up her button nose, perplexed.

"Why does Surina get to stay and I don't?"

"Because you and I need to have a serious conversation, my dear, and I think you know what I'm talking about..."

Hermione and Hailey progressed away from the hospital wing and down the marble staircase in silence, their steps echoing along the abandoned castle. The Quidditch match was still going on, leaving the majority of Hogwarts for mother and daughter to meander through privately, without the risk of being overheard; except perhaps for Peeves the Poltergeist, who liked to roam every inch of the castle looking for trouble. Hailey secretly prayed that they would not run into him. She was hardly in the mood for that nagging prankster. He seemed to have it out for poor Hugo in particular.

Hailey knew what her mother wanted to discuss and had suspected for some time now that her father probably took the liberty of informing Hermione about what she had done weeks ago, a part of their argument that she purposely kept out of the letters she wrote. Hailey inhaled and braced herself for what was to come.

Hermione peered down at her lookalike curiously, searching her youthful face for any obvious thoughts before finally speaking, "I know this is far from the opportune time, but in light of what has happened, I think we need to discuss this sooner rather than later. You do know what I want to talk to you about, don't you, Hailey?"

"Yes..."

Hailey glanced down at her feet that tread awkwardly along the stone floor. Hermione abruptly stopped as they reached the open courtyard and crossed her arms, facing the girl head on.

"Hailey," she implored in a stern, yet quiet, voice, "why didn't you tell me?"

Hailey shifted uncomfortably, her dark, brown eyes darting everywhere but where her mother stood. "Erm, tell you what?"

Hermione's attractive eyes narrowed and her mouth pouted. "Everything. You know what I'm talking about."

The young Gryffindor unexpectedly stomped her foot and marched over to a stone bench, throwing herself down without looking up at Hermione, whose face softened at witnessing Hailey's discouragement. The poor girl was visibly upset, both with herself and also, Hermione suspected, with what she did not know or understand.

Hermione made her way over to her daughter and took a seat at her side, putting an arm around Hailey's shoulders and rubbing them gently. She let out a heavy sigh before breaking the stillness.

"Sweetie, why did you hit him? I know what your father did was not right and, for that, I completely understand your frustrations, but I'm quite shocked at your response. You've never done that before. I've never seen you resort to violence when you get angry, and the fact that you screamed and hit him... Well, it's just so out-of-character for you, Hailey. You're not at all like the angry person you've been lately. I can sense it in your letters, and your father has surely noticed it, too. I'm concerned, sweetie. We both are."

Hailey did not reply initially, choosing instead to bite her lip and fight off the confession that wanted to pour out of her. But it finally came, and she released it without thinking too hard.

"I - I know it was wrong... I was just so upset, Mum. I know I shouldn't have done it, but Dad shouldn't have done what he did to me either! I don't understand why it happened. Why has he changed?"

"He hasn't, dear. I know it seems like he has, but surely you must know that what you see in the classroom isn't him? He told me he offered you an explanation; and an apology, for that matter. Have you asked him about it?"

"No," Hailey grumbled, peering down further so that her bangs masked her crestfallen eyes.

Hermione crouched lower, trying to get her daughter to meet her gaze but was unsuccessful. "Hailey, if nothing else, you must accept his apology. You can't rebuff an apology when it's given. You have to acknowledge it, whether you're ready to or not. He's taking this awfully hard, you know. I understand that you're angry and upset and very hurt right now—and I'm here for you, sweetheart—but you need to know that he's hurting, too."

Hailey advanced closer to Hermione, wanting to feel her warmth. It gave the young child enormous comfort to have her there, and it was something Hailey secretly missed receiving from Severus as well, though, in that moment, she could not readily admit it.

"I know," Hailey mumbled under her breath, still not looking up.

"Will you talk to him? He's wanted to speak to you about it for weeks, but you haven't budged. Won't you at least sit down and talk this over? It's the only way to move past the pain, sweetie. You can't keep holding onto this grudge forever. You have to face things. It's the only way, believe me."

"But—"

Hermione squeezed her daughter's shoulders and continued before Hailey could make an excuse, "Listen, you both made mistakes that day, Hailey. Was your father wrong to lash out at you? Absolutely and for what it's worth, I should have been forthright about the circumstances before you left for school. For that, I'm very, very sorry, sweetheart. I should have communicated with you better, and that fault rests with me; however, you were completely out of line to hit him, and telling him that you hated him, that you thought him a 'coward...' That was terribly hurtful, Hailey. Not just to your father, but to me as well. Your father is not a coward, do you understand?"

Hailey slowly peered up at Hermione, and this time her face was wrought with emotion. Her eyes were swimming with tears and her upper lip quivered, unable to form words. She wanted to cry but did not want to all at the same time.

Hermione reacted and took the girl with the mangled curls into her arms, holding her securely for several minutes. Eventually, Hailey began to sob softly against her mother's chest, her tiny hands gripping Hermione's arms as her body trembled as a result of the sadness that had wanted to pour out of her for weeks.

"It's all right, Hailey," Hermione soothed, rocking her back and forth with her eyes closed. "This will all blow over, I promise you, but it's time for you to let it go. Don't keep all this hurt and resentment in. It's not healthy, and it's hardly good for you."

Amidst her weeping, Hailey nodded her head in agreement, yet she continued to whimper, holding firm to her mother's embrace. She had never been so confused and, at the same time, relieved in all of her short life. She missed her father, but it was all still far from being coherent to her.

"But - But how do I do this?" she asked, sniveling into Hermione's shirt.

A gentle smile formed on Hermione's face, and she kissed the top of her daughter's thick mane. "Just talk, Hailey. That's all there is to it. It won't be easy, but you can do it. You're a very strong young lady, and I have every confidence in you."

Hailey leaned back and wiped her tears on her sleeve, still stifling a few sobs that came from her trembling mouth. "But - But I don't understanding."

"What don't you understand, sweetie?"

"Why Dad is like this... Why didn't you warn me, Mum? Why didn't you tell me when I got to Hogwarts that Dad would change? Why do things have to be different?"

Hermione's kind eyes surveyed Hailey's wet face. Her cheeks were flushed and her disgruntled expression broke Hermione's heart. It seemed so unfair that she could not simply tell her daughter all that she so desperately wanted to understand and yet, it partly did not feel right to tell her...

Was she not still too young? Lily knew a little, yes, but Hermione immediately lamented how Severus still believed that their eldest was too young to know as much as she did. And then, of course, he had specifically asked her not to breathe a word to the rest of their children. Seeing the devastation on Hailey's face, the clever witch struggled to keep that promise in check.

"Sweetheart," Hermione began, cupping the girl's round face in her palms, "your father is under a lot of pressure here, far more than you know. You have to understand that this is just the way he teaches. He's always taught this way and, well, I'm afraid old habits die hard. Does that make sense? You can't take it personally, Hailey. He means you no ill-will and, surely, you must know that?"

"Then why does he put on a front? Why can't he just be normal, Mum?"

"He wants to, dear. Believe me, he really does—"

"Well, he should try harder!"

"Hailey, that isn't fair—"

"Then why doesn't he?"

Hailey threw up her hands, stumped by her mother's vague answers which were far from satisfactory. They were not at all helpful in getting a grasp on things, and the first year could no longer hide her mounting agitation.

"Hailey," Hermione implored, her voice much quieter than before, almost broken, "your father loves you very, very much..."

Hailey felt her cheeks flush with slight embarrassment at her heated venting just then, and she bit her lip in response, not sure how to continue. "I - I know he does, Mum. I'm sorry, I just want to know what's going on. You aren't telling me something, I know it. What are you keeping from me?"

Hermione did not reply but stared at Hailey with a look that was no longer cryptic; instead, there was a gravitational sadness that took Hailey by surprise. Hermione's gentle eyes were suddenly fuzzy and unclear, her lips tight and unmoving.

Hailey rose from the stone bench and gazed down at her mother with a troubled brow. "Something's wrong... What's going on, Mum?"

Hermione exhaled and glanced away for a moment, trying to gather her composure. Her mother's unhappiness sent a shock wave through Hailey's dainty frame. She hated seeing Hermione so visibly shaken, and her young heart began to beat faster.

"Mum, what is it?"

Hermione peered up at the concerned eleven-year-old before her and hesitated before finally replying, "Your father can't be normal, Hailey, because he isn't entirely himself. He isn't well. He hasn't been for a long time..."

"Isn't well?" Hailey repeated, not grasping her mother's words. "What do you mean? Is he sick?"

"He would not want me telling you this. Frankly, I think he's right. You have enough on your plate this term—"

"Hang on," Hailey interjected, still befuddled. "What's wrong with him, Mum?"

Hermione gathered Hailey's small hands in her own and tried to smile, though it was a strained act that did not fool her sharp daughter. "We don't want you to worry unnecessarily, sweetie. It's just a small matter anyhow. Your dad is fine. You just need to be more patient with him. He's under a lot of stress and is struggling a bit, and that makes him prone to illness. That's all."

Hailey stared down at Hermione, more confused than ever. She had noted her father's fatigue the past few weeks and there were a couple times he had been ill at home in the past, but something else was definitely going on. Why would her mother not tell her? She searched Hermione's face for some kind of clue but, regrettably, found nothing to confirm her suspicions.

"See, this is why we didn't want to say anything!" Hermione suddenly chuckled, stroking Hailey's chin playfully. "The look on your face would be enough to worry anyone! Wipe that away, sweetheart. No more fretting, do you understand?"

Though she was hardly convinced, Hailey swallowed and bowed her head. "All right," she breathed, unsure of what else to say.

Hermione continued to clasp her hands. "Please don't tell your father I shared that with you. It would only worry him and he doesn't need that right now, all right?"

"All right..."

Hermione abruptly changed the subject, much to Hailey's dismay. "How is your assistantship going, by the way? Are you doing all right with your classes? It's not all too much for you, is it?"

Hailey whipped her head back and forth. "No, it's fine. Dad's letting me brew a lot more potions lately. I think I'm really getting the hang of it, Mum. I - I really enjoy it, actually."

"Yes, I've heard. Your father's told me how wonderful you're doing. He said you've been a tremendous help to him, Hailey. He's very impressed, very proud of you..."

The two Snapes stared at one another for a long time, neither one continuing the conversation until Hermione finally broke the silence. She rubbed Hailey's hands, which were still clutched in her palms.

"Will you talk to your father, please? I would really like this feud to be over, Hailey. It's lasted far too long now as it is. You don't want to continue being mad like this, do you?"

Hailey sighed and glanced away, her unruly bangs cascading over her eyes again. "No," she concurred after a pause.

Hermione reacted and hugged her tightly, patting her back several times before withdrawing her embrace. For the first time since Hermione had bumped into her that morning before the Quidditch match, Hailey gave her a faint smile in return.

"I'm glad," Hermione concluded, before getting to her feet. "Well, let's go find your sister. I hope she's calmed down by now and isn't giving your aunt and uncle too much trouble."

Hailey smirked and trotted alongside her mother in much happier spirits. Each had their arm around the other as they made their way back down to the Quidditch pitch. The unsettling thoughts about her father lingered in the back of Hailey's mind but, at the moment, she tried instead to appreciate the limited time she had left with her mother. Hermione would be leaving tomorrow, so Hailey concluded that she would make the most of it while it lasted.
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Unquestionable Love