Battle Scars

Severus Snape swept silently down a dark, desolate street in muggle London. It was late, well after ten, and he hadn’t seen Hermione all day. She was under the impression that he was at a Potions conference- how was he going to make her believe it had gone on that late? He searched his brain, trying to think of an excuse as he ducked down an even more deserted alley and evaporated into the London fog.

As Severus made the journey across the Hogwarts grounds, Hermione stared dejectedly into a full length mirror. All around her, chaos reigned. At nearly ten-thirty in the evening, the twins, now two, showed no signs of slowing down. The Tweenies blared on a screen for the sixth time in a row, Hermione having given up all semblance of limiting their television time today. A trail of Cheerios and raisins meandered around the bedroom, ending in what once was a box of cookies, but had now been reduced to mere dust. Dolls and trucks were strewn on every surface, and there were enough small shoes to outfit an army of toddlers. Ophelia and Sirius raced around, oblivious to the disarray, shouting out random words at top volume. Hermione wished desperately for an invisibility cloak.

The house-elves had been in this morning, Hermione mused, but you would never know it, the way this place looks. She turned back to the mirror, appraising her wrecked body. She pulled down the waistband of her yoga pants, and lightly traced the thick silver streaks that coursed over her abdomen and hips. She thought of Severus, at that Potions conference in London. He was awfully late. What e’d e’d been talking to a Potions student- a girl her age who hadn’t borne two babies. Whose breasts had not doubled as milk dispensers for over a year, whose body was not marked by a difficult pregnancy and a c-section. She imagined Severus deep in conversation with this imaginary girl, bubby but intelligent and very interesting, tight tummy and firm breasts. Her stomach did a somersault, and she sank onto the couch, her arm draped over her eyes.

The front door of their quarters creaked open. She uncovered one eye, and perked up. “Severus?” she inquired, hopefully.

“No, ‘Mione, it’s just me- I was hoping to catch Severus about my potion this month.” Remus Lupin walked in smiling. His eyes slowly scanned the room, the twins running around like mad doxies- he had to look twice to make sure there were only two- the toys and cookies strewn from one side of the room to the other, Hermione, draped across the couch and on the verge of tears. His smile became somewhat strained. “Are you sure you’re okay, love?”

Remus walked over to the couch and put his arm around Hermione. “If there’s anything you need to talk about, just let me know. You know I’m always here for you.” Hermione smiled at him and he smiled back, pulling her into a hug. She hugged him back, heartily, grateful for what was he first adult contact of the day.

The door swung open. “Remus.” Severus walked in swiftly, slamming the door behind him.