Song Fic Contest #1 [Miraculous Redemption]
Title: Miraculous Redemption
Paring: HG/SS
Rating: R
A/N: First attempt at a song fic. Comments appreciated.
Summary: Hermione accidentally gives Severus a reason to forgive himself.
Erasing the Past
~*~
Welcome to the planet,
Welcome to existence,
Everyone’s here,
Everyone’s here,
Everybody’s watching you now,
Everybody waits for you now,
What happens next,
What happens next,
Hermione turned to look at the figure in the bed beside her. She groaned when she realized that what she had dreamt, is what had happened. She would never be able to live this down. Not in a million years. But then again, no one would really blame here. She was twenty-three years old and Voldemort had finally been vanquished and Harry and Ron had both died. No one would blame either her or Severus Snape for seeking comfort in each other’s arms.
Severus woke up to the sensation of eyes boring holes into the back of his skull. He didn’t quite remember whom it was that he brought to bed with him. He knew that who ever the witch was, he wasn’t too keen on letting her go anytime soon. He’d felt alive for the first time in years with the wisp of a woman he’d bedded last night. Severus turned to face the woman, he was not prepared for what he would see when he turned around.
“Bloody hell. Albus is going to have my balls for this, not to mention my job,” he said to himself more than to Hermione.
“He can’t do anything about it. I am an adult, who is Apprenticing under Minerva McGonagall, not you. No untoward behavior here.”
“How did this happen?”
“Well you see, Severus,” she paused, “it is alright if I call you that isn’t it?” He nodded. “Well, when a witch and a wizard…”
“Spare me. I thought you were going to give me a real explanation. Since you aren’t living up to your moniker, I then shall supply an answer. Firewhisky.”
“I didn’t drink a drop last night.”
“Why ever not? You have every right to drown your sorrows in whatever flavor of poison you chose…” he paused. “Oh, Merlin, you chose me?”
“You aren’t a poison, Severus. I find your are an antidote, really.”
Both sighed at the same time. They were going to have to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. Together.
As they walked into the Great Hall, Severus whispered to her, “You might have at least put on fresh robes, then no one would have noticed.”
“Who cares what they think? Let’s just have breakfast and avoid Minerva.”
“Good Luck with that.”
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Days had passed and Severus hadn’t approached Hermione once. Minerva had given him a very stern lecture about the propriety of such an arrangement. Once, given the circumstances was understandable. Twice, and she would see to it personally that he was out on his arse faster than he could say ‘foolish wand waving’. That kind of put a damper on things for him.
Hermione tried to get his attention. She had talked to Albus, who beamed at her. He’d happily supplied Hermione with a list of Severus’ favorite sweets. She never would have guessed he was fond of acid pops, but then again, it suited him. She sent him a collection of treats along with an invitation to dinner. She was quite upset when he declined.
She marched down into the dungeons and knocked on his door. Severus opened the door expecting to find Minerva. She had taken to checking his rooms at odd hours to ensure that Hermione wasn’t there.
“She isn’t here, you old… Hermione. What are you doing here?” he asked, with a hint of surprise in his voice.
“Why didn’t you accept my invitation to dinner?”
“Because, there is no reason to accept. We are nearly colleagues. In a year you will be teaching here. It is …”
“Grow up, Severus Snape!” she said as she turned to walk away. There was more than one strategy to win a war.
Welcome to the fall-out,
Welcome to existence
The tension is here
The tension is here,
Between who you are and who you could be,
Between how it is, and how it should be
Hermione sat on a cot in the Infirmary with a look of utter bewilderment upon her face and Poppy giving her a disapproving look.
“It is unseemly,” she tutted. “Not much you can do, seeing as the father is dead.”
“The father isn’t dead. You’re sure, though?”
“You saw the results of the spell. This isn’t some Muggle method. It is 100% accurate. I can have Professor Snape brew up a 'solution' in two days…”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take the pre-natal potions.”
“But an unmarried witch can’t…”
“I can and I will have this baby.”
“I’ll have to tell the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall…” she began in a superior tone.
“I’d rather,” she snipped.
Hermione didn’t go straight to the Headmaster or her former Head of House, instead she went to Severus’ office. She knew he’d be marking papers there. She knocked at the door.
“Enter,” he spat. He didn’t even look up when she walked in. “No, I don’t offer extra credit, I will not sleep with you to improve your grade, I will not tutor you privately, but I will tell you to leave if those are any of your concerns.”
“Severus…”
“Oh, it’s you. I thought I told you that it was not appropriate to…”
“I’m pregnant. It is yours.”
“Oh, Merlin. I’d better pack my bags.”
“Whatever for? Are you afraid of fatherhood?”
“Well yes, but Minerva…”
“Can sod off,” she finished. “Albus has given his blessing for our relationship. How do you think I found out about the acid pops? I’ll understand if you don’t want me, per se, but please don’t run away from this baby.”
“I’d be a horrible father. You’d both be better off without me. Look at what I’ve done. All that work for Voldemort.”
“For the Order, Severus. You did that for the Order. I think your child would be lucky to have a man like you in his our her life. You are…”
“I am a horrible person, Hermione. I don’t know how to be nice, I don’t know how to love, and I certainly don’t know the first thing about changing a nappy.”
Hermione chuckled. “Nappies are the easy part, Severus. And you’re nice to me.”
“You didn’t dispute my ability to love,” he stated.
“Love comes later. It isn’t instant.”
He nodded his head. Perhaps fatherhood could suit him. Albus thought so, for he congratulated him every day. Instead of lemon drops, Albus offered nuggets of advice on child rearing. Minerva merely glared at him.
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Severus paced the door in front of the Infirmary. He wasn’t allowed in as Hermione was in labor. Those were her orders. No one was to see her like that, except Madame Pomfrey. Madame Pomfrey had treated her with much more respect after she and Severus had married three months after Hermione found out she was pregnant. Minerva stopped glaring after that, too, especially after she was reassured Hermione would complete her Apprenticeship.
“Severus, my boy, do sit down, you are going to wear away the stone floor,” Albus said, calmly.
“I can’t, what if she has notions of joining Potter and Weasley?”
“She’ll be fine,” he reassured. “Professor Trelawney said so.”
Severus stopped dead in his tracks and glared at Albus. “That isn’t funny.” He turned and focused his attention on the door as he heard an animal like scream. Immediately Severus was thrust into his darkest memories. He saw in front of him innocent women under his Cruciatus, writhing in pain, begging for death, for release. He saw the faces of mothers who had seen their children die before it was their turn to face the business end of a Death Eater’s wand.
“I can’t do this Albus, I have to go,” Severus said as he made to run down the corridor and to the dungeons to collect his things and leave.
Minerva and her wand stopped him. She dug her wand into his chest. “I’ll use Imperius to keep you here, Severus Snape. What in bloody hell do you think you are doing. You are not leaving your wife and child. For whatever reason, Hermione wants you, you’d be a fool to throw that away. And, furthermore, I want to retire at the end of next year, and if you leave, she’ll have to quit the Apprenticeship to take care of your child!”
“I am immune to Imperius you know,” he said mockingly.
“Well, I know the Cruciatus and …”
“Enough you two,” called Albus. “Severus you aren’t going anywhere. Minerva, you aren’t going to use any Unforgivables. Now sit and wait,” his tone left no room for argument. He added, “Quietly,” for good measure.
All three sat in silence until the cry of an infant. Severus froze in his seat. Albus and Minerva were standing, each one had one of his hands in theirs, and they were attempting to pull him to his feet. “Go in there,” ordered Albus, with a twinkle in his eye. “Oh and take a lemon drop, to celebrate.”
Maybe redemption's has stories to tell,
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell,
Where can you run to escape from yourself,
Where are you gonna go,
Where are you gonna go,
Salvation is here,
When Severus entered the room, he was shocked by the sight before him. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. Hermione held their child in her arms. She was cooing at, it, he had no idea if it was a boy or a girl, yet.
“Look, there’s your Daddy,” she beamed. That comment gave him no indication of the child’s sex. “Would you like to hold your daughter, Severus?”
“You named her Severus?”
“No, I asked if you would like to hold her.”
“I’m not sure I should, she’s so tiny, so delicate. No. I don’t want to risk hurting her,” he said as he took three steps away from the bed.
Hermione held the child out to him. “Take her, you won’t hurt her. Here, sit on the edge of the bed, and put your arms like mine,” she directed. Severus was worried, he’d never seen Hermione so tired. He decided it was best not to argue once he noticed her wand was on her bedside table.
Severus cradled the tiny girl in his arms. Immediately she started to cry. He tried to shove her back into Hermione’s arms, but she had fallen asleep, or she was pretending to be asleep. “I am sorry, little girl, I don’t know what to do,” he said to his daughter.
Immediately, the girl stopped crying. Her little fist freed itself from the blanket. Severus moved to touch it. She latched on to his finger. That was all it took for Severus to cry. He’d never cried like this before. All he saw in his daughter’s face was the chance to make up for all the things he had done wrong. He saw a chance to prove he wasn’t a monster. He knew at that moment, he could love and he would love, unconditionally. He was amazed that someone so tiny could cause such a big change in him.
Hermione watched the scene from partly closed eyes and smiled.
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Fatherhood proved to erase the scars that his service as a spy had placed on his heart. Every time he saw his daughter or wife smile, he forgave himself for another sin. He and Hermione had other children, and soon, he was able to move away from the past and live in the present. He was grateful for that chance. There were times when it felt like his past never happened at all…and to think, it all started with a mistake, something he thought he would live to regret, like everything in his life before Hermione.
~Fin~
Paring: HG/SS
Rating: R
A/N: First attempt at a song fic. Comments appreciated.
Summary: Hermione accidentally gives Severus a reason to forgive himself.
Erasing the Past
~*~
Welcome to the planet,
Welcome to existence,
Everyone’s here,
Everyone’s here,
Everybody’s watching you now,
Everybody waits for you now,
What happens next,
What happens next,
Hermione turned to look at the figure in the bed beside her. She groaned when she realized that what she had dreamt, is what had happened. She would never be able to live this down. Not in a million years. But then again, no one would really blame here. She was twenty-three years old and Voldemort had finally been vanquished and Harry and Ron had both died. No one would blame either her or Severus Snape for seeking comfort in each other’s arms.
Severus woke up to the sensation of eyes boring holes into the back of his skull. He didn’t quite remember whom it was that he brought to bed with him. He knew that who ever the witch was, he wasn’t too keen on letting her go anytime soon. He’d felt alive for the first time in years with the wisp of a woman he’d bedded last night. Severus turned to face the woman, he was not prepared for what he would see when he turned around.
“Bloody hell. Albus is going to have my balls for this, not to mention my job,” he said to himself more than to Hermione.
“He can’t do anything about it. I am an adult, who is Apprenticing under Minerva McGonagall, not you. No untoward behavior here.”
“How did this happen?”
“Well you see, Severus,” she paused, “it is alright if I call you that isn’t it?” He nodded. “Well, when a witch and a wizard…”
“Spare me. I thought you were going to give me a real explanation. Since you aren’t living up to your moniker, I then shall supply an answer. Firewhisky.”
“I didn’t drink a drop last night.”
“Why ever not? You have every right to drown your sorrows in whatever flavor of poison you chose…” he paused. “Oh, Merlin, you chose me?”
“You aren’t a poison, Severus. I find your are an antidote, really.”
Both sighed at the same time. They were going to have to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. Together.
As they walked into the Great Hall, Severus whispered to her, “You might have at least put on fresh robes, then no one would have noticed.”
“Who cares what they think? Let’s just have breakfast and avoid Minerva.”
“Good Luck with that.”
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Days had passed and Severus hadn’t approached Hermione once. Minerva had given him a very stern lecture about the propriety of such an arrangement. Once, given the circumstances was understandable. Twice, and she would see to it personally that he was out on his arse faster than he could say ‘foolish wand waving’. That kind of put a damper on things for him.
Hermione tried to get his attention. She had talked to Albus, who beamed at her. He’d happily supplied Hermione with a list of Severus’ favorite sweets. She never would have guessed he was fond of acid pops, but then again, it suited him. She sent him a collection of treats along with an invitation to dinner. She was quite upset when he declined.
She marched down into the dungeons and knocked on his door. Severus opened the door expecting to find Minerva. She had taken to checking his rooms at odd hours to ensure that Hermione wasn’t there.
“She isn’t here, you old… Hermione. What are you doing here?” he asked, with a hint of surprise in his voice.
“Why didn’t you accept my invitation to dinner?”
“Because, there is no reason to accept. We are nearly colleagues. In a year you will be teaching here. It is …”
“Grow up, Severus Snape!” she said as she turned to walk away. There was more than one strategy to win a war.
Welcome to the fall-out,
Welcome to existence
The tension is here
The tension is here,
Between who you are and who you could be,
Between how it is, and how it should be
Hermione sat on a cot in the Infirmary with a look of utter bewilderment upon her face and Poppy giving her a disapproving look.
“It is unseemly,” she tutted. “Not much you can do, seeing as the father is dead.”
“The father isn’t dead. You’re sure, though?”
“You saw the results of the spell. This isn’t some Muggle method. It is 100% accurate. I can have Professor Snape brew up a 'solution' in two days…”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll take the pre-natal potions.”
“But an unmarried witch can’t…”
“I can and I will have this baby.”
“I’ll have to tell the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall…” she began in a superior tone.
“I’d rather,” she snipped.
Hermione didn’t go straight to the Headmaster or her former Head of House, instead she went to Severus’ office. She knew he’d be marking papers there. She knocked at the door.
“Enter,” he spat. He didn’t even look up when she walked in. “No, I don’t offer extra credit, I will not sleep with you to improve your grade, I will not tutor you privately, but I will tell you to leave if those are any of your concerns.”
“Severus…”
“Oh, it’s you. I thought I told you that it was not appropriate to…”
“I’m pregnant. It is yours.”
“Oh, Merlin. I’d better pack my bags.”
“Whatever for? Are you afraid of fatherhood?”
“Well yes, but Minerva…”
“Can sod off,” she finished. “Albus has given his blessing for our relationship. How do you think I found out about the acid pops? I’ll understand if you don’t want me, per se, but please don’t run away from this baby.”
“I’d be a horrible father. You’d both be better off without me. Look at what I’ve done. All that work for Voldemort.”
“For the Order, Severus. You did that for the Order. I think your child would be lucky to have a man like you in his our her life. You are…”
“I am a horrible person, Hermione. I don’t know how to be nice, I don’t know how to love, and I certainly don’t know the first thing about changing a nappy.”
Hermione chuckled. “Nappies are the easy part, Severus. And you’re nice to me.”
“You didn’t dispute my ability to love,” he stated.
“Love comes later. It isn’t instant.”
He nodded his head. Perhaps fatherhood could suit him. Albus thought so, for he congratulated him every day. Instead of lemon drops, Albus offered nuggets of advice on child rearing. Minerva merely glared at him.
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Severus paced the door in front of the Infirmary. He wasn’t allowed in as Hermione was in labor. Those were her orders. No one was to see her like that, except Madame Pomfrey. Madame Pomfrey had treated her with much more respect after she and Severus had married three months after Hermione found out she was pregnant. Minerva stopped glaring after that, too, especially after she was reassured Hermione would complete her Apprenticeship.
“Severus, my boy, do sit down, you are going to wear away the stone floor,” Albus said, calmly.
“I can’t, what if she has notions of joining Potter and Weasley?”
“She’ll be fine,” he reassured. “Professor Trelawney said so.”
Severus stopped dead in his tracks and glared at Albus. “That isn’t funny.” He turned and focused his attention on the door as he heard an animal like scream. Immediately Severus was thrust into his darkest memories. He saw in front of him innocent women under his Cruciatus, writhing in pain, begging for death, for release. He saw the faces of mothers who had seen their children die before it was their turn to face the business end of a Death Eater’s wand.
“I can’t do this Albus, I have to go,” Severus said as he made to run down the corridor and to the dungeons to collect his things and leave.
Minerva and her wand stopped him. She dug her wand into his chest. “I’ll use Imperius to keep you here, Severus Snape. What in bloody hell do you think you are doing. You are not leaving your wife and child. For whatever reason, Hermione wants you, you’d be a fool to throw that away. And, furthermore, I want to retire at the end of next year, and if you leave, she’ll have to quit the Apprenticeship to take care of your child!”
“I am immune to Imperius you know,” he said mockingly.
“Well, I know the Cruciatus and …”
“Enough you two,” called Albus. “Severus you aren’t going anywhere. Minerva, you aren’t going to use any Unforgivables. Now sit and wait,” his tone left no room for argument. He added, “Quietly,” for good measure.
All three sat in silence until the cry of an infant. Severus froze in his seat. Albus and Minerva were standing, each one had one of his hands in theirs, and they were attempting to pull him to his feet. “Go in there,” ordered Albus, with a twinkle in his eye. “Oh and take a lemon drop, to celebrate.”
Maybe redemption's has stories to tell,
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell,
Where can you run to escape from yourself,
Where are you gonna go,
Where are you gonna go,
Salvation is here,
When Severus entered the room, he was shocked by the sight before him. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. Hermione held their child in her arms. She was cooing at, it, he had no idea if it was a boy or a girl, yet.
“Look, there’s your Daddy,” she beamed. That comment gave him no indication of the child’s sex. “Would you like to hold your daughter, Severus?”
“You named her Severus?”
“No, I asked if you would like to hold her.”
“I’m not sure I should, she’s so tiny, so delicate. No. I don’t want to risk hurting her,” he said as he took three steps away from the bed.
Hermione held the child out to him. “Take her, you won’t hurt her. Here, sit on the edge of the bed, and put your arms like mine,” she directed. Severus was worried, he’d never seen Hermione so tired. He decided it was best not to argue once he noticed her wand was on her bedside table.
Severus cradled the tiny girl in his arms. Immediately she started to cry. He tried to shove her back into Hermione’s arms, but she had fallen asleep, or she was pretending to be asleep. “I am sorry, little girl, I don’t know what to do,” he said to his daughter.
Immediately, the girl stopped crying. Her little fist freed itself from the blanket. Severus moved to touch it. She latched on to his finger. That was all it took for Severus to cry. He’d never cried like this before. All he saw in his daughter’s face was the chance to make up for all the things he had done wrong. He saw a chance to prove he wasn’t a monster. He knew at that moment, he could love and he would love, unconditionally. He was amazed that someone so tiny could cause such a big change in him.
Hermione watched the scene from partly closed eyes and smiled.
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor,
I dare you to move,
I dare you to move,
Like today never happened,
Today never happened before,
Fatherhood proved to erase the scars that his service as a spy had placed on his heart. Every time he saw his daughter or wife smile, he forgave himself for another sin. He and Hermione had other children, and soon, he was able to move away from the past and live in the present. He was grateful for that chance. There were times when it felt like his past never happened at all…and to think, it all started with a mistake, something he thought he would live to regret, like everything in his life before Hermione.
~Fin~