Love For Too Many

Chapter 25

Hogwarts is my home. Severus is my life.

The castle looked exactly as it did the night I left. But this time the shadows were no longer terrifying. The uneven bricks weren't possible entryways into the castle. The students weren't undercover spies plotting against me.

Dane is dead. Gone forever and out of Wendy's life. Out of my life.

Now I'm going to marry Severus. The one person who I can actually trust with my past, present, and future.

That same man was the one carrying me to keep me from exhausting or injuring myself any more than I already was. His face stoic but scared. Most people wouldn't be able to see the dark expression in his eyes for what it really was. He is terrified but he's happy to have me back.

I just stare up at him and soak in all his features so that I can never forget them. He feels my gaze on him and looks down at me. "You alright love?" His love soaked worries surround me in a comforting blanket. He'd never let someone hurt me.

Only reason I was even taken was because he was taking care of my daughter. "Where is Wendy?" I ask while still being carried closer and closer to the school. 

"Minerva has been very happy to take over the duty of watching her. We can go there after we get you to the infirmary."

"No Sev I'm fine, let's go see Wendy." He stops walking and leans down, taking my lips in a soft loving kiss.

"You are more injured than you realize Y/n. The adrenaline is still coursing through you. You have been beaten badly and I'll do everything in my power to make sure you are taken care of."

I smile at him, "Okay fiancé, let's go to the infirmary." Severus smiles deeply showing dimples on his cheeks. "Sev! You have adorable dimples."

"Only for you love. Only for you."

The walk to the infirmary felt like forever but being in his arms was like heaven. If I could be in his arms forever, my world would be good.

"Merry Christmas Y/n, Severus, what can I do for you?" Poppy's cheery voice called out. But when she got a look at me, her face dropped.

"Is it really that bad?" Poppy's face says everything she doesn't even need to respond.

"Get her to a cot Severus, I'll be back." She gives him a death glare.

"Poppy, Y/n was captured by the death eaters and her ex husband. If you want to blame someone blame them. I wouldn't lay a finger badly on her."

A small sigh escaped her lips and she nodded before dashing off to get medical herbs and supplies.

"Severus, I want to see how badly the damage is!" I demand once I'm laying in the cot. Begrudgingly he pulls out his wand and conjures a hand-held mirror.

My breath gets caught in my throat. I have a deep gash that's covered in dry blood from my nose to my chin on the right side. Along with a black eye I also have a deep purple and maroon color bruise on the corner of my mouth. All of that combined with another gash on my forehead and all the previous wounds and bruises that came out without the charms.

Severus's hand comes up to my face and begins lightly caressing my cheeks. "The scars are only skin deep. You are still the most magnificent person I've ever met and I can't wait to marry you. This might not have been a great way to spend our Christmas holiday but that ring on your finger has made it the best Christmas. You probably don't agree with that but for me knowing I get to spend the rest of my life with you is the best present ever."

Those words sparked a memory in me. "SEVERUS!"

"Shit, what?" Caught off guard by my sudden change of pitch he jumps and makes me laugh.

"I have to give you your Christmas present!" It's in Minerva's closet!"

"We'll go get it together after you have been checked out by Poppy."

The cleaner for my wounds burned. Poor Severus had nail marks in his hand from me squeezing him too hard. It took us an hour before Poppy cleared me and I was basically dragging Sev through the corridors.

Finally we reach Minerva's room. "OMG we're here! Come on!" I don't even bother knocking and I bust into the room giddy as ever to see Wendy and give Sev his present. Sitting on the floor in the living room was Minerva with Wendy on her lap laughing. The two were playing with each other and talking and laughing.

I stopped short when I saw it. My heart melting into pure joy. Tears prick at my eyes again and my face is taken over by a large happy smile.

"Hey guys!" I say with the ginormous smile on my face.

"MOMMY!" Wendy yells and then runs over to me giving me a large hug. "I MISSED YOU!"

"I missed you too bug!" And that was the only conformation Sev needed to make sure I was really me. I could tell by his face. He relaxed even more. I'm not sure what he'd do if it wasn't actually me he proposed to.

"What would you say if Mommy married Sevy? Sevy could be your second daddy."

"Yay!" She then untangles herself from my arms and runs to Severus who scoops her up in his arms. "Hi daddy!"

"Hi bug." He says laughing. "Guess what!"

"What?!"

"I have a present for you!"

"You do?! What is it?" He sets her back on the ground and pulls out a box. He hands it to her and she pries it open.

Inside lays a silver necklace with the words "Daddy's Little Bug" on a charm. She starts giggling maniacally.

"What me to put it on you bug?" I ask. She comes running back over to me with the box and I put the necklace over her head and clasp it. "There you go."

She then runs back to Sev and gives him a big bear hug.

I get up and head to the closet producing a black bag. I hand it to Sev and he gives me a quizzical look.

"Come on, open it." He looks back down at the bag and begins to open it slowly. He pulls out a hard cardboard box with his green watch in it that I had found while shopping that day.

He smiled and walked to me giving me a deep passionate kiss. "Thank you love. I will cherish it forever."

"Ewww no kissing!!!" Wendy yells. Sev starts laughing and scoops Wendy back in his arms tickling her gently.

This is my family now. Wendy, Severus, and Minerva. Family isn't who you're born into, it's who's there for you every step of the way through good times and bad times and loves you unconditionally. These people are my family.