Unexpectedly Expecting

23: A Private Christmas

Severus

He knew that Luna Lovegood's father was being tortured for being such a simp for Harry Potter. He knew that Bellatrix was in charge of these torture sessions, but he also knew that the Carrow twins were in on it as well. But as to where he was being kept, he had no idea, save perhaps at the old Riddle House, which had long since fallen into disrepair.

Lucius had been thunderous when Severus showed him the results of the Lovegood girl's pregnancy test. They had argued about it, and Lucius in the end decided to act like he had a son and allowed the union, whether the witch wanted it or not.

He told all of this to Hermione as they made their way down to the subterranean pool underneath the Manor. "Luna was afraid that Lucius wouldn't accept her. But was he really that close with his sister?"

Severus nodded. "Yes. It was one of the reasons his father arranged the matches that he did, because there was an insidious rumor that Lucius and Selene were closer than relatives should be."

Hermione rolled her eyes, sitting down on one of the lounge chairs. "Nonsense. I'm sure that does happen sometimes with pureblood families but that wasn't the case with him. I am certain he was just like Harry, and I were in school."

Severus took off her low heels, and set them aside, rubbing her stocking clad feet. "Ah. Yes, they were. She was just as blonde as Lucius and could have been his twin if they were born at the same time. It was quite the scandal when the sorting hat placed her in Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin."

Hermione laughed, "I don't care where our sons get sorted, so long as they are happy with it."

"Agreed. Although, one is guaranteed to join my House, that is just a given," He took off her other shoe, and placed it next to her other one. "It is the usual way with families, unless you are part of the Malfoy or Rosier clan, or some such. May I take these off?"

Hermione smirked. "Only if I can undo all of these buttons by hand. I've always wanted to be able to do that."

Why he felt amused by that he had no idea, but with his wife he had not felt so lighthearted in years...or, if ever in fact. "Certainly, just let me get these on the bottom, they're tricky without magic."

"You really have buttons on the bottom of your dress trousers? Hasn't that ever been a problem if you pass out drunk somewhere?"

Severus grinned. "I don't have time to drink when running a school full of spoiled magical brats. However, to answer your question in more detail, the reparo spell might have had to be employed in such a scenario."

Hermione laughed, "I knew it! You suffer greatly for the sake of wizard fashion. Let me see you use those nimble fingers of yours to unbutton those trouser bottoms."

He did and stood up after taking off his boots and placing them next to her heels. He let her unbutton each intricate button down the front of his frock coat, then the ones on his wrists that kept half of the sleeves covering up his half his hands. He in turn watched his wife work and couldn't help but be entranced by her beauty. She had chosen to wear a modest gown for dinner, and very little jewelry, and makeup, and yet she was the most beautiful witch he had ever seen in his life. The old part of him railed against him thinking this way about his wife, the part that was devoid of emotion, and had always been there to protect him from himself at the worst of times. Her small fingers worked at the buttons at his throat, and he placed his hands over hers. 

"What's wrong?"

He sat down on the lounge chair, and she sat beside him. She ran her fingers through his hair, and he hated himself for how much that simple touch comforted him. "Severus, you can tell me whatever it is. This isn't about earlier, is it?"