Song Of The Guardians

This Could Get Awkward

The rest of the school year passed in a flurry of activity. The vampires launched several attacks on towns, both magical and muggle. The Guardians were kept busy with saving as many people as they could and trying to slow the rate at which the vampires were growing their numbers.

Hermione was saddened by the depression that had settled over Andy. He visited Hogwarts less but, when he did drop by, the dark shadows under his spoke of sleepless nights and anxiety.

As the school year ended, Hermione knew that she'd need to do something. With the students going home for the summer, the Harbingers who also happened to be professors were finally free to leave the school grounds as they chose. They had to take advantage of the opportunity to strike back at the vampires. Andy needed to be able to focus. She had no doubt that, in his current state, his abilities as a Guardian were weakened.

"Another school year over," Carolina commented with a sigh, sitting down next to Hermione in the teacher's lounge. "Maybe one day we'll actually have a break."

Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "Let me know if you ever find out what that's like," she retorted, making Caroline giggle.

"Severus is rubbing off on you," Caroline said with a grin.

A moment later, Severus entered the lounge, followed closely by Andy, Draco and Lucius. Hermione and Caroline exchanged looks of surprise to see Lucius there, but didn't comment.

"Congratulations on surviving another school year," Lucius said, his tone surprisingly polite. He glanced at the other three men to see that they were looking back at him expectantly. He sighed before looking back at the two women. "I have a proposal to make," he said carefully. "I want it understood that there are no strings here. Consider this to be an act of goodwill to benefit the Harbingers."

"We're listening," Caroline said, focusing on her father-in-law curiously.

"I would like to offer Malfoy Manor for your use," Lucius said calmly. "You would all be able to stay together in comfort and there is room enough for the rest of the Guardians to join you there."

"That's... very generous," Caroline responded, stunned.

"Not at all," Lucius replied. "You, my dear, are family," he said with a nod toward Draco. "And I'm... grateful that Narcissa and I were accepted as Guardians."

During this exchange, Hermione had not spoken a word. Severus was watching her with a slight frown. She was staring vacantly at nothing in particular, her lower lip caught between her teeth. He approached her and drew her into his arms gently, suddenly realizing that she was trembling. "What is it Love?" he asked her, gently tipping her head back to meet his gaze.

Hermione's eyes were wide and a bit fearful. "I don't know if I can go back there," she whispered.

Severus frowned, not understanding. Draco and Lucius however, understood immediately. Draco silently reached out and took hold of Hermione's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. He carefully pushed up her sleeve to reveal her forearm, and the scars left behind by the hateful word that had been carved there. "She got this from Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor," Draco said, casting a glance at his father. Lucius was looking rather unsettled.

Severus stared at his wife's forearm for a moment. The word "mudblood" was etched in faint scars. He had seen it before, but hadn't known exactly how it got there. He hadn't asked her about it, because the memory was sure to be a painful one. To think that, despite such a terrible memory, she had graciously welcomed the Malfoys as Guardians was almost inconceivable. But then, that was his wife.

Severus took his wife's hand from Draco and lifted her arm to gently press a kiss over the scars. Then he pressed her hand to his chest, just over his heart, and kissed her forehead. "Forgive me," he murmured against her skin, "I didn't know."