Broken

Daddy's Girl
Chapter 24

Severus was pacing. Narcissa knew that when Severus was pacing, he was nervous. "What is it, darling? Aren't you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy, Cissa. I'm just, you know, worried. I don't know how to be a father. Mine wasn't much to learn from in case you've forgotten," Severus said vehemently.

"No need to snap," Narcissa retorted. "You have always been good with Draco, and you are quite attached to Violet. I've even caught you playing with Abigail and cooing baby James. Really, Severus, you don't fool anyone. You are a big softy."

"I am no such thing, Narcissa, and I don't coo. Violet is basically my own granddaughter, so naturally I would have a soft spot for her. Abigail looks just like Lily, and she's extremely intelligent for her age. No doubt she got that from her mother. And James, well, I've decided to reserve my opinion of him until he starts Hogwarts. Besides, as my own godson is godfather to both children, I feel that I must learn to adjust to them. But that doesn't change the fact that I have to figure out how to be a good father to my own child - a daughter for that matter."

"Well, you'll figure it out. In the meantime, we need to pick out a name for her. I want to be prepared when she comes along. I know we still have six months to go, but I just want it out of the way so I can start calling her by her name."

Severus rolled his eyes. "You are a ridiculous woman, do you know that?"

Narcissa wrapped her arms around her husband and gave him a chaste kiss. "Yes, but you wouldn't have me any other way, would you?"

"Indeed, I wouldn't."

"So, have you thought of anything?" Narcissa asked, clearly not giving up.

"I have." When Severus told her, Narcissa hugged him tighter.

"Oh, Severus, that's perfect."

"But before we make it official, I need to get permission. I know that to some it's just a name, but it's important to me, and I believe it would be important to her as well."

"Yes, I understand."

"If you will excuse me, I believe I will be off. I need to have my dress robes cleaned before the wedding. And I also need to see a man about a name."

**********

Harry and Ginny were lying on their bed, playing with baby James. Abigail was visiting with her Uncle Fred and his new wife, Gwen, who worked with Ginny.

"I do believe he will be a great Seeker, Gin. Look how strong he is." Harry picked his hand up, with James' small hand still wrapped firmly around Harry's finger.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, you think Abby will be a great Seeker, too. Do you think that our children will only take after you, Potter? I'll have you know that they might both be wonderful Chasers."

"Right, Gin. You see the thing is, while you are at work, I will be teaching our children how to fly. And with that training, I will teach them to be Seekers like their dear old dad. And now that I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, we'll have all that time at Hogwarts for their Uncle Ron to teach them the fundamentals of the game. They'll be playing for England before we know it."

"It's weird, isn't it?" Ginny asked with a faraway look.

"What's weird?

"Us - going back to Hogwarts - it's weird. Who would have thought that we would all be back? You, me, Hermione, Draco, Ron, and Pansy - it's just weird."

"No, what's weird is Ron and Pansy getting married in a couple of months. Who would have thought that would happen? And now that Severus is gone, Ron said Dumbledore made Pansy the Head of Slytherin. I never thought I'd see the day when there would be a Professor Weasley as Head of Slytherin House." Harry laughed and kissed his son on the nose.

Ginny giggled. "Actually, Harry, I'm more surprised that they made a woman Head of Slytherin. But, she's already made a lot of changes. She's going to allow girls to play Quidditch."

"Oh, that's great. Maybe one day Severus and Narcissa's daughter will play for the team. You know she'll be a Slytherin."

"You never know," said Ginny.

They both started when they heard a voice from downstairs.

Ginny looked at Harry. "That sounds like Severus. I hope everything is alright with Narcissa. Go see what he wants. Let me know if I need to go over and check on her."

Harry raced down the steps and found Severus' head floating in the fireplace.

"Hi, Severus, come on through." Harry said jovially.

Severus stepped through and regarded Harry with a grin. "Wipe that silly grin off of your face. You are beginning to remind me of one of the Weasley twins."

"I can't help it. I'm a happy man. I have a beautiful wife and two beautiful babies. You just wait, old man, your time is coming. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Is Narcissa alright? Ginny said she'd look in on her if you'd like."

Severus held up his hand. "That won't be necessary. Narcissa is fine. I need to talk to you about the baby, though. I don't know if you've heard, but we are having a girl."

"Yeah," said Harry. "Draco told us. Congratulations, really, you deserve it."

"Thanks. But I want to talk to you about her name. I need to ask you something."

Harry was surprised to see Severus flush. This wasn't like the snarky bat of the dungeons that Harry had come to know and respect. "Have a seat, Professor. I'll get you some tea, and then you can ask me whatever you want."

Just minutes after Harry left the room, he returned with a tray of tea and biscuits. Severus couldn't help the smirk that appeared on his lips.

"What?" Harry asked.

"You certainly are a domestic Defense instructor. Congratulations on that appointment, by the way. Now that Voldemort is gone, the position shouldn't be cursed."

"Thank you, sir. Now, help yourself to the spread and tell me what's on your mind."

"I have a request, Harry, and I really don't know how to ask except to just spit it out. I would like to name my daughter after your mother. I want to name her Lily Eileen Snape, if that is alright with you."

Harry was aghast. He gaped at Severus, who took his silence negatively.

"I would understand if you would not like to grant me this request," Severus said, slightly bemused.

"No, no. I'm sorry. I'm just shocked, that's all," Harry said. Harry knew how much his mother had meant to Severus, so he didn't need to hear an explanation as to why the older man wanted to name his daughter after her. Harry grinned.

"I believe my mother would like that, Severus. Of course I don't have a problem with it."

Severus gave Harry a rare, albeit genuine, smile. "Thank you, Harry. I really appreciate it."

They talked for a little while longer about the upcoming school year and Severus and Narcissa's plans when they get to Positano. An hour later, Severus bid Harry a farewell.

**********
May twenty-first

Her dress was made of the finest silvery-white silk. When she saw it in the shop, she knew it would be perfect for the occasion. Small beads of crystal encircled the bodice, which fit snugly against her breasts, and the bottom half of the dress danced around her loosely, like the shimmer of the ocean. She definitely felt like a princess...

Except, she had one small problem...

Hermione couldn't get her veil right. It kept sliding off of her head, and her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn't pin it to stay on. She finally gave up and pulled it off of her head. She realized she'd have to calm her nerves before she could do anything else. Suddenly, there was a small knock on the door.

Exasperatedly, Hermione told the visitor to come in. When the door opened, Hermione brightened immediately. It was her mother.

"Can I help you with something, sweetheart?"

"Can you ever! Mum, I can't get this veil to stay on my head. I do believe I am going to cut all of this mass off of my head."

Susan stepped up behind her daughter and took the veil from her. She spoke to her while she worked on the veil.

"You know, when I married your father, I had the same trouble with my veil. I had hair much like yours, you know, and I didn't have my mother to help me with it. I did give up on my veil. When I got down the aisle, John didn't even seem to notice." Susan stopped for a moment to blink away the tears that threatened to come. With her voice shaking just a bit, she continued.

"After the ceremony, while we were dancing, he asked me where the veil was that I just had to have. I told him I would have missed the entire ceremony if I had continued to try and put that veil on. He told me he was glad I didn't have the veil. He said that he actually loved the way my hair grew all over my head, and he didn't want a stupid veil to mar what he thought was pure beauty. And when you were a child, and your hair started to grow the same way, your father loved it. I'll never forget the time you were about four, you came out of the bathroom with a comb stuck in your hair. You were crying and your father picked you up and placed you on the counter top. He gently worked through all of those curls until he had gotten the comb out."

"I remember that day. I will never forget that comb getting stuck in my hair. I was angry that Dad wouldn't let me cut my hair," Hermione said wistfully.

"No, he would never have let you cut it. I even tried to talk him into it, but he stood his ground. He told me that your hair was just as beautiful as mine had been on the day we married. He also chuckled to himself and told me that maybe we wouldn't have to fuss with a veil for you, either. Your father would have been proud of you, Hermione. You have become a very strong young woman."

Hermione's mother gave her a small squeeze on the shoulder once the veil was firmly in place.

"Now, I have to go. Remus is on Violet duty at the moment. I daresay I should get some time with her before Narcissa gets here. I love you, darling."

Hermione hugged her mother. "I love you too, Mum."

Hermione showed her mother to the door. When she opened it, she couldn't help but laugh at what was waiting on the other side.

"I hope you don't mind, Hermione, but I told them they could probably see you if they would allow me to see you first."

"Mind? Absolutely not. I would have been extremely put-out if they hadn't come. Come in, boys."

Harry and Ron, shifting their feet, came into the room. Harry spoke first after kissing Hermione on the cheek.

"You look gorgeous, Hermione. I can't believe you're in a dress."

"Harry, you idiot, of course I'm wearing a dress. I am a girl, you know. I don't think Draco would want to marry me if I walked out there in dress robes for a wizard, do you?"

Ron's ears went pink. "I don't know, Hermione. I imagine he would marry you even if you were wearing Hagrid's old hairy suit."

They all three broke into laughter. "Seriously, did you two come to wish me well, or is there something else on your mind?"

Harry and Ron exchanged furtive glances. "You tell her, Ron."

"No, Harry. I told you, I won't do it. You know how I feel about it.

"Ron, it won't be that difficult. It's just standing and stuff."

Hermione cleared her throat. "Boys, as much as I have always loved trying to guess at this maniacal banter that you two call conversation, I really need to go down to the lake and get married."

They both looked at her like she had interrupted a really great Quidditch match.

"Harry wants us to give you away, and I flat out refuse," Ron said pointedly.

Hermione felt a small lump in her throat. "Why, Ron? I would be so honored. You know my father isn't here, and my mother needs Remus with her. I don't have anyone, Ron. Not unless you want me to call Severus." Hermione lowered her head to hide the tears that threatened. "Or I could just go alone."

Ron gave Hermione a hurt look. "Hermione, you don't understand. Harry said that Muggle tradition states that someone has to give you away. I can't do it. I care too much about you to take you down there and tell Malfoy, 'Well here you go, mate, she's all yours, you can have her, I'm giving her to you.' I'm sorry, I just can't do that."

Harry and Hermione stared at one another. "Is that what you thought I was telling you to do, Ron? I wasn't telling you to give her to anyone. We're basically going to escort her down the aisle, and when they ask who gives this woman to this man, we say that we do. It's just a way of saying that we trust Draco and as her family, we approve of the marriage."

"Oh," Ron said. "Alright, then, let's go."

But Hermione stood frozen in her spot.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"You two!" Hermione sobbed.

"Oh, no, Harry. I think she's about to hug us."

"She can't do that. Ginny will kill me if Hermione gets that stuff from her face on my dress robes. She'll probably even accuse me of making her cry."

"You boys are the best friends a girl could ever dream of having. I love you, I really do."

"Ah, come on, Hermione. We're going to be late. We can't keep the ferret waiting, now can we?" Ron jested.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, we can't. And, Ron, don't call my future husband a ferret."

"Now that's not fair. It's bad enough that I'm giving him to you. Can't I at least call him a ferret now and then?"

Hermione giggled. "Just don't let him hear you."

The three of them made their way to the entrance hall of the castle where Ginny was waiting in her baby blue bridesmaid gown. Harry swallowed hard. He didn't know how he was supposed to pay attention to the wedding when his own wife looked so incredible.

"There you are, Hermione. What's wrong? Did my prat of a brother or git of a husband do anything to you?" Ginny asked as she gave Ron and Harry a death glare.

It's amazing how someone can look like an angel and sound like a banshee at the same time, thought Harry.

Harry gave Ron an I told you so look while Ron mumbled something that sounded a lot like "mental."

Harry swallowed again. "You look stunning, Gin."

Ginny smirked at her husband while she waved her hand, putting Hermione right.

Harry stared open-mouthed at Ginny. "That was wandless magic! And where did you learn to do a cleansing charm without wiping off all of that stuff on her face?"

Both Hermione and Ginny answered, "Lavender."

Hermione allowed Ginny to smooth her hair out of her face.

Ginny looked at Hermione. "I thought you had your hair up."

Hermione ran her hand down the wild mane that fell down her back and shoulders. "I did have it up. I took it down."

Ginny lifted both eyebrows. "Alright, um, are you ready?"

Hermione nodded. "I am." She linked her arm through the arms of her best friends, and Ginny handed her the bouquet of fresh lilies and white roses. "Alright, Gin, let's go and get me married."

Before Ginny opened the door, she stopped. "Wait! Hermione, where is your veil?"

Hermione grinned. "I'm not going to wear it."

Gin frowned. "Hermione, I though you loved that veil. Why aren't you wearing it?"

Hermione gave Ginny a sad smile. "For my dad."