Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Narcissa was sitting in a chic little café near the beach in Calais. She had been living at the chateau in Ardres for over a year now. Her divorce from Lucius had been amiable, each realizing the previous years had changed them both and they had grown apart. The first few months had been hard, but now she had come to enjoy being a single witch. She sipped her wine while listening to her friend ramble on about the latest gossip. She glanced out the window and watched the hustle and bustle of the common people going about their business when something caught her eye.

A small child who appeared to be no older than three or perhaps four, he was holding the hand of a familiar-looking young witch.

The child though did not favor the witch whose hand he was holding. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn she was looking at Draco when he was that age. A memory from that awful time when the Dark Lord ruled over her home and family came flooding back into her mind.

"Enough, Bella!" hissed the Dark Lord. "This one is stubborn," he said as he bent down and grabbed a handful of curly hair. "Perhaps I should allow Fenrir to have a go at you, hmm."

Narcissa saw the look on Lucius' face. He would never allow that animal Greyback to touch her. She watched as her husband approached the frightened girl on the floor... later that night she held him while he cried over what he was forced to do.

"Oh Merlin," she muttered to herself as she watched the young woman and child walk past the cafe.

"Narcissa? What is wrong?" The voice of her luncheon companion startling her out of her thoughts.

"I just remembered I have an appointment in twenty minutes that I cannot break. I do have to run, Beatrice, I'm sorry. We'll do lunch again soon though," said Narcissa as placed enough galleons on the table to pay for their lunch and rushed out the door.

She saw the little blond-headed boy and his mother turning the corner, and moving to follow, she cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself. Quietly as she could, she caught up to the two as they made their way into a local apothecary shop, slipping in before the door closed. "Now remember, Alexander, you do not touch anything in here," the younger witch said to the child.

"Yes, Mummy," he responded with a distinct English accent, identical to his mothers.

They walked up to the counter as the proprietor spoke to her. "Ah, Madam Sutton and Master Alexander, how are you doing this lovely day?" He greeted the two of them.

She smiled as she spoke. "We are doing fine, thank you, and yourself?"

"Much better thanks to your husband. The potion he made me did the trick; perhaps one day he'll share the improvement he made to it with me. I assume you are here to pick up his order?"

"I'm glad to hear it helped and yes... is it ready?"

"But of course, all packaged and ready to go," he said, handing her a parchment-wrapped package.

"How much do we owe you?" she said as she placed the package in her bag.

"Your husband has already taken care of the cost, Madam. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No thank you, I believe this is all we needed. See you soon," she said as turned and left the shop.

Narcissa continued following them. Husband? Whom did she marry? It wasn't that Weasley boy; he's still in England as far as I know. I read he recently married to that Brown girl. She followed them as they walked toward the bookstore as the child cried out, "Da!" Pointing to a tall, brown-haired man. There was something familiar in his walk, but she couldn't place exactly what. She watched as he approached the pair and almost gasped as she heard him speak.

"Alex," he said in an all-too-familiar voice... one she would know anywhere. "Have you been a good boy today?" She watched as he bent down and lifted the boy up in his arms.

"Yes, Da, I good," he said as he hugged the man.

"Hello, love," he said to the woman as he kissed her cheek. "Did you remember to pick up..."

"Your package from the apothecary. Of course I did," she said as she returned the kiss.

"Well, Alex, since you were so well behaved, I think that deserves a treat. What do you say we go for some ice cream?"

"YES!" Alex yelled out.

Narcissa watched as the woman took his offered arm and the three of them walked off. Who would have ever thought Severus Snape was alive and living in France... with a wife and child! Keeping a discreet distance, Narcissa followed them to small crème glacée shoppe. She stood across the street, keeping out of the way of others, and watched as the three ate. They all seemed so happy. It did her heart good to see Severus smile. It had been too many years since she had seen him genuinely happy.

*******************

Severus still had the sharp instincts of a spy. He knew they were being watched, but by whom? Their stalker was either well hidden or under a Disillusionment Charm. He would bet it was the latter. He needed to get Hestia and Alex safely out of the way, and then he would find out the identity of the intruder.

Hermione, or Hestia as she was now known, could sense something was off with her husband. "Syl, what is it?" she asked.

"Just thinking. Didn't you two want to go explore the bookshop today?"

"Yes!" cried out Alex, bouncing excitedly in his seat.

"Are you done with your treat?" he asked the child.

Alex nodded.

"I can't hear your head rattling," Severus said as he looked at the boy disapprovingly.

"I done," he said pointing to his empty bowl. "See all gone!"

"Ahh, very good. And you, my dear?"

"I'm quite done and ready to go. Shall we?" she asked as she moved back her chair and stood up.

Narcissa followed them closely as they walked down the road and stopped in front of a small bookshop. She saw him kiss the woman on her cheek and turn away as the two entered the store. He started walking past her when he suddenly turned around, wand in hand and pointed at her. He spoke in a low yet threatening tone.

"Did you really think I wouldn't sense someone following us? Show yourself, now," he said.

Placing her wand on her head, Narcissa cancelled the Disillusionment Charm. For a brief second she could see the recognition in his eyes before he quickly covered it up.

"Who are you, and why are you following me and my family?"

"Don't act like you don't know me, Severus. We've known each other far too long for these silly games."

"Very well," he said as he grabbed her arm as he quickly turned and Disapparated with her to his office at the university. Letting her go, he placed wards and a silencing charm on the room and deftly relieved her of her wand.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Somewhere we can talk and not be disturbed," he said as he seated himself behind his desk. Gesturing to the chair on the other side he said, "Have a seat, Narcissa, and start explaining why you were following my family."

"I didn't know they were 'your' family, Severus. I didn't even know you were alive. And I would bet my last galleon the child is Lucius'."

"Alex is MY son," Severus said sternly.

"He looks nothing like you. In fact, he looks exactly as Draco did at that age."

She watched as Severus' eyes hardened as he attempted to control his emotions.

"I was there when he was conceived... I was forced to witness the hell she went through. I..."

Severus stood suddenly, his anger pouring off him in waves as he slammed his fist onto his desk. "You know nothing of the hell she went through! You know nothing of the nightmares she has had.

"Or her personal hell of loving a child who looks exactly like..." His voice broke, as the words seemed to stick in his throat.

Narcissa watched as he sat back down, his eyes closed as he breathed in deeply, trying to gain back his control.

"You're right. I don't know what she felt or thought. I do know that Lucius went through his own hell dealing with what he did that night," she said as she stood and started pacing in front of the desk.

She heard him snort at her statement. "Lucius has done many awful things in his life, Severus, so have you... But rape was never one of them until that night."

"None the less, it did occur, and she's had to live with the aftermath of it," he said. "Now, tell me how you found us."

Narcissa sighed as she sat back down. "I didn't search for any of you. I found her and the child quite by accident." She saw the disbelieving look on his face at her statement. "It's true, Severus... I was having a perfectly nice luncheon with an old friend, and when I looked out the window, I received the shock of my life.

"I can only imagine how Lucius is going to react--," Narcissa was stopped from finishing her sentence by the wand aimed between her eyes.

"You will not say anything to Lucius. Do you understand me?" he said, his voice threatening as he held the wand steady, ready to cast the necessary spell to protect the woman and child he now called his family.

Narcissa closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "He has the right to know, Severus, that he has another son."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him. I will not risk the damage to my family that his presence could cost us. Swear a Wizard's Oath that you won't tell him or anyone, or I'll have no other choice but to Oblivate you," he said.

Narcissa knew she had no choice. Severus would make good on this threat to alter her memory if she refused. She would just have to find another way to let Lucius know. "Alright... alright... I, Narcissa Malfoy, swear I will not tell Lucius or anyone about the child."

The magic swirled around them as she spoke the words sealing the oath.

Severus relaxed and once again resumed his seat. "What are you doing in France?"

"I live here now, at the estate in Ardres to be precise. After the divorce, I just wanted to leave England and start anew. Lucius was quite generous in giving it to me in the divorce settlement."

"Lucius can well afford it," Severus said.

"How long have you been here in Calais?"

"Not long."

"How did you manage to survive?"

Severus looked at her with his usual scowl planted firmly on his face. "I did, that's all that matters."

Narcissa sighed. "It seems some things never change. You're as talkative as ever, Severus."

"We're not here to catch up with each other, Narcissa," he said, wishing he didn't have to turn away one of the few people he had once called friend. However, the need to protect Hermione and Alex was his first concern. "I'll only say this once and then you are free to leave. If you see my wife, my son or me on the streets of Boulevard de Gaston, turn around and walk the other way. Do all you can to make sure she doesn't see you. Do you understand me?"

"I wish you wouldn't lock me out of your life, Severus... it's been so long since I've seen you," said Narcissa as she reached across the desk placing her hand on his. "Knowing that you're alive, after believing you dead for so long..."

He moved his hand from under hers and held it up, stopping her in mid sentence. "It has to be this way. Seeing you could bring that whole nightmare back to her, and I won't risk it. You have no idea what she went through."

"The last thing I heard was that she left England about two months after the war ended. I haven't heard anything about her since, until today," she said hoping to find out a bit more.

"Enough, Narcissa!" he said sternly. "It's time for you to leave." He stood and waved his hand bringing down the wards and Silencing Charm and then handed her wand back to her.

Taking her wand back, she stepped towards him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Good-bye, Severus," she said as she turned and Disapparated.

A/N: This story was written for Silverdoe2127 on the lm_hgficxchange on LJ. Many thanks to Lady_Karelia for the wonderful beta work. Also, thanks to Pyjamapants and Luvsev for the cheerleading!