Chapter 4: Wild Card

Hermione arrived back at her apartment in a state of shock to what she had just signed herself up for. The loud voices coming from within the flat had little to no effect on her.

"Goddamn it, Potter! Can't you do anything right? You would let the poor child sit there in his own filth for how long?"

"I was taking care of it, Snape! There are two of them, you know! I was changing Jacks when Nick started crying as well. You are smart man, you do the math, I only have two hands and there are two screaming babies to change. I tried to quickly take care of one of them at a time"

"Are you a complete imbecile? Are you or aren't you a wizard, Potter? One quick spell and both babies would have been changed and happy"

"How was I to know that? I am no expert on babies or baby changing spells, Snape!"

"You are no expert on anything as far as I'm concerned, Potter!"

By this time Hermione had made her way into the room to see both of them a few feet apart, glaring at the other. The site would have been nothing to laugh about, had both men not had a baby apiece in their arms. Harry held Jackson to his chest, while Severus held Nicholas with one arm against him and had his wand at his side with his other hand. Both babies, oblivious to the tension in the room, were playing with the clothing of their "holder." And if Severus didn't do something quickly, his hair was about to find its way into Nicholas's mouth. She tried to compose herself, before making her presence known.

"Severus, Harry, I hope the boys weren't too much trouble"

Both men only now seemed to notice her appearance, and spared one last glare at each other before responding in turn.

"They weren't a bother, Hermione. Everything was fine until Snape got here."

"I advise you in the future, Hermione, to not leave Potter in charge of your children. Children cannot be held responsible for watching their own kind"

And the glares returned. Hermione moved to take Jackson from Harry who gently handed over the child. "I hate to run, Mione, but I have a lunch date with Gin and I won't hear the last of it if I miss it."

"I understand, Harry. Tell Ginny I send my love, "she said with a small smile as she moved to embrace him. Harry returned her hug and kissed Jackson's forehead. "I will see you soon, just owl me if you need anything," he turned to Severus with a dark look, "Snape," he said in his own form of goodbye, Severus returned his dark look with one of his own before making reply, "Potter."

Harry made his way to the door; the sound of apparition could be heard beyond the front door. Once he was gone, Hermione let her façade drop, she gave Severus a desperate look, "Severus, I need to talk to you."

Severus gave her a searching look before he put his wand away and switching Nicholas to his other side, "Let's put these little ones to sleep first, shall we. Here, give me Jackson, you go to the kitchen and make us a pot of tea and I will put them in their cribs."

Hermione smiled her thanks and handed Jackson over, who began to grab for his brother as soon as he was in Severus's hold. As Severus made his way to the nursery, Hermione made her way to the kitchen, her headache getting all the stronger as she thought of her new assignment. She had just put the pot on the stove, when Severus entered the kitchen and took a seat at her small table. He motioned for her to sit as well, which she did, as she rested her head in her hands.

"Kingsley has assigned me to search Lestrange Manor for Dark Artifacts"

"Just tell him to assign it to someone else, you have barely just recovered from the birth of the twins, he will understand"

She shook her head, "He specifically requested that it be me that searches the Manor," she stretched her hands out on the table, "I don't know if I can do it, Severus"

"Is it because they were there that night?" he asked, taking her hand in his, "They can't hurt you Hermione, the minister himself knows you are there. They would not dare harm you. Besides, as long as that crazy bitch, Bellatrix, isn't there then there should be nothing to worry about. Rodolphus and Rabastan have their flaws but they are gentlemen more often than not."

"Kingsley said that Rabastan and their mother would be the only residents in the house, but what if Rodolphus and Bellatrix come home? What do I do then?" she asked, her voice getting quieter towards the end. He was giving her that searching look again, "Hermione, I would be more concerned about you searching Nott's home or Dolohov's home, but I see no real threat from the Lestranges"

"You don't understand, Severus," she gave him a tearful look before looking away from his penetrating gaze, so that he might not see the tears forming in her eyes. He squeezed her hand, causing her to look back at him. From the look in his eyes, she knew that he knew why she dreaded the task. "It was one of them wasn't it?" he asked her softly moving to sit in the seat next to her, never once letting go of her hand. "One of the Lestrange brothers fathered your children, didn't they?"

The tears came then in a flood, as she threw herself into Severus's arms. He welcomed her into his embrace, stroking her hair as he made calming noises to her. "I don't know what to do Severus. If I don't d-oo thi-this….. then Kingsley may n-not think I am ca-capable of doing my jo-job. I am the only w-wi-witch working in the ministry that doesn't have a d-degree. They don't need an ex-excuse to get rid of me. Kingsley would fi-fight it, but you know there is only s-so much he can do without showing fav-favoritism. How am I going to do this? What if I gi-give something away and they ff-find out about the twins? What if he tries to take a-away my children, Severus? What if he t-takes them away… a-and Bel-Bellatrix Lestrange ends up raising my sons?" at this comment a new wave of tears came.

"I take it that Rodolphus is the father then?" Severus said, tightening his grip around the sobbing witch. He barely heard her mumbled, "yes," before she continued crying, the sobs shaking her small body violently. Severus didn't voice his bewilderment at the knowledge, he had known Rodolphus for years, and he knew his character well or so he thought, but never once had he imagined the man capable of this. "There is no way we would allow him to take your children from you, Hermione, and especially not his wife."

"But I don't know how you are going to get out of this job, without anyone growing suspicious of the reasons," he paused, sighing loudly, and rubbing her back gently. "I don't know what to tell you Hermione" he whispered, resting his chin atop her curls, "I just don't know."

"I can't believe how much you boys have mistreated the Chateau, especially my poor rose garden," the dark haired woman turned from the window to survey the room with distaste, "and I can see that dreadful Bellatrix had a hand in this appalling remodeling."

Both of the men stood a good distance away from their mother, years of experience had taught them just how fast she could strike when her mood turned foul so they made sure they were well out of reach. Rodolphus and Rabastan shot a glance at each other at her last words; Bellatrix had personally refashioned the interior of the house after she wed Rodolphus. Leave it to their mother to pick up on that little detail.

Valeria Lestrange was a woman of medium height with an abundance of grace and a willowy build. Once one of the most beautiful women in pureblood society, she had been a prize to her older husband, Claudius Lestrange, because he had won her hand over the numerous younger suitors that had once pursued her. He had treated her like a queen, catered to all her needs and whims, and in turn she was the perfect wife and had given him two strong sons. The years had been kind to her and had done little to age her. Her lustrous black hair was still stunning, but now held scattered strands of silver. The only visible wrinkles on her face were the laugh lines near her shimmering green eyes, the same eyes that she had passed on to her two sons. She now turned those eyes on her sons, "When does the young woman arrive?"

"In two days, Mother. Now, remember what we talked about. She is not to know that we are aware of the children or that Ruddy is here, alright?" Rabastan said trying to stress the importance of his words. She waved off his words and took a seat near the fireplace and calling for her house-elf Mort to poor her a glass of brandy. "I won't tell her that I know Rodolphus is their father or that he is here, but if the opportunity arises to meet my grandsons, I am going to take it. If it happens to alter this little scheme that you two have concocted, then I apologize in advance." She ended this statement with a glare towards her sons before taking a sip from her drink.

Both men looked at each other with an equal level of apprehension. Instead of the valuable asset they were expecting, their mother may very well be a wild card they did not foresee. One that could cost them their careful planning.