Everlasting Love - Sequel to Hindered Love

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Severus smiled slightly as he bent down and kissed Hestia softly on the forehead. Tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear he allowed a few tears to escape and drip onto her pale face and tightly closed eyelids. He caressed her cheek sadly with his thumb.

"I don't think I can live without you Hestia. I don't know how I'll go on." He whispered, tears coming faster as they violently poured from his eyes. He stood up again and placed a creased photograph beside her in the open casket. It was worn and crinkled, clearly held many times as it was close to falling apart. "Whatever happens next, I will never forget you. I will never move on." He murmured, stepping backwards and taking one final glance at her peaceful face  before turning away.

Whoever said that the dead look like they are sleeping was wrong. They couldn't be further from the truth. She looked unnaturally still, as if frozen, and her face was slighly contorted with pain. The pale skin that embellished her whole body was cold and dry, strange to touch.

"Snape." Someone grunted and Severus looked up from the order of service clutched tightly in his hand, still stroking her picture softly. "I-I wanted to give you my condolences." Mad-eye choked slightly as he glanced over Severus' shoulder and saw his daughter laying amongst the crisp white lilies.

"Thank you." Severus muttered. "I know this must be hard on you as well." Mad-eye frowned slightly before nodding.

"You have no idea." He whispered and Severus allowed him to walk towards the open coffin. Stumbling into a seat he allowed his head to sink into his hands as a wave on indescribably sadness flooded over him. Sobbing heavily into his hand he didn't notice the pitying stares or whispers as people glided around him and into their seats. He just wanted to curl up and allow the black hole of utter despair to swallow him whole.

"Severus. I'm so sorry -" His head snapped up as he saw a man standing over him, a woman hanging from his arm. His dishevelled appearance and lack of black attire did little more than rile Severus as he rose to his full height.

"OUT!" He screamed and Sirius stepped back slightly. "GET OUT!"

"Severus, please -"

"SHE WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED YOU HERE!" He roared, grabbing Sirius roughly by the lapels of his jacket.

"She's my daughter!" Sirius growled, pulling his wand and sticking it under his chin.

"You heard him! Get out!" Mad-eye snarled, standing beside Severus and glaring at the man whose eyes were narrowed with anger. Sirius smiled slightly as he saw the confused look on Severus' face.

"Surprised are we, son-in-law?" He smirked. Severus' eyes widened and he released Sirius, only to swing his arm back and punch him fully in the face, breaking his nose and causing blood to spurt everywhere.

"GET OUT!" Severus yelled, voice cracking slightly as tears began to roll freely from his cheeks. "Why do you have to do this? Isn't it enough that you made her life miserable? Isn't it enough to have her hate you? Why do you have to ruin my last chance to say goodbye to my wife? My son's last chance to say goodbye to his mother?"

"I suggest you leave before I finish you off." Mad-eye hissed as Sirius was pulled up from the floor by Hestia's mother.

"Fine! Don't I deserve a chance to say goodbye to my daughter?" Mad-eye lunged for him and grabbed his arm before he could jump fully away.

"She was never your daughter. In her heart anyway. You weren't there for her like I was, I loved her even if she wasn't mine. You'd never understand that." Sirius gritted his teeth and turned to leave, Hestia's mother released his arm and let him go. "You too." Mad-eye whispered, not looking her in the eye.