[Chapter 10 - The Bad News]

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Breakfast the next morning seemed to be strained between Genevieve and Severus, both acting as the kiss that happened between them the night of the concert never occurred.

Severus was aspiring to talk to Genevieve privately before they were due in the hall, hoping she had felt the same way he did, but low and behold, she was late.

"I'm dreadfully sorry, I overslept, " Genevieve apologized for her tardiness, fixing the fly-aways of her hair as she walked down the aisle and sat down in her seat.

A stiff silence engulfed the staff table, many waiting for Severus' usual common on Professor Blackwell's belatedness, their curiosity spiking when no such comment was made.

Instead, the pair neither conversed or even batted an eyelash at each other. Very curious indeed.

"Are you feeling alright today Genevieve?" Rolanda asked her, bringing down the basket of delectable pastries.

"Yes I'm fine, " Genevieve replied too quickly, her eyes not leaving her meal.

Rolanda rose an eyebrow at the statement but said nothing, confirming her theory with Minerva that something was abrew between the couple.

Realising her mistake, Genevieve promptly added, " Honestly, right as rain."

On the other side of the table, Severus was met with the same set of trivia from Minerva.

"I'm feeling perfectly alright, Minerva." he too answered quickly, glancing down at Genevieve who so happened to be looking his direction also.

They locked gazes, trying to read the emotions in the eyes of the other, only breaking when the post arrived, the owls hooting overhead alerting them to their surroundings.

Genevieve contemplated, as the students exuberantly tore into their various letters and parcels. She was surprised when she saw the Blackwell family owl, Helianthus, among the other birds for she never received letters from her parents. However, that expression was hastily replaced by a look of sombre and fear. For Helianthus wasn't delivering any ordinary letter, she was carrying a yellow telegram.

Genevieve's face turned a ghostly white as the owl approached, dropping the telegram in front of her. The noises around her were drowned out by the voice in her head, her worst fear coming true. Her hands shook as she slowly tore open the seal, dreading the contents that it held.

Severus watched her from his end of the table, concern laced in his eyes as Genevieve suddenly dashed out of the hall. He quickly left his seat, darting out after her.

"Genevieve, Genevieve!" He called out to her, but she continued to run into the courtyard, dropping the letter from her hand.

Severus came to a holt, reaching down to pick up the letter, his eyes skimming over its contents. His face discoloured as he whispered, " oh dear Merlin, "

~*~*~*~*~*~

Genevieve dismissed Severus' calls, tears clouding her eyes as she ran out to the castles gates and to the apparition point.

With her wand in hand, she thought of her family house, catching a glimpse of Severus' retreating form as she disapparated from Hogwarts.

Genevieve appeared right outside the Blackwell Manor, located on the lowly populated outskirts of Somerset. She hastily pushed open the wrought iron gate separating her from the manor.

Her thoughts were running marathons around her head, not fully understanding what was wrong as she confronted her sister, who was sat in the parlour of the first floor.

"Amaryllis, I came as fast as I could, how is she?" Genevive asked, her own shaky hands wrapping around her sister, sitting down on one of the couches.

She let out a loud cry, wiping away the tears with the cuff of her sleeve, " Oh Vivy, they don't think she'll make it to morning, "

Genevieve sat in shock, this couldn't be happening, not now? She walked upstairs, stopping in front of her bedroom, taking a deep breath before opening the door.

Taking a small step, Genevieve saw her mother and father sitting in two chairs by the edge of the bed, emotionless as they usually were. Taking another step, Genevieve froze, the pale and frail image of grandmother lying motionless on the bed.

Genevieve rushed over to her bedside, taking her hand ever so delicately and placing it in her own.

"Oh grandmama, why do you have to leave me?" she whispered as she wiped away stray tears, squeezing her grandmother's hands softly, hoping for some sort of reaction.

Her grandmother squeezed back, smiling gently as she spoke with a hoarse voice, " don't cry my child, I'm going to join your grandpapa, "

"But why must you leave me so soon? Why must you abandon me?" Genevieve sobbed, her parents sending her glares of disgust but she didn't care; the one woman that showed her any love or support was dying and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Your grandpapa and I will be watching over you everyday my little wildflower, we will always be with you, right here, " she raised a sickly hand and pointed towards Genevieve's heart, " do you remember the lullaby I used to sing to you as a little girl?"

Genevieve nodded lightly, brushing her dishevelled hair out of her face. Her grandmother began to sing, " sun goes down and we are here together, fireflies glow like a thousand charms, " her raspy voice showed off her sickness but the memories resurfaced as Genevieve joined in, singing through the tears.

"Stay with me and you can dream forever right here in my arms, tonight."

They harmonised as they always had before in the chorus, "sound of day, fade away, stars begin to climb, "

The housemaids stuck their heads in the door, the grandmother/granddaughter duo singing always brought life to the usually gloomy manor. Genevieve's grandmama always insisted that music was one of the oldest forms of magic a which could posses.

Genevieve's heart broke as she saw her grandmother loosen the grip on her hand, her already soft singing becoming little more than murmurs. She tried to get her back by singing the rest of the chorus, " melodies fill the breeze, sweeter all the time, "

Slowly and barely audible, her grandmother spoke the last few lines, setting her future in stone, " My love is always with you. How sweet to hold you right here in my arms, " towards the end, her voice faded out and breathing levelled, her chest no longer rising.

Genevieve barely finished the song, " tonight." before bursting into tears, latching onto her body for dear life.

"Don't leave me grandmama, please don't leave me, " Genevieve cried out, thrashing against the hold of her father who brought her out of the room.

Her mother joined them outside, sitting down beside Amaryllis spoke in a tone of disdain, " I think it best if you go back to Hogwarts while we prepare the funeral."

"No, I want to see her off, I won't leave her, " Genevieve protested but her father pushed her back, making it very clear that she had crossed a line.

"Never raise your voice to your mother again, do you hear me?" Genevieve nodded her head shamefully, always on the worse end of the scale in the eyes of her parents, " you will do as your mother says and leave, now!"

Genevieve was shocked, were they really going to kick her out of her own home, after her grandmother had just passed away. When she showed no signs of movement, Cedar shooed her forward, raising his voice, " Out I said, out!"

Genevieve looked at her sister for support but Amaryllis simply gave her a look of apology, leaving Genevieve on her own. She gave one last glance back at her family, if they ever were one and stormed out of the front door, slamming it behind her for good measure.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Strolling back through the castle, Genevieve didn't know what to do with herself. She walked aimlessly around for hours until a familiar voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"Genevieve, are you all right?" Severus asked, noticing the red rims that stained her eyes.

Genevieve stayed quiet for a few moments, letting flood gates she had kept so buried inside her burst.

"Oh Severus, I'm all alone again, all alone, " she cried into his arms, letting him bring her down to sit on one of the steps.

Severus held the grieving witch as she wept into his arms. He too knew what it was like to be totally alone in this big bad world, so as a friend, he didn't think twice holding her and rocking her in attempts to relieve her sorrows.

Our loved ones never leave us, not really. But when we feel alone and turn out the light, there always there to guide us through the tunnel.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Omg, another long chapter! This one really hit home as I know first hand what it's like to lose a grandmother, the one person you feel truly loved by, so really feel for Genevieve in this situation.

*The_lost_flower*