#Severus Snape x Pregnant!OC

[braveclementine]

Chapter 17

Warnings: 18+ readers only, smut, sir kink

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

I blinked my eyes open, seeing both Harry and Hermione leaning over me. "You alright?" Hermione asked fretfully. 

"Ow, yeah." I mumbled, slowly pushing myself into a sitting position. "Where are we?" 

"Safe place. C'mon, let's get into the tent." Harry said, helping me up. I gently placed a hand on my stomach, feeling little kicks. They were unhappy with me, but at least I knew they were both alive and well. 

"So," Ron started immediately, showing that I had missed a bit of their conversation, "that Peverell bloke who's buried in Godric's Hollow, you don't know anything about him, then?" 

"No, I looked him up after I saw the mark on his grave; if he'd been anyone famous or done anything important, I'm sure he'd be in one of our books. The only place I've managed to find the name 'Peverell' is Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. I borrowed it from Kreacher. It lists the pure-blood families that are now extinct in the male line. Apparently the Peverells were one of the earliest families to vanish." 

"Extinct in the male line?" Ron asked. 

"It means the name's died out. . . centuries ago, in the case of the Peverells. They could still have descendants, though, they'd just be called something different." 

"Marvolo Gaunt!" Harry suddenly shouted. 

"What?" I asked. 

"Sorry?" Ron and Hermione asked together. 

"Marvolo Gaunt! You-Know-Who's grandfather! In the pensieve! With Dumbledore! Marvolo Gaunt said he was descended from the Peverells!" 

I had forgotten about that and was impressed that Harry had. 

"The ring, the ring that became the Horcrux, Marvolo Gaunt said it had the Peverell coat of arms on it! I saw him waving it in the bloke from the Ministry's face, he nearly shoved it up his nose!" 

"the Peverell coat of arms? Could you see what it looked like?" Hermione asked sharply. 

"Not really. There was something fancy on there, as far as I could see; maybe a few scratches. I only ever saw it really close up after it had been cracked open." 

"Blimey. . . you reckon it was this sign again? the sign of the Hallows?" Ron asked. 

"Why not? Marvolo Gaunt was an ignorant old git who lived like a pig, all he cared about was his ancestry. If that ring had been passed down through generations, he might not have know what it really was. There were no books in that house, and trust me, he wasn't the type to read fairy tales to his kids. He'd have loved to think the scratches on the stone were a coat of arms, because as far as he was concerned, having pure blood made you practically royal." 

"Yes. . . and that's all very interesting, but Harry, if you're thinking what I think you're think-" 

"Well, why not? Why not? It was a stone wasn't it? What if it was the Resurrection stone?" Harry asked. 

"Blimey-  but would it still work if Dumbledore broke-" Ron gasped. 

"Work? Work?" Hermiones' voice was going up in octaves, making little pricks against my brain and I closed my eyes, laying on the cot. "Ron, it never worked! There's no such thing as a Resurrection Stone! Harry, you're trying to fit everything into the Hallows story-" 

"Fit everything in? Hermione, it fits of its own accord! I know the sign of the Deathly Hallows was on that stone! Gaunt said he was descended from the Peverell's!" 

"A minute ago you told us you never saw the mark on the stone properly!" 

"Where d'you reckon the ring is now? What did Dumbledore do with it after he broke it open?" Ron asked frantically. 

Harry didn't answer however. He was looking off into the distance, a faint look of concentration on his face. His black hair had fallen into his green eyes, boring holes into the tent wall. 

"Harry?" Hermione asked after a few seconds. 

Suddenly, Harry let out a dramatic gasp. "Dumbledore had my Cloak the night my parents died!" 

I felt that twinge of sadness, whenever he called our parents 'his' or 'my'. I knew it was not his fault, I knew it was what he believed. And I knew that was my fault, because I had made sure it was that way. 

His voice was shaking as he continued, "My mum told Sirius that Dumbledore borrowed the cloak! This is why! He wanted to examine it, because he thought it was the third Hallow! Ignotus Peverell is buried in Godric's Hollow. . .He's my ancestor! I'm descended from the third brother! It all makes sense!"

"Harry." Hermione tried again. 

"Read it," Harry pushed a piece of parchment in Hermiones' hand. "Read it! Dumbledore had the Cloak, Hermione! Why else would he want it? He didn't need a Cloak, he could perform a Disillusionment Charm so powerful that he made himself completely invisible without one!" 

"That's true." I murmured, frowning a little. I hadn't even thought of that. 

I heard something clink, rolling on the ground and then Harry shouted so loud I winced, "IT'S IN HERE! He left me the ring- it's in the snitch!" 

"You- you reckon?" Ron asked. 

Harry looked between me, Ron, and Hermione. Ron looked taken aback and Hermione was obviously unbelieving. I hoped I mostly just looked like I was in pain, fingers pressed against my head like that would get rid of the headache. 

"That's what he's after." Harry whispered. "You-Know-Who's after the Elder Wand." 

I sat up, motioning to Hermione that I wanted the letter. Hermione handed it over without a word. 

I unfolded the letter, taking in a deep breath as I saw Lily Potters' handwriting. 

Dear Padfoot,      Thank you, thank you, for Harry's birthday present! It was his favorite by far. One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself, I'm enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only  rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for  Christmas (no complaints there). Of course, James though it was so funny, says he's going to be a great Quidditch player, but we've had to pack away all the ornaments and make sure we don't take our eyes off him when he gets going.      Lizzy just absolutely loves the Muggle dolls. I don't think  she's stopped playing with them ever since she got them. She's so serious about making sure they're wearing appropriate attire before bed and she doesn't dress herself until they're dressed in day clothes. It's adorable. I would enclose a picture, but you know she's camera shy.       We had a very quiet birthday tea, just us and old Bathilda, who has always been sweet to us, and who dotes on  Harry and Lizzy. We were so sorry you couldn't come, but the Order's got to come first, and they're not old enough to know it's their birthday anyway! James is getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to show it but I can tell- also,  Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him up so much. Wormy was here last weekend, I though he  seemed down, but that was probably the news about the  McKinnons; I cried all evening when I heard.      Bathilda drops in most days, she's a fascinating old thing with the most amazing stories about Dumbledore, I'm not  sure he'd be pleased if he knew! I don't know how much to believe, actually, because it seems incredible that Dumbledore

The letter cut off, but I wasn't focused on that, especially since I knew how it finished. I had found the scrap of letter and half a picture in Severus' top drawer months ago. Despite me being camera shy, it was clear a picture had been snuck with me holding my mother's hand, a doll in my other hand. I knew it had originally connected to a photo of Harry riding along on a broom, our father diving after him, just a pair of legs. 

The part I was focused on were the small tidbits about me. Muggle dolls. I had gotten muggle dolls and I liked to dress them, even at a year old. I knew which clothes should've gone on them and I dressed them like they were my children. 

It took all of my willpower not to cry, especially knowing Hermione  was looking at me, seeing as Harry was still lost in thought. 

"I don't suppose you know what the last bit is supposed to say?" Hermione asked quietly. 

"Oh." I looked up and said after a moment. "'because it seems incredible that Dumbledore could ever have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald. I think her mind's going, personally! Lots of love, Lily.'" 

"You know," Hermione said quieter, "There's something that doesn't quite make sense." 

"What?" I asked. 

"Harry said he did have a sister, but that Barty Crouch Jr. said she died in April. But if she's celebrating her birthday in July. . . how could she have died in April?" Her eyes were holding mine and I just knew that she knew. 

"Maybe she's still out there. Maybe she doesn't want people to know who she is." I answered. "Maybe she wants to reveal herself at the right time." I went silent and then said, "Or maybe she doesn't know who she is." 

"This is it." Harry suddenly said, not having paid attention to a word we had said. Ron looked away from us slowly. Hermione and I stared at each other for a moment longer and I shook my head an inch. "This explains everything. The Deathly Hallows are real, and I've got one- maybe two- and You-Know-Who's chasing the third, but he doesn't realize. . . he just thinks it's a powerful wand-" 

"Harry, I'm sorry, but I think you've got this wrong, all wrong." 

"But don't you see? It all fits-" 

"No, it doesn't. It doesn't, Harry, you're just getting carried away. Please, please just answer me this: If the Deathly Hallows really existed, and Dumbledore knew about them, knew that the person who possessed all three of them would be master of Death- Harry, why wouldn't he have told you? Why?" 

"But you said it, Hermione! You've got to find out about them for yourself! It's a Quest!" 

Hermione was going to hate herself for that one later probably. "But I only said that to try and persuade you to come to the Lovegoods'! I didn't really believe it!" 

"Dumbledore usually let me find out stuff for myself. He let me try my strength, take risks. This feels like the kind of thing he'd do." 

"Harry, this isn't a game, this isn't practice! This is the real thing, and Dumbledore left you very clear instructions: Find and destroy the Horcruxes! That symbol doesn't mean anything, forget the Deathly Hallows, we can't afford to get sidetracked- You don't believe in this, do you?" 

I glanced up, finally handing the letter over to Harry. 

"I dunno. . . I mean. . . bits of it sort of fit together," Ron said very awkwardly, looking like he wanted to placate both of them. "But when you look at the whole thing. . . I think we're supposed to get rid of Horcruxes, Harry. That's what Dumbledore told us to do. Maybe. . . maybe we should forget about this Hallows business." 

"Thank you Ron, I'll take first watch." Hermione said, walking off. 

Harry looked at me. "What about you?" 

"I don't know Harry." I said softly, standing. "I know that's a rare answer from me but, I just don't know. I'd listen to Ron." I pulled him into a hug, letting out a sigh. "I'll see you later, I need to get back." 

"Back to Snape?" Harry asked, a dangerous note in his voice. 

"Back to my son." I said, my voice equally dangerous now. I squeezed his arm and stepped out of the tent without another word. I smiled at Hermione but made it clear I wasn't staying for a word, moving far away into the forest before closing my eyes and apparating. 

I turned into my normal black cat form, padding through Hogsmeade before making my way up to the castle once more. Severus was laying on the bed with Remus, fast asleep until the door opened, his wand pointed at me until he saw who it was. 

"You know you shouldn't relax so easily." I teased, taking my cloak off, laying it on the back of the chair, locking the door behind me. I sauntered over to the bed, climbing up awkwardly onto the piece of furniture, straddling Severus' lap. "What if I was a Death Eater." 

"What if I was a Death Eater?" Severus asked lowly, nose skimming my neck. 

"You are a Death Eater." I giggled, before pressing my lips to his. "I'm all yours sir. How do you want me to serve?" I was desperate to lose myself in him after the rough afternoon and the near miss with Hermione discovering I was his sister. Well, knowing, I suppose. 

"Hmm, tempting." Severus rolled over, pinning me underneath him. "However, our son is in bed with us so I think we need to behave." 

I kissed him again and then wiggled upwards. "That's not fun at all." 

"You're a terrible influence." Severus groaned, before rolling out of bed to pick up Remus and lay him down in his crib, tapping it with his wand so that Remus could not hear certain noises that would be going on in the room. Severus crawled back up on the bed, hovering over me, before kissing down my neck. "Now then, I believe you said you were going to serve me?" 

"Yes Sir." I replied coyly, letting my hands wander south on him, until they were undoing the buttons on his pants. He rolled off of me, landing on his back as I helped him lose his trousers and boxers. "You look delicious sir." 

"You're such a tease." Severus moaned through gritted teeth as I licked up the underside of his shaft. His hand grabbed me by the hair, pulling me towards him. I went with it till I was straddling him, his cock rubbing against my folds. 

Our breathing grew heavy as I sank down on him, riding him slowly, his hands moving to my hips, helping me ride him. 

"Merlin, you feel amazing." Severus moaned out, fingers digging softly into my hips. 

"My name is Elizabeth." I teased lightly, rolling so that we were both on our sides as we made love now. I captured his lips with mine, nipping at his bottom lip. 

"My apologies." Severus teased and then gritted his teeth as he moaned lowly again. "Cum, Elizabeth." 

It was instantaneous as I released, feeling him release inside of me at the same time. I sighed in content, relaxing into his arms. 

We laid there for a moment before Severus slowly started to kiss my skin. Then he lightly murmured, "I'll go run the bath." 

I hummed as he got up off the bed, watching him disappear butt naked into the bathroom, before he came back out to get me. I padded out to the bathroom, my legs shaking only a little bit and he helped me into the bath. 

We took turns washing each other, soaking in the hot water until it cooled, before heading back out to bed. Severus climbed into bed, helping me up onto the raised furniture, before pulling me against him, cuddling me as the both of us drifted off to sleep. 

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[rose2jam]

Day 27 - Bond

Ship: Severus Snape x Reader/OC

Story Summary: An Autumnal collection of Snape/Reader one-shots and ficlettes based on my main story, Dream Sequence.

Length: 1,184

Rating: T

Warnings: Alcohol consumption

Notes: Continuation of Feast uwu back to Gwen’s POV. This hadn’t turned out how I originally planned. I was going to make it longer with more of a scene but… I ended up really liking it right where it is.

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Master List

<== Last Scene

Next Scene ==>

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It was worse than you could have ever imagined.  Hiding away your mother’s invitations, despising your lover for accepting the one she’d sent him without your consultation, the absolute dread you had experienced before walking through the threshold of your childhood home.  All of your woes had been completely justified in the last few hours.  

Because they were getting along swimmingly.

And you were left to suffer.

Dinner had gone shockingly well.  The food was, as to be expected, completely divine.  You remembered your mother making this once before, but recalled she had sworn it off because the cleanup had been more extensive than she deemed worthy. And though it still chaffed, that she was making you do the dishes as a form of punishment for not responding to her letters, magic did make things considerably easier after the meal was complete.  Meanwhile, Severus and your mother exchanged quips and jabs with a rapidity that boarded on mind blowing.  You’d always prided yourself on being able to keep up with Severus in a game of wits, but the relentless way your mother didn’t back down had you beat.  It actually reminded you of watching Severus banter with Lucius Malfoy, and that was outright dangerous.

After dinner, with the pots and pans charmed to wash and dry themselves in the sink, all three of you had retired to the sitting room, where your mother had kicked off her shoes and curled up in the armchair, and you and Severus took to the couch.  You were expecting, praying, hoping for quiet conversation, for more mulled wine, for kind compliments over the baked apples your mother had prepared for dessert.

What you found instead, was a photo album, resting innocuously on the low coffee table in front of the couch, and you watched with muted terror as Severus wasted absolutely no time picking it up.

It started where most baby books began, with your mother in a hospital bed, her face sweaty and matted with much shorter hair, holding a wrinkly, red raisin of a you to her breast, and gazing at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world.  These were followed by more hospital photos, of your mother surrounded by a motley crew of misfits baring baby clothes that bore the logos of their favorite bands, some of them with cigarettes behind their ears because hospitals didn’t really care back in ’71.  It might have been alarming, to allow some of these people to even be in the same room as a new born, but they had been your mothers only support system at the time, and you still called some of them auntie and uncle.  

There weren’t too many photos after that, until about your third birthday, when the interior setting became that of this very apartment.  The years previous, your mother solemnly explained, had been transient in nature.  Those same misfit friends had allowed her to sleep in their spare rooms, had volunteered to watch over the newborn you while your mother tried to find work, because her parents had left her flat when they found out she was pregnant, and she’d only had so much in savings back then.  Severus already knew this, you had told him so some time ago, but he nodded patiently as he listened to the story, his fingers lingering over the photos from your third birthday party, where there wasn’t a single other child in sight, and the only people who had attended had been your mother’s adult friends.  All of you were eager for Severus to turn the page to happier times.

You had reached peak embarrassment when Severus had burst out into sudden barking laughter, at the one photo you had been dreading since sitting down on the couch.  Your mother giggled into her mug of wine, and you swore to yourself that you would get both of them back for this.  You couldn’t have been older than five years old; your hair was pulled back in bunches, and you had a tooth missing in the front.  In the photo, you were sitting in a pool of mint green chiffon, the sleeves of the overlarge evening gown bunched around your wrists as you held a tube of red lipstick in one tiny fist, and a silver hand mirror in the other.  It was, in fact, the same gown you had worn the night of the Society meeting, and you had a feeling that this fact was the source of your lover’s good humor.  You looked entirely too pleased with yourself in the photo, black eyeshadow smeared over your lids, red lipstick globbed over your mouth.  You buried your face in Severus’ shoulder to hide your shame as he continued to bellow with unrestrained laughter, a sound you were so unused to hearing, but you found yourself cherishing, even if it was at your expense.  But your humiliation eased as he shifted to slip his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close to his side as his laughter tapered off, though he would sometimes shudder as another wave of mirth threatened him.

The sitting room grew quiet, the only sound being the gentle lull of Bach’s Goldberg Variations humming from the record player, and the occasional flip of the page.  You felt sleepy and warm, the mulled wine having gone straight to your head, combined with the all-encompassing comfort of being… home.  You lifted your eyes from the photo album to search out your mother’s gaze, but you found that she was already watching you closely, her knees pulled up to her chest, her mug balanced in her hands.  And the look on her face was one that might have confused you, had you not seen the same look in a picture mere moments ago.  

It was the expression of a mother gazing upon her newborn for the first time, one of love and adoration, like you were the only person in her world.  Yet, it was tinted with the faintest hint of fear.  A fear that came from the knowledge that the world was cruel, and that she wouldn’t always be there to protect you from it, even when she had taught you to protect yourself.  But unlike the photo in the album, there was an added layer to this gaze; one of hope. That maybe… despite what had happened in the past, there might be someone else on her side, who would love you and protect you in equal measure, just as sincerely as she did.

You offered a wobbly smile, and she returned it, tilting her head as she regarded the pair of you.  You no longer feared that they would end up hating each other.  They may have found equal footing by teasing you, by exchanging witty banter and sharing an exquisite meal.  But their bond was formed in having the same goals; to love you, to keep you safe. And you’d never felt so foolish, to think that the two most important people in your life would ever clash, when they had something so critical in common.

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Art by BlooeyedTroll!

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Next Scene ==>

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[simpforsnape]

Sincerely Yours.

Severus Snape x OC/Reader

wordcount: 1478

warnings: minor errors. and plot. I own nothing but my OC, all credit goes to the creator of Harry Potter. JKR

credit to the creator of this gif.

Previous - Next

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Chapter 9

The birds outside chirped announcing that the next day had come.

Anah was laid out on her stomach with the cover only covering her bottom. There was warmth next to her. Something she was familiar with. Her arm extended out as she felt around still asleep.

There was someone there. Her hand landed on the person's face who was quickly awakened. Severus Snape. How could she have forgotten about last night? He removed the woman's hand as he then turned to see she was still asleep, and naked. He was also naked.

It took him a moment to awake and realize where he was. But it was quite obvious. He leaned over to the woman, planting a kiss on her shoulder while his large nose brushed against her skin.

“Anah. Wake up..” His lips mumbled against her skin. She shrugged him off groaning in the process.

“Hm..”

He smiled at her reaction. He did miss this. Being able to wake up next to someone you love. He will admit, work and loneliness got the best of him.

He tried again this time wrapping both of his arms around her, pulling her close. His lips were aligned with her ear.

“My love.”

Anah was already awake. And she heard him loud and clear. She turned her neck to only see the man looking down at her.

“Good Morning... Love..” She smiled planting a kiss on his lips. He returned the smile.

“Good Morning.”

She turned her entire body towards him as she pressed up against him. Thank Merlin neither of them had classes. Her arms wrapped across his neck. They were staring into the eyes of each other again. Only recalling last night's activities.

A smirk formed on her face as she kissed his bottom lip.

“You know.. We didn't use any type of protection..”

He scoffed bringing his hand up to caress her long brown messy hair.

“I'm well aware.”

He knew Anah had used a charm on herself to prevent getting pregnant. She sat up from him allowing the covers to fall from her body.

He remained there with his eyes stayed on her. She glanced over at the clock seeing that it was past noon. 12:36.

“Lunch is going on.. Do you want to go?” She asked turning over to him. He shook his head now grabbed ahold of her hand to kiss it.

“Not at the present time. But, I do wish to.. discuss somethings..” He added comfortably adjusting his head. Anah cocked a brow turning her body towards him. This must have been important.

“Was it about last night?..” She questioned. What was she afraid of him saying?

“Yes.” He mumbled, pulling himself up to speak clearly. He still had her hands in his. He looked down as he continued to talk.

“Anah. Last night made me recognize something. Of how much I still.. care for you.” He paused still not looking at her. His actions made her smile. He was acting like a child, being shy and all. He continued to fiddle with her hand as his words proceeded.

“I do not wish to wake up another day, alone. I'd rather be with someone.. who I love.. and cherish. And Anah, I'm willing to do this with you..”

With his final words, he looked up. When he saw her face he remained still. She had a tiny smile plastered across her lips. Her hands cupped his face as she looked down at him.

“Severus Snape. Are you asking me to date you?”

He was silent. He shouldn't have asked her, she was going to laugh in his face and call him a fool.

“If so, You should know my answer, my love. I'm willing to start everything over.. Just to be with you." She added while pressing her forehead against his. They shared a moment after her words were exchanged. Finally, they were together at last.

It took the two another hour to get up and dressed. They parted ways once Anah was freshened up and dressed. They agreed on meeting up later tonight for dinner.

How else could Anah spend her day? Well grading, of course, she was a teacher after all. She paced down the bright halls of the school with a smile formed on her face. How better can life get? After almost 13 years of being apart.. she was finally reunited with her  true  love.

While on the way to her class she walked past some students along the way. Some were concerned about why the professor was so happy and cheerful. Someone must have put something in her tea.

As usual, she ran into Harry. He was accompanied by Hermione, Ron, and also the Rat. Which was also.. Peter Pettigrew. How could she forget? She needed to get the rat to Sirius. Well at least help him get him.

On the walk to her class, there was a conversation held, mostly by teenagers.

They mostly talked about the trip to Hogsmeade and everything that happened along with it. Arriving at her classroom everyone entered as she quickly walked over to the pile of papers, which she forgot to grade. Everyone pitched in to help grade of course. The conversation carried on until Harry changed the subject.

"Professor V. May I ask you something?" He questioned which caused her to look up.

"Of course love, ask away." She replied setting down the quill that was in her hand. All attention went to Harry.

"While at Hogsmeade, I overheard something.. about Sirius Black.." He was mumbling by then.

She cocked a brow curious about where the conversation was going.

"What about him Harry?.."

His blue eyes soon met hers. " Well, It was stated that he was.. my Godfather.."

A deep sigh escaped from her. Here goes the conversation she wasn't ready to have with him.

"Yes.. He is.." She replied as Harry kept his eye contact.

Ron and Hermione were only lesioning in, Harry had already told them everything.

"And it was also revealed that I had a Godmother as well.."

Anah gave him a nonchalant look. He knew already that she was it.

She leaned against her desk with her arms tucked.

“And who might she be?” Her words echoed across the empty class.

Harry kept his eye contact. "It's you. You're my Godmother."

Anah's features remained simple as she gave off a sigh. She never did come up with a way to explain to Harry that she was his Godmother. How would she have said it? The boy barely knows anything about her. She brought her hands up to her face eyeing the boy back. He was silent.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He questioned. She shrugged her shoulders as she resumed back to grading. She felt guilty almost.

"It would have been revealed in due time Harry." When she looked up at him, she noticed the look of disappointment written all over his face. It was better if he hadn't known to begin with.

He said nothing more after this. The teens stayed no more than ten minutes until they were gone. She sat in silence for the remainder of the evening. The event repeated in her head. Why didn't she tell Harry?

'I was just protecting him.. that's all..'

Her mind spoke, which eased her nerves a bit.

Hours past and Anah hasn't heard a word from Severus.

She glanced up at the clock that was plastered on the wall across from her desk. It was almost evening. Maybe she should go look for him?

She settled the graded papers on one side of her desk as she got up and went off to search for Severus.

When she checked the dungeons he was nowhere to be found. It was odd almost. Where could he have gone?

She gave off a long sigh before turning her heels to leave out of his cold and empty classroom. Now to think of it she hasn't see Remus all-day and heard no words from Sirius. Maybe.. No. They couldn't have been there. After all these years.

The only other place she could think of was the Shrieking Shack. Remus was always sent there due to his ailment.

They had to have been there. Now out of the dungeons, Anah headed directly to the Shrieking Shack.

It took her no less than five minutes to get to the other side of Hogwarts. Once she arrived in front of the weeping willow she used a curse to freeze it in place. She entered the tree, unharmed making her way down the dark cave. It was almost impossible to see, but the light on the other end made her way clear.

She slowly walked down the cave soon picking up the voices that were echoing around here.

As she got closer, the voices grew louder. Her hand slipped into her cloak quickly retrieving her wand.

“I could do it you know...”

That sounded like Severus? Anah paced slowly up the stairs as the conversation went on. The shack creaked at every given step. Thankfully no one was paying attention.

The hall felt like almost an eternity. Before she could enter the room the commotion in the room changed.

“Harry what did you just do!?” Ron exclaimed as Hermione expressed alongside him.

“You just attacked a teacher!”

Anah rushed into the room as all eyes landed on her. Her wand was still in her hand as she glanced over to see that it was Severus who was attacked.

“Anahstacia..” Remus uttered as she quickly ignored him turning to Harry.

“What. Happened.”

Her tone was almost dark. Remus nor Sirus spoke. The two were more afraid of her than James.

“I- I can explain.” Harry couldn't fix the correct words he wanted to say.

She would deal with him later.

Anah turned her heels now looking over to Sirius. “Where is he, Sirius? Peter Pettigrew.”

“He’s dead isn't he?” Harry questioned as Remus caught his attention.

“He is not, not until you've recently mentioned that you saw him on the map.”

The boy still had his wand pointing over at Sirius who stood in front of the broken bed, which Severus was on.

“The map must have lied-”

A frustrating looked formed on Sirius’s face.

“The map never lies! Pettigrew's alive. And he's sitting right there!” His voice raised while pointing over to the rat that was being held by Ron.

Ron’s face was distraught. “Me!? Are you bloody mental!?”

Sirius groaned in frustration.

“Not you, your rat!”

All eyes landed on the rat that was settled in the boy's lap.

“What! Scabbers is a family pet! He's been in the family for 12-”

“12 years! That an extraordinarily long life for a common rat don't you think?” Sirius added while Harry extended his wand up at the older man.

“Prove it.”

Anah stood in front of the Shacks doors watching everything unfold.

Sirius went over to Ron before snatching the rat out of the boy’s hands.

“Don't hurt him!” He exclaimed as Hermione did her best to calm Ron.

Sirius sat the rat down as soon as he drew his wand. The rat sprinted off making it difficult for Sirius or Remus to transform him.

With one quick move Anah simply pointed over at the Rat as he then transformed into a person.

Peter Pettigrew.

When he came to his senses he soon noticed the people surrounding him.

"Remus? Sirius?" He questioned dumbly as he then noticed Anah standing near Harry.

"Anahstacia! My friends!" He exclaimed still in a rat-like manor. His hands were held up to his chest, teeth chittering. He was about to make a break for it. Before he could run to the room's door he was soon stopped by the other two men who had their wands up aimed at him.

Pettigrew's head flung around until his eye's caught on Harry Potter.

"H-Harry! Look at you! You look so much like your father!-"

"Don't you dare." Anah's voice threw the poor man off with her wand penetrating his neck.

"How could you!" Sirius shouted watching him stagger over to the dust-covered piano.

"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort didn't you!?" Remus questioned with his wand still aimed at him.

Pettigrew began to whin due to his guilt.

"I-I didn't mean to! He was going to kill me! What would you have done!-"

"I WOULD HAVE DIED!" At this point, Sirius couldn't control his anger anymore.

Pettigrew was thrown against the wall with both men standing in front of him, wands at the ready.

They were going to kill him.

"Since Voldemort wouldn't kill you, we will!" Sirius proclaimed.

"Together!-"

"Stop!"

Harry stood from behind his Godmother as he slowly began to walk up to the pair. Remus turned his head fully frustrated.

"Harry.. This man-"

"I know what he is.. but.. We will take him to the castle.."

Pettigrew's sobbing face began to praise Harry. He slowly crawled to him kneeling at his feet."

"Bless you boy!"

"Get off!" He shrugged kicking him off as soon as he stepped away.

"I said we'll take you to the castle, after that, the Dementors can have you."

Pettigrew's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Horror took over his body as he quickly began to beg.

"Please! Anahstacia! Don't let them kill me!"

His eye then went over to Anah who was watching from afar. Her hands were tucked under her chest with her wand still sticking out.

Her mixed eyes glared him down. "I have no control over this Peter. You're choices brought you to this end."

Her words sounded wise to everyone that was settled in the room. It was clear she was angry. Yes, it was Peter's fault for giving Harry's parent's location away. But he didn't kill them.

"Up with you." Remus announced grabbing ahold of Peter with a firm grip around his arm.

“Sirius, take the kids and leave. Remus, Help me escort Mr. Pettigrew to the castle.”

On Anah’s command, everyone did exactly what she said. The only remaining people in the shack was Anah, Remus, Peter and an unconscious Severus.

Anah left Pettigrew with Remus as she walked over to the broken bed to awake Severus.

“Sev.” She called out leaning down to shake him awake.

“He’s out cold Anah. Let him be.” Remus added as she looked back at him.

“I can't just leave him here Remus. Go, I'll be right behind you.”

He sighed quickly grabbing hold of Peter as they left the shack.

Anah pushed away from the broken pieces of the bed that had fallen. She looked down at her asleep love as she quickly smiled whipping the debris off of his face.

"Severus. I know you're not asleep." She mumbled with her hand plastered on his chest.

He shifted slightly slowly raising up to see Anah sitting at the edge of the bed. While raising up, the dust fell off of his clothes. He clearly remembers what happened.

His face was half red. It was noticeable he was angry.

Anah brushed the side of his jaw removing one last piece of debris from his face.

"Are you okay?" She asked with her hand still rested on his face.

His face remained neutral.

"I'm fine. Where's Potter.." It didn't even sound like a question. It was deadlier than anything. Anah cocked a brow as she removed her hand from his face. Well, that didn't do anything.

"Severus, he's a boy-" She implied with him interrupting.

"Who used a spell against me!" By this point, he was up from the bed clearing himself off.

The woman stood up quietly walking over to the shack's door.

"Don't you think you're overreacting?" Her question threw him off a bit.

"I.am.not." he phased throughout his words.

"Well, I think you are. You need to apologize."

He groaned turning away from her. He was acting like a child, and she loved it. Well sorta.

"Apologize? Anahstacia. Really? You know this will never happen. And that's the end of it."

Her eyes rolled at his opinion with her arms tucked under her chest.

"Whatever Severus. Go, I'll be out soon."

He gave Anah a mere look, turning his feet to leave her in the room alone with his cape mounting behind him. The echo of his shoes soon faded of making it know he was gone.

She paced around the gloomy room for a moment. This place had far too many memories for her. A frown formed on her lips as she too turned to leave the room until something caught her eye. There was something crumbled up and crushed in the small dingy sectional that was settled against the wall.

As she grabbed it, she noticed horrible handwriting written on the back.

"June 14th, 1976."

When she flipped the picture over her emotions got the best of her.

It was a picture of the Marauders (James, Peter, Remus, and Sirius.) including Anah, and Lily. Her fingers stroked over the faces that were there. Only four remained alive. Which was soon to be three.

She pocketed the picture for Harry. She should give this to him instead of keeping it, after all.. He never got the chance to thoroughly meet his parent.

"HARRY!"

His name rang in her ears like a bell. Harry must have been in trouble. Anah's body began to move on her own as she sprinted out of the Shrieking Shack off to her Godson's rescue. So many thoughts had gone through her head. Was he hurt? Heaven's, was he dead

Merlin helps us.

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[thereluctantherosrose]

Hogwarts Mystery:

Tagged by @slytherin-puffskein sooooooooo long ago and i was working on this and then I TOTALLY forgot about it X”D LMFAO SORRY (This isn’t the greatest XD I may edit later buuuuut whatever I just want to post haha)

Template by @hogwartsmysterystory

Aleksia Liusaidh Aries (the picture but with black hair and braids)

G e n e r a l    I n f o r m a t i o n

 NAME: Aleksia Liusaidh Aries

AGE: 17 years old

GENDER: Female

NICKNAMES: Leksi, Alek, Kitten, Curse-breaker

DATE OF BIRTH: December 10th, 1972

ASTROLOGICAL/ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius

ALIGNMENT: Chaotic good

ETHNICITY: Caucasian

NATIONALITY: Euro

SPECIES: Wizard

BLOOD STATUS: Pure Blood

 Main F a m i l y

 FATHER:  William Lee Aries

Pureblood

Black hair, Brown Hazel Eyes

Slytherin

Has one brother and 2 half siblings

Comes from a wealthy and rich family

Met Leanna in a bar in Scotland while on a business trip

Parents approved because of her Pureblood status and beauty, as well the fact that she was slytherin

Married Leanna after she became pregnant with Jacob. 

Suddenly his demeanor changed, and he became very controlling and emotionally abusive.

This eventually lead to more physically abusive behaviour. 

Very close with his family and often has them over

They, like him, are very judgmental and not good people.

They believe that blood must remain pure, and all the others were to be avoided. 

Aries family females have the ability to produce ice glyphs and if powerful enough can summon a ice guardian

He works for the Ministry 

At first was happy with Aleksia, thinking that she could be used to show off. As she got older and became more rebellious, he started to turn his abuse towards her, belittling her and abusing. 

Blamed Leanna when Jacob went missing, which lead to separation

He eventually found a new wife, Emily, who was the perfect wife for him

Had a son 

 MOTHER:  Leanna Mckinley Aries

Pureblood

Brownish-red hair, brown eyes

Slytherin

Grew up in Scotland with 10 other siblings

Was an auror before she married

When she became pregnant with Jacob, is when her and William married.

Began to abused both physically and emotionally when she did not listen to him. To avoid this, she complied with most of what he wanted.

Leanna wasn’t allowed to see her family, being manipulated into thinking that she was unwanted by her own family and that they were her real family

When she became pregnant with Aleksia, she wasn’t happy, knowing that she would have to subject her children to the grasp of William

She saw how Jacob was treated better than Aleksia, but thought she couldn’t do anything about it and thought she would only make it worse

She would be harsh with Aleksia, trying to make her obey her father so that she wouldn’t be hurt by him

Eventually left with Aleksia after Jacob went missing

Became very strict with Aleksia when it came to magic to the point where they often argued

BROTHER: Jacob Aidan Aries

Pureblood

Born in January 14th 

Slytherin

Was spoiled by parents, and was the favourite sibling

Jacob got everything he wanted because he followed everything that his father wanted 

Did what he was told so that he could get what he wanted. He is cunning, and therefore would take advantage of his fathers resources

Hated his father for everything that he was, but never showed it

Vowed one day he would be strong enough to get both Aleksia and him out

When he went to Hogwarts, he befriended Duncan and Olivia Green, and became obsessed with the Cursed Vaults

The Vaults fascinated him, and he thought this as a way to become more powerful that would save both him and his sister

When Duncan was eventually killed, he nearly lost it. He couldn’t believe one of his best friends was dead, and because of him

Rakepick used his need for power to manipulate him into continuing with the vaults until his disappearance

Got scars on his face from his encounter with the dragon

  A f f i l i a t i o n s  //  O r g a n i z a t i o n s

Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Gryffindor

Order of the Phoenix

Aries Family

Mckenna Family

O c c u p a t i o n s

Hogwarts student

Member of the Order of the Phoenix

Writer/ Magizoologist/ Animal Rescue

 M a g i c a l    C h a r a c t e r i s t i c

 FORM OF BOGGART: Her father

WHAT DO THEY SEE IN THE MIRROR OF ERISED: Her surrounded by her friends and everyone is happy and safe

1st WAND: 

Vine Wood

12 ¾ 

Phoenix Core

Pliant Flexibility

2nd WAND:

Ebony wood

13 inches

Phoenix 

 MAIN PET:

 Astra, a white fluffy cat

FORM OF PATRONUS: Husky

PATRONUS MEMORY: 

ANIMAGUS: Golden Retriever 

AMORTENTIA:

What she smells: Fresh laundry and a hint of sandalwood

What she smells to others: Cherry blossoms, chocolate, rain

 A p p e a r a n c e

 Height: 5′3

Weight: 145 Ibs 

Complexion (skin tone/conditions):

       Not completely pale. Can tan

HAIR COLOUR/STYLE:

Long blackish wavy hair

EYE COLOUR: Chocolate brown

 H o g w a r t s    I n f o r m a t i o n

 WORST CLASS(ES)

Herbology: She’s not bad at it, however, she is just not interested in it.She finds it to be one of the more dull subjects.

History of Magic: Again not bad at it, but it’s suppperrrrrr dull. Well apart from when Bins falls asleep. She loves playing exploding snaps.

BEST CLASS(ES)

Care of Magical Creatures. She has always loved animals, sometimes more than actual people. She loves finding out how to take care of the different animals

Flying: she loves being high in the sky on her broom. And showing off. She eventually joins the Gryffindor team as a chaser. 

Study of Ancient Runes. She sees this class as very interesting and sees the runes as works of arts. 

LEAST FAVOURITE TEACHER(S):

Severus Snape. He’s just...mean? She doesn’t hate him but he certainly isn’t her favourite, nor is she his.  

Patricia Rakepick: She hates how much she manipulated both her and Jacob. She distrusted her from the beginning, so it wasn’t much of a shock when she finally betrayed them, however it pissed her off nonetheless. 

FAVOURITE TEACHER(S):

Minerva McGonagall. Finds her to be a motherly figure in which she likes to confide in. She helps her deal with alot of her emotions she tries to hide.

Filius Flitwick: She holds a great amount of respect for him as a dueler. She wants to learn as much as she can from him. 

 CLOSEST HPHM FRIENDS:

Barnaby Lee: Well obviously when they first met it wasn’t so...nice. He threatened to vanish the bones from her body, she challenged him to try like the reckless Gryff she is. However, once Aleksia got to know him, she saw the kindness in his heart and how incredibly sweet he was, which made her eventually fall for him. Aleksia became very protective of him, and ensured that he never felt stupid or unwanted. She knows what it is like to be treated like an idiot, so she makes sure no one treats him that way. 

Merric Nyx and Revena Sevier ( my ocs): Their relationship is siblings. They met back one of the times that Aleksia’s father locked her out of the house, and Merric and Revena made friends with her. She’s very protective of them. 

Penny Haywood: at first she was slightly intimidated by her popularity and thought that she was going to be one of those fake nice people. However, as she got to know Penny she found out that she just was genuinely a nice person. They became very close, and now considers her to one of her best friends. 

Rowan Khanna:  Rowan is Aleksia’s number one supporter since day one. Even though Rowan can be extreme at times, she comes from a place of care. Aleksia considers her to be like another sister and would do anything for her friend. They study alot together and share a similar love for books. 

Talbott Winger: After getting to know Talbott and helping him find his mothers necklace, they found themselves growing close. Sometimes they just enjoy each others company in silence while they read books or just have a conversation about how they want to make the future better. 

CLOSEST MC FRIENDS:

Lau King: @slytherin-puffskein Lau and her may be Gryffindor and Slytherin, but they do share a love of mischief and rebellion, even if Aleksia’s is smaller than his. Aleksia may have wanted to fight Lau once because of cookies but she would do anything to protect the sweet orchid boy. He is deemed as her tol freckled son and she will fight anyone who messes with him. She loves giving him hugs and talking with him because he is such an amazing listener. She has definetely fought people for them saying anything about him being a muggleborn. Felix Rosier and Angelica Cole both love and hate these two before the time they leave Hogwarts. 

Sonia Azur: @onboroo This girl. She thinks she is awesome and totally tries to set her and Merric up. Though at first Sonia’s cool nature may have made her think that she didn’t like her, they slowly warmed up to each other and considers Sonia to be a valuable friend. Between her, Merric, Sonia and Revena, they are kind of a force to be reckoned with.  One of her greatest friends for sure.

Alex Johnson ( @cervo-live-in-arts ): Alex is a sweet boi who she considers to be one of her best friends. She likes how open he is about his feelings and encourages him to do so. She will let him vent to her if he so needs. They also enjoy playing Gobstones together, each trying to distract the hell out of each other. Alex becomes God father to her and Barnaby’s kids. She considers him to be like her little brother and is very protective. Alex may have had to hold Aleksia back from headbutting Merula MANY MANY times. 

David Denneth: @callmederok David may seem a bit tough, but he is still a sweet guy, and Aleksia can see that. She thinks that Penny and him are cute, and tries to set them up, only if with consent. They both share a dislike of Merula, and may have set up a few pranks to get back at her before...NOTHING YOU CAN PROVE!!!!!!!!!!! O_O  

Aisling Baskerville @elefseija Aleksia and Aisling are dorm buddies that’s for sure. Both Gryffs are stubborn to the core and together are a great quidditch chaser duo. Both enjoy talking alot in the dorm rooms to the point poor Rowan will probably end up telling the two to shut the hell up. Poor Rowan...XD ahhaa Aleksia is more outgoing but loves quiet moments so I think they would both enjoy reading together. She like Aisling loves mythology, so she would be soaking up any knowledge Aisling has on anything really. Also don’t touch their cookies or talk about either of their heights. They will collectively murder the hell out of you.

FAVOURITE SPELL(S)

Meteolo jinx 

Melofers Jinx 

Depulso

Incendio

T r i v i a   ( random facts about them, future job, face claim, theme song, etc. ) :

This life is mine is her theme song 

Has and will headbutt anyone who is an idiot to her or her friends.

Headbutt Merula once for calling Ben a Mudblood. Merula was not expecting that at all. Merula will never admit it ever happened.

Is smol but is strong as hell

Sweets may or may not be an addiction. Especially chocolate

Just wants all the hugs. GIVE HER HUGS PLEASE. 

Total nerd

Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet is Faceclaim

If you get close to her, she will consider you to be her child and she will protecc 

She is very reckless

Has headbutt multiple people

VERY STRONG

Has a strong kick

Used to have a toy wolf, but her cousin and father ripped it apart.

For Aleksia’s 15th birthday, Barnaby purchases a plush wolf for her, which she absolutely treasures. She always cuddles with it

Aries family females have the ability to produce ice glyphs and if powerful enough can summon a ice guardian. Aleksia is one of the only Aries females that can conjure one.

Barnaby and Aleksia wait until they are 24 to get married. Their wedding is a sweet wedding with close friends 

When the death eaters were freed, Barnaby and Aleksia moved around quite a bit, knowing that Barnaby’s parents would look for him. 

Aleksia’s cousin, Henry joined the death eaters soon after.

Aleksia and Barnaby were separated after a death eater attack. Aleksia was found by Henry and he used the Cruciatus curse on her. He left her for dead, bloodied and broken. 

She was found by Penny and Rowan, who Barnaby had contacted after the attack. 

Has 3 children with Barnaby, Kieran and Kaia, and their youngest Faye. 

[nicolejones412]

Alternate Masterlist

So, here’s my masterlist in case it doesn’t work for anyone. Not entirely sure that it’s completely updated, but it should be close. 

Unexpected Turns (Superwhoavengelock series. complete)

The Shade Chronicles (Spn/DC series, incomplete)

Wrong Place Wrong Time (Marvel series, oc x reader, Loki plays a large role)

Family Don’t End (Spn/TWD, Dean Winchester x reader)

Supernatural Hiatus Writing Challenge

Winchester Sister: Prompts: various (series) Revenge (one shot, sister!reader)

Dean Winchester: Junker (one-shot) The Hunter and the Pirate (series, complete, Supernatural/OUAT, Hook x reader (sister)) Three Times (one-shot) Deepest Darkest Desire (one-shot) Mafia AU (incomplete) Prompts: 52, 75, 14, 29, 70, demon!dean various prompts, 93 Song Fics: Last Name, Before He Cheats, Cowboys and Angels, Voodoo Doll

Sam Winchester: Prompts: 3, 28 (soulless!sam), 68

Castiel: Prompts: 20, 23 (pregnant!reader), 45 (leviatan!cas), 13, 41 Song Fics: Cowboy Casanova

Balthazar: Prompts: 8&41, 42,43,44,&45

John Winchester: Song Fics: With Your Love Prompts: 66

Meg: Prompts: 93&94

9th Doctor: Prompts: 36

10th Doctor: Prompts: 7&9&10

11th Doctor: Prompts: 25, 66, 78

12th Doctor: Prompts: 58

Sherlock (BBC): Prompts: 16, 12

Severus Snape: Prompts: 6&35 (platonic)

Sirius Black: Prompts: 57, 12,19,&25

Harry Potter: Prompts: 39, 1, 30, 44, 74, 9

James Potter: Prompts: 16

Ron Weasley: Prompts: 13, 55, 73 The Other Potter (series. incomplete. Reader is Harry’s twin sister)

Draco Malfoy: Prompts: 49, 22, 73, 67, 21&28, 18&78 The Hunter of Hogwarts (spn/harry potter crossover series. complete) Song Fics: Never Stop A Fluffy One Shot Girl Scout (Dramione) (nonimagine)

Remus Lupin: Until the Moon (series, incomplete) Strong (one shot)

Steve Rogers: Something Valuable (Gangster AU, incomplete) Song Fics: A Thousand Years, Army of Angels

Tony Stark: Prompts: 33, 45 Song Fics: You Belong With Me

Bucky Barnes: Prompts: 11, 8&18 Forgotten (one shot)

Clint Barton:  All’s Fair in Love and (Nerf) War (one shot for @i-am-mina)

Natasha Romanoff: Prompts: 4

Peitro:  Song Fics: What We Ain’t Got

Loki: Betrothed (series, incomplete) Song Fics: Freeze You Out

Erik Lehnsherr: Metallic (one shot)

Charles Xavier: Dreams (one shot) Colors (Soulmate AU, series, incomplete)

Henry Mills: Prompts: 30, 70, 76, 54

Killian Jones: Prompts: 4, 71, 98&99

Robin Hood: Prompts: 11

Peter Pan: Prompts: 73

Peter Pevensie: Prompts: 15, 26&27

Edmund Pevensie: Prompts: 62, 107&120

Prince Caspian Prompts: 44, 1, 2, 8 & 9, 30&60, 25 Song Fics: White Horse

Darth Vader: Prompts: 4

Kylo Ren: Prompts: 57

Sir Gwaine: Prompts: 117&118

Oliver Queen:  Prompts: 43&54

Robin (Dick Grayson): Prompts: 3

[braveclementine]

Chapter 16

Warnings: 18+ readers only, smut, orgasm deprivation, punishment sex

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

"You said it yourself!" I protested, "The Dark Lord-" 

"Don't call him that." Severus snapped. 

"-is trying to figure out where I am! He's trying to find dad to torture the information out of him." I continued as though Severus hadn't just interrupted me in the middle of our argument. "If he knows, or at least thinks that he knows, I'm with Harry and the others, he'll lay off. His curiosity will be abated. It's a win-win Severus." 

"Unless, he takes you." Severus snapped. 

"He's not actually going to be there himself!" I protested, throwing my hands up in the air. "Severus, I know what I'm doing." 

"It's not safe." Severus spat. "I refuse to let you go-" 

"You can't actually stop me." I replied, infuriated. "Don't you understand that I'm trying to protect my father-" 

"I'm trying to protect you!" Severus snarled, slamming his fist against the desk. The room was silent for a second before Remus started to wail from his crib. 

I stormed over, taking Remus out gently however, bouncing him on my hip. 

"I can protect myself." I hissed. "I will be going to Lovegoods' house tomorrow and you will not stop me. I will do exactly what I need to, to get The Dark Lord-" 

"Don't. Call him that." Severus breathed out through gritted teeth. 

"-to believe I'm with Harry. And why can't I call him that? It's better than his actual name." I rolled my eyes, rocking side to side as Remus started to coo softly, his tears already dried up. 

"Because only his followers call him that and he doesn't own you." Severus muttered, fingers tightly gripping the back of his chair. 

I sighed, exhausted. It was late at night and I had thought breaking the idea of going to Lovegood's tomorrow as we got ready for bed was better than telling him in the morning. Clearly, I had been wrong. I should've let him steamed over it the entire day. 

"I don't know why you fight me on this stuff." I said in a much more even tone than before, putting Remus back in his crib after kissing his forehead. He let out a soft whimper, scrunching his nose, before settling into sleep. "You and I both know that I'm going to get my way." 

"Someone ought to change that." Severus purred, coming up behind me. I let out a squeak as he lifted me up, tossing me over his shoulder. I squirmed, to no avail, before he was tossing me back down on the bed. 

He looked down at me for a second, before he waved his wand. I let out a surprised gasp, finding my limbs tied to the bed posts with intricate rope that was wrapped around my skin. 

"I could just leave you like this." Severus whispered, starting to kiss down on my neck. His hands roamed softly over my body, leaving burning trails where his fingers caressed my skin. "You wouldn't be able to leave then, would you?" 

I breathed out and then my breath hitched in my throat as Severus suddenly wrapped his hand around my throat, giving it an almost gentle squeezed. "Would you?" 

"No sir." I whimpered, feeling the slick gather between my legs. 

Severus gently released my throat, continuing to explore my body with his lips and hands. I was both startled and turned on. We very rarely delved into this type of play, preferring to make love more than anything else. But when we did do this play, I craved his dominance as much as he craved my submission. 

He trailed his wand down my body now, before settling the tip against my clit. I whimpered, squeezing my eyes shut as slight vibrations. 

"No." Severus said, the wand lifting from my clit. The pleasure stopped flowing and I whimpered, letting my eyes flutter open. "You keep your eyes on me." 

"Yes sir." I said, my voice sounding like it was close to whining. I hated it when he deprived me of pleasure. 

"I wish I could spank you." Severus murmured lowly, trailing his wand down the inside of my leg. The vibrations were there, but giving me nothing and I had to keep myself from whimpering pathetically in need. "What a shame. I guess I'll just have to deprive you instead." 

The wand was back on my clit the minute the last word left his mouth. I tensed in my bonds, my body feeling like it was on fire again. A special tingly feeling in my toes started and I wiggled them, trying to work through it. "Sir please." I begged softly. "Please." 

"Are you going to Lovegoods' tomorrow?" Severus asked softly. 

"Sir." I whined, not wanting to give him an answer. 

"Not the answer I want." Severus said, whipping his wand away again. I nearly cried, my legs jerking as they tried to come together, but they were tied to tightly. "Let's try this again, shall we baby?" 

He did it four more times and I was on the verge of desperate tears by the time he had done the the most recent one. 

"Elizabeth." Severus said in a serious voice. 

"I'll be safe." I said, a small hiccup leaving my throat and that little action started the waterworks I'd been holding back. "Severus I need to do this, please! It's safe. Just please let me go." 

Severus sighed, hanging his head over mine so that our foreheads were touching. His hands were shaking as he rested them on my hips. Finally, he nodded his head once and moved the wand back down to my clit. "Cum." He whispered, and I did immediately, cumming hard as he moved the wand down, shoving it into my cunt. "That's it baby." 

I rode the orgasm out, before sighing in content, relaxing against the pillows. I was still needy, wanting him to fuck me, but he waved his wand and put it to the side, crawling into bed, pulling me into his arms. "I really, really need you to be safe Elizabeth. Do you understand?" 

"Yes." I whispered, relaxing into him. "I can swear it Severus. I'll be safe." 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

My tail flicked as I sat underneath a bush of orange fruit that was otherwise known as Dirigible plums. I knew that Harry, Ron, and Hermione would be coming any moment now, but I was getting uncomfortable. It was cold, the wind blowing through my coat. 

I let out a huff, which came out an annoyed mew, before I heard feet crunching and then heard Ron's voice say, "It's theirs, look." 

They opened the gate and I crept out from underneath the bush. Harry pulled the invisibility cloak off of himself as the three of them looked down at me with grins on their faces. 

"Well hello Elizabeth." Harry said with a grin. 

I turned human, brushing dirt off of my skirt, blushing a little as they took in the state of my body, seeing that I was pregnant again. 

"Hello." I said quickly, turning towards the door. 

"You've been with Snape?" Harry asked, his voice near a growl. 

"I told you before." I said slightly coolly, "I need his potions expertise." I glanced over at him. "And despite everything Harry, he still loves me." 

Harry kept his mouth closed and Hermione rapped on the door quickly. The door was flung open almost immediately and there was Xenophilius, standing in the doorway. He was bearfoot, wearing only a nightshirt which was covered in stains and marks. His hair looked like it had snarls in it, bunched up around his head. 

"What? What is it? Who are you? What do you want?" He asked, his voice high-pitched, his gaze falling upon each of us in turn, unrecognizing until he saw Harry. 

"Hello, Mr. Lovegood. I'm Harry, Harry Potter." Harry said, quite unnecessarily in my opinion as his face had been plastered to every newspaper front and window for the past six months. 

Mr. Lovegood did not take Harry's hand, his eyes fixed on the scar only, until his lazy eye shifted over to look at me, reminding me just a tad of Uncle Moody. My heart clenched down in pain and I took a deep breath. 

"Would it be okay if we came in? There's something we'd like to ask you." Harry continued. 

"I. . . I'm not sure that's advisable. Rather a shock. . . my word. . . I. . . I'm afraid I don't really think I ought to-" 

"It won't take long." I could hear the disappointment in Harry's voice, but I felt a pang of kindness towards Mr. Lovegood. Despite losing his daughter to the Death Eaters, despite knowing that turning Harry- and possibly me- over to the Death Eaters would free his daughter, he was still hesitant to do so. He had still been looking for a way to send us away instead. 

"I- oh, all right then. Come in, quickly. Quickly!" 

To my surprise, the first room we came to stand in was a kitchen as the door was slammed shut behind us. There was no living room or sitting room, just a kitchen, along with a long spiral staircase leading up into the rest of the house. 

As the house was a perfect circle, the kitchen appliances had been fitted to curve with the walls. The walls themselves were painted with nature ideograms in bright, primary colours. I had to blink several times to get used to it. 

"You'd better come up." Mr. Lovegood said, taking the staircase. 

We followed him up into another room that seemed to be half a sitting room and half a work room. There were piles of objects stacked up everywhere, mostly books and papers, sticking out in uneven ways. There were creature models, hanging from the ceiling, though I didn't recognize a single one of them. 

There was a printing press in the corner, which Mr. Lovegood quickly strode over to throw a cloth over. I grimaced a little, turning away from it. 

"Why have you come here?" 

"Mr. Lovegood- what's that?" Hermione asked with a cry of shock. I decided to seat myself in one of the chairs, away from the Erumpent horn that I knew would explode later one. 

"It is the horn of a Crumple- Horned Snorkack." 

"No it isn't!" 

"Hermione, now's not the moment-" 

"But Harry, it's an Erumpent horn! It's a Class B Tradeable Material and it's an extraordinarily dangerous thing to have in a house!" 

"How d'you know it's an Erumpent horn?" Ron asked and like me, started away from the horn. 

"Hagrid brought one to Care of Magical Creatures last year." I said, "It exploded when I threw a pebble at it. It was fantastic." 

Harry also joined Ron in backing away just slightly. 

"I don't know where you go it-" 

"I bought it two weeks ago from a delightful young wizard who knew of my interest in the exquisite Snorkack. A Christmas Surprise for my Luna. Now, why exactly have you come here, Mr. Potter?" 

"We need some help." 

"Ah, help. Hmm. Yes. The thing is. . . helping Harry Potter. . . rather dangerous. . ." 

"Aren't you the one who keeps telling everyone it's their first duty to help Harry? In that magazine of yours?" Ron asked immediately. 

"Er- yes, I have expressed that view. However-" He said, glancing behind him at the covered printing press. 

"That's for everyone else to do, not you personally?" Ron asked. 

Mr. Lovegood did not answer for a long time. 

"Where's Luna?" I asked softly, looking up at Mr. Lovegood. "Let's see what she thinks." 

Mr. Lovegood did not like my question, as I knew he wouldn't. In a shaky voice he responded, "Luna is down at the stream, fishing for Freshwater Plimpies. She. . . she will like to see you. I'll go and call her and then- yes, very well. I shall try to help you." 

"Cowardly old wart." Ron muttered after Mr. Lovegood had gone downstairs and out the front door. "Luna's got ten times his guts." 

"He's probably worried about what'll happen if the Death Eaters find out I was here." Harry defended the man. 

"Well, I agree with Ron. Awful old hypocrite, telling everyone else to help you and trying to worm out o fit himself. And for heaven's sake keep away from that horn." 

I closed my eyes as the room fell silent, Harry crossing the room to look out the window. I could feel Hermiones' eyes on me, but I would not look at her, not wanting to start any new conversations about Severus. But me ignoring her did not good. 

"How's Remus?" Hermione asked. 

I opened my eyes to look at her. "He's really good." 

"Where did you leave him to come here?" Hermione asked softly. 

I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. "He's with his father." There was a pause of silence and I said, "You don't have to like Severus, you can continue to hate him. But he is not a danger for me or Remus." 

"I don't like you fraternizing with the enemy." Harry finally said. 

"I'm on your side always Harry." I said softly. "But I need him and he's kept me safe this long." 

We fell silent as Mr. Lovegood came back with a tea tray. 

"Ah, you have spotted my pet invention." He said, noticing that Harry was standing near a crude representation of Ravenclaw's diadem. "Modeled, fittingly enough, upon the head of the beautiful Rowena Ravenclaw. 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!' These are the Wrackspurt siphons- to remove all sources of distraction from the thinker's immediate area. Here, a billywig propeller, to induce an elevated frame of mind. Finally, the Dirigible Plum, so as to enhance the ability to accept the extraordinary." 

He came back to the tea tray, which he had shoved into Hermione's arms, putting it down on the table. "May I offer you all an infusion of Gurdyroots, we make it ourselves. Luna is down beyond Bottom Bridge, she is most excited that you are here. She ought not to be too long, she has caught nearly enough Plimpies to make soup for all of us. Do sit down and help yourselves to sugar." 

I did exactly that, reaching for the sugar bowl and picking up five sugar cubes to suck on. 

"Now, how may I help you, Mr. Potter?" 

"Well, it's about that symbol you were wearing around your neck at Bill and Fleur's wedding, Mr. Lovegood. We wondered what it meant." 

Mr. Lovegood looked surprised, like this was not the question or request he had been expecting. "Are you referring to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?" 

"The Deathly Hallows?" Harry asked. 

"That's right. You haven't heard of them? I'm not surprised. Very, very few wizards believe. Witness that knuckle headed young man at your brother's wedding who attacked me for sporting the symbol of a well-known Dark wizard! Such ignorance. There is nothing Dark about the Hallows- at least, not in that crude sense. One simply uses the symbol to reveal oneself to other believers, in the hope that they might help one with the Quest." 

"I'm sorry. I still don't really understand." Harry responded, taking a sip of his drink and I swear his face almost turned purple, putting the cup down quickly. I tossed him a sugar cube. 

"Well, you see, believers seek the Deathly Hallows." 

"But what are the Deathly Hallows?" Hermione asked. 

"I assume that you are all familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?" 

"Yes." Hermione, Ron, and I all answered, though Harry answered in the negative. 

"Well, well, Mr. Potter, the whole thing starts with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'. . . I have a copy somewhere. . ." He looked around at the mess of books and such and I rolled my eyes. I would have a better chance of reciting the story from memory than him finding the book in time. 

"I've got a copy, Mr. Lovegood, I've got it right here." Hermione said, pulling the book from her bag as she said so. 

"The original? Well then, why don't you read it aloud? Much the best way to make sure we all understand." 

"Er. . . all right." Hermione said awkwardly, opening the book up and started to read, "There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight-" 

"Midnight, our mum always told us." Ron interrupted and I threw a sugar cube at his head in annoyance. "Sorry, I just think it's a bit spookier if it's midnight!" 

"Yeah, because we really need a bit more fear in our lives." Harry said and I let out a short laugh, "Go on, Hermione." 

"In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. And Death spoke to them-" 

"Sorry, but Death spoke to them?" Harry asked, sounding alarmed. I reached across the table, picking up the bowl of sugar cubes. 

"It's a fairy tale, Harry!" 

"Right, sorry. Go on." 

"And Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travelers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him. 

"So the oldest brother, who was a combative an, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always wind duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the older brother. 

"Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead."

I shuddered, because I knew that was what I wanted. If only I could have a stone to bring everyone I loved back from the dead, then I didn't need to go through all of this trouble. But. . . they would not come back whole anyways. It was best to let the dead stay dead, no matter how much that pained me. 

"And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility." 

"Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry interrupted once more, much to my annoyance. 

"So he can sneak up on people. Sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking. . . sorry, Hermione." I smiled a little at Ron. I had forgotten what humor was over the past couple of months. 

"Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way, and they did so, talking with wonder of the adventure they had had, and admiring Death's gifts. 

"In Due course the brothers separated, each for his own destination. 

"The first brother traveled on for a week or more, and reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted loudly of the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible. 

"That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and, for good measure, slit the oldest brother's throat. 

"And so Death took the first brother for his own."

I sighed to myself, looking out the window. The Lovegoods had a good amount of land, mostly sprawling green hills that weren't so green at the moment since they were covered with snow. The patches of grass that could be seen were more of a yellow-green-brown colour. There was a sliver of blue that ran off into the distance that must've been the river Luna would fish at, had she truly been home. 

"Well there you are." 

I gave a start, not even realizing Hermione had finished the story off. The book now laid closed in her lap. "Sorry?" She asked in confusion. 

"Those are the Deathly Hallows," Mr. Lovegood said, picking up a quill, pulling a piece of parchment from the many trapped in the books. "The Elder Wand. The Resurrection Stone. The Cloak of Invisibility." He said as he drew the triangle with the line and circle in the middle of it. "Together, the Deathly Hallows." 

"But there's no mention of the words 'Deathly Hallows' in the story." Hermione said. 

I rolled my eyes. Wasn't that every story? Every story had a hidden message or symbol in it that wasn't verbally said. It wasn't like at the end of Cinderella they said, 'work hard and it'll pay off!' That's why the story was told in the first place. 

"Well, of course not. That is a children's tale, told to amuse rather than to instruct. Those of us who understand these matters, however, recognize that the ancient story refers to three objects, or Hollows, which if united, will make the possessor master of Death." 

It was silent for a short moment until Lovegood continued, "Luna ought to have enough Plimpies soon." 

That was his code for, 'Luna is almost home', and my heart clenched in pity for the man, knowing that wasn't quite true. 

"When you say 'master of Death-" 

"Master. Conqueror. Vanquisher. Whichever term you prefer." 

"But then. . . do you mean. . . that you believe these objects- these Hallows- actually exist?" 

"Well, of course." 

"But, Mr. Lovegood, how can you possibly believe-" 

"Luna has told me all about you, young lady. You are, I gather, not unintelligent, but painfully limited. Narrow. Close-minded." 

I was going to defend her, but then thought there was a bit of truth to that. Truly, Hermione did have a hard time believing in things that weren't in front of her, that weren't instructed about specifically in books. Hermione was many things; brave, loyal, smart, kind, loving. But imagination was not her strong suit. 

"Perhaps you ought to try the hat, Hermione." Ron said, voice straining as he tried not to laugh. 

"Mr. Lovegood, we all know that there are such things as Invisibility Cloaks. They are rare, but they exist. But-" 

"Ah, but the Third Hallow is a true Cloak of Invisibility, Miss Granger! I mean to say, it is not a traveling cloak imbued with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzling hex, or else woven from Demiguise hair, which will hide one initially but fade with the years until it turns opaque. We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?" 

I quickly shot her a look as she opened her mouth, but then she closed it again, glancing at me and then at Harry and Ron. 

"Exactly," Mr. Lovegood said, sounding victorious. "None of you have ever seen such a thing. The possessor would be immeasurably rich, would he not?" 

"Not necessarily." I mumbled under my breath. 

"All right, say the cloak existed. . . what about the stone, Mr. Lovegood? The thing you call the Resurrection stone?" 

"What of it?" 

"Well, how can that be real?" 

"Prove that it is not." Mr. Lovegood said plainly. 

Hermione became rather outraged at that. "But that's- I'm sorry, but that's completely ridiculous! How can I possibly prove it doesn't exist? Do you expect me to get hold of- of all the pebbles in the world and test them? I mean, you could claim that's anything's real if the only basis for believing in it is that nobody's proved it doesn't exist!" 

"Yes, you could. I am glad to see that you are opening your mind a little." 

"It makes sense, actually." I said slowly. "I mean, muggles don't believe in magic, right? They don't think that there are such things as unicorns or dragons or broomsticks. Perhaps there is a higher magic than us, something that hides from us the way we hide from Muggles. It is possible, is it not?" 

"Indeed." Mr. Lovegood said, looking thoughtful. 

"What about the Elder Wand?" Harry asked. "You think that exists too?" 

"Oh, well, in that case there is endless evidence. The Elder Wand is the Hollow that is most easily traced, because of the way in which it passes from hand to hand." 

"Which is what?" Harry asked. 

"Which is that the possessor of the wand must capture it from its previous owner, if he is to be truly master of it. Surely you have heard of the way the wand came to Egbert the Egregious, after his slaughter of Emeric the Evil? Of how Godelot died in his own cellar after his son, Hereward, took the wand from him? Of the dreadful Loxias, who took the wand from Barnabas Deverill, whom he killed? The bloody trail of the Elder Wand is splattered across the pages of Wizarding history." 

"They didn't exactly pay attention in History of Magic." I mumbled, smiling to myself, winking at Harry. 

"So where do you think the Elder Wand is now?" Ron asked, glancing over at me. I ignored him. I knew exactly where the Elder Wand is and I knew better than to touch it. 

"Alas who knows? Who knows where the Elder Wand lies hidden? The trail goes cold with Arcus and Livius. Who can say which of them really defeated Loxias, and which took the wand? And who can say who may have defeated them? History, alas, does not tell us." 

"Mr. Lovegood, does the Peverell family have anything to do with the Deathly Hallows?" 

The name meant nothing to be and I frowned a little. 

"But you have been misleading me, young woman! I thought you were new to the Hallows Quest! Many of us Questers believe that the Peverell's have everything- everything!- to do with the Hallows!" 

"Who are the Peverells?" Ron and I asked at the same time. Both Harry and Hermione seemed surprised with me at that, not that I blamed them. I usually had all the answers. 

"That was the name on the grave with the mark on it, in Godric's Hollow, Ignotus Peverell." Hermione answered. 

"Exactly! The sign of the Deathly Hallows on Ignotus's grave is conclusive proof!" 

"Of what?" Ron asked. 

"Why, that the three brothers in the story were actually the three Peverell brothers, Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus! That they were the original owners of the Hallows!" He got to his feet and then looked over, "You will stay for dinner? Everybody always requests our recipe for Freshwater Plimpy soup." 

"Probably to show the Poisoning Department at St. Mungo's." Ron muttered underneath his breath. I snorted. 

"What do you think?" Harry asked Hermione and I as Mr. Lovegood was downstairs now, moving around, clattering dishes. 

 "Oh, Harry," Hermione answered first, "it's a pile of utter rubbish. This can't be what the sign really means. This must just be his weird take on it. What a waste of time." 

"I s'pose this is the man who brought us Crumple-Horned Snorkacks." Ron said skeptically, backing Hermione up. 

"You don't believe it either?" Harry asked. 

"Nah, that story's just one of those things you tell kids to teach them lessons, isn't it? 'Don't go looking for trouble, don't pick fights, don't go messing around with stuff that's best left alone! Just keep your head down, mind your own business, and you'll be okay.' Come to think of it, maybe that story's why elder wands are supposed to be unlucky." 

"What are you talking about?" 

"One of those superstitions, isn't it? 'May-born wiches will marry Muggles.' 'Jinx by twilight, undone by midnight.' 'Wand of elder, never prosper.' You must've heard them. My mum's full of them." Ron said. 

"Harry and I were raised by Muggles," Hermione said while I rolled my eyes. "We were taught different superstitions. I think you're right. It's just a morality tale, it's obvious which gift is best, which one you'd chosen-" 

"Cloak." Hermione said. 

"The wand." Ron said. 

"The stone." Harry and I said at the same time, though I said mine more mindlessly, mine on other things. 

I tuned out the rest of the conversation, wondering how much longer I would be putting this facade up before the Death Eaters showed up. I wondered how much my presence would affect things. After all, looking at it like I wasn't here, they would get away. But my presence was already a permanent fixture, so Voldemort would be looking for me. I had to do something about it, get him off of dads' back and keep him safe. 

Eventually, I was jolted back when Harry said, "Elizabeth? What do you think?" 

I glanced around at all of them and shrugged, "I haven't been looking into the future much and I don't know much about this story. I do know that there's some proof of an unbeatable wand, or at least stories of it throughout history. And obviously, your invisibility cloak is very different from other invisibility cloaks. The stone however. . . technically it doesn't bring back the dead so I suppose it could possibly exist but I feel that if it was found, there would be more documentation on it." 

We lapsed back into silence, before Harry slowly stood after some time, moving upstairs. Out of curiosity, I followed him into Luna's room, despite Hermione calling after us not to. 

It was as I expected. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and myself were painted on the ceiling. But something I had not expected was Trang to be in there as well. All of us still linked by the golden ink of friends. I wondered how much time it had taken her. 

"Harry. . . the room." I murmured. 

Harry descended the stairs as Mr. Lovegood ascended the kitchen ones. "Mr. Lovegood, where's Luna?" 

"Excuse me?" 

"Where's Luna?" 

"I- I've already told you. She is down at Bottom Bridge, fishing for Plimpies." 

"So why have you only set that tray for four?" I asked. 

There was no noise except the shaking of silverware as they rattled in the tray, and the printing press that sounded like it was going to die any second. I stepped down another step. 

"I don't think Luna has been here for weeks. Her clothes are gone, her bed hasn't been slept in. Where is she? And why do you keep looking out of the window?" 

He dropped the tray, freezing as the other three drew their wands. I slipped mine into my hand as well. 

"Harry look at this." Hermione said, picking up one of the magazines. 

"The Quibbler's going for a new angle, then?" Harry asked after a moment. "Is that what you were doing when you went into the garden, Mr. Lovegood? Sending an owl to the Ministry?" 

"They took my Luna. Because of what I've been writing. They took my Luna and I don't know where she is, what they've done to her. But they might give her back to me if I- if I-" 

"Hand Harry and Elizabeth over?" Hermione finished. 

"No deal, get out of the way, we're leaving." Ron said. 

"They will be here at any moment. I must save Luna. I cannot lose Luna. You must not leave." 

Despite the predicament, I could only feel pity for the man. He did not know that they would save Luna, so he thought he was going to lose her. I could only imagine the terrible things I would do to get Remus back. Because that's what parents did: protect their children no matter what. 

"HARRY!" Hermione screamed, jolting me out of my thoughts once more. I should've gotten more sleep last night, I kept fazing out. 

Harry tackled Ron and Hermione as Mr. Lovegood drew his wand. His spell hit the Erumpent horn, which made the room explode. 

My back slammed into the metal rungs of the stairs I had still been standing on. I curled in on myself as heavy books and other objects rained down on me. I was going to have a lot of bruises tomorrow morning. 

I groaned, sitting up as everything settled. Harry was also raising himself up. I couldn't see Ron or Hermione from where I was. I gingerly stood up, wiping off white plaster dust from my traveling cloak. 

I heard the door downstairs crash open and then a furious voice said, "Didn't I tell you there was no need to hurry, Travers? Didn't I tell you this nutter was just raving as usual?" 

"No. . . no. . . upstairs. . . Potter! And Kane!" Mr. Lovegood croaked out after he let out a squeal of pain for whatever they had done to him. I bit my bottom lip. 

"I told you last week, Lovegood, we weren't coming back for anything less than some solid information! Remember last week? When you wanted to swap your daughter for that stupid bleeding headdress? And the week before-" There was another bang and squeal. I flinched. "- when you thought we'd give her back if you offered us proof there are Crumple" -bang, flinch- "Headed" -bang flinch- "Snorkacks?" 

"No- no- I beg you! It really is Potter and Kane! Really!" 

"And now it turns out you only called us here to try and blow us up!" 

"The place looks like it's about to fall in, Selwyn. The stairs are completely blocked. Could try clearing it? Might bring the place down." 

"You lying piece of filfth." Selwyn was content to ignore everything everyone was saying, "You've never seen Potter or Kane in your life, have you? Thought you'd lure us back here to kill us, did you? And you think you'll get your girl back like this." 

"I swear. . . I swear. . . Potter and Kane's upstairs!" 

"Homenum Revlio." 

I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep my gasp from being audible, but it didn't matter because I heard Hermione gasp from behind a pile of debris. 

"There's some up there all right, Selwyn." 

"It's Potter and Kane, I tell you, it's them! Please. . . please. . . give me Luna, just let me have Luna. . ." 

"You can have your little girl Lovegood, if you get up those stairs and bring me down Harry Potter and Elizabeth Kane. But if this is a plot, if it's a trick, if you've got an accomplice waiting up there to ambush us, we'll see if we can spare you a bit of your daughter for you to bury." 

I wiped away a tear that had come down my cheek at some point. I quickly moved across the debris, helping Harry out. Harry, Hermione, and I climbed our way over to Ron, Harry having to help me over some of the largest objects. 

"All right. Do you trust me, Harry?" 

Harry nodded. 

"Okay then, give me the Invisibility Cloak. Ron, you're going to put it on." 

"Me? But Harry-" 

"Just do it." I hissed. "Harry, hold Hermione's hand. Ron, grab my shoulder. Hermione, you obliviate Lovegood, I'll blast the floor open." 

We waited, hearing Mr. Lovegood scrabbling against the furniture that had blocked the stairwell. 

I waited, before I finally heard Hermione shout, "Obliviate!" 

"Deprimo!" I shouted, pointing my wand at the floor. I could feel Ron's hand tighten on my shoulder. We fell through the floor, and my eyes searched out the Death Eaters. I met eyes with Selwyn and he raised his wand at me. Thankfully, Hermione twisted in midair, pulling the three of us with her, and with air squeezing through my lungs, we disappeared into nothingness. 

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 15

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

"Thank you Trang." I whispered as I fastened my winter cloak around my throat. 

"Of course." Trang shrugged, sitting on the couch with her History of Magic textbook. Remus was fast asleep in his crib already. 

I squeezed her shoulder and then slipped from the room. 

I stepped out of the room, seeing Severus in the room just like my vision had shown. 

"Headmaster! They are camping in the Forest of Dean! The Mudblood-" Phineas Nigellus said quickly. 

"Do not use that word!" Severus snapped angrily. 

"-the Granger girl, then, mentioned the place as she opened her bag and I heard her!" Phineas Nigellus finished as I growled lowly under my breath at the stupid past headmaster. 

"Good. Very good! Now, Severus, the sword! Do not forget that it must be taken under conditions of need and valor- and he must not know that you give it! If Voldemort should read Harry's mind and see you acting for him-" Dumbledore said from his portrait. 

"I know." Severus replied curtly, approaching the portrait of Dumbledore. I watched him open it, pulling out the Gryffindor sword. The real one. "And you still aren't going to tell me why it's so important to give Potter the sword?" Severus asked, reaching out, grabbing the traveling cloak to swing it over his robes. 

"No, I don't think so. He will know what to do with it. And Severus, be very careful, they may not take kindly to your appearance after George Weasley's mishap-" 

"Don't worry, Dumbledore. I have a plan." Severus replied. 

"That I'm helping with." I said, finally announcing my presence. Severus flinched, not having heard my approach. 

"No, you're staying here." Severus said, opening the door, going to close it behind him. I grabbed the edge and he stopped. 

"Don't. We're doing this together." I whispered softly. "Please Severus?" 

He sighed, and nodded, "Fine. Come." 

I turned into my usual black cat form but he shook his head. "We're apparating there from the castle." 

"Oh." I whispered, taking his hand as I reverted back to my human form. "Lead the way then." 

"Here." Severus murmured, pulling us into a small alcove. "Hold on tight." 

I closed my eyes, gripping his hand tighter. He pulled us out of the castle. For some reason, the apparition felt tighter and I gasped for breath way to loud when we landed, coughing into my hands. 

Severus rubbed my shoulder before we walked through the forest. I knew what Severus was looking for, but as I had never been to the Forest of Dean before, I couldn't help him there. 

Eventually we came across the iced over lake and Severus squeezed my hand before letting it go. "Just wait here. If they happen to see me, I don't want them to know that you were with me." 

"Okay." I whispered, sitting down in the dark, watching him as he crossed to the open space. I shivered, not wearing thick enough clothes to be out here for long. 

He pointed his wand at the ice, which cracked before he dropped the sword into the water, refreezing the ice, and then walked back off through the forest in a different way, probably looking for them. 

It took a good twenty minutes, by which time, my fingers were numb and I was so cold that my teeth were chattering together violently. I couldn't even grip the cloak to pull it closer because my fingers wouldn't bend. 

Severus came around again, his wand still held out, leading the doe to the lake. Harry appeared a few moments later as Severus crouched down next to me. 

Severus didn't say a word- he couldn't- but he wrapped his cloak around me, and then hugged me from behind as we watched Harry. 

Harry took a moment, appeasing the sword before pointing his wand at it. He was to far away to make out what he said, but I assumed it was a summoning spell. Severus huffed in annoyance behind me. "Dunderhead." 

He walked around the lake several times before he finally stopped, looking around. Then, he stripped himself, setting everything away from the edge of the lake. 

"Diffindo!" He shouted. The ice cracked, sounding softer than it had in my vision. I wondered if it had been louder before because Severus had apparated at the same time. Perhaps. 

Harry jumped and I held my breath, leaning forwards, clenching my jaw so that my teeth would stop chattering. Severus kept his hands tight on me, not letting me go far. 

Ron came running across suddenly and I could see Harry was drowning under the lake. 

"He's drowning." I gasped out and Severus clamped a cold hand over my mouth while Ron glanced over at the trees, but didn't stop before he too was jumping into the water. 

"C'mon." Severus muttered, standing, helping me through the tree line. 

"I w-w-w-want to see the-e-m destroy i-i-i-t." I murmured without thinking and Severus stopped, turning to look at me. 

"Destroy what?" 

I hesitated and then shook my head, to cold for the 'I can't tell you because you'll ruin the future' conversation. 

"Right." Severus muttered, sounding bitter. "You and Dumbledore." 

"I'll tell y-y-you e-e-e-everyth-th-thing after the war is o-o-over." I muttered, deciding that was an easy promise to make and a compromise. 

Severus stayed silent, still standing there and we watched as Ron pulled Harry. Harry laid on the ice. Ron stood over him, holding the sword of Gryffindor. 

"Elizabeth we need to leave." Severus hissed in undertone. 

"R-R-R-Righ-h-ht." I shivered. 

Severus shook his head, "Like you could stay any longer anyways. You're freezing." 

He lifted me into his arms, carrying me further through the forest until he finally spun on the dot, appearing back in his bedroom, making Trang jump. 

"Elizabeth!" Trang jumped up, throwing her book aside as Severus laid me on the bed, before going over to light the fireplace. "Oh my God, are you okay? Your lips are blue!" 

"For all that I s-s-saw." I stuttered, wrapping a fuzzy blanket around me from the end of the bed, "P-p-probably should've worn s-something w-warmer." 

"Yeesh." Trang murmured, pulling me into a tight hug. Severus came back over with a cup of something that was steaming. 

"Drink this." Severus murmured, helping me so that I could wrap my hands around the mug. I smelled chocolate and drank the hot drink. 

"T-thank you." I mumbled, downing the drink. I immediately burned my tongue, probably extinguishing all taste buds for the next two days, but it warmed my insides and my hands immediately. 

Trang stayed long enough to make sure that I was alright, before heading off to her dorm. Meanwhile, Severus continued to observe me with an odd expression on his face. 

"What?" I asked, setting the empty cup on the bedside table. 

"Nothing." Severus sighed, stepping forwards, placing both of his hands on my face. I flinched a little, his hands ice cold. He quickly withdrew them, tapping them with his wand and replacing them. I relaxed now, his hands nice and warm. "I love you." 

I smiled a little, tilting my head just enough to kiss his palm. "I love you too." 

He stroked my cheek and I closed my eyes before whispering, "Come to bed." 

"Elizabeth~" Severus murmured, before waving his hand, extinguishing the lights. He pushed me back onto the bed, crawling over me, his lips descending on mine. I moaned happily, reaching up to push his cloak off of him, the fabric dropping to the floor in a 'whooshing' sound. 

We ridded each other of our clothes, bare skin on bare skin. His lips kissed down my neck, across my collarbone, his hands tight on my hips. My hands ran up his chest, over his shoulders, down his back. His fingers found my clit, warming me up quickly, before sliding inside of me. 

"Oh fuck~" I whimpered, stifling my cry against his shoulder. 

"Don't hide darling." Severus murmured, nudging the side of my head with his, drawing me away from his shoulder. "I want to hear all of those sweet noises you're making. No one will hear you." 

With that promise, my mewls grew louder. I was soon a whimpering, pathetic mess underneath him as he worked me up over and over again, the waves of pleasure rocking through my body. I could hardly think, barely forming words besides Severus' name and 'please'. 

Severus finished inside of me for a second time, before slowly pulling out, rolling onto his back on the other side of me. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into him. "Are you feeling warmer yet?" 

I let out a tired sigh, my eyes to heavy to open and look up at him. I muttered something along the lines of 'I'm good' and heard him chuckle a little, his lips brushing the top of my head as I drifted off to sleep. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

I waved my wand in the bedroom, letting streamers hang on the bed curtains, while also sticking candles into the thick frosting of Severus' birthday cake. It was chocolate with a thick coat of dark green icing. I had written 'Happy Birthday Severus' in black, with tiny hearts. I had also done my best to decorate it with little potion items. 

I was beaming as I set the cake down on a small table by the side of the bed, not lighting it yet as Severus wouldn't be back for another ten minutes. Remus was trying to open the one present that I had been able to get for Severus, continuously pulling at the strings around the package. 

Once again, I swooped down on him, lifting my son into my arms, setting him on my hip. "You think daddy will like the cake?" I cooed softly, bouncing him a little. He sucked on his thumb, giggling. His hair had lightened in its brown colour and I ran my hand through his curls. "You're going to need a hair cut soon sweetheart." 

'His first haircut.' I thought with a smile. I would have to make sure that Severus was there for it. 

I could hear him in the office now, though I quickly peeked out the door just to double check, being quick as a cat. He was tossing his cloak onto the chair, looking exhausted, locking the headmaster door behind him permanently so no one could get in. 

I slunk back into the bedroom, closing the door with the slightest click. I could hear his feet padding down the hallway and I quickly turned out the lights, jumping onto the bed, laying down on my stomach. I flicked my wand at the cake, letting the candles light up, so that they flickered in the dark room. 

Severus opened the door, before stopping in the doorway, just staring at the cake, his face in the shape of an 'o' in surprise. His eyes wandered over to see me laying on the bed and his face changed into a smile. 

He closed the door behind him, walking over to crawl up on the bed with me. "You did this?" 

"No, Slughorn did." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. He grabbed my hips tightly, burying his face into my neck, growling a little at my sarcasm. He nipped at my collarbone and muttered, "Watch it brat." 

I couldn't stop the whimper that emitted from my throat. Severus chuckled, nipping my neck once more, before stepping in front of the cake. He closed his eyes, looking like he was praying, before he blew the candles out. 

The lights turned back on and Severus and I split a piece of cake together, putting the rest in an icebox to keep fresh. We even let Remus have just a little bit, mostly just letting him lick some frosting off of our fingers. 

"Here." I said, reaching down to grab the present, putting it in his lap. "It's not a lot since I couldn't go out or anything, but I thought it could come in use." 

It was very discrete as a homemade scarf and gloves, both in the colour of black. They would blend in well with his cloak as well. 

"Thank you Elizabeth, this is wonderful." Severus murmured softly, running the scarf through his hands, feeling it. 

"I'm glad you like it." I replied, kissing his cheek. 

We curled up on the couch together, mostly with Remus in our arms. We had both realized we enjoyed just looking out the window at the stars, so Severus had widened the window so we had  more of a view to see them. 

I rested with my head in his lap, looking up at navy blue blanket that stretched as far as I could see. The white and yellow dots twinkled and winked as I watched them, drawing imaginary lines between them to form my own constellations. 

Severus' hand stroked my hair as he started to fall asleep sitting up. I slowly moved, getting up so that I could lay Remus down in his crib, gently placing his blanket around him. I kissed his forehead, moving to the bed where Severus had laid down now, already nearly fast asleep. 

I slid up next to him, curling into him as he wrapped an arm loosely around me once more. "Good night love." I whispered softly in his ear. "I love you." 

He mumbled something back to me that might've been the same thing, but was to jumbled to actually make any sense of it. He was snoring almost immediately, his face relaxed and young. I smiled again, kissing his cheek, before drifting off to sleep myself, wishing for more birthdays together. 

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 14

Warnings: 18+ readers only, smut

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

"The small girl stares with wide brown eyes at each person who comes to observer her. A dark cloud of frizzy hair surrounds her head, stray leaves hiding within it. She holds a door knocker the way a smaller child might handle a rattle or a toy. Tightly. Protectively. 

"She has been placed in an armchair in one of the galleries, as though she is herself a piece of art. Her feet do not touch the ground. Her head has been examined and some concern has been raised over injury, though she is not bleeding. A bruise blooms near her temple, a greenish hue spreading over light brown skin. It does not seem to bother her. She is given a plate of tiny cakes and eats them in small, serious bites. 

"She is asked her name. She appears not to understand the question. There is some debate over how translations might work for someone so young (few recall the last time there was a child in this place) but she understands other inquiries: She nods when asked if she is thirsty or hungry. She smiles when someone brings her an old stuff toy, a rabbit with thinning fur and floppy ears. Only when the rabbit is presented does she relinquish the door knocker, clutching the bunny with equal intensity. 

"She does not recall her name, her age, anything about her family. When asked how she got there she holds up the door knocker with a pitying look in her large eyes, as the answer is terribly obvious and the people peering down at her are not very observant. 

"Everything about her is analyzed, from the make of her shoes to her accent as they begin to coerce single words or phrases, but she speaks rarely, and all anyone can agree on is that there are hints of Australia or possibly New Zealand, though some insist the slight accent on her English is South African. There are a number of old doors left uncatalogued in each country. The girl does not give reliable geographical information. She remembers people and fairies and dragons with equal clarity. Large buildings and small buildings and forests and fields. She describes bodies of water of indiscernible size that could be lakes or oceans or bathtubs. Nothing to point clearly toward her origin. 

"Throughout the investigations it remains unspoken truth that she cannot easily be returned to wherever she has fallen from if her door no longer exists.

"There is talk of sending her back through another door, but no one in the dwindling population of residents volunteers for such a mission, and the girl appears happy enough. Does not complain. Does not ask to go home. Does not cry for her parents, wherever they might be. 

"She is given a room where everything is too big for her. Clothes that fit reasonably well are found and one of the knitting groups provides her with sweaters and socks spun from colorful yarn. Her shoes are cleaned and remain her only pair until she outgrows them, the rubber soles worn through to holes then patched and worn through again. 

"They call her the girl or the child or the foundling, though the more semantic-minded residents point out that she was not abandoned, not as far as anyone knows, so the term foundling is inaccurate.

"Eventually she is called Eleanor, and some say afterward she was named for the queen of Aquitaine, and others claim the choice was inspired by Jane Austen, and still others say she once responded to the request for her name with "Ellie" or "Allira" or something like that. (In truth, the person who suggested the name plucked it from a novel by Shirley Jackson but neglected to clarify due to the unfortunate fate of that other fictional Eleanor.)

"'Does she have a name yet?' the Keeper asks, not looking up from his desk, his pen continuing to move across the page. 

"'They've taken to calling her Eleanor.' The painter informs him. 

"The Keeper puts down his pen and sighs.

"'Eleanor,' he repeats, putting the emphasis on the latter syllables, turning the name into another sigh. He picks up his pen and resumes his writing all without so much as a glance at the painter. 

"The painter does not pry. She thinks perhaps the name has a particular meaning to him. She has only known him a short amount of time. She decides to stay uninvolved in the matter, herself. 

"This Harbor upon the Starless Sea absorbs the girl who fell through the remains of a door the way the forest floor consumed the door: She becomes part of the scenery. Sometimes noticed. Mostly ignored. Left to her own devices. 

"No one takes responsibility. Everyone assumes someone else will do it, and so no one does. They are all preoccupied with their own work, their own intimate dramas. They observe and question and even participate but not for long. Not for more than moment, here and there, scattered through a childhood like fallen leaves. 

"On that first day, in the chair but before the bunny, Elanor answers only a single question aloud when asked what she was doing out on her own. 

"'Exploring', she says. 

"She thinks she is doing a very good job of it." 

I'm relieved to see that Remus is fast asleep by the time the story ends. I wasn't a huge fan of the end of it, seeing how the girl had to learn to live by herself, even as a child. That none of the adults around her want to take any responsibility. It felt wrong, frankly. 

"The stories connected." Severus' voice jolts me a little, keeping me from my thoughts. I looked up at him to see that he's looking at me through the reflection in the mirror as he fixes his tie. I smile a little, seeing him in the muggle tuxedo. He looks dashing in it. 

There is a knock at the door then. Seven, then two, then three. Trang is here. 

I open the door to see her, with a backpack on her shoulders. "Hi." She smiles. As she takes Remus from my arms, she coos at him in a baby like voice. 

It's winter vacation already and Trang didn't go back for the holidays. Severus and I are going to be using her as a babysitter tonight as we go out. 

"Thanks for doing this Trang." I murmured, going over to the mirror as Severus left it, so that I can fix my hair and apply a bit more makeup. 

"Of course." Trang said, "Besides, I miss my little godson." 

I smiled at that, dabbing blush against my cheeks while Severus grabs a muggle winter coat, tapping it to become a wizarding cloak so if someone sees him leaving tonight, no one will look twice at him. 

My own dress in a dark midnight blue with silvery sparkles. Severus bought it for me for tonight. I admired myself in a mirror for a moment before Severus came over, putting his hands on my waist, his voice whispering in my ear, "You look good enough to eat. Maybe we can skip dinner." 

"And that's my cue to leave." Trang muttered, breaking the spell. She hoisted Remus up in his arms, leaving the room to the room across from this one- a sort of unused guest room. I think she had a good idea that Severus and I were going to come back and need some alone time. 

Severus rolled his eyes, pecking my cheek. "Ready to go?" 

I nodded, swallowing my nerves, turning into my silky black cat form, hopping into his traveling clock pocket and tucked my head down. 

I didn't look out his pocket the entire time and he never broke stride so I didn't know if he had seen anyone or not. I tucked down even more as I felt chilly wind fly just a little over my ears. Severus' hand dipped into the pocket, his hand against my side, stroking it a little as he walked now. 

He walked for twenty more minutes- taking a different route so that he was unseen by any of the Hogsmeade villagers- and also to avoid the charm that was placed on the village. 

He lifted me out of his pocket and put me on the ground so that I could become human again. I took his hand in mine, taking charge of apparating this time, and we appeared on the back porch of my old home. 

I opened the door cautiously, ready to flee at a noise or movement. But there was nothing except what dad and I had left there, covered in a layer of dust. 

"It's a nice house." Severus hummed suddenly, looking at a picture of me on the wall. Dad was hugging me from behind as he sat in a leaf pile that I had jumped in. It had been one of the rare days Mad-eye had stayed over. He'd taken the picture of us. 

I felt a lump in my throat start to grow and so I looked away. "Yeah." 

Severus squeezed my hand as I opened the front door and we left the house, walking up the street. We headed into town, seeing that it was fairly empty and I led the way to a brightly lit Chinese restaurant called Panda Inn. 

It was actually packed, which I was slightly surprised about, it being Christmas Eve and all. We took seats near the back, the two of us sitting across from each other in the booth. 

The restaurant looked adorable, with lots of red Chinese lanterns hung about the room. Dark trimming lined the room, with soft music playing from the speakers in the back. I could smell the chicken cooking in the back of the restaurant. The lights were dim, mostly using light from candles on the table. 

"Elizabeth!" A slightly older male voice said excitedly. I looked up to see mine and Trangs' favorite server, Danny standing there. He'd grown his block hair out to be floppy around the ears and was wearing dark green glasses. We'd both had something of a crush on him growing up, though he regarded as us playful friends. 

"Hi Danny." I said with a small smile. "How are you?" 

Severus was sitting a bit stiffly now, eyeing Danny with an equal mix of distrust and jealousy. 

"Great. Whose this gentleman?" Danny inquired, looking over at Severus. 

"This is a friend of mine, Nicholas." I lied. We figured it was best if we didn't use Severus' real name. 

"Nice to meet you Nicholas." Danny said easily with a huge grin. "Alright, what can I get for the two of you or do you need a minute to look over the menu?" 

"Um, perhaps a minute. It's his first time." I replied easily. "But I'll get a glass of white milk and a water." 

"And for you sir?" Danny asked. 

"Just a water." Severus replied uncertainly. 

"I'll be right back with those drinks." He walked off, leaving the two of us alone for the time being. 

I smiled happily as I looked over the  menu. For once, it felt like a normal night. Severus and I were out on a date while Trang babysat Remus. This was how our life should be. Could be. If I could just keep him alive. 

But I vowed I wouldn't think of anything like that tonight. I really just wanted to have a good night. 

"Okay so what do you usually get." Severus said, looking at the menu. 

"Orange chicken with fried rice. I used to get Lo Mein, but I don't really like the vegetables in them so I just stick with the fried rice. I don't think you'd like the orange chicken though since it's super sweet." 

In the end, I order double orange chicken with fried rice while Severus got half white rice, half lo mein with half Beijing Beef and half Black Pepper Angus Steak. 

We tried making mundane talk, but it was very hard. Severus didn't know much muggle conversation so I supplied most if it while he listened, a small smile breaking out on his face as he did so. 

We shared a small chocolate dessert before bundling up for the cold again and walking outside. We continued to walk down the street, gloved hand in gloved hand. I was content, hugging his arm as we walked. He looked down at me with such love in his eyes I thought I was going to burst. 

It started to snow, small flakes of white drifting down to rest in our hair. He stroked a finger across my cheek, before we came to a stop, a small flow of people heading inside of a building. 

I looked up, seeing that it was the church, the midnight service about to start. I looked up at Severus, a question on my lips, which he kissed away. He led me to the wide double doors and we walked into the cathedral. 

I had loved coming here as a kid. Dad hadn't been super religious, but he had wanted to introduce me to the church. I had done lots of Sunday School here and had continued coming every once in a while to sit in 'adult church'. I had never missed a Christmas Eve sermon however, until I had started at Hogwarts. 

We sat in the back near the stained glass window that showed Noah's ark breaching dry land. A rainbow in the background, standing firmly as a sign of Gods' peace. Doves flew above the brown boat, olive leaves in their beaks. Two by two, stained glass giraffes, zebras, elephants, and lions exited the ark. 

Severus put his arm around me as the sermon started. I had always loved listening to the stories of the birth of Jesus. They seemed so magical somehow. Miraculous. 

Candles were passed out so that we could sing Silent Night. Being in the back and on the end of the pew, my candle was the first one lit. Severus leaned his over so that we could touch them and I felt something like hope spark inside of me as his was lit too. 

Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace

I suddenly felt the empowering knowledge that he was going to survive. He was going to live. I watched as he touched flames with the woman next to him, an older woman who couldn't stand. He had stooped over, gently cupped the back of her candle holder so that her flame would light. She gave him a soft smile before turning to her husband. Someone as good as him couldn't die. 

Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born

Severus did not sing, instead listened to me sing. I had never been a great singer- not in my mind at least- but my voice seemed to have an affinity to Christmas songs. 

Silent night, holy night! Son of God love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Severus pulled me close to his side, his arm tight around my waist as he rested his chin on the top of my head. "I love you Elizabeth." 

I looked up at him, a single tear trailing down my cheek as I sang, not answering, but he knew anyways. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Silent Night. . . 

I stirred, feeling the slightly chilly air in the room. 

Holy Night. . . 

I blinked my eyes open, noting Severus was laying next to me, still wearing his dress pants and shirt, though he'd tossed the jacket and bowtie off. I was still in my dress and stockings, tucked warmly under the bed. 

Silent Night. . . 

I sat up slowly, groaning. We had crashed when we'd come home, Severus apparating us straight up to our room after we'd exited the church. Being headmaster, he'd always been able to do this, we just hadn't wanted to before. 

I slowly slip from the bed, reaching behind me to pull the zipper down, when a larger hand takes mine, moving it away. Severus unzips the dress for me, kissing down my back as he does so. 

"Should've done this last night." His thick, sleepy filled voice murmurs sexily in my ear. "You look ravishing." 

I let out the softest of whimpers, the sleepiness gone from my foggy mind, replaced by a buzzing feeling of adrenaline and lust. His hands cup my arse as the dress falls down the rest of my body. 

His hand slips under me, two fingers sliding easily into my cunt, while a third rubs circles at my clit. 

My legs shake and I know they're not going to hold me up. Severus' hand withdraws and he pulls me back onto the bed. I sink into the pillows, looking up at him as he crawls over me, hovering. I smile as he snaps his fingers, discarding the rest of his clothes. 

I go to remove the white stockings, but he stops me, smirking. I blush darkly as he takes my stocking-clad legs, moving one over his shoulder and he lowers his mouth to my pussy. I arch slightly on the bed, trying my hardest not to move as pleasure radiates through me. 

"S-Se- Severus." I pant out as he adds three thick fingers inside of me. I arch again, this time writhing slightly until he uses one large hand, holding my hips down firmly. I pant, cunt clenching tightly around his fingers. 

"Gonna- need to-" 

"Cum." Severus demands. 

I cry out his name, back arched as I cum on his fingers. He watches with heavy, lust lidded eyes, slowly retracting his fingers. 

"Severus." I beg without actually begging, but he answers me anyways, lifting my hips so that he can slide into me, hovering over me. 

I sighed in content, closing my eyes, letting the euphoria wash over me. It's such a wonderful feeling, especially as his lips capture mine, his teeth lightly digging into my bottom lip. 

"I love you." Severus whispered, his thrusts hard and slow. He bottomed out with each one, sending an intense wave of pleasure from my toes to my head. I simply hang onto his shoulders, nails digging into the flesh there, riding the waves out. "Cum." He commands, feeling that I'm close and the dam breaks, my liquids gushing all over his prick. 

He rides out my wave now, thrusting more quickly, building up another wave. I open my eyes because I want to see him as he lets go.

"Elizabeth." He whispers and I cry out, feeling the second wave cresting. 

"SEVERUS!" I shout, unable to stop myself, even if Voldemort himself was out in the office. My vision becomes hazy, dotted in black and white as I slump back against the bedsheets. 

"Merlin I love you." I mumble, as Severus stills himself, having released inside of me. My eyes flutter open, blinking away the gray that danced in front of my vision. 

"Jealous." Severus teased. "Say my name too Elizabeth." 

I giggled, curling up against him. "I love you the most Severus, don't worry." 

"Good." Severus said plainly, kissing the top of my head. "Now how about a bath before Trang wakes up and brings Remus here for a feeding?" 

I rolled over and race to the bathroom door, "I get to choose the temperature!" 

"NO!" Severus shouts, running after me and I giggle as we spend the rest of the morning playfully. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

It's Remus' first Christmas, and it's our first Christmas as a family. Severus got a camera from somewhere and we take pictures, marking our memories. I already have an album- a gift from Trang- and I put the pictures in there, labelling them on the back. 

I feel a little sad as I put it together though, looking over to watch Severus fly Remus above his head. It feels like what Hagrid did for Harry. I shake my head. No, we would be different. Remus would have a different future from Harry and me. Remus, at the very least, would have a mom. 

"Say hi to mommy." Severus coos, sitting down next to me, bouncing Remus in his arms. He grins at me. I love how infectious his smile is, as I smile back, blushing red. 

"Hi sweetheart." I coo back, taking Remus into my arms. "Are you liking your first Christmas, hmm?" 

I had gotten presents from dad as well. Three new Stephen King books that I couldn't wait to read. They hadn't come with a note, but I knew they were from him anyways. 

Severus had also given me a present, which turned out to be jewelry. It was much like the set he'd given me last year for my birthday, but this set was bright in its colours. Red and purple patterned. 

"It was my mothers." Severus murmured quietly as I had looked at him, stroking my cheek with the back of his finger. "One day, we'll pass it down to our first daughter. Perhaps when she gets married." 

Despite not knowing the gender of the two children inside of me, Severus was certain at least one was a girl. I liked the odds, though I wasn't certain. 

It felt to much like a good-bye present though so I thanked him and put it up on the dresser, before curling up in his arms, watching Remus play with his new stuffed animals: which mostly consisted of him laying on his stomach, waving it up and down. 

That night, we had a small Christmas dinner with half a ham.

Then we spent the rest of the night in each others arms, looking out the window at the stars until we fell asleep on the couch in each others' embrace.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! 💚❤️💚❤️🎁🎁🎄

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 13

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

I was sitting on the floor, reading a piece of Transfiguration text that I would have used to do the homework that was due on Friday, had I been a normal student. Despite, of course, not actually going to class, I still enjoyed the work. Severus had been right when he said it would help to keep me from being bored. 

Remus had been playing on the floor next to me, but had soon fallen asleep against my outstretched leg, using it as a pillow. He was to cute to move, so I simply placed a cushioning spell under his head and had summoned a blanket to put over him. 

Severus entered the room for a moment and I looked up at him with a smile, my face slowly turning wary as I watched Madam Pomfrey come in after him. 

I quickly set the Transfiguration text aside, gathering Remus in my arms and clumsily standing up. 

"Miss Kane." Madam Pomfrey said warmly, coming over and hugging me. I hugged her back to the best of my ability. 

"Madam Pomfrey." I said in a bit of confusion. "What-" 

"Please, come sit." Madam Pomfrey said, pointing to the bed as she walked over to it. Severus took Remus from my arms and I went to sit upon the bed. She further instructed me to lay back against the pillows, which I did. 

"Severus has informed me that you are pregnant with twins." Madam Pomfrey stated, pulling out her wand. 

"Ah- yes." I murmured, blushing a little. "But I still-" 

"You were talking about checkups." Severus whispered softly. "Poppy will keep our secret." 

"You will?" You asked, perhaps a little more incredulously than you had meant to. But it was still a bit of a shock to hear that. 

Madam Pomfrey looked at me rather seriously. "Miss Kane, everything you have said to be true has come true. If you are here with Severus, then I believe you have a reason and I have to believe that perhaps he's not as bad as the others are making him out to be, because you know something the others don't." 

She paused and then added, "Or perhaps it's nothing more than the love between the two of you. Either way, you need my help and I will keep you and the little ones safe." 

I blinked quickly to stop any tears from coming to my eyes, but my voice was rather throaty as I said, "Thank you." 

"Now then," Madam Pomfrey said, running my body over with her wand to perform a magical scan, "What exactly are the worries behind the twins?"

Neither Severus nor I said something for a moment until Madam Pomfrey looked up and then I said slowly. "Who the father is." 

Severus frowned a little. I knew that he didn't care, not really, but I needed to know. 

I also felt that I needed to explain myself. Explain that I had always stayed loyal to Severus. "I was taken captive for a few days." Was all I said. Madam Pomfrey gave the slightest of nods and then continued her medical monologue. 

"Well, I can't tell for certain parentage until the babies are born and blood tests are done. However, I do have the ability to check the babies auroras and match them to a degree against their fathers." 

"What?" I asked, confused. 

"Auroras are identified by colours, so some people can have very similar auroras. Which is why the test isn't foolproof. However, it can give a reassurance that Severus may be the father or may not." 

"I. . . sure." I said, looking over at Severus. He nodded slowly. 

"If you could hold our your hand." Madam Pomfrey said. 

Severus extended his arm out and she placed her wand against the palm of his hand. She murmured softly under her breath, until a dark purple lit up around his whole body. I smiled a little, noticing it was the same shade of purple as the dress I had worn to the Yule Ball. 

If Madam Pomfrey was surprised, she didn't show it. She simply turned and tapped my stomach, highlighting the two little beans inside of me. Surrounding them was a purple and green aurora. 

"Green too?" Severus asked, in confusion. 

"Ah yes, of course." Madam Pomfrey said apologetically. "Miss Kane, your hand." 

I held it out and she performed the same spell on me. I felt very hot all of a sudden, burning hot. The kind of hot that I felt when I was at my time of the month and I couldn't control my temperature fluctuations. But slowly around my skin was a forest green sort of colour, the same shade as Harry's eyes. My mothers' eyes. 

"So, as far as it seems, they are you children." Madam Pomfrey said with a smile, before turning to address Severus more. "At the same time, any of the. . . well others could also have a dark purple aurora. If it were perhaps possible for you to check, then you may be able to figure out for certain." 

Then she addressed both of us. "Of course, after they're born and are of three months old, we can do blood work and see if the DNA matches Severus'. I won't be able to tell you whose children they are though, if the DNA does not match, unless I can have the blood of others." 

"Thank you." I said with a nod, putting my hand against my stomach. Seeing the purple aurora around my husband and my children was more reassuring than anything else. 

"Now, we go into something serious." Madam Pomfrey said, putting her wand back into the front pocket of her apron. "Do either of you know if you have LCA, also known as Leber's Congenital Amaurosis?" 

It was rare that I was asked a question that I didn't know the answer to, much less asked a question that I didn't even know what the questions was about. 

"What is LCA?" I asked, making a mental note to research more about pregnancies and potential illnesses in the future. 

"In short terms, its a gene for blindness." Madam Pomfrey said. "I was able to tell with Remus because he was the only child, but with two, it will be hard for me to tell until after they are born." 

"Blind." Severus whispered quietly. His hand tightened around mine and I squeezed his hand. 

"It'll be okay." I said, my mind already running ahead into the future. I looked over at Severus. "They'll still be able to learn magic and they'll still be able to be a normal child. We'll just have to be patient with them." 

Severus nodded, but I could tell there was a lot on his mind. He informed Madam Pomfrey that his medical information should be on file at the school and he would find it for her. After that, she gave me a list of herbs I could take for nausea, as well as foods I could and could not eat- though I an expert at that because of Remus. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at him after Madam Pomfrey had left. 

"I guess I'm just worried." He admitted, his finger stroking the back of my hand. "I'm. . . afraid." 

I softened a little. "Because our babies could be blind or. . ." 

"I'm afraid that this plan might not work." He said softly. "And I'll be leaving you to take care of three babies, one or even two of which might be blind. I don't want to burden you like that. If. . . if I die. . . should I come back as a ghost?" 

The last question hit me hard. I wasn't sure why I hadn't expected a question like that, or why it hadn't crossed my mind. But I suddenly felt panicky. 

"No!" I blurted out, heart hammering in my chest. He looked a little taken aback and I quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. It's just that. . . I know you won't come back as a ghost, Severus. You don't fear death. And. . . death lasts a lot longer than life, Sev. We both know that. And I know that when I go, I'm not going to be a ghost. So if you're a ghost, and I'm not, we'll never see each other again." 

Severus nodded, "I think a part of me. . . I'm not sure what it feels. I'm used to suppressing all of my emotions." His lips twitched a little and he poked me gently in the side, "Shame on you for making me feel." 

I smiled a little, indulging his joke, before leaning into him so that he could hold me. "I think." He said slowly, like he was trying to figure out what he wanted to say, "that I'm afraid you'll be upset with me for dying. Which is stupid and unfair, I understand that. I just. . . more resentment I guess." 

"Never." I whispered, shaking my head. "I couldn't feel that way with you Sev. Besides, this is the best plan with the best chances. We'll both have done as much as we can. If you don't. . . it's not your fault." 

"Or yours." He finished solidly, kissing the side of my head. "Right?" 

"Right." I said.

Suddenly, Remus started to cry and I jolted. 

"I've got him." Severus murmured and pulled away from me, going over and picking our son up in his arms. 

Seeing him standing there in a short sleeved shirt, holding our child. His long black hair, sweeping down across his chin. His strong arms wrapped protectively around Remus, I lost it. I started to sob into my hands. 

"Elizabeth." Severus whispered, coming back over, pulling me into his arms so that he was hugging both of us. "It's going to be okay. It'll be okay." 

"I don't want to lose you." I sobbed, tears streaming down my cheeks, my face pressed into his t-shirt. "I can't lose you." 

He held us for a long time before he whispered softly against my ear, "You'll never lose me. I'll always be right here, in your heart." 

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 12

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

"There is a door in a forest that was not always a forest. 

"The door is no longer a door, not entirely. The structure that held it collapsed some time ago and the door fell along with it and now lies in the ground rather than standing upright. 

"The wood that composed it has rotted. Its hinges have rusted. Someone took its doorknob away.

"The door remembers the time when it was complete. When there was a house with a roof and walls and other doors and people inside. There are leaves and birds and trees now but on people. Not for years and years. 

"So the girl comes as a surprise.

"She is a small girl, too small to be wandering in the woods alone. 

"But she is not lost.

"A girl lost in the woods is a different sort of creature than a girl who walks purposefully through the trees even though she does not know her way. 

"This girl in the woods is not lost. She is exploring. 

"This girl is not scared. She is not unnerved by the darkness of the clawing shadows cast by the trees in the late-afternoon sun. She is not bothered by the thorns and branches that tug at her clothes and scratch at her skin.

"She is young enough to carry fear with her without letting it into her heart. Without being scared. She wears her fear lightly, like a veil, aware that there are dangers but letting the crackling awareness hover around her. It does not sink in, it buzzes in excitement like a swarm of bees. 

"The girl has been told many times not to wander too far into these woods. Warned not to play in them at all and she resents her explorations being dismissed as 'play'. 

"Today she has gone so far into the woods that she wonders if she has started going out of them again toward the other side. She is not. . ." 

I trailed off as Remus started to snore in my arms, the bedtime story putting him fast asleep. Severus hears the sound of my voice stopping and turns away from the desk where he is working. 

I continue to cradle Remus as I walked over to Severus. 

"What'cha doing?" I ask casually, sitting down on the corner of the desk, keeping my voice low as Remus sleeps soundly in my arms, his tiny lips parted in the smallest 'o' I've ever seen. 

"The Dark Lord requests an audience with me." Severus said in a casual voice, but despite his tone, I still feel a cold shudder flow over me. "He has questions about you that he believes I can answer." 

The unsettled feeling in my stomach increased even more. 

"He suspects Godric's Hollow." I choked out, finding my hands were shaking. Severus gently took Remus from my hands, cradling him in one arm, before pulling me onto his lap with his other arm. 

"Of course not." Severus said solidly. "Why should he?" 

"Someone in the village must've seen that you were gone. He's put the times together, it's really that simple." I said, unable to swallow. It felt like there was dry cotton in my mouth. 

"Elizabeth." Severus tilted my face so that I was forced to look into the soft onyx eyes. "I'm an expert liar when it comes to him. What do you think I've been doing my entire service under him? And there's nothing more important to me than you. You will always be safe where I'm concerned, I swear that." 

I studied each of his words in measured concept before nodding. "Okay. I just. . . I'm worried I'll have screwed something up. My plan is only going to work if you stay alive till the exact moment you should die. Anything else. . . " 

"I know." Severus took my hand, kissing the back of it. "Now come, we need to eat." 

He gently put Remus back in his crib, tucking the blue blanket around our son. Dobby had set a tray to the side for us, containing chicken noodle soup for me, and a pork chop dinner for Severus. 

"You know you should be eating your dinners in the Great Hall." I said, blowing on the soup gently to make sure I didn't burn my mouth. "Don't they find it suspicious that you're always up here in your office?" 

"Actually, everyone finds it quite normal." Severus replied, clearly unconcerned about my questions. "I've always been rather remote and quiet. Besides, now that I'm headmaster, I'm not obligated to show up anywhere. Dumbledore. . . Dumbledore always did it because of his personality. If I did it, that would be the suspicious part." 

Content with this answer and realizing the truth of it once he had explained it, I ate. 

"Hey." Severus said softly, pausing as he went to eat his pork chop. "You don't have to worry so much about me, you know. There's no reason to believe that you're with me. I'm clearly a loyal Death Eater and would turn you in, in seconds. Besides, it helps that you were always with the Golden trio for every adventure. I believe that is the assumption the Death Eaters- and everyone else for that matter- believes." 

I nodded. That was probably true. Voldemort himself had seen me down in the Chamber of Secrets with Harry. And Wormtail had probably mentioned it for my third year. Death Eaters had also seen me with Harry at the Battle in the Ministry and also last year when Dumbledore had died. 

"You're right. I just. . . I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose you." I admitted quietly. "I've never exactly had great success with keeping people alive." 

Severus was silent at that and I closed my eyes. "I shouldn't have said that." 

"Hagrid? Is that you?" Severus joked dryly, before putting down his cutlery and pulling me into his arms. I gave a weak laugh. Severus sighed, kissing the side of my head. "Elizabeth. Listen. I'm prepared and that's all we can hope for. Your plan is good, the best one we have so far. But things can still happen. And I want you to know now, that if I do die, it's not your fault. You did your best. And. . . don't dwell over me, okay? Please? I want you to only be happy and I know it's not a reality but that's what I want to imagine. I want to imagine that you're able to move on eventually and quite frankly, Remus and these other babies will need a father. Or a father figure at the very least. We both know that." 

I nodded, turning into him but said nothing. 

"Good." Severus whispered, "Thank you." 

"But you will live." I said strongly, unable to think of any other option. 

"Of course." Severus agreed. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

I woke with a jolt, lying on the bed, wondering what exactly had woken me up. I laid there, trying to recall the last dregs of the dream. Severus deep slow breathing on the other side of me grounded me a little. I could feel the tips of his fingers on my hip, his warm body heat behind me. 

Remus was very quiet and I slowly rose up on the bed to look over at him. He was sucking on his thumb- I really needed to get rid of that habit- and was holding his little panda. I smiled, sinking back down on the bed, running a hand over my stomach. 

I turned into Severus, wondering if we would have a girl or a boy or one of each. I desperately wanted a girl, though I loved Remus. But I couldn't wait to dress her up in cute dresses and put tiny bows in her hair. And I knew Severus would spoil her silly. 

I drifted away for a moment, wondering what she would look like, before an image of a small blond-haired child popped into my head. But why would she be blond? Severus and I were both dark-haire. . . 

"No!" I gasped aloud, sitting up straight in horror. It jolted Severus out of his sleep and I could feel his fingers groping along as they tried to find me, his hand finally resting on my thigh. 

"Elizabeth?" His deep, sleepy baritone voice triggered something wonderful in me, but I pushed it to the side in my overbearing horror. 

It wouldn't be so bad if the children were Lucius'. Lucius was innocent in my eyes, even if he didn't think so himself. But if it was Greyback. . . or Nott. . . or any of the nameless Death Eaters that I didn't know. . . 

What were the chances the babies were Severus'? He had been there first, but was that enough? The others had been there more. And it might not have taken hold the first time with Severus. . . 

"Elizabeth talk to me." Severus' voice was more urgent, less sleepy. "What did you see?" 

"I- nothing. It was a dream." I whispered. "But not a vision, cause it's. . . it's not. . ." 

Severus tightened his grip on my arms, trying to get me to talk to him. 

I shook my head, "It's stupid. It's ridiculous." 

"Elizabeth." He said sternly, commanding me to talk. 

I sighed deeply and said, "What if the babies aren't. . . aren't yours?" 

Severus' hands let go of me and he became very quiet. I couldn't look at him, staring at the wall to the side of me instead. "What if they're Greybacks or- or Notts! Or-" 

Severus pushed me down into the bed, cutting off my worrying with a desperate kiss. "Stop. They're  mine. No matter what, they're mine." 

"No matter. . . you don't care?" I asked incredulously. 

Severus was quiet for a long time. He sighed, hovering above me. "These children are going to be born from you, Elizabeth. They're your children. Which means that no matter what, they're mine too." 

"Even if they have blond hair?" I asked quietly. 

"Even so." Severus answered softly. He paused and then said slowly, almost hesitantly. "If they're Lucius' kids. . . in looks you know. . . he's like a brother Elizabeth. And he was sick and I know that it wasn't him and you know that too. It won't be so bad. . . will it? Are you. . ." 

I looked up at my husband, running my fingers over his face, feeling the curve of his nose. I felt a little calmer, hearing those words. It didn't matter to him, so long as they came from me. They were our kids. 

"Okay." I whispered. "I just. . . I was afraid you wouldn't want them anymore." 

"It's not their fault." Severus murmured softly. "It would be unreasonable." 

I hugged him tightly, resting my chin on his shoulder. "I love you Severus." 

"I love you Elizabeth." Severus whispered softly, kissing the side of my neck. "Now get some rest, okay? You three need it." 

I smiled, curling into his side, loving the way his arms wrapped around me- around us protectively. 

"Sweet dreams darling." Severus whispered softly in my ear, so that I drifted off to the sweetest voice. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"Today she has gone so far into the woods that she wonders if she has started going out of them again toward the other side. She is not concerned about finding her way back. She remembers spaces, they stick in her mind even when they are expansive ones filled with trees and rocks. Once she closed her eyes and spun around to prove to herself that she could pick the right direction when she opened them again and she was only wrong by a little bit and a little bit wrong is mostly right.

"Today she finds rocks that might once have been a wall, clustered in a line. Those that are piled on each other do not reach very high, even in the highest places it would be easy to climb over them, but the grid picks a medium-high spot to tackle instead." 

My voice shakes as I pace the room, holding Remus. I'm not even trying to put him to sleep, I'm really trying to distract myself. Severus is with the Dark Lord right now, has been for a few hours. I know that he will come back, but I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of despair. A sickening feeling growing in my stomach that has nothing to do with my pregnancy. 

"On the other side of the wall there are clinging vines that snake over the ground, making it difficult to walk so the girl explores closer to the wall instead. It is a more interesting spot than others she has found in the woods. Were the girl older she might recognize that there was once a structure here but she is not old enough to put the pieces of crumbling rock together in her mind and assemble them into a long-forgotten building. The hinge of the door stays buried beneath years of leaves near her left shoe. A candlestick hides between rocks and the shadows fall in such a way that even this intrepid explorer does not discover it. 

"It is getting dark, though enough of the now golden sun remains to light her way home if she climbs back over the wall and retraces her steps, but she does not. She is distracted by something on the ground. 

"Away from the wall there is another line of stones, set in an almost-circle. A most-of-an-oval shape. A fallen archway that might once have contained a door." 

Remus fusses in my arms. He doesn't want to be in them, he wants to sit on the ground and play with the wooden blocks and the trains. He doesn't want to be up, he wants to be down. But I don't want to let go of him, he's the only thing grounding me and keeping me sane. 

But he whimpers and I know he's on the verge of tears. I sigh, putting him down on the ground by the small trains and wooden blocks. Once he takes a small wooden train into his hand, his fussing stops and he smiles. 

I sink to the ground, my back against the bed, wrapping my arms around myself. I don't want him to see me like this. 

He hits his small fist against the floor, the train wheels rolling a little every time he does so. He's only six months old so he doesn't play with toys in the same way a toddler might. He mostly just bites them or throws them at his feet. 

I smiled a little, laying down on my side, deciding that they best thing for me is to continue the story. 

"The girl picks up a stick and uses it to dig around the leaves in the middle of the arch of stones. The leaves crumble and break and reveal something round and metal. 

"She pushes more of the leaves out of the way with the stick and uncovers a curling ring about the size of her hand, which might have been brass but has tranished in mossy patterns of green and brown. 

"One side is attached to another piece of metal that remains buried. 

"The girl has only ever seen pictures of door knockers but she thinks this might be one even though most of the ones she has seen have lions biting the metal rings and this ring does not, unless the lion is hiding in the dirt. 

"She has always wanted to use a door knocker to knock upon a door and this one is on the ground and not in a picture. 

"This one she can reach.

"She wraps her fingers around it, not caring how dirty they become in the process, and lifts it up. It is heavy. 

"She lets the knocker drop again. The result is a satisfying clang of metal on metal that echoes through the trees. 

"The door is delighted to be knocked upon after so long.

"And the door- though it is mere pieces of what it once was- remembers where it used to lead. It remembers how to open. 

"So now, when a small explorer knocks, the remains of this door to the Starless Sea let her in. 

"The earth crumbles beneath her, pulling her into the ground feetfirst in a cascade of dirt and rocks and leaves." 

I pause in the story now, watching and listening as Remus giggles, having knocked over the block tower with the wooden train that had once been in his hand. The story finishes silently in my head. 

The girl is too surprised to scream.

She is not afraid. She does not understand what is happening so her fear only buzzes excitedly around her as she falls. 

When she lands she is all curiosity and scraped elbows and dirt-covered eyelashes. The lion-less door knocker rests bent and broken by her side. 

The door is destroyed in the fall, too damaged to remember what it once was. 

A tangle of vines and dirt obscures any evidence of what has occurred. 

A hand touches my shoulder. I jump, turning, going to block Remus from whoever is in the room with my body, vividly aware that my mother did the same with Harry. 

It's just Severus, who looks upon me apologetically, his black travelers cloak still tightly fastened around his neck. 

"Severus." I can barely breathe his name out as I fight to get air into my terrified lungs. "You gave me a heart attack." 

"I'm sorry." Severus apologized sincerely, unfastening the cloak and tossing it onto the bed. "I knocked but. . . you didn't answer. And I grew particularly concerned when you didn't answer when I said your name. I half thought you'd fallen asleep." 

"No, I'm sorry." I said, getting to my feet, wrapping my arms around him. "I was lost in thought." 

I was struck by how easily I hadn't noticed his presence. How easily it could've been a Death Eater without me noticing. 

"So um, how did it go with him?" I asked, settling onto the bed. Remus was crawling around now on the floor, heading toward his father. Severus smiled, bending down and scooping Remus into his arms. 

"Hi Buddy." Severus said, tossing Remus into the air a bit, making the little boy giggle and squeal. I smiled a little more. 

Severus settled him back on the floor on a pillow, before sitting down next to me. "Well, first he wanted to know if I knew anyone by the description of the man who was with you in Godric's Hollow. I answered everything rather honestly. Told him you were often admired and it could be a great many boys, Wizard or Muggle." 

"Not very honest then." I teased, unbuttoning his shirt at the first button, leaning in to press a kiss to his collarbone. I had missed him desperately. 

"Hmm." Severus replied, amused. "And then he wanted to know the probability of if you had broken apart from Potter and if perhaps your father knew where you were. Your father, of course, is hidden so they can't find him and I said as much. I also told him that I doubted your father knew anything of your whereabouts because you would have protected him to keep him from being a target." 

Severus hesitated and said, "I wasn't quite sure how to answer the first one. I thought about saying it was unlikely that you had broken away from the others. But if they were ever caught, then I wanted you to have an alibi. So I simply said that you might be moving between Potter and also doing your own thing based on what you could see of the future." 

"Ah, and lastly, he wanted to know why so many people seemed to know that Charity Burbage was dead." Severus grimaced, moving up and away from me at this. I knew that he blamed himself for letting her die, even though he always knew there was nothing that he could do. "I did have to tell him about the mural you'd done of the Professors and what happened when one died." 

He sounded apologetic about this and I shook my head. "No, that's fine. The Carrows would probably suspect the same if they had any brains." 

Severus snorted at that. 

"So we're okay?" I asked tentatively, climbing into his lap so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. He placed his hands on my waist, rocking me a little with a devilish glint in his eyes. 

"We're okay." He whispered before placing his lips against mine. 

I smiled into the kiss and then pulled away softly and whispered, "Remus." 

"Cockblocker." Severus muttered, before playfully dumping me onto the bed and standing up. I giggled, feeling more light-hearted than I had all day. He hung up his clothes and then the three of us settled on the floor and played for the rest of the day. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAGRID! WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH 🖤🖤🖤

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 11

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

Je remue le ciel, le jour, la nuit Je danse avec le vent, la pluie Un peu d'amour, un brin de miel Et je danse, danse, danse, danse, danse, danse, danse

I sang softly and lightly through the air as I played with Remus on the floor. He was sitting up, a little green wooden block in his hand. He was staring at the corner, sucking on the free thumb of his other hand. 

I smiled a little, leaning forwards to place two yellow blocks next to each other, placing a blue block on top of them to form a small three stack. He looked over at them and giggled, kicking his feet on the floor. 

He dropped the green block, which landed near them, making the blue block move a little, but not knocking it off. He kicked his feet again. 

Et dans le bruit, je cours et j'ai peur Est-ce mon tour? Vient la douleur Dans tout Paris, je m'abandonne Et je m'envole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole, vole

Que d'espéran-

*CRASH*

I choked on the words of the song, heart pounding in my chest. I reacted immediately, scooping Remus up in my arms. I raced silently over to the crib, laying him down in it, before running for my wand, all the while realizing that I desperately needed to cough. 

My eyes watered as I raced back to the crib. Unable to speak, I tapped the crib so that it turned invisible, blending in with the wall. Another silent wave of my wand sent the blocks flying into a small box that they were normally kept in and shoved it into the closet, closing the closet door as quietly as possible. 

I shoved my face into a pillow, coughing, all the while screamingly aware of how loud it was. Then, I turned into a cat, racing under the bed and crawled up into the bed box, crouching there, low and hunched over. 

I tried to hear what was going on in the main room. What was broken? Who had broken it? My mind was racing along with my heart. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my heart before I could think. 

It seemed like forever, but it was probably only ten minutes before the door to the bedroom opened. 

I desperately wanted to move, wanted to crawl out of the bed box and see who was in the room. Wanted to see who was here and if they would go after Remus. But Severus and I had agreed that this was better and safer. Plus, me moving would make noise under the bed. 

The door closed softly and there were four footsteps. 

"Elizabeth?" Severus called out softly. "Elizabeth?" 

I leapt down and padded out, looking up to see him looking under the bed now. He sighed, petting my head a little before I turned human again, falling into him, only now realizing how much I was shaking. 

"It's okay." He murmured, hugging me hard. "It was just some students. Weasley, Longbottom, and Lovegood. They were trying to take the Gryffindor Sword. It's alright Elizabeth." 

"Right, I forgot." I said, voice shaking desperately. 

"It's alright." He ran a calming hand down the back of my hair before rubbing my back. "It's okay. You're safe. Remus is safe." 

"Right." I breathed out, nodding, giving a shaky laugh. I staggered to my feet, feeling a little dizzy as I undid the charm on Remus' crib. "Right." 

"I have to go and write some letters, address some things." Severus said in an apologetic voice, coming over to put his hands on my shoulders. I leaned into him, closing my eyes. "I'll have Dobby bring you some hot chocolate." 

"Thank you." I whispered, nodding, turning into him so that I could kiss his cheek and then rest my cheek on his shoulder. 

"Anything for you." Severus whispered softly, before kissing the top of my head. "If it will make you feel safer, you can lock the door after I leave." 

I smiled a little and shook my head. "Thanks, but I know I'm safe now." 

Severus tripped me on purpose so that he could catch me, breaking my squeal with a kiss. "Very safe." He whispered as he pulled away, before sweeping out the door, correcting the smirk on his face to a scowl. 

I smiled a little and then picked Remus up out of his crib. "Well then baby. Let's go and play with blocks again!" 

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"Elizabeth?" Severus called out from the bedroom, but the idea of answering him brought another wave of nausea to my stomach. I complied, emptying the contents of the light toast and tea breakfast into the toilet. 

Severus' footsteps pounded into the bathroom immediately, skidding to a stop. He was there in seconds to pull my hair back from my face while I finished, before collapsing against the toilet. 

"Not feeling to good?" Severus asked sympathetically and I simply groaned in response, running my fingers over the Berkano rune. Was it as I hopped? Was I pregnant again with Severus' babies? 

"Sev, can you do the pregnancy spell?" I asked, closing my eyes. "To check." 

Severus was silent for a moment and I opened one eye to see that he was smiling just a bit. He met my eyes and snapped out of his daze. "Yes, sorry, of course." 

I flushed the toilet and finished up in the bathroom before going over to the bed. Severus gently moved Remus up on the bed so that he was sitting on my pillow, before sitting down on the bed himself. Severus tapped my stomach gently with his wand, my womb lighting up a faint white to show the little bean inside. 

No. . . wait. . . 

"Twins?" Severus breathed out, dropping his wand and cupping my stomach. "Elizabeth, we're having twins." 

My eyes pricked with tears as my heart filled with bursting love. 

"Oh Severus." I said, putting my hands over my face, overcome with emotion. "Oh Severus!" 

"Hey! It's okay." Severus comforted me, misunderstanding my emotions. "We can handle twins Elizabeth." 

"I know that." I shook my head at his silliness. "I'm just so happy Severus! I can't believe we get to add two more to the family!" 

Severus reached over, picking Remus up in his arms, bouncing him gently on his knee. "Did you hear that bubs? You're getting two new siblings." 

We celebrated in happiness of a few more minutes before a sudden realization came to me. "Severus? What about check ups? It's not like. . ." I hesitated. This would be difficult without any sort of guidance from a medical professional. I couldn't go to St. Mungos, but perhaps I could see a muggle doctor? 

Severus frowned for a moment, his hand resting on my stomach. It was clear that he wanted us to be safe, he just wasn't sure how. 

"We'll figure it out." He promised me. "I'll figure it out." 

I smiled a little, leaning against him. 

He gave a little jolt and said, "Oh! Before I forget. Trang was able to implore your friend, Miss Bones, to get her copies of the homework you would be doing, had you been in class. I thought it would give you something to do to keep you from going crazy or bored."  

"Thank you." I smiled a little. I loved spending time with Remus, but being cooped up in this room gave us limited things to do. Severus was truly doing his best and I wasn't going to complain. I was glad for the homework though. 

"Anything for you." He whispered, pulling me into his arms so that he could hold the whole family there. And to cheesily top it off, he started to sing, "I've got the whole world, in my hands. . ." 

I giggled and relished this moment with my family. 

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 18

Warnings: 18+ readers only, mentions of nudity, smut

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝖂𝖊 𝖜𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 in courtyard when the letter came. Hermione had been berating Harry about not concentrating on Slughorn and instead, concentrating on Malfoy. Meanwhile, Ron kept ducking behind Hermione as different girls came around the corner, always afraid that one of them would be Lavender.

"Harry Potter? I was asked to give you this." The girl said. She had straight black hair and pretty eyes. She handed a letter to Harry.

"Thanks. . ." Harry said, taking the small roll of parchment. When the girl had left he said, "Dumbledore said we wouldn't be having any more lessons until I got the memory!"

"It's not from Dumbledore." I said over Hermione's head.

"Look at this." Harry said to Hermione, handing her the letter.

I read over her shoulder:

Dear Harry, Ron, Elizabeth, and Hermione, Aragog died last night. Harry, Ron, and Elizabeth, you met him, and you know how special he was. Hermione, I know you'd have liked him. It would mean a lot to me if you'd dip down for the burial later this evening. I'm planning on doing it round dusk, that was his favorite time of day. I know you're not supposed to be out that late, but you can use the cloak. Wouldn't ask, but I can't face it alone. Hagrid.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Hermione said, passing it on to Ron who said, "He's mental! That thing told its mate to eat Harry, Eliza and me! Told them to help themselves! And now Hagrid expects us to go down there and cry over its horrible hairy body!"

"It's not just that." Hermione said. "He's asking us to leave the castle at night and he knows security's a million times tighter and how much trouble we'd be in if we were caught."

"We've been down to see him by night before." Harry pointed out.

"Yes, but for something like this?" Hermione asked skeptically. "We've risked a lot to help Hagrid out, but after all- Aragog's dead. If it were a question of saving him-"

"-I'd want to go even less. You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot." Ron said.

I privately agreed with Ron, though I hated the idea of Hagrid facing something terrible alone. Correction, something terrible for him alone. I could most definitely sneak down to see him.

"Harry!" Hermione said desperately, "You can't be thinking of going. It's such a pointless thing to get detention for!"

"Yeah, I know. I s'pose Hagrid'll have to bury Aragog without us."

"I'll go down." I said and the other three looked at me. I shrugged, "Look, I can turn into a cat. Cats are allowed past security, aren't they?"

"Ah. . ." Hermione said, looking worried.

"Nothing's going to happen Hermione." I said gently.

"Alright then." Ron said, "That sums that up."

Hermione turned to Harry. "Look, Potions will be almost empty this afternoon, with us all off doing our tests. . . Try and soften Slughorn up a bit then!"

"Fifty-seventh time lucky, you think?" Harry asked in a bitter voice.

"Lucky." Ron said. "Harry, that's it- get lucky!"

"What d'you mean?" Harry asked cautiously, knowing exactly what Ron meant.

Ron looked at him excitedly, "Use your lucky potion!"

Hermione looked at Ron in a new light, "Ron that's- that's it! Of course! Why didn't I think of it?"

"It'll work." I said confidently.

Harry looked at the three of us. "Felix Felicis? I dunno.. I was sort of saving it. . ."

"For what?" I asked, amused because I knew exactly who he was thinking about.

He didn't answer, having gone off into la la land and didn't come back until Hermione asked, "Harry? Are you still with us?"

"Wha-? Yeah, of course. Well. . . okay. If I can't get Slughorn to talk this afternoon, I'll take some Felix and have another go this evening."

"That's decided, then." Hermione said, getting to her feet and started to do pirouettes. I was quite jealous. Twycross hadn't gotten the Minister's approval for me to take the test early. "Destination. . . determination. . . deliberation. . ."

"Oh, stop that, I feel sick enough as it is- quick, hide me!" Ron cowered.

"It isn't Lavender." Hermione snapped.

"Cool. Blimey, they don't look happy, do they?"

I scoffed, "They're the Montgomery sisters, of course they aren't going to be looking happy! Didn't you hear about their brother?"

"I'm losing track of what's happening to everyone's relatives, to be honest." Ron said carelessly.

"Well, their brother was attacked by a werewolf. The rumor is that their mother refused to help the Death Eaters. Anyways, the boy was only five and he died in St. Mungo's, they couldn't save him." Hermione answered.

"He died?" Harry sounded shocked, "But surely werewolves don't kill, they just turn you into one of them?"

"It depends." I said sadly. "Sometimes they lose control. It's why dad always traveled so far during full moons. If he didn't turn me, he'd kill me, and I don't think he would've been able to keep living if he'd done either one."

"What was the werewolf's name?" Harry asked.

"Well, the rumor is that it was that Fenrir Greyback." Hermione said sadly.

"I knew it- the maniac who likes attacking kids, the one Lupin told me about!" Harry said angrily.

Hermione and I looked at him sadly. "Harry, you've got to get that memory. It's all about stopping Voldemort, isn't it? These dreadful things that are happening are all down to him. . ."

The bell rang, Ron jumping to his feet to join Hermione.

"You'll do fine." Harry said, getting to his feet as well. "Good luck."

"Hermione, you'll pass. Ron, you're going to leave half an eyebrow behind and they'll fail you if you're not careful. Remember the tips that'll keep you from splinching yourself." I said happily.

Harry and I headed to the potions dungeon and found that it was the two of us, Ernie, and Malfoy.

"All too young to Apparate just yet?" Slughorn asked, looking around, "Not turned seventeen yet?"

We all shook our heads.

"Ah well, as we're so few, we'll do something fun. I want you all to brew me up something amusing!"

"That sounds good, sir." Ernie said, rubbing his hands together, smiling.

"What do you mean, 'something amusing'?" Malfoy asked irritably.

"Oh, surprise me." Slughorn said.

I headed to the side room, pulling out a cauldron that already had ingredients in it. My Felix Felicis potion. I had started it with Severus after everyone had come back from break. I knew that we were going to need quite a bit.

But the potion needed work, only halfway done. Even with the headstart, the potion end time would be cutting close to the battle date.

Across from me, weird smells were emitting from Ernie's cauldron. It seemed he was trying to invent a potion. Draco didn't seem to be putting much work into his potion either, but Harry was working methodically on his. Occasionally, I caught brief smells of peppermint.

"Well, now, this looks absolutely wonderful," Slughorn said after an hour and a half of work, standing over Harry's potion. He clapped his hands together, staring down into Harry's cauldron. "Euphoria, I take it? And what's that I smell? Mmmm. . . you've added a sprig of peppermint, haven't you? Unorthodox, but what a stroke of inspiration, Harry, of course, that would tend to counterbalance the occasional side effects of excessive singing and nose-tweaking. . . I really don't know where you get these brain waves, my boy.. unless it's just your mother's genes coming out in you!"

"Oh. . . yeah, maybe." Harry said.

I had covered my nose discretely as the potion that Ernie had created was spewing horrid fumes.

The bell rang, Ernie and Draco left a once.

"Sir." Harry said but Slughorn was already leaving the dungeon. "Professor- Professor, don't you want to taste my po-?" Harry called desperately but the door closed.

I sighed, "No go Harry. But I'd certainly like to try some if you don't mind. You should try some too."

We both took a few sips and a familiar feeling flooded through me.

"Oh. My. God." Harry said, looking dazed. "That is amazing."

I picked up my cauldron and told Harry I'd see him later, and hurried up to Severus' office. Since class had let out, there were no students in the classroom and I passed through with no qualms.

I set the cauldron down in the corner. I noticed Severus had already labelled ingredients in different bottles and jars for me. I quickly finished adding the other ingredients and stirring. Severus came in a few minutes later.

"How was class?" He asked, taking a seat at his desk and picking up his quill.

"Wonderful. . ." I said, carefully counting the rotations as I stirred. Perfect, it had to be perfect.

There was a silence that contained scratching quills and momentary pauses where it was dipped in the pot of ink, bubbling from the cauldron, and soft breathing. But the potion Harry had made was making something weird happen to me.

I finally set everything aside. It was to sit and stew for about three and a half weeks and seven hours to the dot. I pulled out my potions calendar, marking the specific time. The good thing was my time-turner. If I didn't manage to get there the first time, I could most definitely get there the second time.

I stood up, getting ready to go down to dinner when Severus said unexpectedly, "It really was brilliant art, Elizabeth."

"Sorry?" I questioned.

Severus looked up momentarily, his black eyes boring into mine. "The portraits. They really were brilliant."

"You set yours on fire." I pointed out, my lips twitching to keep from smiling.

"Yes. . ." Severus said, turning back to his parchment. "You're going to ruin my image as a cold hearted person. People might actually think I'm soft."

I laughed, walking up behind him and hugging him from behind. "Your much softer than you let on." I kissed his cheek and then paused. Euphoria. I took the quill from his hand and turned the chair around, sitting on his lip, pressing my lips to his neck. He let out a small noise, perhaps a gasp, perhaps a moan, I wasn't sure.

Perhaps I shouldn't have taken the Euphoria potion because I seemed to have unlimited energy and didn't feel deterred by anything at all.

I slipped his robes from his shoulders, letting them fall. He pushed me off of him so that he could get out of the chair, and we stumbled through the door of the bedroom and onto the bed. I was on top of him, letting him slide into me easily. I moved with him quickly, my breasts bouncing carelessly and I barely noticed the pain. All I could think about was the enjoyment of him inside of me and my hands in his soft, silky hair. His hands reached up to cup my breasts, pulling me down slightly so his lips could kiss them. I buried my face in his neck.

He rolled over as I moaned softly, his hands clutching at my hips, moving gently now. Strange, usually we started slow and made our way up in speed. We seemed to be doing the opposite and it was lovely. He reached up with one hand to cover my breast, squeezing softly, while the other snaked around to the back of my head, bringing my head up to be closer to his.

Our lips reached the others skin at different spots, not necessarily each others lips. The small bursts of delightfulness was punctured with small bites of pain. But it was all lovely and in my current state, everything seemed heightened tenfold.

"What. . . what was that?" Severus asked, almost breathlessly as we laid there, the blankets curling around our legs, our clothes scattered on the floor.

"Harry gave me a potion of euphoria." I muttered, pent out of energy now that the effects of the potion had worn out. My cheek rested on his chest "I have no idea what just happened. . . I mean, I know what happened. . . I just don't know how it happened."

Severus chuckled, kissing my neck. I shivered slightly under his touch. Bloody hell.

"I should um- I should go down to dinner- yeah- dinner." I said, breathing normally again.

"As should I." Severus said. "Though I feel quite exhausted at the moment."

I too felt quite tired and would've liked to have laid there and fallen asleep. But I couldn't. So I giggled, moving away from the bed, and getting dressed again, before leaving the classroom to go down to dinner.

After dinner, I ducked into the bathroom and upon finding it empty, I turned into a cat and strode from the room.

I had to run from some Ravenclaw first-year girls who thought I was just a sweet little kitten, and after hiding on top of a suit of armor, finally made my way back to the entrance hall, and slipped out the door, sprinting across the lawn to get to Hagrid's house.

I transformed back outside the door- I didn't really want to face Fang as a cat.

"Yeh came!" Hagrid said, pulling me into a hug. He wasn't crying- at the moment- but his eyes were red and puffy.

"Harry'll be down soon." I said. "Ron and Hermione couldn't come though."

"Don' matter, don' matter." Hagrid said, sitting back down in a chair. I made a pot of tea and gave him a cup which he drank with trembling fingers. I waited, pacing the cabin, waiting for Harry. Fang followed me, looking for head scratches which I gave occasionally.

There was a knock on the door and Hagrid was up, opening the door. Harry stood there, his invisibility cloak held out in front of him.

"Yeh came." Hagrid repeated.

"Yeah-Ron and Hermione couldn't though, they're really sorry." Harry said smoothly. Perhaps it was my imagination, but there almost seemed a faint gold hue around Harry. But it was so slight that Hagrid had not noticed it. Perhaps it was my sight. I had noticed that my sight and hearing had changed slightly since becoming an Animagus (a side effect that wasn't mentioned anywhere in the books or manuscripts).

"Don'- don' matter. . . He'd've bin touched yeh're here, though, Harry. . ." Hagrid said with a loud sob. Harry patted his elbow gently.

"Where are we burying him? The Forest?" Harry asked.

"Blimey, no. The other spiders won' let me anywhere near their webs now! Aragog's gone. Turns out it was on'y on his orders they didn' eat me! Can yeh believe that, Harry?" Hagrid said while wiping his eyes on the bottom of his shirt.

"I think he mentioned something like that when we went to talk to him." I said casually, sitting down. Fang came over, setting his head on my knees and I grimaced at the slobber. I really had never been a dog person. And I liked the cute dogs, the little Pomeranians and huskies and retrievers and bichon frises and labs and beagles. Bulldogs, pitbulls, pugs, boarhounds, ugh.

I had gotten along with Fang in my second year, having lived in Hagrid's cabin for nearly two months because I figured living in Hagrid's cabin by myself was safer than staying in the castle with lots and lots of people. Fang could grow on you if you could get used to slobber.

"Never bin an are o' the forest I couldn' go before! It wasn' easy, gettin' Aragog's body out o' there, I can tell yeh- they usually eat their dead, see. . . But I wanted ter give 'im a nice burial. . . a proper send-off. . ." Hagrid said, not paying me any attention.

"I can't go near the centaurs anymore." I said randomly. What the hell were the side effects of the Euphoria potion?

"Professor Slughorn met me coming down here, Hagrid." Harry said, resuming the patting of the elbow.

"Not in trouble, are yeh?" Hagrid asked, so alarmed that Harry might be in trouble he stopped crying. "Yeh shouldn' be outta the castle in the evenin', I know it, it's my fault-"

"No, no, when he heard what I was doing he said he'd like to come and pay his last respects to Aragog too. He's gone to change into something more suitable, I think. . . and he said he'd bring some bottles so we can drink to Aragog's memory."

"Tha's- tha's righ' nice of him, that is, an' not turnin' yeh in either. I've never really had a lot ter do with Horace Slughorn before. . . Comin' ter see old Aragog off, though, eh? Well. . . he'd've liked that, Aragog would. . ." Hagrid muttered.

I snorted quietly and drank my tea. Then I sighed, putting my teacup down and pulled a piece of paper out of my back pocket. "Here, I drew this for you."

Hagrid took it in a shaking hand and unfolded it and started to sob. I quickly grabbed it from his hands so the charcoal wouldn't run.

"It's- it's beautiful." Hagrid sobbed and I put the drawing of Aragog up on his dresser so that he could see it. It was a horrible drawing- not because it was bad (if I may be so humble) but rather horrible in a gruesome way. The way I'd seen Aragog through my scared twelve-year old eyes. Strange, I felt so much older than sixteen now.

"Are we going to bury him here, Hagrid, in your garden?" Harry asked after a moment when Hagrid had stopped sobbing.

"Jus' beyond the pumpkin patch, I thought. I've already dug the- yeh know- grave. Jus' though we'd say a few nice things over him- happy memories, yeh know-"

There was a knock at the door and I stood, getting it and letting Professor Slughorn in. "Hagrid, so very sorry to hear of your loss."

"Tha's very nice of yeh. Thanks a lot. An' thanks fer not givin' Harry detention neither. . ." Hagrid said gruffly, all tears done and gone.

"Wouldn't have dreamed of it. Sad night, sad night. . . where is the poor creature?" Slughorn asked, his eyes roaming the cabin and settling on the drawing.

"Out here," Hagrid said, leaving the cabin. "Shall we- shall we do it, then?"

"Wonderful artwork Miss Kane." Professor Slughorn complimented, "You've got quite the eye for artistic beauty."

"Thank you Professor." I said quietly, briefly remembering that my drawing of him had him dressed in a pineapple suit, and I took up the rear of the party.

The moon was glistening on the grounds so that everything was in shadow. The moon rays mixed and intermingled with the light from Hagrid's windows just enough to make out the large boulder like shadow. There, before it, was a massive pit that was ten-feet-deep with a matching sized pile of dirt to go with it.

"Magnificent." Professor Slughorn said, striding to the front of the spider's face. I could only imagine it faking death and reaching out, snapping off a leg to feast on. I suddenly felt quite nauseous. I quickly put a hand on my stomach.

I could hear the tinkle of bottles and rolled my eyes. So the walrus had come for the Acromantula venom, was I surprised?

"It's not ev'ryone appreciates how beau'iful they are. I didn' know yeh were int'rested in creatures like Aragog, Horace."

"Interested? My dear Hagrid, I revere them." Slughorn said, taking a step back from the body. I could understand his point. It would be a horrible idea not to respect them. The same way you should revere Centaurs and Merpeople so they didn't kill you with a bow or a spear. There were a lot of rules to follow in the magical world. "Now. . . shall we proceed to the burial?"

Hagrid nodded and moved forward, pushing against the black spider's body and it fell into the pit with a crunch. I winced. Hagrid started to cry.

"Of course, it's difficult for you, who knew him best." Professor Slughorn said, patting Hagrid's elbow. "Why don't I say a few words?"

I came to stand next to Hagrid who wrapped a massive arm around my shoulders. My knees nearly buckled under the weight of the arm but I managed to keep standing though I felt as though I was carrying two bookbags with twenty textbooks in them.

"Farewell, Aragog, king of arachnids," Professor Slughorn said in an impressive voice, something like a preacher I'd heard at a church before. "whose long and faithful friendship those who knew you won't forget! Though your body will decay, your spirit lingers on in the quiet, web-spun places of your forest home. May your many-eyed descendants ever flourish and your human friends find solace for the loss they have sustained!"

"Tha' was. . . tha' was. . . beau'ful!" Hagrid sobbed and he collapsed onto the heap, crying harder than ever before. Even I had tears springing to my eyes, though I was sure that had to do more with the high emotions running around here than the actual sadness that Aragog was dead. But I hated it when Hagrid was upset.

"There, there." Slughorn said and with a wave of his wand, the earth crashed back into the grave, smoothing over the surface. "Let's get inside and have a drink. Get on his other side, Harry. . . That's it. . . Up you come, Hagrid. . . well done. . ."

Hagrid was deposited in a chair at the table. Fang came padding over and put his head on Harry's lap as usual. I think Fang liked Harry better than me and I was quite okay with that. Professor Slughorn uncorked one of the bottles he had brought.

"I have had it all tested for poison." He said in what he obviously thought a reassuring voice. "Had a house-elf taste every bottle after what happened to your poor friend Rupert."

I had many retorts for that comment, some of them about the cruelty for house-elves, and some of them about what 'Rupert's' real name was.

"One for Harry. . . one for me. . . and one for Elizabeth. . ." Slughorn said, diving the second bottle between the three of us. The first bottle had been fully deposited into Hagrid's tankard. "Well- to Aragog."

"Aragog." Harry, Hagrid, and I said together, also lifting our glasses.

Hagrid and Slughorn drank deeply. Harry didn't drink at all. I took a small sip and did not find the texture or taste to my taste. I'd never liked wine or alcoholic substances. I set the glass down on the table. I supposed I could hand it over if they wanted more drink.

"I had him from an egg, yeh know. Tiny little thing he was when he hatched. 'Bout the size of a Pekingese." Hagrid started down the tale.

"Sweet." Slughorn said.

"Used ter keep him in a cupboard up at the school until. . . well. . ." Hagrid's face darkened and a peculiar thought came over me.

If Slughorn had taught Tom Riddle, and Tom Riddle and Hagrid had gone to the school at the same time, then Slughorn had taught Hagrid as well. I found this much more fascinating than the story that was unfolding. I loved finding connections where none seemed to be. I always felt the need to share it too and on instinct, I looked over at Harry, but kept my mouth shut.

"That's never unicorn hair, Hagrid?" Slughorn asked, eyeing Hagrid's walls with interest. Hagrid collected things he found in forest- unicorn tail hair included. I'd helped him collect some. It got caught on bushes and ferns and was quite easy to pick up.

"Oh yeah," Hagrid said with indifference. "Gets pulled out of their tails, they catch it on branches an' stuff in the forest, yeh know. . ."

"But my dear chap, do you know how much that's worth?" Slughorn asked in awe.

"I use it fer bindin' on bandages an' stuff if a create gets injured. It's dead useful. . . very strong, see." Hagrid said with another shrug.

There was quite a difference between the educated and the uneducated, I noticed. Hagrid had only three years of schooling (at least at Hogwarts) and yet, he didn't see things for their monetary value. He'd even passed on some of his skills to me, using unicorn hair for bandages and other things. Slughorn on the other hand. . . Aragog's venom was rare, very expensive, very valuable. . . unicorn hair could be sold to wand makers. . .

They had ventured into tale about the Centaurs of the forest and I listened with vivid interest as Hagrid told recent stories of Ivagio, Ronan, Bane, and the others. I had missed some of them- Bane excluded- and hearing recent stories was quite nice. I thought about retelling some of the stories to Firenze, but I wasn't sure how he'd take it or if it would make him more upset.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Harry wave his wand slightly and the bottle on the table refilled. I said nothing, grabbing my own cup and turned the wine into pumpkin juice. Then I started to take small sips while listening to Hagrid and Slughorn trade stories about the illegal dragon trades they'd taken part of.

Harry continued to refill the bottle and they started to get drunker. They started to make random toasts to some random, some not random things. To Hogwarts, to Dumbledore, to elf-made wine, and to Harry.

"Harry Potter!" Hagrid bellowed, slopping another bucket of wine down his front. I felt how I had felt coming to Grimmauld 12 before Christmas and finding Sirius had been drinking as he had been alone for a long time. I was quite upset, watching him drink himself into oblivion, but I did nothing to interfere.

"Yes, indeed, Parry Otter, the Chosen Boy Who- well- something of that sort." Slughorn mumbled.

Parry Otter. I laughed aloud and neither seemed to notice. Harry's lips twitched for a millisecond.

Hagrid became tearful soon after, reaching up and pulling the whole band of unicorn hair off of the ceiling and gave it to Slughorn. Slughorn put it in his pocket saying, "To friendship! To generosity! To ten Galleons a hair!"

I watched the end of the unicorn hair slip into his pocket, more upset than was rational. Hagrid and I had spent classes searching for unicorn hair. While easy to take off, unicorns were usually quite careful and rarely caught their tails on bushes unless they were already loose. It was going to take ages to find more unicorn hair for bandages. What if a magical creature got hurt? We would have nothing to bind their wounds with. . . unless something else could be used? Maybe Firenze could teach me something.

They started to sing and I put my head on my arms, wondering when the night was going to end. I suppose I could've left, but I didn't want to. Something was keeping me here.

Some called him Odo the early and some called him Odo the late It's undoubtedly true he was often confused, but his deeds they were noble and great

Some name him born on a Wednesday, for he had his measure of woe. No he was born on a Thursday some say, for he'd always a long way to go.

"Aaargh, the good die young," Hagrid muttered after slumping into his chair. "Me dad was no age ter go... nor were yer mum an' dad, Harry..." More tears oozed from his eyes and he grabbed Harry's arm and shook it. I watched the scene with sadness. "Bes' wiz and witchard o' their age I never knew... terrible thing... terrible thing..."

And Odo the hero, they bore him back home To the place that he'd known as a lad, They laid him to rest with his hat inside out And his wand snapped in two, which was sad.

"...terrible." Hagrid grunted one last time before falling asleep.

"Sorry, can't carry a tune to save my life." Professor Slughorn said with a hiccup.

"Hagrid wasn't talking about your singing. He was talking about my mum and dad dying." Harry said in a soft voice, the first time he'd talked ever since coming back into the cabin.

I flinched. Mum and Dad. I felt a sudden wave of grief and longing.

"Oh. Oh dear. Yes, that was- was terrible indeed. Terrible. . . terrible. . ." Slughorn said with a horrible belch. He refilled the mugs, obviously having nothing else to say but said anyways, "I don't- don't suppose you remember it, Harry?"

"No- well, I was only one when they died." Harry said. I was looking at the floor because I was crying. "But I've found out pretty much what happened since. My dad died first. Did you know that?"

"I- I didn't." Slughorn said in a quiet voice.

"Yeah. . . Voldemort murdered him and then stepped over his body toward my mum. He told her to get out of the way. He told me she needn't have died. He only wanted me. She could have run."

I imagined for a moment, if she had stepped aside. Voldemort would have only of killed Dad and Harry. It would've been me and her. Sirius would've helped her raise me and Lupin would have too. I could've later avenged Harry's killer. Or maybe Dumbledore would have destroyed him before I was even eleven.

"Oh dear. She could have. . . she needn't. . . That's awful. . ." Slughorn murmured.

"It is, isn't it? But she didn't move. Dad was already dead, but she didn't want me to go too. She tried to plead with Voldemort. . . but he just laughed. . ."

"That's enough! Really, my dear boy, enough. . . I'm an old man. . . I don't need to hear. . . I don't want to hear. . ."

He didn't want to hear what he had done.

"I forgot, you liked her, didn't you?" Harry asked. I shot him a quick look. Slughorn doted on his mother everyday, surely Harry couldn't have forgotten that! Or perhaps he was faking it.

"Liked her? I don't imagine anyone who met her wouldn't have liked her. . . Very brave. . . Very funny. . . It was the most horrible thing. . ."

"But you won't help her son. She gave me her life, but you won't give me a memory." Harry said.

Hagrid's snoring was all that filled the room at that moment. Even Fang was silent.

"Don't say that. It isn't a question. . . If it were to help you, of course. . . but no purpose can be served. . ."

"It can. Dumbledore needs information. I need information." Harry said loudly and firmly. Harry leaned forward a little. "I am the Chosen One. I have to kill him. I need that memory."

"You are the Chosen one?"

"Of course I am."

"But then. . . my dear boy. . . you're asking a great deal. . . you're asking me, in fact, to aid you in your attempt to destroy-"

"You don't want to get rid of the wizard you killed Lily Evans?"

"Harry, Harry, of course I do, but-"

"You're scared he'll find out you helped me?"

Slughorn said nothing.

"Be brave like my mother, Professor. . ."

Slughorn lifted his fingers to his mouth as though he were trying to smoke an invisible cigar. "I am not proud. . . I am ashamed of what- of what that memory shows. . . I think I may have done great damage that day. . ."

He had.

"You'd cancel out anything you did by giving me the memory. It would be a very brave and noble thing to do." Harry said.

Would it though? Would it cancel out everything?

Hagrid twitched his sleep, his elbow nearly knocking over the tankard. I watched as though hypnotized. There was a long silence. They both waited, a type of staring contest seemed to be going on between the two of them.

Finally Slughorn touched the tip of his wand to his temple and withdrew it, a long silver thread of memory stretched until it broke. It swung from the end of the wand until Slughorn put it into a small bottle and passed it, with a trembling hand, to Harry. He had tears in his eyes, or maybe his face was just obscured by my tears.

"Thank you very much, Professor."

"You're a good boy, and you've got her eyes. . . Just don't think too badly of me once you've seen it. . ." And with that, he put his head down and with a deep sigh, fell asleep.

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[braveclementine]

Chapter 13

Warnings: 18+ readers only, mentions of nudity, smut

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝕺𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖙 of Christmas break, I stayed in my bed except for bathroom breaks. It was quite embarrassing because dad would have to help me down to the bathroom. My leg was not quite ready to walk on it's own. Severus showed up every other day to give me potions and ointments and performs spells and also, bring news.

"Greyback's being favored." Severus said, applying a thick green paste to my leg that burned and I stared up at the ceiling, gritting my teeth and squeezing dad's hand so tightly, he kept wincing.

"Why?" Dad asked through gritted teeth as I dug my nails into his hand.

"The Dark Lord is quite pleased to know that Elizabeth is having a child. He thinks the child will have her powers. Of course, I think it's actually good news. He won't harm Elizabeth until he finds out whether the child has powers or not and he won't harm the child unless he finds out that the child doesn't have powers. Of course, if he finds out the child doesn't have power, he'll take Elizabeth and kill the child. Or keep the child as bait."

"That doesn't sound like good news to me!" Dad said indignantly as Severus wrapped a bandage around my leg.

"It means they're both safe. From death at least." Severus said, tying off the bandage on my leg and then removing the ones from my stomach. I breathed deeply through my nose. "And probably for many years too since Elizabeth's powers didn't develop until she was eleven. And of course, he might be vanquished before then."

Dad was silent for some time. I on the other hand, thought it was good news. "I don't think the child will have powers." I whispered. "I don't think its genetic."

"Doesn't matter." Severus said quickly. "He's not going to get his hands on you anyways."

Severus squeezed my hand before applying some ointment to my cuts. Apparently, there was some sort of magical dust on Greyback's claws. Wasn't lethal, but it left scars that couldn't usually be cleared up. Severus however, had inside knowledge and knew how to reverse them. It was just going to take time. I whimpered, partly from pain and partly from fear.

"He's not going to touch you Elizabeth." Sev murmured, leaving purple paste on my wounds now. He started to wrap them up tighter. "I promise."

I nodded, squeezing his hand and then closed my eyes, letting my body rest until it came time to drink the potion that Severus had made. It was disgusting, but necessary, and I took it. I'd asked before if it was safe to take. There were many potions people shouldn't take if they were pregnant. It was perfectly safe according to Sev.

Dad gave us a little privacy, leaving the room, and going down the stairs. Severus immediately sat next to me, putting a hand on my stomach. The baby was restless, always kicking recently. I didn't blame her, I always wanted freedom too.

"She's going to be lovely." I murmured, feeling quite sleepy. "I can picture her already, inside my head."

"Oh?" Severus questioned. "And what does she look like."

"Snow white." I said. "Black hair, alabaster skin, red lips, blue eyes."

"Who's Snow White?" Severus asked, sounding slightly concerned. "I certainly hope that's not what you named her."

I laughed and then reached over, opening the top drawer of the bedside table, pulling out an old Disney storybook.

I flipped through the yellow pages until I came to the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. "This is her." I said, turning the book around to show Snow White, pretty as a picture, her black hair in curls tucked up around her chin. Her lips as red as an apple and her skin as white as snow. There might've been a song about it.

"If this is what our child looks like, then she certainly will be beautiful when she grows up." Severus said. "But I imagine she'll have brown hair, brown eyes like her mother."

"Perhaps somewhere in between, but I'm quite certain she'll look like this." I said stubbornly.

Severus smiled and leaned down and kissed me. I put a hand up to his cheek, pulling him to me. Perhaps things would have gone farther if dad hadn't cleared his throat at the door. Severus pulled away from me slowly, gathering his things with his wand, and he was gone.

I would have liked Severus to have been there for New Years, but my ability to walk was enough celebration for dad and I and we went to bed before midnight even occurred.

Dad and I got a Ministry car to Kings Crossing where he helped me load my things into the train and I went back out onto the platform to say good-bye to him.

"Please be careful." Dad said, holding my face in his hands. "I want you to stay out of trouble, no matter what. Nothings' worth your health at this point, nothing. Not with a child in you. You're not caring for your life anymore Elizabeth, but someone else's life too."

"I know Dad." I said, hugging him tightly. I hated parting with him. He hugged me back fiercely.

"I love you sweetheart." He said, smoothing strands of hair back from my face because I was crying. He kissed my forehead. "Everything's going to be fine."

"I know." I said, smiling weakly and chuckling. "It's just the hormones. I love you dad."

I kissed his cheek and climbed back onto the train, going back into my compartment where I started on reading A Game of Thrones.

Hermione soon joined me, her own things pushed up in the compartment. "That's a horrible book." She commented as she sat down across from me. I glared at her.

"You can't have possibly read this book yet." I said, barely looking up from the pages. "It only just came out."

"I got it a few days after the publishing date and read it in three days." Hermione recited off the top of her head. "It's barbaric and horrible."

"I'll make my own conclusions by the end of the book." I said, determined to like it.

Hermione shrugged, "So how was your break?" her eyes were resting on my cheek and I touched it gingerly. The scars had faded. Severus would continue the healing process when I returned to school.

"Oh, you know." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Dad and I spent Christmas at the Burrow with Harry. Tonks was there Christmas day. Bellatrix Lestrange and Greyback showed up some time afterwards."

Hermione dropped her mouth and said in an incredibly bossy voice, "Don't tell me you actually went after them!"

"I was trying to help Harry." I said, bookmarking my place and setting the book aside. "Besides, I hadn't foreseen anything. I mean, what if I hadn't gone after him? I don't know what would have happened either way. Besides, I thought it was just Bellatrix. I don't know when Greyback showed up."

"Greyback was the one who clawed your face?" Hermione asked.

I nodded, "Because I'm dad's daughter of course. Greyback was the one that bit dad, though you probably knew that."

Hermione nodded, "I assumed, though I wasn't 100% sure."

I sighed. "Dad was so upset."

"You weren't bit were you?" Hermione asked in a sharp voice.

"No, it wasn't full moon so Greyback thought biting me would be a waste." I said scathingly. "Apparently, he's waiting for a full moon."

Hermione shuddered, "You really need to start being more careful."

"Believe me Hermione, I'm not going to go looking for trouble. . . well not anymore at least."

Hermione glared at me before pulling out the Daily Prophet and we spent most of the rest of the train ride reading in silence.

We disembarked the train, carrying out things to the carriages and we started towards the castle.

Hermione and I split up once we were in the castle. She went to put her things away in the Gryffindor Tower and I went to Severus' office to move back in.

"How's your leg?" Severus asked in greeting as I set my things down in the corner.

"Much better." I said brightly, pulling out my art pad and setting it down on the bed. I pulled out all of the drawings that I had drawn over the break and laid them out and then asked, "Have you seen anywhere like this or even know what these symbols mean?"

Severus took a long time, examining each of the drawings carefully and spent a lot more time looking at the six images on the piece of paper.

"No." Severus finally said. "Why?"

I sighed, shaking my head and putting the pieces of paper together. "I wish I knew why." was my answer and I put the pad back in my bag.

I kissed his cheek and said, "I'm going to go and hang out with Hermione. I'll be back soon."

"Right." Severus said, slightly disconcerted, watching me leave.

I headed down to Hagrid's where Hermione, Trang, and Hagrid were playing with Buckbeak. They were deep in conversation about something and as I got closer, I realized that they were talking about the attack on the Burrow.

"Elizabeth!" Hagrid exclaimed, "There yeh are!"

"Have a good break Christmas Hagrid?" I asked carelessly, petting Buckbeak on the nose.

"The best!" Hagrid said, a might bit to cheerful.

"I overheard you guys." I said, my lips threatening to twitch into a smile. "I know what you were talking about."

"How could you be so stupid!" Trang exploded angrily. "Don't you know what-"

"Yes, Trang!" I said quickly, in case she, like dad, mentioned the baby. The last person that I wanted to know about my child was Hagrid. I loved Hagrid, but he couldn't keep a secret.

"Dangerous stunt, that was Elizabeth." Hagrid said in a worried tone. "Don' know what yer father would've done if he'd lost yeh."

Guilt filled me immensely. Like I hadn't felt bad enough already. "It's not going to happen again." I said fiercely.

"Unless you don't foresee it." Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

I scowled. So they were all going to team up on me now, were they? "Look, I made a mistake and it's not going to happen again, alright? And I'd really appreciate if the entire school didn't know about this, okay?"

Without another word about the incident, we turned our attention to Buckbeak/Witherwings. I still called him Buckbeak because I hated change. Changing somethings name to another was quite uncomfortable.

Hermione, Trang, and I went up to Gryffindor tower as the hours started to get late and in front of the portrait was Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

"Harry! Ginny!" Hermione called, hurrying towards them. Trang and I followed. "I got back a couple of hours ago, I've just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck- I mean Witherwings. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yeah, pretty eventful. Rufus Scrim-" Ron started.

"I've got something for you, Harry." Hermione interrupted, not taking any notice of Ron. "Oh, hang on- password. Abstinence."

"Precisely." The Fat Lady said in an extremely feeble voice. I looked up at her portrait before she opened up to the common room, and saw that she looked quite pale and slightly sick. Could portraits take ill?

"What's up with her?" Harry asked, stepping through the room.

"Overindulged over Christmas, apparently." Hermione said, with a roll of her eyes as she stepped inside the Common room. Trang and I did not follow and instead, turned away and started walking towards the library.

Trang immediately turned on me once we were in a lonesome hallway. "You have a child and you went after a Death Eater?" She hissed.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Trang, c'mon." I pleaded. "I didn't know there were going to be two-"

"The number of Death Eaters is irrelevant." Trang hissed. "if there was one Death Eater and ten of you, it's still irrelevant. You could be the one out of ten that gets hurt."

"Trang!" I said sharply. "I already talked with Dad and Severus. I am never, ever going to engage in a fight until I have this child."

"Not good enough." Trang said sharply. "You have to stay alive for the child, you know? Don't get in any more fights, period."

"You're not my mother." I said, sharper than I intended.

"No, but I'm your best friend." Trang said fiercely.

"You are very emotional about this subject." I said slowly.

Trang sighed, calming down, rubbing the temples of her forehead. "Yeah, I know."

"Why?" I asked curiously.

She turned, looking out the window. Snow littered the grow, but it wasn't sticking well. "I had to do volunteer hours in America. I worked with children who had lost their parents. They don't grow up right, Liz. I mean, some of them do, but not all of them. That's why they're in the center. Drugs, assault, robbery, I mean, would you want your child to end up there?"

"She's not going to." I said fiercely. "But. . ." I spoke softer, taking in a deep breath, "I understand what you're saying."

Trang put an arm around my shoulder, "Alright then, so we're in agreement?"

"We're in agreement." I said with a smile.

Well, at least I didn't make an unbreakable vow.

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APPARITION LESSONS If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen on or before the 31st of August next, you are eligible for a twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor. Please sign below if you would like to participate. Cost: 12 Galleons.

"What do you think?" Ernie asked.

"Well I'll be signing up." Susan said, putting her money in the box after writing her name down at the bottom.

"I'll have to think about it." I said. I wanted to check and see if apparition was okay to do if you were pregnant.

In Charms, it was quite evident that Hermione hadn't gotten over her ignoring Ron stage. I couldn't blame her, but it was starting to get quite tiring.

Today, we were jumping into producing fountains of pure water. It was much simpler than many of the other charms we had been doing before break. I'd performed the charm last year, though I'd spoken it, rather than nonverbally. But I was one of the first to produce the pure water.

Seamus managed to produce a sprout of water which knocked Professor Flitwick off of his feet. He looked quite ashamed of himself, but he was immersed in whatever conversation he was having with Ron and Harry.

Hermione was stiffly producing jets of water, ignoring Ron completely. I was sitting on the other side of the room, watching silently. I still couldn't believe that the two of them got married. How ridiculous. Harry and Hermione were a better couple. I wondered what their reaction would be if I told them. But then again, that would leave Ginny out, and I couldn't do that to her either. Besides, Harry already had developing feelings for Ginny and I had no reason to crush his emotions.

I wondered who else was eligible to set up with Hermione, but I didn't get much time to think about it because Professor Flitwick wanted me to show him my charmwork.

I hurried back to the office after class was over with a new stack of homework from all the classes that I'd attended today. Severus seemed buried in paper work too and it seemed like it was more midterm than the start of term.

He sighed, tossing his quill down and pulled me onto his lap, our lips meeting quickly. I kissed back passionately, letting my lips part and Severus gave a small moan of ecstasy. He stood up, moving me carefully so that my feet reached the floor and then we moved towards the bed.

Being careful of my right leg, we became more tangled than we had been in the rose bush garden hideout. I'd always imagined that when a woman became pregnant, the couple stopped having sex because there was no point. However, from a view point, the sex almost seemed better in a way. Perhaps it was to encourage having more kids.

Every touch, every motion, every nerve was blissful, shiver inducing, and lovely. His lips kissed the curve between my waist and hip. His fingers trailing down my side. His hair, ticking my cheek while our lips interlocked in a dance.

As the sun started to sink, we lay there, our arms around each other, my cheek resting on his chest and his cheek resting atop my head. The white sheets were strewn around us, covering parts of us, leaving other parts of us exposed.

"I had a question." I murmured, looking at the other side of the room, absentmindedly tracing shapes with my finger across his abs, but not paying attention.

"Yes?" Severus asked politely, his fingers sliding up and down my thigh.

"Is it safe for me to take the apparition classes?"

His fingers stopped moving and I moved my head upwards to look at his face.

"Well..." He said slowly, looking up at the ceiling, his head tilted in a way that the light was thrown over it so I couldn't read his expression clearly. "If you already knew how, but you don't. Therefore, if you splinched yourself. . ."

"Right." I said. "So no apparition classes."

"Right." Severus said, kissing the top of my head. "Sorry."

"It's alright." I said, sighing in disappointment. I snuggled into his shoulder, the impending doom of bad grades from not doing homework didn't seem very important at the moment. Severus pulled the comforter up around my shoulders and I fell asleep quickly.

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"𝕯𝖚𝖒𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖉𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖘𝖆𝖎𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 like Tom Riddle." Harry said as he joined me in the library.

"Excuse me?" I asked, revolted.

"It was a compliment." Harry said.

"Comparing me to Voldemort is not a compliment." I said, disgruntled.

"He said that Tom Riddle was an unusually talented and very good-looking, naturally drawing attention and nearly all were most favorably impressed by him." Harry said, grinning at me. "That does sound like you."

I glared at him. "So I suppose the memories you watched last night were quite interesting?"

"You saw them?" Harry asked. "It would be nice not having to explain them again."

"Quite right." I said. "Of course I saw them." I rolled my eyes.

"Anyways." Harry said impatiently, obviously there was a question on his mind. "Hermione said she'd never heard of horcruxes-"

"The library won't hold any information on horcruxes. Dumbledore took all of the books out of the library in hopes to explain more about Voldemort." I said immediately.

"Do you know what a horcrux is?" Harry asked excitedly.

I nodded. "When you kill someone, you lose a bit of your soul for committing such a crime. I'm not sure about all of the magic, but you can put a bit of yourself into an object. Like Riddle's Diary, like the ring Dumbledore wore on his finger that cursed his hand."

"Dumbledore didn't mention any of that." Harry said, frowning.

"Yeah well if I wasn't here you wouldn't know about horcruxes until you wrangled the memory out of Slughorn."

"Can't you just tell me the memory?" Harry asked and I looked into his green eyes and quickly looked away.

"No." I said flatly. "But I can tell you when the time is right."

"Rons right. That is frustrating." Harry muttered.

"When Aragog dies." I sighed. "Hagrid will invite you guys down. You will drink a small amount of Felix Felicis in order to give you some luck. After you drink it, you'll know what to do. The luck drink will tell you."

Harry continued to glare at me half-heartedly and I grinned. "Tough love Harry, tough love."

"So I should just wait?" Harry asked.

"No." I said. "You should ask him the first chance you get and pretend I never gave you this advice, alright? You'll ask quite a few times. It'll just depend, alright?"

"Sure." Harry said and then asked, "What did Snape want with you on Christmas?"

"Oh!" I blushed, looking down at the table. "Well, you know. Just to spend time together."

Harry shook his head. "I still can't believe your with him. He's-"

"Don't." I said softly. "Please, Harry? I understand you hate him and you can say that all you want to anyone else, just not me, alright?"

Harry and I stared at each other. "Alright." Harry said, sounding a bit frustrated.

"I do love him." I whispered. "That's hard to believe, I know, but I love him." I stared out the window, determinedly not looking at Harry.

"I'm sorry." Harry muttered.

"Let's just not talk about him and me, alright?" I asked, glancing down at the table again.

"Hermione and Ron are still fighting." Harry said at once.

"Yes." I sighed, "You'd think Hermione would have put her differences aside but then again, Ron shouldn't have dated Lavender in the first place. It's a bit of a conundrum, isn't it?"

Harry sighed, "I think he can date whoever he wants, can't he?"

"Sure." I said genially. "But Hermione believed that they were going to Slughorn's party together and then all of sudden Ron and Lavender are together like a bunch of squids. It's a bit disgusting if you look at it from an outside point of view. Hermione was my friend first so I'm going to defend her to the end."

"Are they going to be friends again?" Harry asked, sounding quite exasperated.

"Yes, but it's going to take some time."

"Do you know if Trangs going to take the apparition courses?" Harry asked after a moment of silence.

"Huh." I said, completely shocked by his question. "Well I suppose she might. She hasn't said anything. She is technically of age to do so despite her year."

"You'll be taking them too?" Harry asked.

"No." I said reluctantly. However, I didn't have time to explain in great detail why I wasn't going to be taking the lessons because the bell rang and we quickly gathered our things to get to potions class.

I sat down next to Ernie and Hermione sat across from us. I wasn't surprised about this considering she was going to be angry with both Ron and Harry.

"Settle down, settle down, please! Quickly, now, lots of work to get through this afternoon! Golpalott's Third Law... who can tell me-? But- ah!"

Both Hermione and mine hands had shot up in the air and Slughorn was looking between the two of us, seeming to try and pick a favorite.

"Miss Granger?" He finally called and I lowered my hand, slightly disappointed.

Hermione recited at top speed, "Golpalott's Third-Law-states-that-the-antidote-for-a-blended-poison-will-be-equal-to-more-than-the-sum-of-the-antidotes-for-each-of-the-separate-components."

I stared at her, stunned. How was anyone supposed to have followed that? I should consider myself lucky that I knew what she was even talking about.

"Precisely! Ten points to Gryffindor! Now, if we accept Golpalott's Third Law as true then we must know that the antidotes in common are refracting with the ingredients' endorphins and..." I looked around. Everyone's eyes were as slack as though we were sitting in History of Magic class. Ron was doodling on his paper and even the Ravenclaws looked quite lost. "...which means, of course, that assuming we have achieved correct identification of the potion's ingredients by Scarpin's Revelaspell, our primary aim is not the relatively simple one of selecting antidotes to those ingredients in and of themselves, but to find that added component that will, by an almost alchemical process, transform these disparate elements into urea which will then help with the prions and form an antidote to the poison and so, I want each of you to come and take one of these phials from my desk. You are to create an antidote for the poison within it before the end of the lesson. Good luck, and don't forget your protective gloves!"

Hermione and I were up and half-way across the room before the rest of the class even started to move.

I grabbed a phial of a sky blue liquid and carried it back to my seat. Hermione was already dumping ingredients into her cauldron, setting up glass phials to put ingredients into, but I went more cautiously.

I observed the crystal phial, finding that my poison was slightly glowing and its ingredients told me that this was Moonseed poison. With that knowledge, I pulled out the stopper and poured the poison into the cauldron and lit a flame underneath.

As Harry passed by, Hermione said brightly, "It's a shame that the Prince won't be able to help you much with this, Harry. You have to understand the principles involved this time. No shortcuts or cheats!"

I looked up briefly from having added lacewing flies to the poison concoction and saw that Ron was copying everything that Harry was doing. I rolled my eyes. Each poison was different. Ron was going to do horribly.

I carefully stirred three times clockwise before letting it simmer for two minutes. Meanwhile, I collected more ingredients and tools that I would need in the upcoming steps.

Hermione was dropping a thousand different things into her cauldron, ripping out a chunk of her own hair so that her hair was bushier than ever. She really wanted to beat Harry at this which was a really stupid thing to be attempting.

Carefully using a knife, I sliced some loose ends of my hair before dropping them into the cauldron and adding a pinch of lemon. I grabbed my mortar and pestle, crushing beetle eyes in a fine powder before adding them with a teaspoon of cinnamon.

I had long stopped paying attention to the rest of the group, waving my wand over the cauldron and adding beeswax before I started separating the ingredients and putting them into crystal phials. Hermione was jamming her ingredients into phials as fast as possible.

"Two minutes left, everyone!" Professor Slughorn announced.

I worked with ease, adding the final ingredients the last crystal phial- a drop of my own blood which I had gotten by pricking myself with a sewing needle- and I was done.

"Time's. . . UP!" Slughorn announced and everyone dropped back from their cauldrons except for Hermione who was trying to cram more ingredients into the phials. Hare and the Tortoise. Slower wins the race Hermione, I thought randomly, putting my crystal phial into a holder to present it. Then, I put my finger in my mouth to stop the bleeding.

"Well, let's see how you've done! Blaise. . . what have you got for me?" Slughorn asked, starting at the Slytherin table. I avoided looking at the table. I hadn't been able to be in the same room with Blaise for a long time. It was an uncomfortable situation.

Slughorn moved from the Slytherin's to the Ravenclaws and then, much to my disappointment, the Gryffindors.

Putrid fumes were emitting from Ron's cauldron and he had abandoned it, his task instead to avoid being poisoned by the fumes.

"And you, Harry?" Slughorn asked as he moved away from Ron's cauldron, retching. "What have you got to show me?"

Harry opened is hand which I knew contained a bezoar. I sighed in disappointment. While I did not fault Harry, I would've liked Slughorn to see that I had finished the antidote before he doted on Harry.

After about ten seconds of silence, Slughorn threw his head back, roaring with laughter. Hermione was seething and Ernie looked disappointed.

"You've got nerve, boy! Oh, you're like your mother. . . Well, I can't fault you. . . a bezoar would certainly act as an antidote to all these potions!" Slughorn announced joyfully.

Hermione didn't seem to be able to contain herself, "And you thought of a bezoar all by yourself, did you, Harry?"

"That's the individual spirit a real potion-maker needs! Just like his mother, she had the same intuitive grasp of potion-making, it's undoubtedly from Lily he gets it. . . Yes, Harry, yes, if you've got a bezoar to hand, of course that would do the trick. . . although as they don't work on everything, and are pretty rare, it's still worth knowing how to mix antidotes. . ."

I was starting, against my will, to get angry. He didn't inherit potion making skills from our mother! He was cheating! I felt quite infuriated and the only person who looked angrier than Hermione was Draco.

For about the first time, I wished everyone knew I was Harry's sister. Couldn't I be complimented about my potion skills because I'd inherited my mother's gift?

I took in a deep breath. No, no, that wasn't what I wanted at all, if I thought about it hard. I wanted to be known as a great potion-maker because I had the skills myself, not because I'd inherited them. Potion-making wasn't really a gene that was passed down from parent to child anyways.

The bell rang. "Time to pack up! And an extra ten points to Gryffindor for sheer cheek!" Slughorn announced, walking past our table.

"Professor!" I called, "You didn't check our work."

Yes, I was being selfish, but I couldn't really help it.

"Yes, of course, Miss Kane." Slughorn said, though he sounded more like he was humoring me, rather than actually wanting to check our work. He passed over Ernie's quickly, complimented Hermione slightly, and congratulated me on finishing the antidote and awarding Hufflepuff five points. I stalked out of the potions room in a bad mood.

"That wasn't fair at all!" Hermione seethed as we hurried to the library together. "You actually finished the antidote and I had fifty ingredients and Harry did absolutely nothing!"

"No." I agreed, "It wasn't fair at all but when it comes to Harry, people in our world seem to be a bit more willing to overlook his mistakes. Cheeky!"

"He would have failed if that had been Professor Snape's class." Hermione said, sounding as though she was barely listening to me.

"No." I answered. What were we talking about again? My blood was starting to simmer down a little.

"Miss Kane!" A sharp voice echoed down the hallway and Hermione and I stopped walking. I turned around and saw Professor McGonagall sweeping down the staircase towards us. "I must speak to you for a moment."

"I'll see you in the library." I muttered to Hermione and stepped against the side wall so that I didn't interrupt the flow of the crowd. "Yes, Professor?" I asked, looking up at her.

"Professor Dumbledore would have told you this himself but he is not here at the moment. He said that you are allowed to sign up for apparition classes and that he has absolute faith in you." She recited. Her facial expressions gave away nothing.

"Thank you, Professor." I said and I turned and headed to catch up with Hermione.

Once Harry caught up to us (I suspected he told Ron the outcome of talking to Slughorn first), my temper had fizzled out, though Hermione's had not, and Harry left soon after telling us the outcome.

I slipped away after class to go and see Severus but he was teaching a class. I wanted to go upstairs to the office to do homework, but that would be quite distracting to the other students. Instead, I went to the Hufflepuff common room and signed up for the apparition lessons. I wondered what Severus' reaction would be.

After the hour ended, I went back to Severus' classroom and up to the office where Severus was separating paper into three different stacks, a quill on the floor, and the inkpot laying on its side, ink spilling down the table and dripping onto the floor. He was saving the paper first.

"Scourgify." I muttered, cleaning up the ink. I picked up the pot and set it down on the chair with the quill.

"Thanks." Severus muttered, tossing three pieces of parchment onto one stack and the rest onto another. "An owl swooped through here."

"No problem." I said, kissing his cheek and setting my bag down and pulling out my homework before starting on the problems.

"By the way..." Severus said slowly, searching for something in his drawers, "You have an appointment with Madam Pomfrey tomorrow."

"I do?" I asked, puzzled, looking up from my potions homework. No one made an appointment with Madam Pomfrey and hearing those words was quite funny.

"Yes." Severus said, pulling out a fresh quill and slamming the drawer shut before sitting down in his chair, leaping up and removing the inkpot and quill from the chair. "It's a checkup, really, to see how the child's doing."

"Oh!" I exclaimed. I supposed I hadn't thought of checkups because I was in a magical school rather than in the muggle world. But muggle women went to doctors for checkups all the time to make sure that the baby was healthy. "That's fine."

"Good." Severus said, "I thought you might be difficult about it."

I stuck my tongue out at him before remembering that his back was to me.

I flew through the homework and when I was done, the sun had already fallen. I pulled out a fresh sheaf of paper and started to draw, letting my subconscious take over.

When I looked up again, Severus was deep in his papers, the candles low, the sun completely set. I set the pencil aside. Soot covered my fingers but there wasn't a single smudge on the paper. I set it down on the bed, grabbing a cloth and wiping my fingers while I observed the newest drawing of the strange place.

It was a hallway. The floor was tiled with a pattern of black and gold (if it was in color). There is a vine pattern on the tiles which also leads partly up certain parts of the stone walls till they reached the curved ceiling. But more unusual was that the hallway is filled with black chairs and café tables.

The tables and chairs are pushed up against the walls of the hallway in random order, not orderly. There are stacks of books on the chairs, all of them have gilded edges. There is also a cat, sitting on one of the tables. Its small and silver with large yellow eyes (if the drawing was colored).

There is a door between the vines, partly open, revealing part of a lit fireplace that is small and arched. I can see briefly that the floor is tiled still, checkered but also covered with rugs, navy colored (if the drawing was colored).

I set the drawing aside, placing it on top of the other drawings. All these drawings were unusual so they must be part of the magical world, it was the only explanation. But no one seemed to know where this place was. Not Tonks or Dad or Severus. But if this place was in the future, then no one would know about it would they.

Severus finally set his quill aside while I continued to add detail to the drawing. Adding thing, delicate whiskers to the silver cat. Defining the room to be more three-dimensional through the door. Adding a light here, a lightbulb there.

"It's lovely though unusual." Severus said, coming over, looking over my shoulder. He was shirtless and my heart started to pound, a complete overreaction considering how many times I'd seen him naked.

I set the drawing aside for a second time and hopefully the last time tonight. I stood up, running a hand over his abs. Severus pushed his lips against mine and we dissolved into each other. I wondered if it was possible to capture these scenes in drawing as well. But that might be a bad thing to do. What if someone found the drawings?

His fingers were cold, goosebumps appearing on my skin where he touched me. My hands were cold as well and I kept them under his back, heat radiating and warming them.

There really is no way to describe being together with someone. But it was sweeter, more romantic than that. It was perfect, the idea of a man and a woman that were meant to be together forever loving each other. Moving together as though they were of one mind.

That was how we moved, our mouths always met at the right moment, our hands, our legs, our bodies retracting and condensing and moving together.

No one could really understand how I could love someone older than me, someone like Severus. I suppose one only needed a night with him, one moment with him that he opened up and showed his true self.

His history was horrible to an outsider, to someone who didn't know what I knew. He was a Death Eater. He was a follower of Voldemort. He was evil and Dumbledore was a fool to trust him. He hated Harry Potter, he hates the boy who lived. He hated James Potter, he wanted them to die. His best friends are Death Eaters, he is using Dumbledore to keep him out of Azkaban.

But I knew what was true. He regretted joining the Death Eaters. He cared about Harry in his own way. He did not want Lily Potter to die and in order for her not to die, he did not want James to have died either. He was not evil. Dumbledore was not a fool to trust him. Voldemort was the fool.

And the sides that he didn't show anyone else. The sides that only I could see. The goodness in him, the love, the passion, the joy, the hopes, the dreams, the beliefs. Everything that made him, was mine to see, to explore, to exploit. It was mine to use and to love and to make passionately with. He was mine and I was his. We were us.

His fingers caressed my breasts, his lips made heart shapes on my neck, his manly parts made my female parts sore and loved. We rolled over so that I was underneath his weight. The candles went out in a gust, leaving smoke filtering through the room. His lips parted mine, pushing and caressing and loving.

Somewhere far away, bees were buzzing and keys were clinking in the wind and swords were clashing. Crowns were crashing and feathers were floating and hearts were beating. Somewhere far away, a heart beat slower and slower but I would never know about that heart, until everyone I loved was dead.

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 21

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

𝕴 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 my feet in the sea, looking out at the storm. March had slowly melted in April and April showers bring May flowers so the wind bustled around me, blowing my dress out in front of me. Remus was not asleep, though he was quiet in my arms, looking at the storm with me. 

Trang was not with me for once, staying up at the house. She said I was crazy for coming out here at this time, but I couldn't stay inside. I knew dad was coming tonight, to tell everyone that his son had been born. 

That my brother had been born. 

It was weird, that this boy who I would not meet until his father was dead, would be the brother I got to recognize first, before my blood one. 

I was to melancholy to stay with them. So I stayed outside, telling Remus a story. 

In the depths there is a man lost in time. 

He has opened the wrong doors. Chosen the wrong paths. 

Wandered farther than he should have. 

He is looking for someone. Something. Someone. He does not remember who the someone is, doe snot have the ability, here in the depths where time is fragile, to grasp the thoughts and memories and hold on to them, to sort through them to recall more than glimpses. 

Sometimes he stops and in the stopping the memory grows clear enough for him to see her face, or pieces of it. But the clarity motivates him to continue and then the pieces fall apart again and he walks on not knowing for whom or what it is he walks. 

He only knows he has not reached it yet. 

Reached her yet. 

Who? He looks toward the sky that is hidden from him by rock and earth and stories. No one answers his question. There is a dripping he mistakes for water, but no other sound. Then the question is forgotten again. 

He walks down crumbling stairs and trips over tangled roots. He has long since passed by the last of the rooms with their doors and their locks, the places where the stories are content to remain on their shelves. 

He has untangled himself from vines blossoming with story-filled flowers. He has traversed piles of abandoned teacups with text baked into their crackled glaze. He has walked through puddles of ink and left footprints that formed stories in his wake that he did not turn around to read. 

Now he travels through tunnels with no light at their ends, feeling his way along unseen walls until he finds himself someplace somewhere sometime else. 

He passes over broken bridges and under crumbling towers. 

He walks over bones he mistakes for dust and nothingness he mistakes for bones. 

His once-fine shoes are worn. He abandoned his coat some time ago. 

He does not remember the coat with its multitude of buttons. The coat, if coats could remember such things, would remember him but by the time they are reunited the coat will belong to someone else. 

On clear days memories focus in his mind in scattered words and images. His name. The night sky. A room with red velvet drapery. A door. His father. Books, hundreds and thousands of books. A single book in her hand. Her eyes. Her hair. The tips of her fingers. 

But most of the memories are stories. Pieces of them. Blind wanderers and star-crossed lovers, grand adventures and hidden treasures. Mad kings and cryptic witches. 

The things he has seen and heard with his own eyes and ears mix with tales he has read or heard with his own eyes and ears. They are inseparable down here. 

There are not many clear days. Clear nights. 

There is no way to tell the difference here in the depths. 

Night or day. Fact or fiction. Real or imagined. 

Sometimes he feels he has lost his own story. Fallen out of its pages and landed here, in between, but he remains in his story. He cannot leave it no matter how he tries. 

The man lost in time walks along the shore of the sea and does not look up to see the lack of stars. he wanders through empty cities of honey and bone, down streets that once range with music and laughter. He lingers in abandoned temples, lighting candles for forgotten gods and running his fingers over the fossils of unaccepted offerings. He sleeps in beds that no one has dreamed upon in centuries and his own sleep is deep, his dreams as unfathomable as his waking hours. 

"Elizabeth!" 

"At first the bees watched him. Followed him while he walked and hovered while he slept. They thought he might be someone else. 

He is just a boy.  A man. Something in between. 

Now the bees ignore him. They go about their own business. They decided that one man out of his depth is no cause for alarm but even the bees are wrong from time to time. 

"Elizabeth!" 

This time I heard the shout, the first I thought an imagination or just a strange production of the wind. 

It's my fathers' voice. 

I close my eyes while Remus stirs, looking over my shoulder. 

I heard footsteps step into the water and that is when I finally turn around to face my father for the first time in months. 

Even the state of me being pregnant does not take the joy out of his eyes or the colour from his cheeks. He looked younger than I had seen him, at least since I had been a young girl myself. 

"It's a boy!" He said, his voice full of the same joy as his eyes. 

"I know." I said with a smile that I could make reach my eyes, no matter how hard I tried. "I saw. Teddy, it's a wonderful name dad. I am so happy for you." 

"You'll be the Godmother of course?" He asked, as though there was no other choice. 

"Really?" I asked. This time, the astonished smile did manage to reach my eyes. 

"Of course!" He exclaimed, looking surprised that I was surprised. "Who else would I choose?" 

I just shrugged with a smile, feeling a drop of happiness warm my insides. "I'm really, really happy for you two dad." I leaned forwards so that I could rest my head against his shoulder, giving him the best hug that I could manage. 

It was then that he sort've snapped out of his own daze. "You're pregnant?!" 

"Twins." I replied lightly. 

Dad hesitated, looking like he wanted to say something, but also not wanting to say something. When I met his eyes though, I saw the disappointment there, which punched me in the gut so hard that I actually put a hand to my stomach as though I could soothe it. 

"That's. . . that's great sweetheart." 

We stood there silently on the beach, both of us avoiding each others' eyes. I swallowed back my tears, knowing that this could very well be one of my last times with him. So I said the only thing I could say to save the situation. 

"They might not be Severus'." 

I watched his expression furrow with confusion, before understanding, and finally his eyes filled with pity. "Oh, Elizabeth." 

I pushed my hate far, far down for my dad's reaction. I refused to let any other emotions besides positive ones surround my last times with my father. Even if they were fake for me, I would not let my father die with the idea that our last interaction was negative. 

Though, of course, he would not die at all since I would save his life. 

"You should get back to Tonks and Teddy dad." I whispered. "They need you." 

"E-" 

"I love you." I said firmly, kissing his cheek. "Get back to your son. I should put my own down for sleep." 

It was so weird, referring to the little boy as 'his son' instead of 'my brother' or even just calling him 'Teddy'. I knew then that I was not hiding my feelings as well as I had hoped. Dad would see right through me, just as he always did. 

Just like he always would. 

"Elizabeth just wait a minute." Dad said, reaching out to grab my elbow, since both hands were occupied with Remus. 

I turned back to him, looking into his warm, brown eyes. 

He pulled me into a full hug this time, his arms wrapped strongly, safely around me. I vowed right then and there that this would not be the last hug my father would give me. I would make sure to get another hug, and another. I would keep him alive, even if it cost Tonks and Fred. No matter what, I would keep my father. 

Even if it cost me myself. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖐 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖔 much Bill. And you, Fleur. We're sorry we stayed so long, but it was just beautiful." I said as Trang and I stood in their front yard, getting ready to disparate back to mountains outside of Hogsmeade. 

"I actually wish you two could stay longer." Bill chuckled, hugging Trang first, and then me. "It's been nice, having company." 

"Yes, we shall miss you both." Fleur said, hugging both of us as well, also kissing Remus on the forehead. He giggled, kicking his feet, reaching for her. "Aww." Fleur cooed to him, taking him from my arms to give him one final hug. The two of them had bonded greatly over the entire month we'd been here, and I knew they'd miss each other. I would make sure to reunite them again. 

I knew that next week, Harry, Ron, and Hermione would take off for Gringotts. I was looking forwards to hearing about it- in the newspapers. 

"We should go now." Trang said softly. 

Fleur kissed Remus a bunch of times, making the baby giggle, before handing him back to me. Trang and I disapparated on our own without another word and appeared several feet apart from each other. 

Trang and I stared at our stuff and Remus for a moment, wondering just exactly how we were supposed to get back to Hogwarts in broad daylight, when a figure came around the corner, stopping dead at the sight of us. 

All three of our wands' were raised in seconds before recognizing each other. "Severus." I sighed happily, lowering my wand. 

Severus rolled his eyes. "You are far to trusting Elizabeth. Can you at least attempt to let me ask you a question and you ask me one?" 

I huffed, "What kind of kids am I having?" 

"Twins. To easy." Severus responded. 

I rolled my eyes again and then became a cat, which was a slight mistake because Remus was suddenly falling through thin air, as I could not hold him as a cat. 

Severus lunged, falling on his stomach as he caught our son and I turned human again, laying on my side. "I think that answered everything." I said lightly, though my heart was pounding. Remus however, just giggled, waving his hands excitedly. I think he liked it. 

"Merlin, Elizabeth." Severus said weakly, rolling over onto his stomach, setting our son down on his chest. He glanced over at Trang. "I suppose you're fine." 

"Gee, thanks." Trang rolled her eyes, but smirked to herself. 

"Uh, back to the castle?" I asked weakly. "Sorry." 

Severus huffed, kissing the top of my head. I turned back into a black cat, hopping into Severus deep pockets. A second later, a pocket watch was placed beside me, engraved with Vietnamese artwork. I rolled my eyes, settling my paws on the metal as though it would keep Trang safer. 

Severus moved quickly and I could hear the townspeople talking about their day to day lives in hushed whispers. I supposed that had to mean he'd hidden our luggage and Remus in his other pocket or somewhere. 

He made a stop after about twenty minutes, pulling the watch out. I heard him tell Trang that wherever we were was the safest place for Trang, then he was walking again. 

After another ten minutes or so, he was reaching into the pocket again, lifting me out. He placed me up on his shoulder and I could see that Remus was fast asleep in his crib now, his thumb in his mouth, his owl stuffed animal tucked against him. 

I turned human, pulling Severus down onto the bed at the surprise of me transforming. 

"I've missed you." He murmured, kissing me on the cheek. 

"I've missed you too." I said with a small smile. "How was uh, your visit with him?" 

He frowned. "I wish I had a forewarning about that. My heart leapt, thinking of you still being here." 

"Hence, why we left." I said lightly, cupping his face. "Besides, I figured I'd keep as many things the same as possible. This timeline is to important to mess up or screw around with, even with the smallest of changes." 

"I understand." Severus said softly. "I just wish it didn't have to be with me worrying about you all of the time. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." 

"You're never going to have to find out." I said softly. 

Severus hesitated and then said, "Dobby has not delivered dinner for quite some time. I just. . . Are you. . ." 

I looked away sadly. "I don't really want to talk about it Sev. There wasn't. . . I couldn't do anything. He didn't wear the clothes I made for him and since he didn't. . ." 

"I get it. I'm sorry." He murmured. I looked up at him, wishing I could voice all of my worries aloud. But I couldn't. His life was one of the ones I needed to protect. 

"Anyways." I said quickly, struggling to sit upright. Severus quickly got up, helping me up into a sitting position. "Uh, do you have another elf who I could ask to get some hot wings? I'm craving them again and the spicy food will also help with the pregnancy." 

"Yeah, of course." Severus murmured. "I'll be right back." 

He left the room and I wiped at my eyes quickly as I tried to take in all of my emotions at once. I did deep breath exercises until I heard the door open again, the smell of spicy chicken wings intruding my senses. My mouth started to water immediately and the corner of my mouth lifted up into a smile. 

He put the plate down for me on a wooden TV tray (although he just called it a sick bed dinner table) and then asked if I needed anything else. 

"Can you just sit with me for a little bit?" I asked softly. "I'm really sorry I'm in such a depressed state. Maybe it's the pregnancy." 

Severus chuckled a little. "You're actually sorry for being down? Elizabeth you can see the future of everyone you love dying, your brother is on the run, your grandfather-in-law through Tonks has been murdered, you're stressed about all your friends, you're pregnant, and you're trying to save the world- your world anyways- all on your own. I'd be worried if you weren't depressed." 

I took a bite of my chicken wing and hummed in satisfaction. "These give me so much happiness though." 

Severus chuckled. "Well, you can have as many as you want." 

I smiled then, a true smile. "I love you Severus." 

He kissed the top of my head. "I love you more." 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚!" The words ripped from my lips as I grasped the bed sheets in pain as another contraction hit. 

"Push." Madam Pomfrey said simply, trying to regain my attention. 

Severus smartly kept his mouth shut, sitting by the bedside, letting me dig my nails into his hand. 

"I can see his or her head, you need to push Miss Kane." Madam Pomfrey said firmly. 

"I am pushing!" I snarled. 

Severus squeezed my hand lightly. 

"There we go." Madam Pomfrey said, unfazed, the pressure dwindling just slightly as the first baby exited me. She took the bloody baby, quickly handing the baby up to me. I could see that it was a little boy, the little bit of hair that he had was black. 

"Oh, Severus." I cooed now, "Look at him." 

"He's beautiful." Severus whispered softly. The baby whimpered, opening his eyes to show that they were a beautiful brown. 

"Headmaster, you should take the baby until the next one is out." Madam Pomfrey said. 

I felt my heart fall at the idea of having to let go of my baby so soon, even to his father. Severus however, seemed to be able to get how I felt because he shook his head. Madam Pomfrey gave him a slightly exasperated look, but focused solely on helping me deliver the second baby. 

"Elijah." I gasped out. 

"What?" Severus asked slightly. 

"Elijah Kingsley Snape." I said again, crying out from another contraction. "We would call him Elijah Kingsley. I just. . . I don't know his name just suddenly popped out." 

"It's a beautiful name." Severus said softly. "Very, well," He chuckled. "Royal." 

It took another thirty minutes for the second child to come out, which were full of Severus encouraging me, me yelling at both him and Madam Pomfrey, and Madam Pomfrey giving me times to push. 

This time, it was a beautiful baby girl that Madam Pomfrey delivered from me. I relaxed into the sheets, sweating and panting, but excited all the same. 

"Alright, let me check their eyes." Madam Pomfrey said, taking both of the babies into her arms, bringing them over to a table she had set up when Severus had rushed to get her. It took only thirty seconds, before she carried both of them over, a smile on her face. "They both have beautiful eyes Miss Kane." 

I smiled, tears coming to my own. "Thank you Madam Pomfrey." I whispered, taking both of the little babies into my arms. 

"Minerva." Severus said so suddenly and confidently that I looked up at the door to see if Professor McGonagall had come in, Madam Pomfrey doing the same. 

"What?" I asked, seeing that she wasn't there. 

"Her name is Minerva. . . how about Trang?" Severus asked hesitantly. "Minerva Trang?" 

"I love it." I whispered, my black cloud that I had been carrying around popping and dissipating as my heart swelled with love. This was the true Severus Snape, the one that I knew and loved. 

Madam Pomfrey was surveying Severus, which I wasn't entirely a fan of. I wanted her to like him of course, but after his name was cleared, not before. I didn't know how much her seeing this side of him would affect the future. Hopefully not by much. 

"Thank you for coming down Madam Pomfrey." Severus said suddenly, looking up at her. "If anyone were to ask why you were up here for so long-" 

"I will say that you were questioning me about the students underground trade to see if I know anything. If someone asks you, I knew nothing." Madam Pomfrey said solidly. 

"Naturally." Severus said and then she left the room, leaving the two of us with Remus and two new, beautiful babies. 

Severus gently sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the little ones. "They are truly miraculous, Elizabeth." 

"They are, aren't they?" I asked softly, staring at them in awe. Elijah Kingsleys' brown little eyes fluttered sleepily. It seemed that he was already tired from such an exciting event as being born. 

"I'm glad I can change the colours of the cribs." Severus smiled a little, flicking his hand at the new cribs in question, changing one of the blue pads to pink instead. 

I tsked at him. "You really thought both of them were going to be boys?" 

"One can hope." Severus smirked, but softened as he took Minerva into his arms. "She is adorable." 

"She's going to be your favorite, I already know it." I whispered softly, kissing his cheek. "You're going to protect her fiercely." 

"Yes I am." Severus whispered, rocking her. She also had brown eyes, which seemed happy, even for a newborn. "No one will hurt her. Not while I'm around. I promise." 

⬅️➡️

[braveclementine]

Chapter 20

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

𝕿𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖌, 𝕽𝖊𝖒𝖚𝖘, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 I spent as much time outside as we could over the following days. Considering Remus and I had been pretty much confined to exactly one room for most of the year, it was nice to be outside and feel the fresh air on our faces. 

The sea wasn't exactly how I imagined it would be. Trang said it was much nicer in France as well, more sun and less grey clouds. Apparently the water was bluer in France was well, instead of this dark, cold grey water. 

Despite the look of the sea however, it was still pleasant. I enjoyed the smell of brine and sea salt, and the feel of swimming in the ocean was more enjoyable than a pool once I got used to it, though since I was pregnant I could not go very far out. 

Most of the time, we simply sat on the beach, reading newspapers and books, or talking to Remus and making sure that he didn't try to eat any sand. He did make friends with a very small sea turtle, which would occasionally come back to the beach for 'sunbathing'. Remus' eyes lit up every time he saw it and would crawl over to it. It didn't seem to fear him, because it would let him pick him up, before eventually wiggling away and back into the sea. 

"Elizabeth! Griphook wants to talk to us!" Harry called down from the cliff. I knew he'd been sitting up there for some time. And I'd heard Ron and Hermiones' voices drift down. 

I groaned. "Why does he think I care?" 

"Because you've cared and tried to be in on the action in the past six years." Trang said sleepily from where she was laying down on the sand, one arm thrown over her eyes. 

"Fine." I grumbled. "Don't let Remus eat sand." 

Trang groaned, sitting up so that she could keep an eye on my baby. I got up slowly, and gingerly made my way back up the slippery, rock stairs that were carved into the cliff side. I always hated this part of getting to and from the house. I always feared that I was going to slip on the steps and fall down them. 

Bill appeared the top of the stairs, which he quickly came down, before helping me back up the rest of them. "Elizabeth, I said send a Patronus." He said in an exasperated voice. He had indeed asked me to send a Patronus if I ever needed help with the stairs. 

"I know, I know." I said with a sheepish smile on my face. "Sorry Bill." 

Once I was actually in the house, I met with Harry, Ron, and Hermione outside of the door that Hermione, Luna, Trang, and I slept in throughout the night. 

Griphook was sitting in the wooden chair next to the crib that I would sit in to breast-feed and sing Remus to sleep in. "I have reached my decision, Harry Potter. Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you-" 

"That's great! Griphook, thank you, we're really-" 

"-in return, for payment." Griphook finished. 

"How much do you want? I've got gold." 

"Not gold. I have gold. I want the sword. The sword of Godric Gryffindor." 

"You can't have that. I'm sorry." 

"then, we have a problem." 

"We can give you something else." Ron said and I bit my bottom lip, knowing what was coming, "I'll bet the Lestranges have got loads of stuff, you can take your pick once we get into the vault." 

"I am not a thief boy! I am not trying to procure treasures to which I have no right!" He spat angrily. 

"The sword's ours-" 

"It is not." 

"We're Gryffindors, and it was Godric Gryffindor's-" 

"And before it was Gryffindor's, whose was it?" the goblin demanded. 

"No one's. It was made for him, wasn't it?" Ron asked. 

"No! Wizarding arrogance again!" Griphook said, bristling with anger as he pointed a single, pointed finger at Ron. "That sword was Ragnuk the First's, taken from him by Godric Gryffindor! it is a lost treasure, a masterpiece of goblinwork! It belongs with the goblins! The sword is the price of my hire, take it or leave it!" 

Harry glanced between the three of us before saying, "We need to discuss this, Griphook, if that's all right. Could you give us a few minutes?" 

The goblin nodded, looking disgusted with all of us, though neither Hermione nor I had said a word the entire time. 

We didn't just leave the room, but went downstairs into the living room. Gratefully, I sank back down on the couch while Harry walked to the fireplace, thinking. Ron followed behind him. "He's having a laugh. We can't let him have that sword." 

"Is it true? Was the sword stolen by Gryffindor?" Harry asked Hermione and I. 

"I don't know." Hermione said, sounding both desperate and hopeless. "Wizarding history often skates over what the wizards have done to other magical races, but there's no account that I know of that says Gryffindor stole the sword." 

"It's possible, I only deal with the future, Harry." I replied wearily. "However, like Hermione, I have never read an account on either side of Gryffindor stealing the sword. I was under the impression he had bought it or it was gifted to him freely." 

"It'll be one of those goblin stories about how the wizards are always trying to get one over on them. I suppose we should think ourselves lucky he hasn't asked for one of our wands." Ron said in that supremacy that I disliked. Sure, I did not like to think of us as bad people, but there was a bad egg in every group of people, no matter their blood purity, colour, religion, or species. Wizards were no exception. 

"Goblins have got good reason to dislike wizards, Ron. They've been treated brutally in the past." Hermione tried to reason. 

"Goblins aren't exactly fluffy little bunnies, though, are they? They've killed plenty of us too. They've fought dirty too." 

"But arguing with Griphook about whose race is most underhanded and violent isn't going to make him more likely to help us, is it?"

 Harry went to look out the window at Dobby's grave. From my angle on the couch, I could just barely see Luna as she arranged sea lavender in a jam jar at the headstone. I saw that the rock I'd carved the weird engraving into was propped up with the headstone Harry had made. I wondered when he'd done that. 

"Okay, how's this?" Ron asked and the three of us looked at him. "We tell Griphook we need the sword until we get inside the vault, and then he can have it. There's a fake in there, isn't there? We switch them, and give him the fake." 

I rolled my eyes and almost scoffed out loud. "Real classy." 

"Ron, he'd know the difference better than we would! He's the only one who realized there been a swap!" 

"Yeah, but we could scarper before he realizes-" 

Ron actually seemed to shrink under Hermiones' glare. "That, is despicable. Ask for his help, then double-cross him? And you wonder why goblins don't like wizards, Ron?" 

"All right, all right! It was the only thing I could think of! What's your solution then?" 

"We need to offer him something else, something just as valuable." 

"Brilliant. I'll go and get one of our other ancient goblin-made swords and you can gift wrap it." Ron replied sarcastically. 

"Maybe he's lying. Griphook. Maybe Gryffindor didn't take the sword. How do we know the goblin version of history's right?" Harry said. 

"Does it make a difference?" 

"Changes how I feel about it." Harry sighed. 

"Use grammar." I said. 

"What?" The three said together. 

"Liz, I know you love talking and using words, but really, I don't think that's going to work in this case." Ron replied. 

I huffed, "Tell him he can have the sword, but do not tell him when he can have the sword. Tell him he can have the sword after he's helped you get into the vault- but avoid telling him exactly when he can have it." 

"I was going to suggest that." Harry nodded. "It's good." 

"Harry, we can't-" 

"He can have it." Harry said in a finalized tone. "after we've used it on all of the Horcruxes. I'll make sure he gets it then. I'll keep my word." 

"But that could be years!" Hermione protested. 

"I know that, but he needen't. I won't be lying. . . really." 

"I don't like it." Hermione said. 

"Nor do I, much." 

"Well, I think it's genius. Grammar, hah! Let's go and tell him." Ron said, getting up. 

I followed them back up the stairs because, why not? Harry made the offer very carefully, just as I had suggested. Hermione frowned at the floor while I continued to stay impassive. 

"I have your word, Harry Potter, that you will give me the sword of Gryffindor if I help you?" 

"Yes." 

"Then shake." 

I knew grammar was important because the goblin himself had used it. He would help them get into the vault, but he would not help them get out of it. That was the danger, though I knew they would escape on the back of a dragon anyways. 

"So, we begin!" Griphook said. 

"Well," I said softly, getting up off the bed. "You don't need me from here on out. You've got it all on your own." I squeezed Harry's shoulder, kissing his cheek, leaving the bedroom. I was glad to be away from it all, away from the adventure for the first time. 

I just wanted to be with my son. 

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[braveclementine]

Chapter 19

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

"𝕯𝖔𝖇𝖇𝖞. . . 𝕯𝖔𝖇𝖇𝖞. . . 𝕯𝖔𝖇𝖇𝖞!" Harry's voice kept calling out the dead elfs name. I didn't even have a chance to say or do a single thing to save the elf. I could only sink to my knees by Harry's side, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

Bill, Fleur, Dean, and Luna came over after some time, probably to assess if we were hurt since we weren't moving. 

Harry noticed them and said, "Hermione? Where is she?" 

"Ron's taken her inside. She'll be all right." Bill said softly. He glanced over at me, then back to the dead house elf in Harry's arms. 

Harry looked down at Dobby before pulling the sharp, sleek blade from his chest. He pulled his coat off, covering the small, childlike body with it. 

Bill made a few orders of the others. Dean helped Griphook into the house, Fleur hurrying after them. 

"We can bury him." Bill said gently to Harry. 

"Uh huh." Harry agreed, sounding distant. 

"Just give him a moment." I mumbled, wiping away the tears that were forming in my eyes. I really hated my pregnancy hormones. 

"I want to do it properly." Harry suddenly spoke. His voice was strained, full of pain, sorrow, grief, and guilt. "Not by magic. Have you got a spade?" 

Bill said nothing, only standing to go and retrieve the said spade, before returning to give it to Harry. 

I waited outside with Harry, the pregnancy spell having dropped since I was no longer apparating. I felt rather large as I sat there, on the rock, but I wanted to be here, since I couldn't help. Besides, I was going to have to sit through many more of these, I was going to have to get used to it. 

Eventually, Ron, Dean, and Trang joined us. Trang didn't have Remus in her arms, so I had a based assumption that my son was in the house. 

"How's Hermione?" Harry spoke the first words since Bill had left us alone. 

"Better, Fleur's looking after her." Ron responded, before the two young men simply jumped down into the hole with spades to help Harry finish the grave. Trang meanwhile, sat down beside me, resting her head on my shoulder. She had never met Dobby, but she knew how much the house-elf meant to Harry and me. 

When they were done with the grave, Harry wrapped Dobby up tighter in his jacket, Ron gave him his shoes and socks, while Dean placed a hat on his head. I slowly undid the scarf that was around my neck, handing it to Harry, who helped put it around his  neck. Trang produced gloves, which were placed upon Dobbys' hands. 

"We should close his eyes." Luna said softly. I flinched a little, my back having been towards them. I turned to see that Bill, Fleur, Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Trang were all there, Trang holding Remus in her arms. I felt a sudden, unwarranted stab of anger at Ollivander and Griphook. They should've been out here for Dobby's burial. 

Luna knelt down, her fingers moving Dobby's eyelids until they covered his glassy, unseeing eyes. I was suddenly struck funny by the realization that Dobbys' eyes were green. Maybe the universe had something against green eyes and they just all needed to die. 

Harry and Dean climbed out of the grave, looking down at the small body. I wondered if it would feel the same, looking at Dad and Tonks. . .  No they'll be fine. They'll be fine. I tried to convince myself, forcing myself to focus solely on Dobby. I had had a plan and Dobby simply had not worn the shielded clothes I'd created. Dad and Tonks and Severus would be different, I would deal with them directly, not second-hand. 

"I think we ought to say something. I'll go first, shall I?" Luna said, and then without waiting for a response, said, "Thank you so much, Dobby, for rescuing me from that cellar. It's so unfair that you had to die, when you were so good and brave. I'll always remember what you did for us. I hope you're happy now." 

"Yeah. . . thanks, Dobby." Ron murmured. 

"Thanks." Dean followed. 

"Good-bye Dobby." Harry said in a tight voice. 

Bill lifted the dirt with his wand, letting it settle into the hole, forming a mound of sorts. 

"D'you mind if I stay here a moment?" Harry asked as the others started to make their way back to the house. 

"Sure." Bill murmured, patting Harry on the shoulder. 

I hesitated, looking down at the rock I had been carving into a headstone with words carved into it. When I had been writing the words on it, they had made sense in my head, painting me a picture of sadness and yet love at the same time. Now, staring at the words, they didn't make any sense: 

𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒹𝑜 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝑒 𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝑔𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃, 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒹𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈 𝐸𝓍𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓁𝓎

I scoffed silently to myself and dropped the rock in the dirt, walking past Harry, joining the others in the house, leaving my words to wear away for years to come. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

𝕴 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖆𝖑𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖞 standing in the foyer of Griphooks bedroom when Harry came up the stairs with Bill, Ron and Hermione. I went to stand aside, but Harry shook his head. "I want your advice in here." 

I glanced over at Hermione, who gave me a small smile.

"In here." Bill said, opening up the door to his and Fleurs' room. It was a beautiful room, with colours that matched the sea and sand outside. I realized now that I had never actually been to the sea, though I had always longed to go. I supposed I could make the most of this visit, though I now wished it was with Severus and Dad as well. 

Hermione took a seat besides the dressing table, Ron sitting on the arm of the chair. Harry moved to the window, turning his back to the beautiful view outside to lean against the sill, his arms across his chest. The familiar flicker of pain in his eyes told me that his scar was hurting again. I'm sure if I had still been wearing our mums' locket, I would've felt the same pain against my chest. 

Bill came into the room with Griphook in his arms, gently putting him down on the bed and Bill left without another word. Now that Griphook was in the room, I decided to sit on the loveseat, the babies in my stomach kicking hard now. I put a hand against my stomach, rubbing it gently, hoping it would soothe them. 

"I'm sorry to take you out of bed. How are your legs?" Harry asked. 

"Painful. But mending." 

I looked at the Gryffindor sword that the goblin held in his hands, clutching it with reluctance, as though he already knew what we were asking for, though I knew that wasn't the case. 

"You probably don't remember-" Harry started, but Griphook interrupted. 

"-that I was the goblin who showed you to your vault, the first time you ever visited Gringotts? I remember, Harry Potter. Even amongst goblins, you are very famous." There was a long silence, where the two of them seemed to be sizing each other up. I knew who won when Griphook continued, "You buried the elf. I watched you from the window of the bedroom next door." 

I bit my tongue to keep from saying something I wouldn't regret. I wouldn't even have to feel that I needed to berate him for not showing up to the funeral if I had just been able to save Dobbys' life. 

"Yes." 

"You are an unusual wizard, Harry Potter." 

Harry rubbed his scar as he questioned, "In what way?"

"You dug the grave." 

"So?" 

Griphook didn't answer, so I did. 

"Certain ah, species don't expect Wizards to take the time for a proper burial for those we are supposed to see as 'below us.'" 

Griphook gave me a look that said he didn't like my way of explaining it, but it had been the nicest way of putting it that I had been able to see. 

"Griphoook, I need to ask-" 

"You also rescued a goblin." 

"What?" 

"You brought me here. Saved me." 

"Well, I take it you're not sorry?" I heard the impatience in Harry's voice. 

"No, Harry Potter, but you are a very odd wizard." 

"Right. Well I need some help, Griphook, and you can give it to me. I need to break into a Gringotts vault." 

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry like he had gone mad, while Harry's eyes flickered just a bit. I hoped he wasn't in too much pain, but that was a big hope. 

"Harry-" Hermione started, but was interrupted immediately by the goblin. 

"Break into a Gringotts vault? Impossible." 

"No, it isn't. It's been done." Ron quickly backed Harry up. 

"Yeah, the same day I first met you, Griphook. My birthday, seven years ago." There had to be some sort of poetic justice to that. 

"The vault in question was empty at the time." The goblin snapped, clearly offended. "Its protection was minimal." 

"Well, the vault we need to get into isn't empty, and I'm guessing its protection will be pretty powerful. It belongs to the Lestranges." 

If Hermione and Ron hadn't been looking at him like he had a screw loose before, they most certainly were now, as they exchanged a glance. 

"You have no chance. No chance at all. If you seek beneath our floors, a treasure that was never yours-" 

"Thief, you have been warned, beware- yeah I know, I remember," Harry interrupted "But I'm not trying to get myself any treasure, I'm not trying to take anything for personal gain. Can you believe that?" 

"If there was a wizard of whom I would believe that they did not seek personal gain, it would be you, Harry Potter. Goblins and elves are not used to the protection or the respect that you have shown this night. Not from wand-carriers." 

"Wand-carriers." Harry repeated. 

"The right to carry a wand, has long been contested between wizards and goblins." 

"Well, goblins can do magic without wands." Ron replied. 

"That is immaterial! Wizards refuse to share the secrets of wandlore with other magical beings, they deny us the possibility of extending our powers!" 

"Well, goblins won't share any of their magic either, you won't tell us how to make swords and armor the way you do. Goblins know how to work metal in a way wizards have never-" 

"It doesn't matter. This isn't about wizards versus goblins or any other sort of magical creature-

Griphooks laugh made the hairs on my arms stand up. "But it is, it is about precisely that! As the Dark Lord becomes ever more powerful, your race is set still more firmly above mine! Gringotts falls under Wizarding rule, house-elves are slaughtered, and who amongst the wand-carriers protests?" 

"We do! We protest! And I'm hunted quite as much as any goblin or elf, Griphook! I'm a Mudblood!" 

I felt uncomfortable with both her words and the way she sat up straight, her eyes bright and passionate. I physically cringed where I sat, feeling weird about it. 

"Don't call yourself-" 

"Why shouldn't I? Mudblood, and proud of it! I've got no higher position under this new order than you have, Griphook! It was me they chose to torture, back at the Malfoys'!" 

I thought for effect she might pull her robe arm up, to show where Bellatrix had carved the word 'Mudblood' into her arm. Considering that would've had greater effect to punctuate her words. Instead, she simply showed the thin line across her neck, not to deep, and already healed into a scab. 

And don't get me wrong, I'm sure that hurt like a bitch. But I feel that the dramatic effect would've been a lot better. 

"Did you know that it was Harry who set Dobby free? Did you know that we've wanted elves to be freed for years?" Ron fidgeted and I rolled my eyes. "You can't want You-Know-Who defeated more than we do, Griphook!" 

True. I definitely wanted revenge for my parents and for ripping my entire family apart. 

"What do you seek within the Lestranges' vault? The sword that lies inside of it is a fake. This is the real one. I think that you already know this. You asked me to lie for you back there." 

"But the fake sword isn't the only thing in that vault is it? Perhaps you've seen the other things in there?" 

"It is against our code to speak of the secrets of Gringotts. We are the guardians of fabulous treasures. We have a duty to the objects placed in our care, which were, so often, wrought by our fingers." 

He stroked the sword as he spoke, his beady black eyes darting between the four of us. 

"So young, to be fighting so many." 

"Will you help us?" Harry asked. I could hear a baby start to cry downstairs and knew that I needed to depart. "We haven't got a hope of breaking in without a goblins' help. You're our one chance." 

"I shall. . . think about it." Griphook said. 

"But-" 

"Thank you." Harry said softly. 

"I think, that the Skele-Gro has finished its work. I may be able to sleep at last. Forgive me. . ." 

"Yeah, of course." Harry said, leaning forward and taking the sword of Gryffindor from where Griphook had laid it down. The four of us left the room, my skin prickling as I turned my back to the goblin. 

"Little git, he's enjoying keep us hanging." 

"Harry, are you saying what I think you're saying?" The crying grew louder. "Are you saying there's a Horcrux in the Lestranges' vault?" 

"Yes. Bellatrix was terrified when she thought we'd been in there, she was beside herself. Why? What did she think we'd seen, what else did she think we might have taken? Something she was petrified You-Know-Who would find out about." 

"But I thought we were looking for places You-Know-Who's been, places he's done something important? Was he ever inside the Lestranges' vault?" Ron asked. 

"I don't know whether he was ever inside Gringotts. He never had gold there when he was younger, because nobody left him anything. He would have seen the bank from the outside, though, the first time he ever went to Diagon Alley. I think he would have envied anyone who had a key to a Gringotts vault. I think he'd have seen it as a real symbol of belonging to the Wizarding world. And don't forget, he trusted Bellatrix and her husband. They were his most devoted servants before he fell, and they went looking for him after he vanished. He said it the night he came back, I heard him." 

He rubbed his scar. Trang came up the stairs, carrying Remus, who had stopped crying so loudly, but still whimpering slightly. 

"I don't think he'd have told Bellatrix it was a Horcrux, though. He never told Lucius Malfoy the truth about the diary. He probably told her it was a treasured possession and asked her to place it in her vault. The safest place in the world for anything you want to hide, Hagrid told me. . . except for Hogwarts." 

"You really understand him." Ron said after a moment, as I took Remus into my arms. I bounced him just a little, before looking up. 

"Well, and also Bellatrix and him had a daughter together." I said nonchalantly, without thinking really. 

"He what?" Ron exclaimed vehemently and Trang choked out. 

"I thought it was obvious." I said, then cooed to Remus, "Let's go down and play with toys." I turned and walked back down the stairs, Trang tailing me closely. 

"What was that all about?" Trang asked. I explained the conversation to Trang as we made our way to the living room, before turning to other conversation as Bill came into the room. 

"I suppose you can't tell me what you're doing here either?" Bill asked. 

"Oh, actually, it's quite simple. You-Know-Who was going to be where Trang and I have been hiding out. We left hours prior to that visit, and I figured here was a good place. Sorry for the intrusion." I explained quickly, putting Remus down on the floor now that he'd stopped crying. I had brought a few of his favorite toys with us, and I put them down next to him now, which he immediately picked up and started to play with. 

"It's alright, I'm just glad you guys are safe." Bill said, still surveying me as I gingerly sat down on the couch, putting a hand over my stomach. "Er- Snape?" 

"Oh, uh yeah." I mumbled quietly, not meeting his eyes. "Twins, possibly." 

It was silent for a moment and then Bill said. "I get it. I mean, not Snape, hearsay, but uh, the love part. . . it's hard to stop loving someone who already had your heart." 

"Yeah, it is." I murmured. 

"Your rooms are upstairs." Bill said. "We put you and Trang in with Hermione." 

"Thank you, Bill." I said softly. "We appreciate it." 

Bill nodded and then continued on his way. 

"So what's the plan?" Trang asked lightly. 

"We pretend we're on vacation. Spend our days down at the beach, help cook and clean so we're not overbearing guests, and then a week before Harry and the others leave for Gringotts, we'll leave for Hogwarts. The future there is a little fuzzy admittedly, but it seems like a sound plan." 

"Understood. I'm going to go lay down, I'm pretty tired." Trang said softly, standing up. She squeezed my shoulder and headed upstairs. 

I continued to sit in the living room, lost in thought, until Harry strode out of the house, Hermione and Ron tailing after him. 

Flashes of visions played in my head. Severus was bustling down the steps of Hogwarts. . . meeting with Voldemort. . .Severus headed back up the stairs after Voldemort instructed him to do so. Severus would attempt to look out the window, see what the Dark Lord was doing, but he could not see him. . . he had casted a Disillusionment charm. And Harry was telling Ron and Hermione the same things I was seeing. Ron was bemoaning the fact that they hadn't gone after the wand. 

But everything would work out somehow. I could see the vague image of a person finishing Voldemort inside Hogwarts. Which would most likely take place in June although I didn't know the exact date. It could even possibly be late May. I was only predicting June since all of our other escapades had happened in the last month of school. 

I stood, gripping the couch arm as I felt the dizziness of doing so. Black dots danced across my vision and I waited until they were gone to move again. I made my way up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Trang was fast asleep and I saw that Bill had fashioned a makeshift crib in the corner for Remus. I laid my son down in the crib, putting the small blanket over him, tucking his favorite stuffed animal in with him. 

"Goodnight sweetheart." I murmured, before climbing into the bed closest to him. 

I fell asleep quickly, big green eyes imprinted against my eyelids and Dobby's voice echoing in my ears. 

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