The Nightshade Sisters: Professor Snape
Warnings- dead mom, abusive dad, raised by aunt uncles and godparents, death eaters, Voldemort, violence and murder, Draco Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy, all other Harry Potter stuff
Let me know if there’s anything else!
ROSIE’S POV:
The next morning Draco and Rosie walked down to the great hall to get some breakfast. Draco sat next to Rosie, across from Crabb and Goyle. Draco was talking to them as Rosie was writing a letter.
Dear Moony,
I miss you so, so, so much! I didn't get put in Hufflepuff with Ceddie or Lacy, nor did I get put in Gryffindor like you. However I did get put into Slytherin like Aunt Joyce and Uncle Tim. I already made a friend! His name is Draco Malfoy, he’s in my house as well. I don’t like that I won’t get to be with you on full moons now. Harry Potter was put in Gryffindor just like you said he would be. I had a panic attack as the train stopped in front of Hogwarts yesterday, but Lace and Ceddie helped me through it. Today’s the first day of classes, I’ll write to you tomorrow to let you know how it goes. I’m really nervous, but I don’t think much attention will be on me if Harry Potter is in my class. I miss and love you, Uncle Moony.
Love,
Cub
“What are you doing?” Draco asked, looking at Rosie.
“I’m writing to my uncle. I miss him, so I decided to write to him. Do you want to go with me to ask my siblings if I could borrow one of their owls?”
“Sure.” Draco replied, he got up and grabbed Rosie’s hand, to help her up.
“This way.” Rosie stated, taking the lead and dragging him behind her. “Lace, Ceddie!”
“Rosie!” Lacy replied, wrapping her arms around Rosie in a big hug.
“Lace… I… Can’t… Breathe.”
“Sorry.” Lacy let out, letting go of her, as she saw Draco. “Hi. Who are you?”
“I’m Draco, Rosie’s best friend.” Draco explained, sticking out his hand to Lacy. Rosie smiled and a small blush came to her cheeks. Cedric saw and smirked.
“I’m Lacy,” Lacy replied, shaking Draco’s hand. “I’m Rosie’s older sister, and this is our brother, Cedric.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Draco,” Cedric smiled, shaking Draco’s hand.
“Could I borrow one of your owls to send a letter to Uncle Remus?”
“Yeah, of course, Little Rose. Sugar’s in the owlery. Just call her and she’ll come to you.”
“Thanks, Ceddie.” Rosie replied, hugging him. “I love you guys.”
“We love you too, Little Rose.”
“So much.” Lacy added.
Later that morning Rosie and Draco went off to Potions class. Rosie sat next to Draco in between the big boys, as if they were their bodyguards.
“Professor Snape is the head of Slytherin so he should like us.” Draco explained to Rosie. “Actually I know he likes me, I’ve known him since I was a baby. He’s my godfather, so just stay with me, and stay on his good side, and you’ll be set for all seven years.”
“Thanks, Draco.”
All of a sudden the doors opened and Professor Snape came storming in. He stopped in front of his desk and looked at the class. Draco sat up straighter with a small smile on his face, his eyes filled with admiration.
“There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class.” Snape explained. “As such, I don’t expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However for the select few,” Snape glanced over at Draco and Rosie. “Who possesses the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensure the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to…not pay attention.”
Everyone glanced over to where Snape was looking, Hermione nudged Harry, and he looked up to see Snape glaring down at him. Draco and the big boys snickered, but Draco stopped when Rosie nudged him and gave him a look.
“Potter!” Snape called. “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"I don't know, sir," Harry said.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything." He ignored Hermione's hand. "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
“I don’t know, sir.” Harry said again, as Hermione’s hand stayed in the air.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter as Rosie tried to shut them up, feeling sorry for Harry.
“What’s the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?”
“I don’t know. I think Hermione does, though, why don’t you ask her?”
“Miss. Nightshade,” Snape called, turning around to look at her. “Perhaps you would like to explain the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane? I do believe this is something you would know.”
Rosie stared at him a little wondering how he knew. “There’s no difference Professor. They are the same plant known as aconite.”
“Yes. I thought you would know that. Very nice, Miss. Nightshade, ten points to Slytherin.” The Slytherins started cheering and Draco smiled at Rosie. “And I’d like to see you after class, Miss. Nightshade.”
After class finished Draco got up and looked at her. “Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to stay with you?”
“No, I’ll be okay, Draco. But I wouldn’t mind if you waited outside.”
“Okay,” Draco sighed and walked out of the class behind everyone else.
“You wanted to see me, Professor,” Rosie let out.
“I think you should know that I went to school with your aunt, uncles, and parents before they got expelled and banned from the wizarding world.”
“What does this have to do with anything?”
“I was in Slytherin with your aunt and uncle. I was on good terms with them. However your uncle, Remus, was someone I despised.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, sir.”
“I do hope you aren't like him.”
“I’m not a werewolf if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Good to know. Judging by the fact that you are in my house, I do hope that you behave more like your aunt and uncle, rather than your uncle and sister.”
“I’ll do my best, sir. May I go now.”
“Yes.”
“Hey, everything okay?” Draco asked, when Rosie walked out of the room.
“Yeah, Snape just wanted to talk to me about my family. Apparently my sister’s not the best student, and he wanted to make sure I’ll be better than her.”
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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.
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"𝕬𝖗𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖆𝖑𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙?" Harry asked as we hurried up the sloping lawn. He was under the invisibility cloak, but I was not as I would turn into a cat once we stepped over the threshold.
"The way your parents died. . ." I said, nearly choking on my words, "Was the way my parents died. When the dementors. . . I just. . . I can hear my mum screaming for my dad. They weren't prepared for the attack. Dad was hiding me in the basement. Said he loved me and everything was going to be okay, ya know?"
Tears were still falling down my face and I wiped them away.
"I'm sorry." Harry said, reaching out and taking my hand. He said nothing else and he didn't have to say anything else.
I cleared my throat and said more solidly. "Dumbledore's back. You can either take the long route back to the Gryffindor Tower and hear it from Nearly Headless Nick, or you can just go straight to his office."
"Thanks Elizabeth." Harry said and I turned into a cat and bounded up the marble steps to make my way towards Severus' office.
I turned human, opening the door. Severus was already in bed and I quickly undressed and slid into bed next to him. He was sound asleep.
I hadn't cried myself out yet and I did so now, quietly so I did not wake Severus.
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𝕾𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖚𝖘 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖚𝖕 when I woke up.
"Rough night?" He asked softly, crossing the room as I sat up to take my face in his hands and press his lips to mine.
"A bit." I said softly after we broke apart. I climbed out of the bed and put on school clothes and then started switching books out of the bag like I always did. "I'll see you after school." I said, slinging the bookbag over my shoulders, and wincing- Hagrid's arm might've left a bruise- pulled the door open.
"Wait." Severus said and I paused in the doorway. "Are you alright?"
I smiled at him but felt that if I didn't leave soon I'd start crying again. "Yeah, Sev. I'm alright." I shut the door behind me.
I headed to Charms because I was cutting very close to late and had no time to grab breakfast. I took my place with the Hufflepuffs and eavesdropped on the Harry's conversation with Hermione and Ron.
How Slughorn had told Tom Riddle about Horcruxes. How Tom had asked about the idea of splitting the soul into seven pieces. The six possible horcruxes- two definite ones and four less definite. And of course, there was more talk about the prophecy and how Harry was going to kill Voldemort and then there was a slight surprise: Dumbledore was going to let Harry come with him to destroy a horcrux.
"Wow. Wow. You're actually going to go with Dumbledore. . . and try and destroy. . . wow." Ron said, waving his wand in small circles absentmindedly.
"Ron, you're making it snow." Hermione said, reaching out and grabbing his wrist to redirect the wand from the ceiling.
I watched as Lavender Brown glared at Hermione with puffy red eyes. Hermione might've noticed too because she let go of Ron's arm very quickly.
"Oh yeah." Ron said, looking around them as the white flakes settled on their shoulders. "Sorry. . . looks like we've all got horrible dandruff now. . ." He brushed some snow off Hermione's shoulder and Lavender burst into tears. Ron turned his back on her.
I supposed they'd split up last night.
"Ah." I heard Harry reply to something that Ron had said, "Well- you don't mind it's over, do you?"
"No." Ron said, "It was pretty bad while she was yelling, but at least I didn't have to finish it."
"Coward." Hermione and I said together.
"Well, it was a bad night for romance all around. Ginny and Dean split up too, Harry." Hermione continued, smirking.
"How come?" Harry asked with to straight of a face to be innocent.
"Oh, something really silly. . . she said he was always trying to help her through the portrait hole, like she couldn't climb in herself. . . but they've been a bit rocky for ages." Hermione said with a simple shrug and a knowing smile.
I grinned too, taking a sneak peak at Dean from across the room. He also looked unhappy, though he didn't show any signs of crying like Lavender.
"Of course, this puts you in a bit of a dilemma, doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
"What d'you mean?" Harry asked in a quick voice.
"The Quidditch team." Hermione said, her smile growing bigger all of the time. "If Ginny and Dean aren't speaking. . ."
"Oh-oh yeah." Harry said. He almost sounded relieved. Hermione and I met each others eyes and quickly looked away, both of us grinning.
"Flitwick." Ron muttered under his breath.
"Now, now boys. A little less talk, a little more action. . . Let me see you try. . ." Professor Flitwick said. Hermione and I had already turned our vinegar into wine though I personally preferred the smell of the vinegar to the smell of the wine. I also preferred the taste but I wasn't sure if that was baby hormones or because I liked sour foods.
Susan, Ernie, and I ducked as Harry's vinegar turned to ice and Ron's flask exploded. Glass shards flew over our heads. Somewhere to my right I heard Ernie curse.
"Yes. . . for homework." Professor Flitwick said, emerging from under the table and pulling shards of glass out of his hat. "practice."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were going to go up to the Gryffindor Tower and I let them go, heading outside to sit under a nice tree instead because I had a free period. I would've liked to have gone to the Room of Requirement and entered the art studio, but I had promised myself I would only go in there on the weekends. So now instead, I worked on drawings outside.
Ever since I had done the Professor portrait fiasco, the influx of drawing requests had skyrocketed to the point that I had to keep a log for each person and what they wanted. Prices came after.
Dad's birthday came and though I knew it was probably better if I didn't, I created a drawing for him, and sent it off with Sadie along with some chocolate from Honeydukes.
The Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor Quidditch match was the most exciting talk in the school. If Gryffindor won, they won the Championship. If Gryffindor lost by only a little bit, then Hufflepuff would play Ravenclaw for the final match. I wasn't sure which outcome I wanted yet.
There became loud chants and songs from both the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, making fun of opposing players. This created either people who enjoyed the attention, or people who had to dash off to the loo to puke. But I much preferred this to Slytherin v. Gryffindor matches where you often had to carry a shield around to keep from being hit with wayward spells.
In my personal life, the large teacher portrait was nearly done. I had a few more teachers to draw in and Susan was helping me figure out what sort of scenery could be drawn behind them but other than that, it was nearly done. Oh, and we had to get the students signatures too.
Along with art problems, I was having difficulty with the stupid Runes homework and I wondered why I hadn't dropped the subject yet. Everything else was easy. Runes used to be easy, and now it was getting more difficult and I was frustrated easily.
But Severus and I were having lots of fun besides that. I kept toying with the idea of amusement parks over the summer. I wondered what his reaction would be or how he'd react on a roller coaster. It was an amusing idea and I kept thinking about it often.
The Felix Felicis potion was approaching finished, our child was going to be born completely healthy according to Madam Pomfrey, and to top it all off, I knew perfectly well that Harry and Ginny were going to kiss soon.
At the same time, I was trying to figure out whether or not to stop Harry from using the Sectumsempra curse on Draco. If he did use it, he wouldn't be able to use his potions book for the rest of the school year. But if he didn't use it, would that change the outcome of the Quidditch match and therefore, change the outcome of whether or not Ginny and Harry were going to kiss?
I still hadn't made up my mind for the time, when Harry was walking down to the bathroom to see why Draco was in there with Moaning Myrtle.
But I couldn't just do nothing and so, trying to push away the knowledge that I was breaking a promise I'd made with Trang, I hurried down to the bathroom, my wand in my pocket.
I heard shouting in the bathroom by the time I got to the door. It was Moaning Myrtle's voice shouting, "No! No! Stop it! Stop STOP!"
I wrenched the door open, grabbing Harry's arm to push him aside without thinking and blocking a hex from Draco.
"Stop both of you. Protego!" A shield popped up between the two of them.
Draco's next spell rebounded, hit himself, and he dropped. "Crap." I muttered, quickly reversing the spell for the shield and hurried over to where he was.
"Draco?" I asked uncertainly. There was watering dripping on the floor everywhere, a sink had been broken. "Dr-" He made a sudden movement.
I flew backwards, crashing into a stall. Pain shot through my back and I felt like I was hanging on something.
"Elizabeth!" Harry shouted. I was momentarily dazed, trying to figure out what had happened. I heard Draco shout, "Crucio!" But there were no screams, so maybe the spell hadn't hit Harry.
"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Harry shouted.
I would've shouted no if it had been possible but I felt like I couldn't move. There were spots dancing in front of my vision and the pain in my back was growing. Or was it fading?
Then I heard Harry said, "No- No- I didn't-" I heard the sound of knees hitting tile. My head felt kind've fuzzy. I tried opening my eyes but my lids were heavy.
"MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM! MURDER!"
I heard the door bang open. There were fast footsteps slapping against the wet floor. There was a strange buzzing noise in my ears. I didn't pass out, though the pain was great enough that I would've welcome it. There were strange things poking into my back, splintered wood around my body. I think they were wood chunks anyways... maybe?
There were heavy hands. There was sobbing and wailing. There was a snappish voice. There were uncomfortable jolting movements. And then eventually there was a soft bed, hectic voices, smooth bandages, loud noises, and something smooth like honey dropping down my throat. Only then, did I fall asleep.
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𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖚𝖕 in the hospital wing though at this point, I wasn't surprised that I was here.
I would've sat up by my waist didn't seem to want to bend and I closed my eyes in horror, assuming the worst: I'd been paralyzed again.
"Hey." a soft voice said and I turned my head and saw Severus sitting in a wooden chair next to me.
"Hi." I barely whispered.
"You're going to be fine." He said, taking my hand in his. "Madam Pomfrey gave you something to immobilize you. She said you shouldn't move but she didn't trust you to stay still on your own." Relief flooded through my veins, "The baby's fine too." More relief.
"What. . . what happened?" I croaked out.
Severus's hand tightened on mine. "I don't know exactly. I didn't get there until afterwards. But according to Potter, you flew back into the stall when Malfoy hexed you. The stall broke and some of the wood pierced your spine. You would've been paralyzed again if Madam Pomfrey hadn't gotten to you so quickly."
I would've shivered if I could've moved. "But the baby. . ."
"Baby is completely, totally, 100 percent fine." Severus said, rubbing circles on the back of my hand though I couldn't feel it.
"Good." I whispered. "Draco. . . used Cruciatus curse. . ."
Severus' face was hard. "I had to punish Potter-"
"I know." I whispered, "Even Professor McGonagall. . . agree. Every. . . Saturday till. . .break. . ."
"Yes, yes." Severus said quickly, probably to keep me from talking, "And you don't have to talk, alright?"
"Why does my throat. . . hurt?"
Severus was hesitant as he answered, "Madam Pomfrey found some wood shards in your throat, very small, but they created scratches inside. I don't know how you managed to swallow them but it was probably an accident. Or it could've been when Malfoy hexed you, perhaps he got you in the throat. A number of things." He paused and then said, "You're lucky you didn't die, Elizabeth."
Yes, lucky. That was something, wasn't it? But Draco could've died. And from the outside point of view, the fight wasn't supposed to be that dangerous. It hadn't been dangerous when I'd foreseen it.
"Wasn't supposed to be dangerous." I muttered. "I put up shield charm. Draco's spell bounced, hit him. I was going to help him, went over to him. Thought he was unconscious. That's when he hit me with spell."
Severus hand tightened on my own. Feeling was starting to flow back into my body and it wasn't a very comfortable feeling.
Madam Pomfrey came bustling over, a bottle of something in her hands. "Drink up, drink up." She said.
The liquid was tipped down my throat and I coughed and sputtered at the peppery taste. "Do you want an unhealthy baby?" She scolded me. "Drink up."
I drank obediently, eyes streaming from tears. Merlin's beard that stuff was awful!
"Where is Draco?" I asked, my throat feeling much better. The hospital wing was empty. I wondered what time it was.
"You've been in here for two days." Madam Pomfrey said. "Mr. Malfoy was discharged a day ago."
"Crap." I muttered, closing my eyes. "School work."
"It's fine." Severus said. "Miss Granger brought your work in for you every day." He pointed to a stack of parchment on the bedside table. "You can work on it when you feel better."
"I can work on it now." I said, reaching over and taking the first thing off the stack. It was about seventy-seven pages long on the correct way to translate runes that are found on ancient sites from the specific year of 900 BC. "On second thought, this can wait." I muttered, tossing it onto Severus' lap and picking up the next thing.
Severus read the title of the papers I'd thrown into his lap and smirked, "Yes, I can see why you wouldn't want to start with that."
I flew through the simple things: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Potions. There was nothing from Hagrid for Care of Magical Creatures and as Runes was my only other class, that was the last homework part I had to do.
I looked down glumly at the thick article that I had finally picked up. Severus had fallen into a doze, his head hanging down, giving the impression that he might be praying.
I threw the article aside. Stupid Ancient Runes.
I picked up the log and art pad and started on my drawings, working on specialty cases first before moving to the more mundane cases, working down the list in a methodic process.
Severus woke up near midnight and looked over my shoulder as I traced out abs on a naked Blaise Zabini.
"What are you drawing?" Severus asked, sounding repulsed. I looked over at him and grinned and pushed the log towards him. He traced his finger down and then snorted, "Pansy Parkinson ordered this?"
"Yes. . ." I said slowly, lifting the artpad so that I could blow shavings away and not smear the paper. "You'd be surprised how many times people want naked drawings of other people. I've even gotten offers of people who want to be used as muses. To be honest," I continued, ignoring Severus jerk reaction of a scowl, "-it's gotten to be redundant."
"Is that why you have a specialty list?" Severus asked, looking back at the log.
"Yes. . .that, is for people who don't order drawings of other people. Those are people who want mythical creatures or normal creatures or landscapes or anything that isn't a naked person." I carefully retracted the finished drawing for Pansy from the art pad and moved it to a safe spot on a chair so that nothing would smudge it or ruin it.
"You should draw me something." Severus said carelessly.
"Really?" I asked, starting on a couple portrait for Trang and Oliver. It had to start with a black metal bench in a park. . .
"Yes." Severus said, flipping the log closed, and placed it next to my knee.
"Anything in particular?" I asked curiously, tracing out the outline for a sidewalk.
"No." Severus said with a small smile. "Surprise me."
"What day is it tomorrow?" I asked.
"Saturday." Severus said.
"Good to know." I muttered.
Severus stood. "I'll check back in on you in a few hours, okay?"
"In the morning." I clarified, "Get some sleep."
"I will." he kissed my cheek and left the hospital wing.
A drawing for Severus? Many different ideas clouded my head as I worked steadily on Trang and Oliver's picture. But when I finally settled on something, I pushed it into the 'later' bin of my head and continued to work my way down the list of people.
I fell asleep sometime around three in the morning.
I could hear the commentary of the game the next day, but I blocked most of it out, not very interested in the outcome anymore.
Now that the game was here and would be over soon, it meant that very soon, Severus was going to have to kill Dumbledore.
So I worked quickly on the portrait for Severus. When I was discharged after the game, I hurried to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, all my pictures in separated folders for their owners. I knocked and heard Severus say enter.
I entered, noticing that there were many things different with the room. It looked gloomier, more depressing than before. There were cobwebbed boxes sitting in the corner of the room. Severus had put up new containers of slimy things in jars that he had previously had in the dungeon.
I set the folders down on the desk, moving through them quickly and found the one I'd labelled with Severus name on it. I picked it out, moving all the folders together again and handed it over to him.
"You finished it already?" He asked, taking the folder from me.
I didn't answer, waiting for his reaction as he pulled out not one, but four sheets out of the folder. He spread them out.
The youngest was a baby girl, almost newborn, eyes closed but adorable nonetheless. Then there was the little girl version, anywhere between four and eight. She had the black hair I was imagining, the blue eyes, the red lips (though not colored, the drawing was left up to the imagination). There was a teenager version and also an adult version.
Severus said nothing. He simply stood, embracing me for a long time.
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𝕲𝖗𝖞𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖉 𝖜𝖔𝖓, meaning they had won the Cup (a slight disappointment). Also, there was quite the gossip about Ginny and Harry (not that I minded). It was great gossip and I enjoyed it immensely. I particularly enjoyed overhearing people who were stunned that Harry hadn't asked me out. (No, I sincerely found this funny, no sarcasm).
There were also rumors about Ginny and Harry sleeping together and what Harry might have tattooed on his abs or his back or his buttocks or his dick. Ginny couldn't actually answer as she didn't know, but her responses were quite colorful.
I had finished the teachers portrait and had left it in the art studio. Hermione was going to enlargen it with a spell this upcoming Saturday. Then I'd have people sign it in groups. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins.
I had a hard time figuring out how I was going to get the Slytherins to sign though. The other houses would be easy. I could certainly get my own house to sign and Gryffindor would certainly join in with Harry and Hermione's persuasion. Trang could get the Ravenclaws on board, perhaps with some help from Luna even. But we had no on the inside for Slytherin and it was no secret that I didn't get along with Slytherins.
But I mean, did we really even need Slytherin signatures? Severus wasn't going to care if his house students signed or not. We could just have red, blue, and gold (yellow wasn't a good color to write with) signatures. Who needed green? Yet it might unify us, even if only for a moment.
The Felix Felicis potion had a few weeks left before completion.
The baby was kicking, strong and healthy. She had actually cracked a rib, something that had scared Severus more than it had scared me. I'd heard babies cracked ribs sometimes. Apparently, Severus had never heard that.
I had finally come up with a few solid names for our baby girl. Many involved versions where 'Lily' was either the first or second name. The other names varied. Many variations included Trang. Trang Lily. Lily Trang. Of course, there were other names. Eileen, after Severus' mother. Hope, after Dad's mother. Personally, I found the names Seraphina, Remi, and Kisa attractive.
Severus on the other hand, was quite sure that the baby was a boy and wanted me to come up with baby boy names but I wouldn't. It was a girl, I could feel it.
"You'd think people had better things to gossip about." Ginny said from the Gryffindor common room floor, leaning against Harry's legs and reading the Daily Prophet. "Three dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed across your chest."
Ron, Hermione, Trang, and I roared with laughter. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the couch across from Harry's chair. Trang was sitting in an arm chair perpendicular to the two couches and I was sitting on a wooden stool in front of a small art easel, working on the Professors' drawing.
I'd snuck the art easel out of the Room of Requirement and had jinxed it to fit in my pocket. It was an pocket easel. Was it sneaking if it technically belonged to you?
"What did you tell her?" Harry asked, ignoring us.
"I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail, much more macho." Ginny said.
I snorted.
"Thanks, and what did you tell her Ron's got?" Harry asked, smiling.
"A Pygmy Puff, but I didn't say where."
Hermione, Trang, and I laughed while Ron scowled.
"Watch it." Ron said. "Just because I've given you my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it-"
"Your permission. Since when did you give me permission to do anything? Anyway, you said yourself you'd rather it was Harry than Michael or Dean." Ginny scoffed, glaring over the edge of the newspaper.
Ron said grudgingly, "Yeah, I would and just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public-"
"You filthy hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels all over the place?" Ginny demanded angrily.
"She has a point." I said lightly, putting the finishing details to Firenze's character.
"I don't see you with anyone." Ron snarked.
I smirked, "Because I don't let you see me with anyone."
This spiked Ron, Hermione, and Ginny's curiosity.
"You're seeing someone?" Ron asked with obvious surprise.
I rolled my eyes, setting the brush down, observing the drawing, "Of course I am."
"Fred?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"No, we're just friends." I said, picking up the pencil to fix a few details to Professor Burbage's person.
"Does he even go to this school?" Ginny asked.
"Of course he does." I said lightly.
"Why didn't you bring him to Slughorn's party then?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, he was there." I said with a smirk, "but we didn't go together. We're keeping it a secret."
"But why?" Hermione questioned, "Surely, you don't think we're going to judge you or anything?"
"Oh!" Ron shouted, pointing a finger, "It's a Slytherin, isn't it?"
I said nothing, fixing my eyes determinedly on Uncle Moody's character, adding microscopic details to the carved wooden leg and his magical eye.
"Oho! It is a Slytherin!" Ron said gleefully. "It's probably Zabini."
"He did kiss me once." I admitted, "But I'm not dating him."
"A Slytherin kissed you?" Hermione asked in amazement. Both Harry and Trang were determinedly keeping their mouths shut and looking in different directions of each other or me.
I looked up, smirking. "Sometimes, I think you guys forget that I'm not a Gryffindor and therefore have no serious animosity with a majority of the Slytherins."
"Except you know, the ones whose parents would love to hand you over to Voldemort." Harry finally interjected to which Ron and Trang laughed.
"Which, though we may want to object, isn't a majority of the Slytherins." I said lightly. "But we weren't talking about me, we were talking about how Ron finds he has to give you and Ginny permission to be in love."
And that started a whole new conversation that got the others off of who I was dating.
However, this didn't deter Ron. For some reason, he was quite determined to get to the bottom of whoever I was dating. Harry and Trang kept their mouths shut while Hermione and Ginny were the type of people who, though curious, believed I had a right to my own privacy.
The time came so that the fifth years were studying for O.W.L.s and the seventh years were studying N.E.W.T.s and the first through fourth years were getting ready to take their own exams. Sixth-years on the other hand, didn't have to take any exams. N.E.W.T.s covered years six and seven.
Trang and I wrote up a schedule so that we could get the four houses to sign the drawing. We had sent a letter to each house head, telling them where to show up on what day at what time and asking them to please participate.
I was quite pleased with how the drawing came out. I had finally gotten the drawing to where the Professors were grouped together but that everyone could see whatever item was in their hands or whatever animals were sitting upon their shoulders.
Dumbledore was in the middle, Fawkes on his shoulder, his arms behind his back.
Professor McGonagall had a cat upon her shoulders.
Severus had a potion bottle in his hands.
Professor Sprout was holding a plant- specifically a mandrake (any herbologist could see by the leaves).
Professor Flitwick had his wand in his hands, standing upon a couple of cushions so that he was just tall enough to reach Professor McGonagall's shoulder.
Professor Burbage still had the rotary telephone.
Firenze had a bow and arrow, looking quite handsome, his long hair tossed down his back. Like I usually did, his muscles seemed to stand out more and more compared to the other Professors who wore long-sleeved robes or shirts to cover anything. But I'd always preferred Firenze looking muscular than anything else.
Madam Hooch was exactly the same as the first draft, leaning on a broom with the other fist on her hip, a whistle about her neck.
Professor Trelawney was holding a crystal ball in her hands. The crystal ball showed a hippogriff flying into the moon.
Professor Vector (arithmancy) was holding a thick book with a black cover and white words that read: A new theory of Numerology. It was tucked under her arm, angled just the right way so that the words could be seen.
Professor Babbling (runes) had both hands out, and runes were drawn above her hands as though they were floating there.
Professor Sinistra was on the very far side of the paper, leaning on a telescope that was pointed up to the ceiling. (With the background behind them, it was pointed through the window).
Madam Pince had a stack of library books in her arms, the titles facing outwards and could be read if one wanted to. Each title was actually one of Gilderoy Lockhart's books, if one looked closely enough.
Mr. Filch was standing close next to her, his arms in the position that they'd have been in if he'd been holding a baby. As it was, he was holding Mrs. Norris. I made him grumpier than he'd been in the funny drawings, but still kinder than real life.
Professor Slughorn was on the other far end by Professor Sprout, holding a large box of crystalized pineapple. Tucked in his breast pocket, just poking out, was a small bottle of Felix Felicis.
Professor Binns floated above the other teachers, a book on goblin rebellions wide open and his mouth was open as though he was still reading aloud.
Professor Hagrid was near Firenze, though much taller and larger. He had dead polecats in one hand and his other hand looked as though it was hovering on air. I knew however that it was really resting on a Thestral. (I didn't draw the thestral, it was only supposed to look like it was hovering on air. But anyone who knew or had listened to Hagrid's lesson knew it was a thestral).
Then Professor Kettleburn was also nearby, half his body made of up of replacements- looking worse than Uncle Moody- and half his body just that- his body. One arm was behind his back and the other hand was lifted up, one finger up as though he'd just gotten an idea. It was a bit funny, I thought but he was one of the only Professors not holding anything. I had never met him and so had no idea of what I should have him hold.
Professor Grubby-Plank also held nothing in her hands and was one of the only Professors not standing. She was kneeling instead, petting the head of a baby unicorn.
Madam Pomfrey held a bottle of Skele-grow in her hands and her wand was just poking out of her apron pocket.
Then of course, there were the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. I had changed Quirrell, back to wearing the purple turban, a nervous look on his face. He also had nothing in his hands. His hands were clasped together, nervously.
Professor Lockhart looked quite boastful in my drawing, his blond hair swept to the side. If it was colored, the robes would've been a bright, beautiful turquoise. On hand was on his hip, the other hanging down his side, his wand between his fingers. In the crook of his elbow was his book Wandering with Werewolves. Sitting on his shoulder was a blue pixie.
And then there was Dad- Professor Lupin. His hair (if colored) would've been completely red-brown. He looked less tired in this drawing, less ill. His robes were still a shabby brown. Under one arm was his Grindylow tank, a black cat by his feet, and his wand in his pocket.
Professor Moody stood, leaning on his walking stick. His normal eye was focused out, towards the students or whoever else was looking at the drawing. Meanwhile, his magical eye was focused towards Dolores Umbridge.
Dolores Umbridge was as far away from Hagrid and Firenze as possible, looking completely evil- the way that I'd planned it. She looked like a short fat toad. In her hand was a black quill that anyone in detention would've recognized. Her short wand was in her other hand.
That was that, the drawing was done. The Professors were almost all nearly smiling (exceptions being Severus, Uncle Moody, and Filch). It really had come out wonderfully- more wonderfully than I'd hoped.
The Hufflepuffs were the first to show up at the Room of Requirement. Susan was in the front, leading and everyone else lined up after her. Hermione had enlargened the drawing and we'd put sixteen tables together so that it could be signed with no trouble. It would stretch as tall as the ceiling in the Great Hall and as wide as the teachers table.
Gold/Orange signatures soon covered the drawing.
The Ravenclaws came the next week, brought in by Luna and Trang. They were quite excited, more excited than the Hufflepuffs, because none of them had known that this was coming. All the Hufflepuffs on the other hand had known.
Soon there were Gold and Blue signatures covering the page.
The Gryffindors came on a Friday night. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were leading along with many of the other other Sixth-year Gryffindors. The seventh-year Gryffindors seemed more hesitant until they saw the drawings.
I was quite happy to see so many signatures on the paper and so did Susan and the rest of my Hufflepuff friends. I had forgotten I had a baby inside of me. I hadn't forgotten that in two weeks, Dumbledore was going to die.
There was a week between the Gryffindors signing and the day the Slytherins were supposed to sign. On Wednesday night, June 18th, I was drawing in Severus' office when suddenly, there was a peculiar sensation and then there was the sound of water splattering on the floor.
"Oh." I muttered, a bit dazed.
Severus was out of his chair so fast that it slammed against the opposite wall. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, he'd scooped me up into his arms and was dashing out of the classroom.
Madam Pomfrey had prepared a table for us in her office in case there was a student who came in and needed her during my procedure.
"Trang." I gasped as I laid on the table. The spell was starting to wear away. "I need Trang here Sev."
Sev's face was pale and he simply nodded, his jaw tight, and he rushed from the room.
"Breathe." Madam Pomfrey advised in a calm voice but I could tell underneath the calm façade that she was silently freaking out too. Or perhaps nervous was the correct word. She'd never delivered a baby before.
The contractions were painful. I'd felt different variations of pain, but these were different. Of course, they weren't painful like being thrown into some splinters of wood, but they were still painful. Pain often led to screams, something I thought was exaggerated in movies: they weren't. Madam Pomfrey had soundproofed the room.
Severus came back with Trang on his heels.
"Oh Elizabeth!" Trang said and for some reason, she was quite happy. How ridiculous. I was in pain! How could she be happy? This baby was going to be the death of me!
I screamed through gritted teeth in pain. Severus' face paled more and Trang turned to him, "Sometimes the men wait outside."
Severus kind've nodded his head as in a daze and stumbled towards the door. His hand caught on the door, but seemed unable to open it, and then he took a chair near the bed, his face in his hands.
I clenched my fists tight as though that would take the pain of the contractions away. Trang sat by my side, holding my hand, her eyes shining with happiness. Madam Pomfrey was saying stuff, but it didn't really seem all that clear to me. I think it was something about breathing and relaxing.
I was sweating. It was extremely hot in here. I couldn't wait for the baby to be out of me, for the pain to lapse.
I wasn't sure how long it took. A few minutes? An hour? Several hours? A few weeks? But finally Madam Pomfrey announced that the head was crowning.
Severus' head popped up from his hands. There was an unusual expression of his face, quite like the one on his face when we'd first found out that I was going to have a baby. Joy? I think that's what I'd thought it was before. Jubilation?
"It's a boy." Madam Pomfrey announced.
"What?" I asked as she took the baby in her arms, taking him over to the wash table, wiping the blood away. All the pain was gone and all there was now was confusion. "A boy?"
"Yes." Madam Pomfrey said, turning around, the baby boy in her arms. She handed him to me and I took him clumsily into my arms, leaning him against my breast, and looking down at him.
"Remus Sirius Snape." I said out of nowhere.
"What?" Severus asked, looking down at the baby too. He'd gotten out of his seat at some point, though I couldn't remember what that was.
I looked up at him. "His name. It kind've popped out so it must be right. Remus Sirius Snape."
Severus just nodded and then I handed the child up to him and though he seemed surprised, he picked the child up and held him, and then smiled, a real, true, genuine, smile.
Both Trang and Madam Pomfrey kind've just stared. Though Trang had known that Severus could smile, it was probably quite a shock to Madam Pomfrey who had never seen this side to Sev.
There was a knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey hurried over. Trang threw a blanket over my legs.
Dumbledore entered the room, a smile on his face. "Congratulations Severus."
"Thank you." Severus murmured, looking at Dumbledore. A silent conversation seemed to pass between the two of them and then Dumbledore turned to me.
"What is his name?"
"Remus Sirius Snape." Severus said for me.
Dumbledore chuckled, "I'm surprised you didn't try to change the name Severus."
Severus shook his head. "It's his name."
"Poppy, Miss Nyguen, perhaps let us leave the two of them alone for some time." Dumbledore said with a smile. Trang stood, bending to kiss my cheek, touched Severus shoulder quickly before leaving the room. Madam Pomfrey left and Dumbledore followed after, closing the door gently behind him.
"How long was that?" I asked curiously.
Severus used the clock as a reference. "Three hours and seven minutes."
I held my hands out and Severus handed Remus back to me.
"Are you disappointed?" Severus asked, "I know you thought it was going to be a girl the entire time."
I looked down into Remus' face. He had a small dimple and lovely brown eyes. His hair was blond, a complete anomaly but I heard that babies hair darkened over time so blond probably wasn't his real color yet.
"No." I whispered. "Surprises are good."
Severus chuckled, kissing my cheek. "By the way, the Felix Felicis potion finished yesterday. I already bottled a few jars. I knew you were going to want them."
"Thank you." I said.
Severus held my hand tightly. A few hours later, Madam Pomfrey came back. She probably wanted her office back. Severus and I made our way back to his- our- room. There was a crib set up in the corner that hadn't been there before we'd left.
"Dumbledore." Severus said simply.
But I couldn't put Remus down. I sat on the bed, my head on Severus' shoulder, and held him.
"You are okay with it, right?" I asked quietly.
"With what?" Severus asked.
"His name." I said. "I didn't really think, it popped out, it felt right, but I didn't consult you first."
Severus rubbed my arm. "Yes, I'm quite okay with his name. You didn't name him James and I have no problems with Lupin anymore."
I kissed him and finally got up and put Remus in the crib, watching him for a moment.
Father, brother, husband, son.
I climbed into bed, snuggling greatly against Severus chest. His arms were tight around me, holding me in a shell of comfort. I fell asleep, the happiest I'd been in a long time.
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