Complications of Birth - REVISED
Author: Saavik
Disclaimer: I am not making money off of this. I'd like to, but men in black suits would come and take me away.
Summary: Sequel to Contemplations of Birth and the WIP Convergence of Birth. Now in seventh year, our intrepid cast faces the ultimate test of their loyalty, strength, and sanity.
Pairings: HG/SS, HP/LM, DM/RL, GW/CC, and others
Warnings: Spoilers for Book Five. For the rest, see chapter one.
Chapter Three: Poco Più Mosso (A little more movement.) – Part II
Severus watched Hermione pack her bag. She was carefully folding each robe, every crease perfect. Crookshanks was watching her, lying right on top of her bathrobe. The cat's eyes followed each piece of clothing as it went into the bag. The animal looked up and meowed at Severus. The potion master scowled and shrugged. What was he supposed to do about it? The cat went back to silently watching its mistress, but Severus didn't move away. His wife didn't seem to notice her observers anyway.
The shock and trauma of the events in Malfoy Manor had started to wear down, but Severus knew this was a horrid idea. For Albus to order them back, to order Hermione back, was in-humanly cruel. The child had enough to worry about with the full moon, let alone being forced to deal with the Manor right now. The pain was too fresh.
Severus eventually left the room in a swirl of black and went to his lab. He had his own form of packing. The house-elves had his robes prepared for him, but his potions were another matter. He'd be cursed to hell before he'd let one of those creatures touch his work. Strike that, he'd already been cursed to hell several times over and he still wasn't letting them get near his potions.
He pulled a large black bag out from a cupboard and started to take various vials and bottles down from the shelf, placing them into special pockets inside made to hold them. He didn't trust a charmed bag; the magic might interfere with the potions. The old muggle doctor's bag worked more than adequately. He made sure the doses of Wolfsbane were there as well as several healing potions. He glanced at his shelf of personal stock. Reluctantly, he took down several calming potions and several sedatives. Directly after the incidents a few weeks ago, he'd been medicating Hermione heavily. In the last few days he'd managed to wean her off of most of them. But with the coming transformation and being back at the Manor, it would be better to have them. Just in case.
Severus' hands shook slightly as he lowered the bottles into his bag. He closed his eyes and winced. He was actually scared. He had seen what happened with Narcissa. He'd thought Hermione was stronger than that. Especially considering her trauma wasn't as prolonged or as invasive as Mrs. Malfoy's. But he remembered going through this stage with Lucius. First a sleeping potion here, than a calming potion there, than an anti-hallucinogen, then a sedative, then more complex, more addictive, and more dangerous potions. And they had less and less of an effect. Narcissa just gave up. She'd left. Gone. Not there. Like the Longbottoms, she'd died but her body hadn't gotten the message. Empty eyes. Hermione's weren't empty, not yet. And Severus hoped to Merlin they never would be. But the next few days would give him an idea of what he could expect.
He walked back into his rooms and Hermione was sitting in front of the stove reading. She looked up at him and smiled as he came in. Her hands were shaking slightly and her back was stiff. The bag at her feet seemed to be drawing more of her attention than the pages in front of her. Crookshanks was curled up next to her and Severus was once again glad the animal was so forgiving. He'd worried the cat would reject Hermione once her werewolf blood became dominant. Hermione needed the furball's support, however, so he was glad when the orange nuisance seemed to pay it no mind.
"Are you ready to leave?" He asked quietly, proud his voice sounded neutral instead of wavering.
Hermione gave a timid smile and nodded yes. "I'm all packed. It will be nice to see everyone again. I know they've only been gone a few days, but I miss them." She stood up and patted Crookshanks. "You'll be a good boy for Professor McGonagall while I'm gone?" The cat didn't say anything but seemed to get an evil twinkle in its large yellowish eyes. Maybe the animal wasn't so horrid after all.
Severus levitated their luggage and took Hermione's hand as they left their rooms. The empty halls of the school were eerie in the summer, and the mood was more than depressed. The Bloody Baron drifted by and even he seemed more morose than usual. By the time they reached the Headmaster's office, they were both feeling like they were headed to the guillotine.
"You don't have to go. I can talk Albus out of this." Severus didn't look at her as he said it. He knew there were reasons for going, very good reasons. But it didn't make it any easier.
Hermione squeezed his hand. "No, we should go. I think…" She swallowed. "I think I'd rather have Remus with me."
"I understand." He looked down and let a real smile show. "But if you change your mind, just tell me and we'll come home."
She smiled back and nodded. Her hands seemed a bit steadier. They both jumped a bit as Albus came out from the gargoyle and jovially bounced up to them. (How a man of over two hundred managed to bounce was beyond Severus, but than again, it was the Headmaster.)
"Are we all ready to go?" He asked as he patted his large purple polka dotted overnight case.
Severus and Hermione nodded, separating hands. Public displays still made them both uncomfortable.
Albus twinkled at them and started for the front doors. "I'm so glad you two will be getting out of the castle. It's not good for young people to be kept here in the glum all year. Severus here hasn't left in far too long. He needs a vacation."
Severus snorted. This trip couldn't get any further from a vacation if it involved Unforgivables.
"I do love Friday, don't you?" When neither companion answered, Albus just beamed a stronger twinkle and continued on. "It's more like the beginning of the week than the end I've always thought." They reached the outskirts of the wards several minutes, and multiple perky topics, later.
Albus pulled out a large cardboard box that read 'Howard's of London' on it. "We'll Portkey there. That way no one will have time to see we've left." They all grabbed a hold of the piece of trash, and in a gut wrenching moment they stood outside Malfoy manor.
Hermione shivered and closed her eyes for a moment before straightening her shoulders. "All right, let's get this over with." She briskly picked up her bag before Severus could levitate it for her, and headed straight for the front door.
As usual, they were met by an impeccably groomed Lucius Malfoy. "My dear, welcome back to my home. Your presence honors me." He smiled and gently raised her hand to his lips, his breath barely ghosting over her, but not touching.
"The honor is mine, Lucius. May we come in?"
Lucius smirked and moved aside. "Of course." He ushered them all into the entryway. Hermione kept her eyes on their host, but betrayed no sign of fear or trepidation. Severus was starting to think he might have been overreacting. Perhaps Hermione really was strong enough. Maybe, it was himself he should have been worried about. "Headmaster, I've taken the liberty of giving you a room next to Mr. Potter. Hermione, Severus, you are welcome to the quarters next to mine."
"The ones linked to your rooms?" Severus asked suspiciously. It was highly unorthodox to offer what was traditionally the wife's room to a guest, no matter how close. (Especially a guest you weren't planning on playing carnally with then discarding.)
Lucius gave his friend a serious look. "I thought you might like to have a friend close." He smirked. "And access to my liquor cabinet."
Hermione laughed. "Only the best intentions then?"
"I only ever have good intentions, my lady."
"The road to hell, Lucius." Severus whispered mostly to himself.
"What was that, Severus?"
"Nothing."
Albus watched the exchange with satisfaction. He was happy to see Severus interacting with a friend. The man had so few. Lucius really was the only one close to his age that he considered such. As good for him as she was, Hermione wasn't a friend. She was too young to understand much of what Severus had experienced and her interests were those of the young. Severus' relationship with Lucius was much older and arguably deeper, for now. That was hopefully subject to change. As Hermione grew up, grew older, grew more –however sadly- more cynical, the two would find more common ground. Regardless, now that Lucius was on the side of Light, things could only get better.
Lucius caught the headmaster's attention as they walked up the stairs. "Headmaster, there has been a change in plans. I believe Mr. Potter should explain it to you for himself, considering he is the one who precipitated it."
The twinkle went out in Albus' eyes. "Is there a problem? He's not hurt is he?"
"No." Lucius smiled coldly and stopped outside Harry's room. "I do believe the boy pre-empted a problem or injury. This is his suite. I'm sure he can tell you which bedroom is open and answer your questions." He turned his back on the older wizard. "Severus, Hermione, your rooms are next to mine. Down the hall and to the left."
They turned and walked away. Albus watched them for a moment before knocking. There was a slight pause and a shuffle before Harry Potter opened the door.
"Headmaster?" His big green eyes blinked in confusion.
"Harry, you look well. Didn't Lucius tell you we were coming?"
"Yes, but I didn't expect you till nightfall."
Albus smiled. "I thought I should give Hermione and Remus some time to go over things before the moon rises."
Harry nodded and backed up, ushering the elderly wizard into the sitting room. "Are you staying with me then?"
"If you don't object to company." Albus smiled softly. The damage done to his relationship with the boy in his 5th year had yet to be completely healed.
Despite that, Harry grinned. "Oh no, I wouldn't mind, Professor. We have some things to discuss anyway."
"Yes, Lucius did say something about that."
"Let me take your bag, sir, and we can order some tea." Harry took the large purple bag and placed it in the unused blue room. The one Hermione had been held in. That left the red room open for Sirius, and meant Dumbledore had no opportunity to find black dog hair in his bed. Harry returned to the sitting room and summoned an elf with the promised tea.
"What has happened, Harry?" Concern etched the wizard's face and his eyes were serious for once.
Harry sighed and calmly sat down opposite the headmaster. "Sir, I've decided I can't keep learning Dark Magic. I'm not going to do it." He paused. "In fact, I've decided I'm going to only fight Voldemort with Light magic. Maybe if I do that, people will begin to understand the real nature of things instead of just arbitrarily labeling people and spells. I'm tired of all the stupid prejudice."
Albus was true to form and showed no surprise. "Why Harry, I thought that was what you were doing all along."
"What!?" Harry blinked and was about to start stuttering out an explanation until he saw the twinkle in the older wizard's eye going full force. "You're joking?"
Albus smiled softly. "You've learned to read me. Merlin help me next school year." He gave a gentle laugh. "Harry, I thought you might make this decision. I'd actually hoped it would happen. The Wizarding World needs to start understanding the nature of their magic. It's the only way to stop more Voldemorts from finding followers."
"But, why haven't you done it then?" Harry was angry and confused. A state he was beginning to associate with the old man.
Albus' smile faltered and he sighed. "I've spent my life battling darkness, Harry. And I've lived for others and never had a moment for myself. When I turned down the position of Minister of Magic, I did it for selfish reasons. I love Hogwarts. I'm only truly happy in its halls." Albus calmly put a hand on Harry's leg. "I'm tired, my boy. I don't want to leave my home. If I stay at Hogwarts, I'd never be able to set a large enough example to change the whole world. The students would benefit, and do, but not the public. You are in a position to speed the message further than I can. You are not bound to the castle walls." Albus sat back. "You have more potential then I, Harry. I'm an old wizard that is already seen as eccentric. Many would never think to take me seriously."
"They think I'm insane and going to turn into the next Dark Lord." Harry nearly snarled.
Albus smirked. "You get used to it. They thought that way about me when I defeated Grindelwald. Whenever good triumphs over evil, the question remains. Is good really that good? What should happen should the one who prevailed fall to Darkness? Who would stop them? It is a real fear."
Albus and Harry continued their conversation for several hours. They had lunch delivered and the Boy Who Lived slowly decided that he might just like the Headmaster after all. As long as he wasn't dealing with him in his capacity as Order leader. After 5th year, he hadn't really trusted the man. But as they talked, Harry realized how alike their pasts were, at least when it came to growing up too fast in the middle of a war. Dumbledore had been forced to fight his own Dark Lord and given his life over to a cause, Hogwarts. Harry could tell how lonely the old wizard was as they talked. Dumbledore had never married, never had a family. He rarely saw his brother. As a matter of fact, he rarely left Hogwart's at all. Even in the summer. The faculty always treated him with respect, which equaled distance. The student's either feared him, abhorred him, or adored him. Harry could relate to that. Even Ron treated him differently because of his abilities and past. The life he faced was likely not to differ much from the Headmaster's. Harry felt even more alone as that thought struck him. By the time Dumbledore left for his own rooms, Harry was numb.
/ / / /
Severus and Hermione found Narcissa's old rooms in good order, but stark. Unlike the rest of the house, the Lady's traditional rooms were white. There was white carpet, white walls, white ceiling, and white furnishings. Hermione shivered. It felt like a hospital.
Severus set down their bags. "Lucius spelled it like this after Narcissa requested to be moved to the other wing."
"Why?" Hermione walked over to the window and opened the blinds to see a soft garden scene with a large sculptured bush in the shape of a dragon. How appropriate.
Severus sighed and pulled his wand out to transfigure the furniture into less harsh forms. "She didn't feel comfortable being so close to Lucius and Draco anymore. She said she felt dirty and didn't want it to rub off on Draco. Lucius couldn't stand having the room remind him of his wife before all the meetings, so he did this. Draco was about four at the time."
Hermione moved away from the window and started to help Severus put a little color in the stark room. "Why white?"
"Why not?" He smirked. "It is Lucius we are discussing. And he won't mind the changes. As long as I don't return it to what it looked like 20 years ago."
Hermione snorted. "I need to remember whose house we're in. Nothing Lucius does seems to make sense to me." She pulled her robes straight. "Would you mind if I went to talk with Remus for a while?" She ran a hand over her hair trying to smooth it down. "I…I think I should find out a bit more about tonight." Her voice was soft and Severus had to strain to hear the last few words.
"Of course, child. Please do so." He smiled at her and she tentatively returned the look. He hated to ruin the moment, but he went to his bag anyway and pulled out the two flasks of Wolfsbane. "You both should take these sometime after lunch. I imagine you will be in his rooms for some time." Hermione's mouth turned down in a slight frown, but she took the bottled potions anyway.
"I'll be back before nightfall." She turned and strode out the door with a definite swish of determination in her robes. Severus smirked. He was being a questionable influence. Wonderful.
/ / / /
Remus was waiting not so patiently for Hermione to arrive. He knew she'd want to talk with him. He heard Albus turn up and promptly ordered tea for himself and his daughter. She should arrive at any moment. The itching he'd complained to Sirius about had diminished as his trepidation about Hermione's transformation grew.
He heard her footsteps before her quiet knock. His senses were so heightened that it was almost painful.
"Come in."
Hermione poked her head into the room before coming all the way inside. "Remus?"
He smiled and stood up. "Come in, Hermione. Tea? I thought you'd like to talk." He motioned her towards the seat grouping in the far corner of the sitting room and then moved the tea table over to them.
"Thank you." She took the offered cup and sat primly in her chair.
Remus watched her and for a moment let the wolf look as well. How could he have missed the truth? Her smell screamed it. He could tell just form that alone that she was his daughter. And he could tell she was petrified, no matter what her outside appearance might convey.
"Are you noticing a difference since the change over?" He asked, curious, and to start the conversation.
"Like what?" She looked up and seemed to share his curiosity. It must be genetic.
"I've been wondering exactly what the differences between a full werewolf and a half one are after the 1st transformation has been forced." He was pressing the issue, and he knew it. But this would be wiser than jumping straight into discussing what was to happen in a few hours.
Hermione frowned. "Now that you mention it, I really don't notice anything different. Should I?"
Remus shook his head no. "There have never been any articles or books published on the subject. The Ministry fears the increase in strength before the transformation, but they are also worried about the ramifications of having someone who never lived as a normal witch or wizard before getting bitten. That led to the laws against breeding. And with them in place, I've never had the opportunity to meet a half-werewolf. I have no idea what you should be feeling. The only thing we know is that half-werewolves will only transform monthly after the 1st one is forced by some sort of catalyst."
"Oh." Hermione hung her head. "So you can't tell me anymore about…this?"
This time Remus did have some good news. "Well, after its safe, I can take you with me to Germany. I found an all werewolf community hidden there. They might know more than I do. I didn't really ask around about this topic when I was there before. It never occurred to me that I might have to worry about it." Hermione perked up. The ever-curious scholar that she was, was drooling. "But we can't go with Voldemort after you."
"Of course not." She smiled. "That just means I have more time to research other accounts. There has to be something hidden somewhere. Most likely in Dark Art's books."
Remus faltered for a moment then stood up and began pacing. The wolf was getting agitated over the conversation. So much for the last of his patience. He huffed and ran a hand through his hair. He caught Hermione watching him. Her eyes showed her surprise and he sighed, collapsing in a chair.
"Remus, what brought that on?"
Remus grimaced. Hermione had rarely seen him right before the moon, and never when he had such a tenuous hold on the wolf. It amazed him that she was sitting still! He wanted to run, he wanted to yell, he wanted to do something! But she was calm. Normal. It was aggravating.
He eventually stopped staring at his daughter and cleared his throat. "I'm just a little restless before the moon. More so this time around for some reason." Her eyes softened and he gave a tentative smile.
"To think, for years I've always just marked it up to PMS." She smirked.
"You don't seem restless." Remus just barely managed to keep the resentment out of his voice.
Hermione snorted. "Talk to Severus. I'm usually a bit out of norm. I think he likes that though." She didn't go into to details, but Remus still got a nasty unwanted mental image. If she got up to half the stuff with Severus that he had with Peter, Merlin help their furniture. It was a good thing the man was a potions master. He most likely needed several energy potions the week before the moon just to keep up.
Remus got rid of his grimace and managed to croak out, "Why not now?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I'm too scared to be hyper." She hung her head and looked dejected.
Remus stopped fighting and really looked at her. Hermione's eyes were wider than normal and he could smell her fear rolling off her in waves. She was doing an admirable job of hiding it, but it was there never the less, if you had the nose for it. Or had even bothered to look.
"Hermione, I can't tell you this will be a great time, but you'll get through it."
Hermione grimaced. "Three nights of loosing all control, intense pain, and the risk of being found out are not something I'm ever going to find less then terrifying." She paused. "I'm so scared, Remus."
He nodded and moved to sit next to her. "It's not as bad as all that. Not anymore. The Wolfsbane potion makes us less of a threat. You have some control. And it doesn't hurt nearly as much."
"But we're still under Ministry persecution." Hermione sighed. "And I'd thought being muggleborn was bad. If they find out what I am, they could sentence us both to death."
Remus closed his eyes and forced the wolf not to snarl out loud. "We'll just have to make sure they don't find out. You've spent years hiding being a Penwrath. You can do this."
Hermione glared. "That does not make it easy or right. And this is a whole different proposition."
"Yes it is. And no it doesn't." Remus let that hang. Hermione turned to stare out the window and Remus got up to pace again. When lunch time came, he ordered food up to the room. They eat quickly, took their potions, gagged on the taste in unison, then they both just looked at one another.
"What is it going to feel like?" Hermione softly asked.
Remus paused his restless pacing and leaned against the wall with his back to his daughter. "It feels like every bone in your body is trying to claw its way out. Your head feels like it's in a vice and every sense becomes so sharp, you just want to go blind and deaf to make it stop." Hermione swallowed loudly. "Then it's like being hit by a bludger. You stop breathing for a moment. Then, you open your eyes and the world has changed." He turned around and looked her in the eye. "And you never get used to it."
"Oh." Came the meek reply. "Glad I asked, I guess."
/ / / /
Eventually, it was time. They had gone to the dinning room for dinner, not that Remus or Hermione could stomach anything, and then everyone had moved into the entry hall in unspoken agreement and understanding. Remus watched as Hermione hugged first Harry then her husband before leading the way outside. They passed Draco in the hall, and Remus felt the wolf try and lunge. He contained the impulse and instead took Hermione's hand.
They made their solemn way to a clearing behind the Manor. Remus kept his back turned as a blushing Hermione removed her clothes and folded them. Remus had taken a good hour to convince her it was foolish to transform in them. He quickly shed his own and hesitated before turning around.
Both Hermione and Remus stood awkwardly trying not to look at one another. Neither said a word until they simultaneously gasped as the moon came out and the transformation began. Remus vaguely heard Hermione's scream before his own pain overloaded his ears.
/ / / /
Severus watched Hermione go out the door hand in hand with the werewolf. He cringed. With her father. He turned away quickly, shrugging out of Albus' attempt at an embrace. Dinner had been tense enough with no one talking and Albus trying to convey his sympathy. He slammed his door and leaned back against it, closing his eyes. His fist banged against the wood and he cursed as pain radiated up his arm. Slowly, he slid to the floor, head in hands.
Lucius found him there an hour later. With effort, he pulled the man to his feet. "You can't stay there thinking about it all night." Lucius sighed as Severus pulled away and snarled.
"I bloody well can, you overgrown peacock!"
"You are not going to spend the next 10 hours wallowing. I won't let you." Lucius smirked and pulled out a large bottle of amber liquid. "Instead, I propose we drink till we can't hear the banshee's on the roof." It was their old saying. They'd used it since Hogwarts whenever one or both of them needed to get pissed – fast, hard, and for extended periods of time. Severus eyed the man and bottle with a mix of contempt, resignation, and gratefulness. He pulled himself up straight, glared harder, and swept through his borrowed chambers and into Lucius' sitting room.
"That will take more than one bottle."
/ / / /
Harry bade Dumbledore good night and went to his room. His mind was on Hermione and he was tempted to transform and go out with her. But he'd not had a chance to tell her or Remus and he knew he'd frighten them if he did it without warning. And he'd never hear the end of it. Besides, he'd already let Draco in on his secret. He sort of wanted to keep this to himself for a bit longer. It was one thing for the upper Order members to know, it was another for his whole entourage to find out.
He made his way to his bedroom through the silent dark sitting room, cursing as he tripped over a chair.
"Potter, do be careful or you'll break my furniture."
Harry started and glared into the blackness. "Lumos." The room filled with light and revealed Draco lounging on the sofa. "Draco, Merlin's beard, what are you doing?"
Draco smirked. "Waiting for you." He got up and moved smoothly over to look out the magical window. "What do you think they're doing out there?" His voice openly conveyed both his worry and curiosity about their two resident werewolves.
Harry moved slowly to stand next to him. "Probably running." Draco looked at him questioningly. Harry shrugged. "I know dad used to run with Remus. I imagine it's a werewolf thing or something."
"They can't just run till dawn!" Draco huffed. "That's stupid."
Harry rolled his eyes. "What do you propose they do? Go see a movie?"
Draco blinked. "What's a movie?"
"Never mind" Harry turned and walked into his bedroom, thinking the blond would just leave.
"Where do you think you are going, Potter?"
"To bed." Harry ignored the boy and proceeded to grab a clean set of pajamas out of a drawer and went into the bathroom. When he came out, Draco was lying in his bed, fluffing a pillow. Harry's pillow.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Draco smirked and lay back, tugging the covers into place. "I'm getting comfortable." He pointed at his shoes lying next to the bed.
"In my bed." Harry crossed his arms and glared.
"Technically, I own it, Potter."
"That is not the point." Harry angrily grabbed the blankets and ripped them off the bed. Draco had, blessing, left his robes on, thank Merlin. "Out, ferret."
"Harry…" The blond whined. "I hate that nick-name."
"And I hate sharing. Now out!" Harry pointed towards the door, still clutching the bed clothes in his other hand.
Draco slowly dropped his smirk. "Harry…" He sighed. "Look, I'm worried about them."
"And sleeping with me is going to help how?" Harry threw the blankets at the other boy's head.
Draco, exasperated, sat up fully. "I don't want to sleep with you, I just want to sleep with you."
Harry looked confused. "What did you eat for dinner, because I think it was spiked."
"I'm not propositioning you, potty-head. I'm telling you I don't want to be alone." Draco huffed. "Gryffindors. You try and be sensitive, and they think you're after sex."
Harry slowly let a cruel grin overtake him. "You meant to tell me that Mr. Cold-and-Cruel is scared to be alone?"
"Not scared." Draco pouted. "Just, I'd rather not spend the whole night up pacing and wondering about Remus, all right?"
"I'm not planning on distracting you."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Is all you think about sex? For a virgin, you're awful preoccupied."
"Draco, you're lying in my bed!" Harry cried out, a slight blush heating his cheeks.
"I'd thought we'd ascertained that it is my bed."
"Draco." Harry growled in warning. "Out."
"Oh, all right. I'll leave." The boy got up slowly and slunk toward the door, not bothering to pick up his shoes.
Harry watched him go then turned to start putting his bed back into order. It took about two minutes for the guilt to set in, and another two before he realized that he really didn't want to be alone and worrying either. In frustration, he turned and opened the door into his sitting room, bent on spending the night reading in there away from the pictures of his friends he'd set out all over the bedroom.
"I knew you'd change your mind!" Draco bounced into the bedroom before Harry had a chance to realize that the blond had been waiting just inside the sitting room for Harry to open the bedroom door. With a wand flick, Draco changed his robes into his long black night shirt. "How about we play Scrabble?"
Harry's jaw dropped. "Malfoy, that's a muggle game."
"Not the way I play it." Draco smirked and snapped his fingers. A large colorful board fell onto the middle of the bed. "Pick your side, Potty."
/ / / /
"Albus, this is ridiculous!" Severus growled early the next morning as the headmaster dangled two hangover cures just out of reach of the two moaning Slytherins. "I brewed it, so hand it over!"
"Really, my boy, you should learn self restraint."
Lucius snorted then groaned. Without comment, he summoned a house-elf with two cures from his own potions stores. "Never trust someone with a beard." He mumbled as he swallowed one bottle then handed the other to Severus who downed it gratefully.
Albus sulked for a moment. "You really shouldn't facilitate him, Lucius."
"On the contrary, old man, he was facilitating me." Lucius slowly stood up and grimaced. "Even with a potion, I'm stiff."
Severus gingerly hauled himself up. "We're getting to old to pass out on stone floors." Severus stretched then looked towards the window. "Have they come back yet?"
Albus shook his head no. "I imagine they fell asleep sometime in the night. The transformation would have wakened them, but I know in the past that Remus has a tendency to fall back asleep almost instantly once the pain passes. I'd imagine Hermione will be much the same."
"Should we go out and get them?" Severus was already headed for his cape as he asked. Albus put out an arm and stopped him.
"No, let them be." He gently patted his former student's shoulder and led him back into the couple's borrowed rooms, leaving Lucius to dress for the day in peace. "When they feel up to it, they'll come in. Sometimes, Remus stays out all day long. Often, werewolves don't feel up to socializing the morning after a transformation."
Severus nodded glumly and changed himself, foregoing a shower for a quick cleaning charm.
They met Lucius in the hall and the three stood awkwardly looking around. "Where are the boys?" Lucius asked, suspicious. They were getting along too well for his peace of mind. There was no telling what mischief the two could be getting into.
"I believe they were in Harry's room when I retired last night." Albus offered a twinkle in his eye.
"Perhaps we should make sure they haven't killed each other." Severus suggested, only partially joking.
Albus lead the way into the sitting room he shared with the young Gryffindor. The old wizard knocked on the bedroom door, but received no answer. Shrugging, he gently tapped the door with his wand causing it to swing open.
Severus had to hold back his laughter and Lucius looked like a kneazle that just ate the snidget. The two boys were out cold on the bed, Harry's head resting on Draco's hip. A slew of muggle and wizard board games and cards were strewn over the bed and both boys wands were clutched tightly in their hands. The tale-tell after effects of minor hexes still tinged their hair, skin, and clothing. Draco's night shirt was now a bright red, and Harry's hair was green with silver moon shapes moving erratically over it.
Albus was the first to loose control, letting out a rather un-wizardly giggle. Draco woke with a start at the odd sound and his eyes went large as he realized who was standing next to the bed and what was almost on top of him. Harry mumbled something, rolled over, and buried his head in the red nightshirt.
"Ah, Harry, wake up. Please." Draco mumbled, nudging Harry with his left hand, the one not clutching his wand.
"Ron," Harry mumbled, slapping Draco's thigh in an effort to get his 'pillow' to be less lumpy, "it's not morning yet. I don't hear Neville falling out of bed yet." Harry started relentlessly pummeling his 'pillow' causing the blond to yip. "It's not nice to charm pillows to be hard, Ron." Harry's head was still stubbornly buried in the nightshirt despite Draco's now frantic tugging at the other boy's shoulders.
"That is not your pillow, Potter. That happens to be me!" Draco shrieked and rolled violently away from his still flailing bed mate and onto the floor. "And I'm not RON!" Draco's voice was now astonishingly loud. "Now wake up or I swear by my family's long and deserved reputation for nasty dealings, you are going to find yourself in a guest room of an entirely different nature!" Draco paused. "With chains of the unfriendly sort!"
Lucius and Severus snickered as Harry slowly yawned, sat up, and blinked dumbly at the room. Fumbling, he managed to find his glasses in the chaos on his bed. It took him several more yawns to realize exactly what was happening.
"Hello, Headmaster." Harry tiredly mumbled, interrupted by yet another yawn. "Is everything all right? Why is everyone in my room?"
Draco's jaw dropped at Potter's lack of embarrassment. "Wha…" He stuttered, watching as Harry lay back down, stretched, and knocked several game boards onto the floor.
"Quite all right, Harry." Albus twinkled full force. "We were just concerned when you and Draco were late meeting us for breakfast."
"Breakfast?" Harry sat up fully awake. "Thanks for the wake-up, Professor!" The boy bolted out of bed and into the bathroom. Clothes magically flying after him as he went.
Draco sat back down on the bed and blinked. Lucius and Severus shook their heads and left, hopping to get coffee as soon as wizardly possible.
"I don't get it." The blond boy looked questioningly at the headmaster. "Potter didn't even seem surprised!"
The headmaster sighed and sat down on the bed next to Draco. "I assume you reacted with embarrassment because you are not use to waking up in bed with someone, especially with your professors standing over you. No matter how innocent the situation."
Draco snorted. "That would be accurate. It's a common nightmare for most teenagers, I can assure you."
"I do remember that one, actually. There was this one instance when Professor Craglygam found Drusilla Amberpot and I in the rose garden…" Draco's sudden green tinge stopped the headmaster from finishing his reminisces. "Yes, well, at least it was entirely innocent for you." The headmaster smiled kindly as Draco got even greener. "But you see, Harry's rather used to this sort of thing."
Draco raised a suspicious eyebrow. Albus sighed. "Ronald Weasley has taken to sleeping next to Harry whenever a vision is likely to take place. That way, he can wake Harry before things get too nasty and record whatever Harry sees in the vision. Ronald has most likely saved Harry's life. When he sees a vision of Voldemort, Harry feels the curses, as I am sure you figured out during your fifth year. On some nights, I doubt Harry could have survived the pain with his mind intact. During the first half of the year, when Harry was still learning Occlumency, Ron's role was vital in helping with the visions. Now that Harry has mastered the art, Ron no longer has to guard against visions."
"Only nightmares." Harry interrupted as he came back into the room, showered and dressed. "You'd better clean-up, Draco. We should be downstairs in case Hermione and Remus come in."
Draco nodded solemnly and got up. He paused just outside the doorway to the bedroom. "Thanks for keeping me company, Harry." His back was turned to the room as he said it, detracting only slightly from the words. Especially considering it was a Malfoy thanking someone in their own house.
"No problem." Harry shot back. Draco walked away quickly, not saying anything else or acknowledging the words. After the boy was fully out of the quarters, Harry turned an accusing eye to the headmaster. "Why did you tell him all that? Did he really have to know everything about my pathetic life?"
"He needs to know you're human too, Harry. Draco's response this morning was, to him, a weakness as was his need for company last night. Now, he does not view it as such. Not in comparison with your own need."
"Sacrificing one boy's self-esteem for another?" Harry angrily banished the game boards and started making the bed the muggle way, to avoid using any more magic while he was angry. He could tell he was casting Dark, and he meant what he had said about living in the Light.
Albus sighed. "I assumed it was not private information. All of Gryffindor is aware."
Harry shoved the blankets into place. "That is not the point! They only know because you won't let me sleep with a silencing charm!" He barely stopped himself from throwing a pillow at the old man's head. "You keep knowledge from me, yet you'll tell my arch-nemesis about my private life!"
Albus quirked an eyebrow. "Arch-nemesis? I was not aware Draco Malfoy out ranked Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, or Bellatrix Lestrange."
Harry deflated instantly. "Former demi-arch-nemesis."
"Is it so bad to trust him?"
Harry looked up sadly. "Everything's changing. Ron's still treating Hermione weird and not trusting her. I'm living at Malfoy Manor, and I…I guess I'm just tired of it all going so fast. Fighting with Draco is familiar. It's cozy somehow, safe."
Albus gently patted the boy's back as he led the way down to the dinging room. "Change is inevitable. And perhaps in Draco you will find a friend more steadfast than Mr. Weasley, though I hate to say such things. As good as Ron has been for you, I fear Mr. Weasley has a great deal of growing up to do to catch up with you and Mrs. Snape."
Harry, reluctantly, had to agree.
/ / / /
They had just sat down to breakfast, when a bedraggled and worn Remus and Hermione came slowly into the room. Wordlessly, Hermione fell into Severus' arms, silently sobbing. He didn't say anything, just closed his eyes. A single tear trickled out of his tightly shut lids.
Remus moved to his normal seat, collapsing gratefully into the chair as Draco rushed to pull it out for him. Wearily, he nodded in thanks to the boy, offering him a tight smile. Albus watched everyone, his penetrating gaze measuring their reactions and plotting Merlin knows what. Not saying anything, Severus half carried Hermione away from the table. Remus watched them go with obvious remorse.
"It's all my fault." His voice was gravely and strained. "If I wasn't her father, she'd never have had to go through this."
"If you weren't here father, Remus, she would never have been born." Albus wisely reminded the professor. "And she is a far site better off knowing the truth than living with the constant questions she had before." Albus looked directly at Harry. "Something I am just beginning to understand."
"What kind of a life have I given her, Albus?" Remus missed the silent communication and plowed on with his own insecurities. "What sort of life can she have now?"
Draco grimaced at the hopeless tone. "Remus, Hermione isn't about to give up on her life, please don't ask her to. And don't give up on yourself."
Harry nodded in agreement. "She'll get used to it in time."
Remus pushed away from the table and struggled to leave with what dignity he could while badly limping. "You never get used to it."
/ / / /
Severus gently helped Hermione onto the bed and into a clean set of pajamas, emblazoned much to his disgust with dancing Gryffindor lions. The girl was sniffling and yawing at the same time as Crookshanks curled up against her side. Severus didn't even remember packing the animal. They had planned to have McGonagall look after the fur ball. He left her and the creature's side to rummage for Hermione's hairbrush in the bag on the dresser. Slowly, he began to pull the twigs, grass, and leaves out of the bushy mass of hair on his wife's head before vainly trying to comb it out.
"I do believe we might have to shave you, considering we'll have to repeat this for another two mornings and then three times a month from now on." He muttered as a spider peaked out long enough to bite him before diving back into the mess.
Hermione chuckled and sobbed at the same time, managing at least to quell her leaking eyes a slight bit. "You are a wizard, try using magic." She croaked out.
"Quite right." Severus pulled his wand and muttered a series of long spells causing the brown strands to shake and move. Hermione shrieked and then started giggling.
"It tickles!" She grabbed at her husband's wand, but he jumped away just in time. Another spell later, and her hair was back to something approximating normal, for her at least. She looked up at him and smiled gratefully. "Thanks. I needed that. The laugh I mean, not the Medusa recreation."
"Any time." He sat down next to her, taking her hand in his. "Are you all right?"
Hermione's smile slowly vanished. "I'm fine." Severus raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Okay, not fine, but I'll survive. I don't really have a choice, do I?" Her eyes hardened. "And don't even think of giving me any more potions. As much as you'd like it to be true, they don't fix everything. I need time, not narcotics."
Severus sighed. "I know."
"You just feel useless." She offered.
"I wouldn't say that." Severus responded, indignantly.
Hermione snorted. "No, you wouldn't." She roughly kicked at the bed clothes until she managed to squirm her way into them. "Thank you for caring, Severus. But I can't exist on nothing but your concoctions. I'm not weak minded or willed. I'll not allow my self to become dependent on mood altering substances to get through the day. Especially not to make you feel better about your role in my life." She paused. "But you can bring me chocolate. In large expensive batches."
Severus' eyes warmed a bit but his tone remained brisk. "Just keep in mind your figure." Hermione's pillow hit him on the head. "I'll take that as my queue to leave you alone?" He started getting up with the intention of letting her rest until it was time to leave for the next transformation.
"No." Hermione placed a fake pout on her lips. "You are curling up right here with me for the next few hours, oh dutiful husband."
Agreeing without resentment, Severus climbed in next to her spooning up behind her. Knocking Crookshanks off the bed in the process.
"Severus?"
"Yes child?"
"It will all be all right won't it?"
Severus frowned into her hair "I don't honestly know. But I'll do my best to make it that way. As will you. And in the end, that will have to suffice." He nodded at the cat as it jumped back up and glared at him from Hermione's other side.
Hermione fell asleep after that, and didn't wake up till close to nightfall. Severus spent the time holding her and wishing he could take her place and suffer for her. She was too young, and to sweet, to face this nightmare. But he couldn't, so he woke her in time to take the Wolfsbane potion. Not a minute later, Remus knocked on their door. Severus handed him his dose. Remus took the goblet with little protest then waited as Hermione hesitated in the doorway.
"Severus?" Her voice was halted and higher than normal. "Last night was horrible. I…" She gulped and stopped.
Remus sighed and turned to his son-in-law and former classmate. The thought was still foreign to him and made him feel half ill, half giddy with Marauder style possibilities. "I think Hermione might find it easier if you were there. It is sometimes that way with bonded werewolves, or so I've read." Remus gently smiled as Hermione nodded her head slightly. They both knew how frightened Severus was of their kind, Remus in particular. As such, they both were surprised when Severus didn't bolt. The man's eyes widened and he took a small half step backwards. Remus quickly moved to clarify as he saw Hermione shrink into herself. "Not during the transformation. Just afterwards. Whatever Dumbledore did during your bonding is making her nervous without her mate. At least, I think that's why she spent the whole night sitting outside your window looking up."
Severus looked at his young wife. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor and shuffled her feet. "Do you want me to meet you after moonrise?" He managed to keep the fear mostly out of his voice, but he knew they could smell it. For some reason, childhood terrors were worse than facing Voldemort, and the idea of willingly coming face to face with a werewolf was making his knees weak in fear. But he'd do it if she asked. At least, that way he wouldn't be worrying about her all night.
"Could you handle it?" She asked quietly, hope behind the words.
In response, Severus gathered his cloak and led the way downstairs.
Severus waited just inside the Manor till well after the moon had risen. Steeling himself, he cautiously opened the door. The silver tinged light was turning every bush and tree into an eerie specter. Severus was rattled despite his best efforts to stay calm. He'd faced down the Dark Lord without fear, why was he reduced to a useless version of Longbottom by his own wife and father-in-law?
Calling on every ounce of courage he had, he stepped out of the doorway. He'd made his way a few feet from the house when a long low howl made the hair on his neck stand on end. Without thinking, Severus turned to rush back into the safety of the house only to find a large grey wolf blocking his path. The creature's amber eyes watched him and Severus fought the urge to run for the gates. A cold nose bumped his hand and he looked down in fear to find a slightly smaller wolf nudging at him and whimpering.
"Hermione?" He croaked and the animal whimpered harder than laid down at his feet, rolling over and exposing its belly. The other wolf stayed in place, but mirrored the action.
Severus stood stock still for quite some time, watching the wolves. After what felt like an eternity, he bent and ran a hand hesitantly over the gray fur. Hermione gave what could only be called a happy dog sigh and Severus relaxed. Remus slowly inched closer and Severus gently patted his head as well.
"This," the potion master mumbled, "is going to take some time getting used to." Both the werewolves growled in agreement.
Severus ended up falling asleep under an oak curled up with the two werewolves. He awoke shortly before dawn to find them slipping away. Hermione glanced back at him and whimpered before leaping into the bushes. Seconds later, her screams and Remus' split the quiet dawn. Severus rushed over to the sound and watched in horror as the two transformed back into humans. When the process stopped and their bones settled back into place, he found their robes and with a spell dressed them both before they regained awareness.
It took several minutes for the pain to recede enough to allow them to wake up. "Thank you." Remus' voice croaked out. "I…"
"It's all right, Remus." Severus spoke softly. "Go back to sleep. I'll make sure you both are all right." Remus slowly closed his eyes in response and curled into a ball, the pain still nearly unbearable. Hermione was still unconscious. Carefully casting, Severus levitated the two and got them into the Manor. There was no way he could carry them both and he feared he'd do more harm than good by trying. It was less jarring to move them magically anyway.
Making a snap decision, he transported them both into Remus' room. Once he'd tucked them into the large bed, Severus sat down in the armchair close by and fell asleep.
"Severus?" He woke up to Hermione's worried eyes gazing down at him. "Are you all right?"
He reached out and pulled her down onto his lap. "You are an amazing witch, Hermione Snape. And it is my honor to call you my wife." He held her tight and whispered in her ear. "You are stronger than I am child, and for that reason, you will overcome this."
She hugged him back. "I know. I'll make the most of it, somehow. We'll make the most of it, I mean. I need you." She kissed him hard. "And you are braver than I have ever suspected."
"No." Severus shook his head. "I was frightened half to death."
"Yet you stayed." She got slowly off his lap and moved to lie back down next to the still sleeping Remus. "And you aren't frightened anymore. I can smell it." And Severus realized she was right, for the most part. He wasn't scared of Remus when the man was, well a man. At least not now. He used to find it hard to be in the room with him, ever since his fifth year. Now, he could mentally separate the man from the beast from the controlled animal. It made a considerable difference.
The third and last transformation for the month went by even more smoothly, with Severus staying just the other side of the bushes during the change. Although, he was certain he would have nightmares for the rest of his life of the screams he heard that month, and would continue to hear every month as long as Hermione was forced to change. The sound of Hermione's flesh shifting, bones cracking under the pressure. Her voice morphing from a human wail of agony to the cry of an animal in pain. And her eyes, staring at him, so human from such a feral face. It still frightened him, but he stayed. He had to.
Lucius made no comment on his choice of evening activities, but Draco's eyes thanked him loudly, as did Harry's. Albus, the old busy body, simply smirked and offered to loan him a warmer cape. They went back to Hogwarts after the last night, and when they got back to their rooms, Severus made it a point to throw out all the extra potions he'd made for Hermione. They wouldn't be needing them.
/ / / /
"Why must I continue this? Really, what is there to gain?" Voldemort asked, his voice serious yet pained. "There is no conceivable reason to continue after Potter like this. And there is little chance of our successfully gaining control of the wizarding world this way. We should have started by setting me up to run for Minister of Magic instead of all this Dark Lord foolishness." He's eyes flashed green in the light without the special charm to turn them blood red. In private he left it off, it hurt his eyes and reduced his vision. "How much longer do I have to pretend to be a homicidal maniac? Killing people is getting boring."
"As long as I tell you to, you will keep it up." A woman's voice came from the shadows by the door. "You'll wear my charms, slither around, murder, torture, and be a general menace till the time is right." There was a pregnant pause. "Ambition should be made of sterner stuff, Tom. Do not tell me you find it all too boring, I see how much you enjoy watching…things." She smiled cruelly in the dark, her midnight gown slowly slipping out from the darkness, making the shadow itself seem to move.
He glared at her as she glided over to him. "What is stopping me from taking the Death Eaters and leaving you? They follow the Dark Lord, not the hidden female they have never even suspected of existing. I am the power the wizarding world fears, not you."
A low laugh sounded from every shadow in the darkened parlor, as if the woman could control the darkness itself. "Fool. Without me, there is no Dark Lord. You, Tom, are a creation of my hard work, a mere actor. I am the true Voldemort and have been since our school days. I created your image, trained you in the Dark Arts, gave you the tools you use to make those pathetic creatures beg and crawl." She moved closer, gently caressing his face with a pale hand. "You've trusted me for all these years, Tom. The only loss you've suffered was the Potter boy."
"And I was virtually dead for over a decade because of your irrational obsession with him." Tom glared hard at her, trying to will himself to pull away, and failing. "Where were you when I was lost? Why didn't you come for me then? You waited till I had already regained power before showing yourself."
She knelt down and placed her head in his lap. "You didn't hear the prophecy, love. I couldn't let him hurt you." He grunted at the stupidity of that statement. She hushed him with a gentle voice and careful caress to his thigh. "I know, I know. I should have sent someone. But I never suspected an infant would be able to do what he did. Or his mother for that matter, lousy mudblood. Perhaps we can win him to our side, now that Lucius is working with him. Although there is a chance my son will yet prove worthy given time." She sighed and nuzzled into his lap. "But that is in the past, Tom. We're together again, you and I. You did well on your own, managing the resurrection and regrouping without me. But you lacked purpose, you had no direction. Now that we have been reunited, we can move ahead."
Tom reached a hand down to finger her long graying hair. "You have a purpose for us then?" His anger at her quickly fled. He could never stay angry with her for long. Her presence was the only bright spot he'd ever had in his entire life.
Unknown to Tom, her eyes turned a natural blood red as a cruel smile twisted her lips. She leaned in closer, kissing the folds of his robe causing him to quiver in anticipation. "Oh yes, Tom my love. I have a purpose." She pressed into him further, her fingers starting to move the fabric. "And it is time we got on with it."