A/N: Hey Skylarks. I'm afraid this is for Sev/Storm shippers. I'm sorry for disappearing off the face of the internet where SN is concerned. Recently I have been shrouded in requests. I've even started a Viktor/OC fic – I mean, haven't you ever wondered what happened to the guy after DH? OR GoF for that matter. Also, being a senior is tough. I have two standard sixes to teach the ropes to, and I've started to co-write a fic with a great aspiring writer, Batmarcus. The story is Tales of Lestrange. I'm co-writing chapter 8 and up. The boy's got a great imagination – and I'm betaing for him, so yeah.

Thanks to SolitaryNyght, owlgirlie387, Skyalrk#1 (aka Hi! Thanks for reading BW77071's story, and in your answer, yes you can write and update from your iPad – my brother does), BookWorm77071, Squirt, Muentiger, SaRaH, Nemo0323 and Blue-Bird-11.

Chapter 21: I do.

Anna opened her eyes. She was in the forest, Laud a few inches from her.

From the feeling of losing something she knew something was wrong. And it was something to do with her best friend. She reached over and roughly shook him. He sat up, hitting his head on a low branch.

"Are you all right?" She asked, her voice hollow. He nodded, getting up, being careful to avoid the branch. He helped Anna up too.

"You feel it, don't you?" He asked.

"She's getting weaker."

"And now stronger again."

"It frightens me." He said softly. "Something is wrong – I can feel it."

Anna looked up at the sky. Even if it was bright sunlight, she saw past it to the stars.

"Neptune is clouding Venus." She said. "What does that mean?"

"Some other happening is causing her to weaken and become more powerful simultaneously."

"It's a contrast – you do realize it?"

"It's my sister, remember? Normal and fitting doesn't exactly fit together."

Anna nodded. "Was it just us? Or was it the others too? That passed out, I mean."

"I think it was all of us – for use of a better term, the non-human important ones."

"So Sev and Cissy would be unaffected?"

"You saw Narcissa in the stars?" He asked, confused. He'd only seen Severus's importance in the coming battle.

"Yes – didn't you?"

"I don't stargaze, but I get your bist, and no."

"It's very odd, isn't it?"

"Anna, we need to stop expecting the ordinary." Laud said darkly. "Take us to Hogwarts." She reached out, gripped his hands and disapparated.

. . .

Sage woke, as confused as his friends had been only seconds earlier. Zane was sprawled next to him, his mouth open and tongue lolling out. He shook his boyfriend awake.

"What the bloody hell…" Zane mumbled, rubbing his head. "What in the name of Merlin just happened?"

"I don't know." Sage said, standing up. He helped Zane to his feet. Still surprised by the latter's new body. "But you look fit."

"I feel great." Zane commented. "I guess I accepted my destiny."

"Have you seen my trident?" Sage asked, distracted.

"It's there… in your hand." Zane said impishly.

"Oh. Well, then, um… let's get you back to school."

. . .

Rija shook awake, feeling a soft hand on her forehead.

"Hey, dear, how are you feeling?" It was Narcissa's voice. The two of them were in a dark room, the curtains shut – no sunlight allowed inside.

"I'm fine… why am I inside? I was just out picking flowers for Storm…"

"You fainted – I brought you inside."

"But where's Storm?"

"Making lunch."

"I don't think so." Rija said, pitching her ears. She heard no noises in the house – not even the house elves.

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't hear her."

"You don't… You're one of them, aren't you?" She groaned. "Will I ever raise a normal child?"

"Never." Rija said dramatically. She got up and rushed downstairs. She was much faster than Narcissa.

"Narcissa!" The girl screamed, panic evident in her tone. Narcissa turned on the spot, thinking it will make her get to the kitchen quicker. It was obvious that something was wrong.

Storm lay on the floor – unconscious, a dark red liquid on the floor beneath her.

"Oh, my…" Narcissa didn't know what to do. She was no medi-witch. She fumbled with Storm's hand and held two fingers to her pulse. Nothing. Maybe she was doing it wrong. She pressed the same two fingers to a vein in Storm's neck. Yes! Narcissa nearly sobbed with relief.

"We need to get help." But they were alone. Lucius was abroad, and the children were at Hogwarts. Narcissa flicked her wand and watched the silver leopard disappear.

. . .

Students were crowding around their professor and the fairy. Some screamed to go get the headmistress, others made good on the command. The others waited, unsure of what to do.

"What's going on here?" The voice of Neville Longbottom sounded. The students parted to let him through. He saw the two of them. "What happened?"

"Professor Malloy was giving us lessons." A boy in Quidditch clothes answered. "I was watching him, the next moment he just… fell."

"And her?" He pointed to the fairy.

"She caught him, laid him down and passed out herself."

Neville felt their pulses – there! He sighed in relief.

"Go get Madam Pomfrey." He ordered.

"No need." Anna announced, stepping forward in her equline form. Laud was right behind her. "They'll be fine, Neville." She bent down and picked up the sleeping Draco. "Laud, get her."

Laud picked the fairy up, careful to mind her wings.

"Neville, would you please go get Sev?"

"But…"

"NOW!"

He turned heel and retreated, knowing who Sev was – just not that the students should be kept in the dark.

She carried him to the quarters he shared with Skye, setting him down gently on the bed before transforming back to her human self. Laud appeared with the fairy.

"Where should I put her?"

"She can sleep on the floor."

"Anna!"

"What? Okay, put her on the couch!" She said distastefully.

"What is your problem?"

"I don't like her."

"You don't know her."

"She's Hada, princess of the fairies, immortal, beautiful, yeah, yeah, her lover was killed and she fled – excuse me for thinking that's cowardous."

"Anna, how can you… what if I died?"

"You will."

"Excuse me?"

"We all die eventually – bloody deal with it!"

"What's gotten into you?" Laud demanded.

"You called?" Severus asked from the doorway.

"Yes. Skye still in the other world?"

"Yes – oh, goody, I meet the Anna that so often plagues my freakish other self's mind." Another noise came. The blue-haired pest stood in the doorway, leaning casually. "And you're Laud – but you are easy on the eyes!"

"Watch it, Electric!" Anna growled, her eyes darkening. Laud didn't understand why she was so dark and quick-tempered all of a sudden.

"Oh, you know my nickname? Do me a favour and kick Skye for giving me that nickname. Everyone in my world is now calling me that." She scowled.

"Ignore her, go on, Anna." Severus, as Snarly, said.

"Yes, ignore me, Night usually does."

"Her name is Malfoy." Draco said, glaring at her.

"When did you come to?" Anna asked in surprise.

"Mid you carrying me here."

"You bastard!"

"Anyways – do you guys feel it to?" He asked.

"She's still not forgiven you – oh, what's this?" Electric paused. She giggled. "Oh, now this is interesting…"

"What?"

"Um… Oh, now she's sour again – you know; your wife's moods certainly change quickly. It went from disbelief to anger in a split-second."

"Ignore her, Draco – what do you feel?"

"As if something's being torn away from me." He said. "Only, not completely, I feel as if I am about to lose something incredibly valuable."

"Oh, you are." Electric mumbled.

"What was that?" Draco asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I'm not at liberty to say." Electric smiled sweetly. "Don't mind me, I don't belong in this world and that was directed at my… blanket?"

Anna shared a confused look with Draco. "What is it with the Skyes and blankets?" She asked, referring to the time Skye accused Leo, Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, of stealing her blanket.

"Answer me, Anna." Draco said, choosing to ignore her comment.

"I feel weaker and stronger at the same time."

"Me too." Laud seconded.

"I feel pregnant."

The room all turned to Sage, who had shown up with Zane, in his new fit body, on his heels.

"Excuse me?" Everyone said simultaneously.

"I just feel pregnant. Man, I want a pickle!" He groaned. "Can wizards become pregnant?"

"I want to know too, seeing as your sorry arse would be dumped if you are – we haven't even done anything yet!" Zane exclaimed.

"Calm down, all right?" Sage snapped back.

"Overlooking your lack of a sex-life – Zane, do you feel weird?"

"No, I feel with my hands."

Electric burst out in laughter. Everyone in the room ignored her.

"Zane!" Sev snarled, infuriated.

"Okay, all right – yes, I do feel weird – like… like confused."

"Okay, we're feeling dread," Anna motioned to herself and Laud, "Draco's losing something, Zane's confused, Sage is pregnant…"

Electric snickered.

"What about you?" Anna asked Sev. He shook his head.

"Anger."

"At Draco?"

"Exactly."

"Poor bloke." Anna shrugged. Draco mussed her hair. "I mean weird?"

"No more than usual."

"Who else is there? Rija, Storm, and the thing on the couch."
"Anna!" Laud sighed heavily.

"Fine, her majesty the queen of the couch – better?"

"Not really."

"Oh, princess…"

"I am not a thing." The fairy gasped, it would've been said in an excited tone were it not that she was endlessly tired; her eyes half-opened. "And you should show me more respect."

"I will once you return to your other pixie friends in Pixie Mellow."

"I think you mean Fairy Hollow." Electric said. "Or Pixie Hollow. Or Fairy Mellow."

"Everyone, I don't care where, she should just go where Tinkerbell lives."

"Who's Tinkerbell?" One of the boys asked.

"It doesn't matter!"

"What is wrong with me?" The fairy asked, close to slipping into a deep sleep.

"Everything?" Anna scoffed. Laud squeezed her hand painfully. She stepped hard on his toe and left the room.

That pixie had better not lay one tiny finger on her Laud if said fairy would like to maintain her immortality. She'd seen the way the two of them had connected – in the stars mere minutes ago – she didn't know why she picked the girl up – then she realized she might've dropped her on purpose.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a snow-white and transparent leopard. It stopped in front of her, dipped its head and spoke in the voice of Skye's mother-in-law.

"Storm is hurt. We need help."

Anna turned around, heading back. Instantly her eyes locked with Severus'.

"Storm's hurt."

. . .

It was a hustle and bustle, but Storm was better. When she fell forward whilst passing out, a knife had stabbed her in the stomach. Directly into her liver. Severus and Anna had apparated together and set to work immediately. Severus had his trusty potions kit with him, some ready-made potions available. They healed the cut, revived her and made her drink a series of potions. A house elf had already cleaned the kitchen, though they were certain Storm wouldn't enter it again for a long while.

That night Severus refused to leave her side – he stayed at her bedside. He considered telling Minerva that he quit as Potion's Master, at least for the time being. It was barely the second month, and his daughter had almost been killed, and with it his son-in-law – though that would've qualified as murder, and now his own wife… fiancé, had almost been taken from him.

She was awake, making small-talk, holding his hand. When she finished on how Rija's education was coming along, he cut across her.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Much better. It was just a cut."

"A cut that almost took you from me." He corrected her. Silence followed. "You know Anna and Laud are getting married soon, don't you?"

"Yes, I do – you told me earlier…"

"But I promised you that we would be next."

"It doesn't matter…"

"It does. You say you're feeling fine?"

"Yes, but what…?"

"Wait here." He instructed her before standing up and leaving her room. She wondered what he was planning.

A few minutes later Narcissa entered her room, a broad smile on her face. She ushered Storm out of the bed and dragged her to her to the room she shared with Lucius.

There she opened her wardrobe and stepped in, inviting Storm in.

. . .

Severus apparated to the gates of Hogwarts, he was let in by the headmistress, and made his way to Sirius's quarters. The two of them hadn't spoken since the incident with Lycan – but they had to talk now.

He rapped on the door sharply. There was rustling inside.

"Severus? What are you doing here?" Sirius asked once he opened the door. Sirius was a mess: his hair was matted and dirty, his clothes looked unchanged, his eyes were blotchy and his nose red.

"Will you be my best man?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I'm not repeating myself."

"But… Laud?"

"I didn't know Laud counted as an answer. But he will be leading the ceremony, yet again."

"Are you serious?"

"No, you are."

Sirius grinned. "I've let myself go, haven't I?"

"Have you buried him?"

"Not yet. I want to do it properly."

"Where is he?"

"In a muggle funeral home." He replied. "There's a team of house elves cleaning Grimmauld Place."

"I'm sorry about your son, Sirius."

"As am I, but, as I always say to Harry, the ones that love us never really leave us."

Silence followed.

"Yes." Sirius said. "I'll be your best man. When is the wedding?"

Severus glanced at his watch.

"In an hour."

. . .

"I'm doing what?" Storm asked.

"Trying on that dress." Narcissa said, handing her friend a dress wrapped in plastic. "And you're getting married in an hour."
"I'm what?"

"Go!" Narcissa pushed her towards the bathroom. She shook her head, what was going on in Severus Snape's mind? To want to get married in an hour. Narcissa laughed softly, it was quite a sweet sentiment actually. He had, after all, promised her that they would be next. She'd already sent word to Lucius to return home for an hour – there was going to be a wedding.

As if on cue, her husband appeared in the room with a loud crack.

"Cissy." He kissed her. "What is this I hear of a wedding?"

"Severus'." She answered. "He decided a little while ago."
"You mean he's trying to plan a whole wedding in an hour?"

"No – he's leaving the bride to me; he's gone to get the best man. You'll be taking the bride in, Laud's going to lead the sermon, aided by Blaise. Rija's ring bearer, I am playing the role of mother of the bride – soon to be mother of a little girl – and Draco's going to do the catering."

Lucius stared. "Draco and catering? Okay, now I've heard it all… wait, mother of a little girl? What do you mean?"

Narcissa smiled serenely.

"You don't mean to say…"

She nodded.

"Truly?"

She nodded again. Lucius grinned and swept her into his arms, twirling her around.

"Oh, this is wonderful!" He exclaimed, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. "I'm going to be a father again…" He whispered, pressing his forehead to hers.

"What's wonderful?" Storm asked, entering the room again. Lucius looked at her and kept on grinning.

"You're getting married is wonderful, Storm. Is that Emma's dress, darling?" He asked is wife.

"Yes – I thought it fitting." She smiled.

. . .

Draco was running around the Hogwarts kitchens; he had exactly thirty minutes in which he had to provide food for a small party – what was Sev thinking? Wanting to get married now? Couldn't he wait for Skye to return?

He would have to think up a plan to get Skye back in this world for a few minutes. Electric was helping herself to Vetkoek, saying that Lia had instilled on them all the habit of eating vetkoek – if there were any, that is, seeing as Lia ate about twenty of the things in ten minutes.

And whose bright idea was it to for him to do the catering? Had he ever let it slip that it was his secret ambition to become a master chef? Because if he made that confession, he must've been severely influenced. He didn't know the first thing to do with cooking. He knew that there existed a thing such as a potato-peeler – and that was where his ended.

He paused – Skye couldn't cook either. How in the name of Merlin were they going to survive once they had their own place?

"Master?" One of the house elves drew his attention.

"Yes?"

"We are done."

"But I haven't done anything."

"We house elves are rather fast, sir."

"Oh… thank you, then." Did he just thank a house elf? Skye was rubbing off on him. "Will you please take it to Malfoy Manor?"

"Yes, sir."

They apparated away with the food.

"I bet your wife would find this funny." Electric noted. Draco sneered at her, picking up a tray of food. A house elf reappeared, picking up a tray and reaching for Draco's hand, apparating and taking Draco with him.

Electric followed with the next elf.

. . .

"This is insane." Blaise said, handing Luna a decoration. They had set up the traditional Malfoy tent, and it was Blaise, Luna, Anna, Sage and Zane to decorate it.

"I know, right? Imagine that, waking us all at one on the morning, and then ordering us to set up tent!"

"Calm down, love." Sage said softly. Anna glared at him. "And I still want a pickle."

"Sage, my love, we'll do a test in the morning." Zane yawned.

"They stuck Draco with catering." Luna said lightly. Both Anna and Sage had horrified expressions, whilst Blaise burst into laughter. Zane was snoozing against a tent pole.

"I hope they have a back-up plan." Blaise snorted.

"Sage, would you and Zane please go get the tables and chairs ready?"

"All right, chief." He saluted her, slapping Zane's bum as he passed him. Zane yelped awake, frowning at the sting. He heard Sage laugh cheekily and rushed after him.

"Aren't you mad, Anna?" Blaise asked, pinning up a silver streamer.

"No, why should I be?"

"Isn't your wedding supposed to be the next one?"

"No. I mean, Sev did promise Storm that they would get married after Skye and Draco. Laud and I are next – in a week."

"Luna, when are you and I going to tie the knot?" Blaise asked. Luna spluttered – very un-Luna-like.

"What?"

"Nothing." Blaise said airily, finishing the decorating with a flourish of his wand.

"I'll go find Laud – we need to finalise things." Blaise kissed Luna goodbye.

"How does it look?" Anna asked, standing next to Luna, admiring their handy work.

"I like it." Luna said. From the ceiling silver streamers hung, intercepted by green and blue. The tables and chairs floated in, and the two women set to work on the tablecloths and flower arrangements.

The flowers were from Storm's garden; stolen by the young shape-shifters.

Once they were done the two girls high-fived – a job well done, they'd say.

. . .

Skye lied down on the Hospital bed as Cora went on reviving the group.

"Oh, Remus has taught me about chocolate – I just don't always enjoy it."

"What? I cannot live without it!"

"I can." Skye grimaced.

"Hey, you're alive. No crankiness, you'll make the baby unsettled," Cora chastised her.

"Hey! He's the one unsettling me! I have been craving pickles for days, but does he even care? NO!"

"He says thank you. Don't be so mean, he's your son!"

"He made me cough both my lunch and dinner!" Skye said, feeling her empty stomach.

"He said he doesn't like bacon, but he's sorry,"

"Just like his father." Skye scowled, almost fondly.

"Your baby's laughing. It's quite adorable," Cora smiled sadly, moving on to Dumbledore and the one named Jo.

Skye thought she should help. She got up and moved to Snivellus. Eager to get a tiny bit of revenge, she slapped him hard across the face.

"Skye, that won't work..."Cora chuckles, as Jo and Dumbledore began to stir. She moved to Lia, who was still lying with her arse in the air. Cora pushed her a bit, and she fell flat on her tummy.

"I don't care. He almost caused me to lose my baby."

"How was it his fault?"

"Oh, he just slammed me into the room across the wall using his wand." Skye said nonchalantly.

"Sev doesn't have any sense of gentility. If he hurts you, he loves you"

"By throwing me across a room? He must want to kill Lia."

"Oh, did he admit it?" Cora grinned, as Lia stirred, muttering about someone dressed as a Powerpuff. Not that Skye knew what the hell a Powerpuff was. Was it maybe some sort of Chinese chip? Or was it South African?

"Yes. And she must've had one vivid dream to be thinking of Snape in a Powerpuff outfit."

"That's no dream. It's a memory," Cora laughed, moving to wake Snape – Skye frowned, hadn't Cora already been there?

"What's a Powerpuff, by the way?" Skye asked curiously.

"Muggle superheroes. Little girls that look like cheerleaders with superpowers."

"No!" Skye cried, horrified.

"Yes, but they're not that bad, really. Better than Barbie dolls or those horrid Disney Princesses," Cora commented.

"I actually like one of those Disney princesses!"

"Which one? Mulan was the only one I could actually stand," Cora sighed, as Lia began to stir

"The mermaid? I liked the crab." Skye answered.

"But the mermaid was just annoying. Not to mention I read a book on Walt Disney once, you'd be surprised what you can find if you look closely," Cora muttered.

"I don't think I want to know. But I liked her!"

"Why?" Cora asked, looking down at Snape's red-slapped face.

"I don't really know..."

"There must be a method to your madness," Cora stated, waving her hand lazily at Snape.

"No... madness is its own method"

"Wise words. How are you feeling now?" Cora asked absently, before walking over slowly to Pepperboy.

"Demented. You?"

"Drained. Both emotionally and physically. So normal, I guess" she smirked and sat beside Aidan, focusing her energy on him.

"Yeah... he was staring at you, you know?"

"What do you mean?" Cora asked quizzically.

"You were sleeping, we were talking - he staring."

"Why did he come here?"

"He was worried."

"Worried? About ME?" she blushed furiously.

"You're not surprised, are you? I mean, his thoughts were all over you."

"I'm going to take that sentence at face value. I reckon I'm not surprised, just morose,"

"Don't be. Life's too short"

"His will be if he continues to follow me."

"Whether it's now or later, he will meet his fate"

"Not if I can help it," Cora said determinedly.

"Even you can't change God's plan."

"But I can do my damnedest to try. It sounds ridiculous, but I would die for him, in an instant."

Skye wished her luck on defying God's plan – seeing as that was impossible.

"As I would for the whole lot of them back home."

"Merlin, that sounded awful. I would die for all of them, but I can't live without HIM. I'd love to know why."

"Do you think I would still be here, were it not for Draco? It's his life I'll be preserving when I take the..." She stopped, holding back a sob.

"The what?" Cora stopped, rushing over to Skye, and shaking her shoulders. "The WHAT?"

"I don't know! All I ever see is a package! A blur, bloody spasm that spits!"

"It's okay. Relax, Skye, everything will be fine," Cora soothed, trying to emote Skye into a state of calm.

"He can't go, Cora. He can't..." Skye said, her pupils dilating. Everytime she saw her end, Draco took the… the thing, and it always killed him.

"And he won't. But I need you to relax, sis, please."

The word caught Skye off guard. "Sis?"

Cora blushed, "Forget about it," She said in a heavy voice. It sounds like Anna, Draco and Sev all at the same time.

"It doesn't work on me." Skye smirked.

"Don't challenge me," Cora simpered, as Aidan muttered consciously.

"I'm not, just stating a fact."

"I've done memory charms, just stating a fact," Cora grinned, sitting at Aidan's feet.

"And I've broken them - on myself, mind you."

"Skye, stop. Really, it doesn't matter what I said under duress," Cora frowned.

"It does."

"I'm not going to tell you!"

"You are"

"No, I won't!" Cora yelled, and Aves sat up, a pillow on her head.

"JUST TELL HER SO I CAN SLEEP!"

Skye jumped at the loud sound, losing her balance and tumbled off the bed. Cora laughed, already at Skye's side, helping her up.

"Is there anything you guys need? Or can I go to sleep for a day or six?" Skye asked, tired.

"I can't think of anything we'd need. Skye, you can return if you want." Cora said, suddenly seeming keen at the idea.

"I was told to stay for a few days, wasn't I?"

"Your spirit, your choice. We're good," Cora insisted. Skye narrowed her eye – the girl was obviously trying to avoid a lecture.

"Shut up." Skye snarled. "I'm not going anywhere before you explain."

Skye fizzed out, her emotions getting the better of her.

Calm down, Skye.

It was Dominic's voice.

"LEAVE!" Cora whispered, waving her hand in front of Skye's eyes. "This is not where you belong," her voice was deep and ominous.

"ANSWER ME!" Skye yelled, the Hospital Wing's walls reverberated. Though the voice that yelled was deep, manly – it was Dominic's. He didn't want Skye to get excited. He'd temporarily sent her back to her own world, causing the blue-haired Skye to be unconscious, as a third party had controlled the going from one world to another.

Skye's eyes flew open, panicked. She was weak, she felt the absence of the Beast. She was holding a small hand; upon further investigation she realized that it was house elf's hand.

"Mistress?" The elf asked.

"Where are we?"

"We are at Malfoy Manor, as you requested… oh, you don't have blue hair…"

"But why are we here?"

"We're readying the food for the wedding."

"What wedding?" Skye asked sharply, regretting it when the small creature flinched.

"Skye? Electric? Where are you?" Draco yelled. "Come on, the ceremony's about to start!"

"Draco?" Skye called back, dropping the elf's tiny hand. She tried to run, but she failed.

"Skye?" He appeared around the corner. He spotted her and ran forward. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know – I was in Cora's world a second ago."

"But… Oh, just come on!" He pulled her hand. Skye couldn't move as fast as him, her system was weakening. She collapsed against a wall, retching against it.

"Skye, love, what is it?" Draco asked, bending down in front of her.

"I fought, and I was poisoned. I'll be fine, just… I can't run."

Draco scooped her into his arms and carried her, bridal-style, to a room she knew her mother stayed in at Malfoy Manor.

"What wedding was the elf talking about?" Skye asked.

"Mum's and dad's."

"But your parents are already married."

"I have more than one set of parents."

The door opened from the inside, and Skye saw her mother. Dressed in a dress she recognized from Emma's memory.

"Mum." Skye said weakly. Storm wheeled around, the dress flaying behind her.

"Skye! Dear… what's wrong?"

"I'm just tired…" She said.

Lucius appeared behind them.

"It's time, Storm." He said evenly. Storm blushed and took his arm.

"Should I change?" Skye whispered to Draco. He looked at her attire, still the shorts and shirt with weapons sticking in the belt.

"I think so." He said, setting her down gently and running into his mother's room. He came out with a plain black dress. He helped her into it, wondering why her limbs seemed unable to move.

"What is it, Skye? And no lies this time."

She shot him a feeble glare. "I'm not lying – I was poisoned. A dagger was struck into my abdomen, over my liver, and…"

"Your mother was struck in the liver too – though it was poisoned."

"What happened?" Skye asked in a high-pitched tone.

"We'll talk later." He promised. "You have a lot to catch up on."

"How long have I been gone?"

"About half a day."

"The time change has changed." She mused. I have only a few minutes.

Draco offered to carry her downstairs again, she accepted, feeling too tired to make the trek downstairs by herself. Draco put his hands under her knees and lifted her. She leaned her head in the crook of his neck. She knew that she should tell him, she just knew she should, but she couldn't give him the heartache of losing both her and the child when… when it happened.

They were waiting for her in front of the tent. She wondered what spurred the two in the morning wedding.

"You're to gin first, Skye." Lucius told her. She nodded, Draco set her down.

"Thank you, Dray."

"I'm walking with you." He grinned, holding out his arm. She took it, and they walked in as music started to play. She didn't wear any shoes. She looked around. There weren't a lot of people. Anna, Sage, Zane, Rija, Narcissa sat at the front with Tobias, Remus and Tonks, holding small Teddy, Leroy sat with his godson, Anna's parents were there – and Anna's little brother, Sean. Sirius stood at the front next to Severus, playing the role of best man. Luna, Blaise, Zeno and Blaise's parents were there too.

"You're Maid of Honour." Draco whispered to her. Skye nodded. Not knowing what else to do.

"I can't stand through the whole service."

"It'll be short." Draco said.

Storm entered the tent on the wedding march, her hair falling to her shoulders. She smiled brightly. Skye looked at her father, he was smiling equally brightly.

Laud kept the sermon short, as promised. When it was time for the couple to exchange vows, Rija brought the rings forward.

"I do." Severus said. Storm soon echoed him. The couple kissed, and cheering broke out.

Skye congratulated them with a simultaneous hug.

"I'm sorry you almost missed it." Severus said.

"Don't be. But I'm glad I didn't." She laughed nervously. "But I have to go again. My work's not done yet. And congratulations."

Sev kissed her forehead and Storm hugged her tightly.

"Mum, my ribs." Skye winced.

"Sorry." Storm pulled back, an impish look on her face.

"No worries."

Draco took Skye to the room they had planned to share before they were betrayed. The moment her head hit the pillow her eyes fluttered closed. He pressed a soft kiss on her lips, telling her he'll be waiting.

. . .

Skye's eyes opened in the other world. Cora was lying on the floor, Aidan at her aid.

"What the…" Skye began.

"I don't know, I woke up and found her like this." He said, clearly in the midst of a spazz attack.

"Calm down." She said, rubbing her head.

"I'm reasonably worried here. I've never seen her like this," He whispered. Cora's eyes were wide open and glowing, she was twitching uncontrollably. Her mouth was open, she seemed to be choking.

"No!" Skye yelled. She realized that Dominic must be either in her, or that she'd shut him away. Skye bent over Cora's body. "Shadow! Return to me!"

. . .

A/N: 12 pages! Whoo!

Please appreciate me, guys, snog me, hug me, but do it in a review.

Shout out of the chapter: Check out Nemo0323's stories! They are amazing!

Now… *SkyeElf is pushing you towards her profile in an effort to make you read 'The Day I Kept My Sanity'*… please, guys?

And please check out the fic Batmarcus and I are co-writing. The link's on my profile…

Also, any more people gonna accept the challenge? Just wondering…