Chapter Fifty-five
Sophie
January 2nd, 1995
Before going back to France, Elizabeth managed to meet her boyfriend once more. This time they went to Diagon Alley. The girl wanted to get some books for herself and a gift for her father.
The couple walked into the Scribulous Writing Instruments shop and Elizabeth bought a beautiful new self-refilling emerald pen, and she asked the clerk to engrave 'S.S.' on it in silver. She was careful so Draco didn't see it. She took the wrapped present and they walked to Flourish & Blots.
"Who are you buying that pen for?" asked Draco.
"My dad. I won't be home for his birthday so I'll ask mom to give it to him."
"Is he a writer or something?"
"Or something. It's just that he doesn't have a lot of patience for regular quills, he likes to throw them into the fireplace when they annoy him. "
"The quills annoy him?" Draco asked amused.
"Yes."
"He sounds like an interesting man."
"Oh, yes, he is very interesting." said Elizabeth, trying not to laugh.
The couple stayed in the Alley until 4 p.m. Elizabeth had to go home then, she'd be going back to school that same day.
Elizabeth and Draco wrote to each other every week. Their relationship got stronger, and their love grew.
February 1995
Hogwarts
The second task would happen in two days.
Florence was spending the night with her husband in the castle. They were enjoying dessert in front of the fireplace.
"You look worried. What happened?" she asked.
"Some ingredients have been missing from my personal stores. Important and expensive ingredients. I think someone is brewing Polyjuice Potion."
" That's serious. Do you have any idea who might be doing this?"
"No idea. I confronted Harry but it's not him."
"At least this time it's not him." Florence chuckled.
"Yes. They think I don't know about their second year. Harry nearly exploded my classroom with a Swelling Potion and Granger stole the ingredients..."
A loud noise was heard.
" What was that?" Florence asked.
"I better go check." said Snape, getting up from the couch.
"I'll go with you." she said, performing an illusion spell to hide her pregnant belly.
On the third floor they found Filch with a golden egg on his arm.
" Filch. What's going on here?" asked Snape.
"It's Peeves, professor! He just threw this egg down the stairs!" Filch looked at Florence. "Good night, Miss Delacour."
Florence just nodded back and petted Mrs. Norris when the cat came near her.
" Peeves?" Snape asked in a low voice, looking at the egg. "But it couldn't have been Peeves who went into my office and…"
"This egg was in your office, professor?" asked Filch.
"What? Of course not!" Snape barked. "But I went to my office after dinner and the lights were on and the doors were opened. Someone has been going into my office without my permission."
"But Peeves couldn't…"
"I know he couldn't, Filch. My office is sealed by spell. Only a wizard could undo it."
Snape looked at the top of the staircase that lead to the fourth floor. And then he focused on sending his thoughts to Florence: Harry is there on the top of the stairs.
Florence looked at the stairs and felt Harry's magic there; she mentally replied: Get Filch out of here and I'll deal with Harry.
"I want you to help me look for the intruder, Filch." Snape said.
"I… of course, professor. But, we must do something about Peeves! I think this egg belongs to one of the Champions and…"
"Filch, I don't give a fuck about the stupid poltergeist! My office is much more important!"
Toc. Toc. Toc.
And Snape stopped speaking. At the top of the stairs that led to the second floor stood Mad-Eye Moody. The auror walked towards them with a sour smile on his face.
"Is this a pajama party?" his weird eye stopped on Florence. "And Miss Delacour! What a surprise seeing you here. And with Prof. Snape. That's a huge surprise indeed!" he said sarcastically.
"We heard a loud noise, professor." said Filch. "Peeves is stealing from students and throwing things around the castle! And Prof. Snape said someone has been into his office…"
"Shut up!" Snape barked.
Moody looked at where Harry was and then at Snape.
"So, someone has been going into your office, eh?"
"It's not important." Snape said between gritted teeth.
"Oh, but it is very important. What are you hiding in there that someone would break in to find it?"
Florence fought the urge to smile. Snape was furious with the weird auror.
"You know I haven't been hiding anything in there, Moody." Snape replied in a soft, deadly voice. "For you've searched my office at least three times already."
"Auror's privilege, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye out for anything unusual."
"Dumbledore trusts me." growled Snape.
"Of course he does. He's a good man, isn't he? He believes in second chances and all that. But I say one thing, some traces never change, Snape. Do you get what I mean?"
Snape fisted his left hand.
"You go back to bed, Snape." said Moody before looking at Florence. "Maybe you should accompany him."
Florence took her wand out quickly and pointed it at the stupid auror, casting silently: Sectumsempra.
The auror's right cheek began to bleed and he growled at her, cleaning his face with the palm of his hand.
"I don't know who you think you are, Mad-Eye." Florence said, putting her wand back into her coat. "But I'm a guest here in this castle. And you have no authority to tell me to go anywhere." she stared at him coldly.
Moody stared at her for a moment, as if recognizing something in her.
Then Snape saw something on the floor and identified it as the Marauder's Map. But before he could get it, Moody summoned it and said:
"This is mine. I must have dropped it earlier today."
"So, as everything is settled I better go back to bed." Snape said.
"Yes. That's the best idea you've had all day." Moody said and then looked at Florence. "Good night, Miss Delacour."
Florence went to the room she pretended to occupy in the castle and Snape went to the dungeons.
The second task
After the second task, Hermione walked quickly to her common room and took a hot shower. Florence had invited her for a walk through the castle's grounds.
They walked and talked for over an hour before returning to the castle and going to the dungeons so Florence could rest before dinner.
"Harry did very well in the lake, didn't he?" asked Hermione.
"Not exactly, dear. If Dobby hadn't stolen the Gillyweed from Severus' stores, Harry wouldn't have been able to participate at all." said Florence.
"True. For months he didn't care about that egg and then on the last week he wanted to solve it desperately and three days before the task he just had no idea what to do yet." Hermione sighed. "He's incorrigible."
"His father was like that too…" Florence smiled. "Harry is a lot like Lily, but his talent for getting into trouble is all from James." she released a deep breath.
"Did you know his parents?"
"Yes. We were huge friends."
"But you're not a Gryffindor." said Hermione, confused.
"Nope. I'm a Slytherin but we were friends. Only on Quidditch days we used to fight." she took another deep breath.
"Did you play Quidditch, Florence?"
They entered Snape's office.
"Yep. I was a Beater. I used to hit James' head every match." Florence chuckled; but then she felt dizzy and put a hand on the wall to hold herself up, the other hand on her hidden belly.
"Are you all right?" Hermione asked worried.
"No, dear. I'm a bit dizzy and… ow!" Florence felt something wet run down her legs. "Help me get to the bedroom, Hermione, please."
"What's going on?"
"I'm in labor, dear." Florence took a deep breath again and held in a moan. Hermione's eyes got huge. "Don't worry. The contractions have just started, we still have time."
Hermione helped her get to Snape's bedroom.
Florence sat on the bed and said:
"Call Severus and Pomfrey, will you?"
"Sure." and the girl ran as quickly as possible to the hospital wing and then towards the Lake where the teachers still were.
Snape was walking and talking with Dumbledore and McGonagall. Hermione stopped running and tried to calm down her breathing before walking to the teachers.
"Prof. Snape, I'd like your help, sir."
"Yes, Miss Granger I was waiting for you to come pester me about the last essay." he pretended to be annoyed with the girl. "Let's go to my office and I'll take a look at your work." he looked at Dumbledore and McGonagall. "Excuse me."
They walked quickly to the castle. Once they reached his office, he closed the door and asked:
"What happened?"
"She's in labor. Pomfrey is in your room already."
"Thank you, Miss Granger." and Snape went into his personal stores and picked up some vials, before walking into his private quarters and nearly running to the bedroom.
He left the door opened, so Hermione walked to the bedroom door, she wanted to make sure that Florence would be alright. If they needed anything, she could go and get it.
"How are you, Flor?" Snape asked as he gave Pomfrey the vials and took his wife's hand, kissing it.
"I'm fine… been better though." she panted.
"Drink this, dear." Pomfrey said, giving her something in a glass. "It'll help you relax."
"Call the kids, Sev." Florence murmured, her eyes closing as a strong contraction hit her body.
"Yes." and he picked up his wand, sending three Patronus (one to his mother at their house, other to Elizabeth and the third to the twins). "It's done." he took her right hand on his again.
"Have you ever seen a woman in labor, Mione?" Florence asked.
"N-no." the girl stuttered. "Can I stay and help?"
"Well, it's not a clean thing, dear." Pomfrey said. "But if you want to help, you can stay here near me and help me."
Hermione walked into the bedroom and stood beside Pomfrey handing her anything she asked for, from potions to towels.
Two hours later, little baby Sophie came into the world. Pomfrey cleaned the screaming baby while Hermione just stared at the tiny kicking person. Pomfrey gave the baby to Snape and he kissed the little one's forehead. Hermione looked at that man and right then she could see in him the man Florence often talked about; the caring husband and father. Hermione cried at the emotional scene in front of her. Snape gave Sophie to a crying Florence and she touched all of her daughter's toes and fingers, touching the baby's face and the soft sparse brown hair strands on her head. Snape helped Florence open up her bra and soon Sophiewas being breastfed.
"She's in great health. As were all the others." Pomfrey said as she finished cleaning up everything.
"Thank you, Pomfrey." Florence murmured, a tired happy smile on her face.
"Call me next time, will you?"
"You can be sure of it, Pomfrey." Snape said, smiling.
Pomfrey left the room. But Hermione stood there just watching the family scene in front of her. It was too beautiful, a new life had just begun right in front of her eyes. After a while, Sophie stopped eating and fell asleep in her mother's arms. Snape transfigurated a small chair into a pretty white crib and he put the baby in it, kissing her face once more.
The beautiful scene was interrupted when five people ran into the room, all covered in soot. The five began speaking at the same time, going near the bed.
"Mom! How are you?" asked James.
"Where is Sophie?" asked Nicholas.
"Is everything all right?" asked Elizabeth.
"Florence, dear, are you ok?" asked Eileen.
"Mom, are you all right?" asked Christopher.
"Quiet." Snape said in a low firm voice. They all obeyed. "Flor is fine. Sophie is over here in her crib."
Eileen walked to the crib to look at her granddaughter.
Hermione stared at the twins. James and Nicholas. She remembered them from the Quidditch World Cup. James, as always, made her heart beat faster.
Florence looked at Hermione and said:
"Thank you for your help, dear."
Then everybody looked at the girl. She blushed profusely. James openly smiled at her and she froze. Florence saw that and chuckled.
"Miss Granger." Snape said. "Thank you for helping my wife and daughter."
"You don't need to thank me, professor. I like Florence very much." she looked at Florence and then her eyes met James's. "I-I better go now." she murmured and almost ran out of the room.
"Care to explain that, Jamie?" Florence asked, smiling.
"Who knows, mom…" James replied, scratching the back of his head.
"What are you two talking about?" Snape asked.
"Nothing, dear." Florence quickly said.
Then Sophie began crying in her crib and Nicholas passed the baby girl to her mother. The little girl stopped fussing as her head touched Florence's chest. After a while the baby opened her eyes and stared up at her mother. Snape got closer to them and the baby looked at him too. Her tiny hands moving to his long hair and pulling on it. He kissed the baby's forehead.
"She is as gorgeous as you." he murmured looking at Florence.
"And just like me, all it took was one look at you for her to love you." Florence murmured.
They shared a sweet kiss.
"Okay, let's stop all that, please." Nicholas asked, faking disgust.
"Yes, the air gets heavy with magic when you two start that lovey-dovey thingy." James said, making a face.
Florence and Snape laughed and they all kept on looking at baby Sophie and talking about her.
In the next morning, Florence and Sophie went home.
