Aimee
Dumbledore arrived a few hours later, looking rather flustered. He made his way up to the Master Bedroom, where he met Severus and Lily's unconscious form.
"Headmaster." Severus nodded, inviting him in. Dumbledore immediately went over to Lily, who was still curled up protectively.
"Remus is aware?" he asked. Severus nodded.
"He was here at dawn."
Dumbledore nodded, "Good. He might be able to help her. I'm assuming you'll be brewing Wolfsbane Potion for her?"
"With accuracy I've never bothered with before." Severus said.
"Yes, yes… I would have expected that. Are the babies ok, have you checked on her condition yet?" Dumbledore inquired.
"B – Babies, sir?"
"Yes, you are aware she is pregnant, correct?" Dumbledore asked. "She told me she was going to tell you a few nights ago."
Severus shook his head, "Yes, I knew she was pregnant. However… babies? How many babies is she going to have?"
Dumbledore looked up with a mildly humorous expression on his face. "Twins, Severus. Two babies."
"Twins?"
"Yes Severus, twins."
In an instant, the memory of the night James had been killed, the night Voldemort had disappeared, the first night Lily and himself were known to the world, flashed through his mind. Lying in that bed, lying in the same bed he slept in every night at Hogwarts, the same bed Lily had slept in with him countless times, she had promised him twins.
HIS twins. They had to be. They were his… they couldn't be Remus's. It would kill him. She promised him… They had to be his.
Severus turned back towards Dumbledore, his face crumbling. "Please, tell me they're mine. Please…"
Dumbledore shook his head, "I told Lily that it was her problem and her problem alone. I know you would tell her; therefore, I cannot tell you."
"She promised me twins." Severus said bitterly. "And now they could be that… that damn werewolf's!"
Dumbledore put his hand on Severus' shoulder, only to have it shrugged off. "No. This is it… after fifteen years of trying, she's finally pregnant with twins. Great. But – I swear to God, if they're Remus's, I'll – I don't know what I'll do."
Dumbledore sighed. "I know this must be hard on you, but – "
"Headmaster, you have no idea." Severus growled. "Look at her – she's a werewolf now. She's an outcast. She's going to go through far more pain, both physically and mentally, that she could ever put me through, but GOD… It's all that damned werewolf's fault."
"It is no one's fault." Dumbledore said firmly. "It is no one's fault but her own."
An enraged Severus turned towards the old man. "How can you say a thing like that? She didn't ask for any of this!"
"And neither did you." Dumbledore said in a voice, almost as if he was speaking to a child.
"Yes, but I damn well could have prevented it."
Dumbledore shook his head, "No, you couldn't have. No one could have. It is the decisions we make that change us, not those who could have prevented us from doing so."
"Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see her lying there, helplessly?" Severus sighed, his body finally giving in. "I can't do anything for her, for the first time, and it kills me."
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, she's my family too, remember."
Severus paused, "Are the babies going to survive this?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Up until the time they're born, they'll transform with Lily so her body can accommodate then accurately."
"What if they're born on the Full Moon?" Severus asked.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Dumbledore answered quietly. Moments later, Lily started to stir.
Severus rushed to her bedside, almost afraid to touch her. "Lily, darling?"
She opened her eyes feebly. "Sev?"
"Oh God…" Severus breathed, "How are you feeling?"
Lily's eyes widened as the memory of the previous night came flooding back to her. "Sirius – is he ok?"
Severus nodded, "He's perfectly fine, but are you ok?"
"Remus, he –"
"Yes, love, we know." Severus said quietly. "How are you feeling?"
Lily paused for a moment. "God, he didn't – ? I'm not – ?"
"Yes, love, you are." Severus said quietly.
"Are you sure?" Lily whispered. Severus nodded.
"Lily, are you feeling up to going back to Hogwarts? I daresay Severus would not want to leave you in the state you're in." Dumbledore asked.
Lily looked up at him, as if just realizing he was there. "Papa?"
"Lily, I'm right here. Are you ok?" Dumbledore moved next to Severus.
"My arm…" almost at once, realization hit in. "It's ok?"
"I healed it." Severus said quietly. "And the babies?"
Lily touched her stomach for a moment and closed her eyes. "They're fine."
"So you did know they are twins?" Severus asked. Lily nodded.
"Once again, do you feel as if you could move to Hogwarts? Severus is needed, but I assume he would not want to leave you in this state." Dumbledore said.
Lily nodded, "I think I can… Sev?"
"Yes?" Severus asked.
"Is… would that be ok?"
He nodded, "Of course. Shall I alert the children that you're ill?"
She nodded, "Before we leave, yes. I'm sorry."
"You apologize far too much, dear." Severus said gently, turning back to the Headmaster. "Will Madame Pomfrey look after her, or shall I?"
"Madame Pomfrey will be alerted of Lily's presence and might wish to check up on her. However, I can assure you she will be under your care and will not be admitted to the hospital wing." Dumbledore answered. Both Severus and Lily nodded.
"Does Remus know?" Lily asked quietly. Severus nodded.
"Both about biting you and the babies." He answered. "He feels terrible about both."
"Why?" Lily asked. "Neither were his fault."
"The fact that there's two little babies in there
– " Severus touched her stomach, " – could very well be his fault. However,
yes, I agree. It is not his fault he bit you. He could not control himself."
"These babies are not his fault." Lily interjected. "Either they're my fault or they're yours, and I'd hardly acknowledge them to be a fault."
Severus cracked a smile, "Yes, love."