Evangeline was putting her new clothes away in the wardrobe when she heard Severus come in after his class. When he didn't come on into the bedroom, she went over to the door and peered out into the sitting room. There she found him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. Her heart dropped; she hated seeing him in so much pain.
Why were happiness and hope in such short supply? No matter where you look, anguish and pain were always to be seen, the unfairness of life made her angry, even as she realized the futility of such anger.
Quietly she walked over to him and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Rough class, Severus?"
He leaned back in his chair and looked at her with a sigh. Removing her hand from his shoulder he held in between his own and attempted to smile at her. "Class was fine, Evangeline. How are you feeling?"
Determined to at least try to be cheerful, she smiled at him. "I'm fine. I think I only had a problem because I went through a painting. I've been thinking about it, and I seem to remember my mother telling me that if I ever had children, I shouldn't try to go through the painted world while I was pregnant. She seemed to feel that it could harm the child. The bodily changes that occur in pregnancy must affect my ability to merge with the paintings. I don't really understand it, but I guess it would probably be safer not to attempt to go through any more paintings until after I have the baby."
He nodded his agreement. "That certainly sounds sensible to me. I'm afraid that'll make you as much a prisoner as I am, though."
As much as she longed to marry Severus, she didn't want him to feel trapped into marriage by this pregnancy. So she looked at him soberly and forced herself to add, "I don't want to add to your burdens, Severus. Are you absolutely sure that you still want to get married?"
Swiftly he jumped to his feet and placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes sought hers earnestly. "Of course I do, Evangeline, especially now. Do you really think I'd leave you an unwed mother? It's very important that we get married, the sooner the better."
Unconvinced, she bowed her head and looked down. "If it's only because of the baby, Poppy said it would be very easy to end the pregnancy now because it's so early. I don't want to make things harder on you."
His deep voice took on the commanding tone he often used with his students when he didn't want to be misunderstood. "Evangeline look at me."
Reluctantly she raised her eyes and met his serious gaze.
"You and the baby are exactly what I want! More than anything! I refuse to allow an idiot like Fudge to stop me from finally having the life I wish. We'll get through this somehow. Yes, I want to marry you, as soon as possible. Please, never doubt that."
She found the confirmation she needed in his eyes and smiled hesitantly. "Okay, but there's one problem, you know."
He frowned. "Oh? What would that be?"
"We need a marriage license, and to get one we need to go to…"
He nodded grimly. "The Ministry of Magic. Not the best place to be at the moment."
She nodded agreement. "No."
"Let's talk to Albus after dinner. Perhaps he'll have a suggestion."
"Okay, and Severus, let's keep the baby just between us for the moment. Yes, we'll need to tell Albus, and Poppy and Minerva already know, but I don't want a big announcement to the whole school. It's so early in the pregnancy, anything could happen. I don't need the extra stress."
He nodded his agreement. "If that's what you wish." Then he paused and looked deeply into her eyes. "I need to ask you something else, Evangeline."
The expression on his face was so serious that she could feel herself tense up. "Anything, Severus."
"I need you to make me a promise. It's very important to me, and I won't take no for an answer."
A worried frown creased her forehead and her heart began to beat faster in concern. This sounded ominous. "What is it?"
His somber dark eyes stared at her gravely. "If things do go badly for me, I want you to promise that, even in the unlikely event that it's allowed, you'll never set foot in Azkaban to try to see me."
A cold shiver ran through her at his words, she gasped and started to shake her head. "Severus…"
Abruptly, he reached up and covered her mouth with his hand. "No, Evangeline. Visits aren't usually allowed there, but sometimes exceptions are made, and knowing Albus, I'm sure he'd offer to try and get you in to see me. However, I'm telling you now, if you come, I'll refuse to see you. I don't ever want you there or to see me there. You must stay here and take care of yourself and the baby. I need to know that you're safe. No one can harm you here. Promise me this!" He removed his hand from her mouth, caressed her cheek with it, and laid it gently on her shoulder.
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she could feel herself begin to tremble. "You're not going to Azkaban, Severus!" Please, let that be true!
With a sad smile on his face, he said, "I sincerely hope not, Evangeline. However, if it happens, we're going to have to deal with it. Do you promise me?"
Feeling as numb as if she was sheathed in ice, she stared back into the ebony depths of his eyes. "I promise," she whispered desolately.
Satisfied that he'd done all he could to shield her from harm, he took her into his sheltering arms, and they stood there together, each deep in the cold company of their fears.
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Evangeline and Severus were very subdued throughout dinner. Remus Lupin was deeply frustrated by his total inability to worm any information out of either of them. They both insisted that everything was fine, and the situation with Fudge was unchanged.
After dinner, Snape asked Dumbledore if they could speak to him. The Headmaster said that he was always happy to talk to them, so Evangeline asked McGonagall to come along, and the four of them left the dining hall together.
Lupin stared after them feeling extremely left out. He left the hall alone and retreated to his room, where he found Black waiting for him.
"Perhaps I should just have the house elves move a cot in here, Sirius."
Black grinned. "Sure, if you want. It would beat my quarters hands down."
Lupin scowled at him and walked over to stare out the window.
Black watched him carefully. "Uh oh. What's up? New developments?"
Lupin frowned and shrugged. "I wish I knew. Something is up with Evangeline and Severus, but they're not letting me in on it. Evangeline came into lunch today looking scared out of her mind. Then she and Severus went to talk privately. Minerva knew what was going on, but all she'd say was that everything was fine, but that Severus was in for a shock. Then at dinner, both Evangeline and Severus looked gloomy as hell, and they went off for a private conference with Albus and Minerva."
"Sounds ominous all right, but there could be a bright side to this."
Lupin turned to his friend with a questioning look. "Oh? What would that be?"
"Maybe Fudge has decided to toss Snape into Azkaban after all. Then you'd have a chance with Evangeline."
Lupin stared incredulously at Black. "How could you, of all people, joke about condemning any innocent person to Azkaban? Even Snape!"
Black looked ashamed. "I'm sorry, you're right. Maybe I've mellowed over the course of the last year. I do find that the idea of Snape being sent to Azkaban, is nowhere near as satisfying an image, as it once was. And I'd hate to see what it would do to Evangeline."
Lupin nodded. "That worries me, too. It'd be devastating to her."
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Snape, Evangeline, McGonagall, and Dumbledore made themselves comfortable in Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster smiled fondly at the younger couple. "Well, what can I do for the two of you?"
Evangeline looked at Snape, who cleared his throat and got right to the point.
"Albus, it appears that Evangeline is pregnant."
Dumbledore broke into a huge smile. "Congratulations to you both! That's wonderful news." He paused and contemplated their somber faces. "You don't seem very happy about it, though."
Snape nodded. "It is wonderful news, but the timing could be better. My future is very uncertain at the moment. However, we want to get married, as soon as possible, because we don't know how much time we might have together." He glanced at Evangeline, who took his hand and squeezed it.
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "I'm sorry, Severus. This has been a failing of mine. I can't seem to get through to Fudge, no matter what I do or say. Are you here to ask me to officiate?"
Evangeline smiled at him. "Of course we want you to officiate, Albus, but first we have the little problem of obtaining a marriage license. We need to go to the Ministry of Magic to get one, but at the moment, our movements are severely restricted."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair and nodded slowly. "I see. Well, I'll just have to have another talk with Fudge. If he knows you're coming, and why, and Minerva and I accompany you, there shouldn't be any trouble. I'll arrange things, and we can go tomorrow afternoon. Once that's taken care of, we can begin to plan the wedding."
"Nothing elaborate under the circumstances. Just a quiet ceremony in the chapel." Evangeline looked at Severus for his approval.
He nodded. "Yes, that sounds fine. No more big school-wide announcements, though, Albus." He frowned warningly knowing that Dumbledore could sometimes get carried away.
Evangeline jumped in to add, "We want to keep the news about the baby quiet for the moment, too. It's still very early."
McGonagall smiled and patted Evangeline's hand. "I haven't mentioned it to anyone, and I'm sure Poppy hasn't either. Don't worry, it's your news to tell."
Evangeline smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you, Minerva."
Evangeline and Severus stood up to leave.
Snape turned to Dumbledore. "Thank you for your help and support, Albus. If I haven't said so before, I've always appreciated everything you've done for me. It's been an honor to have been part of your staff."
Dumbledore came and embraced Snape. "My boy, your help and loyalty have always been extremely gratifying to me. Don't worry. Things will work out fine." He released Snape and stepped back and smiled at them both. "We'll meet in the entrance hall after lunch tomorrow, and the four of us will go to the Ministry together. I'll get everything arranged with Fudge. There won't be any trouble."
Snape nodded. "Thank you, Albus." Then he and Evangeline turned and left the office.
After they were gone, McGonagall turned to Dumbledore and said, "Severus' little speech sounded suspiciously like a goodbye, Albus."
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "They're both trying to be brave, Minerva, but they're perilously close to giving up all hope."