Disclaimer - Oh my god it's been so long since I've done this I've almost forgotten... eak! Oh yeah I remember... I own nothing... nothing at all! So yeah JK Rowling owns all me = talent-less maggot!

Author's Note - Begs forgiveness for the lateness of this chapter and for the fact that I have been unforgiveably slack! This chapter isn't written as well as I would have liked and I hope that I can go back and double take this as soon as possible... so forgive me, it has been a very long time and I'm back in education now... eugh!

Wake up, it's not so bad - or is it eternal?

I was High and dry

Don't ask me why

We took a wrong turn that day

Out on that long lonely highway.

The river was pining below

And how we crashed I'll never know

But suddenly I can't swim,

So this is drowning

Scream

The black started to break, the shining silver light of the moon was coming back into focus and, why was he giving up? He owed it to everyone to fix the mess he had created, and he was being lifted out of the water, upwards.

When he head broke out of the waters surface it felt as if someone was trying to snap his head back like a canopy. His jet black hair flew from his face and out of the water and out of his eyes. Convulsively he brought his hands up to stop himself falling and discovered a sleepy version of himself struggling to keep to the surface of the lake. How long had he been down there? All of a sudden he was more awake and looking about the place treading water. Raine?!

::~::~::~::

In the dark depths of her office Raine Stark led motionless over her desk.

The window to her office was wide open and the long sweeping curtain was brushing over her as the wind brushed over everything. It was strange to think over the year how she had appeared to grow up. If she had been able to be conscious she would have shuddered to think how much jewellery she used to wear. She used to think it was nice to wear a ton of bracelets, necklaces, bangles and rings so that she jingled with every step. Then she realised how much like Trelawney she looked - it wasn't to be born of.

The breeze about the room had become eerie. There was the odd clinking of wind chimes as the wind swept the room, and Raine's normally neatly tied hair was blown into her face. The light and sound from the corridor was leaking into the room, but it made no difference - there didn't appear to be anyone able to hear it.

::~::~::~::

Severus finally realised what was happening - he was in the Hogwarts lake and some Merpeople were dragging him back to the shore, he was sure he hadn't gone as far in has he now notice he had. He looked from one of the screeching figures helping him ashore and then to the castle. When the water was shallow enough, the Merpeople let him go and he staggered out of the water feeling like he was using his legs for the first time in his life.

His robes were wet through and as he looked down at himself pulling the odd bit of weed from the black of his robes, he couldn't help thinking; this leaves nothing to the imagination.

Through all of what was happening however, he only had one thing on his mind - Raine. Why hadn't she told him, where was she - what the hell was happening?!

He gathered himself together and looked from the castle back at the lake - the Merpeople had gone again. He was kind of thankful they hadn't let him drown in the end, it was one of those situations where you wanted to die but - be around to know what happened and he didn't think he could cope with being a Ghost - haunting a lake for eternity wasn't his idea of fun, and the idea of being around forever was just not his cup of tea.

There was a brief moment where his mind went blank thinking of how Moaning Mertle coped with haunting a toilet when everything came rushing back - Raine. Find her!

He removed his sodden outer cloak and pelted full speed across the Hogwarts lawns in his drenched black slacks, white shirt and black waist coat. The silver buttons on the waist coat undid as he ran, causing the entire thing to rip out behind him. His heart was pounding - something wasn't right.

There were sounds from within the school - and where was his wand? Why were people screaming - shouting for help... what was happening? He approached with caution and sneaked through the entrance the smell of fire thick in his nostrils.

He didn't know what was going on but he couldn't see anyone, the sounds were coming from further within the school.

He started to run towards Raine's office, hoping that he would be able to find her there - but that was the first place anyone would look of course she wouldn't be there! He stopped and looked about - there were foot steps coming closer but he couldn't see who they belonged to. There was a sudden rush of anger within him - why hadn't she told him?! Without thinking he thrust his arm out and from nowhere he had hold of a throat. Blindly he pulled a silvery material from the head and looked the strange apparition in the face.

"Where's Raine!" He barked looking at Harry with utmost hate as his head floated in mid air.

"Umm... in the sky?" Harry said dumbstruck he'd been caught - why did Professor Snape want to know where the rain was? For a moment Snape considered this and then looked back at Harry as if he was stupid.

"Idiot boy!" He snapped throwing Harry into the wall at the side - Harry's cloak the covered him over as he slouched down the wall dazed. That is definitely one man who should not be taught kung-fu, he thought.

Severus then continued to run along the corridor... Dumbledore - Dumbledore might be able to help him - but from the sounds of things Dumbledore would be preoccupied - too much so to be worried about the missing Professor.

There was nothing for it - he turned around and started heading back to her office... it was like he didn't know where he was going. He crossed Harry a second time but didn't stop and Ron and Hermione - who had managed to stay out of site were looking at him as he staggered past with the look of urgency on his face like he was a raving lunatic.

Ron bent down to help Harry up when he looked like he was able to get up and walk again.

"What do you think? How about we follow him?" Ron whispered, Hermione tied to dissuade them but Ron and Harry had to know what was bothering the Potions Master so much that he struck a pupil.

"But - haven't we done enough damage and ... and he looks ready to kill. You saw how he was with Harry. He might attempt to kill someone."

"Shut up Hermione," Ron muttered, "if we want your opinion we'll ask for it - you don't have to come." Harry and Ron then started to stride off after Snape leaving Hermione standing in the corridor briefly waiting to see if they would change their minds - but they didn't. She then ran to catch them up.

Severus was heading up the steps to the first floor when he heard a strangled howl and deep within he felt sick, he could tell what was happening and he didn't like it... he wanted to help but he had to find her. The closer he got to her office the quieter it became. It was creepy - there was no way it should be that silent near her. Another shriek of pain came from lower in the school.

When he got to her door he knocked and waited a while.

"Raine?" He said quietly. What was the use in waiting - she's not going to be there... but then he heard something fall onto the floor and smash. He opened the door and saw to his horror a figure lying limp on the desk. "Oh no..." he breathed pushing the door further open. "Raine?!" He said more desperately entering the room and walking slowly closer to the inanimate figure.

Harry, Ron and Hermione - now only just behind Snape were listening intently to what was happening.

"Wake up... or have they?" For once Harry noticed Snape's normal strong and cold voice had weakened and it sounded as if he had a lump in his throat. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have listened... I would have tried to... I don't know what I would have done, but I would have done something. You can't just die on me..." he broke off and Harry couldn't hear anything. He took a step forwards and went into the office followed by Ron under the invisibility cloak, Hermione chose to wait outside.

Ron recoiled at what he saw... was she dead? Harry didn't know what to think - but both Harry and Ron noticed one thing... Snape seemed beyond words as he smoothed a hand round her pale cold face and brushed the strands of hair lightly from it.

"I know this means nothing now but... I... I'm sorry," he dragged a hand down his face... Harry could only assume he was trying to remove and trace of emotion he may have shown and extended a hand to Raine's stomach.

Then both Harry and Ron noticed it, Professor Stark had been pregnant?!

"Don't... please... wake up," he whispered running his fingers lightly over the bulge - then something strange hit him. He would have been a father... then the scene Voldemort had shown him resounded through his head and he fell paralysed to the floor twitching occasionally. Harry and Ron exchanged confused glances.

"I think we'd better get Dumbledore," Harry said quietly as he led the way out of the office.

::~::~::~::

"I don't believe that it would be right my lord." He staggered to say, failing completely to soften the master of evil. He kept his head low and waited for a reply. Voldemort carefully looked at him and laughed quietly.

"Weak as always." He whispered patronisingly into his ear, his head shot up. "Raine - take this fool. Do as I command!" He hissed. Automatically Raine approached Snape who was staring with wide, horror struck eyes and shivering with disbelief at what was happening to him. She grasped his robes and forcefully lifted him from the stone floor. The windows clattered open and slammed repeatedly against the walls, sending a gale of wind from the thunder dark sky into the room. The force of it blew through Snape's thick robes that looked like giant bat wings, the hood from Raine's head fell to let the ties fly from her hair sending it billowing out around her. Still her eyes were blind and showed no sign of recognition. Then Snape felt himself being lowered a bit so that he could feel the floor through the tips of his toes, Raine's eyes flashed clear for an instant and she very nearly gasped with the effort of holding him up, it seemed she hadn't expected this at all. Snape watched fearfully into her dark pupils and felt himself getting lost with her soul. A tiny sapphire spiral was rising up through the pool of blackness until it had taken over the whole pupil spinning and spinning more and more, faster and faster until it was a complete moving blur. Then it was lights out for Snape.

His eyes went soft and weak under her spinning stare. The spirals in her eyes were hypnotising him. He smiled innocently like a schoolboy before taking her strongly in his arms, pulling her closer to him so that their noses touched. His eyes took on the sinister glow that hers had taken, the hypnotism made him like her – a walking, unthinking zombie. He grinned cruelly and held her so tight that Stark seemed pained. But she had no chance now to get away, not with Voldemort watching, so she closed her eyes and felt his lips upon hers, and let him carry on kissing her with such passion she would never had imagined he could be capable of.

"Very good Raine," Voldemort hissed watching them, shifting slightly in his chair.

::~::~::~::

He'd tried to stop it - but it was her fault... or was it? What was going on? He would never have. He opened his eyes and he was on the floor, he could see her still lying silently on the desk... he got to his feet feeling weak and looked at her again. She seemed peaceful and he felt what he assumed was grief plummet into his stomach and tear up his throat.

"Why?" He whispered kneeling down by her and pressing his forehead lightly to hers running his fingers though her hair. Her entire body went into a short spasm as everything tried to start up again - Severus jumped back. "Raine?" He said cautiously. She didn't say anything... just opened her eyes and dragged a ragged breath. He went to move closer to her but to his surprise she let out the most high pitched scream he'd ever heard - it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "Are ... Are you okay?" He asked knowing that had she been in a normal state she would have made some snide retort.

"Kill me!" She sobbed gripping the handles on the desk as her back arced and her face contorted with the pain.

"I ... er... Raine what do you want me to do?" He said bringing his hands to his face and looking desperately about the room.

"I want you to kill me! Strangle me if you've got to! Just hurry it up!" She breathed as the pain seemed to lessen for a while.

"I can't kill you! How can I help you?"

"That would help -" she started, but was broken off by another contraction.

"I don't know what to do in situations like this..." he looked at her - she was red in the face trying to sort out her breathing and stop making sound when an idea hit him. He always remembered as a boy his father telling him how his mothered had nearly snapped his hand off while giving birth to him. It was a silly idea but seemed like a good idea at the time as he walked closer to her and took her hand from the drawer handle it was clamped around.

"I... wouldn't - not - if you still want an arm..." she stopped talking as another contraction occurred, they were happening a little quicker than Severus would have thought possible.

"Shhh..." he whispered trying to calm her... and it appeared to have worked when she led still for a while her face becoming pale and drawn again... more like he was used to seeing. Well it would have been okay if she hadn't squeezed his hand so hard he thought she was going to break his fingers. From that moment it didn't seem to relent until she had finally brought the child completely into the world as the sunlight began to appear over the back of the mountains lighting the Hogwarts lake.

::~::~::~::

It was a strange sight to behold... after having cut the umbilical cord with her wand, Severus - who had found the stomach to help with the delivery, held out his first born child to it's mother. A silent child that lolled lazily in his arms until Raine was able to hold it. A boy - just like she had expected. There were no words between his parents. Severus was amazed at what was happening and Raine was too exhausted to do anything at all. Severus looked at the child and without such warning opened his eyes wide and looked at his father - unusually for a baby he was born with burning silver eyes and when Snape saw them he was a little taken aback, the child then blinked smiled and closed his eyes again.

"Raine? Are you okay now?" Severus asked as Raine tried to curl herself up on the floor after having gotten changed and sat down again.

"Go away..." she grumbled.

"But don't you..." he looked at Raine and with his head nodded to the child cradled in his arms.

"Look... I'm tired, I can't be arsed to look at something that hasn't left me for nine months!" She snapped.

"But Raine..." Severus was still beaming within that he had been the first person his son had ever seen.

"He likes you, you deal with it," she groaned dismissively trying to burrow into the floor.

The situation outside seemed to have stopped, and Severus wouldn't have noticed anyway, he was too busy having his arms pulled out of their sockets. He had managed to conjure a blanket to wrap the child in a hope that at least once Raine would take a little notice.

"But you're his mother... just -"

"I have no plans to get attached to him. I'm sure you appreciate the difficulties Severus. I'm ... I'm having him adopted by ..." she didn't sound so sure, in fact Severus was sure she didn't want to be so dismissive. "By a family where I know he will be well looked after."

"But - what about?"

"I don't want my first born to become heir to all that is evil Severus! I... I'd rather kill him."

"But what about a name? Surely you have offered that a little thought," Severus said coldly.

"He's not mine to name!" She said hoarsely getting up from the floor quite wake now and running from the room.

"Raine!" Snape shouted but couldn't run after her - not that he could have left anyway, Raine appeared to run around Dumbledore.

"Well she's not dead then..." Dumbledore said with a small smile looking at Snape he stood still holding the baby.

"I don't understand her," said Snape who was watching the door hoping she'd come back. Dumbledore walked over and looked at the baby in Severus' arms.

"May I?" Dumbledore said unburdening Snape.

"It's a boy," Snape said looking at the older wizard, "I guess I should be happy or something - but I can't even summon a smile. She wouldn't even look at him Dumbledore."

"I pity her Severus, she's known she'd never be able to keep him for his own safety and this I would guess is the way she's chosen to deal with it. I don't think I could cope with having to give up my first born if I had my time over again," was Dumbledore's response as the little boy sneezed blinking hard causing a tiny tuft of ice white hair to pop out of his head... all over the back of his head was, what would grow into thick black hair like his parents had - apart from a white tuft at the front. "Will you look at that, how very strange."

"Indeed," muttered Snape who leaned closer to get a better look.

"I think we had better get Raine to at least look at him though Severus - she'll regret it is she doesn't," Dumbledore said looking to Snape. "Off you go, I'll watch him... what do you think you'd like to call him? I mean in the absence of his mother we can't refer to him as he/him/ or it all the time."

"Well - had I known about this I would have been able to have put thought to it Sir," Severus said thoughtfully looking at the baby - who sneezed again.

"He reminds me of Winter in a way... strange for a child to have such silver eyes at this early an age."

"... umm... How about Artic - I mean until Raine gets her act together?" Dumbledore smiled then nodded at the door as Severus dashed out still smiling genially at Artic.

Birds flying high you know how I feel

Sun in the sky you know how feel

Drifting on by you know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life for me

And I'm feeling good.

('Feeling Good,' by Muse.)

Author's Notes - Really I'm very sorry, hope you can forgive me...

I.C. Fire

silver_shadow54@hotmail.com