Disclaimer; I own nothing

Chapter Fourteen: Realisations

"There is no way this is happening to me." Hermione said to herself.

She closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them she's see it was all a bad dream. Tentatively she opened them again.

"DAMNIT!" she yelled, when she saw the positive pregnancy test sitting on her bedside table.

"Are you okay 'Mione?" Harry called from the common room.

"Just peachy Harry." She replied, hoping he wouldn't come in. No such luck.

"You don't sound it 'Mione… What's that?" he asked her.

"That is um…" she trailed off.

"That's a pregnancy test!" he exclaimed, "Hermione, what's going on. Have you and Ron…?"

She started crying, "No Harry, not Ron… it was Malfoy."

Severus smirked as he snuck up on Jaide again, knowing that she would be very annoyed at him if he managed to startle her. However, to his disappointment she whirled around just as he came up behind her, stuffing a piece of parchment into her pocket.

"What the…?" he faltered, "How did you…?"

"Ah, that's for me to know and for you to never find out Sev." She grinned, at the same time thinking 'I must remember to thank Harry for lending me the Marauder's Map.'

"Always keeping secrets from me Jaide." He pretended to look upset, "Well lucky for you I tell you all my secrets because I have some very interesting news."

"Ah yes, the meeting with Lucius. How is my dear brother-in-law?" she asked sardonically.

"Very excited as it would seem, but perhaps we should discuss this in my office."

"Yes, that would probably be a smart idea."

Once in his office, safe from eavesdroppers, Severus worriedly told Jaide of Lucius's plans.

"That poor boy!" she gasped, "And Lucius plans on bringing that monster here?"

"Yes. Right in the middle of the Graduation Ceremony. The students won't stand a chance, especially if there are more of those things."

"We need to tell Albus." She said.

"We can't." he replied sadly.

"Why on earth not?"

"The deatheaters are becoming cautious. They know there could be traitors amongst them and Lucius has cast a spell. It is impossible for me to tell any of the teachers, the students except for the Slytherin's and the Headmaster."

"Hey. I'm a teacher but you told me. How?"

"Quite simple actually, I know you are only here to watch Harry so I have managed to convince myself you aren't a teacher."

"Oh, so you think I'm not smart enough to be a real teacher?" She growled, pretending to be angry.

"You know perfectly well that is not the case. It was simply a thought of convenience. Besides, I am correct am I not? You aren't a real teacher."

She laughed, "I know I'm not a real teacher. Good thing too or else you'd have to deal with this all by your lonesome."

"I don't plan on involving you in this Jaide. You are going to leave the school before the Ceremony."

"Like hell I am Sev. I promised Sirius that I'd look after Harry"

"Who cares about Black. I worry about you. Narcissa and Bellatrix have got something horrible planned for you."

"What?"

"I don't know, and I don't want to find out. You aren't going to fight."

"Look Sev, you can't stop me from fighting. I promised Sirius and I never break my promises."

"Oh, you never break your promises to that mutt but you'll break your promises to me." He snapped.

"What are you on about?"

"YOU PROMISED YOU'D NEVER LEAVE ME!" he exploded, "BUT YOU DID LEAVE, AND YOU NEVER EVEN SAID GOODBYE. DO YOU KNOW HOW HEARTBROKEN I WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT YOU'D GONE. I CRIED FOR WEEKS. YOU AREN'T GOING TO STAY BECAUSE I REFUSE TO LOSE YOU AGAIN."

Jaide's eyes filled with tears and she turned away, making Severus immediately feel guilty.

"Sorry Jaide, I shouldn't have yelled like that."

She sighed, "It's not that Severus. I just, well, didn't know how much I hurt you by leaving. I sorta thought you had chosen being a deatheater over me. I didn't think a deatheater could love a silly muggle-lover."

"I always told you I'd love you no matter what. Did you think I was lying?"

"What was I supposed to think Sev? I mean how could it have worked with me trying to save the same people you were trying to kill?"

"I guess I didn't consider that."

"Nah, ya think." She said dryly.

"Okay, lets not fight. I don't want you to stay but if you feel you must then promise me you'll be extra careful."

"What, did you think I was going to fight blindfolded or something."

"No, I just… Oh never mind!" he said exasperatedly.

"I'm only messing with you Sev, I know what you meant."

He ignored her last remark and said in a serious voice, "We need to go to the library and do some research. Maybe we can find a way to protect people against the Shades."

Jaide closed the heavy book she was flicking through with a heavy sigh.

"Nothing Sev. I can't find anything about Shades."

"Me neither. This is hopeless."

Jaide wasn't listening, however, as she was distracted by the person she saw walk into the library. It was Draco and he was carrying a heavy book titled 'Shadow Magic' under his arm.

"Hey Sev, that book might be what we need."

"Huh? Oh, yeah it might. Lets go get it after Draco returns it."

Draco walked up to Madam Pince's desk and dropped the book with an echoing thud. Jaide ran up and grabbed it as soon as he was out of sight. She carried it back to the table she and Severus were sitting at with a triumphant smile on her face.

"You know you look really beautiful when you smile." He told her in a dreamy voice.

"That may be so but we have work to do." She said happily.

"Okay. Is there anything in that book?"

"Lets see…" she opened the contents page, "Yes! Chapter three is about Shades."

"Well, what does it say?"

"A Shade is similar to a Ghost." She read, "they are the spirit of a person who has died but did not wish to leave. Unlike Ghost's, however, they are an entity of pure evil. Much in the same way as a dementer, a Shade will suck all happiness and cheer from a room. If someone spends too much time in the vicinity of a Shade they will eventually kill themselves and the more people a Shade convinces to kill themselves, the stronger it becomes. The only way to destroy a Shade is when two special people combine their powers to bring forth a Lialle, a divine being comprised of pure love."

"That's no good. Is there anything else?"

"Hang on." She said as she flicked through the chapter, "Here we go. There are alternative ways to hold off a Shade. The most effective way is to use the Patronus Charm, however this won't work as well as a Lialle. To prevent people from succumbing to the Shades attempts to get them to kill themselves it is best to use a strong Cheering Charm. Although this will only work temporarily and eventually the Lialle will have to be summoned or the Shade will grow stronger, leaving a trail of death behind it."

"Still no good." Severus said grumpily.

"I know. Basically we are going to fail unless Draco and Hermione manage to bring forth the Lialle."

"I don't think that is going to happen Jaide dear."

"We mustn't give up hope Sev, we mustn't give up hope."

AN: I was thinking of writing a prequel after this story about Severus and Jaide when they were in school. What do you guys think? Or would you prefer a sequel?