Chapter 24:

Remus paced across the room, back and forth. Back and forth and back and forth and… "That's it, you're giving me motion sickness, and on top of being pregnant, NOT GOOD!" Harmony called out, walking over to him. "If you're worried about the party, all you have to do is go over and listen to what Fudge says. Stay close to Kiki—you two will most likely be the only Gryffindors in a room full of Slytherins."

"No need to remind me," Remus replied. He pulled her closer and hugged her as best as he could. "I still don't like leaving you," he whispered. "What if you go into an early labor?"

"We've discussed this a hundred times. If I go into an early labor, Kiki will be contacted and do everything in her power to get you out of there and home to me," Harmony said. "But considering you're leaving in an hour, I don't think I'm going anywhere tonight. It'll be me, essays and our bed. No trips to the hospital wing and I definitely know no twins tonight." She stood on tip-toe to kiss him gently.

A half-hour later, Remus emerged from their bedroom in a nice set of black dress robes. Harmony motioned him over to her spot on the couch so she could give him some last minute adjustments. When she was done, he leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss. "Go, be bored and come back. You just have to make it to midnight." Remus smiled and left the room.

"Well, isn't this the most exciting thing you've ever been to?" Severus deadpanned in Kiki's ear. "Can you think of anything even more riveting?"

"Why, yes. The idea of watching liquid wax solidify comes to mind," she shot back. She craned her neck to see over the room filled with more Deatheaters than she ever, ever wanted to see. She was surprised no one was trying to kill her yet—it was a well-known fact that she was an Auror. But then again, she couldn't do anything unless she heard them planning something. And Slytherins knew how to keep their big mouths shut.

Severus leaned down to whisper something. "What are you looking for?"

"Remus. Have you seen him since he volunteered to get us something to drink?"

"No. I'll circulate around the room. My best guess is that Fudge and his so-called friends have already cornered him. We're lucky the werewolf can handle himself. Can you imagine if they were doing that to Sirius?"

"No. It's too traumatic," Kiki whispered back. "Now go. We're starting to get weird looks with all our whispering." Severus nodded and left her side. She sighed and decided to make her way to a seat. She was nearly eight months pregnant and the weight plus standing on her feet was starting to do a number on her poor back. She chose the most secluded, darkest part of the room. She still remembered what Avery had done to her the previous May and didn't want to take any chances with the crowd in the room.

Severus returned briefly to hand her the glass of punch Remus was intercepted getting in. "I heard he's been taken into the study upstairs, I'm going to disappear and hang out up there till they're done. You okay?" With Kiki's nod, he left to go find the study that Remus was being held captive in.

With her fiancé gone, Kiki settled back in for some quiet time. However, a familiar reek—'For lack of a better word,' Kiki thought—reached her noise. Kiki looked up to see Narcissa Fudge sit down next to her and flashed a smile. "Hello, Kristin," Narcissa said, her fake smile growing bigger. Kiki took a sip of her punch, but hoped that Samantha would soon revolt…that way, she could escape Narcissa, and perhaps this party. If so, she would remember to take Remus with her. "Are you enjoying the party?"

'Of course, that's why I'm sitting out here in the remotest corner of your parlor, Narcissa.' "Yes, Narcissa," Kiki said. "You do throw good parties."

"Company leaves much to be desired, doesn't it?" Narcissa sniffed, looking around the room. "No one brought any of their wives. You and I are the only women here."

"I've noticed." 'Hence, why I'm in a dark corner.'

"You know how many times I've been propositioned?"

"No." 'And please don't tell me. I don't care.'

"Well, I'll spare you the details. But has anyone approached you?"

"No, I've kinda been avoiding them."

"I don't blame you. I heard what happened between you and Avery. Now, you're not the person who would enjoy that. I, on the other hand, would die to have that done."

"Well, next time, I'll call you and you can take my place, Narcissa," Kiki said, draining her cup some more. 'Come on, baby, do Mommy a favor…come on.' In response, Sam only kicked her. 'Okay, thanks, Sam.'

"Other than Sev, who would you go to bed with tonight?" Narcissa was so lucky that Kiki had finished her drink, or else Kiki would've been choking at that moment. She shot glares at Narcissa and crossed her arms. "Oh, Kristin, come on. This is girl talk."

"No, this is inappropriate. I'm not you, Narcissa. I'm not about to jump into somebody else's bed behind Severus' back. Besides," she said, standing up. "Who wants to sleep with a pregnant witch?"

Without waiting for a response, Kiki stormed out of the room and upstairs. She prayed she would be able to find Severus. Right now, after that conversation, she needed a hug to help her calm down. And she needed to make sure Remus would come out unscathed. Maybe the two of them could exchange notes on things they never EVER want to talk about again.

She spotted Severus leaning against the wall outside the bathroom, one that was hardly ever used but still made a good alibi. He spotted her and tilted his head. Wordlessly, she extended her arms and laid her head on his chest. He rubbed her back—which really helped since it still hurt. "What happened?"

"Hurricane Narcissa."

"Ooh."

"Yeah, we're the only women and she was tired of being 'propositioned.'"

"I didn't know they got drunk already."

Kiki snorted. "Yeah, and without you," she said, smiling. "Of course, then the Hurricane asked who else I would sleep with. So I promptly told her off and reminded her I was pregnant. Then I stormed up here to join you."

"Sounds eventful."

"Very. Can we go home?"

"What about Remus?"

"Well, of course we wait for him. Then can we go home?"

"We'll see."

The two sat there for a little while longer and were startled when the door they were standing across from suddenly opened. Fudge and a few Deatheaters walked out, barely acknowledging the couple that was watching them. As soon as they were downstairs, Kiki stole into the room. Only to find it empty. "What the hell? Where's Remus?"

Severus stalked in after her and looked around. Once again, there was no sight of anyone else being in the room. He swore loudly.

"Careful, Severus. There's a child in the room," they heard Remus call from behind them.

"Oh, thank Merlin!" Kiki exclaimed throwing her arms around him. "Harmony would've killed me if I let anything happen to you."

"Thanks for the concern," Remus said, hugging his friend back. "Anyway, I slipped into one of the other bathrooms to wash my hands. I kinda felt icky after all that."

"Good to see you're together. I daresay Dumbledore would wring me out if I lost you," Severus replied, pulling his fiancée off her friend. "But there aren't any children around."

"Of course there is! Samantha can hear us through Kiki," Remus explained, patting the small bulge that was the unborn Snape daughter. "Anyway, Fudge and his cronies think I'm going to the werewolves to intercede on their behalf. Apparently, they believe that I will work with them after all the hardships my kind has to put with."

"Your kind?"

"Yes, like we aren't even human."

"Someone should clue them in that you aren't a monster. You're holding down a career as a teacher—with students who absolutely adore you. You're married and about to become a father," Kiki ranted.

"I know. When the twins are born in a few weeks…" Remus said, then gave a hollow laugh. "They expect me to go to the werewolves and ask for their support for Fudge? The man whom most of them blame for their hardships? Fudge really is missing a few screws."

Severus snorted and mumbled something that sounded remotely like "common knowledge" under his breath. But to them, clearly, he said, "Now, I for one want to leave here. Anyone with me?"

Remus smiled as Kiki exclaimed, "Let's blow this popsicle stand!" With a whoop, she linked her arms through the other men's and they made their way back to Hogwarts for the night. They, however, failed to notice someone lurking in the shadows that always seem to be present whenever anyone lurks. And this would be a problem…

A/N: Good news! We have a pope—Benedict XVI! And I got the sophomore dorm I wanted for next year! Now, I just need to be enabled for "Add/Drop" and finally find out if I made my internship or not and I'll be set…for now, at least. Anyway, I have my cousin's wedding this weekend…yay! And, of course, thanks to my reviewers. Where would I be without you?

Brielle Lupin: Well, we have a few more chapters to go. The next two are some of the big ones. And I'm sure everyone counting can figure out why. And then there's ELIII, which I just started working on. I think it's looking good, but hey! I'm just the author.

Sarahamanda: Thanks!

SarahtheBardess: blushes about "ear for dialogue" comment Aww, thanks! Glad you liked the newsletter. That was a completely random thing I added in. But you know, you can only discuss so much at revels. And you noticed the set-up. And the first two chapters of "The Phantom of the Dungeons" are now posted.

yeah whatever: Don't think I'm not counting down either. And as for the spatula…has your mother been secretly reading my story as well?

As I told SarahtheBardess, I posted the nightmare Severus was talking about the past few chapters as "The Phantom of the Dungeons" which is a HP Phantom of the Opera fic. It's in the same vein as my "Beauty and the Potions Professor?" fic. So, while you wait, you can entertain yourselves with those. Okay, shameless plugs over…ttyn! Mac