Chapter 28:

Riley sat in a small restaurant near St. Mungo's. Most of the patrons were medi-wizards and witches from the magical hospital, so the Ministry agent looked quite out of place with his official black robes. Many of the people eating around him were wearing the white robes of the hospital. He normally ate lunch with his colleagues from his department. But it was the day he and Eden had agreed on long ago to meet for monthly lunches with each other. With their parents being who they were, the siblings had developed a close relationship. It's not that Eden and Riley were embarrassed, no, they were proud of their parents. If he could, Riley would stand atop the Minstry of Magic and proclaim himself the son of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall.

But the problem was the fact he was the son of Albus Dumbledore, who was a great wizard but had many enemies. His father realized that those enemies could use his loved ones against him and made pains to hide his family ties. When Eden and Riley were younger, it always confused them why their parents were married but had different last names. The younger Riley questioned his father's love for his family, but eventually came to realize that he did love his family. That's why he kept them secret from the world. It annoyed Riley, but he accepted it. He always believed that Eden was caught up in the romantic nature of the whole set-up.

Romance. This caused Riley to sigh as he thought about his sister's romance with Ace Michaelson. Riley couldn't stop it—neither of his parents would—and now his sister was madly in love with an Auror. But something at the pit of his stomach tightened and a thought arose. You hypocrite. He shook his head slightly. How was he a hypocrite? Then an image of a certain Order member came springing up, one who went by the name of Nymphadora Tonks.

After their lunch together that time, Riley had been growing closer to the young Auror. They would occasionally go out for lunch—nothing as traditional as his and Eden's lunch—but just casually. They would also sit near each other at Order meetings and would hang around Headquarters. He chuckled as the memory of the time Dora (as he had taken to calling her) had convinced him to set up water buckets over everybody's door. As childish and muggle it seemed, she pleaded and he complied. He didn't know who was going to kill him first—Kiki or Severus. Harmony and Remus had a good laugh, as did Sirius and Bianca. Eden was amused to no end, his mother was horrified and his father was twinkling even more than ever.

"Somebody thinking of a certain somebody?" his sister's voice cut through his thoughts. "Someone with the initials NT?"

Riley jerked his head up and noticed his sister sitting there with a knowing smile on his face. He panicked and he wondered how long Eden had been sitting there—how long had been zoning out thinking about Dora? "Hello, Eden, did you just get here?"

"Nice cover up, Riley, but you know I know you were zoned out," Eden replied. "But just to ease you, I've only been here a few minutes." The waitress came over and took the siblings' orders. "So, you haven't answered my first question."

Drat, he was caught. "Alright, yes, I was thinking of Dora. Is that a crime?"

"Well, normally, no. But when it's Mister 'Loving an Auror is Too Dangerous,' yes it is."

"I never said I loved her!"

"Oh, please, it was practically written across your face," Eden said. "Why don't you just take a bullhorn, stand on top of the tallest Hogwarts tower and proclaim 'I love Nymphadora Tonks!' Put everyone out of their misery."

Riley glared at his sister while butchering his steak from anger. "I was saving that—except on the top of the Ministry of Magic—for when we can declare our parentage, thank you very much," he said. "Besides, I'm not in love with Dora."

Eden laughed. "The way you're treating that steak over this conversation suggests otherwise, Rile. Besides, I think it's already dead."

Riley stared at his mutilated lunch and sighed. His sister could aggravate him, but he supposed that he was letting the topic get to him. Why was he following along? Why not just change the subject? Because then Eden would accuse him of avoiding something and use it as more proof of his romantic feelings for Dora. All that existed were platonic feelings, right? "Look, right now, Dora and I are only friends. Understand that?" He pointed his knife at his sister. Eden nodded and they enjoyed the rest of their lunch in peace.

Remus sat grading some papers that he had been holding so long, his sixth years were asking if there was some ransom they had to pay to get them back. Harmony laughed so hard when she heard that, she fell down. This then also caused a visiting Kiki to laugh her head off as well. So, here he was, grading the papers when a knock came to his classroom door. He looked up at his clock and saw that it was ten-thirty at night. Who would be calling at this hour?

He walked through the desks set up in the room to answer the door. When he pulled it open, he mulled the option of slamming it right away. However, this moment's hesitation allowed his unexpected guest to push into the room. "Fudge," Remus said with a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. "What brings you here?"

"A little visit, Remus," Fudge replied, trying to look like the official Minister of Magic he used to be. He wore long brown robes that resembled a suit. He stood straight with his arms behind his back studying Remus. "You didn't do what we asked you to do."

"I believed I never agreed to your idiotic plan," Remus replied. "Good night, Mr. Fudge."

Fudge tisked. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Remus."

Remus whirled around, eyes narrowed. "Why?" he questioned, his voice icy cold. "What could you do?"

Fudge stepped forward. "I know you are painfully aware that the final battle is nearing," he said, voice low. "And that Voldemort will win that. And with that, I will be restored as the Minister of Magic."

"You're crazy. Voldemort cannot win. His supporters in Britain are either in Azkaban or Canada and he hasn't gained any new ones. And even if—Merlin forbid—he did win, you are a fool to believe he will place you as the Minister. His types aren't ones to share power well. Even if he did give you your old position back, what could you do to harm me?"

Fudge gave a small smirk. "How's your family? I believe I heard Cissa telling that she heard from Jackson that you two had twins. Two little girls, am I right?"

Remus stiffened. "Leave Jamie and Lily out of this," he hissed. "There's nothing you can do to hurt them."

"True, true," Fudge conceded. "But imagine the two of them at their weddings—and you're not the one walking them down the aisle."

"Are you threatening to kill me?"

"No. When I'm returned to Minister, you will feel my backlash for your foolish decision. I will have your marriage to Harmony declared void and wash all records of your paternity of the twins. Instead, Harmony and the girls will be entrusted to the loving hands of Jackson."

"The bastard that almost killed Lily by triggering Harmony's labor earlier than expected?"

"By a few weeks, and it was good—was it not?" Fudge was fully smiling now. "You will be expelled with the other werewolves to a holding facility. And I'll make sure all your fellow freaks know that it was all your doing. You wouldn't last the week."

"You know, Fudge, I thought you were only an idiot," a new, feminine voice called out. "Now, I see you are just a plain bastard." Harmony stepped forward and interlocked her arm with her husband's. "Get out."

"No."

Remus turned to Harmony. "Go back inside. I'll handle Fudge," he urged. She shook her head. "Go watch the twins, please?"

"Minerva's in there. I can stay out here. Don't worry," Harmony calmed as Remus ran a hand through her hair.

"Neither of you have to worry," Albus' voice came from the doorway. Remus held Harmony close as the Headmaster stalked into the room. Albus stood face to face with Fudge, the man who once owled him nearly everyday asking for advice on how to run the wizarding world. There were no twinkles in the older wizard's eyes as he stared down his new enemy. "Fudge won't be able to hurt you ever."

Fudge just kept smiling. "You're an old fool. And soon, everyone will also see that. And your fans will fall away." He turned, nodding to the Lupins. "Good night." With that, he was gone.

Kiki was once again pacing Severus' study. It was the third night in a row that he was called to Voldemort's side. And each night, he came back looking worse and worse for wear. He wouldn't give her complete answers and with his weakened state, she feared he would come back to her in a body bag. That would be lovely—Voldemort making her a widow before she was even married. And added to the fact that if he killed Severus, Samantha would be without a father…well, she was sure she could then take on the Dark Lord entirely by herself.

Suddenly, the doors to her fiancé's study opened. Remus and Dumbledore helped a weak Severus into the room and laid him on the couch, with Kiki's help. "Minerva's gone to get Poppy, but we figured most of the potions that could help him are here," Dumbledore explained as Kiki stroked Severus' paler than usual face. "Voldemort is getting desperate."

"But does he have to take out his desperation on my lover?" Kiki asked, looking up at Dumbledore. "Doesn't he have more Deatheaters to take it out on? Ones who just didn't celebrate the birth of their first child?"

Dumbledore didn't say anything, but Remus swooped down to give his friend a comforting hug. The Headmaster watched as Kiki hugged Remus back for a few minutes before walking over to a certain small bookshelf. She looked over at them, making sure they weren't watching carefully. She pulled out what looked like a huge tome of ancient dark magic and opened it up to the center. She ran her finger down the central spine, almost as if it were the Monster Book of Monsters, to have it transform into the book it was really—The Scarlet Pimpernel. Severus and his Slytherin habits of hiding anything muggle. She reinserted the slimmer book and the book shelf slid open to reveal Severus' secret store of potions. "Now it makes sense," she heard Dumbledore chuckle.

She walked over with a rather good healing potion that Severus had created for himself when Poppy entered into the room. "Albus! He really should be in the hospital wing! Miss Wright, I don't like the look of that. Should you be giving it to him?"

Kiki's face scrunched up in annoyance, reminding both Minerva and Albus of Severus around the nurse when she was in one of her moods. She didn't stop and kept administering the potion to her fiancé. "Don't worry, Poppy. This is a special potion Severus created for his own use. I've given it to him many times; I can assure you it works."

As soon as the words left Kiki's mouth, Severus began to stir. He blinked open his eyes a couple of time, trying to focus in on something. "Sev, look at me," Kiki instructed, just as she had the two previous nights. "How many of me do you see?"

Severus reached his hand to stroke Kiki's cheek as he responded, "Just one. As usual. And all I can handle." Kiki smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead. Before she even broke contact, Poppy had flung her out of the way to tend to the patient. Remus caught his friend as Severus glared at the school nurse. Poppy mentioned different potions that Severus should take. The Potions Master nodded and told the meddling witch that Kiki would be able to handle everything.

"She's not a trained mediwitch!" Poppy exclaimed in horror at the suggestion. "She is just an Auror."

"She also knows the inner workings of my potions," Severus said, hoping he had effectively ended the argument.

He hadn't. "Your potions," Poppy said, crossing her arms. "Your potions cannot be found in any distinguished magical medical journal. What makes you think I'm going to trust your potions?"

"Because I am the only one who has created potions to effectively handle the torture Lord Voldemort throws at me," Severus hissed.

Kiki threw a pleading look at Dumbledore—the arguing wasn't good for Severus in his state. All she wanted to do was to get Poppy out so she could administer the potions needed. And then get Severus safely into bed before Sam woke up. McGonagall understood the look sent to her husband and quickly got her friend out of the room. Kiki walked back to the opened potions' cabinet to pull out the needed potions. She returned as Dumbledore gave her a look. She looked between the Headmaster and her fiancé, and nodded to the wizard's unasked question in the end.

Dumbledore sat down as Kiki rubbed Severus' hand. "I'll give you the potions as soon as Albus asks you a few questions," she cooed. Turning to Dumbledore, she began explaining. "I can't give him the potions now. They'll knock him out before we can even say 'Severus.' So, I ask that you keep this short. Please?"

Dumbledore nodded and turned to Severus. "My boy, I know how much pain you must be in. I just want to know—why? What has Voldemort upset?"

"He claims I'm not doing my godfatherly duties."

"What?" Kiki and Remus exclaimed at the same time. Even Dumbledore had a look of confusion in his eyes—something rare, Minerva would remark later. Severus didn't notice, he just continued.

"Draco is rebelling against his mother's marriage to Fudge. He hasn't joined the Deatheaters yet, nor has he joined Fudge's Army. And he hasn't come to me, so I've been told to search out the boy and point him in the right direction," he said. "But I can't do that to my godson. Someone has to do right by him."

"Certainly," Albus said. "We'll talk more about young Mr. Malfoy later. Remus, Minerva." With that, the three left. Kiki was able to get her fiancé up to bed and administered the potions. As soon as Severus' eyes closed for the night, Sam woke up demanding to be fed.

A/N: Wow—my last week of classes! You know what that means? One more week of regular updates. Unfortunately, after next week I won't be too sure of internet connection so it might take a while. Never fear, though! I will find a way to update. Anyway…thanks again to all my lovely reviewers!

Brielle Lupin: Severus doesn't really like to hug anyone but Kiki and Sam. Who knows? As for gauging Jack's eyes out…take a number and stand on line.

Sarahamanda: Will they make Voldemort go away forever? If I told you that, I would ruin the second climax. Sorry.

SarahtheBardess: That chapter was actually finished before March 10th. In fact, I think I was writing Sam's birth when we learned Remus' birthday. I know, I couldn't help myself…it was just so easy to insert my story in there! They have a trick to tell the girls apart. I didn't think the paten Severus Snape death glare was a running gag…I guess now it is. These plot points have minds of their own! And don't worry, the babies are fine.

yeah whatever: Okay. Whatever you say.

Thanks again! Happy May! Mac