Disclaimer: I happen to own various things (big, small, expensive, cheap, pretty, ugly, pretty ugly… lol). Sadly, Harry Potter is not one of them. Please do not sue me, as you won't get anything but two nickels and a rusty paperclip. (Yes, I have added ten measly cents to my coin purse. Hooray pour moi!)

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"We're gonna get caught one of these days."

"Maybe."

"Do you care?"

"Not really."

Sorcha smiled up at Severus and giggled. "You're different from when I first met you."

His brow wrinkled but he smirked. Lovely smirk, Smirky. Keep up the good work. "No I'm not."

"Yes you are! More… laid back…. And you actually have a sense of humor! I swear I heard you outright laugh yesterday and not just chuckle quietly! Laugh!" She protested in a know-it-all fashion.

He groaned and tickled her sides. "If I have then I blame you completely." He replied as she laughed hysterically, trying to free herself from his incessant tickles.

"Wait, wait, wait!" She exclaimed, pulling away from him. "I… Can't! Breathe!"

He chuckled as she caught her breath and then grinned when she suddenly hugged him. "It's almost November." She whispered into the shoulder of his shirt. I can't believe the year is ending…

"I know." He sighed.

She held him tighter then. "Maybe if we tell my mother, then you could stay and-"

"We've been over this, Sorcha. I can't."

"What if I go with you? I'm sure Dumbledore-"

"And what if something happens to your mother? You would abandon your people?"

"You would abandon me?!"

He kissed the top of her head. "We'll figure it out. There's still two more months."

She nodded and grinned up at him. "We're gonna procrastinate, huh? I'm good with that!"

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Sorcha studied her side profile in the mirror. I am so fat. She thought gloomily. And what was with throwing up every day last week? That was just horrid… I wonder if it was something that I ate. I haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary. Or eaten too much. In fact, I think I've begun to eat less. All I've been doing is hanging out with Severus and-

Sorcha paused as a wave of both nausea and fear came over her. Oh… Gonna throw up… My goodness, it couldn't be what I think… No, that's just- Agh… Gonna vomit…

She ran to her bathroom as fast as she could and fell to the floor, her whole body becoming weak. This… Is… So… Gross…

After flushing the toilet and brushing her teeth ferociously, Sorcha stared at her reflection in the mirror. There's no way to know. Not unless I make a Fertility Potion. I wish I were like one of those human girls who could just tell by that stupid… thing. I forget what it's called… Some type of… cycle? A thought suddenly struck her. Warren! I'll ask Warren if his mother still has some!

She made her way downstairs and into the servant's field outside, where all of the servant cottages were. Running straight into Warren's home without knocking, she breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the small house was empty of its owners. I'll just… check here… She thought as she rummaged through a cupboard of potions in the nearest bathroom. When her hand closed around the familiar green bottle that she had seen Warren joke with a dozen times, she shut the door tightly and locked it securely.

Okay, so… I just… Drink this, right? Oh… That's… Disgusting. Sorcha shuddered as the foul tasting green potion began to take effect. She pulled the bottom of her shirt up to a few inches above her belly button and stood there dumbly, waiting for the color to show. I remember when Warren dared me to drink some three summers ago and my stomach turned a violent shade of orange. So, purple means… not pregnant, right? Any other color means…

Her vision blurred as she watched her stomach begin to fade into a dark blue color. Awe, shit.

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Tell him… Don't tell him… Tell him… Don't tell him…. Tell him… Don't tell him… Tell hi-

"Sorcha!" Severus cried as he walked into the room. Right. Tell him. He rushed over to her quickly, a stern look on his face. Whoa. Does he already know? Why is he so serious?

Might as well let him say what he has to say, first. Maybe when I tell him… He'll decide that he can't go! Or that he can't leave me behind, and so he'll take me with him! Yes, that's an idea! "What's wrong, Severus?" She asked concernedly.

"I… I've just spoken with Dumbledore… About my mission." He said shakily. Mission? What mission? Oh, come on! Who cares? Get on with it so I can tell you that WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY! "It turns out…" He continued, but then stopped to gaze at Sorcha's face sadly.

"Turns out what?" She asked.

"I… I am being dispatched earlier than originally planned, Sorcha." He said forlornly. Dispatched? What are you talking about? Dispatched? What does dispatched mean, again? I need a dictionary… You're blocking the shelf, Severus. Get out of my way so I can find a dictionary.

"Sorcha?" He repeated her name when she stared off into space. "I'll be leaving soon. Tonight. I wish I could stay, really. But I can't just sit around and let-- Oh I wish you could come with me, too. It's too dangerous, though. Extremely dangerous." Well, if it's so dangerous then what the hell are you doing? Planning on dying? That's not fair. What about me? What about this little thing in me? You can't just leave like that!

He wiped a few tears off of her face that she didn't know had fallen. I have to tell him before he goes. He has to know. "I'll miss you." He whispered and hugged her gently.

I'll miss you too! No! Won't miss you! You're not going and that's that! "Please say something." He pleaded softly.

No. I can't tell you. It'll only ruin everything. I'll hold you back. Besides, it's not like I'm never going to see you again, right? You can come back anytime… I promise…

He held her face in his hands and kissed her forehead before looking her in the eyes. "I will never love anyone the way I love you." He stated. Oh, that's so sweet… "I promise." Ah… See that? I'm crying again… Oh. Dear me, was that a sob? I must be crying an awful lot… Doesn't seem to be phasing me much, except… Oh, no, Severus, don't cry! That's right, keep blinking a lot. It'll hold back the tears. Wish I'd have thought of that…

"Say something… Please…" He murmured. I wish I could… But I'm afraid if I so much as open my mouth, then all that will fly out is how much I want you to stay. And you can't stay… This is for the best…

"Go." She managed to choke out. Yes, please go before I change my mind.

Severus's next look was one of grief and guilt. "Sorcha, don't be like-" he started but Sorcha wouldn't let him finish.

"GET OUT!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

He backed away slowly, obviously hurt by her reaction. "Sorcha-"

Sorcha pushing him roughly towards the door cut him off. When they reached the doorway, he paused and glanced back at her. "Sorcha?" He whispered softly.

Suddenly, Sorcha was hugging him as tight as she could, wishing to never let go, and crying harder than she ever had in her life. No. Have to go. For the best. You come back. Love. Promise.

In one swift move, she kissed him gently on the lips before shoving him violently out the door and into the hallway. She slammed the door shut, locking it tightly, and then proceeded to throw herself onto her bed and weep bitterly.

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Sorcha wiped her tear-stained face with the sleeve of her robe as she walked down the dark corridor to her mother's quarters. He's gone. He's really gone. I'll never forget the look on his face yesterday when I pushed him into the hall… That was so horrible… She straightened up as she walked. No matter! I will tell mother everything and she will understand. She was young once, too. And even though she doesn't love Father any longer, she did at one time, so she should understand. I seem to remember someone telling me that I was a completely and utterly unexpected pregnancy. I'll tell her and she'll comfort me and tell me that everything will be all right.

"Where are you headed?"

Sorcha whirled around at the unknown, and yet familiar voice. As she did, a young woman stepped out of the shadows and smirked. "Who are you?" Sorcha shrieked as the girl stepped forward.

"Call me an old friend." The platinum-blonde haired girl said as she walked towards the princess. "You don't remember me. But you will."

Sorcha suddenly felt chains wrap around her wrists and ankles. What?! "What are you? Let me go!" She screamed loudly, praying that someone would hear her.

"Call me Lada." She heard the girl whisper as darkness swelled around her.

"Let me go!" Sorcha protested, hearing footsteps in the distance. Someone's coming! If I can just stall this girl for a few seconds! "MOTHER!" She yelled. "MOTHER! HELP ME! LET ME GO YOU FREAK! MOTHER!!!!!"

She stopped screaming when she realized that her voice seemed to fade around her. No… What's happening? Her eyes closed slowly as a wave of exhaustion came over her and soon her whole world was nothing but darkness. Empty darkness.