Chapter Six

Deadly Detour

Ember was putting on her shoes when Professor McGonagall walked into the Hospital Wing. Ember did her best to ignore her as she laced up her green, leather knee-highs and tied the laces in bows. She brushed out her copper curls, which had begun to darken back to red.

"Ember-"

"Minerva, I desperately need to redo my hi-lights. My hair's turning red again."

"If you didn't use that cheap dye that comes in a can and rubs off-"

"I can't afford anything better. What can I do for you?"

"Poppy says you're still ill." McGonagall sat down on the cot next to Ember's and watched the younger woman as she slipped on a pale green shirt and buttoned it up, her hands shaking. "You're trembling, and you're deathly pale."

"I need to go outside is all. You know I detest being indoors. I want to go home. I have no reason to stay at Hogwarts now, until summer ends. So I'm going home."

"To America?" Minerva exclaimed. That was hardly the thing. A vacation in the English countryside would do the girl better, the older woman thought.

"No, not to America. I can't afford the plane ride. Back to Spinners' End. Don't try to stop me, Minerva!" Ember's eyes flashed gold in the light of the late afternoon sun filtering through the windows. "Spinners' End is my home, just as Hogwarts is my home. I've lived at the End every moment I've been away from the school. I belong there."

"Ember," McGonagall said gently, "Severus won't be waiting for you there."

"Oh, I shan't expect it. I merely wish to return home. Dumbledore wouldn't try to stop me." Minerva's eyes were bright with worry, but she nodded to the girl, who stood up and grabbed her emerald cloak from the table, whirling it in a shimmer of green around her shoulders and tying it about her slender, white neck. Minerva could not believe how pretty the girl looked, nor how sad. She grabbed her wand from the bedside table and began striding towards the exit.

"Ember, dear, Dumbledore wishes to speak with you-"

"His portrait wishes to speak with me. Very well, then. As for my things-"

"Oh, Miss Ember, miss," said a squeaky voice, and Ember glanced down to see Dobby the house elf struggling to keep up with her long stride. She immediately slowed. "Miss Ember, Dobby sends Miss Ember's things to her home with Master of Potions. Floo powder is ready for miss now."

"Thank you, Dobby," Ember said, smiling down at him. Her smile suddenly slipped. "Dobby, did you remember to save-"

"Fire birdie sparkly? Yes, indeed, Miss Ember. Dobby has it here!" The house elf held up a gold chain, upon which dangled six tiny rubies and a perfect amber teardrop. Ember took it from Dobby and clasped it, with some difficulty, around her neck.

"Thank you, dear. Ah, here we are." The gargoyle in front of the staircase growled. "What is your issue with house elves? Damn."

"Password," it growled. She hissed at it like a cat and snapped, "I know! Password is the heir of Gryffindor." It shuffled aside with much reluctance, and Ember cried, "You never do that to students."

"Students don't have pinch-worthy bums."

"Keep your claws away from my ass."

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"Ah, Ember. I heard you were in the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore's portrait smiled at the fiery haired girl as she sat down on the top of the black-swathed desk. He set his spectacles back on his nose and watched her with his twinkling, blue eyes. "You are feeling better, I trust?"

"Poppy says I'm to expect morning sickness soon. She said it was only delayed because of Fawkes's presence so close, and that it'll come soon enough. I am not looking forward to it."

"Most women don't look forward to being ill."

"I certainly do not look forward to tossing my cookies every morning, thank you." Ember crossed her arms defensively over her belly, looking faintly sick. She scrunched up in on herself and whispered, "What am I going to do, Albric?"

"I always did like it when you called me that, and it does me honor you would name your son after me. As for what you're going to do, you will go through this next year as Potions Mistress and head of Gryffindor until you must take your leave. You will have your son, and raise him with Severus, and you will both live as long as you are meant to and be as happy as you can be in that time. That is what you will do.

"Head of Gryffindor? Me?"

"We'll be needing another, now that Minerva is Headmistress."

"And… raising my son… with S-Severus? But I thought… but he… Albric, I don't understand, he killed you. He murdered you. He's the enemy…." She fell silent when Dumbledore shook his head slowly, a gentle smile on his wizened face.

"Ember, I want you to listen to me very carefully. Severus Snape is a good man, a great man, who has given up more than most in the effort to defeat Voldemort. He killed me, but higher powers forced his hand. And Ember," for she was suddenly aware that tears were streaming down her cheeks again, for she knew just what Dumbledore was going to say, "Severus Snape loves you more than anything else in the world. He loves you deeply, and you two are destined to be together. Never lose faith in him. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She nodded, and found her tears had stopped. Where had they come from?

"Good, now. I do believe you need to return to Spinner's End. However, do not stay there very long. Danger lurks there. It will do you good to be there for a while, though, I think. Goodbye, Ember."

"Goodbye… old man." She grinned as he followed her out the door with a laughing, "Watch that cheek, young lady."

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Narcissa Malfoy watched as green light flashed through the bottom floor of Spinners' End, and then marched up to the door, barging in with out knocking.

"Protego!"

"Em, it's me!" Ember lowered her wand and stared at Narcissa for a long moment, her legs shaking, before sinking down onto the rather threadbare sofa. Narcissa rushed to her side and sat down beside her, drawing the red-haired girl into her arms. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I… yes. Is Draco back with you?"

"Yes, he's come back, and he's safe. Severus kept his promise." Ember whimpered. "I know you are not a Death Eater-"

"Neither are you, Issy. You've changed since the old days, and changed again. You were a good woman once, and then you met Lucius."

"I love Lucius-"

"I know you do, Issy. But you also love your son, even more than your husband. For Draco's sake, you're better off turning your back on the Death Eaters. Issy?" Narcissa turned her face away as Ember looked deep into her pretty blue eyes. "Issy, look at me. We were friends once, good friends. Then he came into your life, knocked you up, and twisted your life-"

"He gave me Draco. He gave me my son!"

"And his influence is what will give the Darkest wizard of all time the ability to get your son killed! Issy, listen. I know how you're feeling. I have a child of mine own to think of. You must do what is best for your son, and that is to keep him far, far away from Voldemort." Narcissa sighed and pulled Ember's head down on her shoulder. The younger woman sighed and relaxed in Narcissa's hold.

"Don't think I'm not thinking about what you're saying. But I noticed something you just said, dearest, don't think I didn't, either." Ember swore under her breath. "Didn't think I'd notice, did you? Congratulations. Severus's, I presume?" She nodded. "Spitfire, you shouldn't be so ill looking. You look like hell."

"Tell me how you really feel, Issy, don't hold back."

"All right, you look like shit."

"Bite me."

"What's wrong with you, dearest? Why are you so ill?" Embrus shrugged and got to her feet, looking pale. Narcissa put a hand on her arm and jerked in surprise. "Em, you're freezing! You're really sick, aren't you? What is it? What's wrong?" Ember sank down onto the floor, shivering violently, shaking her head. Narcissa got to her feet, suddenly very much afraid. Ember lifted a hand, and the older woman lifted her to her feet. "Em, what's wrong?"

"I'll be all right. I just need to sleep. Can you take me upstairs, Narcissa? I'm exhausted."

"All right," she said, stroking the girl's hair. "All right, Em."

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Tucked safely into bed, snuggled under the thick, black blankets, Ember was out cold. Her skin was still icy to the touch, but she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Narcissa sat in a chair beside the bed, reading one of Draco's letters from his first year Hogwarts, when Snape walked in.

"What is she doing here?" He hissed angrily at Narcissa, who stuck her tongue out at him and snapped, "She was exhausted, and she feels safe here. Can't think why, with Wormtail sneaking around all the time. I put her to bed, she's ice cold. What happens when her kind breeds with one of yours."

Severus stared at Draco Malfoy's mother for a long moment, taking in the flashing, blue-gray eyes and the long, silvery hair like a veela's. He turned to Ember's sleeping form, then back to Narcissa.

"She's pregnant, isn't she?"

"Caught on, have you?" The blond woman wasn't in the mood to be charitable. Severus winced and sat down on the side of the bed, one arm on Ember's other side, supporting his weight. He looked down at her, seeing a white-faced, copper-haired angel with thick, shimmering golden lashes making crescents on her cheeks. He bent down and gently kissed her lips.

"Pregnant. Pregnant. She's carrying my child."

"Of course you'll have to kill her."

"Narcissa-"

"Joking, joking! For Christ's sake, Severus." Snape just looked at her. "Fine. What do you plan to do about this?"

"I can't marry her, Narcissa, you know I can't. That's no life for her, always on the run from the law. She'd be miserable. She has a career ahead of her, a life. I can't marry her." Narcissa watched him tenderly brush Ember's hair back from her forehead. He was staring down at her with such a gentle, loving expression. He was oblivious to Narcissa's gaze.

"Severus, it's your baby."

"I know," he whispered. "I know that."

"She'll be going back to Hogwarts?"

"Yes, for the Potions position. She was going to take my place after Slughorn left, after we'd worked together as Potions Master and Mistress for a term or so. She'll be on her own now, with a baby. I'm such a stupid bastard." This last he said bitterly and with much self-loathing. Ember stirred and brushed a hand against her face, scrubbing her cheek in that child-like way she had. She rolled over and settled back down, clutching the blanket in a fist under her chin. A tear escaped from beneath her long, gold lashes and splashed onto the pillow, and she whispered, "Severus," so soft as to break a man's heart.

"Why is she so cold, Severus? It's because of your mother's blood, isn't it?"

"Yes," he said, damning himself. "Phoenix fire and demon blood don't mix well. Demon blood is cold, like ice. The baby probably can't handle the phoenix fire yet. Too hot. It would become ill."

"Your blood lines may not be mixable, Severus, I hope you know that." Narcissa's voice was full of pity, and she felt for her younger, American friend and the old friend of her husband, but Severus was only paying attention to Ember, to her gentle breathing, her lush lips glistening with the gentle sheen of her gloss, her fluttering, golden eyelashes. "Beautiful Ember, my flame, my heart fire. What am I going to do with you? Should I leave you forever, my love? Or stalk you like a panther after its prey?"

Ember made a soft "mmmm" sound and rubbed Severus's thumb with her pinkie in her sleep. "Owl," she whispered dreamily, "letter," and rolled over again, facing the wall. Her hair splayed out on the pillow, glimmering in the candlelight.

She seemed so small and fragile, so dreadfully white on that sea of stark, black cloth. He couldn't tear his eyes away. She looked utterly exhausted, for all she seemed so peaceful. He reached out and cupped her pale, white cheek in his hand, running his thumb gently over her bloodless lips, so cool to the touch. She shouldn't be cool, she shouldn't be cold. Ember had always been so hot, on fire. He wondered if she still tasted of ripe, summer strawberries, if her hair still smelled of lilacs.

She was so very beautiful.

"What will you do, Severus?"

"Love her," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Take care of her, and… and the baby." The baby, Narcissa noted. Not our baby. "I'll make sure they're provided for."

"You'll do all this from afar?" Narcissa sounded skeptical, but Snape couldn't see her expression of wry disbelief. He only had eyes for Ember's face. He nodded, caressing her cheek. Draco's mother stared at him, then muttered, "If you're going to jump her bones, please let me know so I can avert my eyes from such a traumatic scene."

"Narcissa, shut up."

"Make me."

"You are such a wench."

"At least I'm not a wencher."

Snape ignored that last bit and leaned down to kiss Ember's soft lips goodbye, and yes, she still tasted like strawberries. "I love you, my flame, my heart fire. Goodbye. Take care of her for me, will you, Cissy? And Draco and yourself." The older blond woman nodded once as Snape Disapparated.

It was right at that moment that Umbridge and her Ministry goons stormed through the front door, murder on their minds.

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Next Chapter

"I ask this favor, my Lord. That you free Lucius Malfoy from Azkaban." Severus kept his head bent, waiting for his master's word.

"Done."

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A shrill scream ripped through the woods. Draco braked hard on his Nimbus 2006 and flung himself through the thick foliage of the trees below, the wind whipping through his hair and stinging his eyes, snatching his breath.

Dementors, he thought, terrified. Echo's being attacked by Dementors.

Echo screamed again, a scream that stopped Draco's heart and froze his blood in his veins.

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"Father, please-"

"Daddy, no!"

"Lucius!"

But Lucius wasn't listening. He lunged at Draco, eyes wild as a pregnant thunder cloud, and wrapped his hands around his throat. "You failed, Draco," he hissed, spit flying from his mouth. "Failure means death."

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AN- So, what'd you think? Read and review, please! If it's worth reading, it's worth reviewing. Anything I need to fix, change, etc? Flames welcome if they're constructive.