Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 18

The Birth of Death

She looked up at me and took my hand and while she was trying her hardest to be okay I could tell she was exhausted but emotionally and physically.

"Do you know whose looking after Harry and Rosie?"

Of course her first thoughts were of our children; that was completely understandable. "I was told by Minerva that she would check in with Midge and take over for her if need be."

We liked Midge but she was a house elf and would wear herself out before admitting she needed help. She, like anyone else needed a break from time to time.

"Did you see our boys, yet?" She asked with a tired smile.

"No, I was told they were going to bring them in in just a few minuets."

"They're beautiful Sev. They're so tiny but amazing. One looks a lot like Harry when he was born, and the other I think more like me, but they both have your eyes."

"They do?"

"Oh yes. I can't believe we had twins. I had no idea. Looks like we hit the jackpot and won a bonus." She joked with a chuckle.

"We certainly did. I guess this means we have to come up with another name then." We had one picked out. Gannon Michael. It was a strong name I thought, one that commanded attention.

"I liked Justin if you recall."

"Yes, I recall, but I do not." I knew a kid that lived down the street from me on Spinners End named Justin. He was a complete asshole who treated his elderly gran like crap and I didn't want his image popping into my head every time I called for my son.

"Right, well I was thinking we should use Draco as a middle."

That surprised me. As far as I was aware she didn't care for him that much. "Draco, are you sure?"

"He ran to help me," She explained. "He didn't give it a second thought. Plus if Dobby hadn't been watching him you wouldn't have been alerted so quickly."

"True, I replied, "Please don't tell me you want to name our son, Dobby." Just the thought made me shutter.

Lily laughed and shook her head. "No, I like Dobby but not enough to give my son such a um… unique name."

It was at that moment that the hospital room door opened and in rolled our two tiny miracles. They lay side by side it a little trolley divided by a sort of floating bubble that surrounded each of them. Lily was right they were tiny. Much smaller then Harry or Rose were when they were born.

"How much do they weigh?" I asked looking up at the medi-wizard who had wheeled them in. "All their information is on the chart, which is hooked to the back of the cart but I believe around 2 pounds each."

"Do-do you know when I can hold them?" Lily asked the emotion of the moment beginning to well up inside of her.

"You will have to ask Healer Cray, he should be in shortly."

Lily just nodded as she peered up and into their tiny little cubicles. They were moving their little hands and feet and making baby cooing sounds.

She then looked up to the Medi-Wizard and asked, "What's your name?"

He smiled and replied, "Griffin, ma'am."

Lily's eyes widened slightly, a sly smirk slipped to her lips, "As in Gryffindor?"

Griffin laughed by nodded, "Yep, may parents nearly had a coronary when I was sorted into Ravenclaw."

We both chuckled at the joke but then Lily said something I would later regret not arguing with her further on.

"I really like that name. Griffin Draco. I think that's perfect."

Griffin appeared with a wide grin, clearly honored by the possibility, I on the other hand, not so much. "You want to name our child Gryffindor. Lily I love you but you are clearly under the influence of pain potions."

"I am not. It's a great name and if you think about it represents both of us. Gryffindor for my old house and Draco who is in your old house."

I could see her point, still… "He's going to be stuck with that name for the rest of his life you know."

"Yes, that's the point dear. Griffin and Gannon, they really do fit them perfectly."

Looking back down at my tiny little boys I could see she was right and after what she just went though I wouldn't even dream of taking that right of naming our beautiful boys away from her.

XXX

I stood in stunned shock as I listened to Minerva relay the detailed events of a Death Eaters attack on Hogwarts. They were still unsure how they were able to gain access only she was sure they had help from someone on the inside. I completely agreed and was pretty sure it was Draco, now I finally knew what his mission had been… though how he did it I had no idea, I was sure however, I would soon find out.

"Was anyone hurt?"

She sighed and nodded sadly. "A few students, mostly from falling when trying to flee, though a couple of the older students who stayed to help fight them off were hit with spells, though nothing with any long lasting effects. Severus…you had no idea this was going to happen, right?"

The question stung… was she seriously doubting my loyalty? Her tone certainly sounded that way.

Pushing my feeling aside I maintained composure and replied, "I knew he was planning something with Draco, but I had no idea what. I was having Dobby trail him and reported he would often disappear into the Room of Requirement but other then that nothing overly suspicious, and the Headmaster was aware of this, did he not tell you?"

She shook her head and shrugged. "Albus is not in the best condition right now. He took Neville somewhere and came back in horrid condition. He's okay at the moment but he's not doing amazing. Oh Severus, you should have seen Neville. He was so brave. He had been trying to get Albus to the infirmary when they were cornered by Bellatrix and the Carrow twins. He stood firm and fought back doing his best to protect Albus who could barely stand at this point. He managed to stun and bind one of the Carrow's and help arrived soon after. Filius and myself were the first to arrive. Filius managed to stop the other Carrow and I fought Bellatrix until other Death Eaters arrived and we became out numbered. Neville was able to get Albus out of harms way and soon some of the older students arrived to help and together we managed to run them off.

As we were battling our way through the corridors Draco appeared looking quite shaken. Bellatrix grabbed him by the hand and dragged him out screaming at him for not 'finishing the job.' Albus believed he was sent there to kill him, or rather he thinks You-Know-Who assigned him the task expecting him to fail."

As much as I had wished that wasn't the case, Albus was probably right. The Dark Lord wouldn't have expected Draco to be able to successfully murder Albus Dumbledore, there was no way. He knew he was going to fail. So why set the boy up? Was he punishing him for his father's mistake in the Department of Mysteries? Or was it another reason completely.

The other question that was playing on my mind was where had Dumbledore gone with Neville and what had happened there that had caused him to deteriorate so horribly. He was already dying, I knew that as did Lily, Albus had confided that he had told Minerva as well, but to his knowledge no one else knew.

"He doesn't have much time left anyway Minerva, a few months at the most."

She sighed and shook her head, "I know. He is resting in his quarters; several of the house elves are looking after him, as is Poppy. Honestly Severus this has shaken us all up. When he finally does die… we will all be venerable."

That was always the problem. Dumbledore was a figurehead and most believe without him all is lost, but it's not.

"He's just a man, Minerva, a powerful wizard yes, but just a man, we can carry on the cause without him."

I could see the pain in her tired green eyes, she wanted to believe my words, but she lacked the strength to at the moment.

"I shouldn't keep you any longer, Severus. Go, be with your family, I will send more news as it come."

With that Minerva took her leave and I headed back into the hospital room where my wife was spending some cuddle time with our sons.

I wasn't in there more then two minuets when my arm began to burn. He was calling me.

XXX

As I walked into the main parlor, the first sight my eyes caught was Draco, on the floor, his face distorted in pain. His mother was a few feet away looking helplessly down at her only son.

As soon as I made eye contact with The Dark Lord he began to walk slowly in my direction, his wand griped in his hand ready to fire at a moments notice. I was desperately trying to mentally prepare myself for the curses that were sure to soon follow. I was not there to help in their escapade and in the end they failed with their intended goal. I was positive I would be punished for my absence, no matter how good of an excuse I had.

"Hello Severus. I hear congratulations are in order. A little earlier then expected it would seem."

I briefly wondered how he had found that out but then realized Draco must have told them.

"Yes, My Lord."

"I'm assuming you wife and son are well?"

Was he actually asking about the well being of my family? As if he truly cared? Or was it his cause that he cared about. The future of a strong wizarding nation and how my son's birth represented that.

"They are recovering. My wife actually gave birth to twins, two boys. They are small but the healers are optimistic."

"Twins? Hum, well apparently you missed quite a show. Did you hear we attacked Hogwarts?" He asked his hands now crossed firmly over his chest.

"Yes, McGonagall informed me shortly before you called me."

"Did she now, and what did she tell you?" He cocked his head his red eyes staring intently into mine as he awaited a reply.

"That Death Eaters had infiltrated the castle. She mentioned seeing Bella dragging Draco down the corridor berating him for not 'finishing the job'. Of course she had no idea what Bella meant by that but figured Draco had something to do with everyone gaining access to the castle. I'm assuming she's correct, and that was indeed the task assigned to him."

"It was, among another he failed to fulfill. Go one, what else did she say?"

"That Longbottom managed to get Dumbledore out of harms way and he, some of the staff and a few older students ran the rest of them," I said glancing briefly at my fellow Death Eaters, "out of the castle."

"They have my brother!" Severus turned back to see the Carrow sister who looking quite angry and sporting a rather large black eyes practically fuming in rage.

"Yes, taken down by a weakling if a wizard," Bellatrix hackled. "Doesn't say much for your dear brother, now does it."

"No need for teasing, Bella." Voldemort playfully scolded her. "It would seem that Longbottom isn't as useless as we thought he was. I'm curious Severus, do you know anything as to why Dumbledore was a so weak he had to be propped up and carried off by the Brat-Who-lived."

I knew that they two went off together on a mission of sorts, and that whatever happened there drained him into near exhaustion. That combined with the curse that was already killing him, made his possible life expectance even smaller then it already was. Of course he could never tell The Dark Lord the truth. Few did or ever would know Albus was dying from his own stupidity. It was so ironic that a man who had defeated Grindelwald, lived through two world wars and was idolized by nearly the entire population could fall prey to such a stupid mistake.

"I know that he had taken Longbottom somewhere, though no one seems to know exactly where, and when they returned he was incredibly weak. I do not know if he had to over extend his magic or what exactly. Only that he is resting and being attended to by house elves."

The Dark Lord scoffed and rolled his ruby eyes. He then turned his gaze back to Draco. "Draco was assigned to mend a vanishing cabinet that was in the Room of Lost Things. It's partner was in Borgin and Burks."

"Ah, I see. I clever plan indeed My Lord." I will admit it was quite clever.

"Yes, I thought so. But you see Severus Draco was supposed to not only get us into the castle, he was also supposed to kill Dumbledore, of which he failed miserably. Even when the old fool was so weak he could barely stand, he couldn't do it. NONE OF YOU COULD!" He yelled suddenly. Turning to the rest of his followers he raised his wand.

It was all of you verse an enfeebled old man and a fifteen-year-old boy! It's sickening! A fine example of blood purity you all are. What should I expect from a bunch on inbreed nitwits! Stop marrying your bloody cousins!"

At this point I honestly wanted to laugh, and had the situation not been so serious I just might have. It was quite amusing to see the horrified and somewhat confused look on all of the pureblooded bigots faces.

"Now, getting back to the topic at hand. If you had been there Severus this may have turned out quite differently, however…the circumstances of your absence are understandable. What I need from you now is to find out as much as you can about the old mans health. I plan to make my move to take over the Ministry soon and I can't do it with him in the way. He holds too much clout."

"Of course My Lord. I will do everything I can to assist you."

"I know you will. You can go." With a wave of his hand he bid me to leave, which I happily did.

A/N: Up next Dumbledore takes a turn for the worse.