Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, and ideas (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Mordecai and Elisabeth are mine.
Chapter 24: Up to him again.
As June came the deatheaters met more often. Severus knew they were planning something big and had been reporting to the Order. At the meeting on that evening the dark lord had taken pleasure in torturing all his servants with the more painful curses. Severus was limping as he skulked back to the castle. I have to reach Minerva and tell her about Umbridge before something happens, he reminded himself. He had almost reached the door when his instincts told him to move elsewhere on the grounds.
He continued to amble along for a reason he could not define, until Hagrid's hut came into view. As he neared the hut, he noticed six other people making their way toward it. A closer look revealed one of them to be the toad. She's trying to sack Hagrid, he realized.
The pain in his leg prevented him from moving with any speed at all. Someone else had come onto the scene, but he could not distinguish who it was. As he tried with all his might to reach them, four bursts of red light shot out in the direction of Hagrid, but the other person he had seen selflessly rushed in front of the beams.
Even the mere act of breathing was painful as he continued his trek. By Merlin no! Why did she do that? I've got to get there faster, he thought to himself as he realized that there was only one person who would do something like he had just seen. He finally reached the spot as Umbridge and the others were attempting to leave.
He managed to petrify the others, but missed Umbridge by centimeters as she turned tale and ran in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. He rushed over to the fallen witch on the grass. She was barely breathing, with angry gashes down the front of her robes from the stunners. Thinking quickly, he turned to Hagrid.
"I'll take Minerva to St. Mungo's. I think we can still stop Umbridge if someone you know from the forest can intercept her," he told the grounds keeper.
The half giant nodded. "I'll be speakin' to Firenze and the other centaurs. She'll not be leavin' us this evening after what she's done. And I owe a debt to Professor McGonagall."
Hagrid headed off to find the centaurs while Severus levitated Minerva back to the castle. He would have carried her had his own injuries from the evening been lighter. They made it to the infirmary and Severus did not even bother to knock before bursting in through the door and placing Minerva on a bed.
The medwitch rushed out from her office where she had accidentally dozed off at the sound of the door slamming. "What is Merlin's name is going on here?" she demanded. Then she noticed Minerva and clasped her hand over her mouth.
"She was hit with four stunners. Can you stabilize her while I contact St. Mungo's? I intend to take her there by floo shortly," he explained.
Poppy nodded and found a few potions while Severus contacted the emergency department of the hospital. He levitated Minerva again and they reached the hospital a while later, greeted by a few healers. They immediately took over the situation and took her to a room where they began to examine and treat her. Exhausted, Severus sank down into a chair in the waiting area.
A young brown-haired healer walked over to him. "Sir, you look as though you could use a bit of medical care yourself."
"Later, take care of her first," he muttered.
"She has others with her that are far more adept than I am. I might be able to find you a few healing potions, if you like."
With a sigh he decided to take the girl up on her offer, figuring that he could make better use of himself if he felt slightly better. As he came back to the waiting area, his leg still hurt, but at least his insides felt more in tact. One of the healers who had been there when he had first arrived approached him.
"You're Professor Snape, the Potions Master, right?" the young man asked.
Severus noticed the panic in the healer's eyes. "What's wrong with her?"
The healer began to wring his hands. "Your medwitch may have been able to stabilize her, but we are having difficulty treating her because she was also hit with some sort of open wound hex. We don't have the right potion to help her and she'll die within the hour if we don't do something."
The Potions Master's face turned ashen white for a moment. "I'll need to find some ingredients back at the school, and I'll need to use your lab." The healer nodded and Severus flooed back to his rooms.
It took him less than ten minutes to find what he needed and he rushed back. The healer took him to one of their labs and he began to think of what potions he knew that could work. Come on, Severus, think! She needs you to get this right, now more than ever. If only I had stopped by the library to find that medical book again… wait! If I use the properties of a potion for stitching the skin back together combined with a counterspell to the hex, it just might work.
Having brewed some of it for the school infirmary at one time or another, Severus knew how to brew the potion he wanted and within fifteen minutes it was finished. He bottled it and found the healers, who brought him to her room. They applied the potion as he tried a counterspell and as he had predicted, it worked. He left the room and allowed the healers to do the rest.
Back at the castle, up in Ravenclaw tower, Mordecai woke with a start, not knowing why. He grabbed his bathrobe and walked over to a window. Opening it, he looked out over the grounds and noticed a flash of red. The sound of his bedroom door opening made him jump and Elisabeth rushed in, grabbing his arm.
"Did you see it? The red flash? Something is happening over there!" she exclaimed in a whisper.
Mordecai glanced at his roommates who, as usual, were still asleep. "Yes. I have a bad feeling about all this," he mentioned.
She let go of him and he realized that she was fully clothed. "I'm going down to see what it was," she told him as she dashed out of the room.
His eyes widened in a panic as he quickly got dressed. Why does she have to keep doing this? She still has no common sense, but I can't let her go down alone. He hastily caught up with her as they descended the tower and quietly crept through the first floor. The two turned a corner and ploughed right into something they could not see.
Three "oofs" where heard and Mordecai aimed his wand in the direction. "Whoever or whatever you are, you have three seconds to explain yourself," he said in an authoritative voice.
"Please tell me that we didn't just walk into Snape," a boy's voice said.
"No, Ron, it's just another student," a girl's voice replied.
Harry threw off the invisibility cloak. "Sorry about that. Ron, Hermione, and I just came from Hagrid's and Professor McGonagall's been injured!"
They all heard someone walk into the hallway and hid among the shadows. Severus was levitating Minerva. He passed by and they followed him as he took her to the infirmary and then they heard the two of them floo to St. Mungo's.
"We've got to follow them to see if Professor McGonagall is alright," Harry encouraged after Poppy returned to her office.
Mordecai had not said much, allowing the older students to lead, but at that moment he decided that this was a time to go with a questionable plan rather than back away from it. "I'm coming too," he stated. It was not a request and the others eyed him with curiosity.
"I suppose that's fine and all, but do you have any reason, mate?" Ron asked him.
"Professor McGonagall is a cousin of mine," was all he said.
Harry and Ron seemed confused, but Hermione watched him for a minute and then nodded. "I don't see why not," she remarked.
As the four of them walked over to the fireplace, Elisabeth caught Mordecai's hand. "I want to come too!"
He shook his head and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Not this time, Lisa. This is something that I have to do and I refuse to put you in danger. You should go back to the tower and try to get some sleep."
She glared at him. "It's not like I don't know what danger is! You are taking me with you!" she protested.
"No." Mordecai had been hearing about St. Mungo's and the horrors some patients came in with from occasional comments that the professors made. "Lisa," he began in a calmer voice, "I don't know what we will see there, or what we will find. There are things that you don't need to see."
She saw the deep concern in his eyes and finally understood that he believed it was for her own good that she should stay behind. "I'll stay here, but only if you promise to tell me everything when you get back."
The ultimatum suited him and he nodded. Harry tapped him on the shoulder. "We don't have all night. If you're coming, we need to leave now." Elisabeth left the infirmary after watching them disappear into the floo.
Once they arrived at St. Mungo's and Hermione used a cleaning spell on them, they looked for the front desk to ask which room Professor McGonagall was in. However, they found themselves roaming the halls for a while because they had come out of the cafeteria floo instead of the lobby and it took them a while to find the waiting area along with the front desk.
Severus sat in the waiting area, his mind on nothing but Minerva. One of the healers emerged and he abruptly stood, shortly regretting it due to his leg. "The treatments seem to be working, but she will need rest. Though I should insist that you until tomorrow to speak with her, something tells me that such a request won't satisfy you."
"You are correct. I'd like to see her if it's possible," Severus told the healer.
He led the Potions Master to the room and then left, closing the door. She looks so frail like that, Severus thought as he looked at the woman on the bed. He walked over to her and paused, wanting to sit on the bed, but wondering if a chair would be better.
"Stop staring and sit by me," Minerva said weakly.
Surprised that she was conscious, he complied. She reached out despite the pain and took his hand in hers. "Minerva, you shouldn't-"
"I need to know you're here," she interjected.
"I swear Umbridge will pay for this," he declared.
"Is Hagrid alright?" she questioned.
He caressed her cheek with his other hand. "Hagrid is fine, but a bit worried about you, as am I. How are you feeling?"
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Just when he had thought she had gone to sleep she opened them again. "To be perfectly candid, this hurts worse than child birth."
He snorted and quickly glanced up to see that they were still alone. "You had me so worried," he whispered.
"I know. The healers told me that I owe you my life," she relayed.
Moving so that he could slide one arm under her, he kissed her forehead. "Yes, you seem to be making a habit of that, too many foolish Gryffindor stunts."
She scoffed. "Oh come now, Benford's Disease was not due to any attempted act of bravery."
"Correct, but tonight you should have used your wand instead of jumping in front of Hagrid," he reprimanded. Then his tone softened. "I don't want to lose you."
"I am a Gryffindor, and I will do what I have to do, but I'm sorry that I've caused you such distress. Thank you for helping me again," she conveyed.
He was tired of words and leaned over to kiss her, being as gentle as if she were made of glass. She responded and they kissed softly until Severus heard footsteps. He pulled away and immediately stood up. The healer he had spoken to before entered.
"There are four children, students, who want to speak with her. We told them that she might not be strong enough to handle the company, but they insisted." He moved aside to show Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mordecai.
"This had better be brief," the Potions Master directed them.
He left for a moment to ask the healer about any continuing treatments and pain killers while the first three guests made sure that the head of their house was alright. They told her of discoveries they made and she reassured them that she would be back and that they ought to return to their rooms and try to catch a bit of sleep.
The three walked out and Mordecai told them to go along without him. "You sure, mate?" Ron asked. The Ravenclaw nodded and the other three exited the room.
Mordecai walked over to Minerva's bedside. "Is there anything I can get you or do for you, cousin?"
She smiled slightly. "No, but have a seat on the bed. There are a few things that you ought to know." He obliged her and she continued after he sat. "First of all, I honestly don't know if I will be back or not. I told them everything was fine so that they wouldn't worry. Those three are of my house, and like family in a way."
"Why are you telling me this?" Mordecai inquired.
Reaching for his hand as she had for Severus' she answered him. "Because I feel that you need to know the truth before anything else happens to me. Mordecai Cyrus, you have always been a bright boy and you are growing into an intelligent and perceptive young man. I think that you are old enough to understand now," she paused to gather more strength.
"Are you going to tell me why pictures of my mother look like Aunt Fiona, as well as your own picture?" he probed gently.
"Yes. I am your mother. As you can see, my life is not a safe one and I couldn't provide adequate care for you as a child. I wanted you to grow up in a safe place where you could get the attention you deserve. You are loved. Please don't be angry that I have withheld all this from you," she explained.
She's my mother. That would explain all the extra visits, the concern, and the resemblances in the pictures. "It had to be a difficult choice then, to send me away," he realized.
"Yes," she murmured.
He could see how badly she needed rest. "I'll go now. You probably won't tell me my father's name, but can you tell me if he's still alive?" he asked as he stood. He heard another "yes" and then he left the room, heading straight for the floo.
Severus reentered the room as Mordecai left and walked over to Minerva. Taking her hand in his, he spoke. "I won't stay but a minute longer. There is one more thing I need to tell you, something that I found out from tonight's meeting. Umbridge had been working for You-Know-Who, except she does not realize that it is him. She has been receiving orders from some of his followers, thinking that they are pulling the strings. But you don't need to worry about this; I will take care of it." He left and headed back to the castle.
Mordecai at his return found Elisabeth waiting for him. "Lisa, you're supposed to be asleep!" he exclaimed.
"I'll have you know that I dozed off for two hours," she defended.
He smirked and they sat down near the fireplace. She watched him as he waited a while before speaking. "I think Professor McGonagall will be back soon, but she was badly injured. She talked to the other students and we talked," he had said all this while watching the fire. Then he faced Elisabeth. "She told me who my mother is."
"Cyrus, you don't seem overly excited about it," she realized.
A small smile spread across his face. "I'm relieved. I wish things had turned out differently, but I don't mind what she told me. You see, the entire reason that I resemble the Maddock family, and that both Professor McGonagall and my mother have similarities to Aunt Fiona, is because Minerva McGonagall is my mother."
She eyed him incredulously. "Now that's what I call a family secret!"
"And that's what it needs to remain, a secret. I am glad that she is my mother, but I also understand and am beginning to see all the dangers she was trying to protect me from," he explained.
Blinking wearily, she yawned. "I think we might need to go back to bed for a while."
He smirked. "That's probably a good idea." They left the floor and returned to their separate rooms to catch a few more hours of sleep before they had to head off to class.
Upon his return, Severus learned from Hagrid that the centaurs had intercepted Umbridge. She had behaved as her usual horrid self and insulted them. One even proceeded to carry her off. Pity she survived, he thought. She was presently being held and interrogated at the Ministry of Magic.
A week later Minerva returned, catching Severus in the act of breaking up a fight between Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Gryffindor's points were once again rearranged and she approached Severus after the boys had left. She noticed that his eyes focused on her cane.
"We need to talk, but not in the middle of the corridor," she relayed.
He nodded. "I'll walk you to your rooms then."
When they had reached their destination, he offered to make tea. She agreed and a few minutes later the two sat on the sofa, drinking tea. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
She heard the tinge of worry in his voice. "I will be alright in time. I'm just a little sore. The cane helps, and hopefully I can discard it by the fall. How have the students been?"
Always thinking about the students, he thought with a smile. "They are fine and with Umbridge gone, the pranks have stopped. And Dumbledore has returned. Before you ask, Umbridge is where she cannot bother us anymore. The Ministry of Magic is interrogating her."
There was a pause as they both finished their tea. Then she faced him. "I told Mordecai the truth."
His eyes widened. "How much of the truth?"
"I told him that I am his mother and that his father is alive because he asked about the last part. I was not sure whether or not I would survive, that night when they all just showed up at St. Mungo's. We had a conversation before all this, in which he was asking me about his mother and some Quidditch photos in a yearbook, compared to some pictures that Fiona had shown him."
"Then he would have found that out eventually," he stated as they set their teacups down on the coffee table.
"Stop staring at my cane," she scolded him.
He looked back at her and caressed her cheek. "Minerva you need to stop teetering on death's doorstep."
She snuggled close to him and he put his arms around her, as gently as her injuries would allow. "Next year I resolve to behave myself better then." He chuckled and they kissed softly before he decided to leave in order that she might rest.
Umbridge was sentenced to six months in Azkaban for her attempted take-over of the school, as well as her attack on Minerva and attempted attack on Hagrid. Severus spent most of the summer on Order business, collecting information as well as replenishing his herb supply. Minerva spent more time at Fiona's house that summer, visiting with her son.
One afternoon she found Fiona washing dishes. "I want you to know that I've told him," Minerva began as she took a dish towel and began to dry them.
"So he knows that you're his mother?" Fiona probed.
Minerva nodded. "I explained that I'm his mother and why I had to leave him with you."
"And did you also tell him that the Potions Master is his father?" the other woman questioned.
The Transfiguration Mistress nearly dropped the plate before putting it in the drainer. "How did you know?"
"Cousin, he may bare a slight resemblance to my family, and a stronger resemblance to you, but there's a remarkable resemblance between him and that Potions Master you keep bringing by, especially in the eyes. I've wandered for years, but recently when I've seen him come home in the summers, I can tell more easily," she conveyed. "How did you ever become involved with that man?"
Minerva sighed. "It started a while ago. I can't tell you all of it because it would put everyone in jeopardy, but I can tell you enough."
After she had told Fiona what she could, Mordecai came into the kitchen holding a black guinea pig. "Watch this," he instructed. He put the guinea pig on the ground and with the spell and a few flicks of his want the animal began Maggie.
"I come home to visit for the summer and I end up smelling like one of those rodents! I'm taking a shower," Maggie stated as she left the room.
"Mordecai, I'm proud of you," Minerva conveyed.
"Yes, that was quite good," Fiona added.
The young man smiled. "Thanks Aunt Fiona, thanks mum," he said before leaving the kitchen.
(My thanks to Leta McGotor, Isabelle (), Motet, and excessivelyperky for reviewing :D)